Chapter 8 [Stacy Residence—An Hour Later]
Stacy sat behind his desk. Reports lay spread out in front of him. One at a time, he read through them. Pen scratched copious notes onto Legal Pad's blue lines. Accounts bordered on Bizarre and Unexplainable. He took a draught of tea and set the cup back onto Saucer's support.
David Dubois, if anything, would've had his picture next to Conundrum in the dictionary. Depending upon one's point of view, Classification could place him in three spots. Most legal and psychological experts dismissed him as a troubled and abused soul. Phenomena, however, convinced others of Dubois' claims. A final group had a foot in each of those camps.
Grown men claiming ghost sightings and demonic entities? I'd say rubbish. He glanced out the window. And yet, you saw Peter come in the door that day. Something helped Gwen and him to get treatment. She saw that thing inside of Mr. Dubois. He saw Dubois change and deal with his attackers! Gwen may be open to new things but she does have common sense! Pipe puffed a couple more times on that note. Records had stretched from Dubois' father's former land somewhere in Central Massachusetts with instances in Kansas, Arizona and Virginia. Accounts spoke to the man's instability, ranting and then sudden disappearances. In his wake, Chills, Stench and Disturbed Onlookers remained behind.
Door opened and closed.
"Dad?" Gwen's voice called. Anxiety spiced her tone. Her boots clomped closer. Her hand rapped on Doorframe.
"In here. Please come in." Stacy raised an eyebrow. He could tell she was out of sorts. He closed the current account. Now what? "Is Peter with you?"
"He's making coffee for us." She peered into the office. "Still studying, Mr. Detective?" Composure attempted to apply Poker Face over her worried features. She removed her coat. "What do you have there?"
"Some background on our friends in Wabash. Mr. Dubois does make for an interesting study. That's for sure." He turned to face her. Her appearance gave him pause. "Are you all right? You're positively pale. What happened?" Concern now washed across his face as well. "Did something happen at that interview?"
Frown creased her face. "I've met some strange people. That lady sure takes the cake! That Professor Lady gave us good stuff on Wabash. Then, she did some weird aura thing. She figured out that Peter's Spider-Man with just a look or something. Speaking of Peter, she brought up something about his run in with that Pilgrim Guy. He's got some copied pictures or something." She rubbed the back of her neck. "Way creepy. People think Mr. Dubois' creepy? She's sure got him beat."
Assessment raised Stacy's eyebrow. "That would be saying a mouthful. That woman didn't threaten you. Did she?" He rose from his chair. He glanced toward Phone sitting on Desk's corner.
"No, Dad. It wasn't like that!" She hugged him. "It was totally the other way. She gave me some coffee. Then, she shared that stuff. I can see why Mr. Dubois had us talk to her. She just does things." She motioned toward the living room. "Peter has the lowdown."
"He does? Hmmm…" Stacy hobbled alongside her. Coffee's scent wafted from Kitchen. "Can you bring my tea? That way, we can speak at the table together." He cleared his throat. He liked information. As Detective and Police Captain, it was his business. Still, Safety remained the priority. "Peter?"
"Right here, Mr. Stacy." Peter hustled across the living room. "Need a hand?"
"I'm fine, Son. Thank you. Gwen was starting to tell me about the interview. So, she figured out your secret. I thought you were more careful than that." Stacy took his seat at the table. Blue Eyes pierced into Peter's.
"He was, Dad. He didn't say a word. I told you about the aura thing." Gwen set his tea cup and saucer down next to him. "Tell him, Peter." She accepted a mug from Peter. "Mmm…thanks."
"Anytime." Peter took a mouthful of his own. "I didn't say a word or react. She's been around where I swung by. She remembered my psychic energy or something. She matched that to me, I guess. Both times she looked me over, I felt my spider sense. She was doing something else." He set the mug down. "Anyhow we're all right. She gave us the information. She also told us what was really going on in Salem during my time back there." He opened his bag and brought out Manila Envelope. "You got to see these copies." He opened it and pulled out the contents therein. "We were all seen back there. Great." He rolled his eyes.
"I say!" Stacy fingered the copies. "And this…this is the thing that attacked you here?"
"Trust me. You don't forget that creep." Peter shook his head. He studied the copied lithographs once again. "Guess we're lucky these were chalked up to folklore. Too bad that spell book wasn't." He leaned back against the wall.
"Spell book? You mean a grimoire? They exist?" Incredulity raised Stacy's eyebrow still further.
"Apparently this one does, Dad. I don't get it either. Peter?" Gwen turned her eyes toward Peter. Mind craved answers. "Do you believe that?" She pointed at the copies.
"I was there. The others and I fought that thing." Peter took another of Coffee's mouthfuls. "What gets me is that Doc Doom's into magic besides being the tyrant from Hell. Somehow, they got that magic book by him." Disbelief raised an eyebrow. "There were sorcerers there. They used that mess to get by everyone." He shook his head. I really wish I could talk about this with Doc Strange. I just don't want to tick off the Big Kid.
"And the woman who attacked you…" Stacy nodded. "One minute." He labored back toward his study again.
"Dad, what is it? We can get it for you!" She called to her father. "I thought that whole deal was hallucinations caused by ergot poisoning?"
"So did I, Gwendy. That coven could've infected some folks to strengthen their cover. Like she said, they were there. That book's real. The ghost that attacked me…Daddy's little Princess…she's real." Peter saw Stacy labor back across the room. "Sir, one of us could've brought that for you."
"Thank you, Peter. I knew where it was." Stacy set File Folder on table. He sat down right next to it. He opened it and pulled out a charcoal drawing. "Is that your stalker?"
Peter looked over Lichtenfeld's sketched out portrait. Chill shot up his spine. Burning and Shivers shot through his arms and legs once again. Cackling irritated his ears. "Yeah that's her. Real charmer." Grimace contorted his face.
"She's really mean looking. Yeesh!" Gwen shivered. "That was in Mr. Dubois' file?"
"She's been seen around him since he was a child. I shouldn't have to tell you to be careful, Peter." Stacy closed the file. "She's responsible for the deaths of several people around Mr. Dubois. Keep an eye out. Beyond that, we keep planning for our trip next month."
"Well, those guys have the stuff to keep the bad spirits at bay. We should be grateful for that." Gwen headed for the refrigerator and dinner preparations.
Matters never went away it seemed….