Author’s Note:
This is a continuation of last Wednesday’s chapter of The Inheritance. To read the first half of this story, click HERE.
Part 1: Susan’s POV
Per Xalen’s instructions, my husband Daniel and I arrived at Douglas Lattimore’s apartment building bright and early the morning after we took the Carmichael case. We were supposed to interview him in order to find out if he knew anything about the evil presence in the house we were investigating.
“I hope if he knows something, he’ll tell us.”
Daniel wrinkled his nose. “I hope we escape this neighborhood before we’re carried away by rats.”
I don’t consider myself a snob, but Daniel had a point.
“Well, let’s see what we can find out.”
The inside of the apartment was nicer than the outside. It was sparsely furnished, yet clean, and tidy.
Daniel made quick introductions.
“Well, why are you bothering me?” Douglas asked, his voice grumpy and his eyes narrowed.
“We were hoping to speak to you about your old family home,” Daniel said.
The old man’s chin raised, and he let out a huff. “Fine, I’ll talk to you. But only if the gorgeous dame sits next to me.” His mouth turned into a wide, toothy grin. “C’mere, sweet thang!”
It was a moment before I realized he was talking about me!
“I beg your pardon,” I gasped.
Daniel stepped in front of me. “Mr. Lattimore, my wife is neither a dame nor your sweet thang.”
“Do you want to talk to me or not?”
Daniel stared at him for an uncomfortable minute, then Douglas huffed his breath out again.
“Fine. Sit down.”
I made a point of sitting as far away from Douglas as possible and let Daniel do the talking. The last thing I needed was this guy grabbing me or something.
“I understand your family built the house.”
Douglas nodded. “I was the last family member to live there. Most of the place was closed up because I couldn’t afford the upkeep. It was falling apart, so heating the place was a real problem.”
“It’s a pretty large house,” Daniel said. “So, you were having money problems-“
“-You see what I eat on? That plastic table back behind me there. I’ve been flat broke for years, and when the taxes went into arrears, they kicked me out lock, stock, and barrel.”
“That must have been horrible for you.”
“Have you ever lived with nothing? It was a shameful situation.” His hard eyes fixed on me, then Daniel before he added, “What is this really about?”
Daniel cleared his throat. “The people who live there now are reporting certain… disturbances.”
“Disturbances, you say?” He rubbed his jaw while Daniel nodded. “Disturbances.”
“Violent disturbances, actually. We only came here to see if you experienced anything similar.”
Daniel pulled out the police photo of Jackie Carmichael.
He peered at the photo with squinted eyes, the fingernails on his shaking hand thick, and yellow. I saw something pass through his eyes that looked very much like guilt.
“Pretty, ain’t she?” he murmured. “How old is she?”
“Sixteen.”
The color drained from his face, and he shoved the picture back into Daniel’s outstretched hand.
“This girl lives there?”
“Yes, and she claims her injuries were perpetrated by some kind of supernatural force.”
Douglas stood up so fast, you would have thought there was a fire beneath his seat. He waved at the door with his cane.
“Get outta my place,” he growled. “Now!”
“Please, just tell us what you know.”
“She will not rest until a Lattimore pays! Now, I’ll thank you kindly to leave and never come back!”
Part 2: Shelly’s POV
I met Helen, Patty, and Jackie Carmichael at the park. Patty said it was the only place Jackie felt safe, and that she didn’t want to return home.
“Are you crazy?” Patty demanded after I asked her to bring the girl to the Lattimore Mansion once again.
“It’s the only way to find out what is going on. We’re trying to figure out why this happened to your daughter as opposed to one of you.”
Helen, her eyes filled with dread, glanced at her wife before speaking. “I feel creeped out sometimes, but neither Patty nor I have ever been hurt there.”
“What does feeling creeped out have to do with a break-in?” Patty asked.
“It wasn’t a break-in! I’m sure it wasn’t!” she said, her eyes filling with tears, her lower lip shaking. “I have never seen a ghost or anything of the kind, okay? But, when I’m in Jackie’s room… or any room alone with Jackie, I feel like the very air around is oppressing. I feel like I can’t breathe.”
“That’s ridiculous! It’s only your imagination running away with you,” Patty said, grinding out each word.
“Whatever is happening,” I said, “I need your full cooperation. I believe Jackie, too, and have seen things in your house.”
“What things?” Patty asked.
“Yesterday, I saw a strange light with a reddish glow around it. Whenever it was present, I felt hatred, and bitterness.” I kept my eyes firm as I regarded her, hoping she would at least entertain the idea I wasn’t making this up. “What I need is for you to return to the house where we have our equipment set up.”
“If this is true, how can you guarantee she will be safe?”
I licked my lips. This was a difficult one to answer honestly. “I can’t guarantee anything. One thing I know is that whatever this energy is, it’s very negative and seems to have attached itself to your daughter. We will do our best to make sure she’s safe, but we’re dealing with the unknown.”
Helen looked at Patty, tears running down her pale cheeks. “What if something happens to her?”
Patty seemed uncertain, yet she turned to me. “How powerful is this… energy?”
“We don’t have a way of measuring it that would make sense to you, but it is substantially strong.”
We spoke for a few more minutes as I outlined the measures we would take to figure this out. The plan was to bring Jackie home, and while the family slept, I would try to contact the apparition, see what it wanted. Once I knew that, perhaps I could help get rid of it.
Once I had their agreement, I only had to get Jackie to agree.
To my surprise, she listened to everything I had to say. Then, the brave girl agreed to go home.
Part 3: Marty’s POV
It was late in the afternoon when Shelly called to let me know she would bring the Carmichael family home for the night. Xalen, Rosetta, and I were discussing the plan (and I say plan loosely because you never know how these things will go), when Susan called to tell me about the research she and Daniel had done after their interview with Douglas.
The three of us huddled while I repeated what Susan told me.
“There was a maid who disappeared in the late eighteen hundreds, not long after they built the mansion.”
“Why do Susan and Daniel think this maid is the energy in the house?” Xalen asked.
All of a sudden, Rosetta’s eyes widened and she gripped the back of a nearby chair. I was worried because she was still as a statue, and I was no longer sure she was breathing.
“Xalen,” I said, moving toward my daughter.
As I was reaching for Rosetta’s arm, Xalen held my arm, stopping me.
“Don’t touch her,” he said.
I wasn’t sure I could stop myself, however, before I could act on my impulse, the color drained from Rosetta’s face, she let her breath out, and stumbled into Xalen’s arms.
“Oh, Father,” she moaned. “It is all so heinous.”
“Steady now,” Xalen murmured as he supported her weight.
I brought a glass of water to her and urged her to drink some. It was a moment before the color came back to her face, and she was strong again.
“What did you see?” Xalen asked.
“The maid was only a child of sixteen when she disappeared. It was if I was looking through her eyes. The master of the house made unwarranted advances. When she spurned him, he flew into a rage and strangled her to death.”
“Oh, my,” I said.
“She is entombed in the house.”
“Do you know where?” I asked.
Xalen grimaced. “Let me guess. Somewhere on the second floor in or near Jackie’s bedroom.”
“Uh… eww,” Owen said as he joined us. “So, is that what we’re looking for? Her bones in the walls or something?”
Xalen’s smile was patient. “You think she might go away if we give her a proper burial?”
He shrugged. “I dunno. I mean, isn’t that what ghosts usually want?”
“We don’t know what this one wants,” I said. “She hasn’t told us.”
The second-floor hall had been the place Shelly thought right for the apparition to make an appearance. Our equipment was mostly focused in that area. Owen’s job was done, so he would be leaving. Susan and Daniel were already on another case, and Rosetta had a political event to attend.
Tonight, it would be Xalen and I standing watch, while Shelly tried to make contact. Hopefully, having Jackie’s presence in the house would be enough to draw the specter out into the open.
Part 4: The Conclusion (Marty’s POV, con’t.)
The family was sleeping peacefully, and Shelly was sitting in the hall, trying to make contact, so I wandered downstairs to stretch my legs. I wasn’t gone long when I heard screaming from upstairs.
As I sprinted up the stairs, and around the corner of the railing, Helen and Patty were coming out of their room. The hall was bathed in red, as if the walls themselves were bleeding.
“Stay back!” I yelled.
As I reached my husband, he held a hand up for me to stand back as well without even glancing in my direction.
Following his gaze, I saw Jackie standing in front of a swirl of black smoke, her body glowing an orange-red.
“Is she dying?” I gasped, trying to keep my voice low as dread filled my heart. I longed to lunge forward and yank the girl away from what held her attention, but I was afraid that would kill her for sure.
“She’s fading,” Xalen answered.
“I’m trying to stop it from killing her!” Shelly said. Then, she held her arms up, over her head, yelling, “Show yourself!”
Before our eyes, the black cloud of smoke swirled, slowly outlining the form of a young girl Jackie’s age. She glowed green and red. I was certain this was the missing maid who was murdered so long ago.
“What do you want?” Shelly shouted as a wind began to swirl, emanating from the apparition. “Tell me what you want!”
I clutched my hands together in front of me, praying Jackie would survive this encounter and be all right.
The ghoul’s mouth opened in a scream. Her voice was hollow and so shrill, I thought my eardrums would shatter. “Recompense! I demand recompense!”
“And what will you accept as compensation? What is your price?” Shelly yelled as the wind whipped around her body, twisting her clothing and hair.
The ghost’s attention turned, and it appeared she was gazing past Shelly at someone else. It was then I realized someone else had joined us.
It was Douglas Lattimore, leaning on his cane, peering into her eyes, his own wide as saucers.
“Mr. Lattimore!” Xalen called. “Stay away from her!”
“Take me,” he said to the ghostly maid. “I will pay for what my ancestor did to you!”
Xalen tried to grab Douglas by the arm, but instead, Douglas shoved Jackie toward him. As soon as Xalen grasped Jackie’s arm, she seemed to come out of her trance, collapsing into his arms. She was no longer glowing, but looked like a normal girl.
Xalen carried her to Helen and Patty who took her in their arms, then, he returned to us.
“You don’t have to sacrifice yourself,” Shelly said. “There has to be another way!”
Douglas shook his head, stepping closer to the beckoning hand of the ghost. Tears filled his eyes.
“No, there is no other way. I’ve always known it would come to this. Every Lattimore heir has avoided it, but I am the last Lattimore. It must be me. I lived a long life, knowing she was here and what she demanded.” He took another step forward. “This is the only way.”
As soon as he took her hand, a long howl erupted from his mouth, his body seeming to change immediately. Instead of the old, hunched over man with a cane, he was now a ghostly vision, glowing orange as Jackie had only moments before.
The wind began to die down. The black smoke returned, swirling now without the harsh gale.
Then, they both disappeared as if they’d not been there at all.
The moms had taken Jackie to another room. For a long moment, Xalen, Shelly, and I stood frozen in the hallway.
“I wish the ghost-maid could have been appeased another way,” I finally said.
Shelly let out her breath as Xalen said, “It would have been better another way. But Jackie is our first concern. She is a young girl, and she is safe now.”
The corners of Shelly’s mouth turned up in a small smile. “He’s not as unhappy as it would seem.”
“Oh?” Xalen asked, his right brow rising.
“He not only assuaged the murdered maid, he is young again. A weight is lifted from both of them, and they’re happy now.”
The End, Case 2 of The Inheritance
Notes
I hope you enjoyed this case of The Inheritance! Stay tuned Saturday for the next chapter of Noble Doubt!
Thank you for reading, liking, commenting, and lurking,
What a final ! So much stressful to everybody !
Thank you. At least it’s over. 😀
I did like it. 🙂 Even though Douglass made the sacrifice, at least he’s happy now in the afterlife.
Oh, I know. 🙁 My supernatural heart is crying. Sadly, it only the darker side that people see or remember, and the freakut factor can last a lifetime. I guess Holden would know something about that. Rosetta kinda surprised me though – but then again, she’s a lot younger here and not as seasoned. We know what she’s capable of but here, she was wigged out over this particular crime. Sometimes being jaded and hardened can really be dangerous.
Douglass did the right thing. And, I think he knew it would always come to something like this.
You’re right about the freakout, and Holden’s reaction. He faced that monster when he was a pretty small child, and he never got over it. I can see why Rosetta surprised you here, but like you said, she wasn’t seasoned yet. Later, she is capable of much worse herself.
It was kind of sad, but definitely a fitting ending. It just goes to show how restless those ghosts can be and that they won’t rest until what was wrong is finally put right. I wonder how much of this Jackie will remember or even care to remember. Sadly, she was exposed to the darker side of the supernatural and probably doesn’t realize that there is a lot of good in it too. That makes my supernatural heart feel quite sad.
Awesome story and can’t wait for more.
Thank you. 🙂 I’m glad you thought the ending was fitting. That’s a good question about Jackie and what she might remember. I’m sorry your supernatural heart is saddened that Jackie was exposed to only that side of it.
I’m so glad you liked it, though. 🙂
So Mr. Lattimore was being serious when he said she wouldn’t rest until a Lattimore pays. It just sounded like a rant when I he said that.
I love how everything looks during that haunting scene. The red lighting and the ghosts. It’s great!
Maybe Mr. Lattimore has found happiness because he’s at peace now. He was haunted by her all his life, so he couldn’t really live.
Thank you, Heather. You are right about Mr. Lattimore, and how he never really lived a life of his own. I think he always suspected it would come to this.
I’m glad you love how it looked during the haunting scene! I worked hard on it, but sometimes, even when I work hard, it still isn’t exactly what I imagine. So I’m glad you liked it. 😀
Mr. Lattimer did the only thing he could think of. I’m a little surprised that the ghost accepted him in lieu of the younger girl, but it’s probably for the best that way.
Thank you, Violincat 🙂 I think you’re right about Mr. L. I can see why you were kind of surprised by that. Perhaps the ghost accepted his offering because he was a blood descendant of the one who killed her. Mr. L. felt it was the only solution.
I enjoyed your work today and I hope you are enjoying the days of Summer.
Thank you so much, John. I appreciate your kind words. Summer is going well, but its been very rainy. I hope your summer is going well.
OH what a wonderful ending .. happily ever after in the everafter
Thank you so much, Lisa 🙂 I’m glad you liked how it turned out. 😀
It was quite a surprise!
YAY! 🙂
Whoa, that was so unexpected and cool! I didn’t expect mr Lattimer to step up and sacrifice himself, that’s for sure!
On another note, I loved seeing Susan again! <3
Thank you 🙂 I’m glad you thought it was cool. 😀
I love Susan sooo much! She is always a welcome sight. ❤
Yikes, the maid was only 16 when the master of the house strangled her to death? Poor, poor girl. I love the red glow you gave the house and the ghostly imagery, and a fantastic conclusion to the case! xx
Thank you, Caz 🙂 Yes, the poor dear. I’m so glad you liked the red glow in the house. And, the ghostly imagery, too. I had so much fun setting this up.
“C’mere, sweet thang!” LOL
Daniel stepped in front of me. “Mr. Lattimore, my wife is neither a dame nor your sweet thang.”
(long sigh) Oh, Daniel… 😀
Rosetta and those darn political events LOL. If she knew what was good for her, she’ll stay with her parents LOL.
How are they both happy now? He’s dead young or not LOL. Oh well. I’m glad Jackie is safe now.
Thank you, Jess 😀 LO Sweet Thang! 😀 Daniel, Daniel, Daniel…. lol
I wish Rosetta would listen to you, but she only thinks she is ever right, so, oh well. lol
You make a good point about happiness. Like you said, at least Jackie is safe.
Wow. This was unexpected and yet makes perfect sense. I wish there could have been another solution, but understand why Mr. Lattimore made the choice he did. Another wonderful story, Kymber!
Thank you, Addy! 😀 I’m so glad you liked it. Xalen would definitely have loved a different ending, but Mr. Lattimore made the decision.
Wow! The hair on my arms is standing up. Good job!!
Thank you so much, Jolie 🙂 I’m glad you liked this 😀
Kymber brought on her sass! A much needed satisfactory ending, even if he had to pay for something he didn’t have a hand in.
Thank you, Bee! LOL 😀 I was throwing around the idea of do our ancestors have to pay for the sins of the past? That kind of thing. 😀
That ending is unexpected! I love how creative and involved you are with each character arc.
Thank you so much, Gayathri 🙂 I appreciate your kind words.
I’m shocked he decided to come help….but maybe Shelly was right, he’s no longer and old shriveled up man and is happy.
Thank you, Audrey. 🙂 I feel like I didn’t convey that well. My thought was that Douglas always knew only a Lattimore could satisfy the ghost, and he felt guilty about Jackie being targeted. 😀
Well he knew, but seemed like he was hell bent against it! Lol…
Right? Ugh. LOLOLOL 😀
Oh, I didn’t expect it. Nicely planned 🙂
Thank you, Jowita. 🙂
This was a cool conclusion to the story. I didn’t expect for Mr. Lattimer to sacrifice himself like that, but it was a good ending for all involved. It was a great little story, Kym. 🙂
Thank you, Louise 🙂 I’m glad you liked it. I wish I’d written that a bit better. My thought was that Douglas helped because he felt bad for Jackie being attacked by the spirit he knew was in the house. He also knew the spirit of the maid could only be satisfied by taking the life of a Lattimore.