Джерри Хилл - The Zeiko Place

“For sure,” Jamie murmured. She looked at Dr. Gilbreath. “She was well defined.”

“Wonderful image, yes. It will be spectacular if we can capture the children.”

Andi rubbed her forehead. It would not be spectacular if they saw the children. Her eyes widened. What if they saw Mr. Zeiko? How did he die? Her breath caught. He hung himself from the third floor landing.

Oh fuck.

“You want the double or the twin?” Jamie asked three hours later as they stood alone in their bedroom.

“The twin is fine, although I doubt I’ll be able to sleep,” Andi admitted.

“We’ll leave the light on if you want,” Jamie offered.

“I can’t believe I saw what I saw.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. The first house I did with them, I about shit my pants the first time we saw something. It makes it more difficult here, I think, because we know all the stories.”

“He hung himself up here.”

“Yeah, the landing.”

“Does Gilbreath know that?”

“I’m not sure, but her research indicates that he’s never been seen. Just the wife and kids, and the parents.”

“Parents?”

“The wife’s parents were either killed in the den on the first floor, or one of the bathrooms on the second. There’s all kinds of conflicting information as to where the bodies were found and in what condition.”

“Which bathroom?”

Jamie shrugged. “If she knows, she’s not shared it. She doesn’t like to share too much. It makes you see things where there’s really nothing. She likes everything to just play out.”

“I hate this assignment.”

Jamie laughed. “Remember, they are just aberrations. They can’t hurt you.”

“How do you know that? If they can physically turn lights on and off, if they can open shutters, why couldn’t they hurt you?”

“So I’ve been told.”

Andi shuffled through her bag, pulling out a pair of sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt. She looked questioningly at Jamie.

“You want me to leave the room?”

Andi glanced at the door. “I actually would like to go to the bathroom and wash up. It’s been a long day.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

Andi hesitated.

“What?”

“Maybe you could. . hang out in the hall.”

Jamie laughed. “To protect you? What makes you think I’d feel the urge to protect you?”

“Look, we obviously have different opinions as to what happened in high school. And as much as it pains me to say this, can’t we just forget about it and get past it?”

“Why does it pain you to say that?”

“Because it was very difficult for me at that time, especially thinking that you’d. . outed me, and were laughing at me with the others. I’ve carried a lot of anger with me, mostly directed at you. And it’s not something that I thought I’d ever get over.”

“But now you want to forget about it and get past it?”

“Has it done any good to hang on to it? I’m not saying I’ve forgiven you, I just don’t want to dwell on it.”

Jamie stared at her for the longest, her expression softening. “I never betrayed you, Andi,” she said quietly. “You might not believe this, but that night has always stayed with me. I didn’t know you were a virgin. Had I known, I never would have—”

“I know. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

“Why, Andi?”

“Why what? Why you?”

“Yes.”

Andi felt her face flush and she turned away. “I. . I was extremely attracted to you, that goes without saying. But it was something else, too. I just felt a connection with you, even though we really didn’t know one another all that well.” She looked quickly at Jamie, then away. “And I wanted you to be the first. It felt. . right.”

“I. . I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. That was a long time ago. But I would be very grateful if you’d go with me to the bathroom.”

Jamie nodded with a soft smile. “Okay. I’ll stand guard.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“You want to go out to the landing and test the audio?”

Andi stared, realizing Ronnie was speaking to her.

“Me?”

“Yeah, you. Make yourself useful.”

Andi frowned. I hate him. She hesitated before standing, then glanced at Jamie, who smiled slightly.

“I’ll go with you.”

The light was out in the third floor hallway and Jamie produced the tiny flashlight she’d handed Andi the night before. She shined it along the ceiling, finding the speaker.

“There it is.”

“Couldn’t he have tested this before dark?”

“I think this was the last one he set up.”

“Where is the light switch?”

“By the landing.”

“Of course,” Andi murmured.

They walked slowly down the hallway, Andi glancing in every direction as she tired to maintain her composure. The speaker was centered over the landing and they stopped, Andi feeling comforted by Jamie’s presence.

“Did you hear something?” Jamie whispered from behind her.

Andi shook her head, her eyes glued to the dark stairwell. She felt Jamie move close behind her, felt the hand that came out to touch her waist. Her breathing increased, and she wasn’t sure if it was from being scared or the warm body pressed against her back. When she felt Jamie move, felt her small breasts, she realized it was the latter.

“Don’t move,” Jamie whispered.

Andi swallowed, hoping Jamie couldn’t hear the pounding of her heart.

“I feel something,” Jamie whispered again. “Like feathers brushing my skin.”

They both saw it at the same time, and Andi leaned back, her body molded with Jamie’s. She took the hand at her waist and pulled it tighter around her.

“Oh my God,” Andi murmured, her voice trembling.

“Don’t move,” Jamie said again. “Ronnie, are you getting this?” she asked loudly. “Bottom of the stairs.”

“What is it?” Andi asked, aware that she was beginning to shake, and this time it had nothing to do with the body wrapped around her own.

“I’m not sure.”

They both jumped as the ghostly shape leapt up the stairs, loud masculine laughter echoing in the hallway. The hand around Andi’s waist tightened.

“Back up slowly,” Jamie said. “I think it wants us off the landing.”

“Slowly? Can’t we just run like hell?”

“Remember, it’s just an aberration.”

“Well it’s a fucking scary one!”

They backed up down the hall, Andi pushing the limits of slow as she urged Jamie to hurry. The bedroom door opened and Dr. Gilbreath stepped out, her eyes wide.

Where is it? Is it still there?”

“Halfway down the stairs,” Jamie said.

Dr. Gilbreath walked quickly in the dark hallway, and Andi stared after her, thinking the woman was crazy.

“Go sit down, you’re white as a sheet.”

Andi nodded, her heart still pounding as she sat on the edge of the bed. Ronnie and Beth were huddled around the monitors.

“There’s something in the bedroom, look,” Beth pointed.

“There she is in the den again, too.”

“You got sound?” Jamie asked.

Ronnie adjusted the volume, shaking his head. “No sound.”

“Listen. There’s something,” Jamie said, moving closer. “There it is. Like a scraping noise or something.”

Andi cocked her head. “Like something’s being dragged,” she murmured.

Ronnie nodded as the noise sounded again.

“What room?”

“Bedroom.”

Andi glanced out into the quiet hallway, then back at the others.

“Shouldn’t Dr. Gilbreath be back by now?”

“Holy shit. Look!”

Ronnie enlarged the picture. Dr. Gilbreath was in the second floor den, arms spread wide. In front of her, they could see the shapes of two small children.