“Stop. One person at a time. Jessica, you begin.” She gestured with her hand for her coworker to take the floor.
“The newspaper is folding. If you’ll check your e-mail there’s a form letter from corporate and a hardcopy in your mailbox. We’re closing down in two weeks.”
RayeAnn looked around at the grim faces. No one had seen this coming or she would have heard about it through the gossip mill.
“Wow. I had no idea. Who else knew ahead of time?” In unison they all nodded.
Great. Now what was she going to do? Maybe see if there was anything available at the Blue Bull, not that she considered that her dream job, but it would pay the bills.
When she got home she decided to take a spin on the Internet and see what type of journalism jobs were floating around out there in the nebulous. Absorbed in searching for a job when her cell phone rang, she didn’t bother to look at the caller I.D. before answering.
“Hello.” She continued scrolling down a website as she spoke.
“Ms. Trenton? This is Jonathon Chase. You left a message on my machine earlier today regarding the estate of Juliet Meriwether Harvey.”
“Ah, right. As I said in the message, Mr. Chase, I don’t have any living relatives that I know of. I believe you’ve made a mistake.”
“Well, to be perfectly blunt, you still don’t have any living relatives, seeing as Juliet has passed, on as well. I assure you that I am in possession of all the birth records related to your mother’s side of the family. You are, indeed, the correct RayeAnn Trenton. You see, it was your aunt who provided me with all the contact information for you in the first place.”
“Are you sure she was in a proper state of mind to be reliable about such things?” Phrasing her real question, Was she crazy as a loon? as nicely as possible.
“Absolutely. She remained quick of mind until the very end, I assure you.”
“Then did she happen to mention why I never heard of her?”
“Apparently, she was the, how do I say this delicately, the black sheep of the family. She even went so far as to mention that your own mother knew nothing of her, either, which would, of course, explain your lack of knowledge.”
“Yep. That would do it all right. So now what? Do I need to get myself an attorney or something? I have to tell you, Mr. Chase, that right now it’s an expense I can’t afford. I found out today that I’ll be unemployed within the next two weeks.”
“No, no. That won’t be necessary in the least. Your Aunt Juliet has provided more than enough money to cover all the expenses, and then some. What we need to do is simply set-up a meeting so we can go over the details of your aunt’s will.”
“Oh, that sounds easy enough. She didn’t leave me her twenty five year old, hairless cat, did she?” All she needed was another mouth to feed and vet bills.
“No. Nothing alive is in the will. Near the end it was too much for her to care for any animals, although she was very fond of all different types of pets.”
“Sounds like you knew her rather well. When would you like to meet?”
“Well, I realize this is rather short notice, but would tomorrow be too soon? I’m scheduled to go out of town on Wednesday and I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone.”
“Umm, no problem. Would, say, two o’clock be all right?”
“Perfect. Do you need directions to the office?”
“No, I’ll look it up on the Internet. See you tomorrow at two o’clock then, Mr. Chase.”
Something about the man’s voice sent a chill down her spine. Like something out of the old horror movies, complete with the subtle British accent. A mental picture of an elderly, balding man dressed in 1940’s attire, complete with spats, popped into her mind. A very stiff and formal picture, monocle in place, he checked his pocket watch with one hand and held his walking cane in the other. Suddenly she wondered if she could con Bryn into going with her. Maybe if she offered her a free lunch first. Wait, not a good idea for someone soon to be unemployed. She’d have to go with the puppy dog eyes, though she liked to save those for very extreme circumstances. This was one of those times. She wasn’t comfortable with the idea of going alone. Something just wasn’t right, yet she had no choice but to meet the man, now driven by her journalistic need to know what this was really about.
CHAPTER 5
She sat in the car, Bryn next to her in the passenger seat, and looked up at the huge Victorian house in front of them. It was beautifully appointed and looked to be in excellent condition, at least from the outside. Never judge a book by its cover.
She took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. I can do this. She grabbed the keys to the house and shot Bryn a nervous look.
“Well, this is the place. It looks great from the outside, but then I know the whole book and cover routine. Are you ready to go exploring?” She opened the car door slowly.
“Hey, it’s your house. I’m just along for the ride, but you will let me live here with you, won’t you?” Bryn’s smile was wide and her expression one of mischief.
“If it’s inhabitable, absolutely. What in the world would I do with a house this size all to myself? I bet it echoes when you talk inside. Let’s go find out.”
“Maybe you could turn it into a boarding house or hotel or something equally large and a lot of work.” Bryn smiled her evil grin as the walked up the steps to the front door.
“You’re all heart there, best friend o’ mine.”
She slipped the antique key into the lock in the door, expecting it to be difficult to turn because of its age. Instead, it turned easily, disengaging the mechanism smoothly and quietly. When she turned the handle the door opened with minimal exertion, even though RayeAnn knew it was made of solid oak. They just didn’t make doors like this anymore. When she stepped through the door Bryn ran into her back, because she’d stopped to stare.
“Oh. My. God. This place is huge.”
Bryn didn’t answer, still looking around.
“It’s perfect,” RayeAnn whispered in awe, slowly setting her purse on the round mahogany table that graced the massive foyer.
Immaculately clean, well furnished, beautifully decorated, it gleamed in the bright sunlight shining through the open door. Everything was old, surely antique, but beautifully cared for. The furniture alone was worth a fortune, not to mention all the beautiful art work and whatnots placed around the tables.
“Pinch me, Bryn. I’m sure I’m dreaming.”
“Gladly, as soon as I’m sure I’m not dreaming, too.”
“This has to be a mistake. I’m just not lucky enough to have a long lost aunt leave me her entire estate, complete with more than enough money to maintain myself and it for the rest of my life. Things like this just don’t happen in real life.”
“Believe it, baby. I’m your witness. RayeAnn this place is gorgeous. I don’t know where to look first. I wonder how many bedrooms it has.”
They both took off for the stairs, running at full speed. Luckily the staircase was wide enough that they could both go up at the same time, side by side, with room to spare. Suddenly the scene from Gone With the Wind flashed into RayeAnn’s mind, Rhett and Scarlett standing at the top of the grand staircase of their house near the end of the movie, just before Rhett walks out on Scarlett. Except she wasn’t Scarlett and there was no Rhett in her life at the moment. All right, ever.
“You realize that our entire apartment could fit into one of those bathrooms, right?” Bryn pointed out on the ride home. They had been forced to stop the exploration or their new home because of the setting sun and lack of electricity. Tomorrow they would go back after arranging for the utilities to be turned back on.
“I’m just…I don’t know. In shock, I guess. I think I could use a stiff drink. Can we go to the Blue Bull first?”
“Only if you’re buying. Now that you’re rich you can buy a round for everyone.”
“Deal. Besides, we need to talk about all the things we have to do to organize the move.”
“There must be some other sentimental stuff you want to bring.” RayeAnn tried to think of what she wanted to bring along, eventually coming to the same conclusion as Bryn, nothing worth bringing except the clothes and all her electronics. Everything else was just plain junk.
“You’re right.” She wheeled her car into the nearest parking spot, not sure why she felt so uneasy. The hairs on the back of her neck had been raised ever since they’d left the house, as if someone were watching her from the back seat. She glanced behind her, trying to maintain a nonchalant air while her eyes searched the back of the car. Nothing there, she was just being silly. She just had a severe case of the heebie jeebies. Since it was still early there were very few customers in the bar. Happy hour came early for Bryn and RayeAnn tonight. Soon the after work crowd would start filing in and filling the place.
Briefly her mind shot back to the memory of Charity Meriwether’s heart-wrenching plea for help. Could this strange feeling be related to Charity? Just one more piece to add to the puzzle she hadn’t been able to solve.
********
SIX WEEKS LATER
RayeAnn stuck out her tongue at her reflection in the computer monitor. The dark circles under her eyes were almost as scary as her nightly visitor, Charity Meriwether. Charity had visited her every night, always wearing the same calico dress and look of desperation and still pleading to RayeAnn for help, but what kind of help? Every time RayeAnn asked a question of her, she simply begged harder but gave no further information.
Since she never got more than two hours of sleep at a time because of the disturbing dreams, exhaustion was now her constant companion. Too tired to even eat, she had lost at least ten pounds and knew it didn’t look good on her. If it hadn’t been a stipulation in her aunt’s will that she would only have access to the money as long as she lived in the house, she would have moved out already. So she might have to kiss the inheritance goodbye.
With a sigh of resignation, she picked up the phone and called Soul Searchers, Inc. The theme from Ghostbusters played in her head while she dialed the number. With her research leading her nowhere fast, she was desperate enough to call a hokey paranormal research company she had found on the Internet.
After five agonizing rings the phone was answered by a machine that requested only her first name and phone number, explaining that they didn’t want any more information than absolutely necessary to return the call. RayeAnn left a message and hung-up, discouraged. She shuffled in her fuzzy slippers and flannel pajamas back to the kitchen for another cup of coffee. She couldn’t bear the thought of going back to sleep with guilt consuming her every time she failed to help Charity.
********
RayeAnn woke with a start as the phone rang in her ear. She’d fallen asleep right at her desk. Checking her clock, she realized that she had actually slept for a full four hours without dreaming of Charity. Amazing. Maybe it was the room she was sleeping in that was interfering with her dreams. Nah, she had tried sleeping in every bedroom in the house without success. Bryn had even stayed with her in the same room, thinking she could somehow ward off the persistent spirit. No luck.
“Hello.” RayeAnn cleared her throat. She held her head up by resting her chin in the palm of her hand as she answered the phone.
“Hi. I’m from Soul Searchers and I’m responding to a message that was left on our answering machine earlier today by RayeAnn.” The voice was deep and somehow slightly familiar, but by now she found herself questioning every thought and feeling she had, no longer trusting her own judgment.
“Yes. I’m RayeAnn. Thank you for returning my call so quickly…I feel kind of silly doing this at all, but I don’t know where else to turn.”
“Don’t worry about it. Most people who contact us are at their ropes’ end. Why don’t you tell me, as factually as possible, what is going on.”
“Well, I guess I’ll go back to the very beginning, about five months ago when my roommate and I started having dreams about a spirit named Charity Meriwether.”
“Are you still seeing her in your dreams all this time later?”
“Yes, but now it’s just me. My roommate only had the one dream five months ago.”
“How often are your dreams?” This guy’s voice made her chest vibrate even over the phone, something that she would have never given a thought to five months ago.
“Every two hours, usually. I fell asleep after placing my call to you, and for the first time in the last six weeks I didn’t dream of her at all. I know, it sounds crazy even to me, and I’m the one living it.”
“How long did you sleep this past time?”
“Four hours straight. Why do you ask?”
“Um. I think it would be best if we met face-to-face. I have a lot more questions and I need a visual of the house you’re living in. Could we arrange something later tonight?”
“Sure. Wow. That would be great. Name a time, although I can’t guarantee that my roommate will be able to make it. She usually works evenings, but I’ll try.”
“Great. How would seven o’clock do for you? Since this is just the initial meet-and-greet, your roommate doesn’t really need to change her schedule to be there, she may want to save that until or if we decide to investigate further.”
“Wait. I thought you said you could help me.” Panic took over her voice as her desperation creeped through the phone lines.
“Yes. Don’t worry. I’ll do everything I can, I’m just saying for tonight’s visit she or he doesn’t have to bother.”
“Oh…sorry…I guess I kind of freaked out on you a little. I’m really, really tired.”
“I understand. Just give me the address and I’ll be there at seven.”
“Right, it’s 4435 Briarwood. Do you need directions?” She heard a muffled cuss on his end of the line.
“What? Are you familiar with the house already?”
“Umm, yes and no. I’ll explain when I get there, but let me just tell you I believe you one hundred percent. Huh, life is strange. I’ll see you tonight at seven.”
The abrupt click of the phone disconnection made her jump. What a strange guy. But thinking about it, she realized he had to be just a little ‘off’ to be in his line of work in the first place. Heck, five months ago if anyone had told her all of this would happen to her, she would have laughed him out of the room. Yeah, and probably done a scathing expose about how fake paranormal investigation was, suggesting some good therapists for anyone who believed in this kind of stuff. At that thought she decided to let the fact that she was an investigative journalist stay a secret. Anyone in his half right mind would think she was trying to pull something over on him in an attempt to expose the whole profession as fake. For now she would remain a researcher who worked from home, which really wasn’t a lie, exactly, it just wasn’t the whole truth. Yes, she did research, mostly, then she wrote the articles. All she had to do was leave that little, tiny last part out. Comfortable with her decision, she went looking for Bryn to give her an update and secure her promise of not letting the cat out of the bag about the journalism thing.
By five minutes to seven RayeAnn had convinced herself that the guy wasn’t even going to show up. While she paced back and forth in the foyer, ready to pounce on the door at the first hint of a knock, she ran through the story in her mind, sometimes not even believing it herself. Yet once she had given him the address he had already been convinced it was real. Weird, but not as weird as being in this position in the first place.
At the first knock she already had her hand on the knob, as if she sensed that he was on the other side before he had even rapped on it. After a brief shudder passed, she quickly opened the door. What the…what is he doing here? She was so stunned she couldn’t speak for seconds.
“You!” Her voice came out too high, so she lowered it. “I know you, or should I say my silk bl
ouse knows you. Is this a joke,” she glared at him, “because I absolutely don’t think it’s funny. Did Bryn put you up to this?”
“No, really, it’s not a joke. I am the owner and operator of Soul Search. Look, here’s one of my business cards.” He held out a white card with simple black lettering, something anyone could make on his own easily.
Tears sprang to her eyes, though she tried to blink them back. How stupid did she feel now, knowing she’d been set-up. She slammed the heavy oak door in his face, thankful she hadn’t invited him in before she realized what he was up to. Disappointment made her heart sink to her feet. For the first time in what seemed like forever she had actually thought she’d found someone to help her.
Ignoring the continuous pounding on the front door, she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and pressed speed dial, calling Bryn.
Without giving her a chance to say hello, RayeAnn ripped into her with all her anger.
“How could you have done this to me? I thought you were my friend. What did I ever do to deserve this? I’ve treated you like a goddam sister and this is the way you repay me?” When she paused to take a breath, Bryn jumped on the opportunity.
“RayeAnn? What the hell are you talking about? What happened? Do you need me to come home? God, I knew I should have stayed with you tonight. Did that guy make a pass at you or something?”
“Are you telling me you didn’t set this whole thing up,” accusation lashed her voice.
“Honey, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Tell me what happened.”
After she finished the expedited version of the story, she waited for Bryn to burst out into laughter, finally admitting that it had all been a joke. Instead she got a very serious, if not embarrassing, response.
Seduction of Souls Page 3