PAWSitively Sinister (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 11) (13 page)

She looked blank. “I don’t know. She probably died in one of those nursing homes.”

When the server appeared with Miriam’s cake and soda on a tray, she began eating hungrily. Once she’d finished the cake, she opened the soda and took a few gulps. She then sat back and said, “When I left this place, my grandmother and my father were still here. So was that creepy Julian. My father told me he was moving out of the country and I don’t know what happened to my grandmother.”

She looked off into space before saying, “I came back only once and everyone was all upset. My grandmother, my father and the… ” she giggled, “leprechaun. Sissy, told me the police had been here and everyone was planning to leave; everyone but my grandmother. She didn’t want to leave.”

“Who’s Sissy?” Craig asked.

“She was one of the cooks and my best friend. She was my age. She came when we were both eighteen. I loved her,” she said, weeping.

“What happened to her, Miriam?” Savannah asked gently.

“I don’t know. I never saw her after that day.”

“So do you think the police arrested your grandmother?” Craig asked.

She looked up, surprised. “I don’t think so. She could hide where no one could find her. They would never find her.”

“She had a hiding place?” Craig asked.

Miriam nodded.

“Do you know where?” he asked.

Suddenly Miriam became agitated. She jumped up from her chair. “No!” she shouted. “I don’t know. I can’t know. I’m not allowed.” She glanced around at everyone. Breathlessly, she said, “I have to go.” She turned and sprinted through the dining room, across the expansive living room, and out the front door. She jumped into her friend’s waiting cab and they sped off.

“Holy moly,” Michael said. “What an evening.”

Suzette was quiet for a moment, then said, “Several people who contacted me through the website spoke of this place being haunted.”

Michael chuckled. “Aren’t many older homes—especially unique homes like this one?”

“Yeah, it’s a stigma, for sure,” Suzette said.

Iris leaned forward. “Did anyone share stories of hauntings?”

Suzette rolled her eyes. “Well, there were a few—they were pretty much all second- and third-hand, ‘as-told-to’ stories, but yeah. There were stories of weird noises and thumps going on during readings.” She looked cynical. “I figure that stuff can be staged—and probably usually is for effect, don’t you think?”

Everyone nodded.

Suzette continued, “One gal contacted me and said she knew the people who moved in after the Randalls left. She said they didn’t stay long. Friends told her later it was because the place was haunted.” She turned to Arthur. “What do you think? Is this place haunted?”

Arthur sat unsmiling. He sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. “Staff sometimes talked about hearing strange noises and seeing visions. Some of them actually left because of what they were experiencing here.”

“You heard them talking? I thought they didn’t know about you,” Craig said.

“Right—but, living in the basement, I found places where I could sit and listen to staff talk to one another. I’d sit at vents for hours and just listen.” He looked around at the others. “No, I never saw anything until… ”

“Until what?” Savannah asked.

“Until one night. I was alone down there. I was almost asleep when something caught my attention. When I opened my eyes, there was this floating figure above my bed. It looked like it was created from smoke—kind of see-through. I could see eyes. The eyes were very clear and spooky. They stared down at me. I remember being scared, but I couldn’t scream. Nothing would come out. All I could do was close my eyes and hope it would go away before hurting me or killing me. I put my pillow over my head. When I had the courage to open my eyes again, it was gone. But it never happened again and I had actually forgotten about it until recently. It was most likely a figment of my imagination.” He shook his head. “But dang, it was sure real to me that night.”

“Well, Rochelle sensed something down in your quarters, Arthur,” Savannah said. “It appears that there is something to the rumors.”

“Ohhh, I want to go down there and see if I feel anything,” Iris said excitedly. “I’ve always thought of myself as an open door to the spirit world. This would be a good test.”

“You’re not afraid?” Laura asked.

“No,” Iris said, confidently. “I know how to protect myself.”

Savannah grinned at Iris then addressed Ruth. “You experienced something here and it sounds like it wasn’t pleasant.”

Ruth nodded. “Yes, I’m aware of it. I’ve just learned to stay away from it.” She made eye contact with Craig. “Rochelle felt it.” She grimaced. “Yes, there is something here and it is not friendly.”

After a long silence, Craig took a breath and leaned back in his chair. “Well, I don’t know about you all, but I’m ready to turn in. I just hope the ghosts will let me sleep,” he said, chuckling.

“So what’s on tap for tomorrow?” Savannah asked, glancing around at the others.

“It’s our last day of the sale,” Laura said. “Should be busy. Then we pack up and leave. We’ll probably need at least one semi to haul everything away.”

“I’m going to check out this Julian guy,” Craig said. He turned to Savannah. “If I find him, wanna go along with me to talk to him?”

“Sure, if I’m not needed around here.” She looked at Michael. “Can you keep Lily company?”

“Yeah, I’m just going to relax tomorrow.”

****

It was almost noon the next day. Savannah and Iris were taking the baby for a walk around the grounds when Savannah’s cell phone rang. “Hi Craig,” she said into the phone.

“Hi. Well, I think we found Madam Randall’s partner in crime,” he said. “… still alive and living in a raunchy neighborhood in the city. I’m on my way back to the castle. Thought I’d join you all for lunch. Then want to go with me to see if we can find him?”

“Okay,” Savannah said. “Sounds like fun. Michael ended up getting involved with Arthur on a man project. But Iris said she can entertain Lily, so I’m free… yes.”

“Good. What’s for lunch?”

“I heard through the grapevine it’s a hearty vegetable soup and cornbread.”

“I’m in,” Craig said. “Be there in a few.”

Savannah had just ended the call when her phone chimed again. “It’s Rochelle,” she announced to Iris. She quipped into the phone, “Hi, girlfriend. What’s up?”

“Miriam is out of control—having a rough time. I’m on my way to get her now. I’m not sure what I’ll decide to do with her, but we might wind up out there. Is it okay?”

“I’m sure it’s okay. I may not be here, but come on out. Craig and I are going into the city after lunch to try running down the former butler.” She paused. “What’s wrong with her?”

Rochelle sounded exasperated. “I’m not sure, Savannah. She’s ranting and crying. It was hard to understand her—Ruth’s sister tried to explain to me that Miriam had a terrible emotional crash last night and was shouting in her sleep—things like, ‘I didn’t mean to.’ ‘Don’t punish me.’ ‘I won’t tell.’ Mattie said that when Miriam woke up, she became agitated, but didn’t remember any dreams and doesn’t know what the outburst was about.”

“Good gosh, that poor tormented woman,” Savannah said, creasing her brow. “Will you be okay alone with her, or is Peter coming with you?”

“No, I think I’m okay. Miriam’s not psychotic, just, as you said, tortured. We’ve gotta find those demons and help her get rid of them—whatever they are and wherever they came from. I still believe they’re remnants of her life in the mansion—memories that she has blocked for years and that want to be revealed. She’s having a struggle trying to release them, while at the same time trying to keep them hidden.” Rochelle hesitated before saying, “I’m almost at our meeting place. I may see you later.”

“Take care, Rochelle,” Savannah said, weakly. “Be careful.”

“Will do.”

“Wow,” Savannah said upon ending the call.

“What happened?” Iris asked.

“Miriam is having some sort of meltdown—Rochelle may bring her out here. Hey, Craig’s coming for lunch, let’s go tell the kitchen crew.”

****

An hour and a half later, Craig and Savannah were on their way to the last known address for Julian Fletcher.

“This is it,” Craig said. “Now to find a parking spot.”

“I saw one across the street up a ways, if you don’t mind walking,” Savannah suggested.

“In Frisco, you might as well not have a car, you have to park so far away from where you’re going,” Craig said. After maneuvering his sedan into a space, he turned to Savannah. “Are you ready?” he asked before stepping out of the car. “We don’t know what we’re walking into.”

“I’m ready,” she said, taking a deep breath.

“It’s no palace, is it?” Craig quipped as he rang the doorbell. After waiting for a few minutes, he knocked. Just as he prepared to knock again, a neighbor peered out through the door of the attached duplex. “He isn’t home. I know, ‘cause his car’s gone.”

Craig looked around.

“Yeah, if he’s home, his Jag’s parked right there,” the man pointed.

Craig raised his eyebrows. “Jag?”

The elderly neighbor nodded. “Yup, black and sleek.”

“Thanks,” Craig said as he turned and headed down the steps. Savannah followed. Before they reached the car, Savannah’s phone vibrated.

“It’s Rochelle,” she whispered to Craig.

She listened to what Rochelle had to say. “I’m with Miriam here in our apartment. There’s something I think the detective should hear. Where are you?”

Savannah recited the address.

“Can you come over here right away? You’re only about five miles from us.”

After okaying it with Craig, Savannah assured Rochelle they would be right there.

“And hurry, would you?”

“Rochelle, where’s your apartment?”

“Oh that’s right, you’ve only been to the gallery. We’re two doors up from the gallery—apartment seven—second floor. Hurry, Savannah. We have a situation here.”

As Craig and Savannah approached Rochelle’s and Peter’s apartment, they heard what sounded like hysterical crying. The couple looked at each other, grimacing a little.

“Rochelle,” Savannah called out as she knocked. She tried the door and it opened, so she and Craig entered cautiously. There they saw Miriam lying on a sofa, sobbing and wailing. Rochelle was applying cool cloths to the distraught woman’s forehead and Mattie was holding her hand.

“Here are Mr. Sledge and Savannah,” Rochelle said to Miriam in a soothing voice. “Why don’t you sit up and let’s talk about what happened, shall we?”

Miriam stopped sobbing and rolled her eyes toward the couple. She then sat up slowly and acknowledged them. When Rochelle motioned for them to take a seat, Savannah perched on an ottoman across from Miriam and said, “I guess you’re having a rough day. I’m sorry to hear it. Are you feeling calmer now?”

Miriam nodded.

Savannah motioned toward Craig, who sat on a straight-back chair to her left. “Mr. Sledge and I would like to hear what happened. Do you want to talk about it?”

Miriam stared across the room for a moment. She took a ragged breath, then asked, “Could I have a canned soda?”

Rochelle nodded. “Sure, Miriam.” Before going into the kitchen, she asked Mattie. “How about you? Care for a soda?”

Mattie nodded and sat down on the sofa next to her friend.

“… and you two?” Rochelle asked. “Thirsty?”

Both Savannah and Craig shook their head.

While the two women gulped down their sodas, Rochelle explained, “Miriam saw something during hypnosis that upset her.” She turned to Miriam. “Do you want to talk about it or would you like me to tell them?”

Miriam looked down at her soda can. “I was punished for seeing something I wasn’t supposed to see.” She looked at Craig and Savannah through pleading eyes. “I didn’t mean to. I was just a child. I didn’t know it was wrong. No one told me.” She took a breath and continued in a monotone, staring off into space, “I was lonely. I had no playmates. I wanted my grandmother’s attention. She gave her attention to that cat and the people who came for readings, but not to me.” She pressed her lips together, then continued, “One night there was no reading. Grandmother and Julian were talking in her reading room. I got tired of staying in my room and playing with my dolls and puzzles and all those damn toys they brought me. I wanted company!” she said, almost defiantly. “So I went looking for my grandmother. When I saw that she and Julian were having a meeting, I waited outside in the hall. Pretty soon, I saw him leave.” She took a sip of soda and swallowed hard before continuing. “Julian left the door open, so I went in and that’s when I saw her… disappear.”

“She disappeared?” Savannah asked.

“Yes,” Miriam said, staring at Savannah. As if she didn’t believe it herself, she said, “… right through the floor.”

“What did you do?”

“I… that’s what I got in trouble for… I… followed her.” Miriam leaned her head on her friend’s shoulder and wept rather dramatically.

Savannah and Rochelle exchanged looks.

“Can you tell us where your grandmother went?” Savannah asked. She glanced at Craig, who seemed to be disinterested.

“I don’t know… my grandfather was there and other people I knew… Abe… some of the hobos. They were all there.”

“The people who had gone missing,” Craig said, now interested, “… you saw them?”

She nodded. “Grandmother sat down at a table with them and took out her deck of cards. She didn’t see me. But
he
did,” she said, gritting her teeth. “He caught me and pulled me away from the cage and back up the stairs. He screamed at me and threatened to torture and kill me if I ever told.” She looked up at the others. “Hell, I didn’t even know what I was seeing. I didn’t know what I’d done wrong. After that, I wasn’t allowed in that part of the house anymore. They hardly let me come out of my room. I was like a non-person… a prisoner.”

She became quiet, then spoke softly. “That’s when Grandfather started coming to me at night. He had left us when I was about eight years old. Grandmother had said he took a trip and never came back. But after I was punished, he started coming to me in the night.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “He always had blood running down one side of his face.”