Page 57 of The Women of Wild Hill
“Just don’t build it on Culling Pointe,” Flora joked. “That land has been cursed for nearly four hundred years.”
“CULLING POINTE,” SIBYL REPEATED. “WHEREBessie was hanged.”
“Four hundred years later, a billionaire named Leonard Shaw bought the land and started a sex ring that was abusing and killingyoung women,” Brigid added. “All the houses burned down, and the billionaire died in the fire.”
“Okay, that’s pretty fucking ominous,” Sibyl finally agreed.
“And there it is again,” Phoebe said. “Culling Pointe.” The visions were arriving faster now, as though building to a crescendo.
FLORA AND CALUM WERE WALKINGdown the road that ran alongside Danskammer Beach when a convertible Mercedes pulled up beside them. It was a lovely, clear day, and the Pointe was visible in the distance.
“Calum! I thought that was you!”
The voice had a magical effect on Calum. His posture stiffened and his chest went out. Calum walked up to the car and Flora followed. A man their age sat in the driver’s seat.
“Flora, this is my old partner, James. James Calder, my girlfriend, Flora.”
“Nice to meet you, Flora,” James said. “I knew you’d land on your feet, Geddes.”
Flora smiled awkwardly. Something about the scenario confused her. She stared at Calum as though she didn’t quite recognize him. He was different in the presence of other men.
“I always do. What are you doing out this way?” Calum asked.
“Just bought some property out on the Pointe. You?”
“I’ve been staying with Flora. She owns an estate here called Wild Hill.”
“Oh, I’ve heard of that!” said James. “The one with the old abandoned mansion. In the winter, you can see it from Culling Pointe. It’s gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” said Flora.
“Well, speaking of gorgeous buildings, I’m late to meet with my architect,” James told them. “But I’ll be around this season. Come down and say hi if you’re up for it.”
“Will do,” Calum told him, slapping the car with his palm.
“Listen, I really am glad you’re doing so well,” James said earnestly. “You seem much more mellow. Island life suits you.”
Calum’s face went slack as the man drove away.
“I didn’t expect him to be so friendly,” Flora remarked. “I thought you said he was evil incarnate.”
“He’s very charming,” Calum agreed. “That’s how he wins you over before he screws you.”
“How did he manage to turn all your investors against you? You never told me.”
Calum’s eyes remained focused on the car in the distance. “It’s not a very good story,” he said. Then he looked at her. “Maybe we should hire an architect to come out and look at the mansion? If all the assholes on the Pointe are going to be staring up at us, we should probably give it some TLC.”
“OH SHIT,” SAID SIBYL. “HEwants to fuck with Bessie’s mansion? That’s a bad sign.”
“Oh shit, indeed,” Brigid echoed when the next vision arrived.
She and Phoebe both recognized it as the day the pipe had burst.
That morning, Flora had cycled into Mattauk to run errands. Shortly after, Calum started a load of clothes. As the washing machine filled with water, a hose ruptured. He didn’t catch it until the basement of the caretaker’s cottage had flooded.
Flora couldn’t be reached, so Calum made an executive decision to call a plumber in Mattauk. Once the water had been pumped out of the basement, the repairman went to the cellar to check out the damage. He barely made it down the stairs before he was back up again. The girls had arrived home just in time to see the man rush to his truck.
They remembered Calum running out to the drive as the repairman spun the truck around, sending gravel flying. “Where the hell are you going? What’s happening?” Calum had shouted.
