Author’s Note: this is just a little reminder that the characters in this spin-off story do not age as they would normally in Noble Doubt. In The Inheritance, the characters are frozen in time, if you will. When Xalen or Marty appear in Noble Doubt, they are the ages they normally would be.
What is The Inheritance about?
The Inheritance is a secret society that fights evil in the world. They collect cursed relics and antiques under the guise of the philanthropic company, The Neptune Foundation.
This is an ages old society with bases all over the world and other companies as fronts.
*Regular Characters:
Shelley Bingham
Owen Rogers
Daniel Knight
Susan Larochette-Knight
Dr. Marty Larochette-Sprague
Dr. Xalen Sprague
Rosetta Sprague
*Some or all of these characters may be involved in the current case. Now, on with the story…
The Ridley mansion was a gothic hulk of a structure as close to the cliff’s edge as any man dared to build it. This was Marty’s first visit to the house, although, Xalen and part of the team had studied the paranormal here a few times before. It was said to be the most haunted house in the free world. From the stories she’d heard about creepy ghosts and eerie sounds, and looking at the house now, she tended to believe the rumors.
The foyer was well lit as they came inside but no less daunting than the outside had been. Marty couldn’t believe how large everything was… the statues seemed almost real and the spooky vibe was worse inside than it had been a moment ago outdoors.
“Ah, hello, Mr. Ridley,” Xalen said as an old man greeted them with handshakes. Xalen introduced the team even though Mr. Ridley probably wouldn’t remember all of their names anyway.
Marty smiled first at Mr. Ridley, then to the young lady standing by his side.
“Hello,” Marty said to the young woman.
“How do you do?” the woman said. “I’m Clara.”
Xalen watched his wife with a strange expression on his face before turning back to Mr. Ridley. “I understand you have called us back to investigate another incident?”
“Let’s move into a more comfortable room where we can discuss what has been happening,” Mr. Ridley suggested.
Xalen quickly gave instructions to his team. The first step would be to find any logical reason whatsoever that could cause the alleged paranormal experience. The team would check the electrical and plumbing throughout the house, including the heating unit and ductwork. They would also look for evidence of small animals.
This had been done on previous visits with nothing to explain the paranormal except, well, the paranormal.
After they were seated in the large parlor, Mr. Ridley began speaking. “I don’t know why spirits love this house so much. I’ve developed quite an aversion to the place because of recent events.”
“What is it that is happening now?” Xalen asked.
Mr. Ridley dabbed at his moistened eyes with a monogrammed handkerchief, then stared down into his lap for a moment. “I think my late wife is haunting me,” he finally said.
“What makes you feel this way?”
“This … ghost? No, presence… I often smell her perfume. It’s as if she wants me to know it’s her. When I go to the room she once occupied, I see the indentation of a body on top of her bed. It’s rather unnerving.”
“What else?”
Once again, he hesitated in order to find the right words. “Well, after she died, everything remained just as she left it. But recently, I began to rid myself of things to diminish the clutter. She died more than twenty years ago, so why shouldn’t I remove her things? I don’t miss her any less and frankly, all of this time, looking at her belongings, well, it’s made grieving for her that much harder.”
“Do you find objects that once belonged to her are not where you left them then?” Xalen asked.
“Yes, that is where I was leading. Many of her old things are packed away now but then, I will find little items my wife once treasured back where they were. Her silver hairbrush, for instance.”
“You don’t just pack things away, it’s rude,” Clara said.
Marty hid a smile behind the back of her hand. “She’s been gone for so long, why wouldn’t her things eventually be packed away?”
“Exactly,” Mr. Ridley said.
Clara let her breath out in a huff. “Because Mrs. Ridley likes her things where they belong, that’s why.”
“So, you believe the occurrences began when you started packing Mrs. Ridley’s things away?” Xalen asked.
“Hmmm… Not exactly. It wasn’t until I invited my attorney over and expressed an interest in selling this place.”
“Yes, yes, that’s when it began all right. Mrs. Ridley wants this house to stay in the family,” Clara said. “She doesn’t cotton to the idea of strangers living here.”
“This does seem like a lot of house for one person,” Xalen said.
The old man scoffed. “It’s a lot of house for anyone. I hope they tear it down and build condos or something.”
Xalen and Marty were quiet until they reached the safety of the room they would be staying in. Once there, it was Xalen who spoke first.
“I have not sensed Mrs. Ridley’s presence at all.”
Frowning, Marty nodded her head. “I haven’t either. I don’t understand it because he’s so sure she is haunting him and that it’s attached to this house and her belongings.”
“Shelly is going through some of the boxes so she can touch and feel Mrs. Ridley’s property. Hopefully, she will be able to tell us more before long.”
“Do you think having the entire team here is a good idea?” Marty asked.
“Whether it is a good idea or not, we need them. We cannot cover this entire house without them. It is just too large.”
“That’s what I thought. You know, it may make things worse with so many strangers traipsing around.”
“That’s a chance we will have to take. The team will save us a lot of time.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
As Marty began pulling their clothes out of their suitcases and putting them away, Xalen answered his cellphone.
“It looks as if we have ourselves a haunting,” Xalen said after hanging up. “Daniel and the rest of the team have determined there is no natural cause for the disturbances.”
“That’s not surprising,” Rosetta said after knocking on their door and entering.
“Perhaps you sensed Mrs. Ridley lurking about the house?” Xalen asked.
“Not Mrs. Ridley, no.”
“But you did sense something?” Marty asked.
“Yes. There is a woman present who loved Mrs. Ridley a great deal. She seems to be the unhappy party here.”
“Interesting,” Xalen said.
“Was she employed by the Ridleys?” Marty asked.
“I will have to figure that out, I suppose. I’m afraid I don’t know any more than what I’ve told you.”
Marty wasn’t sure, but she felt Rosetta was on to something. With any luck, they’d be able to put this spirit, or whatever it was, to rest without anyone getting hurt.
The Ridley Case will continue on June 27th. Thank you for reading and I’ll see you then!
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OHHH fun!
Thank you, Lisa! 🙂
Finally getting around to reading this! I’m so excited it’s here and today is my lucky day because part 2 was just posted! I’ve been in too much of a punk to read and I recently deleted my wordpress, but I’m here and I’m excited to see who this mysterious ghost is. 😮
Hi, Rosie! Thank you! 🙂 I’m glad you’re excited and now you get to read the two parts together. 😀 You deleted your WP? Oh no… that makes me sad but I’m glad you’re still around.
Yeah, but I’m still writing! Just not on WordPress. Only on Facebook now. I could never stop reading my fav stories, though. Although, for a while, I was finding it hard to sit down and read or write. I’m getting back to it, though. I got a lot to catch up with! 😉
I’m glad you are still writing! I love your stories. 🙂 Sometimes, I burn out on reading, too. But it sounds like you’re getting back into the swing of things. I’m so glad. <3
Mrs Ridley or not Mrs Ridley? This is the question. Anyways this woman Rosetta felt is a person very close to Mrs Ridley, a ghost family case? ahaha it’ll be great.
Thank you 🙂 I’m so glad you liked the chapter! 😀 It does look like it’s going to be a ghost case.
Clara is looking pretty suspicious right now. I’m excited to see where this goes 😀
Thank you, Heather! That is an interesting observation. 😀 The next entry in this story focuses on Clara. 😀
I suspect Clara has been moving things out of boxes and such to try and dissuade him from selling the house. But I’ll wait and see in part two!
Thank you. 🙂 That’s a really good theory. 😀 I hope you will like part 2! 😀
Can’t wait for part 2! A haunted house story is always intriguing.
Thank you. 🙂 Whenever I’m in the mood to watch a horror movie, haunted house movies are what I really want to see. lol
This is a great idea! I just love to read more about Marty, and Rosetta!
That’s awesome! Thank you so much. I’ve really been looking forward to writing this story. 😀
I love this already! I think Rosetta makes a great addition to the team as she reminds me so much of Xalen. I’m terrible at solving mysteries, but I really enjoy reading them. It will be interesting to see what happens next! 🙂
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you are enjoying this already. You’re so right about Rosetta and how she is a lot like Xalen. I’m so glad you’re along for the ride!
I have been looking forward to The Inheritance since you first told us about it. And the first chapter was so exciting. Let the mystery begin!!! 🙂
Woot woot! Let’s go! 😀 Thank you so much for your enthusiasm. I’m pretty excited, too. 😀
Oooh this is exciting! I’m guessing Rosetta is talking about Clara. That woman was rather quick to say the reasons why things were moving around, and I think it would be pretty easy to dupe old Mr. Ridley. Can’t wait to see what happens next 🙂
Thank you so much, Lila! You just might be right about Clara. She did seem to jump on things right from the beginning.
I have a theory… can’t wait to see where it leads and if I’m right! 😀
Thank you! That is awesome! I can’t wait to see if you’re right! 😀
Cool, I like where this is going.
Thank you, Jolie 😀 I’m so glad you like it.
Interesting! I do love a good haunting!;)
Me, too! Thank you so much 😀
Ooooh, I think I have this one figured out partially already! lol
You do? That is so cool! I bet you are right! 😀
I hope so! I’m usually terrible at mysteries lol.
You seem pretty perceptive, though, when it comes to my story. 😀
Well, it seems that Rosetta is a natural at this! This is getting very exciting 😀 Can’t wait to see where it goes!
Thank you so much. 🙂 I think Rosetta fits into the team seamlessly. I am so glad you like it.
Yay! I love all things paranormal! I guess it’s too obvious to blame Clara for the moved objects, but she seems very adamant about not packing them away or selling the house! Can’t wait for the next chapter. I’m glad you are doing this side story, and I think it will help give the family cohesion while we follow our heir trying to catch his dream. =)
Thank you, Marj! I love the paranormal, too. Clara does seem pretty adamant, doesn’t she? Hopefully, the next chapter will bring what’s happening into a clearer view.
I’m so happy to see this series !
Thank you! I’m really geeked to be writing it. 😀
This is going to be so much fun! I hope you do a lot of these. I want to see further into your imagination! LOL
LOL Thank you, Bee! 🙂 I’m glad you liked this and how it is beginning! I’m not sure you reallllly want to see my imagination. LOLOL
Wow, this is so exciting. I wonder who the woman Rosetta talked about is. It’s a delight we’ll be getting so many new posts from you now, Kym! Aka Rosie 🙂
LOL Thank you, Jowita. 😀 I’m glad you liked this post. I have been posting more, this is true. Hopefully, I can keep it up. LOL
Yaaay, I’m so excited to be reading this 😀 It already seems like an interesting case. I can’t wait to read more! 🙂
Thank you so much, Louise! I can’t wait to continue, too! 😀 I hope you will like where this case goes. 😀