No Place Like Home Ch 13

The weather had warmed up considerably and Rose only had a few more days left before she would have to return to work.  Looking for something out of the ordinary to do, she decided to head back out to the house in the woods.  Not wanting to go alone and certain she would be staying for a while, she grabbed Sturgis, a turkey sandwich  and a bottle of water.  Sturgis was excited to get out of the house and jumped into the van so fast Rose broke out into laughter.  She was getting ready to turn onto sixth street when she saw Charlie coming her direction so she stopped. Rolled down the window and honked her horn.  Charlie pulled his beat up white Chevy  so close to Rose’s van he almost hit it.  1

“Watch out!” she yelled.2

“I know what I‘m doing.” he replied with a smirk.  Rose thought she saw him deriving a bit of pleasure at her expense and she wasn’t sure if she found it sexy or annoying.  Charlie was turning out to be a lot different then the shy repressed tree hugger she had known and she wondered how much of that was a result of him being able to speak fluidly.3

“Where are you going?” Charlie asked.4

“Out to that abandoned house on David’s property. Why?”5

“You can’t go out there by yourself, what if he catches you.   Remember when he nearly shot you because you set off the burglar alarm?  Guy’s like him probably don‘t think twice about shooting at trespassers.”6

“Well, if you’re that worried about it, why don’t you come with me?7

“You’re impossible!” Charlie said, running his fingers through his long receding hair and resting his elbow on the steering wheel.  After a few seconds of contemplation he replied. “Hold on let me park.”8

Rose, Charlie and Sturgis were headed toward Meriden, but Rose decided to continue on instead of taking K-4 highway.9

“Why didn’t you turn there?” Charlie asked. “It’s a lot quicker and you don’t have to travel as much gravel.”10

“I know,” Rose replied, “but every time I’m on that road something out of the ordinary happens and I almost wind up getting in an accident..  For instance, one time a farmer was burning his field and the smoke completely obstructed my view, another time I almost hit a deer, and the last time I was on K-4, I got a flat tire and almost rolled Gypsy into a ditch.”11

“Flat tire, deer, and a farmer burning his field. Sounds pretty out of the ordinary to me.” Charlie said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.12

“I think liked it better when you didn’t talk much!” Rose replied.13

Charlie just chuckled and patted Sturgis on the head.  Sturgis reached up and gave him a big kiss on the lips.  “At least someone likes me!” Charlie replied.14

“Whatever!” Rose said and turned up the radio.  She had her station set to the local rock station, 99.3 K-Rock, as Metallica belted out ‘Sad but True’.  She looked over and saw Charlie take off his glasses.  He immediately put up two fingers on his left hand and began banging his head.  Trying desperately to stifle a laugh, Rose decided she couldn’t stay annoyed with a guy who was as weird as she was.15

When they arrived at the abandoned house, Charlie got out and looked around.  16

“I don’t even see how you ever found this place.  I bet after the leaves start growing back on the trees it will be completely hidden.”17

“It’s more than just an old house, Charlie. This place is weird.  I always feel so strange when I’m here.  I think it has ghosts or something.”18

“Why, have you seen one?”19

“No, but I have had a couple strange dreams, and Sturgis acts funny…barking at the air and stuff.” Rose replied. 20

“So you’ve had a couple of strange dreams while you were sleeping, and sometimes your dog barks…You’re right that is scary!”21

She detected another hint of sarcasm in his voice, but chose to ignore it.22

“Listen to me!  I am serious!.  Places have feelings, just like people.  You’ve never noticed?” Charlie shook  his head and Rose continued…23

“When I was in the first grade my teacher took the whole class to Lecompton, to learn about the civil war.  We were all standing inside of the foundation of what had once been an old stone house and I got a horrible feeling.  The teacher told us that the place we were standing on had once been a suspected meeting place for pro-slavers and that John Brown had massacred two young boys there in front of their mother.  You can tell me I‘m crazy, but that place had a bad vibe.  After that I was always careful to pay close attention to the feelings that surrounded me and I like to think I‘m pretty in tune with what‘s going on.”24

Charlie could tell that Rose was serious and decided to stop picking on her.  Instead he changed the subject.  “Weren’t you talking about John Brown country the other day?”  Something to do with Gilbert's Aunt?  If you want, I can take you to Paola in the truck.  It gets a lot better gas mileage.”25

Rose nodded and proceeded to remove crime scene tape from the front door.26

“Are you sure you should be doing that?” Charlie asked.27

“Why not?” Rose replied. “They already caught Shandrea, it’s not like they are going to do anymore investigating.”28

She opened the front door and surveyed the living room.  The place seemed empty, and cluttered.  Furniture was overturned and books and papers were everywhere.  There was a fine layer of fingerprint dust on everything.  Charlie helped Rose turnover the couch and they sat down.29

“Just being in this house gives me butterflies Charlie! “Can’t you feel that?”30

Charlie just raised his eyebrows and shook his head. “These give me butterflies,” he said, taking a paper butterfly that was hanging from the ceiling and spinning it in a circle with his finger.  Just looks like an old dump from the 1970’s to me.  Look at this furniture and those light fixtures.  They’re almost as old as you are, but I guess when I picture a haunted house, this is not what comes to my mind.  In fact it seems more like a squatter’s pad or a fishing cabin.  Did you say Gilbert and his mother used to live here?”31

“Yes, I’m pretty sure.  David told me that he used it as a guest house, but he never had any guests and in my opinion it isn’t exactly fit for company.  32

“Come look in here.” Rose said and led him down the hall.  They were still exploring when they heard Sturgis bark.33

“Someone’s here!” Charlie said and grabbed Rose by the arm, trying to pull her behind the bed.  34

“Nobody’s here...” Rose said, “and anyway I locked the front door.  That’s just Sturgis acting strange…like I told you!”35

They walked out into the living room where Sturgis sat there wagging his tail and barking at the air.  “You’re right, that’s a little odd.” Charlie agreed, but it doesn’t make this place haunted.”  36

Meanwhile, less than a quarter mile away, David sat in his home office talking on the phone to Bill Hecht.37

“What are the chances of her getting out on bail?” David asked.38

“It’s looking pretty good, so far.  Because of the nature of her crime though, she will have to be monitored by an electronic bracelet, and her bail will likely be very high. Do you still want me representing her?”39

“Yes, David replied, but try and do something about the ankle bracelet.  That gets in the way of my plan.” 40

“Well, whatever your plan is, I don’t want to hear about it.  That way if I have to testify or am asked to take a lie detector, I won’t get caught in the middle.  You asked me to get her out of jail, and that is my plan.  I expect I’m going to be well compensated?”41

“Yes, you will,”  David said. “Yes You will”42

After getting off the phone with his lawyer, David grabbed a bottle of Wild Turkey and sat on his back porch enjoying the unseasonably warm day.  The southern wind and cool drink were almost putting him into a coma as he overlooked his property.  Staring out over the pasture something caught his eye. He couldn’t tell for sure, but he thought it looked like a vehicle and he wondered who was trespassing on his land.  Suddenly awakened by a surge of adrenaline, he ran inside, grabbed his jacket and his pistol and began walking toward the woods. 43