C.F. Fowler - Marion Rogers 01 - A Ghost's Vengeance (2 page)

  Marion softened. “No, you’re fine. I guess I’m still a little tired. I get a lot of abuse from people who are Christians when they find out what I do. They feel it is contrary to faith. I cannot help what I see, and I feel compelled to help since it is obviously a gift from God.”

  Gordon sipped his coffee and asked, “Do all spirits talk to you? Do they leave when you ask?”

  “No. Some are residual hauntings. It’s like a scene in a movie playing over and over. I have no idea why, but there’s no way to communicate that I know of. Others may take some convincing just to get them to communicate. Most of the time they don’t leave but they tone down their activity. But some do leave. I haven’t had to converse with anything malevolent, so I wouldn’t know about any of the more violent spirits that have made news.”

Marion continued working on her muffin. After a few minutes of silence she said, “I will be back at Mr. Jergins house at three today. Is it a coincidence that you will start your shift then?”

  “Yes,” he responded, “it is. Your visits don’t concern me. My interest is what he does when he’s not expecting company. Were you intending on returning when I spoke to you yesterday.”

  “No,” she said, “It was a request made this morning. That’s all I can say except that Mr. Jergins will be there.”

  Gordon frowned. “It’s my understanding he moved to a hotel. Are you sure he’ll be there?”

  “Yes, he’ll be back to meet me there. Really, that’s all I should say.”

  Gordon looked concerned. “I can’t believe you go to these places alone. Doesn’t your boss send a second person to help protect you from any earth-bound person who may get violent?”

“I don’t need anyone with me. Trust me. I can take care of myself. Do you expect Mr. Jergins could become violent?”

“Not necessarily,” Gordon looked unconvinced. “Just remember, I’m outside if you should find anything troublesome of an earthly-nature.”

  Marion arrived at the Santa Clarita address a few minutes before three. She saw a small, timid, balding man pacing in front of the house. He looked like an accountant or a banker from the old black and white movies of the ‘30s or ‘40s. His clothes were disheveled and he looked ready to bolt at the first loud noise.

  “Mr. Jergins?” she asked.

  “Yes? You were sent by Mr. Daniels?” he responded uneasily. He was visibly shaking.

  “Yes, sir. Shall we go in?”

  “I don’t understand why you need me here. Can’t you just spray some holy water and say a few prayers to rid me of whatever is there?” He used a handkerchief to wipe his sweat-drenched face.

  “I’m not an exorcist. I communicate with spirits. Holy water and prayer are of no use here. I walked through your house yesterday and got no sense of a spirit. Now, if you want a thorough investigation, you will have to come in with me. There’s nothing to fear, Mr. Jergins. I haven’t lost a client yet.” These last words were meant to break the tension and maybe produce a smile or, hopefully, a laugh, but no luck.

  “Lost? Lost! You mean people die during these whatever-you-call-them, investigations? I don’t know…” He seemed ready to bolt.

  “Mr. Jergins!” She decided a forceful tone was necessary. “We need to determine if the spirit is attached to you and not the house. Th
is will determine that. If this spirit wanted you dead, you would be. Now let’s get in the house and figure this thing out.”

  “If it’s absolutely necessary. I can’t live another day like this.” He seemed to be submitting to her will.
What a putz
, she thought.

  As they approached the front door she stopped and turned to him. “Whatever you do, remain calm and still. If the spirit manifests, I need time to communicate. Understood?”

  He nodded. She unlocked the door and they entered.

  The house was clean and quiet, just as it was the day before. Mr. Jergins stood shaking in the entryway. She walked into the living room and sat on the sofa. She hoped Mr. Jergins would do the same but he remained standing in the entryway as if wanting to make a swift exit if things went awry.

  “Please sit down, Mr. Jergins.” She waited and watched him shaking. Did he hear her? “Mr. Jergins?” she said a little more loudly. He turned and looked at her. He was white as a ghost. Maybe he’s been looking in the mirror and scaring himself. She smiled at that.

  “Is my discomfort amusing you?”

  Well, at least he wasn’t catatonic. “No, sir. Please sit down.” This time he responded to her and approached the sofa timidly. He sat down slowly and carefully, as if not wanting to wake someone sleeping. As they sat in the quiet room he seemed to relax a little. Then Marion saw her. A white form came down the stairs as if to see who entered the house. She looked young, maybe 30. Marion stood and when she did, Jergins stiffened. It was clear he couldn’t see the spirit.

  “Hello,” Marion said as respectfully as she could. It was always best to start communications without any sort of judgment. “Are you the spirit haunting this man?”

Jergins had started to shake. She held her hand up to him as if to say, “Don’t move.”

  “Yes, and I intend to continue haunting him until he is judged.”  The spirit seemed determined. Her form was white and cloudy. Marion couldn’t determine much about her.

  “My name is Marion. What’s yours?”

  “Catherine. Catherine Goodman. Are you a friend of this man?”

  Marion felt the truth was always best. “No, he has retained my services to communicate with you. He is disturbed by your activities and would like you to stop. As you have a goal in mind, may I ask you why you are haunting Mr. Jergins?”  Marion was choosing her words carefully. Any wrong word heard by Jergins would make him bolt and the spirit would be gone.

  “He is a vile, disgusting creature that must be stopped,” Catherine said with determination. Clearly she was a ghost with a purpose. As she spoke, her definition revealed more detail. Marion could make out blonde hair and a business suit.

  “What is it that makes you feel that way?” Marion responded in the most evasive words she could find. Jergins was paler than ever.

  “He hurts children. I will not allow him to continue. Please let him know he has few options here.” Catherine appeared to accept Marion as a go-between. Her form grew less detailed as she continued. She seemed better viewed when her emotions were intense.

  “How is it you became attached to him?” Marion felt she needed some history in order to find a resolution.

  “My husband did the same to my children.” Catherine grew sad as she remembered her own history. “I was completely in the dark. In hindsight, I probably should have known. One of my girls told a counselor. I was called to the school and found the police waiting with the counselor and the principal. The nurse had performed an examination and found physical evidence of the abuse.” Catherine moved to the window and her form seemed to fade. “I was dumbfounded. My daughter felt she couldn’t tell me. It was like a knife in my heart.” Catherine looked at Marion and said, “I failed my children!”

  Catherine crossed the room and stood in front of Marion. If she were a live person Marion would have been able to smell her breath, she was that close. “I left the school when they told me my children would be held in protective services. I went directly to my husband’s office and told him it would be a cold day in hell before he would touch my children ever again! He actually smiled at me. SMILED!” Her emotions were intense and again Marion could see her more clearly. “Can you believe that? He was not the man I thought he was. And then I was no longer in my body. I could see Ben’s face change to concern and he got up and crossed the room. He knelt down and when I looked down I saw my body on the floor. I died: a ruptured brain aneurysm. I had no idea I had an aneurysm and when my babies needed me most, I was dead!”  Marion could feel the sorrow from Catherine. In death she still could not believe her misfortune. Catherine floated away from Marion, closer to Jergins. As the spirit’s emotions changed from anger to sadness, her form faded. Marion kept a close eye on Catherine so as not to lose her location.

  Marion said, “Those things happen. I’m sure the shock of the day didn’t help.”  Once again, keeping her words as benign as possible she hoped to direct the spirit away from her client.

  “No, that certainly didn’t help. My husband lied to the authorities. He said a friend of mine had done those things to our children. He inimated I had threatened them not to reveal the truth. He told them he could understand the children wanting to obey their mother and they gave them back to him! I became in enraged. I haunted him vigorously. I made sure he couldn’t get near the kids without my wrath exploding all around him.” Catherine started to glow brightly and turned angrily toward Jergins. He stiffened as if in response to the proximity of the spirit. Marion knew he couldn’t see Catherine but, somehow, he felt uneasy.

  Catherine turned back toward Marion and continued, “In the end he gave the girls to my mother to look after. He knew I was the ghost haunting him and figured I would follow the girls. He started to drink heavily once he understood he was the one I was haunting. It didn’t take long for him to take a tumble down the stairs during one of his drinking binges. I wish he had stayed earthbound. I would have loved to kick his ass!”  Catherine smiled at the idea.

  Marion looked at Jergins. He still sat shaking on the couch. She turned her attention back to Catherine. “Why are you still here? Wasn’t revenge the thing that kept you here?”

  Catherine glowed brighter with more definition. Jergins made whimpering noises. Marion knew he could feel Catherine’s presence when she became agitated. She looked at the pitiful man sitting on the sofa. “He and those like my husband are the reason I am here. I don’t know why, but I’m drawn to pedophile after pedophile to make sure they no longer hurt children.” 

  Marion didn’t know how to respond. She never met a ghost with a cause. This ghost was special and she couldn’t argue with her mission. “What can he do to…?” Marion paused considering her words, “to send you on your way.”

  Catherine glowed even brighter and bent down to put her face directly in front of Jergins. Marion felt the need for sunglasses. “Confess!” Catherine said boldly. “Confession or death are his only options.”

  Marion needed time to think. She didn’t know how to respond. Unfortunately, before she could think of a solution the putz jumped up, squealed and ran from the house. Catherine disappeared and Marion was left standing in the living room.
Damn
, she thought,
I’m never going to be able to resolve this if that idiot won’t sit still!
There was a reason Josh was the front man in the business.

  Marion was still trying to think of what to do next when Gordon entered the house.

  “Oh! Thank God you’re all right!” He wiped his brow and looked at Marion as if she had been in dire peril. “I saw Jergins run out and jump in his car. He drove off so maniacally I was afraid he had done something to you!”

  “No, I’m fine.” Marion was still lost in thought as to how to get the ghost out of Jergins’ life. She couldn’t stop to be appreciative of the detective’s motives. She asked Gordon to leave so she could try to get Catherine to show herself again. He seemed reluctant to respond to her request but he acquiesced. Marion spent two hours trying to get Catherine to show herself but was unsuccessful. She locked up the house and left.

Chapter 3

On arriving home Marion called Josh: Neither wanted to continue with the case. Josh finally suggested that they proceed carefully as they could not be sure Jergins was guilty of the actions described by the ghost.

“We need to investigate this ghost. Let’s see if her story is true. I’ll put Ken on it. Any idea where she lived or what decade?”  Josh was meticulous. There was no doubt he believed the accusations but in the tiniest of chances they were false, he would need to know before continuing to do business with Robert Jergins.

“Sorry, but I have very little to go on. She had blonde hair and wore a business suit. She must have been a professional. The suit looked fairly recent, maybe within the last 10 years. If that little weasel could only sit still for a few more minutes … can I tie him to a chair next time?”

“No, Marion. We don’t tie up the clients that pay us triple!” Josh responded lightheartedly.

“I don’t think I can depend on him to help me in this investigation.” Marion sat with her eyes closed for a moment, trying to think of an answer. “If he confesses, he will live. If he doesn’t, she will kill him. What is our responsibility here?”

Before Josh could answer a knock sounded at her door. “Hold on, Josh, someone’s at the door.”  Marion looked through the peephole and saw Gordon. She returned to the phone and said, “Josh, let me call you tomorrow. That detective is at the door and I need to clear my head.”

Josh relented and they made a tentative appointment to meet in the office the following morning at 10 o’clock. Marion hung up the phone and opened the front door. Gordon asked, “Did I do something to interfere in your work?”

“No. Not at all,” Marion replied. “It is an unusual case and I need to think about how to solve Mr. Jergin’s problem.”  She walked away from the front door, leaving it open for him to enter. She sat on the sofa and made a gesture for him to do the same.

  “What happened?” Gordon seemed concerned.

  “Gordon, I’m sorry, I really can’t tell you what happened. I appreciate your concern, but we have a confidentiality clause in our contracts.” Marion stood and asked, “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “A beer sounds great right now, if you have it. I’m still hopped up on adrenaline after what happened.”  Gordon leaned back on the sofa and squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, Marion was holding a bottle of beer out to him. He took it and drank heartily. He could feel the alcohol calming his nerves.

  Marion explained, “It got a little hairy. I ran into a situation I have not encountered before. To tell you the truth, I have no idea how to proceed at this point. Mr. Jergins is unlikely to sit still and allow me to do my job.”

  Gordon smiled. “It’s too bad I can’t help you out. There is nothing I would like better than to hogtie that rat and let him stew while you do your thing.” He took another long gulp of beer and looked at Marion.
Wow
, he thought,
she looks so thin and frail. It’s amazing she can face the situations like today’s and come away so composed
.

  Marion noticed Gordon staring at her. “A penny for your thoughts,” she said remembering her mother’s favorite phrase.

  Gordon shook his head and said, “How often do you face situations like this?”

  “Not often. Like I said, most hauntings are a figment of the client’s imagination.”  Marion stood up and walked to the patio door. Stepping out on the balcony, she looked at the pool below and the children having fun with their super-soakers. She smiled and turned back to Gordon. “I’d like nothing more than to talk to you about this, but I can’t. I will have to go back because the situation there is dire.”

  Gordon felt a connection to Marion, and felt some decompression would help them both. “Thanks for the beer.” He paused, and then added, “I can deal with a shooting incident on my job but seeing that guy tearing out of the house like his hair was on fire was something else. How ‘bout I take you to dinner. No more questions. We’ll just relax and let the stress of today drift away.” He walked to the patio where she stood deep in thought. “Marion?”

  She turned to look at him as if she had been a million miles away, “Yes?”

  He repeated, “Dinner?”

  “Thanks, Gordon. I’d like that. My best plans come to me, right out of my subconscious, when I’m able to relax.”

  “Great!” Gordon replied, “There’s a Mexican restaurant within walking distance.” When Marion smiled, Gordon thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever met. How could he have missed it before? There was a strong attraction happening here; he so much wanted to kiss her but held back.

  Marion knew the restaurant. “I’ve been there a few times.” She left the balcony, got her purse and keys, and out the door they went. It was a pleasant evening for a stroll in Tarzana. Some evenings were too warm, but the temperature had settled into the mid-70s, making an evening walk a perfect activity.

  They spent the evening eating, drinking and laughing. Marion mused that Gordon was the perfect person to take her mind off her work. He felt she was the most unpretentious woman he had met in years.

“So, how long have you worked for Josh Daniels?” Gordon asked as he dipped chips into the spicy salsa.

Marion smiled, “What makes you think I work FOR him? We’re partners. He’s the face of the agency and I work the weird cases we’re known for. I think my work nets us more revenue than the cases about infidelity or workers comp fraud.”

Gordon was impressed. “You seem to defer to Josh; at least you did on the phone yesterday. Do you let him take the lead in your cases?”

“Josh is a lawyer. He keeps us out of trouble. So, yes, I do defer to him as I respect his specialty as much as he respects mine.” She took a bite of her empanada and asked, “When do you think you might go back to law — or is detective work where you long to be?”

“No! I’m a good detective, but I need to get back on track and take the bar exam, I only started with LAPD after college to pay the bills. I was as amazed as anyone that I had a proclivity to law enforcement.”

After dinner, they strolled back to Marion’s apartment. Gordon insisted on seeing her to the door. Before leaving, he requested she keep his card handy in case she needed help dealing with Jergins.

Marion said, “I’ll call you, count on it. But I am in no danger and am able to protect myself.” She smiled to reassure him as he walked out the door.

  Gordon turned. “How can I find you if I lose contact with you? I’m concerned about you working on your own.”

  Marion laughed as she pulled a business card from her wallet, handing it to him. “Don’t worry about me. If you can’t reach me on my cell, call my office. They always know where I am.” She leaned close and lightly kissed him on the lips, then escaped into her apartment closing the door gently behind her. Gordon stood on her doorstep, startled. Marion leaned against the closed front door, smiling.

After leaving Marion’s apartment, Gordon thought for the first time in a while that he should start thinking about taking the bar exam.
Where did that come from
? He thought. As he drove home he reflected on the idea that Marion had made him feel more secure in himself and what he could accomplish. He had never met a woman that made him feel like this and had never figured it was possible. He wasn’t even sure what she had said or done to make him feel this way, but the kiss certainly helped.

  Marion found herself smiling after Gordon left. She lay down on the sofa and considered the evening’s company. He was intelligent, thoughtful, and never once did he push her for information. She found it easy to talk to him, probably because he knew her secret and didn’t care. Eventually her mind drifted back to the current case.

  She tried to think about what she could do to appease Catherine
and
save Jergins’ life. She knew he would need to confess and face punishment. She had no idea how to she would convince him. Her loyalty should be to the client but she felt she needed to save Catherine’s soul. She hoped Catherine hadn’t killed anyone. Although she knew Jergins was the scum of the earth, she wanted badly to save this woman who died feeling betrayed by the one person in this world she should have been able to rely on. Catherine’s love for her children and their safety spurred her to haunt these scum buckets.

  Marion fell asleep on the couch again. She dreamed of Catherine exacting revenge. Her aunt had told her all her life to be strong and take care of herself. Upon waking, Marion felt compelled to help Catherine no matter what.

  She entered the conference room at 10 a.m. and found all hands on deck: Josh, Arnie, and Ken. The men stood as she entered the room. “Wow, guys, I feel like a judge entering a courtroom. Be seated,” Marion smiled as she spoke the last words and the guys chuckled. She sat down and asked “How do we proceed, Josh?”

  Josh sat back and said, “The client wants nothing more from us. He says he’s moving.”

  “That won’t help,” Marion replied in a serious tone. “She’ll follow him.”

  Josh nodded. “I understand, but we can’t force our services on him. I told him the spirit was connected to him and not the house.” Josh looked around the table for suggestions. “Ken, have you found out anything about her?”

  Ken looked up and said, “Yes. I believe she lived in New York. I have a Catherine Goodman who died under the same circumstances five years ago in Hartsdale, New York.”  Ken looked down at the paperwork in front of him. “Her husband, Peter, died from a fall about a year later. I haven’t had time to investigate the sexual misconduct involving the daughters.”

  “I need to talk to her daughters,” Marion said to no one in particular.

  Josh pursed his lips. “Marion, we have no more interest here. The client has asked us to drop this matter. W
e have a confidentiality agreement in place.”

  Marion was deep in thought, then realized a silence had engulfed the room. She looked up to see everyone looking at her. “I understand Josh. No more client. But I have a duty here. She will not stop and he might end up dead.”

  “Yes, he might. But that’s his choice. I told him what she said. He understands and has elected to move. We are no longer employed on his behalf.”

  Marion looked at Josh intently. She understood his meaning. “Ken?”

  “Yeah, Marion?”

  “Would you please give me the report on Catherine Goodman?”

  Ken looked to Josh, unsure whether to give the information up or not. Josh turned to Ken. “The client never asked us to look into the ghost’s past. We have no obligation to secure that information.”

  Ken slid the file across the table to Marion. “That’s all I have.”

  Marion picked up the file, stood and said to Josh, “I’ve been working too much lately and I’m going to take the time off you promised me.”

  Josh smiled. “That’s a great idea. Let us know if you need anything to … to help you get your rest.”

  She smiled and said, “I will. Thanks, guys.”  With that she turned and left the office.

  Marion was so deep in thought on her way home she had no memory of driving home at all. She had to proceed carefully and quickly. She pulled Gordon’s business card from her wallet and dialed his cell phone number.

  Gordon answered, “Baxter.”

  “Hi, Gordon, this is Marion. Do you have a minute?”

  “Just. I’m sort of in the middle of something. What do you need?”

  “I need to meet with you. Soon.”

  Gordon hesitated. “Okay, How about your place in an hour?”

  Marion was relieved. Every minute counted. “Great! I’ll see you then.”

  She hung up, then made another call to an airline, booking the redeye flight that night to New York, followed by a car rental. She started to pack, keeping in mind she needed to be mobile, not saddled with a lot of luggage. Left to her normal whims she could pack half her wardrobe for a weekend getaway. Marion dug out a duffle bag and carefully chose just enough clothing to get her through a few days. Just as she zipped up the duffle, her doorbell rang.

  Marion opened the door and admitted Gordon. He looked at the duffle bag. “Going somewhere?”

  “Yes. That’s what I need to talk to you about.” Marion tried to think of how to phrase her request.

  Gordon sat down and said, “Sorry, I don’t house sit.” He smiled before he recognized Marion’s tension, “What’s up?”

  Marion sat down and forced a smile. “Mr. Jergins has ended his relationship with my company.” She hesitated. “I need to fly to New York on another matter and need a favor from you.” Again she hesitated trying to read his expression. “I’m hoping it’s still your job to … to keep Mr. Jergins under surveillance. And if so, I need you to let me know where he is when I get back.”

  Gordon thought for a moment. “May I ask why you’re going to New York? Does it have anything to do with Jergins?”

  “In a way. I’m assuming your surveillance involves Jergins being a pedophile, and I guess you know the little pervert is haunted. The ghost haunting him haunts child molesters. I’m afraid she may kill him if he won’t turn himself in.”

  “And that would be bad … why?”

  “Gordon, I don’t give a rat’s ass about Jergins. But I do care about a ghost that has been compelled to do this because of events from her own life, events she had no control over. If she kills, she may be damned. I need to find out if she has killed already and maybe uncover some facts that may relieve her of her anger, if only temporarily. If you can keep track of Jergins, she’ll be easier to find when I return.”

  “Does this mean Jergins is moving?”

  “Yes, that is what he told us. And please, Gordon, keep this confidential. I don’t want him suing us over my giving you this information. He thinks if he moves, he’ll lose her.”

  “And who is ‘her’?”

  Marion picked up the folder with Catherine’s information in it and handed it to Gordon. “Her name is Catherine Goodman. Her husband abused her children, but she died of natural causes when she confronted him. I need to talk to her family and any other acquaintances I can find.”

  Gordon scanned the information, then handed back the folder to Marion. He put his head in his hands for a minute then looked up. “Okay, I’m glad you trusted me. I know there’s not much I can do to help you, so if this is all I can do then I’ll do it. If he leaves the jurisdiction, I’ll take some vacation days and keep on him.” Gordon stood and walked to the patio window. “Wow! I can’t believe this stuff is real. But I can sympathize with your motives. No one should be damned over that little pervert.”