The Ghost of Jeopardy Belle Read online

  Accepting, healing and peaceful.

  One day, if I was lucky, I’d have that kind of love too.

  Chapter Sixteen—Harper

  Momma wasn’t going to be happy unless she was the center of attention at her own father’s funeral. The First Baptist Church of Desire, Mississippi, turned out in a big way. Although Mr. Daughdrill didn’t attend church regularly, he frequently pledged money to special causes like the girls’ choir. He bought all their robes last year and even paid for their trip to Tennessee to sing at the Baptist Convention up there.

  Oh yes, Mr. Daughdrill was something of a big deal in this community…still, there were whispers in between the speeches and testimonials about the fine citizen they were laying to rest. Since I was so plain and quiet, people talked in front of me like I wasn’t even there.

  Well, there was that time he’d been involved with that one incident.

  Remember when he was asked about that girl?

  Oh, that was so long ago, and he was young himself then.

  No, his granddaughter. They questioned him about Jeopardy.

  Oh, yes, they did. I heard it from…

  And then the conversation broke off because the next person took the podium to make glowing statements about Mr. Daughdrill, a man many people secretly hated.

  Momma had borrowed the fold-up chairs from the church and had them arranged in the Great Room. We’d lit the fireplace to make it look nice in here, even though it was as hot as Hades. I opened the back door to let some of the heat out. Even Mr. Daughdrill’s makeup looked a bit shiny, as if it would slide off his face at any moment. Why she had to bring him here, I had no idea.

  I stood in the back of the room near the open door drinking my soda through a straw when Aunt Dot came in with Loxley by her side. I’d refused to pay my respects and walk by his casket pretending to miss him. I’m sure Momma wasn’t pleased with me, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to see him again, and I was glad he was gone. I would have preferred a more peaceful death for him, but that was beyond my control.

  Like Momma, Addison was dressed to the nines. She wore her shoulder-length hair pulled back in a ribbon and wore a dark blue dress with black sleeves. Such a stylish dress for someone so young. She placed a white rose on Mr. Daughdrill’s chest and walked away.

  She seemed to genuinely miss him, which gave me some relief. If he’d behaved inappropriately with her, she wouldn’t be acting this way. She wouldn’t be acting as if she had just lost the grandfather she loved. No, his death came at the right time. I don’t know how I knew all this, but I did. Call it a young woman’s intuition if you like.

  Ben caught me at the door after the service. “Hey, I’m sorry about your grandfather, Harper.” He stuck out his hand like he was meeting me for the first time. I couldn’t help but notice it was bandaged up. Like he’d been in a fight with someone.

  “What happened to you, Ben? You didn’t show up for fishing, and you look like you put your hand in a wood chipper. Is it serious?”

  “Did you say he put his hand in a wood chipper?” Addie joined us, chewing on a celery stick and smiling at Ben. She was clearly interested in talking with him, which suited me fine. I was still ticked off that he’d stood me up for our fishing date. Well, not date. I wasn’t interested in dating Ben.

  “No, that’s not what happened. Excuse me. Hey, wait, Harper. Don’t run off. I need to talk to you.”

  “Okay, so talk.” I was getting anxious because I wanted to spend time with Aunt Dot and Loxley.

  “Well, I can’t talk to you here. Come outside. It won’t take but a minute.”

  I tucked my cardigan around me and arranged my barrettes. I needed a haircut in the worst sort of way.

  Once we got outside, Ben said, “I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a very long time, Harper Belle. I know you barely know me, and you probably didn’t realize that we’ve been in school together for almost two years.”

  “Really? Has it been that long?” I really wish he would get to the point.

  “I mean to say, I know I’m young. And I know you’re young. We’re both young.” Ben’s dithering was getting on my nerves. And it was hot out here.

  “Spit it out, Ben Hartley. We are at my grandfather’s funeral.”

  He glanced around him and saw that a few people were looking in our direction. Well, if he didn’t want to be embarrassed, he shouldn’t make a fool of himself.

  “What I am trying to say is that I love you, Harper. I have always loved you. And I hope you know I would do anything for you,” he said, showing me his hands and looking at me with a serious expression, “and I do mean anything. Don’t let my size fool you, because I got a heart as big as any other guy. And that heart loves you, Harper Belle.” He took my hand and kissed it as if he was a knight and I was his lady. It was the most ridiculous thing I had ever seen.

  I pulled back my hand and felt my cheeks redden to the shade of a vine-ripe tomato. I said, “Please, Ben. Go home.” I paid no attention to the small gathering that had begun to watch us and even applaud. There was the tittering of laughter from some of the older women and good-natured guffawing from some of the men. Ben sputtered in frustration. Obviously, things had not gone the way he had planned them. He cast an evil eye my direction and stormed off the porch and down Hurlette Drive. I wasn’t going to chase him. I had no idea where he was going. I resolved that I wouldn’t go fishing with Ben Hartley, or any other boy I wasn’t serious about, ever again.

  “Not even eighteen years old and already breaking hearts,” Deputy Hayes said politely.

  “Oh, he’s just a friend. Thanks for coming to the service.” The deputy looked so much nicer today than when he wore his brown uniform. I liked him in blue. “It means a lot.”

  He ducked his head and walked away with a smile.

  Aunt Dot appeared out of the crowd and hugged my neck. “He’s right, you know. You’re as lovely as your Momma.”

  “Bite your tongue, Aunt Dot. I don’t want to be anything like her.” I glanced in Momma’s direction. She was sitting in the red velvet chair receiving a line of guests with a distressed look on her face. She caught me looking, but I quickly looked back at Aunt Dot. “I would give anything for you to be my mother.”

  Aunt Dot sighed and kissed Loxley on the forehead before she ran to our mother, who scooped her up in her arms and made a big deal of her. Loxley sat proudly in her lap as the mourners came forward and expressed their condolences to our family.

  “Once upon a time, I would have scolded you for saying such things, but now I understand a little better. Having Loxley with me, I learned a few things. Your little sister is much more observant than you might believe. I was astonished to hear some of the things she told me. I’m sorry for all you had to go through, Harper. I want to make amends, if you’ll let me. I want to make it up to you and Addison. You had to endure so much with no help from anyone, but that’s going to change.”

  “You can’t change it, Aunt Dot. No more than I can. All we can be is who we are. All we can do is play the roles that are assigned to us. We are not in control of our destinies.”

  She hugged me up and whispered in my ear, “I hope you don’t believe that. I hope you never believe that. You have choices in life. I know things seem hopeless right now because you’re young and still living at home, but that’s not forever. It is gonna get better. As a matter of fact, I want you and Addison to come and live with me. I will make a home for us; we’ll make one together. And I have it on good authority that neither your mother nor I will ever have to worry about money again. Your grandfather was generous to us at least at his death. You girls can go to any college you want, be anything you want to be. I will make sure it happens for you. Just come with me.” Addison had joined us and leaned her head on Aunt Dot’s shoulder even though she was much taller than our aunt. It was an awkward but sweet picture. And then Loxley came running to us, and I scooped her up in my arms and held her tight. I smelled her fresh, clean hair and h
er naturally vanilla scent.

  “She’ll never let me go, Aunt Dot. You know that.”

  And then Momma started to cry. She was standing by Mr. Daughdrill’s coffin now, looking down at him holding his cold dead hand in hers. “Poppa, Poppa why did you leave me?” She cried and wailed and nearly fainted until someone helped her into the kitchen for a cup of coffee.

  Soon, Miss Augustine barreled in my direction. “There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you, Harper Louise. Your mother is beside herself with grief. The least you could do is show some compassion. If you don’t come now, I don’t know what we’re going to do with her.”

  Aunt Dot replied, “She’ll be right there, Augustine.”

  Miss Augustine appeared to have a smart reply right on the tip of her tongue, but I waved my hand at her. “Tell Momma I’ll be right there.”

  Aunt Dot held my hands and ignored Loxley’s whining. “You don’t have to do this, Harper. You do not owe her anything. She has it all wrong. She owes you everything.”

  I sighed, and my soul felt like a heavy anchor. “Without me here, I don’t know what she’ll do. She won’t have anyone. She drinks all the time now. Until today, she wasn’t even talking to Miss Augustine. She doesn’t go to the movies anymore. And you know about the other things.”

  My aunt’s eyes widened for a moment, and she nodded her head. “But you can’t fix it, Harper. Someone else will step up into your place. Someone else will have to pacify her. You’ve done enough. I’ve already lost one of you girls because I waited too long. I can’t lose another one. I love you all so much. Please come with me, Harper and Addison. Loxley wants to stay, and she wants her sisters with her.”

  With all my heart, I wanted to say yes. A part of me said, Go now and pack your bag! But I couldn’t. Things had happened that I just didn’t understand, and I needed to understand them. I needed to know how those scissors made it to my grandfather’s house, for I felt sure it was no coincidence that he’d been stabbed to death with a pair of silver scissors. Had that spirit killed him? The little boy with the black eyes? And why did Momma act so strange when we got the news that Grandfather was dead? No, I couldn’t leave yet.

  The other shoe hadn’t dropped yet. But it would. For now, I would stay with Momma. But knowing that I had options, that I had somewhere to go, set me free.

  I would stay with her for a little while, but I would never again be her prisoner.

  Never again.

  Chapter Seventeen—Jerica

  I rolled over in my bed and reached for Marisol’s stuffed animal. It wasn’t there. It must have fallen off the nightstand. I probably bumped it sometime during the night…I’ve been told I’m a wild sleeper. And I apparently snore. At some point, I’d have to search through my old albums to find a good picture of her and buy a nice frame, but I wasn’t ready to do that yet. It was easier to not remember those lost moments.

  “Good morning, Marisol,” I whispered. The sunlight streamed into my room from the open window. Of course, I heard nothing and never would, but I couldn’t spend the morning wallowing in self-pity. Hannah and her friends were coming this afternoon, and I had a whole host of chores to get done before then. My head didn’t hurt too bad, and thinking about all the things that could have gone horribly wrong, I considered myself extremely lucky to have woken up this morning.

  And then I thought about Harper. She had loved my daughter just like she was her own grandchild. At least I was still connected to Harper in some strange way. I never knew she’d had such a horrible upbringing, but it felt good to know she eventually had choices.

  Poor Ben. I felt embarrassed for him, but he’d been young and in love…still, who tells someone that you love them at a funeral? He and Harper had apparently worked through that bit of awkwardness because he had been a dear friend of hers later in life, at least according to him. I still thought it was strange that she never spoke about him or mentioned him to me in the years that we’d known one another. I guess that proved relationships were complicated no matter what decade or century you were in.

  I got busy tidying the house and doing mundane things like taking out the trash and mopping the kitchen floor, things I had neglected to do for the past week. How was I going to let the reconstruction crew back into the house knowing that I might put them in danger? I’d canceled work for today, but I couldn’t leave the guys hanging forever. Seriously, I had to put an end to this—get to the bottom of who this kid was and get him out of Summerleigh. Not just for me but for everyone.

  Time flew by, and soon I had guests arriving at the house. I was happy that Jesse was there first. Renee wasn’t going to make it because she had some problem at the diner; since we didn’t have to wait for her, we quickly got into his latest finds. I’d allowed him to take John Jeffrey Belle’s research home, and by the looks of him, he’d pulled an all-nighter examining the material.

  “This guy, this Jameson McIntyre, he was one troubled individual. It’s a good thing his father got him out of Desire before the law caught up with him because I’d say he was the obvious choice for a suspect. He had this weird fetish, Jerica. He liked cutting things.”

  “You mean like stabbing people? I think there is a name for that.”

  “Up until the murder of his sister, there’s nothing to indicate that Jameson McIntyre went around stabbing people, but he did like to keep souvenirs.” Jesse put the box on the table and dug out the journal we found in the Life board game, the one Jeopardy showed me. “See, I figured it out. These notations aren’t locations or clues to anything. They’re just a record of his sick victories. For instance, beside the name Claudette, you see the abbreviation HR? It stands for hair. He cut this girl’s hair. And over here, this abbreviation? RB? That stands for ribbon.”

  “I can’t believe this. You’re right, he was sick. But I thought you said Jameson was much older than the boy we saw. I mean, why would his younger brother be popping up everywhere if it’s Jameson’s malicious spirit wreaking havoc on the other ghosts of Summerleigh?”

  Jesse put the journal back into the box and closed it. “All good questions, and I have no answers. Maybe Hannah’s friends can help us. They should be here any minute. But thanks to John Jeffrey Belle, we have a lot more information than we did. He really took meticulous notes. Oh, I forgot…” He opened the box again and removed a small bundle. “Don’t read this now. But when you get a chance later, I think you should check it out. It might explain a few things.”

  I accepted the packet of faded letters and ran my finger over the pale pink ribbon that tied them together. How could I resist diving into these now? I caught my breath when I saw the top envelope. It was addressed to Dorothy Daughdrill. I had no time to ask questions because there was a knock on the front door. No doubt it was Hannah, right on time as usual. I welcomed her crew in, and we shared with them the information that Jesse had just presented to me. I took a minute to deposit the envelopes in my nightstand drawer and raced back downstairs to lead the crew into Summerleigh.

  “Wow, this place is amazing.” Rex took a minute to take in his surroundings. He clearly appreciated all the work we’d been doing in the house.

  “It’s huge. How many square feet is this?” Amy asked.

  “You know, I’m not really sure. With the upstairs and everything, probably close to 5,000. Maybe more. I know it’s a lot of house to cover, but most of the activity happens on the second floor and in and around the attic.”

  “It’s a good thing too because I only have four cameras with me. I’ll make it work,” she said good-naturedly as she carried cases up the stairs. While Amy set up cameras on the second floor, I showed Hannah the collection of books we’d found, the ones that John Jeffrey Belle used to write down the clues he’d found about the Lady in White and her potential killer. According to the journals, John Belle had seen the ghosts on several occasions and tried to communicate with them but had no luck. Hannah pointed out that there wasn’t much in the way of paranormal investi
gation techniques in those days. Ghost hunting had not gone mainstream, and the chances that he could communicate directly with the spirits without some of these new devices were slim.

  Jesse said, “It really frustrated him because he wanted to help Mariana McIntyre. He’d even considered holding a séance upstairs but didn’t get around to it as far as I could tell. He died unexpectedly, as you know.” Hannah nodded and began walking around the room, her favorite purse on her arm, as he continued, “From what John wrote, Mariana was a lot more active back when the Belles were here. And even then she wasn’t harming anyone.”

  “She pushed Ann Belle down the stairs, Jesse.”

  “You saw her push someone?” Rex asked with some surprise.

  I thought about it a moment. “Not exactly. More like she scared her so badly that she fell down the stairs. Broke her arm, but it stopped her from beating on Jeopardy.”

  Jesse said, “Mariana used to appear downstairs when the Belles first moved in here. She was often seen crying in the Great Room and said the name Jameson repeatedly. It’s almost like she was a residual haunt but eventually retreated to the upstairs. I guess that would also make her an intelligent haunt.”

  “Sounds like you know a little bit about paranormal investigation,” Rex said, grinning at Jesse.

  Jesse shook his head and said, “Only what I’ve seen on TV. I’ll leave that stuff to you guys.”

  “Hey!” Amy called from upstairs. “Can you guys come up here a minute?”

  Alarmed, we hurried up the stairs and followed Amy’s voice to the nursery. “What is it? Did you see something?” Hannah asked.

  “No, but is that supposed to be here?”

  I couldn’t believe it. Marisol’s purple bear was hanging from the broken light. Someone had tied a string around the toy’s neck and strung it up there. It couldn’t have been easy to do—the ceilings were eight feet tall.