Cookies, Corpses & the Deadly Haunt
Haunted House Flippers Inc.
In memory of Grump, who loved to work with his hands.
Rachael Stapleton
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Copyright©2017 Rachael Stapleton
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is coincidental.
Chapter One
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J uniper Palmer cast her gaze around the space, taking in the history, the subtle scuffs and scratches that a home acquired over the years. Despite the dirty windowpanes and the dust motes swirling, she’d yet to meet a historic mansion she didn’t love, but there was something exceptional about this one.
“It was a grand home once upon a time,” said Jared Mitchell, the fiftyish, plump, rather pallid realtor standing with Juniper in the foyer. Their usual realtor—Jack’s dad—was out of town and had arranged for the selling agent to show it.
“What happened to it?”
“It just needs a little TLC, but that’s an easy task for renovating masters like yourself and your husband.”
“Mmm,” She grunted her go-to response when sleazy salespeople tried to butter her up. Jack was not her husband. He was her business partner and ex-boyfriend but she wasn’t in the mood to open that can of worms.
From the moment Juniper stood at the foot of the front steps, looking up at the still-intact Gothic Revival facade, complete with a widow’s walk and patterned shingle roof, she’d felt something. Nestled in the small, but bustling town of Bohemian Lake, the Doctor’s House needed someone to put a little love back into it. And if the past few home renovations completed by Spirited Construction, a company run by Juniper and Jack, were any indication, they were the team to do it. Still she needed to play it cool if she wanted a better price. Spirited Construction had slowly started to turn a profit by restoring ghostly looking homes to their former glory and then flipping them. This run-down Victorian mansion-turned-duplex in Jack’s hometown was pricey, but if they could make it work, then it would be their sixth. The original owner was a disgraced physician, most famous for having murdered his blushing bride on Halloween—a well-known tale that Juniper hoped would lighten the price tag.
Most of the residents of Bohemian Lake had lived in town all of their lives, including Jack and her best-friend, Pike Hart, with entire generations of families being wed and buried in the ancient stone church that perched on top of the hill just down the road.
Pike nudged her with her elbow and pointed. “Junie, just take a look at those moldings.”
Juniper nodded. She’d already admired the soft edges and refined imperfections that characterized hand-carved work.
“It would make the most charming inn.”
Pike was doing her best to sell Juniper on the place. “Charming, yet eerie,” Juniper agreed.
Pike wrapped her hand around Juniper’s arm and steered her into the dining room. Juniper’s favorite thing about Victorian-era parlors and chambers were the paneled walnut pocket doors that discreetly separated them, not that she’d admit that little fact to Jared. She paced across the room to one of the original leaded windows then turned and stared up at the engraved plaster medallion and crystal chandelier. A common feature in the late 1800s—Jack would be so happy to see they remained.
“Take a look at that carved limestone fireplace with the cupids.” The realtor shook his balding head. “A real selling feature. Most expensive property in town,” Jared boasted. “Well worth it, for the right buyer. It’s a massive home, with ten bedrooms. Ten. And this location is priceless, of course. Have you checked out the gardens on the hill? Not enough money in the world for something like that—what’s not to love?”
“Yet you haven’t been able to sell it,” Juniper shot back.
His face grew a shade of red that matched the lips on Pike’s rock and roll t-shirt. “That’s where you come in. You’re a general contractor, a partner of Spirited Construction. You and Jack specialize in renovating historic homes. Why not this one?”
“I don’t know.” Juniper walked away and examined the grand hallway and staircase. “It’s a big project. The roof needs to be completely redone, and that’s not cheap or easy on a mansard roof, especially considering the decorative style it would require.”
Jared and Pike followed her out of the dining room and into the hall and they walked toward the staircase.
“You have experience with that sort of thing, don’t you?” He glanced desperately at Pike. “That’s what I was told.” Jared hedged. “You’ve flipped a few of these second empire houses before and made quite a profit from what I understand.”
“And why hasn’t it sold yet?” Juniper asked, feigning innocence as she wandered up the stairs. She knew why. But it was better to make the realtor admit it. She looked back at him.
“I’m not sure.” His nose twitched, and he shuffled through the papers in his hands.
Pike smirked at her friend. She knew what Juniper was up to. For the past several decades, the Doctor’s House had earned a reputation.
“Jared… is there something people don’t like about it—perhaps something that sends them running?”
“Well… some people consider it spooky.” The tic in his nose sped up.
“You don’t say. Black cats are spooky and people still love them. Is there something in particular people have a problem with?” Juniper asked.
He shook his head. “I can’t say exactly.”
Another long pause and then finally Juniper said, “Well, we’d better go. It was nice meeting you.”
He stared at Juniper. “Wait.” His voice changed. Juniper wasn’t sure what it was, but it gave her the creeps. “The ghosts, or whatever it is, appear to be running off prospective buyers. Every time there are clients touring the house, something… happens.”
“What makes you think I want a haunted house?”
Jared shook his head. “Pike says you’re fearless… and the best at what you do.”
Just then Juniper heard a squeaking floorboard overhead and looked toward the ceiling.
“Is someone else here?” She asked.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Jared groused.
Juniper listened carefully. She could hear music now—a waltz.
“At least it’s not death metal,” She said.
Jared gave her a sour look.
“It starts and stops randomly throughout the day.”
“And there’s no other possible explanation? Who has access to the house?”
“Just my client and his wife Lucinda. She occasionally comes here. She’s an Atherton. It’s her family home. She inherited it but there would be no reason for her to scare away potential buyers.”
“True. Do they have teenagers? Perhaps they like to play tricks.”
“No kids. I don’t really believe in this ghost stuff but most buyers are now refusing to even look at the place, so last month the owners called in help.”
“Nana Vianu?” Pike questioned.
“Who’s Nana Vianu?” Juniper asked.
“Oh sorry, Junie, I forget sometimes that you didn’t grow up here. Nana Vianu owns the manor estate on Bohemian lake. Her granddaughter Mallory and her adopted daughter Dani run themed retreats and ho
st murder mystery parties. It’s basically an eccentric resort.”
“So, why would the owners of this house have called in Nana to help with ghosts?”
“Oh right. Well, they’re gifted. Nana and her family descend from… err… well, they are a powerful group of women…”
“They’re gypsies,” Jared cut in. “They can see the future, and talk to spirits and all that other voodoo.”
“It’s not voodoo,” Pike corrected.
“Anyway, no, they didn’t call Nana. They called that girl from across town to come in—the one who does the Fall ghost tours and claims to commune with the dead.”
“Who?” Juniper asked.
“I can’t remember her name. She’s friends with Axl and Kaitlyn Patone.”
“Pearl.” Pike interjected
“And what did she make of the Doctor’s House?” Juniper asked.
Again with the tic. He pinched and held the bridge nose for a moment. “She says the ghosts of the family that used to live here are angry that it’s been neglected. She says the only way to appease them is to sell the house to someone who will restore and love it.”
Once or twice Juniper thought she heard—or felt—wisps of conversations just out of reach of hearing, although she searched her peripheral vision and no ghosts appeared.
A stained glass window at the top of the stairs lit the second floor. The landing opened onto a wide hallway with doors leading into several small chambers. Juniper could see through one of the bedroom doors that there was an old built in bookshelf. The books had all been left behind, caked with spider webs and the grime of neglect. A quick perusal revealed there was a history book on the town, a slim volume of poetry. Tons of old mystery novels and one of her favorites, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
To the left of the hall was another set of stairs. Juniper stepped back just missing Pike’s toes. She was freezing cold.
“What is it?” Pike asked. “You feel that draft?”
Juniper nodded. “Is this the attic?” she said, heading up the staircase.
“Yes. The two rooms to the side were the former servants’ quarters, and this—,” said Jared, reaching for the doorknob. He rattled the knob. “Dammit! Who locked it?”
“Maybe the ghosts,” Juniper said.
He glared at her as though she had been egging on the spirits to get a better price—perhaps she had.
“It’s alright. I’ve seen enough.” Juniper stated.
“So, how soon can we sign some paperwork?” Jared asked as they descended the stairs.
Jared was a little much, but no big deal. Juniper wasn’t particularly compelled to help him out for his sake… but this house was calling out to her. The Doctor’s House had been sorely neglected. To restore it would take another big chunk of change, and to do it right would take time. Time was not the house flippers friend, but still she was interested in a challenge. She glanced at Jared, who was jangling his car keys—BMW, of course—as though he could barely contain his agitation.
Number one rule for negotiating? Imply that you’re too busy. Juniper sucked air in between her teeth and shook her head slowly. “I’m gonna be honest, Jared, Spirited Construction is pretty busy right now. I’ll let you know once I’ve spoken to Jack, my partner, but the truth is we weren’t looking to take on another property at the moment. We’re finishing up a Georgian Revival in Lakeside and we’ve still got a crew on a retreat in—”
“What if I can talk my clients into dropping the price?”
Juniper took a moment, looked around, then nodded slowly. The actual truth was they were finished all of their projects and completely ready to make the next purchase, but it never hurt to play hardball. “All right. I think I can help you out but I need to call my—”
Juniper cut herself off as she saw something out of the corner of her eye.
It was a dark haired woman in a light lace dress creeping up the mansion’s front steps. A gush of wind sent fallen leaves dancing down the steps around her. She was pale as a ghost.
Could this be the ghost of the manor, bound to toil in the Doctor’s House mansion throughout eternity?
Chapter Two
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J uniper’s eyes bulged at the ghostly figure.
“Kaitlyn!” Jared called out. “Let me introduce you. Kaitlyn Patone, this is Juniper Palmer. Juniper is interested in the mansion—we were just about to settle on a price. Weren’t we Juniper?” This was obviously a rhetorical question because the man didn’t even pause to let Juniper answer. “Juniper, Kaitlyn’s family lives in town and is heavily involved in the community. As a matter of fact her father is the mayor and her mother chairs several of our boards.”
Not a phantom specter, then. Juniper relaxed, taking inventory of the woman before her. Pale and tall, she wore thick black glasses, and hunched—almost as if she were trying to dim her own good looks. Why else would a woman so young dress so matronly?
Kaitlyn shook Juniper’s hand, and they exchanged pleasantries; then Juniper gave her a business card.
“You’re a handy woman,” said Kaitlyn after studying it.
“I guess that’s one way to put it. I specialize in restoring historic homes and re-selling them.”
“Are you planning to fix up the Doctor’s house, then?”
“If we can come to an agreement, then yes.”
Kaitlyn’s cell phone beeped. “That’s great news for the town. I hope you’ll consider letting us use it for the Haunted Ball. That’s our annual Halloween Fundraiser and we’re looking for an extra special venue this year.”
“Were you looking for something here today, Kaitlyn?” Jared asked.
Kaitlyn cast a wary glance at Jared. “No, I thought I saw my mother head in this direction but I guess she was just cutting across the lawn to get to Fern’s. Anyway, I’m sorry to rush off, but I’m late for an appointment. I hope to see you again.”
“Definitely. If Spirited purchases the house then I’ll be spending plenty of time here,” Juniper said.
“Great.” Kaitlyn’s phone beeped again, and she checked the screen. “I’m sorry. I really have to run. I have a meeting at the Historical Society. Nice to meet you, Juniper. Please consider what I said about the fundraiser. The Doctor’s Mansion would be the perfect venue.”
Another cautious glance in the direction of the stairs, then she left through the front entrance, a beautiful wood door with stained glass panels.
Chapter Three
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P ike, the newly appointed lead of the town’s Halloween fundraising project, flexed her fingers around the hilt of the pickaxe before slamming the prop down against the attic’s floorboards.
Juniper winced. “You’re going to break something.”
“I wish it were Kaitlyn’s face,” she said, swinging the Halloween prop once again.
Thankfully the clickity-clack of Kaitlyn Patone’s heels on the stairs below grew more and more distant.
“I can’t believe that snooty witch had the nerve to comment on my lack of leadership.” Pike paced the attic floor.
“I can’t believe a lot of things that just happened in the last two weeks.” Juniper said, bending over to scoop up the present that Kaitlyn’s mangy mutt had left behind. “Who let’s their dog go to the bathroom in someone’s house?”
“Next time, I swear I’m going to use this on her.” Pike shook the plastic axe. Her long hair, swept up into a topknot and perched loosely at the crown of her head, went lopsided.
Juniper ran her fingers through her own platinum bob, smoothing a piece of hair at the front and walked to the window. Getting Pike’s feathers riled took a special kind of person, which was probably why the town council had asked Pike to take over. Kaitlyn had managed to tick off almost every volunteer during her two-week reign of terror.Juniper leaned her forehead against the glass and peered down through the half-bare leaves of the oak tree in the front yard. She was just in time to see Kaitlyn and her pesky little terrier get
ting into the passenger side of a shiny red Camaro. Or at least that’s what it looked like through the cluster of metallic, bristly-bodied blowflies as they buzzed and crawled all over the attic’s grimy window.
“The way they hover like that is just so… creepy… and those huge orange eyes…” One of the blowflies darted into Juniper’s face. She backed up nearly tripping over an antique blue trunk.
“Right? Like something out of Amityville or American Horror Story,” said Pike, returning to her happy self. She threw the axe aside and picked up a box of scary clown parts. The jointed figure slumped inward as she set it on a table, glass eyes wide open. “Thanks again for letting us use this place, Junie. Do you know how many times I rode by as a kid and wished I could see inside? It is going to make for one hell of a Halloween Bash next month.”
The town’s council, particularly Helen Patone, Kaitlyn’s mother, had been over the moon to discover that Spirited Construction had purchased it and were attempting to breathe new life into it. It wasn’t long after the purchase that she’d sent Pike to talk Juniper into lending the house for the annual Halloween Ball. Apparently, attendance had been low the last couple of years and they thought with it being the one hundred year anniversary of the murder, they could drum up ticket sales using morbid curiosity. Juniper suspected the publicity would be good for Spirited Construction—not to mention she was secretly macabre obsessed, so what could be better than spending Halloween in a house rumored to be haunted.
Pike leaned against one of the open beams. “This attic is just so naturally creepy. Doing a haunted house up here in addition to the ball downstairs was good thinking. The teenagers are going to love it.” Pike picked up the scissors. “So how do I make this ghost again?”
“Start wrapping the tape around the mannequin and we’ll stick an LED light in there when you’re done.” Juniper took a sip of the spiced pumpkin latte Pike had brought her from her coffee shop, Cookies & Corsets.
“How’s business, anyway?” Juniper asked over the squeak of the tape. “I can’t wait to check it out. I think it’s so neat that you share the space with a vintage dress shop.”
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