Back in the library
"So, you got a face to face with one of the ghosts?" Stone said, surprised.
"Yes. Mrs. Mills had been a very steady sort of woman when she was alive who had always tried to keep things running evenly for the house. She was no different when she became a ghost. She admitted to me that it was easier when the living in the house weren't aware of or capable of seeing their ghostly roommates but sadly it seems the last few who had tried to make a go of it had either been not only aware of the phantasms sharing their living space but were insensitive enough to make things uncomfortable for the ghostly family. I'm sure she even mentioned one owner who had tried to have an exorcism performed to rid themselves of their ghostly tenants. I had the advantage of my long years with the Library to show me what would be considered appropriate in dealing with spirits so she and I were able to speak freely without the issues that otherwise might have come up in a ghost/living being conversation."
Baird glanced over at Jones – who had gone too quiet – and saw he was playing with his tablet, a frown on his face as he read what came up. "Anything you want to share with us Mr. Jones?"
Jones looked up and shrugged. "Maybe. I was wondering why, after all this time, this book of news articles should show up on our doorstep but the Clippings Book had nothing to say. Seems there is a reason someone wants you to remember that house."
"Which would be?" Baird asked.
Jones handed his tablet over to his Guardian with a shrug. "Looks like the house and property are being sold for back taxes by the local municipality to some big conglomerate who are looking to tear it down and building some sort of mini-Master Plan community. You know the type – town homes, shopping malls, lots of people in a small area. The house is scheduled to be demolished this week."
"But…" Cassandra sputtered. "where will the ghosts go if their house is torn down?"
"I seriously doubt that the new owners of the property know or care about the ghosts situation" Stone growled. "Their only concern would be how much money they can make from the place."
Jenkins frowned as he thought about the situation. "You know – I'm not terribly sure. I've heard of ghosts continuing to haunt spots where their original homes or place of death occurred such as the ones in what used to be Bedlam asylum in London. But the horrors of that mental asylum would be enough to imprint the spirits of the dead on the ground the hospital stood on, much less the walls. For something like this – I'm not sure."
"Maybe we should try and find out?" Cassandra asked, hesitantly. 'After what happened to us in the haunted house we were in…"
"That was different" Stone protested. "The House of Refuge was being controlled by a psychopathic ghost whose wanted to see people suffer and die. These people…"
"One of which murdered her own children in their sleep" Jones called out. "And tried to use a ghostly shotgun on Jenkins."
"Mrs. Stewart was not a strong woman and the stresses of her children's illnesses and the occupation of her town by the Nazi's pushed her to her limits." Jenkins sighed. "I am, however, concerned that her panic at seeing her home torn down might cause her to try to lash out at innocents who will not be aware of her presence. Considering the first family that Charlene knew had taken up residence in that house were terrified by the ghosts interactions with them and they son. Whether she can kill or not is unknown but she can certainly hurt someone, possibly badly, if she becomes afraid enough."
"What about this Mrs. Mills character you talked to?" Baird mused. "Could she stop things if they started to spiral out of hand?"
Jenkins shrugged uncomfortably. "I can not say for certain. Remember, Col. Baird, this house is HER homes as well . She maybe more pragmatic than the other occupants of the house but if push came to shove I'm not sure she wouldn't let the lady of the house deal with the interlopers in her own way."
Baird shook her head in frustration. "Look, Flynn isn't here right now to ask his opinion and the Clippings Book is being, you should excuse the pun, deathly silent. We could all use a break from this place and poking around in a haunted house scenario might make for a good training exercise. Jenkins, you and I can go to the house and see if we can get some intel from the locals, maybe even get a chance to reacquaint you with the ghosts. Cassandra, you and Jones start poking around the stacks here and see if you can come up with something to help us move the ghosts on to another plane of existence if needed."
Jenkins sighed. "With all due respect, shouldn't I stay and do that while you and Miss Cassandra talked to the locals?"
Baird frowned. "Normally I would agree but you've already met these ghosts and formed a rapport with them. I may need you to run interference if things are starting to slide downhill with the house's eminent destruction. And Cassandra and Jones need the practice of doing this sort of research on their own – without you to fall back on."
Stone waved a hand in the air. "What do you want me to do?"
"Perhaps Mr. Stone can go with you Col. Baird in my place. I'm sure the locals would be much more comfortable talking to him about the house's reputation then they would be with me. And besides – it hasn't been that long since I was there. Someone may recognize me."
Baird snorted in disbelief. "Really? You're going to go there? It's been over 50 years since you were in that town looking into what was happening in that house. What are the odds? Nope – I need you to talk to the ghosts about what's happening to their house so get your coat – we're headed back for the Channel Islands."
