Джерри Хилл - The Zeiko Place

Andi was left alone on the overgrown sidewalk and a cool breeze unexpectedly rustled the leaves around her. She glanced to the sky, the clouds seeming to hover overhead, making the early afternoon appear much later. Perhaps they didn’t have four hours until darkness.

She forced herself up the steps, her backpack slung over one shoulder, laptop computer slung over the other, trying not to think of all the ghost stories she’d heard as a kid. Ghost stories that had left her trembling in the night.

The front door stood open, almost welcoming, and she took a deep breath before walking inside. The entryway and foyer, for the most part, were empty. A table was shoved against one wall, a small lamp, still plugged in, sat on top. Moving farther into the house, bits and pieces of furniture remained — even partially packed boxes — as if the last residents hadn’t had time to pack properly. She heard the others at the back of the house, heard the shutters opening one by one, letting in light. She walked into a formal sitting room, framed pictures still hanging on the walls, and the fireplace was stacked with wood, as if expecting them.

“Can you feel it?”

Andi whipped around, startled. Jaime stood in the shadows, a small flashlight in her hand.

“Feel what?”

“Cold.”

Andi looked around. Yes, she did indeed feel the chill in the room. But, as she’d said, things could always be explained. “The house has been closed up. This is an interior room,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Yes. But it wasn’t unusually cold today. In fact, it was quite pleasant for October.” She moved farther into the room, bending near a lamp and turning it on, chasing the shadows away.

“And cold is a sign?” Andi asked before she could stop herself.

Jamie shrugged, then arched an eyebrow. “That’s what I’m told.”

Andi could hold back her questions no longer. She let her backpack and laptop slide to the floor, flexing her shoulders to get the soreness out.

“How long have you worked as a. . a ghostbuster?”

“What?” Jaime grinned. “Ghostbuster? Is that what you call it?”

Andi shrugged. “I don’t know what to call it. What do you call it?”

“I used to call it fiction,” she said.

“Excuse me?”

Jaime walked to the fireplace, examining the portrait over the mantle. “I don’t actually work for Dr. Gilbreath. I’m doing research.”

“Research?”

Jaime turned, fixing Andi with those dark eyes she used to love to look into. She pulled her gaze away, making a show of studying framed pictures on the end table.

“I’m writing a book on haunted places.”

Andi’s head whipped around. “You’re a writer? Like an author?”

“Why does that surprise you?”

“Because you were a. . a jock.”

“Doesn’t mean I don’t have a brain.”

“Of course. I just never saw you use it before,” she murmured as she turned away.

The deep, hearty laugh she heard was not what she expected. She turned back around, meeting the laughing eyes of Jaime Tucker.

“Good one, Beenie Weenie.”

Andi scowled. “Look, I hated that name in high school and I despise it now. Please don’t use it again.’

“And I’m supposed to care?”

Andi’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

Jamie shoved both hands into the pockets of her jeans as she regarded Andi. “You didn’t seem to care too much about me or what I wanted back then. I’m not really too concerned about what you want now.”

Andi’s mouth fell open as she stared, wondering what the hell she was talking about. Before she could ask any questions, Dr. Gilbreath and her assistant, Beth, walked into the room

“Good. You’re both here. Ronnie is through with the kitchen area. This room will be our. . oh my,” she murmured as she spread her arms. “The energy in this room is very strong,” she whispered. “Something happened in this room.”

Andi looked up, locking gazes with Jamie. Yes, they’d both heard the stories of how three of the children’s remains were thrown into the fire, their charred bodies found weeks later. Their bodies. Not their heads.

“I was going to say this would be our meeting room, but no, we need to stay out of this room. We’ll find another room for our daily meetings.”

They all looked up as boards creaked overhead. Andi involuntarily wrapped her arms around herself.

“I guess Ronnie’s already made it upstairs,” Dr. Gilbreath said. “We have three bedrooms made up. They were all guest rooms, so I don’t see the need to monitor them. Of course, if we see or hear. . or feel. . a presence in those rooms, then we’ll change our strategy.”

Andi cleared her throat. “Three bedrooms? There are five of us,” she pointed out.

“Well, obviously we can’t occupy the entire house, especially the main rooms that were inhabited. Ronnie will, of course, have his own room. Beth and I will share, and you two will share.”

Andi was surprised that it was Jaime who protested. “Share? For a week?”

“The rooms were furnished with the standard, old-fashioned double beds. We’ve had an extra twin brought in for both your room and ours,” Beth said. “You’ll have to decide between the two of you who gets the twin.”

“Great,” Jaime murmured sarcastically.

“Lovely,” Andi added.

Ronnie walked in, both hands carrying heavy satchels. “I’m ready to head upstairs. Who wants to come?”

They all looked at each other, then slowly slid their eyes to the ceiling, where only moments before, they had heard the creaking boards.

It was Beth who spoke first.

“You haven’t already been up there?”

‘No. I was doing the dining room.”

Dr. Gilbreath clapped her hands. “Wonderful! Then we already have ghostly company! Isn’t this wonderful?”

Again, Andi and Jaime exchanged glances.

“What exactly is on the second floor?”

“The second floor was the main residence. The master bedroom is there, as well as the children’s rooms, and another living room area, not quite as formal as this one. The third floor is where the guest rooms are.”

“The realtor assured me that the rooms were prepared,” Beth said. “Clean sheets, towels, and the like. Unfortunately, modern plumbing only made it to one room on the third floor, so we’ll be sharing.”

“Of course, the second floor has two full baths, so let’s don’t worry about that.”

“That’s the least of my worries,” Andi murmured as her eyes again slid to the ceiling.

“Well, I suggest we take our things to our perspective rooms, then help Ronnie with the rest of the cameras. We won’t get a chance to set up full audio until tomorrow.”

Nobody moved.

“The electricity is fully functional, by the way,” Beth added.

Andi looked at Jaime. “You go first.”

“Me? Why me?”

“You’re bigger. You’re an athlete.”

Jaime scowled. “You’re shorter. Maybe you should go. They probably won’t even see you.”

Andi grabbed her backpack and slung it over one shoulder, then did the same with her computer. “Very funny. . you big chicken,” she murmured.

“I heard that,” Jaime muttered.

“Good.”

“Dr. Tucker, is there a problem?”

Andi’s head snapped up. “Doctor?”

Jaime shrugged. “Not like a real doctor. I just went to college forever. They had to give me something.” Then to Dr. Gilbreath, she smiled. “No, everything’s fine. We’ll head up.”

Andi bravely took the first step, the old stairs creeping under her weight. The stairwell was dark, but Beth assured her there were light switches at the top of the first landing. She hugged the wall as she slowly, one step at a time, crept up the stairs. She was conscious of the others following silently behind her. She successfully shoved childhood stories from her mind as she kept a watchful eye on the second floor landing. Half-way up, she was surprised when Jaime shoved a small flashlight into her hand.