Checking Out Read online

  “Burt Hicks,” he supplied, surprised by her not seeming to know him.

  “Oh yes, here it is. I have a reservation for Burt Hicks. I believe you asked for a queen size bed with an attached bathroom. I’m Mrs. Brewster, if you have any questions…”

  “I have plenty of questions,” Burt began. “But let me get something I forgot from the car.” Burt ran over to the door, and it opened with ease. A blast of sunshine greeted him as he headed for the steps.

  “Careful, Mr. Hicks, that second step could kill you,” Mrs. Brewster said from behind him.

  Burt looked down horrified to see the second step was now hundreds of feet below the inn, again. The cold he felt upon her entering the inn was gone. Instead, he faced a summer landscape of fields of wheat. He felt the strong hand of the hostess on his shoulder. The creepy feeling of déjà vu filled him. He could almost chorus Mrs. Brewster’s next words.

  “Why don’t you just sit over here and enjoy the sunshine.”

  ~

  Mia navigated her truck slowly down the country lane. She had plowed the road earlier in the morning, but an inch of snow had fallen since, making the track slippery. Living in the isolated hollow had its disadvantages in the winter time. It was a dangerous route for a mail truck to manage. The county rarely entered the area to plow its maze of roads. Ted had arranged to have their mail held at the Big Bear Lake post office for the winter. They would pick up their personal correspondence and anything addressed to PEEPs when they were in town.

  The only vehicles they encountered after the snow fell in the hollow were snowmobiles. They kept mostly to the tracts of land east of the farm where the trees were sparse and the land level.

  “I don’t blame Burt for not attempting this drive in that old beater of his,” Cid commented.

  “He really should take the van and use it during the winter,” Mia said as she navigated the turn onto the county road.

  “He’s stubborn. Thinks it’s taking advantage or something.”

  “It’s not like PEEPs is a publicly traded company.”

  “Not yet,” Cid said. “When it is, I’m going to retire.”

  This brought fits of giggles from Mia. “The day a ghost hunting group makes enough money to interest Wall Street investors is the day I have Murphy’s name tattooed on my butt.”

  “Ted wouldn’t like that.”

  “I know. That’s how sure I am that you better look into other ways of reaching your goal of retiring early.”

  They stopped at the post office, and Cid ran in while Mia kept the truck running. He was back within minutes with two rubber-banded stacks of mail. He began to sort through them as Mia drove, skirting the perimeter of the town.

  He held up a large envelope, scrutinizing the return address. “Looks like Ted’s got a contract of some kind.”

  “Do you always read other people’s mail?” Mia asked dryly.

  “Only if it’s interesting. You’ve got one from Arizona.”

  “Really? I wonder who I know out there.”

  “Want me to open it?”

  “No. Read your own mail.”

  “I don’t have any.”

  “Aren’t you occupant?”

  “That’s cruel. I’ll look through…” he stopped talking as Mia pulled up to what used to be her home. The gates were shut, and the drive hadn’t been plowed. Her sanctuary looked deserted. She opened the window, reached for the intercom and pressed the buzzer. “I wonder if he’s ill?” After receiving no reply, she opened the gate remotely, commenting, “Being the landlord has its privileges.” She pulled the truck in and accessed the garage door. It rose, exposing an empty space where Burt’s car should have been parked. “Well, that answers that. He’s gone.”

  “By the amount of unmoved snow, I’d say at least twenty-four hours,” Cid said.

  “Why don’t you hop inside and exercise your investigative skills to find out where he went, while I’ll clear his drive,” Mia suggested. She detached the key to the house from her key ring. “Security code is on the key.”

  “Does Burt know you have this?”

  “It’s my house. He’s renting it. I have landlord privilege,” Mia said smugly.

  “Do you have a key to my place?”

  “Ted does.”

  “Oh,” Cid said, sliding out of the truck. He slogged his way to the door, thinking about the rights of renters until he realized he had yet to pay Ted any rent. “There must be a loophole,” he said aloud as he unlocked Burt’s door.

  Mia cleared the drive and raised the plow before she took a hand shovel and cleared her way to Burt’s door. She walked inside and smelled coffee brewing. “Talk about making yourself at home,” she called as she took off her boots and outer clothing.

  “I thought you may want a cup before you see this,” Cid answered, walking out of Burt’s guestroom.

  Mia headed for the room. Cid blocked her way and pointed to Burt’s antique Mr. Coffee. “Brew first,” he insisted.

  Mia knew that she may as well do as he instructed. When Cid got a bee in his bonnet, there wasn’t much that you could do to sway him. Mia accepted the rich black coffee and sipped it. She looked around at the changes Burt had made to her former home. It definitely looked and smelled like a bachelor pad. The only difference was that it was immaculate. Ever since she had known Burt, she marveled at how neat he was. There may be books everywhere, but they were in neat stacks. The kitchen was clean and shone from top to bottom. Even the carpet bore marks of a recent vacuuming. The only clues to his bachelor existence were the fast food wrappers bulging from the waste basket and the air which held the odor of bacon grease.

  Mia set her empty cup down. “Now take me to your mystery, Poirot.”

  “Follow me. I didn’t see it at first,” Cid said, walking into the room. He waited for Mia before asking, “Follow me into the closet?”

  Mia lifted an eyebrow. If she didn’t know Cid as well as she did, she would have protested. Instead, she followed him into the walk-in closet.

  Cid flipped on the light.

  Before her, covering one wall was a giant map of Wisconsin. Dozens of red Post-it note arrows with dates written on them were attached to the map.

  “They’re B&B sightings,” Cid explained. “Remember the Fata Morgana Burt was so hot to find? It seems that his interest kind of turned into an obsession.”

  Mia nodded mutely. She walked over and moved her hand along the diagonal line the red arrow points fell into. She walked backwards a few feet and stared at the map. “This looks familiar.”

  “It’s Wisconsin,” Cid said.

  Mia glared at him a moment. “I know it’s Wisconsin, but see this line?” She walked forward and ran her hand down the map. “It’s not a road but…”

  “Au contraire, every flag is on a road.”

  Mia took in each flag, and yes, there was a road intersecting the diagonal at each place the B&B was sighted. “I can see that, but step back here a minute,” she requested.

  Cid did so and looked. “Oh, I see it. The flags also fall on a diagonal. It’s not a road. What is it?”

  “Unless I’m mistaken, it’s a ley line or part of one.”

  Cid looked at Mia’s face and saw concern. “What?” he asked.

  “I’m not an expert on the North American ley line system, that would be Bev’s area. But see how the sightings fall in date order until here,” she pointed to the southernmost flag. “Then they start up again here and move upwards, ah, northwest.”

  Cid studied the map and nodded. “It’s as if the line stops, and the B&B moves backwards like a train.”

  “Ley lines have definite destinations. Like the one that brought me to Cahokia. They lead to areas of religious significance for the ancient peoples. They are powered by the magnetism of the earth. This one is disrupted here,” Mia pointed at the bottom Post-it. “And here,” she stood on tiptoes and touched the top tag. “Granted, he may not have all the sightings mapped, but I can say that Burt may have
seen the progression of the B&B and may have predicted its next appearance. But I doubt he would have seen the ley line.”

  “So he’s up in Wisconsin… Give me a minute… Here!” Cid said proudly, pointing to an area near the town of Ashville. “If he finds the place and manages to enter the building, it – if true to the legend - will spit him out after one night.”

  “But it hasn’t or he’d be calling us.”

  “Maybe he missed it.”

  “Then he’d be here calculating the next appearance,” Mia said. “It’s the ley line I’m worried about. How long can power like that be trapped? What happens to it when it doesn’t reach its destination and has no way to release the pent up energy?”

  “Scientifically?”

  “K.”

  “It explodes.”

  Chapter Two

  Ted had all the computers up and active a few minutes after Mia’s initial call. Cid had taken pictures of the wall with his smart phone and sent them to Ted.

  “What I need you to look into is what other kinds of things may have happened along this line historically,” Mia requested.

  “If it is recorded, I or Audrey will find it. I called her, and she’s heading back now. Mike’s on his way. Are you sure that’s what he’s doing, hunting the FM?”

  “FM? Oh we’re shortening it are we?”

  “Fata Morgana is a mouthful,” Ted defended.

  “It’s not a Fata Morgana, dear, not according to science,” Mia said as she walked out of Burt’s bedroom.

  “You wound me with my own words, Cruella.”

  “Back to your question. He’s packed a bag. Gone are his lucky shorts, bathroom supplies and…”

  “Wait, go back. How do you know about his lucky shorts?”

  “I plead the fifth,” Mia said, wincing. “I really must think before I speak. Anyway, he packed a bag.”

  Cid walked out of the guestroom and shook his head.

  “Cid didn’t find his laptop,” Mia reported. “We’re just about finished here. Be home in twenty.”

  “Drive safe,” Ted said and hung up.

  Mia looked at Cid. Her face told him more than her words ever would voluntarily.

  “Tell me.”

  “If he has somehow got caught up in this FM - for want of a better acronym – and it’s traveling a ley line…”

  “Go on,” Cid encouraged.

  He’s a flesh and blood human, not an oober, not a ghost. If we don’t get to him soon, I fear, he’ll perish.”

  ~

  Mike navigated the turn into the driveway with the skill of a NASCAR driver. The Audi S7 wasn’t built for this kind of terrain, but it handled the road beautifully just the same. He backed the car in next to Ted’s. He got out, careful to avoid some icy patches. He was so intent on looking at the ground that he walked smack into Cid. The collision unsettled both their footing and brought them to the ground.

  Mia looked out the window at the spectacle and asked her husband, “How’s our insurance?”

  “We’re fully covered. Why?”

  “Are we covered by act of Laurel and Hardy?” she asked, watching both men trying to help the other up and falling down again.

  Ted looked out the window and grinned. “Maybe we should salt.”

  “Maybe. I’ll take care of it,” Mia said, grabbing her coat.

  Ted went back to the console and sat down. “I’m lucky to have you,” he called.

  Mia smiled and enjoyed the warm feeling that came over her when Ted appreciated her independent ways. She walked out and helped the men to their feet. She waited until they had entered the building before salting.

  “Coffee me, Jeeves,” Mike said as Cid helped him off with his coat.

  Cid brushed off the snow and pointed to the pot. “Serve yourself.”

  Mike walked over and stopped as he caught his reflection in the glass of a picture frame. “Mother of static, what happened to my hair?”

  “I think you answered yourself. Careful, ground yourself before touching any of the computers,” Ted warned. “We really need to try to find a better humidity balance in this room.”

  “Uh huh,” Mike answered, pouring milk into his mug. “So, Burt’s gone solo again, gentlemen?”

  “It appears so. Funny, I always thought it would be you headed for a solo career,” Ted said, staring at the monitor.

  “Me too. Alas, I have fallen into complacency. My maverick days are behind me. I now live to be part of this team,” he exaggerated. “Plus, it’s a cold world out there. No one understands me.”

  Ted laughed. Cid opened his mouth to say something but shut it again.

  The phone rang.

  “PEEPs,” Ted said, putting the call on speaker.

  “It’s Audrey. I’m five minutes from Big Bear. Do you need me to pick up anything on my way in?”

  “Nope, Mia and Cid went shopping yesterday. Watch the ice on the apron of the driveway.”

  “Will do.”

  Mia walked in and stomped the snow off her boots. “Did I hear the phone?”

  “How could you?” Ted asked.

  “You have the ringer broadcasting from the sound system outside,” she said, walking over and turning off a switch by the handset. “Oh, Mike, I found this on the drive.” She handed him a shiny brass button with an anchor embossed on it.

  “Not one of mine,” Mike said. “Cid?”

  “Nope.”

  “That’s odd,” Mia said. “I wonder where it came from?”

  “It’s a mystery,” Cid said. “We could have picked it up in a tire tread.”

  “Or the plow. I don’t remember plowing any sailors?” Mia said.

  “Or being plowed by one?” Mike asked. “Must be the drink.”

  Mia laughed and flipped him off.

  Ted looked at the two and decided not to say anything. Mia didn’t need defending, and Mike was just teasing her.

  “Where’s Maggie?” Mia asked, looking around.

  “She’s out with Murphy,” Ted said. “He promised to wear her out so she’ll sleep while we’re working here.”

  “Nice to have your own doggy sitter,” Mike said.

  “Don’t let Murphy hear you say that,” Mia warned. “He already has it in for you.”

  “I know, but you and I know that he’s still going to pick on me, so I may as well get a few shots into that enormous ego of his,” Mike countered.

  “It’s your funeral.” Mia went into the kitchenette and started a fresh pot of coffee. She knew Audrey would appreciate her efforts after driving all day.

  Audrey pulled into the drive, minding Ted’s warning. The back tires slid a bit, but soon she was advancing up the drive. She saw, to her right, Maggie bounding down the hillside. The dog had grown so much in the last few months. Gone were the papers that lined the farmhouse floor. The furniture had survived but was a bit scarred by the gnawing she had done bringing in her adult teeth. She wasn’t the best behaved dog, but she was a sweetheart all the same. Audrey always brought her a treat.

  Maggie barked as she spotted Audrey’s car. Murphy looked down and nodded. He watched as Maggie jumped through the drifts until she found the path she had made on the way up the hill.

  He laughed as she skidded when she hit an icy patch and her bottom slid sideways. Ghosts didn’t have a problem with ice. Weather didn’t seem to bother them at all. Sure, lightning fouled up the senses at times, but all-in-all, Murphy was impervious to the elements.

  “There you are!” Audrey said, greeting the snow covered, wet fur ball masquerading as a dog. She opened her purse and pulled out a rawhide bone. Maggie sat down as Cid had trained her and waited until Audrey placed it near her mouth before taking it. “You are such a good girl,” Audrey said in a voice she reserved for dogs and small children.

  Maggie shook off the clinging snow and looked over her shoulder at someone Audrey couldn’t see.

  Audrey smiled. “Hello, Stephen, how are your trees handling the snow?”

  �
��Fine.”

  Audrey was pleased that the ghost made the effort to push through the ether and talk to her. A one word answer was as appreciated as if it was a full conversation.

  “My dad mentioned that the wee ones may need some watching if we get an ice rain.”

  Murphy didn’t say anything further. He was pleased that Audrey’s father had taken an interest in his trees, but what did a city boy know about growing seedlings? Mia said, if you didn’t have anything good to say, say nothing. Nothing it was. He followed her into the office where she was greeted warmly. He tapped a warning that he was there, and Cid responded with a hello.

  Maggie took her bone and headed under the conference table to gnaw on it.

  “So any news from our wayward boy?” Audrey asked.

  “No. He didn’t tell you anything?” Mike asked.

  “Nope, I knew he was working on the Fata em something, but I thought, as you did, it was an urban legend and not worth pursuing.”

  “Ted’s calling it an FM,” Mia informed her. “We need your research skills badly, m’dear.”

  Audrey smiled. It was good to be needed by this diverse and talented group of investigators. Mia’s disinterest in slogging through the net and Ted’s impatience had created a spot for her. Although, Mia insisted it was her deductive ability that the group badly needed. She said that anyone could research a haunt, but it took a detective’s mind to sort out what was just history and what was important. Audrey appreciated her confidence in her.

  “Coffee me, and I’ll get started,” she said happily.

  Mia did just that. She added a few of Cid’s biscotti that she had palmed when he wasn’t looking.

  The group worked together and came up with the same conclusion that Cid had. Burt’s target was in Wisconsin not far from Ashville.

  “Ashville, wait, something’s coming to me,” Audrey said, typing furiously on her laptop. “Ted, can you pull up information on meteorite hits in southern Wisconsin?”

  “As you speak,” he answered and tapped the big screen.