She patted him on the arm. “Go back to sleep. I need to try to write.”
* * * *
Pog followed Matt downstairs later. When the rain let up for a few minutes, Matt took him outside for a quick walk. Sami sat at the dining room table, where she could see Steve on the couch and Matt in a chair. Matt had his laptop perched on his knees, his feet on the coffee table.
Pog sat at her feet and whined.
“I fed you dinner. Go lay down.”
Sami slipped her headphones on, and found her playlist of music she called her “writing music.” A variety of different classical and instrumental pieces she could enjoy and tune out at the same time. They helped her focus.
After realizing he wasn’t getting anywhere, Pog finally returned to the living room where he tried the same act with Matt. She couldn’t hear what Matt said, but she watched him shake his head at the dog and point to the kitchen. The dog looked, but didn’t move. Finally, Pog curled up on the window seat.
Matt eventually went upstairs, Pog at his heels. He waved at her and mouthed, “Good night.” She nodded, waved, and continued working. Steve watched TV on the couch.
Sami worked for another hour, until she started yawning. It was after eleven, and she slipped her headphones off. Steve wasn’t on the couch. She shut down the computer, her heart racing.
She walked into the living room. “Steve?”
“In here,” he said from the kitchen. She found him staring into the fridge.
“What are you doing up?” she asked, more than a little relieved.
“I’m hungry.”
“Then why didn’t you ask me to get you something?”
“I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Damn him, now he was trying to be courteous. Her voice softened. “I’ll make it, and you’re due for medicine. Tell me what you want to eat.”
“Sami, I don’t want to—”
“Steve, I’m done working. It’s okay. Take the offer while it’s still good.”
He finally smiled and sat. “Scrambled eggs?”
She handed him his pills. “One or two?”
“Two.”
She moved Pog’s food dish away from the stove so she wouldn’t trip and spill it. Steve must have put more food down for him because it was full. No wonder the Lab was getting fat.
It only took her a minute to fix his eggs, and she sat while he ate.
“What time is your friend coming tomorrow?” he asked.
“Ten. Julie Prescott. I wouldn’t call her a friend, I barely know her.”
“Sorry.” He grinned. “Matt’s friend?”
Sami hoped the lie sounded good enough. “Wanna-be friend, at the very least.” She watched Steve’s face. The lie must have passed.
“Why does that name sound familiar?”
Might as well start with the truth. “She’s the great-granddaughter of Tom and Mary Prescott. He’s the one who molested and killed his daughter, they lived here in the house.”
“Oh. Good grief. Hell of a family history.”
Sami nodded. “Would you like me to leave the information out for you to look at?”
He shrugged. “Sure. I’ve slept so much today, I don’t know how well I’ll sleep tonight.”
“I’ll leave it on the coffee table.” She washed his dishes, putting them in the drainer. When she turned, Steve stood right behind her, startling her. He hadn’t made a sound.
“Sami, I wanted to say how sorry I am.” He took a step forward. She took a step back, until the counter pressed against her hips.
He put a hand on the counter on either side of her. “I promise, it’s all going to change, I’m going to change. It’s going to get better.”
“Steve, we don’t need to talk about this now.” She felt seriously creeped out and didn’t want him that close. “It’s late, and you need your rest.”
She was afraid he would try to kiss her, but he stood back, letting her pass. She left the folder on the table for him. Maybe he would start putting it together for himself.
“Good night,” he said.
She forced herself to lean over and kiss him on the forehead. “Good night.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
The aroma of coffee roused her. Julie would arrive in a couple of hours, and Sami needed to get some things done. The morning had dawned thickly overcast but at least it wasn’t raining yet. She dressed and went downstairs.
Steve sat at the kitchen table, eating a bowl of oatmeal and looking through the contents of the folder. “Morning, sweetheart.”
She forced a smile and kissed the top of his head. “How did you sleep?”
“Off and on. I watched the Weather Channel. You were right. It’ll hit north of us but won’t strengthen. We’ll get a lot of rain.”
She poured her coffee. “We need it.” She took a sip. “This is good, thank you.”
He smiled. “Want some oatmeal?”
“I’ll do it. You sit. Did you take your pills already?”
He nodded. “Down the hatch.”
He certainly seemed chipper. Sami tried to forget the creepiness she felt the evening before. Matt must still be asleep, but she didn’t ask about him, not wanting to make Steve suspicious.
“Where’s Pog?” His bowl full of food sat on the floor by the stove.
“He must be up with Matt,” Steve said. “I haven’t seen him.”
She sat across from Steve and indicated the folder. “What do you think?”
He grinned. “I’m wishing I hadn’t let you call dibs on the story. It’s horrible but it’s a hell of a good tale. What’ll you do with it?”
“Mix fact and fiction. A supernatural story, possessed house, all that.”
“Can’t wait to read it. What will Julie be doing?”
Sami hedged. “I’m not totally sure. I told her what I had in mind for my book, and she said she’d show me a bunch of things I can use.” Perfect opening. “Would you mind helping out, if you feel up to it?”
“If it’ll help with your story, I don’t mind. It’s the least I can do.” He winked. “Maybe if everything goes well, I’ll be Matt’s best man.”
She forced a smile. “Yeah.”
* * * *
The aroma of coffee eventually pulled Matt downstairs. He let Pog out the front door, waited on him, then called him back. The Lab returned to the window seat.
“Morning,” Matt said, going for the coffee. “Is the rain done or coming back?”
“Coming back,” Steve said. “Supposed to storm, but we’ll miss the worst of the wind. Sami was right. I’m sorry I made you guys get all that stuff.”
Matt pulled out a chair. “No problem. Wasn’t my credit card.”
Steve grinned. “Thanks a lot, buddy.”
“Hey, any time I get to spend someone else’s money on tools, that’s a good thing.” He saw the folder, glanced at Sami, then back to the papers.
“What’s that?” Matt asked, as if he hadn’t seen it before.
Steve kept the paper he was reading and pushed the folder over to Matt. “The house’s history. Maybe your girlfriend can get rid of the spirits.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.” His eyes flicked in Sami’s direction.
“Ah, Sami, listen to that. Methinks he doth protest too much.”
“I’ll protest upside your head in a minute, fucking ball buster.”
Steve laughed, enjoying his friend’s discomfort. “I promise I’ll behave when she gets here. Look forward to meeting her.” He checked the time. “I need a shower.”
He stood and started to carry his dishes to the sink. Sami took them from him. “Go. Hurry up, I need to start your IV.”
He leaned over and kissed her. Matt quickly turned his gaze to the papers. When they heard the bedroom door close upstairs, Matt felt safe to talk, but kept his voice low.
“Couldn’t you have come up with a better cover story?”
“Better than what? It’s the perfect excuse to have her out here a
lot. I’m sure she’ll play along. In fact, that reminds me, let me call her.”
Before Matt could protest, Sami was on her cell to Julie, giving her the scoop. She laughed, said good-bye, and hung up. “She’s in. She thought it was funny.”
“Yeah, ha ha, very funny,” he grumbled, taking his dishes to the sink.
“I think it’s hilarious. We’ll tell Steve you’re dating her or something. It gives you the perfect excuse to stay with us. It’s like it was dropped into our laps.”
Matt stepped close, caught her arm, and pulled her to him, his mouth inches from her ear. “You are the only woman I want,” he whispered. “Remember that.”
He stepped away, leaving her breathless.
“And,” he added, “you have to be a damn good actor.” He took a swallow of coffee. “No jealousy.”
She hadn’t considered that. “Fine.”
He moved close again, putting his mug aside, holding her hands. “If I can handle watching him kiss you, you can handle me pretending to be interested in someone. You have to.”
She nodded.
He looked up at the ceiling. They heard the door to the master bathroom close and the shower start. He turned his gaze to her. “Remember, I love you.” He took her into his arms and kissed her. She melted into him, knowing it was wrong but also knowing she would have precious few opportunities over the next weeks.
After a long moment he released her. “When you think you can’t do it, Sam, just think of that. There will be plenty more where that came from.” He brought her hands to his lips, kissing them.
“Okay.”
He sat at the table while she regained her composure.
“Oh, don’t let Pog kiss you,” Matt said.
“Why?”
“I caught him drinking out of the toilet this morning. He acted like he was dying of thirst.”
She stared at the dog, who was still curled up on the window seat. “That’s weird. He never does that. His water bowl’s full.”
“Maybe he’s lazy. Didn’t want to come downstairs.”
She shrugged. “Maybe his stomach’s upset. He hasn’t eaten his breakfast. C’mon, Poggy, hey Pog-wog.”
The dog thumped his tail a few times and stared at the doorway.
“He probably needs a trip to the vet,” Matt said. “It’s been stressful for him.”
She nodded. “I’m sure you’re right. He’s due for his shots anyway. The trip, different water, it’s so hot outside. That’s all it is.”
Matt caught a portion of the Weather Channel tropical update and snapped his fingers. “The barometer’s dropping. It’s the storm. Animals sense that.”
“He does get moody before we have a blizzard. I bet you’re right.”
* * * *
Steve let the hot water beat against his head. He struggled this morning, trying to act normal, as if the images hadn’t returned from the darkness, playing over and over again.
He wanted a drink.
There was a bottle in the downstairs toilet. He’d wait for them to go outside and take a nip.
No! It was a dream. There is no bottle.
He needed a meeting. Desperately. He should have asked Matt to run him into town.
Sami and Matt kissing, in the kitchen, while he showered.
No!
It was all in his mind. He was overdue for his medicine. Once he got that, he’d feel better.
He turned the water to cold, standing there as long as he could take it before getting out and drying off.
Matt would end up dating Julie. Sami would forgive him for being a jerk, and they’d work stuff out. Matt would end up marrying this woman, move down here, and they’d all be friends and laugh about this years from now. Yes, that’s what would happen.
That was his story, and by God, he’d stick to it.
* * * *
By the time Steve returned to the kitchen, Sami had his IV medicine ready. Matt still studied the paperwork. Matt and Sami had agreed they wouldn’t mention the journals, the hidden closet, or the basement room to Steve. Not until they had a chance to dispose of the whiskey.
No use taking foolish chances.
The breeze had picked up under an overcast sky by the time Julie arrived at five till ten. Sami walked out to greet her, using the pretense of helping her carry things.
“I promise I won’t lay it on Matt too thick.” She winked.
Sami blushed. “Thanks.”
Sami introduced Steve and Julie. When Matt walked out of the kitchen, Julie made a point of flashing him a broad smile, slowly releasing his hand after shaking it. “Hello again.”
Matt looked flustered. “Anything else need to come in?”
“No, Sami helped me. Where do I set up?”
Sami led the way to the dining room, and they spread everything out.
Julie looked around as if she’d never been in the house before. “This is neat! Would one of you show me around, please?”
Sami was about to step forward when Steve spoke up. “I’m sure Matt would be more than happy to.”
“Uh, sure,” Matt said. They started for the stairs.
When they’d gone upstairs, Steve turned to Sami and grinned. “You’re right, she does have the hots for him.”
Sami’s stomach pitched a little. “Yeah, he caught her eye, all right.”
* * * *
Steve forced a smile during the introductions. The woman from his dreams. She couldn’t be real!
The coarse voice tried to force its way out of the darkness into his brain.
Poisonous whore!
No!
He looked at the others. They didn’t react. They couldn’t hear the voice, it resided inside his head. Steve plastered a smile across his face and, when the chance arose, sent Julie with Matt to tour the house.
Steve walked into the kitchen and gathered the papers when one caught his eye. A picture of Evelyn Simpson and her two children.
This woman looked so much like her.
No.
It couldn’t be. This woman had flaming red hair. The story described Evelyn as auburn, chestnut brown.
“You okay, Steve?”
He shuffled everything into the folder before Sami noticed. “Just cleaning up.” He handed her the folder. “I don’t know where you want this.”
“I’ll put it back in my office.”
She disappeared while he returned to the couch.
* * * *
They walked up to the attic. Julie pulled Matt to the far corner, near the turret, and kept her voice low. She looked ill.
“He is seriously fucked up! You can’t feel it? It’s washing off him in waves. How much has he had to drink today?”
Matt shook his head. “None, as far as we know.”
Julie shivered. “We are going to have to do some serious stuff. I hope he goes along with it. It’s this weather.”
“Yeah, it’s bad out there.”
She put a hand on his arm. “No, you don’t understand. Weather like this, thunderstorms, it can bring out more activity. The lightning ionizes the air. Any energies present can draw on it to manifest more strongly. That might be what George is doing.”
They both heard a light tap-tap-tap from the far end of the attic. A child’s ball rolled across the floor, stopped a few feet from them.
“Did you see that?” Matt asked.
“It’s one of the kids,” Julie whispered. She took several steps forward and knelt down. “I don’t have any equipment up here, dang it! It’s okay, please come talk to us.” She looked at Matt. “You remember what the FLIR looked like?” He nodded. “Please grab that, and an EMF meter, and a digital voice recorder. They should all be in the same bag.”
Matt hurried downstairs, leaving Julie staring at the ball, which had stopped moving.
* * * *
Steve relaxed on the couch, closing his eyes and trying to quiet the voice.
She’s upstairs. Go get her!
No!
Go have a dr
ink, that’ll help.
There is no liquor in this house!
It’s an act. That guy isn’t interested in her. He’s in love with your wife.
No!
Matt fucked her while you were in the hospital.
Steve wanted the voice to stop.
He fucked her, Stevie boy. She begged him for it, just like all whores do. There’s a bottle of vodka in his room upstairs. They went at it all night.
He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to make the voice go away.
You can stop all this, just teach that whore, teach all three of them a lesson. I did it, you can, too.
Steve clenched his fists and willed the voice to stop.
An image came to mind, the iron bed frame in the master bedroom, not battered and in need of a coat of paint, but shiny and new, with a woman tied, spread-eagle, to the posts…
No!
“Steve, you okay?” Sami looked concerned.
He swallowed. “Yeah, I’m okay. I’m more tired than I thought.”
She studied him for a moment, looked like she was about to say something, when Matt bounded down the stairs.
“There’s something in the attic. We were standing there, and a ball bounced and rolled over to us.” He searched through the equipment. “Julie needs the FLIR, an EMF meter, and a voice recorder.”
As if Sami knew what he was talking about, she helped him find the items and followed him up the stairs.
Steve watched them go.
There was something else going on.
You know what’s going on. That woman’s been here before!
Steve willed the voice to shut up and carefully climbed the stairs.
* * * *
Matt heard Sami on his heels. When he reached the top of the attic stairs, he spotted Julie sitting on the window seat in the turret, staring out at the drizzle.
“Here you go,” he said.
She didn’t respond at first, then turned to look at him and Sami, who now stood behind him with the EMF meter.
“Hello,” Julie said. She wore an odd expression.
Matt and Sami exchanged puzzled looks. “Here’s the equipment,” he said.