Haunted Renovation Mystery 1 - Flip That Haunted House (15 page)
Read Haunted Renovation Mystery 1 - Flip That Haunted House Online
Authors: Rose Pressey
Tags: #paranormal mystery cozy mystery women sleuths paranormal romance romantic mystery paranormal
I hopped in the car.
“Wow. I haven’t seen you walk that fast
since that sale at Bath and Body Works.”
“Yeah, she gives me the heebie-jeebies.”
The engine of my old Volvo roared to life, I
hit the gas and sped away. Once out of the subdivision, I made a
beeline for Sweet Suzie’s.
“I need to hurry if I want to catch Suzie
before she closes for the day. I can’t wait to tell her the
news.”
“She is quite the town nosy-parker.”
Maneuvering around the squad of ladies
entering the restaurant next door, we slipped in the door.
“My daughter’s boyfriend said they got the
autopsy report back,” she stated, as I entered the shop.
Seems she had news for me, too.
“I assume we’re alone?” I glanced around the
store.
“Yes.” She smiled as she arranged the
display of figurines in the corner of the store. “Hi, Lacey, good
to see you. Sorry about the ankle.”
“Why, thank you, Suzie. Nice to see you
again, too. I’m checking out the candles.” Lacey crutched away,
leaving me alone with Suzie. Although, if I knew Lacey, she was all
ears while pretending to browse.
“Payne was killed from blunt force trauma to
the head.” She grimaced.
“Oh, God. How horrible.” I shuddered. “And
to think I was almost the next victim.” My hand flew to my mouth.
My nerves had unraveled from a sturdy cord to a frazzled hair-like
thread.
“You must have just missed the killer.” She
stared as if trying to read my expression, and then continued, “I
also found out Ron Spencer hightailed it out of town right after
you found Payne. Suspicious, huh?” She arched an eyebrow.
“Really? That's interesting. That’s the
partner, right? I can’t believe Mr. Spencer had no involvement with
the sale of the house.” I picked up a peaches and berries scented
candle and gave it a whiff. The smell of comfort food—maybe it
would ease my stress level.
“Ron wasn’t any easier to work with than
Payne. You got off lucky by only dealing with one of those
scoundrels.” Suzie placed another figurine on the display.
“A perfect team, huh?” I sniffed another
candle.
Suzie furrowed her brow. “Ron was picky
about which projects he wanted to be involved in and I don’t think
Payne liked it none, either.”
“Sounds like a nice guy,” I quipped. “But
why did they continue to work together if they didn’t see eye to
eye?”
“I don’t know. In many ways they were alike.
They loved money and you know how dollar signs influence people.”
She shook her head.
I nodded. “Oh…I can’t believe I almost
forgot to tell you. It’s the main reason I stopped by.” I placed
another homemade candle on the counter for purchase. Sure, I didn’t
need it, but I couldn’t resist the aroma.
“You mean you didn’t come by just to see
me?” She placed a hand on her hip and chuckled.
“Well, of course I did. But that’s not the
only reason.”
The bell on the door jingled and we looked
up.
“Hey, you!” Lacey said, while hugging her
husband.
“Hi, Rob.” I smiled.
“Hey, Alabama.”
“Rob, this is Suzie, the owner of the
store,” Lacey said.
“Yes, I think we’ve met at the picnic a few
weeks ago.” He shook her hand.
“What are you doing here?” Lacey asked.
We stared waiting for his answer.
“I saw Alabama’s car and thought I’d stop in
and steal you away. Want to grab a bite?”
“Well, I feel so special. Alabama, you want
to go?” She looked at me.
“Oh, no, you two have a good time. I’ll call
you later.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” She
whispered.
“I’ll be fine.” I nodded and smiled. “I’ll
call you.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.” She hesitated. “Call
me.” She mimicked a phone at her ear.
“Nice seeing you again, Lacey. Rob.” Suzie
smiled.
“I won’t be a stranger.” Lacey winked at
Suzie.
“Bye.” Rob called over his shoulder.
I waved as they made their way out the
door.
After watching them move out of view, I
turned to Suzie. “Now, where was I? Oh, yeah. I just came from
Julia Cooper’s house.”
“Details,” she demanded, rushing over to the
counter as fast as her short legs allowed.
I filled Suzie in on the whole sordid scene
at Julia’s. Pants-down-around-his-ankles story, and all. She
listened with her mouth gaping open.
“I can’t believe how uncomfortable I felt
standing there, listening to her layout all the fine points of her
husband’s infidelity. She filed her fingernails the whole time and
sipped on the martini. It was horrible.”
“I can only imagine. You should have run
right out of there.”
I didn’t know if I should admit to Suzie
about my sleuthing, so I kept it quiet.
“You know, he even had an affair with
Julia’s best friend, she’s a librarian,” Suzie said with an
arched-eyebrow grin.
“You’re kidding?” I chuckled.
“Nope. I swear.” She held her hand over her
heart as if ready to pledge the allegiance. “Apparently, they were
caught around the card catalog. He was trying to file her books. If
you know what I mean?” She slammed the cash register shut.
I burst out in laughter. “That is awful.
Well, I’m just glad I got out of Julia’s house alive. I’m not
looking forward to any return visits, either.”
“So, are you still decorating for her? It
wouldn’t make you too uncomfortable?” she asked.
“I think so.” I shrugged. “Until she makes
an attempt on my life, I guess I’ll give it a try. I need the extra
money.”
“Good idea.” Suzie laughed.
“But, yes, it will be unnerving for me.
What’s her deal, anyway? I don’t know anything about her. Just that
she’s originally from somewhere in Texas.”
If anyone knew the details, it would be
Suzie.
“She met him when he was on a business trip,
as far as I know. She keeps to herself a lot. I’ll ask around and
see what I find out.”
“Okay. Well, thanks for the news. Keep me
updated, all right?” I said, as I made my way to the door.
“You know I will.” Suzie waved as I stepped
onto the sidewalk. The bell chimed marking my departure.
Birds chirped and people chatted as they
strolled along the street. I curved around an elderly couple and I
had almost made it to my car when out of the corner of my eye I saw
someone dash behind the building across the street. Something told
me the person had been watching me. Did the person know where I
lived? I quivered at the thought. What the heck was he doing
anyway? He vanished from sight as quickly as he’d appeared. Maybe
Payne’s killer had found me.
I tried to use a car as a shield, ducking
behind it. A young woman pushing a stroller with one hand and
holding onto a toddler crying for ice cream with the other hurried
by and eyed me suspiciously. As I peeked my head around the back of
the car, so did the person hiding behind the building. His beady
eyes held my gaze and his hands remained in his coat pockets. Did
he have a gun in there?
The same face that had terrified me the
night I had discovered Payne stared back at me. Nick Patterson, the
custodian, watched me. As if spellbound, he didn’t move a muscle.
Head tilted, arms dangling, and eyes void. After a few seconds, he
darted back behind the building again. What the heck?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I ran for my car, stumbling over the curb. I
righted myself and hurried forward. In a daze, I scrambled for my
car’s door. I hurried into the driver seat and slammed the door
shut.
My gaze stayed on the bank across the street
as I fumbled with the keys. With my hands shaking, I finally thrust
the key into the ignition. Thank goodness for small favors, because
my old clunker purred to life yet again. I waited for a car to pass
so I could make an escape. And as I paused, unless my eyes played
tricks on me, I saw a woman walk behind the building where Nick had
stood. Maybe I needed glasses, but it looked exactly like Julia
Cooper. Why would she be there with Nick? As I pulled away, the
tires squealed and I got the heck out of Dodge.
I glanced at the road behind me every few
seconds the entire way to Maple Hill Road. If a car came anywhere
near mine, my heart rate spiked. A pick-up accidentally pulled out
in front of me and I gave the driver a horn-lashing I normally
wouldn’t have. But under the circumstances, I saw every car as a
potential enemy. Without further incident, I made it to the house.
When I pulled up, Sam and the guys were loading the van. I climbed
out of the car, my heart rate still high, and glanced over my
shoulder to see if Nick Patterson or Julia Cooper had followed me.
The coast was clear, at least, I thought. They were nowhere in
sight. I didn’t mention my brush with death to the gang. All they
cared about was the spirit world anyway.
“What happened? I thought you were staying
until tonight?” I asked. My nerves were still shaken from the
event.
“I think we got all we need.” Was the only
answer Sam gave.
Sam and Nate headed back inside and I
followed to help with the rest of the equipment. They grabbed a
handful and I walked through the parlor searching for something to
carry. In my haste to help, I forgot about the cables strewn about
the floor. I stumbled, flying across the room, grasping for
anything to save my fall. Maybe I could add circus act to my list
of jobs. With my face smashed into the hardwood floor, I couldn’t
help but wonder how ridiculous I looked.
“Are you all right?” a baritone voice
asked.
“Uh-huh.” I mumbled not looking up as I
tried to get on my feet. “I’m a little shaken up, but nothing seems
to be broken.” I took his extended hand.
Then I realized whose hand I held.
I smiled in spite of trying hard to hold it
back. “Wait a minute. What are you doing here?”
Reed stood in front of me with a big grin on
his face. My cheeks flushed.
“I’m helping find the ghost. What else?”
“Seriously?”
He nodded. “Yeah, sure. You piqued my
interest with all your mumbo jumbo talk. I’m facing my fears.”
I rolled my eyes. “Very funny.” Was he
serious? I couldn’t tell with him.
“Are you okay? What happened?” Sam asked as
she stepped in the room.
“Nothing. I’m fine. I forgot about the
cables.” I brushed off my pants and ignored Reed’s sexy smirk.
“Maybe if you’d stuck around you wouldn’t
have forgotten.” She snapped.
A loud crash boomed from across the room and
we all jumped. You never get used to the unexpected noises. A
camera setting on the windowsill had fallen, landing in the middle
of the room. Sam retrieved the camera inspecting it for damage
while we all exchanged puzzled looks.
“Looks as if someone wants us to know
they’re here.” Sam glanced at Reed as if she expected him to run
kicking and screaming from the house.
The air in the room turned thicker. A sense
of negative emotion and fear filled the house, now more than ever.
No doubt, some of the sensation came from me, not just the ghost.
My fear of the future sent off an aura that was undeniable. Another
loud smash reverberated from somewhere in the house. My stomach
clenched. I cringed, expecting the worst. It sounded as if a
chandelier had fallen, but from where I didn’t know. We all ran to
survey the damage and destruction. Only problem was, we weren’t
sure where the noise had come from.
“Let’s split up,” I said. “We’ll search
every room.”
“Sam and I will look around down here. Why
don’t you guys search upstairs?”
Sam headed into the kitchen and I went to
the library. Nate, Steve, and Reed each went separate ways. The row
of windows overlooking the front yard sat to my right as I entered
the library. A fireplace centered the wall in front of me. On the
left, a wall full of mahogany bookcases stretched to the ceiling.
The whole house seemed to be alive at that moment. Although, I
didn’t see a soul in the room, I felt eyes watching. I looked for
shadowy figures in the dark corners, but found none. Nor did I find
the source of the noise. After a thorough search yielded nothing,
we were left scratching our heads. Sam and I returned to the dining
room to find Reed standing beside Steve and Nate with a worried
expression across his face.
“Find anything?” Nate asked.
“Nope. Not a thing,” Sam said.
“Did you?” she asked.
They all shook their heads.
"Things like that been going on all day?" I
asked.
"Nothing that loud,” Steve said.
“You should have been here and you would
have—”
“Known. I got it,” I snapped.
“Why don’t you two quit bickering,” Nate
said.
As the words left his lips, my missing water
bottle flew from across the room, as if by unseen hands, barely
missing Sam. She ducked her head just in time to dodge it. Where it
had been, I had no idea. Another dimension, perhaps?
“I think the ghost must be angry we’re
here.” She let out a deep breath as she stood up.
Or, it didn’t like her. The spirit activity
was picking up.
“Are you all right?” I asked, moving over
beside her and touching her arm.
“I think I need to go get my bible and the
holy water.” She moved beside Nate. “Things are getting serious.
What if one of us became possessed?”
I pictured Sam confined to her bed, head
spinning around, and a priest trying to cast out the evil
spirits.
Reed scoffed. He’s so smug, even after
seeing the paranormal in action.
“Come on, Sam. We aren’t going to become
possessed. What’s gotten into you? I think we have an angry ghost
here, not a demon.” I looked at Reed and smirked.
“Well, all in all, I think the investigation
went well.” Nate ran a hand through his hair. “With the evidence we
collected, and the first-hand encounters. I hope we caught the
camera and water bottle on video. That would be awesome.”
“Yeah, I think it’s safe to say, this place
is haunted.” Sam huddled close to Nate. Was she actually scared?
Tough girl Sam wasn't so tough, after all.
“Well, I knew that already, guys. I told you
this place was active.”
They gathered the remaining equipment and
headed toward the door.
“I’ll call you, Alabama.” Sam winked at Reed
again. I guess she’d gotten over the fear and was back to flirting.
With that, they walked out, leaving me to face the spirit—and
Reed.