Cookies, Corpses & the Deadly Haunt

by Rachael Stapleton

  Pike looked at her sympathetically. “Oh, Lulu–I’m sorry—there’s been an accident. Um, perhaps, we should take you to Helen.”

  “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” Lulu’s voice had risen to a panicked screech. “Oh my God! Has something happened to Peter? Let me get on—I need to see him. Is he OK?”

  “It’s not your husband, Mrs. McCloskey,” Detective Lumos was authoritative, but gentle in his tone. “It’s your niece,” he looked at his notebook. “I’m afraid she’s dead.”

  Juniper watched as Lulu’s face crumpled and she began to cry—great, shaking sobs that came from deep inside.

  After a few minutes, Lulu’s weeping subsided. “Oh, I’m sorry… I just can’t believe it,” she said, as she wiped her eyes and blew her nose, “The ghost got her. I warned her not to go in there. Why doesn’t anyone ever listen to me?”

  “Lulu! Lulu! What the bloody hell’s going on?” a deep voice shouted from across the lawn as a tall man with dark, slicked-back hair walked towards them. It didn’t escape Juniper’s attention that he was in remarkably good shape, and when he removed his sunglasses, he revealed piercing light grey eyes that seemed to be lit up from within.

  “Oh, Peter—she’s dead. The ghost killed her just like I warned you. That place should never have been sold,” Lulu clung to him and started crying again.

  “What? Who’s dead?” He tried to shove his way past Detective Lumos, but he stopped him easily.

  “Kaitlyn,” Lulu tugged at his arm. “Kaitlyn’s dead. They found her body in the trunk in the attic.”

  “Dead? What d’you mean, dead? How did she die?”

  Detective Lumos quickly explained the situation. “We don’t know yet, but the coroner will be arriving later to remove the body and ascertain the cause of death. At the moment, we have reason to believe that there are suspicious circumstances, so until we’ve established the facts, I’m afraid no one is allowed back in the Mansion. We’re treating the attic as a potential crime scene until we know more. Now if you’ll excuse me.” He turned and began speaking to another officer.

  “Come on,” Pike said to Peter and Lulu kindly. “Let’s go back to the café. I’ll make you a cup of coffee or tea, and some breakfast, if you like.”

  “You’re not supposed to leave.” Juniper whispered.

  “The Detective knows where to find me.”

  Juniper nodded and quickly walked to the brick herringbone pathway that looped around the side of the house, she thought she’d seen Jack come this way and she didn’t want to get stuck talking to anymore nosy neighbors.

  Jack was sitting, looking dejected on the wrought iron bench on the hill overlooking the back of the house. There were damaged window frames, cracked brick, a mossy roof—it all contributed to the house’s eerie Gothic air. She joined him, using the manor’s signs of neglect to distance herself from the memory of Kaitlyn’s folded up body. She hadn’t known Kaitlyn well, but she hadn’t really liked her and now there was guilt gnawing at her insides. In less than a week from now this place was supposed to host a Haunted Halloween Ball to raise funds for the historical society but there would be no Halloween party at the Doctor’s House this year. Not after something like this.

  Juniper let out a whoosh of air as she sat down beside him. “Did I really just find Kaitlyn Patone’s dead body? And in our house.”

  Jack leaned back and rubbed the dark stubble on his jaw. “Oh, babe,” he said, resorting to an old term of endearment. His voice quiet as they sat side-by-side and gazed up at the Gothic square tower, topped by the imposing iron widow’s walk; it looked stark against the bright gray sky.

  “It really is a haunted house now, right? Not one death here, but three?” Juniper responded. She knew what he was thinking.

  They were used to vehicles parked in their driveways—plumbers, electricians, carpenters, inspectors—but this was the first time they’d had multiple police cars.

  Two stern looking officers were unspooling crime tape around the house. The tape fluttered in the brisk breeze, the yellow practically glowing against the red brick.

  “The entire house?” Juniper said, watching from the bench. “They’re going to wrap the entire house in crime scene tape?”

  Jack patted her leg. “Like a giant present. That no one wants.”

  “And everyone in town will know,” Juniper said, shaking her head.

  “Uh, pretty sure everyone already knows. Our driveway is officially a satellite parking lot for the police department.”

  He was right, of course. The Doctor’s house was now the busiest place on the street—and it was located across from Cookies & Corsets Café where everyone hung out.

  Juniper sighed. “This is not what I envisioned in our new old home.”

  “I know and not to be insensitive or anything, but… if word of this gets out, we are never going to flip this house.”

  He put his arm around her and she leaned into his side. His body felt good. Solid. Reassuring. “Did you get a hold of Frank Patone?”

  “No answer. I spoke to his secretary though, and she said she was going to get word to him ASAP to call Helen.” He paused.

  Glancing down the hill at the back door of the house, Juniper saw Axl with his mom crying and holding each other. The volunteers had broken away. She’d overheard Helen repeating to the detective what a nice girl Kaitlyn had been. Who would have done this to her? Was it a break-in gone wrong?

  Juniper couldn’t help but think that Helen was delusional. Kaitlyn had made plenty of enemies, and yet, had someone really killed her?

  Two of the volunteers had separated and were now walking in their direction. They heard one of them say, “I bet the Halloween ball will, like, totally sell out.”

  Juniper was still leaning into Jack and felt him go very still. Her own shoulders slumped as she imagined their plans for this house and the future dissolve. Those kids were wrong, there was no way the Patone family and the town of Bohemian Lake would allow this ball to go on now. And there was no way they’d sell it.

  Chapter Seven

  _____________

  “A

  nyway, if you’re making coffee, I’ll have one too, please, but can you put it in a takeaway cup, and can I get a slice of that lemon meringue I smell cooling.” Detective Lumos sat back and stretched out his long legs. Juniper thought he looked tired.

  “So, I guess it wasn’t natural causes, huh?” Harold asked as he sipped a creamy vanilla bean coffee through a pillow of foam.

  “Uncle Harold, you know I can’t tell you anything,” Detective Lumos scolded.

  “I’m just saying, Kaitlyn was rather young to have just dropped dead, don’t you think?”

  “Well, even young people die. You should take a hint.” The Detective took a sip from his plastic cup and cursed under his breath as he scalded his tongue.

  “Mind yourself, nephew. You might be big, but I can still whack you with my cane.”

  Juniper smirked.

  “Besides, I hardly think the lass folded herself up in a trunk.”

  Detective Lumos sighed. “Can we just drop this subject? We won’t know for sure until the coroner’s report comes back.”

  At that moment, The Detective’s phone rang, and he answered it curtly. “Yes, OK, I’ll be right there.” He stood up to leave and lowered his voice. “I have to go.”

  Pike shuddered. “Your slice of pie will be waiting.”

  “Thanks, hopefully I can get back before you close,” said Lumos.

  “See you then,” said Juniper.

  “That you will,” he smiled briefly and winked, before striding out the door.

  “Did you see that? Did he just wink at you?” Pike could barely contain herself. “I think our new Detective is sweet on you. What do you think, Harold? Maybe Juniper should ask him out?” she nudged Juniper mischievously.

  “Will you please STOP trying to push me at every man that crosses my path? Yesterday it was poor Jack, and today it’s Lumo
s.”

  “They’re bringing out the body now,” Harold interrupted their silly banter.

  Juniper shuddered involuntarily as a stretcher carrying Kaitlyn in a dark blue body bag passed by. She noticed that some of the assembled crowd were taking pictures and videos on their phones. She’d barely known Kaitlyn, but no one deserved such disrespect.

  “Honestly, it’s a good thing that Peter took Lulu home. The behavior of some people is just unbelievable, isn’t it?” Juniper said.

  “It’s just morbid curiosity.” Pike replied. “People can’t help themselves.” She drank the last of her coffee and washed up her cup. “I guess that means you’ll be able to go back inside again soon.”

  “Yeah, lucky me.”

  “Hey!” Pike said, reaching out to touch Juniper’s arm. “You know you can stay with me for as long as you need, right?”

  Juniper cast her mind back to the scene in the attic. There hadn’t been blood or anything messy. But those eyes, just staring up at her, they would haunt her forever.

  “I think I will, Pike, sleep at your place for a while, that is. Thanks!”

  Chapter Eight

  _____________

  S parkling despite the gloomy weather, the stained glass windows of the church on the hill had a certain charm that bested the cemetery’s looming grey clouds.

  "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust; looking for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus..." The Pastor’s voice was somber in the presence of the assembled mourners.

  As Kaitlyn was laid to rest, the tears streamed down many of the townspeople’s cheeks, but most surprising was Peter McCloskey. Lulu clung to her husband, practically hysterical, and on the other side of her looking a little more stoic, was Helen and Frank and their remaining two children Axl and Meaghen.

  Approaching the coffin, Peter placed a single white rose on its lid. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, before turning and stomping off through the trees. Lulu, clad in all black was half dragged as she clung to his arm.

  Pike leaned into Juniper under the oversized red umbrella they shared with Eve and whispered, “As if losing her niece wasn’t bad enough, Lulu has to put up with that jackass and his bizarre behavior.”

  “Aunt Lulu… Uncle Peter! Wait!” Meg called, her heels sinking into the sodden earth as she chased after them.

  “Sorry for the scene,” Helen sniffed as they approached the coffin to say their goodbyes. “My cousin and her husband have the tendency to make everything about them.”

  Pike shot Juniper a look of displeasure. She was fiercely loyal to Lulu and, besides, the comment didn’t fit. Lulu was a sweet, thoughtful person who never wanted attention for herself.

  A strong gust of wind took hold of Eve’s umbrella, thrashing it against Juniper’s face. “Time to get out of this rain, I think,” Juniper whispered as she patted Pike’s arm. The rain was coming in sideways now.

  A ‘Celebration of Life’ was being held for Kaitlyn at Fern’s house, and they’d hired Pike to cater the food. Pike and Juniper had dropped the sandwiches off before the service but there were a few things they needed to pick up from Cookies & Corsets.

  As Pike opened the doors to the café, Juniper felt her spirits lift. Pike’s assistant was behind the counter pouring coffee. Harold, his nephew Detective Lumos, and Jack Sr., were all there, dressed in suits, at one of the tables, sipping from Pike’s signature yellow polka-dot porcelain mugs. It was like coming home after a long day. The familiar faces of the Cookies & Corsets regulars were beginning to represent solace and security. Juniper had never felt this way in any other place, not even the city she’d grown up in, but there was no time to dwell on that now. People were expected to arrive at Fern’s place across the road at any moment, and Juniper and Pike needed to get there to complete the set up.

  “First thing ... let’s get out of these heels.” Pike said.

  Juniper was glad that they’d thought to leave a couple of pairs of ballet flats at the café that morning. She was not used to traipsing about on heels thinner than the nails she hammered.

  In the backroom, Juniper checked herself in the mirror. Her eyeliner was smeared, and her bob, the color of white sugar was plastered to her face. Towel-drying her hair briskly, she ran her fingers through it and pulled it up into a half top-knot. Then, using a makeup wipe and some oil, she cleaned up underneath her eye.

  Re-appraising her reflection, she felt happier with the face that looked back at her. Her eyes were clear now and her hair looked much less like she’d been dragged through a hedge. Slicking a wand of rose-gold gloss across her full lips and dusting the lightest covering of bronzer onto her cheeks, she nodded at the mirror.

  Five minutes later, she and Pike were across the road carrying the last of the baked goods. Thankfully, the rain had paused for the moment. Pike’s employee had brewed the coffee and set all the food up along the buffet hutch.

  “It’s on days like this that I’m thankful we’ve got such a close-knit community,” said Pike as she sent one of the helpers across the road for another tray. “It’s like having ten extra sets of hands.”

  “Hmmm,” said Juniper, distracted, as she took the tinfoil off the dishes. Pickled egg salad on a croissant (the café’s specialty), grilled chicken, apple and gouda, and a slow cooker of slowly bubbling cream of potato soup, two dishes of apple crisp with a jug of apple cider, and two huge trays of raisin butter tarts were among the buffet selection. “I hope there’ll be enough for everyone.”

  “Enough?!” exclaimed Juniper. “Good grief, woman! There’s enough here to feed the whole town for a week! This is the most extravagant funeral faire I’ve ever had.”

  Pike relaxed a little. “I’m glad you think so. Helen would have a fit if it weren’t.”

  “Did someone say something about raisin tarts?” A voice from behind interrupted their conversation, and they turned to see Jack Sr,. coming through Fern’s front door with a whole posse of people.

  “I might have guessed you’d be here first,” Pike teased. “Worried you’d miss the sweet treats, were you?”

  “Worried I’d miss you sweet young things, more like,” retorted Jack Sr., his crow’s feet gathered at the outer parts of his eye as he broke into a wide grin.

  Harold’s wife, Joanne, and her best friend, Eve, herded in last in bright yellow, plastic, hooded ponchos.

  “Quit flirting, Jackie boy. You’d have a heart attack if one of them even blew you a kiss,” said Eve as she hung her poncho on the coat rack and smoothed her hand over her chignon. “Perfect funeral weather, wouldn’t you agree? I hope it rains at my funeral… can’t have anyone happy that day. Just wouldn’t be right.”

  Juniper chuckled and nodded.

  “Thank goodness it’s such a short walk. Shove a cheek, boys, unless you’d prefer us to sit on your laps.”

  Harold and Jack Sr. did as they were told and shuffled down the dining room table’s bench seating and the ladies were making themselves comfortable when Pike’s Aunt Clara arrived. She was a frail-looking, softly spoken woman with a blue rinse and bright blue eyes. “Hello, everyone,” said Clara as she stepped inside. “Is there room for one more?”

  Pike and Juniper took turns greeting her. She’d buried her own husband the year before. Anticipating Clara being on the verge of tears, Joanne said loudly, “Did anyone else notice the drama happening at the church?” She ran some red lipstick over her mouth. “Was it just me, or was there some underlying tension happening between Peter and Helen?” She blotted her lips on a tissue before snapping her handbag shut. “I mean, Peter gritted his teeth all the way through the service, and then to take off like that, before everyone had said their goodbyes. Strange behavior, I thought.”

  “Yes, and of course Helen couldn’t wait to blame Lulu for the scene,” said Pike, her brow creased and her jade green eyes flashing with anger as she recalled Helen’s words. “I’m lucky I had Juniper there to drag me away before I said something I regrett
ed.”

  “Really? I didn’t notice anything,” said Harold.

  “That’s ‘cause you’d already left.” Joanne pointed out.

  “Well, grief is a funny thing, isn’t it,” said Eve. “Everyone deals with it differently. Our most honorable Mayor for example—most fathers break down at the gravesite of their little girls. Such an unnatural thing—to lose a child—and yet I didn’t even see that man shed a tear. I think he showed more emotion when he won the election.”

  “I remember Kaitlyn when she was growing up,” said Joanne. “She was never particularly close to her parents, always seemed to be with Peter and Lulu. Of course, things changed when she became a teenager, she pulled away from the whole lot of them.”

  “Good grief!” The doors opened again and in walked Big Boobs, with her parents and Jack in tow. “That rain is coming down by the bucket load now, and the wind is really starting to howl.”

  On seeing Jack’s handsome face, Juniper immediately felt happier.

  “Get ready for the onslaught?” said Jack, hungrily eyeing the food over Juniper’s shoulder as he gave her a hug. “They’ll be arriving any minute now,” he said, moving into the next room to hug the older ladies.

  The sound of cursing on the footpath that ran alongside the kitchen prompted Juniper to turn and look out of the open window. It was raining, but they had cracked the window when the caramel sauce for one of the cakes had burnt.

  “Bloody hell!” the voice repeated.

  Juniper looked around the kitchen to see if there was anyone else baring witness to the fact that Helen was standing with Lulu’s husband, Peter, under a gazebo in the garden. What are they doing out there?

  Juniper watched as Helen pushed Peter away—breaking into tears as she did. Not to be nosy but Juniper couldn’t resist. She cracked the window an inch higher, doing so as quietly as possible.

  They were far enough away that it was hard to hear but she couldn’t miss when Helen slapped Peter hard across the face. Peter’s eyes darted around and then shot to the house.