Chapter 15

MYSTERY OF THE SINGING GHOST

By Ana Riley

CHAPTER 15

You would probably be as shocked as we all are if you were here right now! Our living room floor is covered in glass. You know how in the movies, someone throws a rock with a message attached, through the window? Well, we have a major broken window and my father is picking up the rock to read the message.

“What does it say, Dad?” Alex is nervous.

Ethan is holding my hand. He’s squeezing a little too hard. He’s obviously bothered by this. My hand is sweating. Guess what? I’m scared out of my mind!

My dad is reading the note to himself first. The look in his eye is not good. His face is drained of any color. My dad is one of those men with skin that always looks healthy. Grey skin doesn’t suit him much. Dad’s clearing his throat. I think he’s going to read the note to us.

“I’ll read it but I want to be very clear – what you are about to hear stays in this house! Is that understood?”

Wow! This must be major. Two things we are to remain silent about and both within the same hour. Why is it that we nod our heads in response at times like this?

Dad’s clearing his throat again. His voice is softer than usual.

“Keep your nose out of things you don’t know nothing about, Cooper! Otherwise, you might find that pretty daughter of yours missing one night, or that big old house gone when you get home after work.”

You know the expression, ‘There’s a frog in my throat’? Well, I have the world’s largest toad sitting in my neck! I’m standing here and the room looks unreal. Everything is in slow motion. I feel my hand being squeezed tightly but it’s as if it could be squeezed really hard and I wouldn’t feel it. I can’t think. I have no words to describe to the others how I feel. They’re all looking at me. My dad’s face is completely grey. Ethan looks old – at least thirty-five. Alex has a tear coming down his face. Why? Why would he be crying? Why can’t I cry?

I hear Alex’s voice but I still can’t find words or seem to participate in the conversation. Someone’s arm is around my shoulders. I think it’s Ethan’s. Must be his Snap out of it, Gia! I’d slap myself but my arms are heavy. They just hang at my sides. I’ve never experienced this kind of thing before. Is this what they call ‘paralyzing fear’?

“Gia! Gia! Take her into the study, Ethan. I’ll get a cold cloth. Alex, put some tea on.” The sound of my dad’s voice is rough, angry.

I’m sitting on the leather sofa in the study. I know I walked in here but I don’t feel my legs. It’s as if my legs and arms are all one and the same. The cool cloth feels good on my neck and cheeks. I’m breathing again. I probably was breathing all along, but I wasn’t aware of it. I can now actually feel my breath going in and out of my lungs.

I can’t tell if the tea is hot or cold. It doesn’t matter. Alex isn’t crying anymore. Come on, Gia…drink the tea and get with the real world again! This spacey feeling isn’t good. The toad is getting smaller. I can think in words again.

“I’m good…I’m okay…thanks for the tea.”

“Gia, I need to call the police. Ethan will stay with you. Alex, get her something to eat. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Hey, girl, you don’t need to worry about any of this. Nothing is going to happen to you, not while we’re all around.” Ethan is speaking so earnestly. His words give me comfort.

“I don’t know what just happened to me. I’ve never felt like that before.”

“Shock. Not everyday that someone gets a threatening letter.”

“Kidnap me? Who?”

“Probably the same person who has been doing the other things around here.”

Alex has brought me a biscuit. It tastes good. He remembered the honey. I like butter and honey on tea biscuits. Maybe Marti is realizing what it’s like to be human. You don’t need to worry about his ever becoming fully human. I’ve never heard of an alien doing anything other than assuming human form. Human form would be a great accomplishment for my brother. The honey is sweet.

“I can’t believe someone thinks they could march into our house and steal me. I’d kick and scream and wake up the entire house, district, city, if I had to. The kidnappers would be so black and blue they’d drop me because I was too much trouble. I think I’m going to join a Karate class next month.”

Ethan has his usual smirk on his face. “Tea and biscuits – the key to your brain. This I’m going to remember!”

I’m smiling. I can feel my legs and hands again. My senses are alert once more. Where’s Shakespeare?

“Sitting at your feet.”

I had no idea that Shakespeare was here. I must have been completely spaced out. He’s looking at me with his big, brown eyes. I need to hold him and let him know everything’s all right.

“Hey, Shakespeare! How’s my puppy?” His fur is so soft. His body molds into my lap. How will I ever be able to hold him like this when he’s fully grown?

“Gia, I’ve notified the R.C.M.P. They’re going to come by and ask a few questions. No one is to clean up the living room until after they’ve been here, okay?”

“Dad? Do you think the person who wrote that note is serious … about the kidnapping and all?” Alex sounds like a little boy all over again. Fear — what an amazing emotion. Does it have any boundaries?

“The officer I spoke with said that all threats are taken to be serious until proven otherwise.”

“Is someone coming after us because you’re helping Mr. Gustafson?”

“That’s my guess, son.”

“I’m glad mom isn’t here. This would really freak her out!”

I think it’s interesting how Alex perceives my mom. He thinks this would unnerve Mom. I think she’d get mad and want to fight back. I think she’d be completely cool on the outside, with her mind working revenge on the inside. What’s going to be hard is telling her over the phone about the stone through the window. She’ll want to fly home right away.

“When and what do we tell Mom?”

“Alex, I’ll handle it. I don’t want you kids saying a word to her until I’ve explained the situation fully.”

“What about Harley? He’s supposed to arrive tomorrow. Should I tell him not to come?”

My dad must have forgotten about Harley because he’s really thinking about Alex’s question.

“It’s best Harley postpone his visit, son. I wouldn’t want the responsibility of having him here, should there be more trouble, not that I think there will be.”

Now Alex’s face is sagging to his knees. He has been looking forward to Harley’s visit. I know how Alex feels. I felt that same blow when Jenny couldn’t come. Am I feeling sorry for Alex? Maybe I had a stroke a few minutes ago in the living room and have lost some brain cells.

“I’ll phone him.” Dejection is in Alex’s voice. Poor guy.

“Gia, the R.C.M.P. officer said you should remain inside until they have assessed the situation. That includes not taking Shakespeare for a walk. Ethan, I hate to impose, but if there was any way you and Gia could go to Weldon tomorrow morning instead of on the weekend, I think it would be best that she not be around until things settle down a bit.”

“I’ll make the arrangements. We can leave first thing.”

“And don’t tell anyone except your parents, Ethan, where it is you’re headed. I’ll warn the Wagner’s about what’s happened. I hear a vehicle on the lane.”

“Dad, the police are here!” When Marti makes an announcement, the entire world can hear! “They brought the dog! Cool!”

“That was a quick response time. They must have been in the area.” Ethan is impressed. I wonder if the police don’t normally take immediate action to such issues.

There are two officers and they’re looking around the outside of the house. I’m thinking they must be looking for footprints or other clues. The dog is sniffing all over. Shakespeare barked when the police dog got out of the vehicle but now, Shakespeare is following behind the German Shepherd and peeing wherever the police dog searches. God, thank you for our police services. Please keep us all safe. Amen. The officers are coming inside.

“This is my daughter, Gia...”

“Hello!”

“…And this is where the rock was thrown.”

Going back into the living room isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Yet, I see the broken glass everywhere and I am so glad no one was in the living room. Do you think that maybe the people who threw the rock knew that no one was there? Otherwise, the flying glass would have hurt someone for certain. I don’t find much comfort in realizing that someone has been watching our house for the appropriate time to vandalize it.

The younger police officer is looking things over very carefully. The older one is speaking to my dad.

“Mr. Cooper, you can cover the hole in the window and have someone in to clean this up. Insurance should cover any damages and cleaning expenses.”
“I was thinking it might be best to send my daughter to Kinistino, to stay with some friends of ours.”

“Good idea. And where’s your wife now?”

“In Alberta.”

“It’s best she remain there until this is settled.”

“Certainly. May I know why?”

“One case I worked on, the kidnappers mistook the wife for one of the daughters. Sounds unusual but at night, this smaller woman happened to be where the daughter was expected. The wife managed to bite, scratch and kick herself free. Left the guy with a broken nose and permanent eye damage.” Unfortunately, this sort of ending is not as common as we’d like.”

“I’ll phone my wife now. Anything else?”

“Be around the house as much as possible. Things are less likely to happen when someone’s home. Don’t have parties but try to have your friends and relatives coming and going as often as possible and at different times throughout the day. Do you have a bigger dog?”

Dad is smiling. “Not for six more months.”

“Well, if you can borrow one for the next month or so, it might help to warn you when strangers come around.”

“Officer, do you think this rock incident is connected to my town council involvements with Mr. Gustafson?”

“Could be. Don’t like to jump to conclusions without all the facts, but Mr. Gustafson has been involved in controversial situations before and this note is aimed directly at you. You can’t be too careful.”

“I’ll see you out. Ethan, would you help me get a piece of plywood for the window? Alex, why don’t you phone Harley and explain what’s happened. Gia, you might want to pack for the trip tomorrow.”

When Dad gets into his ‘giving out orders’ mood, we do exactly as we’re told without questioning him. He has an authoritative manner that no one challenges, even some of his more difficult students at school.

I’m glad I’m going to Weldon. The weather should be great and maybe being away from here will get my mind off the threatening note. Oh! …The phone … ringing … it startled me. Fear. I’m suddenly afraid of a telephone. Maybe Alex will answer it.

“Alex? Are you getting that?”

“Can’t! I’m in the washroom.”

I have to answer the phone. Maybe I’ll let the answering machine pick up the call. But what if it’s Mom? What if it isn’t? What if it’s the rock thrower?

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Chapter 15