A Haunting at Hensley Hall (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Mystery) (11 page)

Meg smiled and popped a piece of chocolate into her sister’s mouth. “If I told you everything I’ve been hearing, feeling and now seeing, you’d be sleeping in your truck.”

Charlie laughed. “You’re probably right!”

Meg frowned thoughtfully. “And then there is the ‘unnatural attachment’ as Nell called it. And the incident when he was found in her room.”

“It appears this Devon was not a very likeable character all the way around, when you add murder and incest to his list of crimes.”

“Don’t forget animal abuse…the mare and the kittens…and probably more we don’t know about,” Meg said. “You know how I feel about that sort of thing. Do you think this Devon is dead like everyone says? You didn’t feel, hear, or see him in your room last night, right?”

“No, the only one who disturbed my sleep last night was you…you and Freddie,” Charlie told her pointedly.

Meg popped a piece of chocolate into her own mouth. “If Devon is dead, wouldn’t you think he’d head back to Hensley Hall like a ghostly homing pigeon?”

“I couldn’t agree more. Maybe he’s just not as demonstrative as Breanna and has yet to make an appearance? But, if he is alive, then who’s buried in the mausoleum?”

“And where is Devon? I really don’t want to think he’s waiting to pay us a call,” Meg said with a worried frown.

“That, my sister, makes two of us. Three if you count Freddie, since Devon has a proclivity for hurting animals.”

“And killing people? Do you think he murdered those girls, and Breanna, since her ghost is hanging around wailing like a banshee?” Meg asked, chewing on her lower lip.

“I think there is every possibility he murdered them all. And is probably still alive, but the only way to prove he isn’t in the mausoleum would be to have him exhumed and a DNA test ran. Which would have to match a sample from the house, but, since his room was stripped when we got there and then cleaned top to bottom by us, the likelihood of finding one is remote to nil. As far as fingerprints go, there can’t be enough left of him for that. Finally, I can’t help but think the local authorities will laugh themselves silly, if we ask for an exhumation order on the grounds he is not
haunting
us?”

Meg pursed her lips and scowled. “When you put it that way, I suppose you’re right. But when has any obstacle kept you from stirring the pot? And don’t forget Breanna. I don’t think she’ll let us off the hook that easily. She really seems to need our help.”

Charlie sighed and looked at her sister, who was staring down the road with her chin stuck out in the mutinous angle she knew well over the years. Meg was on a mission and there would no way to stop her. “‘Can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em’,” Charlie muttered under her breath. Meg’s smug smile told her she knew she had won, but, at least, she had the good sense to keep her mouth shut. For once!

Time for a little redirection, Charlie thought wryly. “Let’s stop for supper and then we won’t have to argue over the cooking thing again. By the way, I think it’s time we thought about hiring a cook/housekeeper. Someone who won’t mind helping with the cleanup.”

“You mean someone who will actually do windows caked with decades of grime?” Meg asked doubtfully, “such angels exist?”

“You’re right. Maybe we should look for miracle worker/wonder woman instead? When we can afford her, which won’t be any time soon from what I can see.”

***

When they arrived home, it was just getting dark and the last of the work crew was pulling out. The house greeted them with a thrum of nervous energy, but remained quiet otherwise. No sly whispers, no moving shadows in places where shadows didn’t belong, but there was still an uncomfortable ‘awareness’ that shot a ripple of unease through them both. So they decided to raid the fridge and head up to their rooms.

When Charlie emerged from her shower, a short time later, she found Meg sitting cross-legged on the foot of her bed with Freddie sprawled over her lap. She was reading a letter. Even from across the room, Charlie recognized the stationery and lavender ink. Opening the balcony door first, she padded across the floor and sat down on the edge of her bed. “So when did Sage’s letter arrive?”

“Moe handed it to me before he left. He had to sign for it and hoped we didn’t mind, which of course we didn’t,” Meg returned with a smile.

The kind of smile that Charlie had learned not to trust, at least not entirely. “And?”

“Well, they’re all fine…great actually… and, of course, ask how we’re doing and send their love.”

“And?” Charlie repeated.

“It seems they also sent us a check”

Charlie exploded. “A check! What for? You haven’t asked them for money have you, because I won’t have it! This is our house, our problem, or should I say
problems
. I won’t go running to them, just because we’re feeling the water close over our heads just now!”

“Drowning is not a good thing, Charlie. I don’t think I need to tell you that. And we’re headed there if we keep sinking money in this place. Besides, the check isn’t to bail us out. It’s…let me find it…she writes, ‘It’s an ‘ investment in your enterprise with a lot more likelihood of a decent return than a savings account these days’. Then she continues, ‘Your Dad is very excited and wants to start a new series of ghost stories that will scare the poop out of the little beggars…his words not mine. He wants to stay in your new house for inspiration. From what you’ve been telling me, Meg, it has plenty of ghosts to inspire him. And about that house cleansing I offered. I wish you would reconsider’. Anyway, she goes on and on,” Meg told her.

“Maybe some of our spirits don’t want to go to be
cleansed
? Maybe they’re content just hanging around a place they loved,” Charlie told her, then found herself asking against her will, “how much?”

Meg handed the check to her and watched her eyes widen. “With this kind of investment we can gladly offer them half of everything and won’t have to worry about money for a long time,” Charlie managed to say.

“Sounds good to me. I’m glad you’re not mad. I know how proud you are of your independence, so I didn’t dare show you the letter right away. I needed to pick the right time and now seems as good a time as I’m likely to find.”

“I see. I thought we’d had a discussion about you tip toeing around on eggshells? Do I need to chase you around again with the plant mister? When are Dad and Sage coming?” Charlie asked with a laugh.

“Not for quite a while, judging from their list of prior commitments, though Sage said she’d drop everything and take the next plane out if we needed her…um…talents.” They both pictured Sage flying to their rescue and smiled. “There is something you should consider, though. Why don’t we move you to the room across the hall, or on the other side of me? Your staying here in Devon’s room gives me the creeps now that we know what we do about him.”

“No, I like this room and the tower. But I would consider switching out the bed in the morning,” Charlie told her.

“You don’t think we need to worry about Devon, do you?” Meg asked.

“You mean showing up here? Killing us in our sleep? I would think this would be the last place he’d want to be. With Breanna dead…quite probably at his hands…what would be the point?”

“Not to mention the ghost of his father. I know he’s here, too,” Meg told her, dropping her voice to a whisper.

“That sort of clinches it then, doesn’t it? He hated his father with good cause and, quite probably his mother, too. So I don’t really think we have a thing to worry about…at least from that quarter.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Me, too!” Charlie muttered under her breath

***

It was quite late by the time the sisters had finished talking about their future plans and the upcoming family visit. It was time to take Freddie down for what was, hopefully, his last ‘emptying’ of the night. Charlie went with her. They took the servants’ stairs down to the kitchen and, while Meg released Freddie into the shrubbery, Charlie foraged through the fridge.

By the time Meg returned, she had two slices of chocolate cake waiting on the table. Meg rummaged in the fridge and fed Freddie the bits of chicken she found there, before she sat down next to her sister. “I think I heard something rustling in the bushes that wasn’t Freddie.”

Charlie considered what she’d said over a forkful of chocolate frosting. “It’s not Devon, if that’s what you’re worried about. Probably some small animal. Remember we have more than ten acres of overgrown yard that could easily accommodate any number of wild animals.”

“That kind of remark isn’t very helpful, you know. Besides, I never said I
thought
it was Devon, I just said I
heard
a noise,” Meg retorted peevishly.

After that, they finished their cake in silence, then headed back up the stairs to the second floor. Opening the door at the top, they stepped into the hall, which was darker than they’d left it. The sconces at the far end did not appear to be lit. Or so they thought. Then something moved. An almost opaque black mass churned and swirled, then began to head towards them.

Freddie bristled and growled, then hid behind Meg’s legs. “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Charlie whispered.

Meg could barely speak around the lump in her throat. “And hearing. A thump…thump…thump like someone with a cane coming this way.”

“Your place or mine?” Charlie asked.

“Mine and quickly!” Meg managed to squeak, as she scooped Freddie off the floor.

But seeing Meg’s fear, made Charlie mad all the way to her toes. “This is our house and I’m not going to let you frighten us. Do you understand?”

Meg’s face turned ashen. “Charlie, please. For God’s sake, get inside.”

“I know who you are. I know that you like to beat little boys with your cane. How would you like to try that on me?”

Writhing and twisting faster and faster, the black mass began to take on the shape of a man. A very large man! Two red eyes glared, malevolently, at them from the blackness, which was altogether too much…even for Charlie.

Flinging open her door, Meg pulled an unresisting Charlie in after her. Turning the key, they leaned against the door, as they waited for their heartbeats to return to something close to normal. Meg was the first to regain her voice. “You are an idiot, Charlie! Trying to provoke him is not only stupid it’s insane. That thing out there is dripping evil. And strong! Strong enough to do us real harm.”

Charlie smiled, shakily, still more rattled than she wanted to admit. “Only if we let it. I’ll admit I was rather scared.”

“Out of your freakin’ wits scared, you mean! Or I should say ‘questionable ‘ wits. What were you thinking?”

“I’m not entirely sure. I just didn’t like how he frightened you and I kind of lost it. But the ‘red eye’ thing was too much. Maybe Sage can ‘spot clean’ instead of doing a whole house cleansing. I wouldn’t mind seeing the last of him.”

Ears pressed against the door, they waited to see what would happen next and, when nothing did, Meg dug out an old Monopoly game she’d found in the library. Since neither wanted to be alone just then, they played Monopoly until they couldn’t keep their eyes open another minute.

“Time to check the hall,” Charlie said around a yawn. Opening the door, she checked the length of the hall. All was quiet…the lights brightly lit. “I think I’ll sleep better in my own bed. Unless you want me to stay?”

Meg hugged her hard and shook her head. “I’ll be fine. I think we may have over reacted. If we’re going to live here, we’ll have to find a way to deal with everything, including him.”

“Sounds like something you said before or maybe it was me,” Charlie replied around another yawn. “But I’m way too tired to worry about anything else tonight. Good night and don’t let the bedbugs bite.”

“That should be the least of our problems,” Meg told her with a weary smile, as she saw her out the door and waited till she was safely inside her room.

It was close to dawn when Meg woke. The room was completely dark and she knew she’d left a light on in the bathroom and the door open. Or thought she had. Suddenly, Freddie ‘woofed’ and stood up. His tail wagged excitedly, as he stared at a patch of light on the bed next to them.

The temperature plummeted and Meg watched in fascination as a shape began to form. Brighter and brighter…bit by bit…Breanna Hensley materialized on the bed.

She appeared to be sleeping, her black hair spread across the pillow, dark lashes fanning ivory cheeks. She looked sort of like a long-haired Snow White without the chubby cheeks, Meg thought with a touch of irritation. No one should look that beautiful when they slept. Charlie had complained more than once that she snored and slept with her mouth open. Or did she say her mouth was never closed even when she slept? Same difference.

Then she noticed something else. The thick overpowering scent of roses, which, thankfully, she wasn’t allergic to or she’d be dead by now, she thought, as she poked an exploratory finger at the sleeping Breanna. Surprisingly, it was sort of like sticking her finger in a marshmallow. She had expected her finger to go right through, but Breanna had real substance!

And there she was sleeping like the dead…poor choice of words…while she hadn’t had a decent sleep in two nights! Maybe she’d just see about that! She poked her again, harder, but without effect. She was just about to give her a third poke, when she remembered; it
was
Breanna’s bed after all. Well, if she stayed on her side, maybe they could share. She sighed and was about to slide back down under the covers, when she heard Freddie whine nervously. And then there it was…thump…thump…thump coming down the hall.