06 Hauntin' After Midnight Page 8

“Did you see something?” he asked.

  How would I tell him that I’d seen a ghost? I supposed it should be easy—this was a haunted tour.

  “Well, I didn’t see a living person. You see, there are ghosts in this cemetery. I think it just may be one of the ghosts.”

  “Maybe I should have a look around,” he said.

  I waved my hand. “There’s no need for that. I can see the ghost. She’s standing right over there by the tall headstone.” I pointed.

  He looked over there with a frown. “I don’t see anyone.”

  “Trust me. She’s there. She likes to hang out here a lot. She doesn’t want me in the cemetery.”

  He didn’t know what to say, I guessed. “So you see a lot of ghosts?”

  The look on his face let me know he’d rather see a criminal. I guessed he was trained for that and not for dealing with ghosts. I figured Brannon would have warned him. Maybe Brannon had and the officer just hadn’t believed him. He’d probably change his mind by the end of the tour tonight.

  The sound of voices carried down the alleyway. When I turned around I saw the group of people headed toward us. It was a large group tonight. From what I could tell there were four couples, a mix of guys and girls. There were a couple of women at the back who looked so much alike that I was almost positive they had to be sisters. They had brown hair styled in the same bob and even dressed similarly, in jeans and striped shirts. The couples looked like they were in their early twenties. Maybe they attended college. They were too old for high school.

  When I gathered in front of us, I greeted them by saying, “Welcome to Devil’s Moon Haunted Tour. Tonight I will lead you through the haunted streets and buildings of town.”

  I always said the same thing with every group. I had that part memorized. Though the rest of my speech on the tour was not completely the same all the time, but it was mostly all the same words. After doing this for a year now I had everything pretty much down pat. The group seemed enthusiastic and I was always happy when they seemed happy. Sometimes I got people for the tour who acted as if they really didn’t want to be there at all. However, tonight the group wasn’t that way. I would start with the graveyard again and then work my way through town.

  I thought Mrs. Clatterbuck was watching every move we made. I had a feeling she was going to make a move tonight. She’d been quiet recently and I knew that wouldn’t last forever. I supposed that was okay as long as it was nothing more than a harmless prank. The guests would enjoy seeing a little bit of paranormal activity.

  Sure enough, this was the time Mrs. Clatterbuck followed us around the cemetery. She floated around the headstones like the typical ghost seen in a movie. I thought she was just trying to show off, hoping that some of the tour-goers would see her. She wanted to scare them away permanently. She did leave a little bit of a mist every time she went around the corner of a headstone and people started to notice.

  “What was that?” one of the women asked.

  “I believe that’s a ghost,” I said.

  Her eyes widened. “How can you be sure?”

  “Oh, I’ve been doing this for a long time. I start to know when it’s paranormal and when it’s not.”

  The police officer followed along, although he acted as if he’d rather be anywhere but there. He was good friends with Brannon so I supposed he had done this as a favor. I was a part of the murder investigation now, so I guessed this was part of their investigation technically. For all I knew they could be investigating me and just pretending to be following me for my safety. Either way, I had nothing to hide and it did make me feel safer with him here. I could continue with my tour. We made our way from the cemetery up to the street and started the tour in town.

  After going through all of Devil’s Moon’s regular stops on my tour, I somehow found myself back at that house on Edman Street. It was as if I had gone there by some force beyond my control. That wouldn’t look good to the officer who was standing beside me. He would probably wonder why I was going back to the scene of the crime.

  Again someone asked me if this place was part of the tour and if it was haunted. Now I found myself in an awkward situation.

  “Yes, there have been ghost sightings at this place, but it’s not on the tour.”

  “Then why are you bringing us here?” one of the guys asked.

  Did he have to make me answer that question? “It was just kind of on the way back.”

  They looked at me a bit strangely, which I didn’t blame them. I would have probably given the same look in that situation. I peered over at the house one more time. Just then I thought I saw that black shadow dart past the front window. Had anyone else seen it?

  “Okay, everyone, we’ll go back to the cemetery now,” I said, motioning for them to follow me.

  An uneasiness fell over me. When I looked at the group, they had a strange look on their faces too. I figured they sensed it as well. Just as we were leaving a voice whispered. It was almost as if it whispered in my ear.

  The woman’s voice said, “I have the book.”

  I stopped and looked at the people. “Who said that?”

  They looked confused.

  “Who said what?” one of the men asked.

  I pointed to the woman nearest to me. “You just told me that you have the book.”

  Everyone shook their heads. No one would admit to saying it. I had to admit it seemed more like it came from the side where no one else was. It was almost as if someone had whispered this in my ear, or the wind had carried the voice gently to me. And what did she mean when she said she had the book? What book? There were a lot of books surrounding me, and I would have no idea which one the voice meant.

  Had it been a ghost speaking to me? Was it the spirit that stayed at this house, trying to tell me something about a book? Now I was even more confused than ever, and the mystery only deepened. I looked back at the house to see if that shadow passed by again, but everything was calm and still. Everyone was waiting for me to walk again. They probably thought that I had lost my mind.

  “Are you ready to go?” the officer asked.

  “That must’ve been a ghost.” I laughed.

  So I forced myself away from the house with the tour group following close behind. I went over the event in my mind as I walked. I tried to continue talking to my group, but I was preoccupied by thoughts of where that voice had come from and what exactly that message meant. Now I had to find out what book that this person meant, and the more I thought about it the more convinced I became that it had to be a ghost talking to me. Unless someone was just playing a trick on me, but that would be a very odd trick. They would have to know my history with that house for them to give me that message at that exact time.

  The thought that someone was messing with me made me angry. Who out of this group could’ve done that? I didn’t know anyone except for the officer. He just seemed too nice for that. No, I was convinced that it had to be a ghost, and I also knew that I would probably end up going back to the house just so that I could figure this mystery out. I would go back on my own though. I didn’t want anyone to discourage me from coming back to the house just because it was dangerous. Oh, yeah, that was right. I would always have a cop with me. How would I avoid that?

  I took that group back to the cemetery and thanked them all for coming to the tour. I hoped that they didn’t think it was too weird after the incident at the house.

  The officer asked, “Would you like for me to walk you home now?”

  “That’ll be fine, but there was one stop I need to make on the way, if that’s okay.”

  “Sure, where are you going?”

  “Well, I just wanted to stop off at the tavern. I have to leave the flashlights, plus I want to talk to my friend.”

  “Not a problem,” he said.

  I walked over to the tavern. When I stepped inside it was crowded. Of course, I expected that on a Saturday night. Tammy was behind the bar and extremely busy pouring drinks. I hoped that I woul
d get just a few minutes to talk to her. I really needed to tell her about that voice. Maybe she would be able to help me find out what she meant by saying she had the book.

  Finally I made eye contact with Tammy and she waved, motioning for me to come over. The officer followed me back and we sat down on the only two available stools. Luckily a couple people had just gotten up. I wished we had time for a drink, but I hated to ask the officer to wait around for that. And by drink I meant water.

  Tammy finished up with the customer and then came over to us. “How did the tour go?” she asked, glancing over at the officer.

  I knew it seemed awkward talking to me with someone listening. He tried to pretend like he wasn’t paying attention, but I knew it was almost impossible not to. Although the noise level was extremely high in this place. That just meant that I had to talk even louder for Tammy to hear me.

  I leaned closer so that she could hear me just a little better. “On the tour tonight I had the strangest thing happen.”

  Tammy’s eyes widened. “What was it?”

  She’d heard all kinds of strange things from me, so for me to come over here and purposely tell her about what happened, she knew it had to be weird.

  “At that house on Edman Street there was a voice that whispered in my ear. They said they have a book. I think it was a ghost trying to tell me something about the murder.”

  “That’s crazy,” Tammy said. “What do you think it means?”

  “Well, that’s what I need you to help me figure out.”

  The officer would tell Brannon all about this conversation. That was fine. I would tell him myself. It was a good thing Brannon believed in ghosts.

  Chapter 12

  After Tammy got off work she came over to my place. A change in guard was now sitting in front of my apartment in his police car. Tammy and I had slipped out of my place and over to the house. We were standing over by the tree, hoping that it would conceal us. I didn’t know if neighbors were watching, but there was always the chance. I wasn’t sure how we’d escaped the police officer who was sitting outside my apartment in his car. Brannon wouldn’t be happy when he discovered what we’d done, and the fact that the officer had allowed it to happen.

  I wouldn’t lie and say I wasn’t a little scared to be here. At any point the person who’d attacked me on the tour could pop up and Tammy and I would be on our own.

  “Now we just have to figure out how to get in there,” I said.

  “I can find a way,” Tammy said.

  If anyone could find a way I knew Tammy could do it. Needless to say, I was still frightened though. I pushed back my fear as we headed toward the house. At least we had the cover of darkness to conceal us. Perhaps that made it even scarier though. Tammy and I stayed close to each other. We were all we had at the moment. However, we knew we could count on each other if something went wrong.

  We walked the path to the front porch and then to the door.

  “The doors are locked,” I said.

  Tammy tried turning the knob anyway. Just as I’d said, the door was locked.

  “Did you check the windows?” she asked.

  “No, I didn’t stay around long enough for that.”

  She went over to the left side of the porch and tried that window, but it didn’t budge. I went to the right and tried as well, but with no luck.

  “Stay here. I’m going around back.” Tammy walked down the porch steps.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said.

  “Why?” she asked.

  I didn’t want to tell her about the dark shadow that had knocked me on the ground.

  “Besides the fact that it’s dark and could be dangerous, the killer could be looking around here still, and I don’t think we should split up.”

  She sighed. “All good reasons. So now what do we do?”

  I didn’t have an answer.

  After a few more seconds, Tammy said, “I promise I’ll be safe.”

  “All right, but keep your phone in your hand. Pay attention to your surroundings.” When Tammy took a few steps I touched her arm to stop her. “Maybe I should go.”

  “No, I should be the one who goes around to the back, not you,” she said.

  “I’m the one who deals with this stuff all the time.”

  “Even more reason why you should avoid it this time.”

  I sighed. “Fine.”

  “You stay right here. I won’t take no for an answer.” She pointed.

  “Just keep your phone with you.”

  She waved the phone. “I got it. I’ll be right back.”

  That was what people always said in scary movies and then no one ever saw them again. No, I had to push those thoughts out of my mind or I would go crazy. Darkness surrounded us as I watched Tammy disappear around the corner of the house. The owl hooted from the treetop, staring down at me. Had that thing followed us all the way from the cemetery? Branches on the trees rustled in the wind. I hoped that another storm wasn’t moving in.

  I stood at the front door and patiently waited. It shouldn’t take Tammy this long. I sent a text to her, but she didn’t answer. Within two seconds I started to panic. I thought about going around the side of the house to find her. Then the front door rattled and burst open. I screamed and tumbled halfway down the front steps.

  “What is wrong with you?” Tammy asked.

  Had I overreacted? Sure. But I was extremely tense and stressed right now.

  Tammy ran over. “Are you all right?”

  I managed to get up from the steps. “Yeah, I think I’m okay. This is like the second time I’ve fallen down steps in two days.” At least it was on my own this time. “How did you get in the house?”

  She gestured over her shoulder. “There was a window in the back. It was unlocked so I just slipped right in.”

  I’d known if anyone could get in it would be her.

  She motioned for me to follow her. “Let’s go check it out now.”

  Now that she had the door open I was hesitant about really going in. Wasn’t this breaking and entering? Wasn’t it bad enough that some people suspected me of murder? Now I was going be a prowler as well?

  Tammy grabbed my hand. “It’ll be all right. I promise, but we have to hurry before they miss you and realize that we’re gone. This might be the first place they’ll come to check.”

  “Don’t remind me.”

  “Maybe we should split up in the house and look around?” Tammy said.

  I shook my head. “Not a good idea. After the things that have happened here, I think we should stay together.”

  I knew Tammy and she didn’t like haunted stuff, even though she tried to be brave. I was surprised she’d even agreed to come along tonight.

  Together we went through the house, staying no more than a couple of inches apart the whole time. It was just as Katrina had left it, but that Ouija board was missing. She must’ve gotten rid of it. That was a good thing. I wasn’t even sure what we were looking for. We went upstairs and checked all the rooms, even looked in the closets, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. It was just an old house—with a murder now attached to it. We decided to go back downstairs since we’d found nothing. Plus, it was getting late.

  “We should probably get out of there,” I said.

  “I guess so.” Tammy looked around one more time.

  Just as we reached the bottom of the steps, Tammy tripped and fell forward. The palms of her hands stopped most of the impact.

  “Are you all right?” I reached out and helped her up.

  She wiped off her hands on her pants. “Sure, I’m all right, but I’m not sure how I fell. We are the clumsiest bunch around.”

  I hoped a ghost hadn’t pushed her. When I glanced down, I noticed that part of the hardwood floor was sticking up.

  “Look at that,” I said as I reached out to put it back in place. “That must have been what tripped you.”

  There was something underneath the floor. A small space under
there.

  “There’s something under here,” I said as I reached down and pulled out a book.

  Our eyes met.

  “Do you think this is what the ghost meant?” I asked.

  “It has to be, right?”

  “What is this book?” I turned it over in my hands.

  It was an old leather-bound book, but just as I was starting to open it a loud bang came from somewhere nearby. We both jumped.

  “I think that came from outside,” Tammy said.

  “I’ll peek out the window.”

  “I think I saw someone,” Tammy whispered.

  “Who do you think it was?” I asked.

  “I don’t know, but I think they’re coming in the house. We have to hide.”

  “Oh, maybe this wasn’t a good idea,” I said.

  Of course if the cops were here I didn’t want them to find us either. I spotted a closet in the parlor and grabbed Tammy’s hand. “Come on, let’s go in here.”

  We rushed over and hurried into the closet. I closed the door behind us. It was completely dark in there and I couldn’t see anything in front of me. Tammy and I held each other’s arms. I tried to steady my breathing so that it wouldn’t be so loud.

  “Do you hear anything?” Tammy whispered.

  “Nothing,” I said. “Maybe you just thought you saw someone.”

  “It was definitely a silhouette of someone.”

  “Like a dark shadow?” I asked.

  “Yes, that’s it,” she said.

  “I’ve seen that before,” I said. “I just didn’t want to tell you.”

  “Why wouldn’t you tell me?” she asked.

  “Because it was a ghost and I didn’t want to freak you out.”

  She sighed. “Well, I am freaked out now. I have to get out of here. I’m starting to become claustrophobic.”

  That was the last thing we needed. I grabbed the knob and twisted, but the door wouldn’t open.

  “Okay, don’t panic,” I said. “But the door won’t open.”

  Of course Tammy started to freak out. She flapped her arms around. It was like being in a cage with a wild animal.

  I grabbed her arms. “Calm down. Take a deep breath. We’ll get of here, don’t worry.”