Janet McNulty - Mellow Summers 07 - Two Ghosts Haunt a Grove

by Janet McNulty

  Chapter 7

  I pulled into the apartment complex right on time with both Jackie and Greg waiting outside for me. “Get in,” I said.

  “Mel, what is this about?” demanded Jackie.

  “I know where Stacy Kellmore lives and need to speak with her.”

  They both folded their arms.

  “Please,” I begged, “I’ll explain on the way.”

  That did it. They jumped in the car and I took off for Joseph Bourtonson’s place again.

  Instead of taking the lonely road that went straight to the abandoned inn, I veered to the right at the fork in the road heading deeper into a wooded area. This was where Stacy Kellmore was supposed to be. Driving slowly, I kept a look out for anything that indicated we had found her. Nothing so far.

  “Are you sure you know where you’re going?” asked Jackie.

  “Pretty sure,” I replied. “According to Kyle his sister lives up here and has for quite a while. Sort of an outdoors, hippie type.”

  “Great,” muttered Greg, “Another weird one.”

  “I don’t think it’s going to be that bad,” I said.

  “We’re lost,” Jackie piped up.

  “No, we’re not,” I replied, growing more irritated.

  Where was she? I knew this had to be the place. It was the only area that was close to the property.

  A man seated on a horse caught my eye. He was a bit see-throughish; not at all like the hooded figure we saw a few days before. I slammed the brakes.

  “What?” asked Greg, concerned.

  The man on the horse turned casually and trotted off. Quickly, I hit the accelerator and turned the wheel determined to follow him and find out who he was. The car bounced and rocked violently as I sped through the wooded terrain on a trail barely wide enough for it.

  “Mel!” screamed Jackie as she held on for dear life. “Mel, what are you doing?”

  I didn’t pay any attention. I knew that that was the ghost I had seen earlier and he was leading me to something. Hopefully to something worthwhile. The car jolted again as my rear tire slammed into a giant rock. I took my foot off the accelerator a bit.

  “Mel!” screamed both Jackie and Greg.

  Suddenly, a woman darted out in front of me. With lightning fast reflexes I slammed the brakes bringing the car to a screeching halt missing the woman by inches. I jumped out of the car. “I’m terribly sorry—”

  “Are you insane?” demanded the woman.

  “No.”

  “What the hell are you doing out here driving at ninety miles an hour! This place is no place for vehicles or maniac drivers!”

  “I’m sorry,” I said, feeling very guilty at almost hitting her, “It’s just I saw this man on a horse and—”

  “Man?” The woman stared at me suddenly alert, the near collision forgotten.

  “Yeah,” I said.

  Jackie and Greg got out of the car as well.

  “Was he dressed in black?” asked the woman.

  “No,” I replied, cautiously, “He was a bit see throughish and ghostly white.”

  “Oh, well, next time be more careful,” said the woman, her tone changing 180 degrees, “The woods are no place for city folk.”

  “Mel, really what was that all about?” demanded Greg.

  “I’m sorry,” I said to him before turning back to the woman, “Look, we’re looking for Stacy Kellmore. She’s supposed to live up here or something.”

  “And what do you want with me?” asked the woman as she took off her hat letting her blonde hair fall around her shoulders.

  “Stacy?” I asked.

  “Yes, that’s me. I’m Stacy Kellmore.”

  “My name is Mel and this is Jackie and Greg. I just got done talking with your brother and wanted to talk to you about the property dispute you filed against him.”

  “I don’t see why this is any of your business,” Stacy brushed some dirt off of her jeans.

  “Please,” I began.

  “Look, Stacy,” Jackie interrupted me, “Mel talks to ghosts. Your father sought her out and told her he was murdered and now she is trying to solve it.”

  Thanks, Jackie. Way to go. Just let the entire secret out. Now Stacy probably thought that I was nuts.

  “Really?” said Stacy, the look on her face indicated that she believed Jackie, “Why didn’t you just say so?”

  “Most people don’t believe me,” I replied.

  Stacy glanced around as though she searched for something. “I’m not most people. My place is this way. You can leave the car here no one’s going to bother it.”

  She walked through a patch of trees and underbrush with the rest of us in tow. I was glad that I had decided to wear my boots and told Jackie to do the same. I’m not sure how long we walked, but I worked up a good sweat; not that it was hard to do in this heat and humidity.

  After a while we came upon a camper with a generator. Traps and plants lay all about with a few tables and chairs.

  “You live out here?” I asked.

  “Mostly,” said Stacy, “I have an apartment back in town, but I’m only there when the weather is bad or winter. I prefer the outdoors. Being out in nature is invigorating.”

  “Your brother said that you were a hippie,” said Greg. I suddenly regretted telling him everything Kyle had told me on the trip up here. “But you don’t seem so crazy to me.”

  I could have smacked him.

  “Not sure how I should take that,” said Stacy.

  “Stacy, Greg didn’t mean—”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Stacy interrupted me, “I’m used to it. My brother and cousins have called me a lot worse and nothing compares to what my aunt used to say to me. I spend as little time with them as possible.”

  “So why are you out here?” asked Jackie.

  “I work for the wildlife preserve. I spend my days tracking the wildlife, their eating, mating, and hibernation habits. I also research the effect humans have on them. For over five years I have been coming up here conducting research. When I get enough, I will submit it with a request to turn this place into a preserve, including the Bourtonson place.”

  “So that’s why you filed the dispute,” I said.

  “Partly,” Stacy opened a cooler and pulled out a bottle of water. “Thirsty?”

  “Yes,” Jackie practically lunged for one. I couldn’t blame her. It was hot.

  “What’s the other part of it?” I asked as I took the water offered to me.

  “My father bought that place at first with the intention of building a resort. You know, a place where people could come and relax.”

  “And you didn’t like that idea?” asked Greg.

  “Oh, I have no problem with it,” said Stacy, “People need a place to unwind. But as I’ve said, there is quite an animal population up here and as we continue to encroach on their territory, they have no place to go. So I talked with my father and showed him my plans of building a preserve.

  “At first he was a bit resistant, but after spending some time out here with me he changed his mind. Kyle, of course, was livid.”

  “So he knew?” I asked.

  “Of course he knew,” replied Stacy, “My father never kept secrets. A few weeks ago he told both Kyle and I that he was changing his will. He had decided that the Bourtonson property was to be divided in half. Half of it would be turned into a resort and the other half would be set up as a wildlife preserve, in which a portion of the profits from the resort would go to it for maintenance. I was thrilled by the idea.”

  “Let me guess,” said Jackie, “Kyle wasn’t.”

  “Not in the slightest,” said Stacy, “He threw a tantrum right there in my dad’s office.”

  “How come the police don’t know any of this?” asked Greg.

  “Why would they bother?” said Stacy, “They ruled my father’s death a heart attack.”

  “Did your father ever make out another will?” I asked.

  “He said he was going to have one
drawn up and signed this week. Unfortunately, he died before it could happen.”

  “And because of that, the original will is the one that stands,” said Greg.

  “Yes, giving my brother all of my father’s business and its assets which includes the Bourtonson place. Do you think my brother murdered my father?”

  “I don’t know at this point,” I replied, “It’s just that things don’t add up.”

  “Well, my brother is a scumbag, but you might want to look at my aunt. There’s a cold blooded witch right there.”

  “Your aunt?” said Greg.

  “Yeah,” replied Stacy, “She lives at my father’s place, which is now my brother’s house. My mom lives there as well, but she’s been ill with Alzheimer’s. They keep her locked up in a room on the top floor and won’t let me visit. It’s my Aunt Alicia who runs things.”

  “Where is your father’s house?”

  “It’s on the south end of town. Nice big place on about thirty acres of land.”

  “Mel,” said Jackie, “I don’t think her aunt is going to want to speak with us.”

  She was right about that. I got lucky with Kyle giving me an open invitation, but showing up unannounced at his house was another matter.

  “You could sneak in with the servants,” said Stacy.

  My ears perked up. Was she actually offering us a way to break into what had been her father’s home? “Pardon?”

  “My aunt always has people coming and going. Plumbers, electricians, caterers, and the hired help. She hires gardeners, but they are normally not allowed in the house. In fact, she is having a party tomorrow that is being catered by the Winebridge Catering Service.”

  “Are you serious?” I asked. “You do realize what you are suggesting.”

  “Perfectly,” said Stacy, “but you’re right that my father’s death was odd and I want to know what really happened. Just do me a favor. While you’re there, check on my mother. I’d like to know how she’s doing and if she is being taken care of.”

  “Sure thing,” I said. “Stacy, when I told you about seeing that man on the horse you didn’t argue. In fact, you seemed as though you knew what I was talking about.”

  “Yeah about that,” said Stacy, “Well, you’ve undoubtedly heard the legend of Smiley’s Ghost.”

  “Yes,” Jackie and Greg leaned in.

  “Back in the 1680s all this used to be part of his estate. He comes up here every now and then.”

  “You’ve seen him,” I said. “but you’re not afraid of him. Your father claimed to have seen him and was terrified that he would die like the legend says.”

  “Joseph is harmless,” said Stacy, “I see him from time to time and just smile and wave. What my father saw was a man cloaked in black on a horse. That man charged him. Nearly took his head off.”

  “Do you know who it is?” I asked.

  “No,” said Stacy, “but he showed up around the time my father purchased the property. There’s some strange things going on down there.”

  “Well, we’ve taken up enough of your time,” I said, “and we must get going.”

  We thanked Stacy and left making our way easily to my car. As I drove back to the road, I kept my foot steady on the accelerator making certain not to jostle Jackie and Greg around. I spent my time trying to figure out how I was going to disguise myself as a caterer when Jackie beat me to it.

  “All right, I’ll do it,” she said.

  “What?”

  “I’ll go with you to the Kellmore house dressed as a caterer.”

  “Jackie, what—”

  “I know you, Mel. Right now you are probably cooking up a way to get in there.”

  “Now wait a minute,” said Greg, “you’re not going there without me.”

  “But how are we going to get three uniforms from that catering service?” I asked.

  “I hear tell that Tiny knows someone with sticky fingers,” said Greg.

  I smiled. Guess I was going to owe Tiny another favor.

  Chapter 8

  A knock on my front door woke me up. Who would be knocking at this hour? Suddenly I bolted upright remembering that I had called Tiny asking him to get me three uniforms from the Winebridge Catering Service.

  I threw the covers off while hastily pulling on my robe and running to the door. “Hey,” I said, breathlessly.

  “Sleep in?” said Tiny.

  “Sorry,” I apologized.

  Tiny walked in with Elise and three uniforms.

  Just then Greg stepped out his door and walked over into my apartment. “Where’s Jackie?” he asked.

  I hurried to Jackie’s bedroom door and opened it. “Jackie, they’re here.”

  “What?” She sat up, her hair all tangled—the first time I’d ever seen it like that.

  “They’re here with the uniforms,” I said.

  “Oh!” Jackie leapt out of bed straightening her hair quickly.

  We ran back to the living room.

  “Here,” said Tiny handing the uniforms to me. “Hope they fit.”

  “How did you get these?” asked Greg.

  “You’re better off not knowing,” said Elise.

  “Thanks, Tiny,” I said.

  “Yeah, well, don’t get into too much trouble,” said Tiny.

  “I won’t.”

  Tiny gave me a look that said he didn’t believe me. He knew me well enough to know that trouble seems to follow or catch up with me at some point. I said good-bye to him while Jackie and Greg changed.

  We took Greg’s car this time; neither Jackie nor Greg wanted me to drive. I didn’t mind. Besides, his car was a little less recognizable than mine.

  Stacy wasn’t lying when she said that her father had a nice size home. It had three floors and an attic with an ornate, Victorian look about it with a mixture of brick and brown siding. Huge bay windows lined every floor.

  “Park over there,” I told Greg when I spotted the catering van. He did.

  “Mel,” said Jackie, “how are we to interview the family while pretending to be caterers?”

  A valid question that I hadn’t thought about. “Just serve the food and do as the head caterer tells you. Listen to the conversations.”

  “But—”

  “People tend to talk freely around servants,” I said, “I’m sure the same applies to caterers.”

  “But how will we know who the family members are?” asked Jackie.

  “What do you imbeciles think you’re doing?” came a shrill voice.

  An elderly woman wearing a long black skirt and blouse that buttoned up to her neck hurried toward the catering van. Immediately the caterers darted about in an effort to escape her wrath.

  “The beverages were supposed to be on the south side of the eating area, not the east. And what is it with these appetizers? They are bound to give me heartburn. I specifically requested a vegetable platter. Where is it?”

  “I think we found Aunt Alicia,” muttered Greg.

  “More like the aunt from hell,” commented Jackie.

  “And what are you three doing lurking about like a bunch of hoodlums?” Aunt Alicia turned her attention to us.

  “Uh—” I began.

  “Don’t stand there muttering like a buffoon,” scolded Aunt Alicia. “Grab a tray and serve some food. My guests are hungry.”

  We all snatched a tray not caring what was actually on them and hurried away to where the outdoor party took place in the back of the house.

  “Goodness,” Aunt Alicia’s voice trailed after us, “it is impossible to find reliable help these days.”

  We reached the party area without too much trouble. People wandered about gossiping. I couldn’t believe some of the expensive outfits they wore in this ninety degree heat. I tugged at the collar of my shirt as it started to itch from the sweat that formed underneath. A man snatched a cracker off of my tray. Though it startled me a bit, I just smiled while regaining my composure.

  “This shirt is itching me like crazy,” Jackie
muttered in my ear.

  “Deal with it,” I hissed. “We need to split up.”

  The three of us took different areas of the party. I held my tray flat so that guests could eat all they liked.

  “I’m telling you, Philip Kellmore would have wanted that place developed,” said a deep, baritone voice.

  I inched my way a little closer.

  “Well, as the new head of the company, it is up to me to decide that,” said Kyle.

  Great. He’d recognize me for sure. Carefully, I stepped behind him keeping my face down.

  “But the resort was his idea,” continued the man. “I helped him find the funding for it.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “And what about the preserve he was going to build?”

  “That was my sister’s idea,” said Kyle with distaste in his voice. “She always was a bit of a hippie and managed to convince him to part with some of his hard earned money for her stupid cause.”

  “It was Philip’s choice,” continued the man.

  I moved around a bit keeping them within earshot.

  “Maybe so, but it was foolish none the less,” spat Kyle. He glanced in my direction.

  I quickly lowered my face trying to conceal it.

  “Yes, but, Kyle, you can’t mean all that about your sister. She’s such a sweet little thing,” continued the man.

  “Spacy Stacy is nothing more than an airhead.” Kyle’s eyes followed me.

  “I wish you wouldn’t speak like that about her.”

  “Mr. Gile, you will get what money you invested in the resort back. For now, I feel that the Bourtonson place should remain as is. Excuse me.”

  Kyle pushed his way past the man he talked to and headed in my direction. Immediately I turned and wandered among the crowd of guests hoping to lose him. No such luck. He kept his eyes upon me as he pursued. I weaved among the crowd. Boy, he was persistent. I knew he must have recognized me.

  “Here,” I said, handing a tray to one of the guests.

  Quickly, I turned and dived behind a bush near the back door to the house. He still headed in my direction. Finding the door unlocked, I hurried inside and hid behind the corner. I watched as Kyle paused just outside; his eyes searching for me.