A Cemetery, a Cannibal, and the Day of the Dead

by CC Dragon

  She smiled. “Fine. Everything here is always good. Mrs. Weathers isn’t available yet.”

  I nodded. “I know. At least she’s not dodging it. How’s Eddie?”

  “Fine. Why are you here?” she asked.

  I sat in the living room of the cozy cottage. “Halloween problems are getting crazy. There seems to be a group out trying to get their hands on a dead body. Not sure why. I feel like I should be doing something more. But it might be a distraction for something bigger.”

  “Like helping your friend?” she asked.

  “No, like a murderer or some weird plot for destruction on Halloween,” I said.

  She smiled. “You’d feel that coming. You don’t want to deal with another death and Mary Lou doesn’t want to deal with her marriage. You’re both going to be fine.”

  “I know. I just feel like the police are spinning their wheels and I should be able to help. This person or people needs help. Death can be hard but biting someone’s dead butt? That’s not sanitary.” I shuddered.

  Gran laughed. “It’s odd.”

  “It could be a mental health issue. Or some other dysfunction. I don’t know. but I can’t pinpoint the person. But with Halloween, more than a few people might want to see a dead body. Creepy.”

  “A funeral would fix that. Nothing special about a dead body. The sick ones want to play with it. Like kids burning ants or pulling wings off of flies. Weird teens.” She shook her head. “You’ll sort the truly unsettled from the Halloween fans soon enough. You put too much pressure on yourself.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I want to feel like I’m doing something. Mrs. Weathers gave me ten million for the clinics. That’s crazy.”

  “And that’s progressing?” she asked.

  I nodded. “The building is getting remodeled.”

  “Good. You have a lot going on. I understand you don’t want to let criminals or mentally ill people acting out go—but you need to find balance.” She stared at me.

  “What?” I asked.

  “You wanted to get stronger to deal with the demons. You seem to be bouncing around unfocused. I know a lot is going on but you can’t avoid things. Attacks will keep happening. Demons won’t stop. You’ll be juggling things forever. You have good people around you. Strengthen yourself. Don’t avoid. Don’t be afraid. Be careful who you let in your circles,” she warned.

  Did she mean letting Mary Lou get too close? She and Greg could bring drama. Or was it LeBlanc?

  “Missy is afraid of the angels,” I blurted out.

  Gran nodded. “Some things need to be dealt with. I can’t do it for you. If Missy is acting up, perhaps she’s getting closer to crossing over. That’s good, not bad.”

  I took a deep breath and nodded. Maybe I was viewing that backward. “Thanks.”

  “Get some real sleep and go back to work.” She sat down in her big comfy chair before picking up a book.

  I opened my eyes in my bedroom with the cat curled up on my chest, purring away.

  Chapter Nine

  I got up and ready early the next day and headed down. I was never gifted at cooking but I could make decent pancakes. Plus, I needed a little alone time with Missy.

  “What’s the deal?” I asked the ever-present and generally silent house ghost.

  She started to fade away.

  “Don’t think about it. I can keep you out or turn you in.” I wasn’t really sure if I could turn her in but I’d summoned the Angel of Death plenty of times.

  “I don’t want to go,” she whispered.

  “Obviously. Death has been in this house plenty of times and you avoided him. Why? What could be so bad?” I asked.

  “I killed someone,” she confessed.

  I turned away from the stove and my pancake masterpieces. “That’s not good.”

  “They came after me. I ran. I ran and ran and your ancestor took me in. She knew I wasn’t lying. She changed my name and kept me safe. I’ll serve you forever. I won’t betray you,” she promised.

  “I hope you never have a reason to. Why did you kill someone? Who was it?” I asked.

  “My employer. He liked me.” Missy looked away.

  “He raped you.” I could begin to see the past as Missy stopped blocking me.

  “He said I should be flattered. I had a good job and he liked me. I tried to tell his wife I didn’t...that I wasn’t willing. I didn’t want to. She called me names. It made things worse. Then his eldest son started to do the same when he was around. I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to run off but I needed a reference to get another job. In the same town, no one else would hire me. My employer would’ve prevented it.”

  “Self-defense isn’t murder. You were protecting yourself,” I said.

  “I did it while they were sleeping,” she confessed.

  “Okay, not so much heat of the moment then. But still. Years of abuse and attack... Wait. Them? The father and son?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “The boy followed his father’s example. I couldn’t really even blame him. He was a teenager. What they did was wrong but he taught him that it was okay. I killed the master and his wife. I had access to the razor for shaving and I cut their legs. The big vein meant death in seconds. That’s what the doctor’s wife taught me.”

  “She taught you to kill someone fast?” I was fascinated until the beeping of the smoke detector. “Damn.”

  I grabbed the broom and knocked the thing off the wall. I turned it off and opened the doors. Luckily the old mansion only had a few detectors and they didn’t relay or I’d have woken the whole house.

  “I was pregnant once. They sent me to the doctor to get rid of it. I didn’t have a choice. Get rid of the baby or they’d lock me up until I’d given birth and give the baby away. Make some excuse. Everyone knew. I told the doctor’s wife the truth. She sympathized. She told me to struggle the next time and use a knife or whatever. Cut deep, and she showed me where.”

  “And you killed them both without waking anyone.” I was stunned.

  “I made sure he’d had a lot of port and wine. I cut her first, then him. Done in a blink. Then I ran. I can’t go with Death. I can’t go to hell. I can’t.” She shook her head.

  “Too bad the doctor’s wife couldn’t just fake a reference for you,” I said.

  Missy glared at me. “I couldn’t leave them alive. They’d do it to someone else next. That would be worse on my conscience.”

  “Missy, you saved yourself. You were being raped and abused. You won’t just be judged on your actions but your intentions. If God let my brother into heaven after selling his soul, you can make a case. Gran will speak for you. It’s scary but you’re torturing yourself by staying here,” I explained.

  I went back to the pancakes as I heard people stirring on the second floor.

  “I want to,” she murmured.

  “Gran. A little help, please?” I said.

  Gran faded into the kitchen and hugged Missy. “We’ll have a chat.”

  The two floated into the living room.

  “My life is so weird,” I said to myself.

  Gunnar laughed. “I think you might be losing it, boss.”

  “No, just sorting out a centuries-old death mystery. Pancakes?” I offered.

  He grabbed coffee. “Smells good. Except for the burned ones.”

  “Thanks. I don’t cook well,” I admitted.

  He waved me away from the stove and I went willingly.

  “Fair warning, Brody stayed over,” Gunnar said.

  “Warning like FYI or warning like he’s super happy or super grumpy in the morning?” I asked.

  “More like super naked. Found him in the hall last night looking for the bathroom. Ivy is lucky but that was just weird.” Gunnar chuckled.

  “Pants are necessary to breakfast,” I said.

  Gunnar nodded. “I agree.”

  Ivy and Gunnar descended the stairs a few minutes later—both sufficiently dressed.

  “Feeling better?” Ivy a
sked.

  “I am. I want to talk to the detectives about reaching out to funeral homes and hospitals. Anywhere dead bodies might be accessible. They should be put on alert,” I said.

  Brody grabbed some yogurt. “Not that this is my area, but there is a club you might want to check out.”

  “What club is that?” I asked.

  “It promotes itself as a vampire club. People come and a lot dress the part. Some want to be bitten. Some drink blood from willing people. Others like to be fed on. It’s got a dark and kinked vibe. Some people are looking for a kinky hookup. Some have the fangs and all that. But some of them are obsessed with death and I know there was one girl who attempted suicide in there. The crowd thought it was performance art. Security didn’t even call for an ambulance until they saw the blood pooling from her wrists.”

  I poured myself coffee and nearly knocked the mug off the counter when I turned.

  “Did she live?” I asked.

  “Yes. She attempted suicide. She ended up really doing it months later at home. Very thirteen reasons why. The point is, people there are into this stuff. But they smell the police coming a mile away. You wouldn’t really blend in, either,” he said.

  “What, it’s a gay club? Or a young club?” I shot him a look.

  “It’s neither. All ages. All preferences. But it’s dark. Goth and vampy. You’d stick out like a normal person.” Brody shrugged.

  I guessed normal wasn’t bad. “I could dress for it.”

  “You’ve been there?” Ivy asked Brody.

  Brody shrugged. “I went through a darker period. Sometimes hanging with other sad souls is therapeutic. But I snapped out of it. My family didn’t like that I was gay and dressed with style. It took me time to let go of their issues. I can’t change me,” he said.

  “So, you could make me over to fit in if someone needed to go in there and feel out the situation?” I asked.

  “Sure. but you shouldn’t go alone. A new woman in there by herself? It’d stick out. You’d need to bring a friend or a guy,” Brody suggested.

  “Okay. Well, I have to talk to the detectives first about other stuff. That’s not the top priority but it’s a good lead to check. Thanks,” I said.

  “What was burning?” Greg asked as he walked into the kitchen.

  “De tried to cook,” Ivy said.

  “Glad it wasn’t the whole mansion.” Greg smiled.

  “Or the block,” Ivy chimed in.

  “Nice.” I almost filled a plate but my phone rang.

  “Hello,” I answered.

  “Dr. Oscar, it’s Detective Hart. We got a call from a nursing home about a missing body. Matt said you helped with these sorts of things. We’re headed there now if you’d like to meet us there,” he said.

  “Sure. Text me the address,” I said.

  I ended the call and grabbed my purse. “Gotta go,” I said.

  Half an hour later, I was at the Easy Living Nursing Home. It actually had a French name and that was the closest translation. It sounded better in French. The outside seemed cheerful enough but inside was stark white. Some posters on the walls tried to cheer things up but it was depressing.

  I met Hart and Carson near the office.

  A young man stood nearby who looked lost.

  “Dr. Oscar, this is Randy. He discovered the body was gone,” Hart said. “Tell her what happened.”

  Randy nodded. “Well, Miss, I checked on Mr. Hampner when I gave him his pill this morning. He didn’t always come down to breakfast in the common room so I brought him a bagel too. He’s not the most social and likes to sleep in. We didn’t expect he’d go in the night but sometimes it happens that way. Overnight, they just don’t wake up. I rang for a nurse but they were busy with patients that need more urgent medical care. I called to the front desk and they sent an RN. We both checked for pulse and heartbeat. Nothing. They put a sheet over him, closed the door behind us. Locked it. And went to the front desk to call the right people and start the papers.”

  “And?” I asked.

  “Another RN went back to double check. It’s just standard. But the body was gone. In less than five minutes it’d vanished,” Randy said.

  “And you’ve searched the place?” Hart asked.

  Randy looks around. “They say they did but if they went room to room and looked everywhere, it’d freak out the guests. Patients. We’re supposed to call them guests. It’s not a hotel. Most people are really sick. They started looking but someone panicked and called the police. If we lose a body, I don’t want to get anyone in trouble,” he said.

  “Or be in trouble,” Carson added.

  “I did everything by the book. Someone unlocked the door and took him out. But all the gurneys are accounted for.” Randy shrugged.

  A grim-looking woman in a pantsuit walked up. “We may have found the issue. Another orderly went in and claims he moved the patient to the holding room. We can check now.”

  I followed along with the detective.

  “Holding room?” I asked.

  “It’s where we intake a new patient. The doctor does a full assessment. Sees the patients when needed. It has room for three gurneys in there so if someone passes or is in an altered mental state, we generally keep them there. Less stressful for the other patients.” She swiped her access card and opened the door.

  No body.

  The detectives shared a look then stared at me.

  “I’m not sensing anyone recently passed away,” I admitted.

  “He was gone. Cool skin and all of it,” Randy insisted.

  “The other orderly swore he put the patient in a wheelchair and brought him in here,” she said.

  “A wheelchair? That’s wrong and disrespectful,” Hart said.

  “I agree but no one is here. Is it possible he played dead and snuck out?” I asked.

  “Snuck out? The doors are all alarmed. Why play dead?” Randy asked.

  “What was his first name?” I asked.

  “Mylon,” Randy said.

  I closed my eyes and focused on the name. I didn’t get the sense he was dead. He was here. I opened my eyes and turned. I walked back down the hall to the room that I sensed belonged to him. I waited for Randy to unlock it.

  Randy opened the door and we all stepped inside. “He’s still here.”

  “His ghost?” Carson mocked.

  “No. Him.” I walked to the back and found another door. “What’s this?”

  “Bathroom,” Randy said.

  We heard the toilet flush and the door opened.

  The smell wasn’t great but Mylon stood there with his robe open and a toothbrush hanging from his mouth.

  “You’re alive!” Randy said.

  “Of course. I need to do that double pain pill thing again. Slept great but I should double up on the blood pressure pills. I had the worst time waking up. Someone must’ve called the doc. They left me in the holding room. Idiots. I’m fine,” he grumbled.

  We stepped out into the hallway.

  “We are so sorry,” the woman said.

  “I’m an idiot,” Randy confirmed.

  “You did the right thing,” Hard contradicted them. “Please keep an eye on everyone. Living and dead. With Halloween coming up, people do dumb things like try to steal dead bodies.”

  “No one is getting my body for science or anything else,” Mylon shouted.

  Chapter Ten

  I returned home after telling the detectives about my thoughts regarding the funeral homes. The hospital had a couple of people quit or not show up in the days after the morgue incident so they hadn’t taken it any further. No more attempts on bodies had been made.

  Annoyed and feeling useless, I went to the kitchen and pulled out the makings to cook for Mary Lou and Matt. I found an apron proclaiming loyalty to the Louisiana Saints on it and put it on to protect my clothes.

  Ivy walked in. “I thought you said wait on all of this.”

  “I know. But I don’t know how long Mary Lou will be
there if everyone but Matt has to move out. Matt owns the place now and Lance’s a pain.” I mixed the rice for the chicken.

  “I’ll help. The case is done already?” Ivy asked.

  “The nursing home was a false alarm. I think Matt’s right. The Halloween pranks and stuff are worse than normal. I still think there is a small group of people really out to get their hands on a body but I’m not sure why. Or if they’re connected. It’s hardly murder but it’s messed up,” I said.

  “Want to do the lasagna too?” Ivy offered.

  “Sure. Why not? If you’ll help since I’m prone to burning things.” I smiled.

  “I’m not leaving you alone in here, that’s for sure.” Ivy got to work. “So dead body pervs. Guess it could be worse. Lester could be making more zombies or something.”

  “Think that vampire club is worth checking out? I mean, we’ve seen nothing about blood. Drinking or even spilling any.” I’d hate to get all Gothed up and waste time in a club that sounded depressing.

  “I guess it couldn’t hurt if you’re spinning your wheels. But who knows if the right people will be there. You’ll know when it’s time to check that out,” Ivy said.

  I smiled. “I’m glad you have faith in me. This one is giving me a headache. And the demons. And the crazy,” I said.

  “The clinic is distracting you. The new people.” Ivy stirred the pot of noodles.

  “People? Out with it,” I said.

  “LeBlanc is hot. He’s around a lot,” Ivy said.

  “He’s been respectful and handled things during the funeral. Anyone can pop in at a wake,” I defended.

  “I know. I’m not saying he’s bad or good. He’s new. He’s into you,” Ivy added.

  “We’re not dating.” I felt like a broken record.

  “I know. Mixing business and pleasure is dangerous. But he’s interested. That might be making you feel vulnerable. People could get at you through him and you don’t know him that well yet,” she pointed out.

  “Or Brody is staying here and we don’t know him that well. And he’s working on my clinic,” I suggested.

  “Maybe but you block a lot of people out that aren’t in your inner circle. He never stayed over before last night so he didn’t let anything else in here.” She mixed the pasta sauce.