Haunted (51 page)

"It's almost midnight," she said, checking her watch under the glare of a yellow sodium light. "Should we be getting back?"

"Unfortunately, yes. But let's walk nice and slow."

She smiled at him and, as they strolled back, she told him about her affair with Meat Blaisdell, and about a short fling with a minor editor at Knoll Books. "David," she said, pausing as they neared the lodge's doorway. "You were right, and I apologize."

"What was I right about?"

"You can't mix business and pleasure. Ever. I guess I had to learn it the hard way."

"Well, I learned it the hard way too," he admitted, "but I was probably a self-righteous prick about it. You know, preaching at you when you wanted me to leave Georgie, instead of telling you about my experiences. I apologize too."

"I'm glad I don't represent you, David," she said softly. "If I did, I couldn't do this." She stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips chastely against his cheek.

Pleased and surprised, he nearly grabbed her for a more serious kiss, but still he felt slightly unsure of himself, perhaps because they'd talked about sex with other people--other things, for Christ’s sake--as if they were old friends, platonic friends, and nothing more. Slow and easy, he cautioned himself. Don't rush it.

Silently, they stood in the open doors a moment, and watched the party-goers. Vainly, David squinted in an attempt to recognize the strange dark-clothed, bewhiskered man Theo was dancing with. He looked vaguely familiar, even at this distance, and for some reason this disturbed him. Probably just some High Hooey artist in costume, he decided, returning his attention to Melanie.

As he studied her, he regretted that they might have hurt each other too much in the past to again attempt any kind of relationship beyond a platonic level. But at least, he consoled himself as they reentered the hall, he had his best friend back.

August 23

Parking Lot of Red Cay Moose Lodge: 12:00 A.M.

"Chief Swenson?"

At the sound of the child's voice, Craig turned and saw the Radsum girl--Janise, he recalled--waving at him from the window of her parents' car. They were just getting ready to pull out of their parking space.

Craig walked over, tipping his hat. "What can I do for you, young lady?"

"Oh, Chief, it's nothing," Mrs. Radsum said quickly.

"Just a misunderstanding, I'm sure," added the girl's father.

"I saw her do it!" Janise insisted vehemently.

Both parents looked mortified. "Janise, we'll get you another doll," her mother said.

"But it's wrong! She stole it, and Billy gave it to me, and I don't want another doll, I want the one Billy gave me."

"Honey, you said it was broken--“

"I don't care!" insisted the fairy princess.

Alarm bells going off in his head, Craig lifted his left hand, signaling the parents to be quiet. "Janise, what kind of doll did Billy give you?"

"It was real old and it was a boy doll. It was ugly and there was a big crack in it, but I really liked it."

"What did it look like?"

"He had dark hair and a little beard and, you know what, he even had eyebrows made out of real hair. He was like glass."

"China?"

"Yes, Chief Swenson. Like china."

Shit! It couldn't be. "And Billy gave it to you?"

"Yes."

"Where did Billy get it?"

"He found it in one of the tide pools."

God help us, Peter Castle’s. back. Hiding his agitation, Craig merely nodded and asked mildly, "Who took your doll, princess?"

"The lady we bought our house from."

"I just can't believe that Miss Pelinore would do something like that, honey," her father said.

"Me either," chimed in her mother.

But I can. Craig cleared his throat. "I'm going to be seeing her in a little while. I'll ask her about it--"

"Oh, no, please," said Mrs. Radsum.

"I'll be diplomatic," Craig promised.

"She stole it! I saw her do it."

"Maybe it belongs to her," Craig said gently. He wasn't defending Theo Pelinore, he was stopping embarrassing questions. "Maybe she lost it and when she saw it, she didn't even think about anything but getting it back."

The little girl nodded without much enthusiasm, though her parents made up for it. "If she stole it, I mean really stole it?"

"Yes?"

"Will you punish her?"

"I sure will, Janise. I'll call you in a day or two, okay?"

"Okay."

"Evening, folks."

He walked back to the cruiser, his mind racing. He was so tired, he had intended to beg off the Romero thing at Body House, but now he had to get out there. Eric was still inside the lodge talking with Holly and Doc Shayrock. Craig had to collect him, then stop by the station to take care of some business. He wouldn't get to the finger until twelve-thirty, at the earliest, but at least he'd get there. Masters had to be told about the reappearance of the doll.

Body House: 12:09 A.M.

"I really wish you'd gone back to Kelly's like we'd agreed, kiddo."

Amber pulled past Romero's van and a half dozen other cars, including Pelinore's, and parked, then, taking the keys from the ignition, she tossed them to her father. "Oh, Dad, don't be such a worrywart! I wouldn't miss this for the world." She glanced back as Melanie nosed her rental car in next to the Bronco. Her dad had said virtually nothing about Melanie's appearance during the ride back to the house, preferring to talk about the costumes and the small-town gossip. She figured he was either really pissed at them for going behind his back, or he really wanted to be but wasn't. She couldn't stand not knowing any longer. She swallowed, and asked brightly, "Aren't you glad Mel's here?"

"You shouldn't have--" he began, then paused. "But I'm glad you did."

She grinned, amazed he'd admit it. "You should listen to me more often."

"Don't get cocky."

Melanie tapped her keys on the glass before Amber could reply, which was just as well--she didn't want to push her good luck. Instead, she opened the door and jumped down to the ground. Leaning against the hood to wait for her dad and Mel, she stared at the brightly lit house as it played peek-a-boo behind the whispery curtains of fog.

Kelly, Rick, and Justin, along with some of the other kids, were at the pizza parlor right now and she really wished she were with them, but she wouldn't have enjoyed it because she was too worried about her dad, Melanie, and that witch, Pelinore. Maybe if she'd paid more attention this evening, she would have known he and Mel were getting along and then she could have gone, but she'd been having too much fun dancing with Rick to notice.

Dad and Melanie were talking quietly on the other side of the car and, furtively, she watched them, hoping they'd get romantic. But so far, nothing.

She turned her attention back to the house. When she'd told her dad she wasn't afraid, it wasn't exactly true, but to be honest, she was more afraid of what Pelinore might do than what might happen in the house--she really doubted that anything would happen anyway. Dad always maintained that pointing a camera in the direction of a spook guaranteed a lack of ghostly activity, and usually he was right. Also, although she tried to be cool about it, having Jerry Romero and his television crew here was really exciting and she didn't want to miss it.

"You sure you want to do this, kiddo?" her dad asked as he and Mel joined her. "You can take the Bronco and go back to Kelly's."

She hesitated, briefly tempted, then shook her head. "I want to watch Pelinore make an ass out of herself."

He smiled slowly. "Well, I wouldn't want to deprive you of that. Just promise me you'll stick close. Don't go upstairs by yourself." He glanced at Melanie. "That goes for you, too. I'll give you the grand tour tomorrow."

"I can't even go up to my room?" Amber asked. Boy, he's really nervous!

"No."

"Really?" Mild fear trilled down her spine as she realized he wasn't just nervous--he was scared. "Why?"

"Nothing will happen at the séance," he explained. "I can almost guarantee it. But all the energy downstairs may stir things up in other parts of the house. Places that are off-camera."

"We'll stick to you like glue," Melanie said. "Right, Amber?"

"Right."

A moment later they stood in the foyer of Body House, watching the chaotic activity of the film crew and the channeling group. Romero stood in the middle of the parlor, directing the placement of standing spotlights and the setting up of a round folding table, which was being positioned under the portrait of Lizzie Baudey. Pelinore stood beside him looking and sounding like a regal bitch as she instructed her scurrying little crystal-packers to do this or that for her. Finally, as a red tablecloth was thrown over the table, Romero looked over and saw them.

"David, we were wondering where you were!" Romero strode enthusiastically over and pumped his hand, then kissed Melanie and Amber on their cheeks. "Amber, I didn't think you were going to join us!"

Amber felt herself blushing. Looking at her fingers, she said softly, "I can have pizza any time, but it's not every day I get to see my dad expose a con artist."

Melanie cleared her throat, obviously trying to hide a snicker, but David, standing just behind her, put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a little warning squeeze.

Jerry Romero had lit up like a Christmas tree. He turned to David. "You don't believe Ms. Pelinore is a true psychic, then?"

"Let's just say that I prefer to reserve judgment on these things until I see it for myself."

"But you are going to attempt to expose her?" Romero persisted.

"I'm not going to do anything but observe."

"Besides," Melanie said smoothly, "I think Ms. Pelinore is perfectly capable of exposing herself without David's help."

Romero stopped cold, his expression briefly blank, then a slow smile spread across his face. "I believe you might be right, Miss Lord."

"Jerry!"

He glanced around. "Yeah?"

"We're ready."

Romero smiled. "We've got a seat for you in the circle, David, and you ladies can watch from the couch there, by the cameraman."

"I don't--"

"You're the star, David, you've got to be in the séance."

Amber stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear, "It'll really piss off Pelinore, Dad."

He gave her a reproving look, but told Romero he'd do it and followed him to the table, where they seated him right next to Pelinore.

Melanie and Amber got comfortable on the couch. "Good shot," Amber whispered, referring to Mel's remark about Pelinore.

"Thanks." Melanie took the feather from her hair and ran her fingers over it. "So, I never saw that woman who was spreading rumors about you. Was she at the party?"

"Oh. Oh, God, you didn't hear, did you?"

"Hear what?"

"She was killed. Chopped up into little bits."

"I heard people talking about some murders. She was one of the victims?" Melanie asked, shocked.

Amber nodded.

"Have they caught the murderer?"

"No. They aren't going to either, if Dad's right."

"What do you mean?"

"Did he tell you about the dolls?"

"Yes..." Melanie answered slowly.

"Did he tell you about Peter Castle?"

"The name's familiar, but I'm not sure. We only had a few minutes to talk."

"He was Christabel's lover--"

Melanie nodded. "Yes, he told me."

"Did he tell you Minnie Willard stole the doll?"

"No."

Quickly, Amber filled her in. "So that's why they can't catch the killer. He's already dead."

Melanie stared at her. "And you believe this?"

"Heck, the chief of police believes it."

"You're joking."

Amber shook her head. "No kidding. He even went out to the end of Widow's Peak and threw the doll into the ocean so that the ghost of Peter Castle wouldn't hang around town and kill somebody else."

"Your father's persuasive, but I can't believe he's talked a cop into believing--"

"Oh, well, after Chief Swenson saw the headless sea captain in the lighthouse, he was pretty easy to convince."

"Slow down." Melanie set the feather aside. "The story about the ghost in the lighthouse is famous, and your dad told me about the romance between the captain and Lizzie. But I didn't know anyone had seen his ghost."

"Oh, yeah. Eric, that's the chief's nephew, he's always been able to see him. After the doll broke, we all saw him. God, Mel, it was so gross! But then Eric found his head and he and Dad broke it and buried the doll right there in the lighthouse, where the captain hangs out. He's pretty handsome now that he's got his face back."