2 The Haunted Fixer-Upper

by Rose Pressey

  “Okay, we can come out,” he said, matter-of-factly.

  He wasn’t much for small talk. We arranged for the team to show up in the morning. I was thankful that they didn’t make me wait for weeks. What would Reed say when I brought a paranormal investigating team into the house? He surely wouldn’t be surprised.

  ***

  When Reed drifted off to sleep, I kissed him on the lips, then slipped out of the house on a mission to find Melody. I had her address and hoped that she would be there. I’d enlisted help from my mother and Lacey. If I was going to get in trouble I might as well drag them along with me.

  Under the cover of night, I walked around the cabin toward the driveway. Moonlight cascaded down, illuminating my way. Crickets sang and frogs croaked around me. Mama and Lacey turned in just as I approached. Mama eased the car down the driveway, but I had warned her to cut the engine as soon as she got there. I hoped Reed or Lou hadn’t noticed the headlights. I walked over to the car and motioned for her to switch seats. There was no way I was letting Mama stay behind the wheel.

  She huffed. “Why can’t I drive?”

  “Because you’re always complaining about your night blindness and you have no idea where you’re going.” I motioned for her to move again.

  She reluctantly climbed into the backseat. Her switch of positions didn’t go without mumbling though. I was grateful that she hadn’t bought us matching outfits like last time though, so mumbling I could handle.

  “How did I get myself into this situation?” Lacey asked. “One day I’m minding my own business in Kentucky, then next thing I know, I’m out in the woods of Georgia looking for a deranged killer.”

  I wanted to laugh, but I knew it wasn’t funny and she’d probably smack me if I let out one chuckle.

  As we drove down the quiet street, Lacey asked, “You seem quiet, Bama. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing’s going on.”

  “Come on. Talk to me,” Lacey said.

  I shrugged. I’m sure it’s just the house. Plus, I feel like Reed is keeping something from me. He’s been distant from his uncle… and from me for that matter.”

  Mama had been listening from the backseat. “Maybe you need to spice things up in the bedroom?”

  Lacey giggled. There were some things you wished you’d never heard and Mama’s question was one of them. If only I could erase my memory and pretend she’d never said it.

  “Do they police have any leads in the man’s murder?” Lacey asked.

  “Not that I know of,” I said.

  “Did you notice anything strange at the crime scene?” Lacey flashed a pitying smile.

  She probably knew I hated thinking about finding another dead body.

  “She needs to stop finding murder victims,” Mama said from her spot in the backseat.

  “There wasn’t anything unusual. Other than a piece of peppermint candy that was beside the body.”

  “Oh, maybe the killer left it?”

  “But why?” I asked. “Does the killer want to be known as the ‘Peppermint Killer’?”

  Mama scoffed. “Well, you never know.”

  I steered the car out onto the road and realized just how spooky the area was in the dark of night. We probably shouldn’t be going to Melody’s house this late at night, but it was my only chance to speak with her. I didn’t want to chance not having the opportunity to go when Reed was awake, so waiting until tomorrow wasn’t an option. I hated keeping things from him, but it was for his own good.

  The tall trees made the road even darker and all I saw were the lines on the road in front of the headlights. I expected Bigfoot to step out in front of the car at any moment. Was the man out there in the woods? Was he camping out there or did he really have a home? I refused to believe that I’d seen a ghost. He was a living person and I needed to find out where his house could be. Reed said there weren’t any other homes nearby.

  “I think we should stay in the car while you talk to this young lady,” my mother said from her prime spot in the middle of the backseat.

  I turned around in the seat to gape at her. “What? The whole reason for you coming was to back me up.”

  She straightened her shirt and brushed imaginary lint from her pants trying to avoid my stare. “It’s just so late. It’s rude to make a visit this late at night.”

  Lacey chuckled. “Sylvia does have a point.”

  I cast a quick glare at Lacey. “Thanks for the help.” I released a deep breath. “Fine. I don’t need you two anyway. Stay in the car.”

  “Oh, now don’t get your feathers ruffled. We’ll stay in the car as your lookouts,” Mama said.

  I knew my mother would be telling all her friends that she went on a special assignment to Georgia. In reality she was hiding in the car like a scared chihuahua.

  “How did you convince Daddy to let you come anyway?” I asked.

  She scoffed. “He knew we needed a girls’ weekend.”

  Finally, I made it out onto the main road where there was more traffic. After about a mile, I noticed car lights following really closely behind us. Was it that same car? Could it be Amanda? Maybe it was the killer? My heart rate increased and I gripped the steering wheel tighter. I debated whether I should mention the car to Lacey or my mother.

  Lacey must have noticed my expression because she asked, “Is something wrong?”

  Mama leaned up in the seat. “What’s wrong?”

  I hesitated, then said, “I think there’s a car following us.”

  “Oh, my word. It’s the killer. I knew we shouldn’t have come out tonight.”

  “Calm down, Sylvia. It’ll be okay. It’s probably not following us.”

  I shouldn’t have mentioned it. “No, it’s not following us,” I said as I watched the headlights grow closer until the car was practically on my bumper.

  I sped up and the car trailing me matched my speed. Okay, now I knew it was following us. I glanced over at Lacey and she gave me a look of concern.

  My mother whined in the backseat, mumbling something about never seeing my father again. I’d almost gotten her killed once and now I had emerged her in another life-threatening situation. She needed to stay far away from me. Everyone did.

  “Don’t worry, we’re coming up to a congested area with lots of lights. I’ll drive to the police station if I have to.”

  “Speed up, maybe the police will stop you for speeding,” Mama added.

  I punched the gas more and flew through a yellow light.

  “Turn in the McDonald’s,” Mama said. “We can hide out in there. Plus, I’m hungry.”

  I rolled my eyes. “The car turned right at the light. I think we lost them, so there’s no need for McDonald’s right now.”

  “I really wanted a cheeseburger,” Mama said with poutiness in her voice.

  “Who do you think it was?” Lacey asked.

  “I’m not sure, but the car followed Reed and I earlier.”

  “Oh my God. The same car followed you earlier? Why didn’t you say anything?” Lacey yelled.

  I glanced in the mirror again to make sure the car hadn’t returned. “I didn’t think it would happen again.”

  “I don’t know for sure, but it looked like Reed’s ex-girlfriend. I met her at the restaurant right before you all got there.”

  “Interesting,” Lacey said.

  “Well, she needs to realize that Reed has a new woman in his life now. Maybe I should have a talk with the poor girl,” Mama said.

  Oh dear. I now felt sorry for Amanda Porter.

  “Of course there’s another woman too. Evelyn Arlington,” I said.

  “Is Reed cheating on you with Evelyn Arlington?”

  “She’s eighty years old!”

  “Just because there’s snow on the roof doesn’t mean there’s not a fire in the furnace,” Mama quipped.

  “Mama!”

  “They could be at her retirement village as we speak. They have a lot of nice amenities at those places. That’s some
thing that may attract Reed.”

  “Well, if you like the amenities so much…” I glanced in the rear-view mirror.

  Mama didn’t look amused.

  Chapter Nineteen

  When I pulled into Melody’s driveway, no cars were there and the house was dark. Just what I needed, she wasn’t home. I decided I would knock on the door anyway. It was late, maybe she’d gone to bed early. She wouldn’t be happy with me if I woke her. The last time we’d spoken, she’d made it obvious that I wasn’t her favorite person, although I wasn’t sure what I’d done to make her feel that way about me.

  The house was a small, brick ranch. It looked like the many others surrounding it. The neighborhood was quiet as most everyone had settled in their homes for the night.

  “Are y’all sure you don’t want to come with me?” I asked Lacey and Mama.

  “You go ahead and talk to her, honey,” Mama patted me on the shoulder.

  I slipped out from behind the wheel and mustered up enough courage to head toward the front door. As I made it up the sidewalk, the sound of a car and headlights caught my attention. The small silver coupe pulled up behind mine in the driveway. My stomach flipped. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. I should have followed Reed’s advice and waited until he came with me.

  Melody stepped out from her car and walked toward me. She glanced at Lacey and my mother sitting in the car and frowned. They waved but she ignored them and focused her attention on me again. This girl could be a little scary. She looked like she wanted to kick my ass. Would she call the police and have me arrested for trespassing?

  “Hi,” I said in my friendliest tone when she got close enough to hear me.

  Yeah, that was a good ice breaker.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” she asked.

  Well, she didn’t beat around the bush, I’d give her that.

  “I wondered if I could have a word with you?” I tried to make eye contact when I spoke, but she’d already dismissed me.

  “What do you want to talk about?” she asked as she walked past me.

  At least she hadn’t tried to stab me or anything when she brushed by. I hurried along behind her to the front door. Would she invite me in, and for that matter, did I want to go in if she did invite me? Something told me she wouldn’t have cookies and lemonade waiting for me.

  “I wanted to talk with you about Gordon Millerton. About what you said last night.”

  And the little detail about what her husband had said. Was he home? Were they still together?

  “There is nothing left to talk about. I told you everything last night. I don’t want to discuss that man anyway.” She waved me off as if shooing away a stray dog.

  “Well, as you know, your cousin is being questioned about his murder, so I’m just trying to find out as many details as I can about the man.” I hurried along behind her just like a little lost puppy.

  “Does Reed know you’re here? Did he send you? Or did Uncle Lou send you? He never liked me anyway.” She cast a sideways glare at me.

  Hmm. That hadn’t been mentioned before. I wondered what that was all about. I’d have to try to get more details later. The twists and turns just kept coming. She stopped at the door and glared at me.

  “Are you going to let me in?” I asked.

  I placed my foot on the threshold. Maybe that was a bad idea because I didn’t think she’d care to smash my foot in it. And to think she had been so nice at the reunion. This was a turn in personality for sure.

  Finally, she opened the door wider and waved me in. I stepped into the house, but wondered if I was stepping into the spider’s web. I didn’t want to ask where her husband was because that could be a touchy subject considering what he’d told me about her and Gordon. Did she know what he’d told me? Had they broken up?

  The front door opened into the small living room. Beyond that was the dining room and to the left the kitchen. There was a hallway that I assumed led to the bedrooms. A few wedding portraits decorated the walls.

  She tossed her purse on the brown-leather recliner chair by the door and gestured toward the beige sofa. “Sit down if you want, but I hope you don’t get too comfortable.”

  She was such a lovely hostess. I took that as a hint and didn’t sit down. If this is the way she treated her cousin’s girlfriend, then how did she treat a stranger?

  She crossed her arms in front of her chest and stared at me. “Well?”

  My tongue seemed to have mysteriously stopped working. Now was my chance. I had to speak.

  Finally, I said, “I didn’t know whether to bring this up, but I talked to your husband last night and he said you were having an affair with Gordon.” There it was out there in the open.

  “What? He told you that? He had no right.” Her expression grew hard and resentful.

  “I didn’t ask him for the information.” Melody was raising my blood pressure.

  She took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Okay, yes, we were having an affair, but I had nothing to do with his death. Do you think I killed him?” She measured her words and stared straight at me.

  That was when it truly hit me that she possibly could be the killer and I was standing in the same room with her accusing her. It was time for me to leave. But like I said, I didn’t always make the best decisions, so instead I kept talking.

  I picked at invisible lint on my shirt. “Well, it is a possibility. I’m not saying you did, but technically I could see where you would be a suspect.” I forced myself to look at her.

  Her face had turned red and her nostrils were actually flared. How would I explain to Reed that I’d had a fight with his cousin? She looked as if she was ready to punch me at any second.

  When she didn’t speak, I added, “But your husband would have just as much reason for wanting Gordon dead too.”

  “Now you’re accusing my husband? He may have a temper, but how dare you accuse him of doing such a thing.”

  I just kept stirring the pot. She was like an angry hornet and I kept swatting at her. It was time for me to change gears.

  “Do you know anything about papers that Gordon wanted to give us? That was why we were there that morning,” I said.

  She shook her head. “No, he never mentioned it.”

  When Melody looked away, I glanced around the room. I looked down at the coffee table and spotted a file holder. McKeeley Plantation was written on the tab. Of course I had to know what was in that folder, but how would I get it without her noticing?

  “Would it be possible to get a drink of water?”

  If she hadn’t looked at me like I was crazy before she certainly did now.

  After a long, awkward pause, she said, “Fine.”

  As soon as she walked out of the room, I grabbed the file and shoved it under my shirt, tucking it into the waistband of my pants. I hurried over to the front door. My hand was on the doorknob when she walked back into the room.

  “I thought you wanted water?” she huffed.

  “I decided that maybe I just need fresh air. I’m not feeling well. Thanks for talking to me.” I rushed out the door, not looking back at her.

  If she discovered that I’d taken that folder, she’d probably chase me and pull my hair out. Mama and Lacey both had their faces practically smashed against the car windows when I returned. I jumped behind the wheel and slammed the door.

  “Why are you breathing so heavily?” Lacey asked.

  I pulled the file from my shirt and shoved it at her. “I got this file from the plantation. She doesn’t know I took it and I think she was keeping the papers from me.”

  I cranked the engine, shoved the gear into reverse and punched the gas.

  When I’d pulled out onto the street, Lacey said, “I hate to break this to you, Nancy Drew, but the file is empty.”

  I didn’t use bad language often, but there were a few choice words that came to my mind at that moment. I bit my tongue in front of my mother.

  Mama tsked. “Oh, bab
y. See, this is just not your forte.”

  “Is that right, Mama?” I snapped. “Then what the hell is my forte?”

  “Well!” she proclaimed.

  She’d surely try to shove soap in my mouth for that one.

  After a long stretch of awkward silence, my mother said, “We should go find the girlfriend. It’s a small town and it would be easy to find. What’s her name?”

  “Amanda,” I said without thinking. “No, wait, we can’t do that. I’m not going to be the crazy current girlfriend going after the crazy ex-girlfriend.”

  “Suit yourself.”

  I glanced in the rear-view mirror to see my mother with that sulking look as she gazed out the window.

  “You know, it’s not such a terrible idea,” Lacey said.

  “Thank you, sweetie.” My mother patted Lacey’s shoulder.

  “Don’t get any ideas,” I warned.

  “I’m just sayin’.” She raised her hands up in surrender.

  “You’re just like my mother now. You two have been hanging out too much.”

  “Hey, I resent that.”

  “I resent it too,” I quipped.

  “You apologize right now.” Mama waved her finger in my direction.

  “I’m sorry, Mama,” I said through gritted teeth.

  After finally arriving back at the cabin and my partners in crime leaving, I crawled into bed next to Reed. He wrapped his arms around me. For now he was oblivious that I’d been anywhere. But soon enough Melody would tell him what I’d done.

  The window was open and a breeze floated through, blowing the sheer curtains like sails in the wind. After a few minutes, Reed woke. I was wrapped in Reed’s arms and we both stared at the ceiling in silence.

  “I missed you,” he said.

  “I was talking with Lacey and Mama.”

  I hated not being completely truthful with him.

  “I figured that was what you were doing.” He softly kissed the back of my neck.

  We lay in the quiet. I relished being in his warm arms. I didn’t want him to be angry with me, although I was used to fighting with him. We both said exactly what was on our minds and that could make for a lot of heated exchanges.