Shadow of a Life

by Mute80

  “Umm,” Sophia began, “we think it would probably be best if you three did the actual searching—after it gets dark tonight. Nick and I can watch from the edges of the property for anything—or anyone—that appears out of place.”

  “That makes sense,” Peter said.

  “Maybe I should watch from the shadows, too. I don’t have an aura like you two. Or maybe I should wait with the car. Someone should definitely wait with the car,” Camille said as she came into the room with a towel wrapped around her hair. She plopped onto the couch with Nick and Sophia.

  “If we find a place to search, we’ll park the car far away, Cam. I don’t think you’d want to sit in it. If you’re nervous, you can always stay back here at the hotel. We’re fine with that.”

  Camille crossed her arms over her chest and stuck out her chin. “I’m not nervous. I just don’t think three of us should be poking around someone’s property at night.”

  Peter rolled his eyes. “We can’t exactly poke around someone’s property during the day, Camille.”

  “Let’s just check everything out before we decide what we’re doing. For all we know there’s a prison or a school or a grocery store built where the barn used to be. We can’t make any definite plans until we see what’s out there,” Nick said.

  We continued eating the doughnuts and juice while waiting for Camille to finish getting ready. By the time we left the hotel it wasn’t even morning anymore. We climbed into the car with a map of the city we’d gotten from the concierge at the hotel. Sophia and Nick stared at it for a while, pointing and talking quietly. Finally, Sophia turned to the three of us in the backseat.

  “Okay. We can tell on the map where the main part of Newport News is. I assume that’s the part of town that was just starting to boom when I was alive. I lived south of the town so we’re going to take a road down that way. Hopefully we can see the water from this road,” she said, pointing to a squiggly black line on the map.

  “Sounds good. We have no idea what to watch for so we’ll just be along for the ride. I trust you to navigate,” I said.

  Nick pulled out of the hotel’s parking garage and into a bright June afternoon. The sky was blue except for a few gathering clouds off in the distance. He navigated through town by listening to Sophia’s instructions and within a few minutes we were on the road they hoped would take us to Sophia’s former home. We were all pretty quiet on the drive. Sometimes someone would make a comment about this or that, but for the most part, conversation didn’t exist. We drove around for half an hour—turning onto side roads, making U-turns on roads that ended in nothing, and basically not finding much.

  “Wait,” Sophia suddenly yelled as Nick was about to turn off a road he’d been on. “Drive to that ridge over there. I know where we are.”

  CHAPTER 23

  “You know where we are?” Camille asked excitedly.

  “Yeah. There’s a cemetery on that rise. That’s where I’m buried.”

  We were all silent as Nick followed a winding road that took us to the top of the ridge. Sure enough, amongst the tall old trees was a scattering of headstones. A weathered wooden sign that looked as if it had been broken for many years leaned against a tree: Old Plantation Cemetery.

  “I never did like hanging around here much. I guess I’m an odd ghost in that way. Maybe it was because there weren’t any other ghosts around to talk to,” Sophia thought out loud. “In the years I hung around Newport News, I only saw one up here. It was an old lady and she was only here for a few days before she finished her business and was gone. I haven’t been back here since I learned how to make myself look human.”

  Nick shifted the car into park and Sophia opened the door. She didn’t turn around or look as if she were waiting for us to follow so we all stayed in the car. Nick eventually got out and stood next to his door, but didn’t go after her. We watched as she shuffled through piles of dead leaves and knee-high weeds to where she knelt in front of a small stone that had been knocked over. She picked the stone up and brushed it off, carefully placing it back on its base. She sat there for a few more minutes, with her back to us, and then got up and came back to the car. Nobody said anything until we’d driven back down the hill and reached the main road again.

  “The cemetery was just off the main road into the village when I was alive. If you keep following this road, I think it will come to my old home.” Sophia finally broke the silence.

  “That’s how I remember it.” Nick reached over and held Sophia’s hand.

  We drove about a mile further until the road suddenly forked.

  “I don’t remember the road being like this, honey,” Nick said.

  “It wasn’t, but that’s the old Mason farm over there,” Sophia pointed to the land just beyond the fork on the left. “The home isn’t the same one that was there, but it’s in the same spot and that grove of trees is the same—only the trees are a whole lot bigger.”

  The reality of our situation started to sink in. We’d gone there hoping to find something, but the pessimist in me had assumed we were on a wild goose chase. As I watched Sophia point at the farm where she’d died, I realized just how deep into the situation we were.

  “If the Mason’s farm is over there, we need to take the fork on the right, correct?” Nick asked.

  “I think so. It doesn’t look like much has been built up around here. I guess that’s a good thing. Our chances of not finding a mini-mart built over top of the old barn are better,” Sophia said.

  We continued to follow the road until Sophia suddenly yelled, “Stop!”

  Nick braked hard and we all lurched forward in our seats.

  “This is it. I recognize it all. This new road circles around to what used to be the back part of the property.”

  “And that’s where we used to dock the little rowboat when we came in from working on the Mist Seeker,” Nick said excitedly as he pointed out the window toward the wide James River.

  “Was that your home?” Camille asked in awe as she looked at the massive home built at the top of the slope.

  “I wish, but no. That is definitely new. I’m sure whoever built it wanted to have a view of the water. From our home site the water wasn’t visible. You had to walk down to the well before you had the best views. If the old well is still there, it will be back there at the edge of those trees.” Sophia pointed to a spot beyond the home.

  “Can you tell if any part of the old home or barn is still here?” Peter asked.

  “Not from here. We’d have to be higher to see.”

  “You should pull into the driveway, Nick,” I said.

  “What if someone looks out the window and sees us?”

  “I’ll pretend like we’re lost and looking for directions while Sophia disappears and sneaks around back to see if anything is there.”

  “Nice. Good plan, Jamie. I knew I brought you for a reason.” Sophia winked at me.

  Our tires crunched as we drove up the little gravel hill and parked on the circular drive in front of the house. Peter and I got out and stretched our legs before walking up to the front porch. Sophia “vanished” before we even got to the door and I hoped that she was well on her way. The view from there was spectacular and I wondered why the original landowners hadn’t built on that spot.

  “Do you want to do the talking or do you want me to?” Peter asked.

  “Go ahead. I want to see if a man can actually ask for directions.”

  “Ha. Ha. Ha,” he said as he pushed the button for the doorbell. We waited silently for a minute before we heard the tap, tap, tap of someone’s shoes on the entryway tile. A tall, thin lady with graying hair pulled up in a tight bun opened the door.

  “May I help you?”

  “Yes, ma’am. We’re trying to locate the Smith property and hoped you could help us,” Peter answered.

  “The Smiths you say? I’m afraid I don’t know any Smiths out here. They might live in that new subdivision that’s going in just off of Fillmore Street. W
hat’s the address, dear?”

  “Uhh . . . I think I left it in the car.” Peter looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

  “You have a beautiful home, ma’am. Have you lived here long?” I jumped in.

  “Thank you. I’ve lived here my whole life. I lived with my parents in an old home at the back of our property as a child, but my husband and I built this home out here in the early 70s. We liked the view much better from here.”

  “I love old homes. Is your other home still there?” I continued.

  “Not really. The main structure burned down years ago so there’s just a pile of rubble out there. There was an old barn, too, but it collapsed in on itself a couple of years ago. I keep telling my husband we need to just tear everything out since it’s probably such a hazard out there, but we never get around to it.” She chuckled.

  I was so excited I could barely contain myself. I felt Sophia’s presence next to me and quickly ended my conversation with the woman. “Thank you for your time, ma’am. I hope you have a great day,” I said and pulled Peter down the porch with me.

  “Did you hear that?” I whispered loudly as we walked back to the car.

  “I did.” Sophia’s voice whispered back.

  Peter looked surprised and glanced around. “How did you know she was there?”

  “I told you I’m getting good at it.”

  Our car again crunched down the drive as we left. Camille rolled down her window and began snapping pictures with her phone.

  “What are you doing? If she’s looking out her window she might call the cops,” I hissed.

  “What’s so illegal about taking pictures? I need to have something to show my parents and Allison when I get back or they aren’t going to believe I really came to Virginia.” She turned and started taking pictures on the water side of the car. She had a good point. We needed to remember to take some pictures with us in them, too.

  When we were safely on the road back to Newport News Sophia reappeared. “I saw the barn. It’s still there, sort of. The lady was right when she said it collapsed, but I bet we can get inside it. Since the road doesn’t cut through there anymore we should be able to move around without anyone seeing us. This is even better than I imagined.”

  We filled Nick and Camille in on what we’d learned and a plan began to emerge.

  “We need to find a hardware store and buy flashlights, gloves, and maybe a small shovel in case we have to dig,” I said, taking command.

  Peter suggested we buy black ski masks, too, but since I didn’t know if he was being serious or just making a joke, I ignored the comment and continued on.

  “We can park the car at the public beach access we passed just before the road forked. I didn’t see any signs saying the parking lot closed at a certain time so I think that should be okay. Peter, Cam, and I will walk to where the road forks and go cross-country through the back of everyone’s property until we get to the old house and barn. Nick and Sophia, one of you can trail us just until you have the barn in site, and then stop. The other one of you can go down to the new home and watch to make sure no one is alerted to our presence. We’ll wait until nine thirty or ten to go because then it will be dark enough, but not so late as to attract attention if anyone sees us while we’re parking at the beach.”

  Peter began to clap. “Well done, Ms. Peters, well done.”

  I rolled my eyes at him.

  “It sounds like a great plan to me,” Nick said.

  We began our search for a hardware store as soon as we were back in the main part of the city. We also needed to find a place to eat since Peter’s stomach was endlessly growling already.

  “Hey, there’s a hamburger place with a hardware store across the street over there. Turn right,” Peter instructed.

  While those of us with taste buds ate lunch—at four ‘o-clock in the afternoon—Sophia and Nick crossed the street to the hardware store.

  “Do you think we’ll actually find anything tonight?” Camille asked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe I should have asked the lady who lives there now if she ever found a treasure map when she was playing in the barn as a child,” I joked.

  “She would have called the mental hospital.” Peter twirled his finger next to his head as if to say I was crazy.

  My phone rang and I pulled it out of my pocket and looked at the screen. “It’s my dad. Whatever you do, stay quiet, Peter.”

  “Dad? Hi,” I answered.

  “How’s Virginia?”

  “It’s beautiful. Sophia’s home is amazing and it sits right over the James River. I don’t know why they want to get a summer home in Massachusetts if they’ve got this kind of a home to live in.”

  I continued talking to him, describing the home that now sat on the old Goodwin property. I didn’t know what it was like inside so I had to use my imagination.

  “I’m glad you’re having a good time. Remember to be polite to your host and hostess.”

  “I know, Dad. I will.” I kicked Peter under the table. He was making faces at me in an attempt to get me to laugh.

  “I’ll see you in a few days.”

  We ended the call and I glared at Peter.

  “What?” he asked, feigning innocence.

  My cell phone rang again and I wondered what Dad had forgotten to tell me. I answered it, but it wasn’t my dad.

  “Jamie? The Goodwins are here.” It was Sophia.

  “Are you kidding me?” I asked fearfully.

  “No. Nick and I just saw them go into a store next to where we are. I don’t know if they’re following us or if they came here on their own. They weren’t looking our way.” Sophia spoke in a half-whisper.

  “What do we do?” I was panicking. Peter and Camille were both trying to get my attention to see what was wrong, but I waved them away and covered my other ear with my hand.

  “I think we need to split up. We’ll follow them when they come back out of the store. You guys need to call a cab and get back to the hotel. Go up to our rooms and don’t open the door for anyone.”

  “Maybe we should just walk to the hotel. It’s only a couple of blocks.”

  “I don’t want to risk you being seen.”

  “Okay. I get it. Keep in touch, please.”

  “I will. Be careful.” Sophia hung up her phone and I turned back to Peter and Camille who were looking at me expectantly.

  “Well?” Camille asked.

  “Jeremiah and Elsa are across the street.”

  “What?” Camille whimpered and Peter ducked down in the booth.

  “How did they find us? We were so careful.” Peter was angry.

  “I don’t know. Sophia said they didn’t look like they were following us. She’s wondering if they came to look for the map and we just happened to cross paths.”

  “I knew I should have stayed home. Why did I agree to this? I have seriously gone crazy. Who in their right mind would fly to an entirely different state to try to help ghosts of all people? I thought this would be a fun trip, but now I’m having second thoughts.” Camille was on the verge of tears again. I put my arm around her and she laid her head on my shoulder.

  “It’ll be fine. Nick and Sophia aren’t going to let them out of their sight.”

  For what felt like the millionth time in the last few days, we called a cab. We instructed the driver to pull around to a back entrance, away from any roads. After paying him, we jumped from the car and ran for the door. I was nervous even being in the elevator. I fumbled for my room card and finally got our door open. We locked the door and the deadbolt out of habit, not that it would have actually helped.

  “Any news?” I texted Sophia.

  My phone rang a minute later. “Hey, are you back at the hotel?” Nick rushed.

  “Yes. We just got here.”

  “Good. Stay there.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “We followed the Goodwins when they came out of the store. They hailed a cab and came to a hotel about three mil
es from where you are. They didn’t look around at all. We think they’re here on their own and haven’t yet realized that we’re here, too.”

  “That’s good, right?”

  “Yeah, except that we’re going to have to follow them everywhere they go. Sophia’s driving to our hotel right now. She’s going to give you all the stuff we bought and then come back here. Jamie, you guys are going to have to go to the old barn by yourselves tonight.”

  My heart thumped. “Okay. Don’t worry about us. We can do it, Nick.”

  “I know. I trust my soul saver.”

  Sophia tapped on the door soon after I ended the call.

  “Here’s all the gear we bought. I can’t stay long because I need to get the car back to Nick in case the Goodwins leave their hotel. I don’t think he can keep up with a car if he’s on foot.”

  Peter took the bags from Sophia and set them on the little table in our room.

  “Good luck tonight.” Sophia hugged each of us and then vanished.

  “And just like that, we’re on our own again,” Peter said.

  “I’m scared. Traipsing through an old barn was one thing, doing it at night was another, but doing it without Nick and Sophia as bodyguards is downright freaky, especially knowing that the Goodwins are out there somewhere.” Camille frowned.

  “Cam, if that’s how you feel you can stay behind. I think it would be a good idea to have a middleman anyway. You’re okay with that, right Peter?”

  He nodded.

  “I don’t want you to be out there if you think you might freak out. That will just make things worse. Besides, someone should stay behind to explain what happened when everyone else turns up missing.”

  “Please don’t go missing. I just don’t think I was cut out for this dangerous stuff.”

  The evening dragged as we paced the hotel room, anxious for what we were about to do. Finally, it was time to get ready to go. Peter and I searched our suitcases along with Sophia’s and Nick’s for the darkest clothing we could find. The clouds that had been gathering earlier in the afternoon covered the skies and threatened to release their rain. In my nervousness, I yanked on the shoelace of my tennis shoe so hard it tore off.