The Ghosts of Stanton Hall

by John Simpson

  Ryan realized that he had complicated the working relationship considerably. Who could blame him, though? He had to sleep with that hunk every night, and he just couldn’t resist giving in to temptation. After all, he was a flesh-and-blood human, not a bodiless ghost!

  He dressed and went downstairs to the heavenly smell of frying bacon. When he sat down at the table, Scott came through the doors and put down his favorite: Eggs Benedict with a side of bacon and hash, toast, coffee, and orange juice. Two minutes later, Scott joined Ryan with toast and coffee.

  “You okay with what happened last night?” Ryan asked.

  “Sure, it was great sex; why wouldn’t I be okay with it?” Scott replied.

  “Well, I just feel kinda guilty about maybe crossing a line, but damn, Scott, it’s been hard sleeping with you and keeping my hands to myself. I guess I’m weak.”

  “Oh, I know it’s been hard! But ya know what? If I hadn’t wanted it too, it wouldn’t have happened. It was what it was: great sex. Now eat your breakfast.”

  As they ate, the two men kept shooting each other smiles, flirting a little. By the end of breakfast, Ryan had one more thing to say. “About this virgin ass thing….”

  “Yes?”

  “I’m gonna get me some of that.”

  Both men laughed as the rear doorbell rang. “Oh shit, already?” Ryan asked.

  Ryan opened the door to the construction foreman. “Mr. Belcrest, we got a problem.”

  “What is it?”

  “We began to dismantle the furnace and found a lot of soot-like material. Since it used to be a crematorium, we figure they’re human ashes. We just can’t take it apart with it like that,” the foreman said.

  “Shit. I never thought to look inside the capture trays. Look, I’ll call someone about it. In the meantime, is there another part of the job you can be doing?”

  “Yeah, we got a lot more prep work like removing the windows so the glass doesn’t spray out when we destroy the building, but that’ll only take a couple hours at the most.”

  “Okay, you keep working, and I’ll see what I can do.”

  Ryan went into his office and called Mark. Mark was in court, so Ryan left a message. Next, he called Father Ken at St. John’s. Father John was in a meeting, so he left a message for him as well. Ryan didn’t know whom else to call, so he went to where Scott was polishing woodwork.

  “So what was the problem?” Scott asked.

  “Oh, nothing, just human remains in the furnace, and of course, they won’t touch it until there are no human remains in the furnace.”

  “Wow, that ain’t right, ya know?” Scott said.

  “No shit, it ain’t right. That place hasn’t been used in at least three or four years, which means that’s how long those ashes have been out there. If what we found in the woods was ashes too, that means they weren’t properly disposing of them. Now it’s my problem!”

  “Do you think that’s why we have other ghosts besides Phillip? I mean, they could very well be pissed off that they weren’t treated with respect.”

  “Well, that could be what the older ghost meant by, ‘They didn’t do right by us’.”

  “So what are you going to do about it?”

  “Well, I’ve got messages in at Father Ken’s and Mark’s offices. I’m hoping someone will call me back.”

  The phone rang, and Ryan ran to the office to answer it. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Ryan. Father Ken here.”

  “Oh, thank God you called back so quickly. I have a problem that I’m hoping you can help with. I’m having the old crematorium torn down and removed. When the construction crew went to dismantle the furnace, they found it full of human ashes. They won’t continue until the ashes are removed. Can you suggest anything?”

  “That is a problem. I suppose the right thing would be to remove the ashes and inter them with a proper burial.”

  “There’s more. Scott and I found what we think is a bed of ashes just inside the tree line behind the crematorium. I imagine they didn’t have a proper burial either.”

  “This has to be put right. I can come out there, but I’m not prepared to dig around in an old furnace; I’m afraid you’ll have to do that yourself. Once it’s done, pick a spot that will be treated as the cemetery. That means it can’t be used for a rose garden next year, you understand?”

  “Yes, Father, I understand. When can you get here?”

  “I can be there for a service by four o’clock. But who are you going to get to remove the ashes?”

  “Scott.”

  “Good luck with that! If you don’t get the furnace cleaned out, please call me so I don’t make a trip out there with all my vestments for nothing.”

  “Will do. Father, do you suppose this is why we have ghosts?”

  “If you have ghosts, and that’s a big if, then yes, I’d imagine that they belong to the people who were not given a proper burial.”

  “Thanks, I’ll see you at four.”

  Chapter Nine

  “SCOTT!” Ryan called out.

  “I’m in the library,” Scott responded.

  Ryan found Scott on his hands and knees polishing the legs on a large Duncan Fife reading table. “Scott, I’ve got a chore for you,” Ryan said with great apprehension.

  “Sure, what is it?”

  “You know that old furnace in the crematorium?”

  “Yeah, what about it?”

  “We need to empty the ashes out of it before the construction company will proceed with the tear down.”

  “What? You want me to empty human remains out of a rusty old furnace. Are you fucking crazy?” Scott shouted.

  “Calm down. I don’t have a choice. If I don’t get it taken care of, they’re going to leave, and the job will stop, and I’ll still have to pay for the day! Help me out here, please!”

  “Anything else, while we’re at it?” Scott’s voice was heavy with sarcasm.

  “Actually, there is. We need to pick a place for all the ashes to be properly interred. Father Ken’s coming out at four o’clock today to perform the service.”

  “And if I say no?” Scott asked defiantly.

  “Of course, you’re entitled to refuse, but… no more great blow jobs for you.”

  “Damn! You picked my one weakness. Ghosts, ghouls, and human ashes were definitely not in the job description when I was hired!”

  “I’ll give ya the ghosts, but ghouls? I don’t believe we’ve run across those yet.”

  “Give it time! We’re about to go messing around in a bunch of human remains; there’s no telling what we’ll stir up!”

  “I’m sorry, Scott; I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t in a bind. I’ll make sure you get a sizable bonus for helping me out.”

  “I’ll help you, but I get to pick the bonus, agreed?”

  “Agreed. Put on some old clothes that you won’t mind burning afterward and meet me at the back door.”

  In less than ten minutes, both men left the house carrying shovels, trash bags, and gloves. As they arrived at the building, the foreman came up to Ryan. “We got about another ten minutes’ worth of work and then that’s it,” he said

  “How about when you’re done, you give your men an hour break? Tell them to take an early lunch and be back at noon. The furnace will be clean by then, and you can continue the demolition.” Ryan paused. “Can we possibly borrow two breathing masks?”

  “Sure thing. You know that break is going to cost you a little, right?”

  “Yeah, I know,” Ryan answered morosely.

  SCOTT and Ryan entered the building and went to the furnace. It was a sunny day, and there was plenty of light in the building with the doors and windows removed. Ryan opened all traps on the furnace and found about three inches of ash in the collection drawers. He and Scott put on the borrowed breathing masks. As Scott held open a trash bag, Ryan shoveled ashes out of the furnace and into the plastic container. This went on until they had four large bags filled with human ashes. Having removed
as much of the ash as possible, they took off the masks and carried the bags to the tree line.

  After a short breather, they looked around for a spot to bury it all. “Look, it doesn’t make sense to move too far from this spot since all of this has to be put into the new hole. So why not make it right over here near this clump of scrub bushes?” Scott asked.

  “I agree. The crew should be back any moment now. I’ll ask them to use their backhoe to dig a nice deep hole and scoop this pile of ashes into it. Then we’ll add the bagged ashes, and that should make everyone happy.”

  Shortly after they made the decision, the crew returned, and Ryan told the foreman what was needed. The backhoe made quick work of both the digging and the transferring of the ashes that had been dumped on the ground. Ryan and Scott added the ashes from the trash bags and then covered all the ashes with earth, forming a small mound.

  “You guys did a good job on the furnace,” the foreman said. “We’re gonna run some water through it and rinse off the floor. The remaining ash should wash out onto the ground where it can soak up into the earth. When that’s done, we will continue with the job.”

  “Thank you. A priest will be here at four to conduct a committal service for the remains we just buried. We’ll be back then.”

  Scott and Ryan went back to the house. As they approached the rear door, Ryan suggested they remove their clothes. “Let’s not go tracking human ashes into the house. I think that’s the last thing we want.”

  “Agreed, let’s get it done, and then I’m taking a long shower.”

  The men left a pile of work clothes lying by the back door and took showers. When they were finished, they had a light lunch and waited for Father Ken to finish this necessary deed.

  At the stroke of four, Father Ken knocked on the front door, and Scott let him in. “Hello, Father,” Ryan said.

  “Were you able to get all of the ashes into the same hole?”

  “Yes, Father, we just need you to send them on their way.”

  “All right, let’s get to it,” the priest said. After he was vested for a funeral service, the three men walked to the crematorium. The construction crew had quit for the day with the hope of finishing tomorrow.

  When they round the curve, Scott and Ryan were shocked to see the building was down and partially removed.

  “They didn’t waste any time, did they?” Scott asked.

  “Well, they said they would get this job done in a hurry. Guess they weren’t kidding,” replied Ryan.

  They took Father Ken to the fresh burial space and the priest gave the deceased what they had never had before: a proper burial. Once he sprinkled the earth with holy water, it was done. Ryan felt a sense of peace descend over him, letting him know that he had done the right thing.

  Back at the house, Father Ken divested as Scott put a simple dinner on the table. Father Ken declined to stay as he had a prior commitment, but before he could get out the door, the ghost gave him a proper sendoff.

  The three of them were in the living room saying their goodbyes, and Ryan slipped the priest an envelope for his services. “It’s the least I could do for you sending them on their way.”

  “Thank you, that wasn’t necessary, but is much appreciated,” Father Ken said.

  As the priest reached for his vestments on the sofa, the clothing rose into the air and floated over to him. The priest turned white as he swiftly crossed himself.

  “Well, now, ya see, Father, the ghosts are saying thank you.” Ryan smiled as Father Ken snatched the vestments from unseen hands and beat a hasty retreat out the front door.

  “I don’t think he’s used to seeing ghostly manifestations, do you?” Scott asked.

  “I’d have to believe that was the first time that he’s encountered such a thing,” replied Ryan. They laughed as Scott closed the door.

  After dinner, they retired to the living room with coffee. “It’s been a stressful day, wouldn’t you say?” Ryan asked.

  “I think you could say that,” Scott replied.

  “May they get more peaceful every day,” Ryan said

  “Now, as to the matter of my bonus….”

  “Set your price; just make it reasonable.”

  “My bonus will be the extreme joy of you bottoming for me,” Scott said with a leer.

  “What? No way! I was speaking about a financial bonus.”

  “You said that I could name it. Well, I’ve named it. Are you backing out on your obligation?” Scott asked.

  “No, but it isn’t fair. I was speaking of money, not ass!”

  “I suggest next time you be more precise when you offer a bonus.”

  “We’ll see. Now get the kitchen cleaned up!”

  “Oh, getting testy, are we?”

  “Not really. I just don’t like to be duped!”

  After a nightcap, both men retired to bed with the hopes of a quiet night. For once, their prayers were answered. They slept well and were up early the next morning when the construction crew returned. As the workers in pickup trucks arrived, Ryan and Scott showered and had breakfast. In a little under three hours, the last of the dump trucks rolled out with the remains of the old crematorium. True peace fell upon Stanton Hall for the first time.

  Ryan felt very relieved that the building and its contents were gone and that the poor deceased had been properly buried. He hoped that was the reason the unfriendly ghosts had remained and that now they had gone on to their rewards.

  The phone rang, and Ryan picked it up with an air of hope.

  “Hello, Mark. How are you?”

  “I’m doing fine. Listen, got good news for you. I managed to get the names of Phillip’s killers to the Philadelphia police. The last I heard, they were brought in for questioning. I’m about to call and find out if the detectives were able to determine anything. You want to listen in?” Mark asked.

  “Damn right I do. You know what it’s been like around here.”

  “Okay, stay quiet.”

  Ryan was put on hold as Mark dialed the Philly police. “Phillip, if you’re around, now’s the time for you to listen,” Ryan said to the air.

  The phone clicked once more, and Ryan had a live connection as the detective in charge of the case came on the phone.

  “Detective Morgan, were you able to find out anything?” Mark asked.

  “I don’t know how you got this information, but the guy from Philly gave it all up. He said that he’s had a guilty conscience since that night. He and his pal didn’t mean to kill the victim. His partner initially denied any knowledge of the crime. When we confronted him with his partner’s confession, he gave it up as well. It’s not often we get to close out a nine-year-old homicide, and I want to thank you. Justice late is better than no justice at all.”

  “I’m happy to hear that, detective. Thank you so much for taking my information seriously and for doing the interviews that broke the case wide open. Good work!” Mark said.

  “They’ll go to trial in about three months, but they’ll plead out and go to jail for five years. It’s over.”

  “Thank you again, detective; have a good evening.”

  Ryan hung up the phone with a big smile. He couldn’t wait until he was certain that Phillip had heard the news. He went looking for Scott and blurted out the news.

  “Really! Damn, that’s outstanding. Now maybe Phillip can move on and find his eternal peace and this house might return to normal. We can only hope.”

  “You can say that again.”

  All of a sudden, a great wailing was heard throughout the house. It seemed to be coming from every room and every piece of furniture. Both men had to put their hands over their ears to cushion them from the verbal assault.

  “Phillip, why are you crying? I’ve got wonderful news for you!” Ryan yelled as loud as he could.

  The crying died out until there was silence. After a moment, Phillip appeared sitting in a chair. “Thank you, Ryan, for what you’ve done for me; I can never repay you.”

&nb
sp; “So you know then?”

  “Yes, I knew when I heard my name and the names of my killers in the atmosphere of Stanton Hall. I’m overcome with relief. I wish I could repay you.”

  “Phillip, do you really want to repay me for this?” Ryan asked

  “Yes, if there’s anything I can do for you, I will.”

  “Go into the light, Phillip. Go to your final rest and be at peace. You’ve spent more years than are required of you here on earth. You’re free to go now, so please go!”

  “True, there’s nothing stopping me. I was beginning to enjoy fucking with you and your friends. Stanton Hall has been my home for nine years now. But you’re right; it’s time for me to move on… almost.”

  “Almost? What else is there, Phillip? You have justice. What else is there?” Ryan asked.

  “Don’t be mad at me, but I want to see Harry once more. I want him to know that I still love him. Will you call him and get him to come here?”

  “What? Phillip, be reasonable. What am I supposed to do? Call this man up and tell him that the ghost of his dead lover wants to see him again? I’d be surprised if he didn’t just hang up!”

  “Get a piece of paper and pen. Go!” Phillip commanded.

  “I’ll get it,” said Scott.

  When Scott returned, Ryan sat down at the table. “Okay, go on.”

  “When you get him on the phone, just say this: ‘Harry, I have a message from Phillip. He told me to tell you this so you would know that I’m not crazy or scamming you. On your last date, while you and Phillip were watching The Perfect Storm, Phillip turned to you in the movie theater and said, ‘I could go like that as long as I was with you’.”

  “And no one else knows of that conversation except you two?” Ryan asked.

  “No one. Tell him that I want to see him before I leave this earth and ask him to come here.”

  “Oh, this ought to be real fun. I don’t know, Phillip; are you sure you want to do this?”

  “His number is on your computer screen. Please do this for me.”