The trip to the pharmacy didn't take long and Owen's hadn't lied about the cafe. The fish and chips she was eating was awesome.
They chatted eyeing each other, flirting with one another, and she hoped he'd invite her home for a while. It didn't feel right fucking in the Heelshires home. She'd be paranoid as hell Brahm would be watching maybe even floating above them and that wasn't something a child should see. Even a dead one. She blushed a bit knowing that she really didn't have as much privacy to take care of her needs as she had thought. There was no help for it though.
To her disappointment Owens remained a perfect gentleman and she was left to squirm squeezing her thighs together trying to get rid of the ache. Somehow or another the conversation turned to the Heelshire Tragedy.
Owen admitted he had looked over the paperwork they'd had on file after they had visited her and been left puzzled.
"No body?" She asked while sipping her drink.
"None anyone will admit to preparing for burial. Now bear in mind the fella that owned the local funeral home passed on sometime ago and there's no legal reason to dig up the grave so I suppose we'll never know. Another drink?"
Marissa shook her head. "No thank you. So there were no reports of strange incidents before Brahms passed away?"
He chuckled "I didn't say that. If you follow pub talk the old manor is full ghost and ghoulies of all kinds. I even talked to one of the nannies before you. She said the house had a voice and ordered her out. Things seemed to get moved around and she was positive the doll meant to kill her so she left."
"What about the American nanny? Did she experience the same?" She watched as Owen's eyes became shuttered.
"Her and Malcam, he was a local, claimed her ex showed up and during the visit an intruder broke in. There was a fight the American was killed and the Heelshire family paid a fortune to hide it under the rug and keep the law enforcement from dwelling in to deeply. They basically white washed it I'm sorry to say. These old families tend to be a brutal about their privacy. So on record the case is cold and the intruder has not been apprehended. I suspect it may have been a drifter."
"That place certainly attracts bad people doesn't it" she gave him a flirty smile.
"Well good ones too." He smiled back at her.
At her request he took her to a toy store where she browsed a bit before settling on a wooden train track with a train that produced steam. Brahms would like that.
"Ya got any kids Mrs. Goode?" Owens asked watching her look over the merchandise.
"Not anymore." She answered curtly.
"I didn't mean to pry."
She thanked the cashier and they existed the shop opting to settle on a bench to enjoy the shade and admire the town square. She thought the whole town was charming. She wished the Heelshire Manor wasn't so far away.
"No, it's just, I lost my son in a car accident. You see I have, well a condition and it makes me act irresponsible sometimes, honestly when I'm having a spell you could call it I make poor and reckless decisions. I went to meet up with a man. He had a little boy Bobby's age and they were good friends so that was alright but I had a few drinks and it was a long drive back late at night. I should never have been behind the wheel. This other truck, well the driver was much drunker than me and he ran a light."
She tucked one strawberry blonde lock behind her ear.
"He hit the passenger side. I let Bobby sit up front with me that night because I didn't want to argue with him. He felt like a big boy upfront even though he was still outgrowing the booster seat. Everyone has told me he could have died in the back seat just as easy but I think...I think being upfront contributed to his death."
"I'm sorry." Owen's said sincerely "that's the saddest tale I've ever heard."
She shrugged, admiring a flower cart being pushed by them.
"It took me years to move on, years to get on the right medication but my life is pretty good all things considered." Except a good lay she thought glancing at him. They set a few more moments talking before she sighed.
"I need to get back to Brahms."
He nodded. "I understand missus." Owens guided her to his car opening the door for her. They didn't notice Marcus watching them from a distance, eyes glittering. Once in the car Owens asked the question he appeared to be dying to ask.
"Does the doll really come to life?"
"I haven't seen it myself but it does kind of migrate around the house sometimes and I've heard a voice call my name many times."
Sweat broke out on her brow as she recalled the voice on the phone. Hateful full of rage and the threats.
"Hell I wouldn't stay there myself that's just creepy." He gave her an admiring look "Hats off to you missus."
She smiled and invited him in for coffee which he declined. He offered to take her out again which she accepted. She almost snickered at the chaste kiss she got. This guy needs to loosen up his belt she thought shutting and locking the door.
She made her way upstairs pausing to glance in Brahms room. There appeared to be a half assed attempt to cleaning it up but the blood was still on the window. The rat was nowhere to be seen and neither was Brahms. She stepped onto the landing and closed her eyes. She kept her voice stern.
"Brahms, you're such a good boy to try to clean your room. But until it's completely clean you don't get the surprise." She rattled the bag. Marissa listened hard. Other than the normal sounds of the house settling all was silent. She would swear a pair of unfriendly eyes studied her but there was no noise or movement anywhere so she tried to dismiss it and went to her room to change.
After she closed her door she went to set the bag down and recoiled. The rat's head was on her pillow staining the expensive pillowcase. She took a breath. Then another trying to slow down her heart.
She got a washcloth and scooped it up and dropped it in the garbage tying it up. She'd dispose of it tomorrow. She stripped the pillow and set it aside to be washed later. She stood in front of the mirror and grimaced. For all her calm it was easy to tell she was furious. Her eyes sparkled and her cheeks were pink with anger.
She remembered what the police had said. The two men had been beaten so bad it had sounded as if one was lame. She didn't want to believe Brahms would hurt her but really what kind of loyalty did he owe her? None. So she didn't scream or cry or rail at him. Instead she got undressed and took a shower intending to burn off some energy and get herself under control.
She found to her annoyance the cute little bar of soap she had been using was gone and she found herself wondering where the Hell did everything disappear to in this place.
She hunted around in the drawers in the little table cursing. There was a small drawer tucked along the larger ones probably to store a hairbrush and comb or possibly some makeup but when she opened it she came across an old bottle of laudanum. She stared. The bottle wasn't an antique.
Did people still use this? She had a feeling it was probably illegal. Why was it in the guest room? She realized Mrs. Heelshire could have kept it where her husband didn't see it but hell didn't this fall under illegal drugs? She thought she had once read it contained opium or cocaine. She shut the door with a snap.
Drugs was something she had plenty of; she didn't need to delve into illegal and unregistered medicine on top of her own. As it was she was pushing it mixing tranquilizer with her other meds that controlled the flow and ebb plus the ups and downs that had plagued her since she was a child. Finally she came across some soap in her bag. She dropped her towel not noticing the doll in the bedroom doorway watching her.
Satisfied and feeling much better after the shower she slid in a creamy day dress that hung off her shoulders and stopped above her knees. She went to Brahms room and without a word she finished picking up the toys and placing them back roughly where they had been. Since she didn't have Brahms she went to the music room and sat down to play the piano. Rather than play any of the classics she played a dreamy modern tune that never failed to make her slightly teary eyed. When she got bored with that she went out onto the balcony and admired the view. The sun was inching down and the colors were beautiful. For dinner she made meat pie humming to herself.
When she stopped the humming continued and she looked up.
"Dinner Brahms." She said. The humming drifting through the air while she put his food in the freezer.
When she stepped into the parlor the front door was opened. She frowned at it. A quick peek outside showed no one. She shut it firmly and locked it. She checked Brahms' room. No doll. Disappointed she shut the door.
"Don't start leaving doors open Brahms you'll let in rats."
She made her way to her room intending to open her laptop and put one of her DVDs in. Maybe a comedy. Or a steamy 'porn-pretending-to-be-love' show.
"Marissa."
She turned frowning. Brahms had sounded, well odd. His high pitched voice had been a bit deeper.
"Behind you!"
That had not sounded like Brahms at all but she reacted to the warning. She quickly turned to see a gun aimed at her face.