OLD MAN MALONE RETURNS Read online

  “Who would do this?” whispered Taylor.

  “The old man, he wants us dead,” answered Kellie. The bedroom wall rattled.

  “What the hell was that?” yelled Drew.

  Hunter replied, “I don’t know, let’s check the cameras.”

  While Drew and Hunter checked the security footage, Kellie and Taylor remained in Kellie’s bed holding hands. After the four had gone to bed earlier, none of the cameras were activated. Drew intentionally walked in front of all of them to be sure the motion sensors were working. Each one turned on and recorded him as he walked past. No one could get into their bedroom unnoticed.

  The guys returned to the bedroom, and the girls were snuggled together under the quilt. Kellie was crying, and Taylor was trying hard not to let her tears show. She ran her hand through Kellie’s hair and spoke to her quietly.

  Both looked at the guys with apprehension in their eyes.

  Drew said, “We didn’t see anything on the cameras. They all seem to be working.”

  Taylor asked, “Could someone get in and erase the tape before he leaves?”

  “I’m not sure how since each entrance has a camera, and they’d be filmed as they left. Even if they left out a window, the film they erased would once again film them walking away. You have to pass cameras to get out. There’s also a hidden camera that records any activity at the cabinet. That cabinet is also locked, remember? We had a special lock installed.”

  “You’re right; between the security company and Uncle Mike, you covered everything.”

  Kellie dropped back on the bed. “I don’t understand. Someone’s doing this. Why can’t we see them? How are they getting in? Maybe it is his ghost. What do we do if it’s his ghost? What I don’t understand is why this is happening to me. First, duct tape and now a zip tie. I feel like I’m being victimized in my own home, but I refuse to leave.”

  Drew tried to comfort her. He pulled her close and said, “I think whoever’s doing this is only trying to scare you. The tape was painful when you removed it, but you haven’t been badly hurt. It’s severe harassment. We need to figure out why.” He kissed the top of her head hoping to calm her.

  She pushed him away and screamed, “Do you hear me, you old SOB. I refuse to leave.” Her face was flushed, the veins in her neck bulged, and she shook a fist at the wall. “If I’m forced, I’ll see this house burn to the ground.”

  As she finished her rant against the old man, the pictures on the walls began to shake. One fell to the floor with a loud crash scattering broken glass across the carpet. Taylor screamed. A door slammed somewhere on the third floor sending both Hunter and Drew up to investigate. They ran out of the room being careful not to run over any glass with their bare feet.

  Austern came running up the stairs. “Are you two alright?” He rushed in the room holding a heavy, silver flashlight.

  “Yes, Hunter and Drew went upstairs to see what made the noise.”

  She explained to Austern what had happened. His knitted eyebrows and tight lips matched his grip on the flashlight.

  “You should notify the police. I’ll call 911 now.”

  “No, let’s wait to see what the guys find, and I’ll call my Uncle Mike tomorrow. I don’t need more police in the house today. I think it’s a ghost. Even Uncle Mike can’t catch a ghost. If it were a person, we’d have some evidence.”

  “Then I’ll clean up this broken glass.” He hurried downstairs to find the hand broom and mini-vac.

  Hunter and Drew returned, saying they couldn’t find anything out of place. All the doors and windows were tightly locked. None of the security cameras had been triggered, and the security system was set.

  Austern suggested, “If you are concerned someone might be coming in and down from the attic or third floor, we could install a dead bolt lock on the third floor door. If someone used the secret staircase and came out on the third floor, then came down here and retreated to the third floor again, they could escape. A new lock on the basement entrance might also be in order.”

  “Brilliant, Austern. Hunter and I will take care of it tomorrow. The sun is coming up. I doubt we’ll have any more intruders. Let’s try to get some sleep.”

  As Hunter and Taylor headed toward her room, she whispered, “I know you’ve known Drew for a long time. You don’t think he could be responsible, do you? If something happens to Kellie, he inherits the bulk of her estate.”

  “You can’t be serious. No one is a more decent person than Drew, and he loves Kellie.”

  “I know, but money does odd things to people. I’m out of ideas. If it isn’t Drew, it’s a ghost. You don’t really think it’s a ghost do you?”

  Taylor flopped on the bed and flipped onto her stomach. She lay in the middle of the bed, her legs bent at the knees. She kicked her feet up and down as she talked. Hunter was pacing around the room trying to convince Taylor she was wrong.

  “No, but it isn’t Drew either. I’m sure of that.”

  “I hope so. We don’t have many options. It’s a ghost, a crazed person, or a person working with a ghost. Which do you prefer to battle?”

  “None. Go to sleep.” He pushed her to her side of the bed and crawled in next to her.

  ########

  A quick call to the security company assured Drew that two security guards would be on duty outside the house all night. They’d be on duty from sunset until daybreak until no longer needed.

  Kellie bit her lip and squinted at Drew. “If the camera isn’t picking anything up, what makes you think security guards will help?” She pulled on her jeans as she listened to him.

  “Don’t worry.” Drew’s head popped out of his sweatshirt, and he pushed his arms through the sleeves. “Electronics can be fooled. It takes some doing, but it can be done. Humans are our best bet. It’ll be alright.”

  “I hope you’re right.” She walked toward the bedroom door, turned, and smiled. “I’m hungry. Are you ready for breakfast?”

  The next few nights were calm. With the security guards patrolling outside, laughter returned to the house. The guys played poker using cookies for chips until Drew doubled over saying he couldn’t eat another cookie. Kellie and Taylor were spending every spare minute going over wedding details or doing their best to take their minds off the details by reading.

  Taylor had decided to take the Wednesday through Friday before her wedding off to take care of last minute details. It was a chilly Wednesday morning when she woke early unable to sleep. Plans were racing through her mind. She needed coffee before starting on her lists. She pulled her robe tightly around her and headed for the stairs. At the top of the stairs, she stopped. Her eyes grew wide with terror. She wasn’t aware of her scream that woke the rest of the house. She tried to run, but was frozen in fear.

  Hunter ran down the hall to find Taylor standing motionless, her arms wrapped tightly around her. “What the hell…?” Hunter said when he saw the wall Taylor pointed out. Kellie and Drew were right behind him. They both stopped dead in their tracks. Kellie threw her hand over her mouth when she saw the wall. Drew’s mouth fell open as he saw what upset the others.

  Dripping red letters covered the large wall on the side of the north staircase. It read.

  “DON’T THINK YOU CAN GER RID OF ME THAT EASY.”

  “What is that?” Kellie said. She stepped closer to the wall. She reached out but pulled her hand back. Terror whelmed up in her. She began to tremble. She reached for Taylor’s hand. They held hands tightly while the guys checked out the house.

  Hunter ran down to check the security footage. Drew threw on his jacket to find the security guards. He found one in the side yard unconscious from a blow to the head. The other he found behind the garage—dead. The guard’s chest was covered in blood. Drew pulled out his phone and dialed 911. The sirens were wailing before he could get back to aid the injured security guard.

  The paramedics revived the injured guard. He said he had no idea what hit him. The last thing he remembered was wa
lking from the back of the house into the side yard. He heard a noise, turned, and everything went black. He couldn’t describe what caught his attention.

  Drew saw Detective Stellion’s car pull up. He watched the detective walk toward the side yard. “Mike, the paramedics say this guard will be okay. The dead guard is behind the garage.”

  The detective raced to the back of the garage to begin his murder investigation. Both guards were personal friends. They were the best guards the security company employed. It was a tragic loss.

  Taylor and Kellie, wearing their robes, ran up to the scene. When Taylor saw the blood, she became hysterical. She hung onto Kellie to keep from collapsing.

  “They didn’t use his blood to write on the wall did they?”

  “Oh no, Uncle Mike you have to be sure it’s not his blood,” Kellie insisted.

  “Blood where?” the confused detective queried.

  Hunter said, “Someone wrote on the wall inside. It looks like blood.”

  “Show me.”

  ########

  The investigation moved inside temporarily. The coroner was on his way to examine the body. Mike needed to gather whatever facts he could. He stood and stared at the wall.

  “It certainly looks like blood. I doubt it’s human. It’s not from the guard. This is too much blood considering the amount outside. When Dr. Webster is finished outside, I’ll have him come in here and see what this is. In the meantime, don’t touch it. Let my officers get the pictures they need and answer all their questions.”

  An officer would watch the wall while Mike spoke with Taylor and Kellie. Both girls’ eyes reflected the terror they felt in their hearts. They sat next to each other on the sofa holding hands for support.

  “Uncle Mike, this is horrible. Those men were supposed to guard my home, and now one is dead. This is entirely my fault. If my grandfather wants this damn house, he can have it. However, it won’t be to his liking. It may be illegal to burn it down but not to destroy it. I’ll hire my contractor Randy to demolish every wall in the place. If he wants to live as a ghost, he can have a suitable abode.”

  “Kellie, calm down. We don’t know who did this. Dr. Webster will be in shortly, and he’ll shed some light on it. I hope. Oh by the way, thank you for calling Mr. Torberry. He allowed Dr. Webster access to the casket linings. There was a body in there at some point. People in town are a bit on edge thinking he’s running loose.”

  “If he is, you need to catch him. If he’s a ghost, I’m not sure what you’ll do. If he’s alive, he needs to go to prison for the rest of his life. When he does die, I’ll have him cremated. His ashes certainly can’t walk around.”

  Her comment brought a smile to Mike’s face.

  “I’m serious, Uncle Mike. That old man is toast either way.”

  “Okay, Kellie. Take a deep breath. We’ll get to the bottom of it, I promise.”

  Dr. Webster appeared in the doorway. He wore his signature baggy, brown suit and carried a clipboard. He jotted a few more notes then looked up at Mike and the girls.

  “It appears your guard may have been shot with the same weapon that killed Ken Spencer. Bullet hole is the same size. I’ll know more after the autopsy. As for your wall, I can’t say for sure if it’s human blood, but it is blood. I took a sample and will send Detective Stellion a report when I discover what type of blood it is. My men took the body, and I’ll be going now. Take care.” The kindly doctor smiled at everyone. Detective Stellion walked him out.

  Austern said, “I’ll personally clean the blood from the wall with a bleach solution, but I am certain it’ll need to be repainted. I’ll be sure that is taken care of first thing tomorrow. Oh, Mrs. Decker would like to know if she should make a late breakfast.”

  “Tell her yes. Thank you, Austern.” Kellie said. “It looks like I’ll be missing two classes today. There’s no way I can go to class feeling like this. I can get the lectures on-line later. Drew, you should eat a decent breakfast. You work noon until six today. Hunter, are you going to work? You’re already late.”

  “No, I took these next three days off the same as Taylor so we could finish up the wedding plans.”

  Taylor bit her lip and said, “I’m worried about you and Drew.”

  “Why, we’ll be fine,” Kellie answered.

  “Well, even though Cole said he isn’t moving in with Andrea until after the wedding, he didn’t come home with us from the Pizza Pub Saturday night or the last three nights. Who knows when he’ll be home? Our parents are being very old fashioned and insist that we not spend Friday night together. We both have to go home. That leaves you alone or with only Drew here. I don’t like that.”

  “I have an idea.” A big smile crossed her face and her eyes twinkled. “Since the reception is at the country club, why don’t I make reservations at their hotel for Drew and me for Friday and Saturday night? It’ll be a mini-vacation. I was debating Saturday night anyway because I had a feeling Drew might be too drunk to get home, and we might have to stay there. The house can be alone, and I’ll give Austern the weekend off.”

  Taylor hugged Kellie. “What a perfect solution.”

  Taylor’s nose crinkled. “Oh, I smell bleach.”

  “Me, too,” Kellie said rubbing her eyes. They wandered into the foyer to see Austern scrubbing the wall. Kellie opened the front door. She shivered a bit in the chilly air. “That smells a bit better.” She glanced at the wall, and silently prayed the blood wasn’t human.

  Chapter Six

  The rest of the week was quiet. Dr. Webster’s report stated the bullet that killed the guard matched the one that killed Ken Spencer. Detective Stellion was happy he was only looking for one killer and possibly an accomplice. The report confirmed the blood on the wall wasn’t human, but goat blood. The thought gave Kellie the creeps, but she was relieved it wasn’t human.

  When she and Drew closed the front door behind them and headed for the hotel, she was both elated and apprehensive. Elated to be free for two nights and to share in Taylor and Hunter’s happiness, yet apprehensive about what could happen while they were gone. Her biggest fear was the old man’s ghost would run amok in the house. She hoped the freshly painted wall would remain graffiti free, and nothing else would be damaged or destroyed.

  ########

  The wedding was Taylor’s dream come true. Everything turned out exactly the way she had planned. The weather was mild for the last Saturday in September. The bright early afternoon sun shone through the beautiful stained glass windows of St. Timothy’s church. Kellie, Andrea and Taylor’s cousin Madelyn looked stunning. Their long, formal, sapphire blue bridesmaid dresses were exquisite. Kellie, as matron of honor, carried long stem white roses. Andrea and Madelyn carried bouquets of blue and white flowers. Taylor was a vision in a cap sleeved ball gown of lace covered satin. Her bouquet was white roses and lilies. Hunter, Drew, Cole, and Hunter’s brother Brandon looked handsome in their tuxes.

  The ceremony was lovely. Father Jerome’s sermon and advice on life he gave to Taylor and Hunter was a bit longer than usual. Drew shifted his weight from foot to foot. His boredom was apparent as he glanced around the church. Kellie bit her tongue to stifle a giggle.

  After the ceremony, Taylor and Hunter ran through a shower of bird seed. Then the bridal party headed to a local park for pictures. When the photographer had taken what seemed like a hundred or more pictures, they were off to the country club for the reception. A four tier square wedding cake sat in the middle of the room. Decorated with deep blue flowers and white edible pearls, it was a vision to behold. A sit down dinner of delectable beef tenderloin or grilled herb chicken entrees were enjoyed by all. Dancing until after midnight finished the night off perfectly.

  Kellie, Drew, Taylor and Hunter were the last four in the ballroom. They stood and talked for a while. Taylor was mesmerized by the room. “The decorator did an excellent job,” she said as she looked around the room one last time. Round tables covered in white tablecloths were scattered around
the room. A crystal vase held blue flowers in the center of each table. Clear crystals hung above each table, sparkling in the light. White chairs had sapphire blue bows tied around the back of each. Special ceiling lights made it appear as if the floor was covered in sparkles. Taylor smiled and spun around in her ball gown. She had experienced her princess day from her childhood dreams. She walked back to the group and hugged Kellie.

  “It was a magical wedding, and everything went on without a problem,” Kellie smiled.

  “I know. I’m so happy. Everything was so beautiful.” Taylor spun around again.

  “You’re beautiful,” said Hunter his eyes beaming when he looked at her.

  It was time to say goodnight. Drew and Kellie had a suite, and Taylor and Hunter were in the bridal suite. They would be off on a two week honeymoon the following afternoon. The girls hugged again. Drew shook Hunter’s hand and slapped him on the back. He grinned, “Enjoy the honeymoon.” Hunter smiled.

  “Have fun and bring me back a post card,” Kellie said.

  “I will.”

  Kellie looked over her shoulder at the ballroom as she and Drew walked down the hall. “This wedding was wonderful, and I’m so happy for them. I’ll miss them, and with Cole at Andrea’s the house will be quiet. I’m tempted to stay here for the next two weeks.”

  “We could do that, if you’re worried. We could also move or do whatever would make you happy. Pick any place in the world.” He spun around with his arms held out and began to trip until he ran into the wall. He regained his balance, stood with his back against the wall, and spread his arms outward. “Whoa, that was fun. I think the floor has stopped moving.”

  Kellie laughed. Drew had more to drink than she realized. She reached for his hand.

  “A year ago I would have said move, but the mansion has become our home. We were married there, and it’s already full of memories. Most are pleasant memories. I would hate to lose all of that. Let’s see what happens. We can always walk away any time we wish.”