Hazy View: Souls of the Vanished (11 page)

“
Look at the photos.
Something pulled them under the water, if they had made it to shore
they would’ve contacted me. I’m hoping that they’re out there
alive, unlikely but I’m hoping against the odds.”

Holding the set of six photos, Andrew
tapped them against the table. Looking at them meant he had to
except Janet and Christopher Parker never left town.

The waiter noticed tension and walked
over briskly to collect the plate and offer more coffee. There was
silence until she left. Finally Andrew inspected the
photos.

Most showed a hazy human figure in
front of a night sky. Andrew flipped through two similar photos and
stared at the last.

He felt sick to the pit of his
stomach.

Color drained from his face, his head
started to spin forcing him to lay the photos face down on the
table.

The image on the postcard size photo
confirmed his worst suspicions.

As clear as daylight the wet,
neglected, gray eyed image of Janet was center of the photo. She
was hands reach from the camera. In the background the small image
of Christopher was hazy, but recognizable.

Andrew was silent, starring out the
window. “Are you sure this isn’t just a hoax?

“
They’re real, as real as
you and I. There aren’t many documented events of this kind. The
boys were here, to proof paranormal activities does exist. It's
important that I offer my help and complete the study my sons
started. Please don’t push me away. There’s so much we can learn
from this. I beg of you, allow me to do what I’m good
at.”

Finally Andrew got his thoughts in
order. “How do we stop her?”

“
You need to find out
what’s holding her here.”

“
What happened to her you
mean.”

“
Exactly, give her a
reason to move on. Solve the problem that she can’t.”

“
First let’s find your
sons.” Andrew said and stood up. He walked a few steps and turned
to Mr. Craft. “Coming?”

Andrew walked to the counter, paid the
bill and walked out the door. Mr. Craft followed.

*~*~*

*IV*

The sun was still bright and hot.
Occasional clouds drifted in front of the sun blocking its
brightness, and the breeze was soft and gentle. A blue pick-up
parked next to the panel van and was off loading diving equipment.
Seven men dressed in wet suits gathered around the pick-up. A sign
on the door worded “Diving and Salvaging” and listed four numbers
in the city.

Andrew turned his attention to a small
group of volunteers. The divers left the parking lot and walked to
the pier to start searching the water. Andrew divided the groups
into teams of four to concentrate their search on land. Andrew
watched as the teams scatter and walked to the rear of the panel
van where Tom was standing.

“
Sheriff, there’s
something I’d like you to hear. It might help to identify your
ghosts. The cameras recorded images and the sound recorders caught
voices besides that of my sons. Do you have a moment?”

Andrew entered van and sat on an empty
chair in the corner. A shelf held different computers on the one
side of the van.

“
This is an interesting
setup you’ve got here. I’m sure it must’ve set you back a
bit.”

“
My life’s savings and
much hard work, some of this equipment’s not easy to come by.” Mr.
Craft admitted proudly.

“
Can you show me the
camera footage as well? I need to see what happened out there last
night.”

Mr. Craft turned to one of the
computers. “I’ve got it ready for you.”

Andrew watched the footage without
comment. The first time it played in silence. Mr. Craft added audio
and played it again.

“
Do you know the woman?”
Mr. Craft asked noticing Andrew had turned pale.

“
It point to someone I
thought had left town. The more I hear people talking and now
seeing this footage. I’m convinced that she had never
left.”

“
You were close to her. I
can see it in your eyes.”

Andrew’s deep sadness carried in his
voice. “I’m ... was this boy’s godfather. I would think it's
impossible for something like this to happen, and no one even
suspects a crime.” He paused for a moment. “We even felt sorry for
her husband. He was going through hell. We thought it was because
he couldn’t deal with them leaving. Meanwhile the only reason he
ran away so fast, is because Janet’s haunting him and he can’t deal
with them, the bastard.” Andrew said, as sorrow turned to
anger.

Mr. Craft fell silent. “I feel your
loss.

“
Thank you.”

“
This is what I wanted you
to hear.” He remarked and played the audio again.

The radio in Andrew’s hand cracked to
life.

“
We have reached the far
shore and are splitting up.” The volunteer called.

“
Fine, let me know the
minute you find something.”

“
We’ll do so.”

“
Sorry about
that.”

“
Nothing more than
necessary, there’s no need to apologize.” Mr. Craft
assured.

On the recording William and Ivan’s
voices were clear, asking questions to establish presence. Andrew’s
facial expressions changed with the sound of a female
voice.

“
That voice.” Andrew’s
voice was a breathless whisper.

“
I can make it clearer so
only her voice comes through.” Mr. Craft said and changed the
settings on the audio and played it again.

Andrew sat on the edge of the chair
hoping she would name her killer. He needed to help her, bring her
peace and the rest that’s taken from her so wrongly.

Janet’s voice came through the
speakers in response to the questions Ivan and William asked. “I’m
the one you killed and threw away like garbage... Find us or I’ll
keep taking others... You and your kind...” A soft weep echoed from
behind her as a child came into focus.

Silence fell hard in the van, on one
of the screens her image was in full view of the camera.

Janet continued filled with rage.
“Your reign had end. I shell not fear you and you’ll come with me
to the bottom of the lake to live through my pain for all eternity,
just as you expected me to. You can no longer silence me. I will
not be alone in this torment. You’ll pay for your crime as my son
and I have suffered for some time now.”

Moments later she swept past the
cameras. She appeared seconds later the other side with Ivan and
William forcing them under the water. They never
reappeared.

Andrew struggled to find the words.
“This can’t go unpunished.”

“
What do you need to make
it happen?”

“
Can you get your divers
to search around the rock face as well? I do believe if there’s
something under the water, it’ll be there.” Andrew asked and stood
up.

“
Sure.”

“
If you want to continue
your investigations go ahead. Understand the sheriff’s department
can’t hire you or take responsibility for any damage or loss of any
equipment, or injury to you or your staff.”

“
I understand.”

“
You’ll show me any
evidence. No-one’s to see any of this until I give you the okay,
even if the president himself comes with a court order.”

“
Sure.”

“
Where do I contact
you?”

Mr. Craft handed him a business
card.

“
My cell phone’s on
twenty-four-seven. Once again thank you. You don’t know what this
means to me and my sons, and if they were here right now they
would’ve grabbed and kissed you.”

“
They sound like great
men, I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to meet them.” Andrew left
the van and turned to Tom.

“
I suggest you close the lake as soon as the divers are out
of the water. I don’t want to find anyone around here, especially
on the water. I’ll deal with the mayor. You’re in charge of this
Tom except for Mr. Craft.” Andrew commanded and walked to his
vehicle and stopped midway.

*~*~*

*V*

A black sedan blocked the path between
Andrew and his vehicle. It stopped in front of him. The rear tinted
window descended and the door clip opened. Andrew slipped into the
backseat with a sigh. The window closed again.

Andrew looked at the short stocky man
that seemed more than comfortable in his position. Until recently
he had thought of the mayor as sensitive to the needs, safety and
freedom of the people who had elected him to his position. He
accepted a cold drink from the driver poured from a minibar in the
front and held it for a moment in his hands to feel the
cold.

Andrew stared at the glass in his
hand, he felt dizzy and distant.

“
Janet and her son are
still here.” Andrew said softly and handed Gibbs the
photos.

Gibbs took them and studied them
thoughtfully while giving Andrew time to talk.

“
I’m sure Martin did
something to them. He’s more on edge as any man I’ve ever met whose
wife walked out on him. There’s something not right about his
behavior, even worse every time he was near the lake. Its possible
accidents occurred, but then why hide it. I mean he was the
sheriff. He’s respected and seen as an upstanding member of
society. At any rate, something’s not right and I believe we need
to find him even just to hear his side of the story.”

“
How can you be so sure
that he committed this crime?” Gibbs asked looking up from the
photos.

“
It's possible that his
wife and child left town as he claimed and he was not aware of
their disappearance. By now he should’ve relished something’s not
right. On the other hand, he must’ve known, because something
horrifying was haunting him for days before he left. Somehow he
even received calls from someone who we believed was his wife. Even
I’d heard a one-sided conversation that sounded like him speaking
to her the day he left. Who would call him if not his
wife?”

“
Maybe he has someone
pretending to be his wife or you’re barking up the wrong
tree.”

“
I know I’m not, I can
feel it in the pit of my stomach and it's making me sick to think
of it. I’d love to know that I’m wrong, but the only way to settle
this is to find Martin.”

“
I assume you have a way
to find him.”

“
Yes.” Andrew replies
coldly.

“
You’re planning to do
this when?”

“
As soon as humanly
possible, I intend to start the search as soon as I get to the
office.”

“
What will you do if he
turns out to be innocent and your ghost isn’t, Janet?” Gibbs asked
handing the photos back to Andrew.

“
Then I‘d have hit a brick
wall.”

“
Will you be leaving town
as soon as you find him?”

“
Yes. I’ll have to tie up
some loose ends before I can leave. First we need to close the lake
for the public. I’ve got a paranormal investigator that will gather
information on the ghosts. Just the investigator and Tom can to go
on the lake if it's necessary.”

Gibbs looked at Andrew over the rim of
his glasses. “I know that you and the Parkers have a close
relationship for a long time. I don’t want it to cloud your
judgment and force the sheriff’s department into an embarrassment
that would harm the reputation of the town. Did she actually name
him as the killer?”

“
No, but if he’s guilty he
belongs behind bars, broken and dishonored as much as any criminal.
Everyone ought to see him destroyed after all he had
done.”

“
That’s fare and well, but
did he do it, do you have any other prove than a ghost that didn’t
name him and your gut feeling?”

“
No.”

Gibbs emptied his glass and handed it
to the driver. “No matter what, before you accuse him, you need
good solid proof that would tie him to the crime that you don’t
have proof of either. This would be difficult. Your only evidence
is a ghost that doesn’t even points to him as her killer. You do
have your work cut out for you.”

Andrew sat for a moment in silence
thinking. He finished his drink and passed the glass to the
driver.

“
I don’t have to remind
you that Martin’s a resourceful man. He’s not today’s child, not
your average person on the street. He’s the best sheriff’s we had
because of his background in the military, and his ability to get
the job done. He’s thorough. He demanded a quality of life and in
return gained respect most longed for even never seen. But you see,
put that aside. He could also be a criminal of the likes we hadn’t
seen in this community. Of all the evil he might’ve done to his
wife and kid he had that great, hero stigma behind him. These
qualities are more powerful and immeasurable than you’ll ever wrap
your mind around. If anything goes wrong with his apprehension.
Even if you can proof him guilty, you might be a punching bag for
the community angered by his dismay. You must be strong and
absolutely certain before bringing him down. Even if guilty and he
fights the charges using the people of this town, they’ll make him
innocent and you guilty. You need to know this before chasing after
a legend.” Gibbs warned.