by Rose Pressey
Tammy made a couple more turns and then we arrived on Walnut Street. Sidewalks and trees lined the street. Uniform black mailboxes featuring each house’s number guided our way.
Halfway down the street, I pointed. “There it is.”
Tammy pulled up in front and turned off the car. “Well, now we’re here. I guess this is it.”
“Fingers crossed,” I said. “Should we go?”
“I guess that’s the whole reason we’re here, right?”
Tammy and I sat there staring at the two-story red-brick house.
“We’re not getting out of the car,” I said.
“No, I guess we’re not,” Tammy said. “Why is that?”
“I suppose I’m afraid that we won’t find anything.”
“Well, even if we don’t, at least if we try that’s better than not trying.” Tammy pulled the keys from the ignition.
“You’re right,” I said.
“Let’s go. Open the car door.” She motioned.
Tammy and I walked up the sidewalk to the front door. With nervousness in my stomach, I rang the bell. We stood there for a moment and no one came to the door.
“This is terrible. I was worried that she wouldn’t be home,” I said.
“There’s no one home,” the woman from the house next door yelled.
The short gray-haired woman stood on her front porch with a silver watering can in her hand.
“Come on, let’s go ask where Stacy is,” I said.
Tammy and I stepped off the porch and headed over to the woman’s yard. She watched us as we approached the porch.
“She’s not there,” the woman said.
“Do you know when she’ll be back?” I asked.
The woman tipped the watering can and poured water into the plant next to her. “I’m not sure.”
“Did you see her recently? Will she be back soon?” I asked.
“She hasn’t been there at all recently. I heard she moved out of town. That was when her aunt passed away. Her aunt left her a house somewhere else. At least that’s what I heard. But I’m not sure where it is.”
“Did you know her aunt?” I asked.
“Yes, such a nice woman. What a terrible tragedy,” she said. “Meredith lived there with her niece. I suppose that’s why Stacy took off. I can’t say that I blame her.”
“Are you Stacy’s friend?” she asked.
Since this woman lived next door she had to know about the paranormal museum.
“I knew Meredith from the museum,” I said.
“Oh, right, the paranormal museum,” she said.
Thank goodness she had heard about it.
“Have you been there?” I asked.
She chuckled. “Oh, heavens, no. I’m scared of that stuff. However, Meredith showed me a few things she had acquired. Just seeing those few things were scary enough.”
“What type of things did she show you?” I asked.
I hoped this woman didn’t get tired of talking to me soon. Maybe I was asking too many questions.
“She showed me an old doll that was supposed to be haunted. I don’t know about that, but the thing was spooky-looking. Also there was a landscape painting. It was kind of ugly,” she said. “It was probably best suited for a paranormal museum and not hanging on someone’s wall, that’s for sure,” she said with a laugh.
Tammy and I laughed.
“Anything else?” I asked.
I was hoping to hear that she knew about the box and the photos. But I knew that was a long shot.
“She had a box that she claimed was haunted.”
Tammy and I exchanged a look.
“Did it have photos inside?” I asked.
“Yes, have you seen it?” she asked.
“Actually, I have,” I said.
“The photos were kind of creepy. The box didn’t scare me much, but the photos did.”
“I wonder why the box was haunted?” I asked, acting as if I knew nothing about that stuff. “Did she tell you any story behind it? I find that kind of stuff so fascinating. So scary too.”
“Yes, it is scary,” she said. “Let’s see, she did tell me stories behind those items. I don’t know if I remember the one behind the box though.” She placed the watering can down and then tapped her finger against her bottom lip. “I know she bought it from an antique shop. Perhaps that location would have more information.”
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Unless Mr. Byrd figured out where he’d gotten the box from.
“You might want to ask her best friend about those photos. She knows a lot more about what was going on.”
Yes, why hadn’t I thought about that? I should ask Nancy.
“Thank you for the info,” I said.
“Would you like me to tell Stacy that you stopped by in case she ever does show back up?”
“No, that’s not necessary. I just wanted to offer my condolences,” I said. “Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, picking up the watering can again and turning around.
Tammy and I headed back to the car.
“What are you going to do now?” Tammy asked.
“We should talk to her best friend. I don’t know why I didn’t think about that sooner.”
“Do you think she’ll know anything about the box?”
“She’s the only chance we have,” I said.
“Do you know where to find her?” Tammy asked.
“I have her phone number, I’ll give her a call now.”
I dialed her number and hoped that she answered the phone. After a few rings, I started to get nervous that she wouldn’t answer. But then she picked up.
“Nancy, this is Ripley Van Raden. I hate to disturb you again, but I just have some questions about the museum.”
“Okay,” she said. “It’s no problem.”
“Do you mind if we stop by?”
“At the museum?” she asked with a nervous chuckle.
“No, we could come to your house.”
“Actually, I’m at a coffee shop. You could stop by here if you’d like. Are you in town now?”
“Yes, I am,” I said.
She gave me the address. After checking my phone for directions, I discovered we were ten minutes away.
“I hope this isn’t all for nothing,” I said as Tammy made the next left turn.
“Well, at least we can get some coffee. We have the drive back and all. And don’t worry, at least you gave it a try if you don’t find out anything.”
A couple minutes later we pulled into the parking lot for the coffee shop. Tammy had to drive around a couple times just to find a parking space. After shutting off the car, this time we didn’t waste any time getting out and hurrying inside the shop.
I looked around and spotted Nancy sitting at the back of the shop. She waved us over.
“I’ll order for us while you go ahead and talk to her,” Tammy said.
“Thanks, can you get me an iced latte?”
“You know I already knew that.”
“Oh, and a…”
“Blueberry scone,” she said.
“Exactly. You know me so well.”
I headed across the shop to Nancy. She smiled when I sat down.
“I didn’t think I would see you so soon,” she said. “Are you interested in buying the museum?”
I laughed. “I doubt I can find the money for that.”
“You might be surprised at the cost,” she said.
I knew that Nancy was a realtor. She might sell me that place before I got out of the coffee shop.
“I have some photos I’d like to show you and ask if you know anything about them.”
“Sure, I’ll give it a shot,” she said after she took a sip of her coffee.
I pulled out my phone and found the photos. I handed her the phone so that she could look at the first one. She studied it in silence for a couple moments and then looked at me.
“Yes, I’ve seen this before.”
&n
bsp; “Really?” I asked. “Do you know anything about them at all?”
“I don’t know much about the photos, like the names of the people or anything, but I know what happened after she got the photos.”
My eyes widened. “What do you mean? Was it something bad?”
“I think it was,” she said. “Meredith had taken an interest in spiritualism from the turn of the century.”
“Yes, that’s right. That’s when the photos are from,” I said. “What did she learn from them?”
“She was just kind of curious. I guess she wanted to do a séance just like they did back then,” Nancy said.
My stomach flipped. I thought I knew where this was going. And it wouldn’t be good.
“She did a séance?” I asked.
“Yes, that’s right, and not just one but many.”
“In the paranormal museum?”
“I don’t know. Definitely in her house, but maybe at the museum too.”
“I have a feeling she did it there too.” I scrolled through the photos and found the one with the house that she owed in Devil’s Moon. “This was taken in the house that she owns. She may have gone back there to recreate the photo.”
“That makes sense,” Nancy said.
“What happened after she started doing all the seances?” I asked.
“Bad things started to happen. A lot more haunting was going on. And then she started seeing a ghost… one that looked just like her.”
I felt as if someone had hit me in the stomach. This was all coming together now.
She had brought the doppelgänger to life when she’d done the séance. But was the doppelgänger there to warn her of her death or to warn her that someone was trying to kill her? I was hoping the latter because I was seeing one of myself. I hadn’t been involved in the séance, so why was I seeing the doppelgänger? Unless it really was there to warn me of something. Warning me that the killer was coming after me too? That wouldn’t be too shocking considering I was kind of looking for the killer myself.
“Is everything all right? You look upset,” Nancy said.
Tammy came back over with the coffee and sat down next to me.
“Actually, I’ve been seeing a spirit that looks just like me. And then I saw Meredith’s doppelgänger or her ghost, I’m not sure which.”
Nancy’s eyes widened.
I took a sip of my drink and tried to wrap my head around all of this.
“What do you think this means?” Nancy asked. “Do you have any idea how this stuff works? Because I don’t think Meredith did. She wasn’t an expert in the paranormal. She was just fascinated with it.”
“Well, I don’t think I’m an expert by any means either. I suppose I would be considered on the same level as just fascinated. And I suppose expertise comes from experience, but I don’t think I have enough quite yet. However, I know someone who does have the experience and expertise. I think I need to contact him and get his advice.”
“Oh, thank heavens,” she said.
“Have you experienced anything paranormal? Were you involved in the séance?” I asked.
“I was there because she needed someone to sit in with her, but I haven’t experienced anything. Thank goodness.”
“Well, please make sure to let me know if you experience anything. Anything at all. Even if you just hear a strange noise.”
Her eyes widened again.
Tammy touched my hand. “I think you’re scaring her.”
“I’m sorry, Nancy, I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m just saying it could be a possibility, but probably if it was going to happen at all it would have by now. So I wouldn’t worry about it.”
She took in a deep breath and let it out. “All right, if you’re sure.”
“I’m almost one hundred percent positive,” I said.
“Almost?” she asked.
“Well, you can never be too sure.”
The more I talked the worse it got.
“I will call you if anything happens. I hope you figure all this out. I really want the killer to be behind bars,” she said.
“Me too, me too,” I said. “And that’s when I’m working hard on.”
“I know she would’ve appreciated this, even though she didn’t know you. I have a feeling that you two would have gotten along well. You certainly would’ve had a lot in common. About purchasing that museum…”
I laughed. “I don’t think I could do that. Although my boyfriend talked about it.”
“Buy it, you don’t have to live here. And you don’t have to run it. You can get someone else to do the tours for you here. You could come in sometimes and do it yourself.”
Nancy had this all planned out for me.
She continued, “I think somebody needs to keep the museum going. They can keep those haunted items away from people so that they don’t cause more problems. Possibly you can figure out what is causing the things to be possessed.”
I wasn’t sure if she just wanted to sell the house or if she really believed that I should kept the haunted items away from people. I agreed with her though that some of those things should be kept behind a glass barrier.
“I’ll certainly give it some thought,” I said.
“Do you have any idea who may have done this to my friend?” she asked.
“Well, I suppose I don’t have suspects. I do have one person in town who is strange. Abigail. She’s been living in the house that Meredith’s niece inherited. Do you think she had something to do with the murder?”
“I just don’t know. I’m going to find her and ask questions though.”
“Do you think there is a paranormal reason for Meredith’s death?” Nancy asked.
“I wish I knew,” I said.
“Ripley will find the killer. If Ripley can’t find the killer then no one can,” Tammy said. “She’s a really good detective. Librarian and tour guide too.”
I probably blushed just a bit. “I don’t know about all that, but I won’t stop trying.”
“Thank you,” Nancy said.
“I suppose we should get out of here and get back to town. I’ll be in touch.”
Tammy and I left the coffee shop and hurried back to Devil’s Moon. I had a tour tonight and there was no time to waste. The investigation would have to be put on hold until possibly tomorrow. I hoped there were no new bad developments in the meantime. With any luck, the police would arrest someone soon and all of this would be over.
Tammy pulled up in front of my house. “Do you want me to wait and give you a ride?”
“No, that’s okay, I will either drive or walk after I change my clothes.”
“I’m headed to the tavern, so I’ll see you soon,” she said. “Just be careful, all right?”
“Always,” I said as I got out of the car.
Tammy sat there for a moment watching me. I knew she was uneasy about everything, but I could take care of myself. At least I would give it my best shot. After showering and changing into comfortable clothing and shoes, I headed out of the house and down the sidewalk.
I decided to walk to town because it was such a lovely evening. I might regret that later on when my feet were tired. But I enjoyed the exercise. Of course, I was still watching out for that black car and I hoped that I didn’t regret my decision to walk because of that. My phone alerted me to a text message from Brannon.
Are you back in town?
How did he know what I’d been up to? I’d pretend like I didn’t know what he was talking about. Although I knew he would get the truth out of me soon enough. I probably shouldn’t even attempt to stall.
I decided to take a trip and talk with the Nancy again.
My phone rang.
“Learn anything good?” he asked when I answered.
“Maybe,” I said. “I found out information about photos. Nancy held séances. That might explain where some of the spirits are coming from.
“Sounds like that’s the case.”
“Are you mad at me?” I ask
ed.
“Just worried,” Brannon said.
I’d reached the downtown area and was heading toward the tavern.
“I’m almost at the tour. I’ll see you later tonight?”
He sighed. “Be safe, Rip. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
Chapter 20
The next day had been extremely quiet paranormal wise. I’d barely had time to think about ghosts and murder. Tammy had already left for the day. She had to work early at the salon and then she was going over to the tavern for a couple of hours after that. After working here all day, I was exhausted at the thought. She enjoyed everything she did, so I couldn’t blame her for doing things she loved. Even though my feet hurt just thinking about all that work. But then again, who was I to talk with all my walking around town?
Now it was time for the tour. Brannon hadn’t found any cars matching the one that I’d seen. Too bad I hadn’t gotten the license plate number. Of course, Brannon was worried about me doing the tour. I supposed I was a bit concerned as well. Maybe the guy had left town.
I had to wonder what would happen with Abigail. I had to ask her about knowing Meredith. Brannon had gone by her place and she wasn’t home. The police were on the lookout for her. I had a feeling she wouldn’t be at the graveyard waiting to do a tour. I was on pins and needles waiting to find out what would happen next.
After saying goodbye to Annie and Jane Austen, I headed out of the library toward the tavern. I still had a bit of time before I started the tour, so I figured I would relax a bit and talk to Tammy. I rarely got a chance to unwind anyway. A nice Diet Coke with ice was definitely in order.
I waved to Tammy as I stepped into the tavern and up to the bar. I plopped down on the stool.
“The usual?” she asked with a smile.
“You got it,” I said, pointing to her.
“Nothing new or strange to report?” Tammy asked.
“Thank goodness no. Everything is quiet.”
“It’s almost like the calm before the storm,” she said.