Waiting and Watching (3 page)

Tilden Park Tavern, famous for its burgers, looked the same but a little dated. Julio and Connie grabbed a booth, ordered burgers and a couple of beers. A small crowd gathered around the bar. They sipped their beers and watched the singles crowd hit on each other.

Julio got up to use the restroom. Navigating through the crowd, a petite strawberry blonde in her thirties barreled into him, practically knocking him over and spilling her drink on the floor. Both rushed to apologize. She flashed a warm, friendly smile and offered to buy him a drink. He declined as his drink was safely on the table.

Intrigued with what he quickly assessed as a baby doll face with a dynamite body, he insisted on buying her a drink and suggested she join them. They worked their way through the crowd, back to Connie. The young woman sat down and introduced herself as Lily Palmer.

Connie gave Julio a sharp jab under the table to let him know that this was not the right time to be picking up women. After a second kick just to make sure he got the message, she turned to Lily and smiled. “Hi. I'm Connie Harriman, Julio's sister. We're out-of-towners, just back here to reminisce and attend my twentieth high school reunion.”

“You went to Tilden High?” Lily asked.

“Yes, I did.”

“I went there too, so I know about the class reunion this weekend. Where in Tilden Park did you live?”

“We lived on Kensington.”

“Oh, of course. I remember the name now. I made your reservation at the Inn. I work there at the front desk—reservations, concierge and whatever else they ask me to do. I knew your name sounded familiar when I spoke with you over the phone. Stupid me. I should have put two and two together then, especially when you asked about this place and other high school haunts.” Lily giggled and drained her glass. “You were the best cheerleader on the squad and only a freshman. You won't remember me. I was a year behind you.”

A look of reflection crossed Lily's face. She furrowed her brow and suddenly looked uncomfortable. “Oh, I remember. Your parents were murdered. I'm so sorry.”

Connie and Julio exchanged glances. Neither knew what to say and after an awkward pause, Julio verified her statement. “Yeah, that's us.”

Shocked and embarrassed, she apologized profusely and offered to leave the table.

“It's okay, Lily. Julio and I are dealing with it. Where did you live?”

“We didn't actually live in Tilden Park. My mom and I lived in the Rainbow Housing Project, those apartments on Rainbow Road. It was very different there from where you lived, although the kids in my neighborhood went to Tilden Park schools.”

“Oh sure. I know where you lived. Is there still a hospital on the hill?” Connie asked.

“Unfortunately, yes. The sirens go day and night.” Lily leaned forward, her voice quiet. “If you're planning on going back to your old house, you might want to rethink that idea. It was first sold, then remodeled, but the rumor is the new owners just abandoned the place. Kids drive by and claim they see lights going on and off. It freaks them out, big time.”

“Well, I have to admit I was a bit frightened about returning to the house as well as seeing my old classmates. It's the first time we've been back since the murders, and the emotional strain has been intense.” She stared down at her drink.

Lily nodded with understanding. “I'm really sorry for upsetting you. When I first sat down, I sensed a lot of sadness in you. Maybe some fear too. I'm somewhat psychic about those things, so I should've been more sensitive. I understand your being anxious. It's difficult for most people when they return to a meaningful place from their past. Reunions are tough enough, but with all your horrific baggage, I'm impressed you and Julio are here. I don't know if I should even mention this, but I do séances. I think we could communicate with your parents; if you want to try, please call me.” Her voice was hopeful as she glanced from Connie to Julio.

“Lily, you seem like such a nice person, but you're freaking me out. I've never met a real psychic before. Have you. Julio?”

“Not in this lifetime,” he said skeptically.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you more than you already were. I have this special ability and feel obligated to tell people, even though it does creep some folks out. Just for the record, I have helped several people, but let's not talk about it anymore. Julio has finished his beer and so have you. Please let me get the next round.”

“Good idea,” Julio said, “but I'm buying. We'll never get the attention of our waitress with this crowd, so I'm heading for the bar. Just keep talking, but limit the conversation to this planet, okay?” he said, grinning as he slipped from the booth. “I'll be right back.”

Lily smiled at Julio and nodded as he left them. She was glad to have some time alone with Connie to get the lowdown on her brother. Lily liked Connie and felt a strong spiritual connection between them, but she was interested in a different kind of relationship with Julio.

“Your brother is so handsome. Is he married, engaged or going with someone?”

“Well, to be honest, my brother's a terrific guy with a great personality and an amazing sense of humor, but he's a real player. I don't think he'll settle down for quite a while yet. It's best to just view him as a friend or you'll get hurt. I have met too many girls who've had their hearts broken. He dates young models in Miami, and while he has a good time with them, he shows no interest in monogamy. Sorry to be so blunt, but it's best you know what he's like up front.”

“I appreciate your candor and I can see why he gets so many girls. He's gorgeous, and he also seems nice and friendly.”

Julio returned to the booth carefully juggling three beers. Lily kept the conversation away from the paranormal and the three of them had a great time for the rest of the night. Before they knew it, they had consumed two more rounds and the bartender yelled last call. Connie and Julio walked Lily to her car and exchanged phone numbers.

On the way back to the hotel, Connie convinced her brother to drive by their old house. A sense of melancholy had overtaken her ever since Lily talked about the house being haunted.

Julio acquiesced and they pulled up right outside. After ten minutes of sitting in the dark without hearing ghostly sounds or seeing lights or apparitions, Connie felt better. Just then, the lights on Nola's front porch went on and a man opened the front door and walked over to the garage. He disappeared in the shadows and shortly a light went on in the apartment above.

“Must be Martin,” Connie said.

“Yeah. I wonder why he's back living with his mother. Did Nola ever say if he was working? Whatever happened, it must have been something pretty serious to make a man his age move back with his mother.”

“Well, maybe Martin will be at one or both of the reunion parties and we can see what he says.”

“Can't wait for that. So, what's our social calendar look like?”

“Tomorrow is a free day although I would like us to visit Nola for a short time. Friday night there's a casual party at the Little Miami River Boat House. It's open to anyone who went to Tilden Park High. Saturday will be just for my class reunion at the old Buckeye Club downtown.”

Connie didn't realize how exhausted she was that first night until they returned to their two-bedroom suite at the Tilden Park Inn. Julio slumped down on the sofa in front of the TV in the small living room. She went over, kissed his forehead and thanked him for being there for her.

“I wouldn't have it any other way.”

Closing the door to her bedroom, Connie collapsed on her bed and fell into a deep sleep. She woke up in the middle of the night, sweating profusely. She'd had a nightmare and it was still vivid in her mind.

Alone at dusk, she stood on the sidewalk, gazing at her home. From the familiar second story window—her bedroom window—a strange dark figure stared right at her and waved…ever so slowly.

Just thinking about it made her shiver. She looked at the clock. It was three-ten in the morning. Wide-awake and scared, she began to do something she had not done in years; she prayed.

She prayed for her parents and for the strength to find something—anything—to help her understand what had happened and why. She prayed for Julio, and finally for Andrew and his parents, who must have suffered terribly from the ugly rumors and accusations, not to mention how awful it must have been for gentle Andrew to face possible incarceration for such a heinous crime.

Her prayers finished, she felt some peace of mind and a renewed determination to discover answers to the questions that had gripped their lives and would not let go. Connie couldn't just sit around the room until daylight. She dressed, scribbled a note to Julio, collected the rental car keys and headed out. She was in the process of reaching for the door knob when a shadow moved through the light visible beneath the door. She froze. Was someone lingering in the hallway outside? Not until the shadow disappeared did she crack the door open and step out into an empty hallway. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shadowy figure rounding the corner to the hotel's stairway.

Startled, she jumped back into her room and then admonished herself for losing her composure.
This is a hotel for heaven's sake. People come and go all the time, day and night. Don't be spooked by your imagination, you wimp.

She opened the door again and made a mad dash to the garage. She pulled away from the hotel and drove aimlessly to work off her late night insomnia. Subconsciously, she knew exactly where she was going. Within minutes, Connie pulled up in front of her former house. The moonless night, without a star in the sky, cast a gloomy aura on the barely lit and empty street. The scene was disturbing.

Her stomach churned and her palms felt clammy. The anxiety was silly. She tried to rationalize her thoughts, but couldn't diminish the veil of evil that covered her once happy home.

Some dark, mysterious force haunted this house, drawing her in. She fixated on her former bedroom window. Perhaps all the gossip and ugly rumors Lily had told her were true.

Just then, a dim light emanated from her bedroom window. As fast as she saw the light, it was gone, and she wondered if it had been a figment of her imagination.

Panicked, she turned to make sure the windows in her car were up and the doors locked. A loud tap on her windshield made her heart leap. A man's face appeared and a deep voice directed her to roll down her window. Driven by her fears, she turned on the ignition and sped off, tires squealing.

Several seconds passed before she had the nerve to check her rearview mirror. Oh, damn! Behind her was a flashing red light, probably a police car. Was it really the police? Connie kept driving until she heard a loud speaker from the patrol car ordering her to pull over and wait in the car. She did as told. The officer got out of his cruiser and approached her.

He smiled and in a friendly voice asked her to crack the window only enough to pass through her driver's license. Next, he wanted to know what a person with an out-of-state driver's license was doing parked alone on an empty street in Ohio so late at night. Was she lost? Did she need some help?

Connie felt a lump well up in her throat and found it impossible to speak.

The officer tried again. “Are you waiting for someone?”

She burst into tears and could not stop crying. Allowing her a few moments to compose herself, the policeman apologized if he had scared her. She had done nothing wrong. After a few deep breaths, she blurted out, “Years ago, my parents were gunned down in that house. I miss them terribly. I just want my house to be as it was, but evil seems to have encircled it.” Her sobs continued.

In an attempt to calm her down, the officer held his badge up to the window and asked that she look at his identification. “My name is Sgt. Joe Reynolds. I have been a police officer in Tilden Park for twenty-five years. Take a look at my badge. I won't hurt you. There is an all-night diner a few streets away. How about I buy you a cup of coffee?”

When they arrived, she recognized it as the gathering place where she and her high school friends had spent endless hours.

Over cups of steaming hot coffee, Connie and Sgt. Reynolds discussed the violent murder of her parents all those years ago. “I was a rookie cop when your parents were murdered, but I remember the facts like it happened yesterday. Murder is not an everyday occurrence in Tilden Park. However, my superiors closed the case years ago. I'm certain nothing new has come to light.”

Reynolds admitted his boss was convinced Andrew was the killer. “So it's possible some leads were ignored.” He promised Connie he would look at the file and request the case officially be re-opened if he found any substantial leads that hadn't been thoroughly investigated.

“Do you remember anything that might help, no matter how trivial?”

Connie shook her head. “No, nothing now. My brother and I are here for the reunion and we plan to talk to neighbors and friends about this. If we discover anything at all, may we call you?”

“Of course. Call me at the station,” he replied, “and I'll call you at the hotel if I find anything.”

After finishing their coffee, he escorted her back to the Tilden Park Inn.

Thursday—September 4, 1986

Connie woke up at seven and tried to go back to sleep. No luck. She was anxious to talk to Julio and wondered how happy he would be to hear from her so early. She knocked lightly but persistently on the door to Julio's room.

“You've got to be kidding me,” he mumbled sleepily. “You're up already?”

“Sorry, Julio. I've had a wild night and I've been waiting for a decent hour to wake you.”

“Hell! Then go back to bed and wait for it! It's only seven o'clock.”

“Come on, I'm buying breakfast downstairs. We need to get an early start.” She heard him mumbling and swearing, but knew that meant he was getting out of bed.