So far, she hadn’t had any luck.
“Yes, Coraline Danvers. That’s exactly who we’re going to see,” Belle answered her sister’s question. She was concentrating on the road in front of her, still wet from the early morning rain. Every minute or so, however, she would steal a glance at her sister and the puzzle.
She doubted Anna would solve it anytime soon, if at all. Spatial reasoning wasn’t her strong point.
“As in creepy Mrs. Danvers?” Anna pressed, starting to get irritated with the little metal contraption.
“Yes, that Mrs. Danvers, Anna. And she isn’t creepy.”
“Sure, she is,” Anna argued. She pulled vigorously on the two parts, trying to force them to separate. Obviously, her burst of anger at the puzzle amounted very little progress. “She lives in that gigantic creepy place all alone, and has stuffed every single room full of junk, junk, and more junk. Seems like the kind of place Harlem should be living.”
“Not all ghosts like creepy, cluttered spaces, you know,” Belle retorted. She referred to the wandering spirit of a murder victim who had recently taken up residence at the Voodoo Drive-In. His name was Harlem.
Anna, now at her wits end, grunted and tossed the puzzle into her purse.
“You’re never going to solve that thing, are you?”
“Of course, I am. It just takes time and concentration,” Anna shot back.
“I know that, but puzzles were never really your thing.”
“They are now.” Folding her arms, Anna leaned back in her seat, watching the green trees along the misty bayou whizz by. She wouldn’t tell her sister the truth, that after only a couple of weeks living in Sunken Grove again she felt like she was sort of going insane. Her childhood town was small, hardly a speck on the map. As soon as the chance had presented itself, she had moved out and headed off to pursue a nursing degree.
Unfortunately, her ability to properly manage money wasn’t the best, especially since she was forced to work two part-time, minimum wage jobs just to make ends meet. There was never a moment of peace or leisure during her schooling. Work, study, and classes occupied every single second of her time. It had all ended abruptly when her savings ran dry, and she lost one of her jobs.
Only two years after leaving Sunken Grove, she was forced to drop out and move home.
To add salt to the wound, while she had been out trying to lead the responsible life, her wide-eyed and foolish younger sister had bought an old dilapidated warehouse and accompanying lot. Belle had converted it into a drive-in theater and restaurant, a place that was dedicated to the old B-rated horror, mystery, and sci-fi movies of the past.
It was Belle’s ultimate homage to their father, a man who enjoyed spending his weekends watching the classic movie channel on cable. Belle had always been enamored with movies as well. Somehow, she had taken her love of old cinema and turned it into a profitable business.
Meanwhile, Anna had squandered her own savings trying to do something smart. Now, she realized, her issue had been the location she’d chosen to move. The cost of living, and of schooling in Denver had been far too high. She’d been bled dry and felt like one of the victims from her sister’s vampire flicks.
All in all, the stupid little puzzle in her purse was something to help her cut through the stress and anxiety she felt about having to work for, and live with, her little sister. She’d read online that puzzles were a good way to relax.
So far, she felt anything but relaxed.
Anna moaned under her breath and slid partway down in her seat.
Belle couldn’t help but giggle quietly.
“What is so funny?”
“Just thinking about when we were kids.”
“What about it?”
“I remember, one time, we were doing a thousand-piece puzzle with mom and dad. It was a picture of an old truck or something boring like that.”
“I don’t remember this.”
“Of course, you remember. When we were about halfway through, you’d only managed to find two pieces total to fit into the puzzle, while I’d done at least twenty.”
“I doubt that,” Anna grunted.
Ignoring her sister, Belle continued the story. “You were so frustrated you tossed the whole thing across the room.” She couldn’t help but laugh out loud at that point. “We never did another puzzle again.”
“That didn’t happen,” Anna sneered, narrowing her eyes at her sister.
“It did, and it was hilarious. The only thing worse is the way you play board games.”
“Don’t even go there.” Anna pointed a demanding finger at her sister.
“You’re determined. I’ll give you that much.” She motioned toward the purse where the puzzle had disappeared.
“I’m going to solve it,” she insisted.
“I have faith in you,” Belle created a fist and pumped it in the air.
Without responding, Anna turned away from her sister and looked out the window at the trees and buildings whizzing by.
Turning down Main Street—the touristy hub of the community—Belle navigated her car past various restaurants and shops.
Some of the town’s residents called Main Street “Mini New Orleans” because of the similar style of storefronts, architecture, and design to the French Quarter. A nice variety of creole, Cajun, and southern restaurants dotted the scene along with a few art galleries and jazz clubs. They even had their fair share of “voodoo” shops which sold goofy souvenirs and items to folks who had no idea what real voodoo even was.
Of course, the benefit of Mini New Orleans was the fact that it was never as crowded or busy as the real French Quarter. Additionally, finding parking was usually a breeze.
Many of the buildings had rooms or apartments in the second and third stories for rent, and Anna had considered staying in one of those over living with her sister—but her bank account spoke otherwise. They were just passing the Veranda Hotel, which had a white wraparound porch on all three floors.
Glancing up, Anna noticed someone walking around on the third floor. “Hey, she looks familiar.” Pointing upward, she motioned at the woman in a yellow blouse.
Slowing the car, Belle peaked at the person her sister was looking at.
“Is that who I think it is?” Anna asked.
“Looks like Candy Danvers, doesn’t it?”
“Sure does.”
The two sisters looked at each other. “What do you think she’s doing in town?” Belle wondered.
“And why is she staying at the hotel instead of at her mother’s?”
“I don’t think it’s any of our business,” Belle admitted.
The woman disappeared into one of the hotel room doors.
“You don’t find it odd?”
Belle shook her head. “Trust me, that’s one family dilemma you don’t want to stick your nose in.”
CHAPTER 2
* * *
“Remind me why we’re visiting this creepy place again?” Anna asked.
“How many times do I have to tell you, it isn’t creepy? Coraline is a nice lady. She’s just a bit eccentric,” Belle responded.
“Eccentric? I remember her being downright frightening.”
“Because we trespassed on her property late at night, that’s why. That was completely our fault.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot about that,” Anna admitted. The only thing she had remembered was the woman running out the front door with a broom in hand, screaming like a banshee at them. She’d forgot the reason why it had happened.
Belle was laughing again. “Oh, we were stupid as kids.”
“Speak for yourself.”
“I was so enamored with watching horror movies back then—”
“Back then?” Anna interrupted.
Belle ignored her outburst. “I thought for sure that Mrs. Danvers was a witch, just like the ones in City of the Dead. I thought that maybe, just maybe, she was the leader of some coven or cult in town and was planning to kidnap virgins and sacr
ifice them.”
Anna smirked for the first time that morning, slowly letting the memories come back to her. “You tried to convince dad that she was a witch.”
“Yep, and he told me that I wasn’t allowed to watch horror movies with him for at least a week.”
“You threw an absolute fit. I remember you stomping around the house for days about it.”
“That’s why I had to prove to him that she was a witch and a cult leader. So, I convinced you to sneak out with me to her house.”
“Hey, I only came along to keep you out of trouble,” Anna defended herself.
Belle cast a knowing look at her sister. “Right, right,” she replied sarcastically. “I’m pretty sure you believed almost as much as I did that she was a witch.”
“No, I didn’t,” Anna defended.
Belle tilted her head and looked at her.
“Fine, you’re right. You convinced me.”
“You were dead scared.”
“So were you.”
“Anyway, we thought if we could sneak into her house we could bring back evidence.” She sighed, a smile coming to her face. “We never quite made it in. Mrs. Danvers spotted us fiddling with the back window and she came out at us, waving a broom.”
“That certainly didn’t help our original assumption.” Anna began to laugh out loud.
Belle joined in. “We were positive she was a witch after that.”
“Luckily, now we know she’s just a creepy recluse.”
Belle’s laughter died. Glaring at her sister, she was not amused. “She isn’t creepy.”
“Back to my original question, then. Why are we going to see this woman?”
Shifting in her seat, Belle set her eyes back on the road. “She gave me a call the other day. She said she’d found some old horror movie posters she’d had stashed away and wanted to know if I wanted to use them for the drive-in.”
“I see.”
“She said she was happy to contribute to my business in any way she could. As soon as she saw those posters, she thought of me. What kind of creepy or mean woman would do that?”
“One who is luring us into her lair to murder us,” Anna spoke in a spooky voice, waving her fingers in the air. “Oooooh!”
“I shouldn’t have invited you along. You should have stayed back at the drive-in with Harlem.”
“Now he still gives me the creeps,” Anna admitted.
“Never mind. We’re almost there.”
Crossing over a short wooden bridge, the car emerged in between a few trees. In the distance, among the foggy wisps of mist from the bayou, a tall plantation home appeared. The white walls shimmered in the mid-morning sun, the droplets of water clinging to the building and catching the light.
“See, this place is as creepy as I remember it.”
“It looks homey,” Belle countered, trying to suppress the shiver she felt along her spine.
“If you say so.”
Pulling up the circle driveway, they parked just out front and slid out of their seats.
“Your car is so short. My muscles hurt just from sitting in it.”
Belle shook her head and grumbled quietly, “you just have to pick on everything I like, own, or do.”
“I’m just pointing out the obvious,” Anna said, following her sister up the steps to the front door.
“You’re sure you want to come in with me? I mean, you could just wait in the car.”
“Don’t want to. I’d rather see what Mrs. Danvers looks like nowadays.”
Rolling her eyes, Belle reached up and used the knocker. “You know, for the supposed responsible one in the family, you can be a little judgy sometimes.”
CHAPTER 3
* * *
The sound of multiple locks clicking echoed from inside until the door finally swung open. Standing in the entryway was a short older woman with her gray hair pulled back in an orange bandana. “Belle, how are you?” she beamed, her wrinkles accenting her smile.
“Oh, fantastic, Cora, it was nice of you to call.”
“Oh my, and is this Anna?” the older woman gasped.
“Hi, Mrs. Danvers.”
“Call me Cora, dear.” Reaching out, she grasped Anna’s hand and held it warmly. “I heard you were back in town. It’s wonderful to see you again. Why don’t you girls come in and have some tea? I just finished baking some butter cookies.” Turning her back on them, she stepped aside to allow them entry.
The younger sister glanced up at Anna with a knowing look.
Not only did Coraline Danvers not look creepy, she looked downright cozy.
Anna could only manage an I’m sorry shrug. She felt a little bad for the way she had acted. Her sister was right, she could be a little judgmental. Her whole life she’d had problems with just saying it how she saw it, which caused many people to dislike her.
Pushing that thought aside, she stepped inside after Belle.
Shutting the door behind them, Coraline latched all three of her locks. The entry hall was suddenly and significantly darker. Stacks of boxes and pieces of old furniture blocked the front windows of the house.
“You girls will have to excuse the cramped quarters, I’m afraid I’ve never been very good at getting rid of things.” She began to squeeze down the hall past the staircase toward the back of the house. “Luckily, the study is clean and I’ve set up the tea in there.”
The sisters followed.
Entering the little study, which had shelves on each wall covered in various books, the two sisters took a seat on a settee.
“I don’t know if you can use any of these, but if you want them, they are yours to take.” Coraline slid a box with ten rolled up posters in it toward Belle.
“Wow, thank you.” Picking up the first one in the pile, she removed the rubber band and examined the image. It was red, black, and white and had a woman’s severed head sitting on a table with all sorts of electrodes sticking out of it. “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die, how awesome is that? And The Crimson Cult?” she squeaked upon pulling out a second poster.
“And there’s more where that came from my dear. I have plenty of strange posters just sitting around in nooks and crannies around the house. When I find ones that look up your alley, I’ll give you a call.”
“You just collected these?”
“Dear, I’ve collected everything,” she laughed out loud.
The sisters couldn’t help but laugh, too.
“I’m getting old and it’s about time I started getting rid of some of this junk.”
“Makes sense,” Anna chimed in.
“Now, how do you girls take your tea?” she asked lifting the antique flower-patterned pot and filling three matching cups on saucers.
“I like a little honey and cream,” Belle admitted.
“Just plain for me,” Anna added.
Opening a tiny little pot, Coraline scooped out a touch of honey and dribbled it into one of the cups. Picking up a small pouring dish, she added the cream and then pushed the two cups forward. “Don’t forget the butter cookies.” She moved the silver tray of baked goods toward the sisters. The cookies were all perfectly square with the same exact number of little dimples on top.
If it weren’t for the steam coming off them, and the fresh smell of buttery goodness in the air, Anna would have sworn they were store bought.
Belle grabbed one without hesitation and took a big bite. “Mmmmm, these are amazing. How do you make them?”
“It’s a simple recipe, really. Just butter, flour, and sugar, mostly.”
“I’ll have to get it sometime. It might be a nice thing to serve at the drive-in.”
Anna picked one up and nibbled off the corner. The buttery crumbs melted on her tongue, spreading the subtle sweetness through her mouth. She had to agree with her sister, they were pretty good. She took another one. “How do you get them to stay in this shape?”
“A silicone mold. Would you believe it? Silicone.”
“I can believe it,
” Belle said, munching down on her second cookie.
“She uses silicone cooking sheets sometimes at the theater,” Anna informed the woman.
Coraline smiled at the older sister. “Anna, do you remember that time you tried to sneak into my house and I chased you off with a broom?”
The older sister instantly felt her face growing hot with embarrassment. Of all the things to bring up, she would point out the time she’d made a fool of herself. And what about Belle? She’d been there too. “It was me and Belle,” she said, not wanting to take the brunt of the age-old mistake.
Coraline raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure, dear? I don’t remember Belle being there at all.”
Anna looked to her sister for support just as there was another knock at the door.
“Now who can that be? I’m not expecting anyone else,” she complained, standing up.
Anna let out a loud whoosh of relief as Coraline exited the study and headed toward the front door. “Saved by the bell.”
“You mean the knock,” Belle teased.
Anna narrowed her eyes at her younger sister. “I can’t believe it. She doesn’t even remember you being there. The whole dang thing was your idea.”
“Was it?” she smirked, brushing a strand of blonde hair behind her shoulder.
“Of course, it was,” Anna snapped, her face still flushed.
“Oh, come on, sis. She thinks it’s funny.”
Anna was about to respond with some frustrated comment when Coraline’s voice echoed down the hallway from the front door.
“I thought I’d set you straight last night?”
“Ma’am, I have a client who is very interested in that doll of yours. She is very . . . persistent.” It was a man’s voice, but not one that either of the sisters readily recognized. At the very least, they could tell he was nervous being here.
Belle raised a wondering eyebrow at Anna.
“I told you last night. There is no doll. I don’t have the faintest idea what you’re talking about.”
Blue-Eyed Doll Page 2