PART FOUR
When Velma arrived back at the farmhouse, she found her aunt had a visitor. He was a pompous looking man in an expensive suit who reeked of power and money. Velma instantly disliked him.
"Velma dear, come say hello to our prospective buyer, Cyrus Cornwall."
Velma reluctantly greeted the visitor and endured a handshake so firm it made her wince.
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Dinkley. Connie has told me all about you. I like doing business on a first name basis. Mind if I call you, Thelma?"
"I would prefer Velma, which is my name. What brings you by ?"
"First, VELMA, I wanted the chance to meet you, and secondly, I've brought an enhanced financial offer for your land."
"It's a very generous offer, Velma. In addition to the original offer, Cyrus and his associates will grant us five percent of all future profits, if we agree to sell within a week."
"Why the rush? I thought we had months in which to decide."
Cornwall replied, "Time is money, and acting quickly will help us beat Green Arcadia to the punch. If we can present the various zoning boards with a done deal before the environmentalists can mount a legal challenge, that will greatly enhance our chances of victory."
"Can Green Arcadia stop the project?"
"In the long run, no, but they can tie us up in court for months or even years if we don't act quickly."
Connie added, "Plus, Norman Naylor has been bragging to his followers that he has a fool proof plan to stop the dam."
Velma smiled as she concluded what Naylor's plan involved. "I didn't get a chance to meet him, but I saw Mr. Naylor in the woods, and he does seem to be acting strange. Even so, I have to be honest and say I'm not willing to sell the farm."
Both adults reacted strongly to Velma's statement. Cornwall spoke first. "Are you siding with these all-progress-is-evil people?"
"Not at all. The dam sounds like an economic boon to the Arcadia area, and would only have minimal impact on the local environment. My objection is more personal. This land has been my family's for nearly three hundred years, and I just can't bring myself to let it go."
Connie said, "Velma, I of all people understand about family attachment to the farm, but we have to be practical. Think of what the money means. You could attend the finest college in the country without any worries over cost. You could even help those close friends you told me about with their college expenses. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"The farm provides a good income, and I have scholarships to make up the difference. As for my friends, they have their own resources."
Cornwall said, "I hate to be heavy handed about this, but if we have to, my associates and I have the political clout to force an imminent domain battle. Such a lawsuit would drain your finances, and in the end you would lose. A court ordered sale would gain you only a small fraction of the offer that is on the table. I would prefer to do things the friendly way, but I will do whatever I must."
Connie added, "Velma, you know the political reputation of Arcadia. We could never win against them."
Velma sighed, "I haven't kept up with the political scene in Arcadia, but I remember Dad use to say it was the most corrupt city in the country. I don't know… I need time to think."
"I can only give you a week to decide. After that, things will get ugly." With a shrug of apology, Cornwall left the Dinkley home.
"Velma, as half owner of this property, no sale can go through without your agreement. I understand the pull of nostalgia this place has on us, but the reality is that we are going to lose this farm. If we delay, we will also lose a fortune. Please, think it over. I know if you look at the situation logically, you will do the right thing."
Connie left the room upset and nearly in tears. Velma began to understand the pressures her aunt had been enduring. Tonight, they would hopefully remove one of those pressures by dealing with the so-called ghost.
X X X X X
That evening, just as the sun was setting, the same three subdefectives were back in the Friedman family minivan and headed towards Dinkley Farm. Luke and Friedman discussed their biology project.
"Do you think the transplant will take?" Luke asked.
"We followed every instruction in the field guide for the procedure, but even then the book says the chance of success is only 50-50. All we can do is wait, buddy."
Joan groaned, "You mean if the plant dies, we have to go looking for another one?"
"If we have time to find one. The bloom usually drops off sometime in June when the temperatures rise. We can't rely on this cold snap continuing." Luke said.
"Don't worry Joan, if the flower survives, you'll get full credit in our biology project. After all, you found it." Friedman said.
"And what a chore that was! Staring at hundreds of flowers and trying to spot a navy blue tip amongst all those bluish-black tips nearly made me cross eyed. It would be so much easier if the Bluetip was say, a light blue color. I don't suppose that's ever possible?"
"Never happens. No one has seen a Bluetip any lighter than navy blue." Luke answered.
"Hey look, there's Velma talking to some guy." Friedman said.
The minivan stopped in the main farmyard near where Velma was speaking with a middle aged man who was clearly a farm hand. Velma waved the others over.
"Guys, this is Hank Greenly, the farm foreman. Hank, tell them what you told me."
"Just that for a week now, I've noticed strange lights going on and off in the woods near the creek."
"Is that unusual?" Joan asked.
"Latter in the year it happens some. People go frog-gigging or night fishing, but the creek is too high, too cold and much too swift for that sort of goings-on. I reported the matter to Miss Connie, but she told me to stay away from there. She almost seemed afraid by what might be down there."
"Thanks Hank, that's all we need to know." Velma said.
Hank gave a friendly nod and walked away from the group. Velma again addressed her new friends.
"The only thing I can figure is that Naylor is pulling this stunt with the lights to make my aunt nervous, and possibly to lure people into what ever crazy scare tactic he has waiting for them."
"So that means we're headed into the woods?" Luke asked.
"If you're up to it, yes. Naylor would need a base of operation, and there are only two structures in the woods. They're tiny but well-preserved cabins that were used long ago as part of the Underground Railroad. One of them is at the west end of our property, and can be reached by a service road."
Friedman quickly said, "Velma and I can check out that one. I'll drive us there in the van."
"That leaves the one nearest to the house for the Girardis. Just follow the main trail for about a mile and you'll run right in to it."
Joan nodded, "We're already prepared. We have flashlights, and Friedman and I have fully charged cell phones."
"Who are you going to call? Friedman, the ghostbuster!"
Laughing, the two teams went their separate ways.
X X X X X
A short time later as Luke and Joan followed the trail deep into the woods, Luke began to look doubtful. "You know Joan, this is kind of crazy. Here we are taking who knows how big a risk in order to help a girl we only met today."
Joan, who had inside information to guide her, glibly replied, "But it's a mystery, and isn't finding out the unknown one of your goals as a scientist? Besides, Velma is nice, and I know you appreciate her,,, charms."
In the dark it was impossible to see how much Luke blushed. "Oh, you noticed how much I was noticing Velma's, uh…"
"Big boobs? Don't worry, I won't tell Grace."
"Thanks. I admit Velma is smart and cute and has… those, but I'm not interested in her. I'm only here supporting Friedman. He's crushing on her big time."
"A shame for him, because Velma thinks he's too young for her… Hey, there's the cabin."
Quickly, Joan and Luke switched off their flashlights and quietly approached the well maintained log cabin. Once at the door, they did a three count and then burst inside. Their flashlights revealed a completely empty room.
Joan sighed, "Judging by the dust on the floor, no one has been here in months. Hopefully, the others are having better luck."
Meanwhile, at the western edge of the Dinkley property, Friedman halted the minivan at the dead end of a narrow service road. On the drive he had tried to think of some non-lame compliment he could use to break the ice, but he was too distracted by that oh so enticing sweater. A sharp reminder from Velma to watch the road had briefly driven flirtation from his mind.
As they exited the van, Velma said, "The cabin is about a hundred yards deeper into the woods."
Using flashlights, they started towards the cabin, but Friedman suddenly stopped. "What's that hidden in the bushes?"
A quick check revealed a four-wheel ATV with saddle bags on the back that had the initials, N.N.
"N.N., Norman Naylor!" Velma said.
"Check the contents."
A search revealed clothing in the style of the colonial era.
"No wonder you and your friends enjoy debunking ghost sightings. The analytical mind can so easily outwit the people who resort to these frauds."
"Don't get cocky. There can still be some nasty surprises ahead."
Velma led the way until they reached the cabin door. The pair also used the three count routine before bursting inside. Their flashlights revealed a man, floating in midair, wearing colonial garb. His face was hideously deformed, his skin was a pale green and his eyes glowed bright red. The small cabin vibrated with the banshee cry he uttered.
Friedman's flashlight shook wildly in his hand as he gasped, "A-a-a ghost!"
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