“I’m sorry I accused him of killing me, but I’m not sorry for the sack of crap he is. Maybe sitting in the jail will give him time to think back about how he tried to break up me and Leotta.” Anger spewed from his mouth.
“Cephus.” The old mill was not in the best shape. There were more clapboards hanging off the side than hammered in. “You are going to have to get over that. I hate to tell you that you’re dead. Don’t you want Leotta to be happy?”
“No one made Leotta happy but me.” He crossed his arms and lifted his chin in a debonair way.
“When you were living. What about now?” I asked. “Don’t you want her to be with someone like Vernon Baxter, who can give her anything?”
“You sayin’ I didn’t give her anything? I did.” His brows furrowed. “I took her to the flea market every single weekend, giving her twenty-five dollars, telling her she could get whatever she wanted. If that ain’t treatin’ a woman right, then I don’t know what was.”
“How generous of you,” I said in a monotone voice.
“Besides, she’s with Terk Rhinehammer.” Nervously, he tapped the windowsill. “That makes me mad too. Why are we here?”
“I need to find the editor of the old Sleepy Hollow newspaper.” I opened the door and got out.
I put my hands on my hips and took a good look around me. I wasn’t sure what the best way to get into the mill was going to be. The large, wooden, sliding door had ivy grown up and around it. There was no way in there unless I had cutters to cut the vine.
“I thought you were working on my case?” he muttered. “I knew Chicken Teater was crazy when he was alive. Seems like dying didn’t help him any. He gave bad advice.”
I took a deep breath. There was no sense in arguing with a ghost. I took the first steps toward the mill and noticed another small door on the side that was hanging off the top hinges. The weeds around it had grown up and kept it open.
I grabbed the emergency kit out of the back of the hearse and took out the flashlight.
I pointed the flashlight through the open door into complete darkness. With the help of the light, I could see there was a desk and some papers scattered around. That was my target. With the flashlight aimed on the prize, I slipped into the mill, letting the darkness wrap around me.
Prickles traveled up my legs and arms. I knew I wasn’t in any harm, but the thought of a creepy mill and the darkness reminded me of one of those scary movies that I would see on the TV and scream at the girl to walk back up the stairs and not go down into the dark basement, where the killer was waiting for her.
“Cephus?” I asked.
Not that he was going to be able to help me if a killer was in there, but knowing he was there did make me feel better.
“No way I’m going in there,” Cephus called out from behind me. “I don’t like snakes.”
“Me either, but you need me to figure out who killed you, right?” I asked, and took another step.
Something scurried around my foot and I immediately flashed the light to the ground.
“Oh my God!” I screamed when the rat ran in the opposite direction. “Hurry, hurry.” I encouraged myself to see what was on the table.
There were all sorts of notes and notebooks, along with a copy of the newspaper. I flashed the light to the top of it. The volume number was nine and the notepad next to it said volume ten.
“You see something?” Cephus asked from the outside.
“I think the paper ran nine weeks because of the volume numbers.” I glanced down at the notebook and saw the words gambling ring printed on it. “I think I found something.”
Just as I grabbed the paper, some sort of explosion happened, knocking me to the ground.
“Emma Lee?” I heard Cephus call out my name through the dust. “Emma Lee?” His voice was a little more frantic this time.
“Over here!” I coughed out, and tried to sit up. The papers were still in my grip.
“Get out!” Cephus was more urgent than ever. “Or you’ll be joining me on this side!”
I jumped up and tried to run as fast as I could to the small light from the outside world coming through the door. I could see Cephus’s outline.
“What?” My head hurt. The smell of fire made my head twirl around.
Flames fluttered around the old mill’s ceiling right before another explosion blew the roof off.
“Hurry!” He motioned with his hands. The look on his face told me I better haul ass. “Hurry!” Urgency rang in my ears.
I flung myself out the door and outside the mill and landed on the ground just in time. The mill shot up to the sky, exploding into pieces.
Chapter 15
I scrambled away on my knees and hands, still gripping the papers, and planted my body up against the hearse. The sound of sirens echoed in the background.
“Emma Lee, are you okay?” Cephus stood next to me, the look of concern set deep in his eyes.
I nodded, taking in several breaths. My chest heaved up and down. Fire engines roared up the road. I opened the hearse door and threw the papers inside. I tried to steady my shaking hands when I saw the fire trucks pull in and Jack Henry closely following them in his cop car.
“Emma Lee?” Jack Henry jumped out of the cruiser and rushed to my side.
Immediately, I started to cry. A lump caught in my throat. It was the closest to death I had ever come. And I wasn’t ready to join my clients on the other side.
I melted into Jack Henry’s arms. He rubbed and kissed my head, letting me know it was going to be all right.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
The firefighters were busy trying to put out the flames from the burning mill. Black smoke billowed around us.
Jack Henry ushered me back to his car. He took a blanket out from the trunk and placed it over me once he got inside next to me.
“Please don’t tell me this has to do with Cephus Hardy.” He already knew the answer before I had to admit to it. “Damn, Emma Lee. I almost lost you.”
“I’m fine.” I shook off the notion that I really did almost go up in flames.
“I don’t care. What about the next time you get a hair up your butt and decide to investigate?” He rolled down his window when the fire inspector walked over and gestured for him to roll it down.
“I can tell you right now that this was no accident.” He held a piece of pipe in his hands along with some wire nuts. “Someone wanted this place to no longer exist. I’ll finish up after they get all the flames out, but this was found a few feet from the back.”
“I’ll be right back.” Jack Henry got out of the car and walked behind where the old mill used to sit.
He squatted and looked around the tall grass. I watched as he got up and looked through it. There was nothing behind the old mill but a creek and woods.
“Someone knew you were here.” Cephus played with the ring on his finger. “They knew you were here and wanted to make sure whatever it was that was in there stayed there.”
“Right.” My head felt like someone had taken a hammer to it. “Or they were sending me a clear warning to stop nosing around.”
Patiently, I waited in the car for Jack Henry to finish up the quick investigative work before he drove me home and tucked me in the bed.
One thing I loved about my small town was no matter what your relationship was with someone, in the time of tragedy, everyone pulled together.
Word had spread fast about the old-mill explosion. Everyone and their brother had called to make sure I was okay and if there was anything they could do for me. Even Beulah Paige Bellefry stopped by with some lemon bars.
“I’m fine,” I assured Granny from the comfort of my bed. “I promise. I don’t need to see Doc Clyde.”
Granny wasn’t happy with my answer but hung up anyway.
“I’m ordering you to stop looking into Cephus’s death.” Jack Henry sat on the edge of my bed. “I swear I will lock you up in the cell with Vernon Baxter if you don’t. Th
at way I’ll know that you are safe.”
“I’m fine.” I bit my lip. I had yet to see what the papers I had confiscated said. “Where is my car?”
“I had one of the firefighters drive it back.” He rubbed his hand along my face. “I don’t know what I would have done if you were in there during the explosion.”
He bent down and gently kissed my lips. I put my hand behind his neck to keep him there. His kisses were better than any headache medicine.
“I’m fine,” I assured him again when he pulled away.
“Can you remember what happened?” Jack Henry pulled out a notebook from the pocket of his cop shirt.
“Really?” I asked.
“Someone wanted that place gone. And I can’t help but have a feeling that someone knew you were out there.” He tapped the pad with his pencil. “I’m not going to let them get away with it.”
I flung the covers back and swung my feet around to the floor to sit next to him.
“All I know is that I went to the mill to see if I could see any remains of the newspaper.” I rubbed his leg, hoping it would help him forget some of the questions he was about to barrage me with.
It didn’t work. He stood up and paced back and forth, drilling me.
“Why?”
“Because I can’t help but think Cephus was somehow in that gambling ring. I want to talk to the editor.”
“Did you make it inside the mill?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see anything?” he asked, his eyes focused on me as though I were in the interrogation room.
“Nope. Not a thing.” I pressed my lips together in a frown. “I walked out, and the next thing I knew, there was an explosion.”
“You weren’t inside when it exploded?” he asked.
I shook my head.
“Hmm.” He wrote on the pad. “The explosion was from a few pipe bombs. One would have destroyed it, but two would destroy any contents, including you.”
“I get it.” I threw my hands in the air. The clock said it was about time for Granny’s meet-the-candidate grill out. “I’m starving.”
I steadied myself on the bed and stood up.
“Where do you think you are going?” He rushed to my side.
“I’m not going to let someone scare me. I’m going to Granny’s event.” I walked into the bathroom and turned the faucet on.
“Emma Lee, I don’t like this one bit.” He followed my every move. “I’m calling a deputy to come in so I can stay by your side. At least until I can get some answers back from the fire marshal.”
I grinned ear to ear. “If I’d known a little explosion would help us spend more time together, I’d have put myself in danger a long time ago.” I batted my lashes before I headed into the shower.
Tonight, I would be a good girl, but tomorrow was a different story. I had the article the editor was working on and I hoped there was a name or a clue for me to look into. Yes, tonight I would be the good granddaughter and girlfriend. But tomorrow . . . I would follow up any leads. No one was going to try to kill me and get away with it.
It was personal now.
Chapter 16
I’m fine,” I assured everyone who asked me during Granny’s meet-the-candidate affair.
Granny was busy handing out flags and buttons. Jack Henry never left my side. Even Hettie Bell gave me some yoga moves to help with my sore body.
“I still don’t know why you were out there.” Disappointment settled in Charlotte Rae’s deep hazel eyes.
She wasn’t buying the whole story that I was just taking a drive.
“I’m glad you are here.” I changed the subject. “Granny appreciates it.”
“Ummhmm.” She gave me the wonky eye and brought the glass of tea up to her lips.
“I’m going to grab a pulled-pork sandwich. Do you want one?” I asked before I scurried away.
Even if she did want one, I wasn’t going to return to talk to her. Charlotte Rae had good instincts and she knew when I was lying. Jack Henry and I had agreed to the story I was telling everyone.
If there was someone trying to kill me or scare me off the gambling track, we didn’t want them to try again.
“How’s she doing?” Mary Anna walked up and pointed to Granny.
“Hey!” I was thrilled to see Mary Anna, Leotta and Teddy standing there. “I’m so glad you are here.”
“I’m not saying I’m voting for Zula.” Leotta wanted to make it clear. “I’m just here to see what all the candidates have to say. Bea Allen has been my best friend for years and I’m trying to spend time with her while she’s here.”
Leotta tucked her arm into the crook of Teddy’s elbow.
“Plus Teddy and Mary Anna wanted to come support her since she’s doing everything she can for O’Dell’s campaign.” Leotta smiled.
Cephus appeared next to her. It was the first time I had seen him since the accident at the mill this afternoon. He was so proud, looking at his family. There were tears in his eyes, making my eyes tear up.
Leotta reached out and grabbed my hand.
“We heard about the accident at the old mill.” She squeezed my hand. “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt.”
“That’s terrible.” Teddy shook his head. “Do they know what happened?”
“Not that I know of.” I shrugged. “I was on my way to a pre-need funeral arrangement appointment and I had forgotten about that old mill. When I saw it, I decided to pull over and look at it.”
“Oh my God, Emma Lee.” Mary Anna’s eyes popped. “Were you inside when it exploded?”
“No.” I was getting good at this lying stuff. “I was by my car and the next thing I knew, pow!” I threw my hands in the air, gesturing an explosion.
“Can I have your attention?” Granny’s voice boomed over the crowd that had come to see her.
The carnival music and kids’ screaming from the rides were in the background.
“I wanted to take the time to thank everyone for coming out tonight.” She did a good job of looking around the crowd as she talked. “I made all sorts of goodies for you and some of my sweet tea, so be sure to grab something before you go over to the carnival.”
Dottie Kramer stood near the tree. I was surprised to see her there. We all knew she was for O’Dell Burns. Sanford Brumfield wasn’t too far away from her though you could tell they were keeping their distance.
“Emma Lee, I wanted to talk to you before you leave tonight.” Leotta’s face was serious. The lines around her eyes deepened.
I wasn’t sure, but it looked like she knew something important and wanted to tell me, but right now wasn’t the time.
“Okay,” I said before the three of them walked off.
“What is that about?” Cephus asked.
“I don’t know,” I whispered. I glanced over at Jack Henry, who had been talking to some of the citizens who were inquisitive about the explosion. “I don’t know.”
Leotta knew something and she wanted me to know. I made a mental note to be sure to talk to her before the night was over.
“Tonight, I’m excited that Teddy Hardy has come to town to be our official ribbon cutter for the carnival fun.” Granny pointed to Teddy, who raised his hand to the crowd. “A true star.”
Teddy’s face turned a bright red, like the color of Granny’s hair.
“Before Teddy comes up here to cut the ribbon, I’d like to ask you for your vote. You let me take care of your loved ones when they moved beyond the physical world. I’m asking you to let me take care of you.” Granny smiled and raised her hands in the air.
The crowd applauded and started to chant Zula Fae.
“Lordy.” Charlotte Rae walked up and leaned in. “Just one more thing to make her head even bigger.”
“Stop it.” I laughed. Charlotte was right. Granny loved the attention.
The rally went on for a few more minutes. Teddy took the big scissors and was surrounded by the town-council members. He cut the ribbon. Everyone went c
razy.
Some small children had photos of Teddy in his wrestling uniforms and had him autograph them, along with some posters. Leotta, Mary Anna and Cephus beamed as they watched our local celebrity.
There was a little pride in all of us. As far as I knew, there weren’t any other celebrities who had come out of Sleepy Hollow. It was kind of exciting.
“You ready for that elephant ear?” Jack Henry asked.
“You bet.” I entwined my fingers in his and let him lead the way. “I’ve been watching them set this thing up over the past couple of days, craving the fattening things.”
The carnival was in full swing. Lines for the tilt-a-whirl and the Ferris wheel are always long. The zero-gravity ride, where you stand up, that twirled around and around, sideways and backward, made me sick just watching it.
“Anyone wanna go faster?” the carnie screamed in the microphone at the Himalayan ride. “Screeeeeammmm!”
The riders erupted in screams. The carnie did what he said he was going to do and shot the juice to the Himalayan, sending the ride faster and faster around the track.
Jack Henry and I laughed. Everyone was having a good time and I had even forgotten about my unfortunate run-in with a pipe bomb this afternoon.
“You better go save Zula Fae.” Cheryl Lynne nodded toward the dunking tank.
The clown was on the small seat, dangling over the water. His feet barely skimmed the water level. Granny had her fist in the air, her mouth going a mile a minute. O’Dell Burns and Bea Allen Burns were laughing hysterically next to her.
“Oh no.” My eyes grew big and I glanced over at Jack Henry before I darted off in Granny’s direction.
“Knock me in the water, water,” the clown taunted Granny. His voice rang over the crowd from a speaker on a tripod stand. “Come on, old lady, knock me in the waaaater, water!”
Granny grabbed a ball from bucket at her feet and threw it at the target as hard as she could. I could see the anger written all over her face. I wasn’t sure if she was mad at his taunting her or calling her old.
“Waaaa.” The clown put his hands up to his eyes like a crying baby. “You can’t knock a clown in the water. How are you going to run a town?”
beyond the grave 03 - a ghostly demise Page 10