Hazy View: Souls of the Vanished (9 page)

“
Would you stop that?”
William scolded.

“
I can’t, these bugs are
carrying me away one drop of blood at a time.” Ivan defended and
sprayed again.

William grabbed the can. “There’s no
bugs, when are you going to grow up?”

Ivan tried to grab it back, but he was
too slow.

“
Just because you don’t
hear them, doesn’t mean they aren’t there.”

“
Please stop it. There are
no bugs. It’s raining for God sake.” William shouted
angry.

“
How do you know?” Ivan
challenged.

“
Bugs can’t fly in the
rain. Now please be quiet or I’ll throw you overboard
myself.”

A flash of light appeared and moved in
their direction flickering in the darkness. Ivan zoomed two of the
cameras in on the light, without changing their cone of
vision.

“
What’s wrong, bugs again?
Trying to record them now?” William teased
sarcastically.

“
I know you think you’re
funny, but you’re not. I just saw some strange light on the water.
Maybe it's nothing but I would like to get it on
camera.”

“
Stop fiddling with the
cameras. They’re set up to cover everywhere. If there’s activity
the cameras will record it. Maybe the bug spray’s going to your
head. Have you even given thought to the damage you do when you
spray your brain cells away like this?” William asked and corrected
the settings on the cameras.

Ivan returned to his seat. “Fine, I
don’t want to lose anything.”

“
Drink up your cocoa. Soon
something’ll happen, and then you can play with the equipment. You
never take anything seriously. Why were you born first?”

Ivan jumped up excited. “Towards the
rocks, just above the waterline, don’t you see that?”

“
What are you seeing, I
can’t see anything?”

“
It's coming this way,
don’t you see it?” Ivan said and pointed into the
darkness.

William frowned, still not seeing what
was making Ivan so excited.

The light disappeared under the
water.

Irritated with his brother’s
excitement William collected his flashlight from the bottom of the
boat and shone into the darkness where Ivan was
pointing.

“
Listen.” Ivan said frozen
like a statue.

“
I hear that, what’s that…
a child screaming?” William replied inspecting the
equipment.

“
Is there something
recorded, please check?”

“
The temperature’s dropped
and something’s captured on the audio recorder. We’ll check the
cameras later. Keep them recording, don’t change them, and just let
them run.” William commanded getting a little excited.

“
Keep your eyes open. I
think something’s getting close.” Ivan said scanning the
water.

“
Finally, something’s
happening. If we’re lucky it’ll be the tape that would make us
famous.”

“
I told you this wouldn’t
be a waste of time.”

Ivan scanned the water for anything
that moved. Without the moon to help them, he reached for his
flashlight.

A moan echoed across the water,
followed closely with a hiss, water splashing sound. Mist started
to cover the water around the boat. Reducing visibility to arm’s
length. A sudden knock from beneath, jerked the boat violently,
dipping it to one side. The two men scramble for the opposite side
and stabilize it before water overwhelmed it.

“
We’re here to help you,
who are you?” William called out.

The knocking became louder.

“
Why are you attacking
people on the lake?”

The drawn out moan became louder and
deeper.

“
Who did this to you?”
Ivan called.

A loud hiss, moaning scream echoed in
the air.

“
Please come out and face
us.” Ivan invited.

The hissing, humming, moaning and
knocking stopped. A sharp light overpowered the brother’s lights
and moved closer to the boat. The mist parted to allow the light a
clear path to the boat. The light slowed down and stopped four feet
in front of them, revealing a person in its center. She stood for a
brief moment, arms stretched out in front of her.

A child’s voice echoed from behind
her. She was speaking, but no sound came to hear. She stopped with
the image of a young child entering the light. She stood silently
staring at the two men in the boat. Suddenly she released a
horrifying screech and rushed forward.

Ivan and William stood up and tried to
flee. With nowhere to go they grabbed for the oars but didn’t make
it. She scooped them up and pulled them overboard with a large
splash and a thump. Their screams silenced as they hit the water
and silence returned to the boat ones more.

The flashlight shone through the rain
and the mist subsided. Cameras still recorded, echoed a soft
beeping sound as their alarms warned that something’s
captured.

*~*~*

Chapter Four

*I*

The mayors’ office was big, well
furnished with a glass top desk and a lounge suite for relaxing.
Large crafted oak bookshelves held a collection of law and
reference books. In one corner a small bar fridge held drinks. Oil
paintings decorated the walls and a large window admitted enough
light. A large Persian rug covered the center of the floor while
parquet tile shone in the bright sunlight.

Mayor Gibbs had a face like a potbelly
pig. His looks would never win an election, but his wits and brawn
always excelled. He was the type of person you would find
attractive only once your vision’s impaired through heavy drinking.
He arrived at the crack of dawn and let himself into the town hall
with his own keys.

Gibbs looked up over his glasses as
Andrew walked into his office. “Does this visit mean that you don’t
want to be sheriff?”

“
No it doesn’t sir. I just
need to impose a few limits for a while. I believe you heard about
the drama we’ve had at the lake over the last couple of days. I’d
like to find out more and stop the attacks.” Andrew jumped right
into the conversation.

“
You want to take away the
only attraction this town has to bring tourists here. That’s like
taking away the air and letting the town suffocate, why?” Gibbs
asked surprised.

“
I feel the lake’s not
safe, and I’d like to close it for further investigation, just to
be safe. It won’t be for long anyway.”

“
What investigation? The
rumors of ghosts or the heart attack of Robert Wilson, rest his
soul. He was a good friend of mine.”

Gibbs stood up and walked briskly to
the oak table near the window. He poured two glasses of scotch and
returned to his desk, holding one to Andrew. He scratched in the
drawer and turned his attention back to him. He handed him a new
sheriff’s badge.

“
Martin told me a couple
of days ago that he’s planning to give up the job and leave town.
He suggested that you take over his job. He also said you’re the
best person we’ve got. You’re eager I’ll give you that. He said
that you’ve got a good nose for it, and that you always look at
every possible angle in every case. We can use someone like that.
Meanwhile I had this made and left it up to Martin to give you the
good news.”

Andrew removed his old badge. “Thank
you.”

“
Tell me. Closing the lake
temporarily, this one of the angles you’re looking at?”

“
I’d rather look at it as
a precaution, taking in to consideration the events has now become
hostile. Maybe it's nothing, just some kids playing their stupid
games, but it's better to be sure, and at the same time I’ll keep
as many people safe as I can.”

Gibbs raised his eyebrows and glanced
over the rim of his glasses.

“
Is that what you believe,
kids playing pranks?”

“
I believe someone
committed murder somewhere around the lake…” Andrew
declared.

“
What murders?” Gibbs
interrupted shocked.

Andrew placed the case files on the
desk, but Gibbs didn’t take them.

“
It's starting to look
like someone murdered two people and dumped their bodies into the
lake. I think the attacks are a result of a supernatural entity.
Witnesses reported strange events and sightings of a woman and a
child that’s haunting the lake.” Andrew continued studying the
mayor’s reaction.

“
I’m not convinced about
these ghosts. I heard the stories and I believe they’re made up. Do
you have any proof of these murders? Do you have an idea where the
crime scene is, missing person, a suspect or witness, anything?”
Gibbs asked with his palms opened on the desk.

“
No sir.” Andrew admitted
softly.

“
Well how do you know
there’s a crime?”

“
I’ve been reading witness
reports and all of them points to the same sighting. Something in
the lake’s clawing its way out using visitors to do it.” Andrew
pointed out and sipped his drink nervously.

“
What attacks, a drunken
hallucinating young woman or someone scaring Robert into a heart
attack, its gossip. Did any of them witness a murder?”

“
No sir.”

“
These stories are nothing
more than misdirection and the incidents pure accidental. You’re
just stepping into the sheriff’s shoes. I understand that it's
overwhelming to say the least. Why don’t you take a short vacation
to adjust? Nothing major, let’s say from Monday to Sunday. Rap your
mind around your new duties when you get back. That leaves you with
three days to get everything you need in order before you go on
leave. You’re not new to this town. You’ve spent most of your life
here. How many times have rumors kicked started business,
especially around this time of the year?” Gibbs pointed
out.

“
I don’t need time off
sir. I’m aware of all the rumors overtime, but nothing solid were
ever proven, not like this. There’s something in the lake hurting
people. Someone who knows nothing about the town is also reporting
events. I’d rather like to stay here and do my job.” Andrew
protested.

“
Go for a short holiday.
It’ll do you good. Once you get back you won’t get this chance
often.” Gibbs repeated more adamant.

“
But Sir I…”

“
I insist. Let’s talk
again when you return to duty.” Gibbs interrupted.

“Yes sir.” Andrew agreed
disappointedly.

He collected the untouched case files
from the desk. He left the office with a heavy heart. He was hoping
that he might’ve been more successful than this. All he managed to
do was to look like an amateur and that what wasn’t the image he
wanted to start with as the new sheriff.

*~*~*

*II*

Andrew walked into the office angry.
He headed to his office and stopped at Yvonne’s desk to collect the
paperwork from the night past.

“
I’m so sick of hearing
about rumors and misdirection. Why’s everyone in this town so
obsess with rumors and business? Why are they so blinded to
anything that’s slapping them in the face, I will never
understand?” Andrew ranted and raved.

“
Did it go that bad with,
Gibbs?” Yvonne remarked, and handed him the morning papers and
night reports.

“
Worse, he put me on
leave.” He took the files but didn’t even look at them.

“
Well nothing ever happens
here, it's a safe place. People around here don’t want to believe
otherwise.”

Andrew headed to his office and
paused. “Probably, but that doesn’t mean I’ll give up on
this.”

The phone on Yvonne’s desk rang. She
held her hand out to Andrew in a gesture to wait. He turned to
Yvonne waiting for her to finish her call with folded arms. Yvonne
replaced the receiver.

“
Tom needs to see you at
the lake. Some people went missing last night. He found the boat
they hired floating a distance from the rock face.” She
informed.

“
Great, what’s it with the
rock face, more trouble I’m sure.”

“
There’s something else
you should know about the men that went missing.” Yvonne said with
a smile, teasing him.

“
What, do I have to drag
it out of you?”

“They had equipment mounted on the
boat, cameras and stuff.” Yvonne informed lifting her
eyebrows.

Andrew sighed deeply. “Ghost hunters?
This might be just what I need. Before I forget, get the sketch
artist to the hospital. I need him to do a sketch of whom or what
attacked Dillon Adams, his claims its Janet. Can you believe
it?”

“
Helen James-Leigh wants
to see you if you have time, she said it's important and urgent.
For years nothing happens, then one day suddenly everything happens
at once. Don’t you just hate it when that happens?” Yvonne said
smiling, and chowed discreetly on gum.

“
Helen, I don’t recall
someone with that name.” Andrew scratched his head
confused.