Page 21 of Air Of Mystery
I nodded. “Frank, the dishwasher I interviewed earlier, told me there’s an odor in the cellar they can’t get rid of no matter what they do.”
“Yeah well…” George sighed. “It felt like someone was watching me the entire time I was down there. I could hear whispers too.”
“Could you make out what they said?” I asked.
“No.” George shook his head. “But the voice or voices were high pitched like a female or a child.”
“That too coordinates with what the employees told me about their own experiences,” I said.
Larry lowered the camera. “That’s a good place to cut,” he said.
Nodding in agreement, I stood. “Let’s get started and see what else we can find.”
George glanced over at his box of pie. “I’d appreciate it if that pie was waiting for me when I get finished,” he announced.
“Hey, man.” Larry frowned at him. “I’m not gonna eat your pie. Relax.”
“I wasn’t speaking to you,” George said. “I was talking to the grandmother who is listening and watching us all right now.”
A second later there was a loud thump from the dining room.
“Hello, ma’am,” George called out.
“And we’re off.” I grinned at my team. “Let’s get to work.”
It had been a long time since we’d investigated such a fun, active location. And I do meanfun. The spirits in that house were happy to show off—and were almost playful. Audible footsteps, many EVPs were caught on my digital recorder and atone point when I ducked into the ladies’ room, the water in the sink came on by itself.
It made me jump and start to laugh. It was a classic water tap, not a motion sensor one, and I discovered that you really had to pull hard on the handle to get the water to turn off, or back on. Of course I didn’t have my camera with me, as I’d been about to use the toilet, but it was a hilarious personal anecdote to add to the investigation.
Around quarter to five in the morning, I stepped outside to take a breather. George and Larry were starting to break everything down, and I wanted a moment or two to myself to go over the night’s investigation. Tugging my jacket over the yellow-gold sleeveless top I was wearing, I walked over to a square of lawn at the side of the building.
Taking a deep cleansing breath, I allowed any residual energy from the house to slide off me. I imagined it rolling down my jean-covered legs and over my dark tennis shoes, where it could be absorbed by the earth. Tipping my head back, I gazed up at the stars. It was crisp and cool, and Main Street was silent in the darkness of pre-dawn. The full moon was still visible and sliding toward the west.
I was bone tired, but the night had been great, leaving me in that half giddy, half wired zone that accompanied an all-night investigation. Tugging my recorder from my jacket pocket, I recorded my overall impressions of the haunting while everything was fresh in my mind. I was finishing up my report when I heard footsteps. For a second, I wondered if there was another spirit outside, then I realized that it could very well be someone out jogging or walking before sunrise.
I saw the silhouette of a man moving toward me. He was big and I immediately clicked the recorder off and started back forthe entrance and the lit portico of the restaurant. While I wasn’t afraid for my safety, I wasn’t stupid either.
The man paused. “Skye?”
I recognized that voice and belatedly the silhouette. “Charlie?” My jaw dropped. “What in the hell are you doing here at my paranormal investigation?”
“Investigation?” he asked, walking closer. Now he was close enough that I could see he was wearing a dark T-shirt and jeans—which of course looked incredible on him. Thanks to the light in the portico, I could also enjoy not only his physique, but also his suspicious scowl.
I hooked a thumb over my shoulder. “Yes. My team and I were called in to investigate a haunting.”
His eyes slid from the building and back to me. “Of courseyouwere.”
His slightly snide tone put my back up. “Well, this has been delightful,” I said, reaching for the doorknob, “but if you’ll excuse me.”
“Hey.” He reached out and took ahold of my arm. “Don’t go disappearing again. I want to talk to you.”
“Well, I’m busy at the moment,” I said.
Behind me the door opened, and George dropped a protective hand on my shoulder. “Everything okay out here, Skye?”
“Peachy keen, jellybean,” I said, forcing cheer into my voice.
Charlie immediately let go of my arm. “I’d very much like to speak to you, Skye,” he said again. “Whenever it’s convenient for you.”
