Mary Kendall, A Ghost Story
The Winding Road
Jamie is relaxing on the bed, reading one of his rare books about the spirit world when he gets an emergency call from the science lab. They need him to take care of some ghosts that are terrorizing a family in town. On the way out he notices Damien closing his safe. Lock picks, evidence bags and gloves are sitting on his desk. "You're not planning a little B and E without me are you? My job shouldn't take more than 30 minutes."
Damien jots an address down on a sticky note and tucks it into Jamie's front pocket. "Meet me at this address when you complete your job."
Jamie waves his hand and rushes out the door. "Sure thing boss!"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50498343041_f275c04707_b.jpgJamie arrives at the home and finds two incredibly ancient ghosts. They are dressed in coarse foul-smelling ragged animal furs. The home owner tells him he was experimenting with a time machine and apparently these ghosts came back with him. Neither ghost is willing to talk to Jamie or go back to the netherworld. They both argue and mock Jamie, taunting him to do his best. "ok, you asked for it. I'm the best there's ever been." Jamie takes out his spirit collecting device and quickly captures them and hopes that Liam will have better luck with them.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50498274261_03bd1fee19_b.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50498274236_c5c5b00791_b.jpgDamien is preparing to leave the house to investigate Betty's former home. Mary floats into the room.
"Hey, wait for me!" she exclaims. "I'm coming with you. This seems like a dangerous thing for you to be doing alone."
Damien is encouraged by her concern for his safety. "I appreciate your offer. I've been doing this kind of thing for a long time and don't take chances. Jamie is meeting me there."
"I'm still coming with you. I can be your lookout."
"To tell the truth, that is a great idea." She rides on the back of his motorcycle enjoying the sensations of her arms around Damien as they roar across town. Damien enjoys the ride as well feeling her arms around his waist. As he executes the turns, she clutches a little tighter. He looks forward to the ride back up the mountain and he plans to take the long, winding route. He stops a block or so away from the house and they hike the rest of the way on foot.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50401808341_d3110a1b8f_b.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50401112483_9aa916f00f_b.jpgThe car is not in the driveway tonight, and Damien hopes he will be gone long enough that they can complete the search. Jamie arrives to help while Damien is going through the mail in the mailbox. They discuss what to do if Mary spots anyone approaching the house. Mary remains outside while Damien and Jamie enter the house. "You search the downstairs Jamie, and I will take the upstairs. Try being fast but thorough."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50446171222_6e59b61a3b_b.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50445988426_826738a272_b.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50401808221_99d1dea512_b.jpgJamie searches the ground floor. The walls are stark and bare. There are no pictures or nick knacks around the house. The furniture is all that is left. It doesn't take long for Jamie to check under cushions and in closets since the house is so empty. He goes into the kitchen and looks in the cupboards and finally searches the trash compactor. "Phew, what a nasty job. I think it has been months since they emptied this thing!", he complains to himself. Luckily he found a couple of bags under the sink, so he can put the refuse in a bag as he takes it out. He uses the other bag as a covering to keep his gloves from becoming soiled. He is rewarded with several computerized receipts towards the bottom of the compactor. They are slightly soiled but still legible. He photographs them in place and then places them in an envelope. He completes the search and does not find anything else of value. He makes one last circuit of the rooms.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50401114243_5e6648fcd3_b.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50401112003_552e18e135_b.jpgDamien discovers the upstairs is empty as well. Nothing of value remains in the house except a computer on the desk in the master bedroom and some men's clothing in the closet. He quickly hacks into the computer inserting the drive he brought with him. The contents are downloaded to go through at his leisure and safety at home.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50401964462_6d6b629efb_b.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50401966647_6b452ed013_b.jpgDamien searches the dumpster he saw the man throwing stuff into. It is full of photos and nick knacks that must have meant something to Betty and her children. He calls a contact and arranges to have the dumpster removed and an empty one put in its place. He will notify Betty's children to see if they want to salvage any of the things that have been thrown out. At least the dumpster appears clean, and no garbage was tossed in it.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50401810056_1156d2970f_b.jpgThe search is completed and luckily they were not discovered. The diner is close by, and they warm up and enjoy a late snack. Adrenaline and investigating can stir up an appetite. There are a few others in the diner, and Mary recognizes Cassie, Liam's girlfriend. She stands and places her hand on Damien's. "I'm going to talk with Cassie for a few minutes."
Damien squeezes her hand and smiles up at her. "Take your time. We will be right here."
Jamie watches Mary walk across the room. "Mary seems much more comfortable talking to people. Not a single person in the room even blinked when she came in with us." Jamie briefs him about the receipts he found and hands the envelope over. Damien tucks it into the inner pocket of his coat. "I'll look at them at the house. I hope they help us out or something on the computer does. It's challenging to discover proof this many months after her death. We have some excellent circumstantial evidence with the will he produced being different from the original one. The signature has been evaluated by an expert, and the report came this morning. It is fake."
Damien looks over at Jamie and he can tell something is still bothering his friend. "So, what's got you all uptight? Do you want to talk about it?
Jamie shrugs. "I don't know if it will do any good but I know you will keep bugging me until I tell you."
Damien snorts. "Hey, I'm not Dr. Phil if you don't want to talk to me that's fine!"
Jamie rolls his eyes at Damien. "So, not Dr Phil, I met someone at the park, and she kinda got the wrong impression about me. We had words over it. I'm still trying to figure out how it all blew up because we were having fun getting to know each other, laughing and talking. She seemed shy and a little sad but turned into a passionate little firebrand. It really was awesome to see once I thought about it. Not particularly awesome at the time, though. I was very upset when she thought I was a creep. I set her straight on that! Possibly a little harshly. Damien, she has the cutest freckles on her face, and her hair is strawberry blond and she apparently has a fiery temper to match that beautiful hair. I felt this instant connection to her when we met."
Jamie doesn't realize how expressive his face is when describing the incident to Damien. They have been best friends since they were toddlers in daycare together. Jamie loves the ladies but he treats them all as friends. He has never had a serious relationship. He always told Damien he would know when he met the right one. Jamie has always been absolutely honest with ladies he dated about keeping things friendly. Has Jamie finally met the right one? "Do you know where she lives? Perhaps you should visit her and try to talk things out."
"Yep, I'm going to talk to Francesca tomorrow. She is the one that introduced us so I am certain she knows where she lives. Hopefully, she will tell me. I feel terrible because I think she was going to apologize when she saw how upset I was, but I walked off and didn't give her a chance."
"Give her a chance if you can find her tomorrow. Keep a lid on your own fiery temper, my friend."
Jamie blushes and nods in agreement just as Mary walks back over yawning as she gets closer to the table. "Guys, I'm beat. I'm not used to being up all day and all night too." Damien pays for their snacks and drinks. He helps Mary on the motorcycle. They ride to the house with Mary snuggled into his back holding on tightly as he takes the long, winding road back up the mountain.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50446171112_97bbdaaf06_b.jpg