Puzzle (Haunted Series) Read online

“Whatcha got there, handsome?” Mia said as she put the roller down.

  “A peace offering,” Ted said as he placed the mug in her hands. “Sorry about the testosterone bullying.”

  Mia raised an eyebrow.

  “I just came from the hardware store, and someone named Marge all but boxed my ears, after extolling your virtues, while admonishing me for overlooking an asset. Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “What was the point? The job’s finished, and soon Cid can move in. You’re right about the sound proofing by the way. I couldn’t hear a hammer up here. The beeps and chirps of the computers won’t bother Mr. Garrett.” Mia took a sip of the strong black coffee and sighed.

  “It’s good, isn’t it? I adjusted the brewer so it brews at a constant temp. Most bring the water up to temp and then let it drop off. I wonder why they don’t go the extra mile?”

  “Probably a legal thing, scalding the customers, melting countertops, that kind of thing,” Mia teased.

  “I didn’t like the countertop anyway,” Ted defended.

  “Me either,” Mia admitted. “Where’s the rest of your crew?”

  “Magoo is getting his glasses adjusted, and Burt’s hunkered down, editing some old footage. He loves the new office, and I love the rent check,” Ted said, patting his pocket.

  “Payday! I should have known. You’re in your going-to-the-bank outfit?”

  Ted who was wearing the same thing he always wore, a t-shirt, jeans and a ball cap, looked confused.

  “You’re not wearing a Chiefs hat. I see you’re trying to blend in with the natives,” Mia said tenderly, taking Ted’s new Bears hat off his head. This caused a lock of his auburn hair to fall onto his forehead.

  He smiled down at her, his brown eyes twinkling. “We could christen the apartment…”

  “With Burt below us and no inside door up yet?”

  Ted turned around. He looked at the door – bought too wide – sitting on its side. The apartment had two entrances. The outside door led to a beautiful cedar set of steps that terraced their way from the second story. Halfway down was a small sitting area where Cid could take in the view with a few friends. The other entrance, the one missing the door, led into the converted barn that PEEPs was using half of as workshop, the other half being Ted’s mad scientist area.

  Under the apartment was the PEEPs state of the art office. Here was an expensive array of computers, cameras, editing machinery and storage for the evidence collected by the Paranormal Entity Exposure Partners. Both floors had bathrooms equipped with man-sized showers. The apartment had a small kitchen. If Cid was in the mood for cooking something more adventurous, he was welcome in the farmhouse to use the large kitchen at any time.

  “I see your point. Wanna come inside, and I’ll help you wash off those green freckles?”

  Mia put her hand to her face. She felt the dried spatters of paint there and smiled. “I love freckles, but maybe not green ones.”

  Ted gazed at his fiancée. Her diminutive stature, Nordic blonde hair and wide set, moss green eyes gave her an otherworldly look. Combining this with a fit frame, impressive top digit and full-lipped smile, Mia looked remarkably like the animated women that walked out of Ted’s adolescent dreams. “A warmer tinge, and they would match your eyes, Minnie Mouse.”

  She smiled and pulled his head down to her level and kissed him.

  “I’m coming up the stairs,” Burt’s voice warned them.

  Mia and Ted broke away from their kiss and separated like guilty teens, she to the business of cleaning up and Ted to inspecting the door frame.

  “Sorry to bother you, but I just got a call into the PEEPs hotline from an old friend of yours, Dave Hult.”

  “Toking Dave, the kid from Lucky’s?” Ted asked.

  “The one and the same. He wants to talk to Mia. He sounds panicked.”

  Mia walked over and took the portable handset from Burt and took it off hold.

  “This is Mia.”

  “Thank god. I’m in trouble…”

  Before Mia could ask the nature of the problem, Dave launched into his story. She listened quietly, aware of Burt’s and Ted’s eyes on her. “How long have they been in the building?” she asked.

  “Since eleven last night. I’ve checked all the doors, and no one else has made it out.”

  “Have you called the police?”

  “Ah, there lies the problem. We weren’t there legally, and we were intent on doing other unlawful activities.”

  “Explain.”

  Dave told her about the no-questions-asked market for copper wire and pipes. “Plus, who’s going to believe me about the ghost?”

  “What about the State police? You know the ones that helped us with Luckys?”

  “I don’t know how to get ahold of them, but, ma’am, they aren’t going to be any good in a fight with something they can’t see.”

  Mia ignored the aging ma’am label and concentrated on Dave’s problem. “What do you want from me?”

  “Could you bring that cop friend of yours, maybe a few of them PEEPs and help me break in and rescue the guys? Richie must be freaking in there without me.”

  “The cop’s not around, but I’ll ask the guys. No matter what, I’ll be heading down in an hour, expect me in three. I’ll call you on the road. You hang tight.” Mia handed the phone back to Burt. She explained the situation to him and Ted.

  “You’re not going alone. I’m in,” Ted said. “I’ll go round up Murphy and meet you at the truck.” He started to leave.

  “Hold on,” Burt said. “This is a job for PEEPs.”

  Mia and Ted looked at each other and then at Burt.

  He blushed. “Okay, I know that sounded, well, like Superman, but Cid’s expected back any minute, and Mike could meet us down there if needed. Why don’t you and Ted take Murphy, if he’s willing, and I’ll call Homely and give him a heads up, just in case we are over our heads there. It’s his area of the state after all.”

  “It’s a lot of expense for what could be nothing,” Mia warned.

  “My gut says otherwise,” Burt argued. “The kid’s scared, and you told me he’s a born sensitive. I imagine we could use an outing just to get our investigative legs back under us. It’s been a while since the Gruber job.”

  “Speaking of the Gruber job, have you talked to Audrey lately?” Mia fished.

  “We were supposed to go to dinner, but she had a work emergency and that was that,” Burt explained.

  “This might be a door opener,” Mia suggested. “Ask her what she can find out about why Clinton Middle School really closed. Was it for mold, or something more sinister?”

  “Let me think on it. In the meanwhile, you have a ghost to wrangle and a mad dash downstate. Toss in some clothes just in case this runs longer than a day,” Burt advised. “Ted, make sure the command vehicle is stocked before you take off.”

  Mia and Ted saluted Burt – something they had been practicing for a week – and turned heel and worked furiously to get their projects taken care of in order to make their departure time.

  ~

  Mia listened for the sound of an axe hitting tree and found Murphy splitting sections of wood into quarters by the picnic table. His smile of contented bliss was something Mia had never noticed before. As Murphy explored the increasing range of his powers, he used some of them so Mia could see him without the static of the veil. She watched the set of his jaw as he raised the axe over his head. She saw the twist of the blue fabric of his shirt as he brought the axe forward and sunk it into the wood. What she didn’t see was sweat. Ghosts don’t sweat. They don’t eat, pee, sleep or feel climate change.

  Stephen Murphy’s life had been cut short by the felling of a tree that crushed him, axe in hand. He was murdered by his wife’s lover. He never indicated that he had loved her, just that his mother insisted on the marriage. His wife had met her end horribly, and recently her remains had been removed from the farmhouse’s cellar where she had haunted as she waited for he
r lover to return. Mia didn’t pity Murphy. He had done so much in his afterlife that she suspected he no longer thought about his living days.

  He looked over at her and raised an eyebrow.

  “There’s a kid downstate, near Lucky’s, that needs our help.”

  He put down his axe and angled his head.

  Mia took this as an invitation to enlighten the 150 year-old ghost of the situation, which she did. “Do you want to come down with Ted and I? It could be a waste of time…”

  Murphy, a man of few words, used a few, “Time, I’ve got.”

  Mia sighed inwardly. She always felt safer when Murphy was on an investigation with her. He and she were a team. They had each other’s backs in situations that would make even the undead hightail it.

  “We’re leaving in five minutes. Can I help you here?”

  Murphy waved her away and waited until her back was turned to float the split wood over to the woodpile. He smiled. The more he performed these stunts, the easier they got. He stared at her retreating form. His gray eyes lit up as he remembered Lucky’s. Dangerous ghosts in that area of the country. Even though he suspected they weren’t going to be dealing with bikers, he would have his axe sharpened and ready to take on a giant if he had to. “Murphy the Giant Killer,” he said and listened as his deep voice moved through the trees.

  Mia heard his voice and smiled. She didn’t turn around. She didn’t want to embarrass him.

  Chapter Three

  Just after three in the afternoon, Ted pulled into the drive of Clinton Middle School. They were surprised when Dave emerged from the bushes. He approached the truck, and Mia rolled her window down.

  “Follow me around back,” Dave said and ran in front of the truck.

  “This, the kid?”

  “He looks paler, but, yes, it’s Dave Hult,” Mia confirmed.

  Ted pulled the truck around the large brick and mortar cube. “This is the ugliest school building I’ve ever encountered. Looks like it was designed by the Borg,” he commented.

  Murphy who had been pretty quiet most of the trip scratched in agreement.

  Mia turned to him. “You’re watching Star Trek now?” she asked in disbelief.

  Ted answered for him. “He and Cid moved on to Next Generation reruns after This Old House went into hiatus.”

  “You know that it’s make-believe,” Mia said.

  Murphy gave her a sour look.

  “No, I don’t think you’re an idiot, just out of touch,” Mia snapped.

  “Children, it’s been a long car ride, let’s not lose our tempers,” Ted warned. “The kid wants us to park next to the red truck. Geez oh Pete, that’s an expensive ride.”

  Mia jumped out of the F150 and walked around the Dodge. She whistled as she saw the major dent in the truck’s sidewall. “What hit this?”

  “Me,” Dave said wheezing.

  “Shit, that had to hurt. Come here, let me feel your ribs,” Mia ordered.

  “Hey lady, I’m not eighteen yet, keep your paws to yourself,” Dave said and turned away from her.

  Mia grabbed the teen’s arm and twisted it behind him. She pushed him towards her truck, taking care to not put too much pressure on Dave’s midsection. “Ted, toss me the med kit. Junior’s got a wheezing problem. I want to make sure this broken rib isn’t cutting into his lung.”

  “I’m just cold and smoked too many cigarettes.”

  Mia turned him around and lifted his shirt. The bruising confirmed her diagnosis of rib damage. With careful hands she probed and smiled in relief. “You broke it, but it’s holding. I’ll wrap you up for now. But you’ve got to see a doc soon.”

  She pulled off his shirt and started to wrap his ribs.

  Ted wandered over and looked at Mia and Dave and said, “If you’re playing doctor, I want to play too,” he said mimicking Igor from Young Frankenstein.

  “Ignore him. Dave, this is Ted, Ted, Dave.” Mia finished wrapping up the teen’s midsection and pulled down his shirt. “Where’s your coat?”

  “I don’t have one with me.”

  “Your lips are blue. You’ve been out here all night and half the day without a coat?” she asked in disbelief.

  “I couldn’t leave Richie. What if he got out and was freaking?” Dave said.

  “Ted…”

  “I’m on it,” Ted replied as he jumped into the back of the truck and opened the toolbox. Inside he found a few PEEPs hooded sweatshirts. He looked over at the teen. Dave was probably pushing five eight at the most and was painfully thin. He judged him to be a medium, but that was the only size he didn’t have. He grabbed the large and tossed it to Mia.

  She shook it out and handed it to Dave. “Put this on.”

  Dave groaned in pain as he slid it over his head. It fell around him, making him look younger than his years. He looked at Mia and then over her shoulder in terror. “What the hell is that!” He backed up, preparing to run.

  Mia turned around and smiled at Murphy.

  “Don’t piss yourself, that’s Murphy. He’s a friend of ours. Tell me what you see.”

  “A frickin madman with a bloody axe.”

  “Look again, this time breathe,” Mia instructed.

  “Oh, now I just see an axe murderer with a grin on his face.”

  “He does have a winning smile,” Ted said as he unloaded some gear.

  “I think he’s rather handsome,” Mia mentioned. She felt a light touch on her back. She smiled. “Dave, this is Stephen Murphy. He’s saved my butt more times than I care to mention. I asked him along to help.”

  Dave nodded and calmed himself. He wished he hadn’t promised his mom to quit smoking weed. He needed the low right now. The two packs of cigarettes had him wired.

  Ted walked over and handed Mia a box of fried chicken they had picked up as they exited the highway.

  “Hungry?” Mia asked.

  “How can you think of food when Richie is trapped in there with that monster?”

  “First of all, nimrod, you aren’t in top form. I’m trying to build you up, so we can take care of business. Put some effing food in your gob hole and swallow. Until then, stay out of our way. Let us grownups clean up your effing mess.”

  “Cruella, can I have a word?” Ted asked, drawing her away from the kid. He lifted her chin, and she winked at him, mouthed a count of five and motioned with her eyes, directing Ted to look at Dave.

  Dave was eating two-fisted. “Got anything to drink?”

  “Caffeine or no?” Ted asked.

  “No.”

  “Then no.”

  “Okay, caffeine.”

  Ted reached in and tossed the kid a can of Dr. Pepper. They waited until Dave’s appetite was sated before they asked him questions.

  “How do you know they didn’t get out?”

  “The truck’s still here.”

  “How did you get here?”

  “Oh fuck, Larsson’s car. It’s parked on the verge…”

  “Green sedan?” Mia asked.

  “Yes.”

  “It’s still there. We saw it on the way in. How many exits does the school have?”

  “Four doors, I checked them every fifteen minutes, and… Come on, I’ll show you.”

  Ted and Mia followed Dave around the side of the school, and he cautioned them, “Don’t go too close to the door. I smoothed the sand there so I could tell if anyone came out this door. See, nothing.” He pointed to the ground, and the sand hadn’t been disturbed. “It’s the same with the other side door. The front and back door I piled beer cans so when it opened, I’d hear the crash of cans if I was away checking the other doors,” he explained as he took them around the school and passed the other doors. They too showed no evidence of movement out of the building.

  “They’ve been in there a long time,” Mia said as she thought aloud. “Their parents must be hysterical by now.”

  “Well, no. We gave each other alibis for the weekend. They won’t miss them until tomorrow night,” Dave explain
ed. “Before you read me the riot act, I know I screwed up. I just wanted to belong. I’m tired of being the freak everyone whispers about. When Manny was alive, it was different. Richie, he and I were a team. Then, well you know. When I got out of rehab, the whisperers were at it again. Richie and I began hanging out with this group of losers, and it didn’t seem to matter anymore.”

  They had made the circle around the building and were standing outside the backdoor. Mia reached out and grabbed the door, but it wouldn’t open. “It’s not locked,” she said, shining her little flashlight along the unhinged side of the door. But it won’t open. Ted, you try.”

  Ted walked over, and the door opened. He held it open, and Mia cautiously stepped forward and walked into a wall of invisible resistance. She backed up and nodded to Dave. He tried to walk in and the same thing happened. Ted shrugged and stepped into the hallway without a problem. The door started to close on its own. Mia used her body to keep the door open long enough for Ted to get out. She pulled away, and it slammed closed hard.

  “It said I was a cheater. I think it’s because I could see it. You can see ghosts too, so it won’t let you in. Ted’s a regular guy.”

  “No, Ted’s extraordinary,” Mia corrected. “One last test. Murph!”

  Murphy walked over.

  “Ted’s going to open the door, see if you can walk in. I couldn’t, so be careful,” Mia warned.

  Ted reached out, and the door opened without a squeak. Murphy walked over and was repelled backwards with such force that he was knocked off his feet and flew backwards through the Dodge before landing on the ground. They ran over.

  “Dude, are you alright?” Dave asked, bending over the ghost.

  Murphy stunned, nodded.

  Mia reached down and offered Murphy her hand. He took it, and she helped him to his feet.

  “She didn’t just do that,” Dave said amazed. “She freaking touched a ghost. How cool is that?”

  “Pretty cool,” Ted agreed.

  “You can see him? But I thought you were a normal dude.”

  “I can see Murphy because he allows it,” Ted explained. “We’re friends.”

  Mia was muttering to herself.