Chapter 17 – A Story That I Have Never Told

Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt, if I did the series would never have ended and Mai and Naru would have little paranormal grandbabies for Martin and Luella running around by now.

Author's Note: This chapter has fought me so hard! I'm still not totally happy with it, but I think that it is finally ready to be shared. It is a little on the shorter side for me, but there is so much going on already in this chapter that I felt where I ended it was a good stopping point. Happy Thanksgiving to those in the US! (Well, I was going to update on the turkey day, but could not get the story to post, so sorry that it is a little later than meant to be!)

Not yet edited.


Thursday afternoon at BSPR, Martin, Luella, Lin, Madoka, Oliver and Mai congregated in Martin's office as it was the largest and could therefore better accommodate their planning session. The first thing they were discussing was the makeup of the team for this case; Martin and Luella would not be part of the team, but would be staying at a hotel in the area to observe and provide any extra backup needed. Madoka actually opted out of joining this case, in order to field the many queries about the new Japan branch, and to vet any applicants on their sincerity before testing them in the field with Mai and Noll.

Madoka suggested they take Callum Danielson instead, Callum being her best researcher and likely replacement when she moves to Japan with Lin to work at JSPR, and wants him thoroughly field tested by the best. The second assignment to the team is Miss Josslyn Clifford, minor empath and full-time troublemaker. Miss Clifford has been assigned to the team, not as a member of investigations but instead at a junior intern status, to fetch and carry. Luella questioned this assignment at first, but after being apprised of the previous unprofessional actions Miss Clifford has undertaken during investigations, the only disagreement was that Luella thought Miss Clifford should be discharged completely from BSPR instead of offering her the opportunity to prove her loyalty to the Society. Putting that annoyance to the side for the moment, Oliver and Mai look over the other list of investigators that Madoka has suggested and are pleased.

The first investigator is a wielder of Pyrokinesis named William Parker, also sometimes called Billy or Sparky by his teammates; Mr. Parker is also a known practitioner of Druid Paganism, and a bit of smart arse, but he is also a solid family man with a wife and two sons to insure he gets home safely from every case. Next was an older, motherly woman, named Angela Cooke who functioned as a diviner and Protestant exorcist, the main problem with her being her attitude towards Oliver. Ms. Cooke has never been quiet about her dislike of the younger man, even often calling him a pretentious know-it-all prat. Two more investigators with the same mindset as Ms. Cooke have also been added, as well as one more intern with very little experience thus far.

An American man from the southeastern shores known as the Lowcountry region, a moderately famous practitioner of Gullah Voodoo, Juney Young, disliked both Davis twins on the principle that they originally came from the Boston area, and his mind, whether they were considered Brits now or not, they're still a couple of those dam' Yankees and he'd work with 'em, but he wouldn't like it. The last member of the investigative team would be the technical expert, James Campbell, completely without any spiritual talent, but a veritable genius with all of their finicky equipment. Unlike the others in the team, James didn't have much of an opinion about Oliver Davis, nor did he care to. The last person rounding up the team was an intern, studying in the undergraduate parapsychology program under Martin, Jenny Ryder, and while she was not the best student scholastically, she had shown promise as a medium, and could be a valuable full team member once her schooling was complete. Oliver taking note of each member proposed and nodded his agreement, and then asked Lin to follow-up with Jenny about the conversation the intern had with the client surrounding their needs for a base room and sleeping quarters. Once Lin affirmed with the intern that everything was set in place, a memo was sent to all team members to meet that afternoon at 4:00 P.M. in the same conference room used on Tuesday to go over details of the case.


Oliver stood aloof at the head of the room, while Mai handed out a packet she had crafted to each team member; included in each packet was a basic rundown of the case in question, pictures of the clients, and the home they would be investigating as well as blueprints of the current floor plan as provided by the client. The blueprints had special notations regarding where any previous activity had taken place, as well as locations of note, such as base or the sleeping rooms for the crew. There was also a loose diagram of possible places to start setup on the property while Mai, Lin and Oliver talk to the clients for any other possible hotspots. After handing out the packets, Mai went to sit next to Oliver until it was her turn to speak.

"Thank you all for coming and agreeing to participate in the investigation at the Lumley Manor starting tomorrow. I will ask that everyone arrive here at BSPR no later than 5:30 A.M., so we can do a final check on equipment before travelling to location. I am aware that this is an unusual configuration of investigators, but some of you requested this assignment, or to be evaluated for transfer to JSPR, or for possible promotion and in this instance the field is the best place to determine the outcome of these staffing changes. Please take a moment to read over the packet of information that was prepared for you, and let us know if you have any questions," Oliver said before sitting down next to Mai and making some notes on his own copy of the information packet, and spoke to Mai telepathically, "Let's see how well they like this new methodology. I know it has worked well for us in the future, and I think it was a good idea of you to implement it now," and she smirked in response to his mental message, replying, "Naru, I'm getting interested vibes from several of them, but from their dossiers I think it is safe to say none except Mr. Parker, and Ms. Ryder will admit it outright. I think from watching Mr. Danielson's facial expressions he seems to be kicking himself mentally for not suggesting this format already," Mai said giving Oliver a small smile before looking out at the rest of the crew reading the packet intently.

Once everyone completed the assigned reading Mai stood and addressed the group, "As Oliver said, thank you all for coming and I look forward to working with each of you one this case. Before I ask for questions, let me give you a quick overview of the case. Brian and Amanda Lumley recently purchased their home from a distant relative in Mr. Lumley's family, and no one has actually inhabited the manor in nearly a century even though it has been maintained throughout the years. Once our clients moved in, activity started, and it was targeting Amanda Lumley along with any female guest visiting the manor. Mr. Lumley has had no activity at all focused on him, but his wife has woken up screaming with some very deep cuts and a multitude of bruises; she has also been shoved down three different staircases in the manor at different times, and luckily was only mildly injured until the last fall. In the last fall Mrs. Lumley sustained a fractured wrist and sprained ankle and due to these injuries she will not be on the property unless Oliver, Lin or I are actively questioning her. Are there any questions so far?" Mai asked the assembled group and nodded at Callum who raised his hand with a question.

"Is the animosity localized towards Mrs. Lumley and her acquaintances, or will any female on the team be in a dangerous position?" Callum asked as he looked over at his co-workers in worry, and Oliver replied, "We will operate under the assumption that any female will be a possible target in this case, and ask that each of you male or female take the proper precautions and no female is to go anywhere in the manor unescorted no matter the reasoning," he said and turned a stern look on Mai, who had the grace to give him a sheepish smile in return.

"Since it is likely that myself, and any of the other females on this case will be a target, I will provide you each with some charms to help with protection and I ask that you keep them on you for the duration of the case. Also, speaking to Naru's request that we females do not go anywhere alone, the other three female members of this team will be housed in a single room outfitted with two double beds. In a second room we have Mr. Parker, Mr. Danielson, Mr. Young and Mr. Campbell, with Lin, and Naru and I in the final room. Each room in question has the same configuration of two double beds, so it is up to each occupant to work out a sleeping schedule with their roommates. Yes, Miss Clifford," Mai asked when the icy young blonde raised her hand to ask a question.

Josslyn stood up with a huff, and asked, "Shouldn't you be in a room with the rest of the women? And if it is ok to go co-ed I'd much rather be in a room with Oliver and as a longer term member of the Society I am more deserving of the spot there too," she gave a self-satisfied smile while glancing seductively at the younger Dr. Davis, who was quick to respond, "Miss Clifford, you are welcome to decline the opportunity to attend this case if you are not satisfied with these arrangements. At this point the only thing you are qualified for is the position of gopher and I assure you that not a single member of this team would miss your attendance. Tread carefully should you decide to join us, and know that your previous behavior with Eugene is well documented in Human Resources should you attempt a repeat of those actions, and your dismissal will be swiftly dealt with. As to more deserving, which male, both of whom are in loving committed relationships I might add, do you suggest you share with?" he asked her with an intimidating glare.

"But, Oliver, I thought we had something special…" she trailed off as she noticed everyone looking at her, and Mai replied, putting a hand on Oliver's arm to forestall what was sure to be his angry reply, "Miss Clifford, something special you also thought you could manufacture with Gene, hmm? We are very aware of how you traumatized him when he was only 14 and you were already a legal adult, now, please sit down and be quiet unless you have any questions that actually pertain to this case."

Knowing that she was currently outmatched, a seething Josslyn took her seat, ignoring the annoyed looks given to her by the other team members, and tuned out the rest of the meeting as she continued to plot. She still planned to show up for the investigation, and she would show them all who was the most deserving team member, and just who would get Oliver in the end.


The next morning two vans loaded up with equipment and staff from the British Society of Psychical Research left Cambridge a little after 7 A.M. and headed to the Lumley Manor which was located in Suffolk on the outskirts at the far side of the town of Lavenham, meaning they should arrive shortly before the 9 o'clock hour. The first van was driven by Lin, with Callum Danielson sitting in the front seat beside him, Oliver, Mai and Billy Parker sitting on the second row of seats with half of the equipment in the back behind them. The rest of the team was following in the other BSPR van, with Martin and Luella to follow them all down later that afternoon once base was established and all set up was completed. Seated next to the window in the first van, Oliver was reading his file of case notes when he felt Mai's head slowly descend to his shoulder and he chuckled softly to himself as she fell asleep, probably to dream of the case they were heading towards.

Oliver was right, Mai was indeed already on the astral plane the moment she fell asleep nestled against his side; Gene met her with a wide smile and after a few pleasantries he ushered into the vision as he knew the ride to the client's home was relatively short and the darkened foxfire lit atmosphere melded into a brighter scene held within what appeared to be a Victorian-styled parlor.

She couldn't believe how wonderful he was, this man who asked for her hand. He was older than her by at least a score of years, and there were fine lines around his eyes, and a smattering of silver at his temples but he was so very handsome with his russet hair and soft grey eyes that she couldn't believe her luck. She knew that she was plain, short in stature, too plump with mousy brown hair and strange yellow-tinged eyes so she never thought she would be so lucky that a man as refined and elegant as the youngest Mr. Lumley, or Dunstan as he had asked her to call him, would consider taking someone like her even as his third wife! She knew it was her very faint family connections to the Lumley's that even made this match for her possible, and she was so grateful they took her in 10 years ago when her own family perished in a carriage accident when she was merely a child of six.

"Mr. Luml…Dunstan, I would be the happiest of women to accept your proposal, sir," Katherine cried ecstatically and curtsied deeply, in thrall of the handsome man before her.

"Quite right, my dear Katherine, as you should. Your position in this household is no better than that of Grandmother's companion, and if you saw fit to refuse I daresay we could replace you easily enough," Dunstan Lumley sneered, well aware he held the young woman's future in his hands. "You will fulfill all your wifely duties and provide me with a spare heir if possible, and take care of the other children from my first and second wives, is that clear? I have already attained a special license and we shall marry within the week, so I don't see why I shouldn't go ahead and take a sample of what you're flaunting there now," he said cruelly and moved closer to the girl, who moments before was so happy, and whose eyes now held nothing but fear within them.

Mai's point of view became disoriented as the scene she was experiencing changed rapidly, her entire being feeling as if she was housed within a spinning whirlwind as another memory overtook her senses.

She was falling. Everything she could feel was pain and sheer agony as she felt the edges of the hard stairs strike her body repeatedly. She kept trying to grab the railing on the staircase only to lose purchase as her nails splintered and broke, ripping away and tearing at her skin as she desperately attempted to find any purchase to halt her descent. The air had been knocked from her lungs, leaving her even unable to scream as she felt two firm hands push her from behind when she left her husband's chamber that evening. Who was it? Who did this? Her body hunched over in a feeble attempt to stall her tumble once she realized putting her hands out to stop her fall only caused her more physical damage, and her lungs, still painfully attempting to inhale, but the little oxygen making its way past her lips seemed tainted by a pungent aroma that left her even dizzier than the swirling colors of the staircase around her as she fell finally to stop at the landing between floors. Her last thought as her head made contact with the cold marble floor, and darkness descended upon her was, "I promise, I'll never do it again… please..."

Mai wrenched free of the vision, her eyes stinging with tears as she saw Gene kneeling in front of her, his own eyes sad and haunted. Launching herself at him, Mai sobbed until the lingering dizzy sensation left her and she said, "That poor girl. I can't even… imagine how someone so sweet could be harmed so cruelly!" Mai sniffled as her emotions started to settle and Gene gave her a hug before saying to her, "I'm sorry you had to see that little sister, but it's important. Go ahead and wake up now, you're almost there and Noll has noticed your fidgeting… next time see if you can get him to come with you, because I think this is just the beginning of what you might see," he said giving Mai another hug, and then shoving her back off the astral plane with a smirk when she didn't vacate fast enough for him.


Mai inhaled sharply, automatically gripping at Naru tightly as she awoke from her vision, unease pooling within her at what she had seen. His arms immediately wrapped around her, pulling her tightly against him as she silently cried into his chest, the earlier calm she achieved on the astral plane dissipating as reality claimed her awakening senses. Naru tenderly stroked Mai's hair, comforting her and completely oblivious to the amused glance of their seatmate as Mr. Parker watched the scene between the two investigators unfold. Her breathing finally calming under Naru's tender ministrations Mai swallowed audibly and began to relay her vision to those in the van with her; Mr. Danielson quickly taking notes to share with the occupants of the other van once base was set up, and she finished her tale just as Lin parked the van near the entrance of Lumley Manor. All of the occupants quickly exited the van, and under Naru's instruction began to ready the equipment, while he, Lin and Mai went to the front entrance and knocked waiting for the clients to meet them.

An unassuming man of average height and features answered the door and introduced himself as their client Brian Lumley, who then turned to Lin and said, "Dr. Davis, I presume?" Shaking his head ruefully Lin stated, "Actually Mr. Lumley, my name is Koujo Lin, I am Dr. Davis' assistant, along with Miss Mai Taniyama here, our other companion is actually Dr. Davis," he explained as he indicated Oliver beside the two of them. This answer flustered Mr. Lumley, who apologized as he turned back to Naru and said, "I must offer my apologies Dr. Davis, with your reputation I did not expect you to appear so youthful. Please, all of you call me Brian, and if you and your team will follow me I can show you the place I set aside for your base room," he said as he led them down the main hallway of the manor to a relatively large room that only had a couple of couches and end tables occupying the space.

Upon seeing the space Oliver nodded in satisfaction and dispatched Lin to get the rest of the team to begin setting the base up and as the crew began to filter in with equipment he asked, "Mr. Lumley, I would like for my two assistants and our lead researcher on this case to discuss the particulars of the case with you and your wife in person, is Mrs. Lumley here with you already or do we need to wait for her arrival?"

Brian shook his head and admitted, "She is still on her way, and should arrive in an hour or so, along with her sister who has also had some issues here. If you will come with me, I can show you where your sleeping arrangements are going to be. We just moved some of the beds and a couple of chairs from upstairs to some rooms down here in the configurations that you asked for, and there are some water closets nearby and bathing rooms in the old servant's quarters just down the hall that your staff can use." As they walked towards the new location, Mai asked where the kitchen was located, and Brian replied, "If you take the right turn where we originally turned left to come this way to your quarters, you will find the kitchen… but we do have a housekeeper that will provide your meals for the group while you are here, and she will serve them in informal dining room across the hall from your base room."

Mai smiled brightly at the client as he gave them directions to the different locations he mentioned and then said, "Brian, do you know if your housekeeper has had any interactions with the paranormal whilst they have been working here?" When he nodded at her question she continued, "Wonderful! Then I can take care of Oliver's perpetual need for tea, and speak with the housekeeper at the same time, if that is alright with everyone," and she looked first at Naru, then at the client Brian for assent. When both men agreed, she grinned as she turned to follow the directions to the manor's kitchen, gladly leaving the others behind to begin the set up while she got a head start on interviews with the housekeeper.

Mai found the kitchen easily enough, and fist pumped to herself that she found it on the first try without getting lost, and then knocked softly on the door to catch the housekeeper's attention before entering. Removing her messenger bag from over her shoulders Mai bows respectfully at the motherly older woman in the kitchen, and introduces herself, "Hello, I hope I am not interrupting your morning. My name is Mai Taniyama and I am here with the investigative group from BSPR, and I was wondering if I could make use of the kitchen to make some tea for my boss? He's a real tea addict," she said as she straightened from her bow and smiled happily at the older woman, who returned her smile in kind before saying, "It's a right pleasure to meet you Miss Taniyama, please feel free to use any of our supplies as you need. I'm quite happy to have someone here to take care of all these goings on! I've been ever so worried about the Mistress, she's a fair delicate waif she is, and doesn't need some silly spirit stirring up all these shenanigans all the blessed time," the housekeeper huffed out in a rapid tirade while looking beseechingly at Mai.

Mai stifled a giggle as she looked through the cabinets in the kitchen, locating the necessities of brewing the tea she carried in her messenger bag, and once she had filled the procured kettle with water and headed to the stove, she replied, "Just call me Mai, please. I'm glad that you're so open to our presence here, because when we read the request by Mr. and Mrs. Lumley, it sounded like there was a real urgency needed to help avoid any further dangerous conditions. Would you mind answering some questions for me?" As Mai turned her back to the kettle to face the housekeeper, she felt a slight chill overtake the kitchen, but it was gone before she could attempt to sense any other presences near them.

The apple-cheeked housekeeper, who had warm amber eyes and steel grey hair piled on top of her head in a bun, seemed to flinch at the same time Mai did when the room's temperature briefly plummeted but she quickly composed herself to say, "Ah, I' m Constance Murphy, but you can call me Connie, Miss Mai, everyone does. And to be sure, I will happily answer your questions, as long as answers I have." Connie went to a different cupboard in the kitchen as she spoke and removed a larger tray than Mai had previously found, offering it to her once she saw how many teacups the younger woman had pulled out and said, "Miss Mai, you're a guest here at Lumley Manor, I hope you know I can make the tea for you if you like?"

Mai shook her head and confided, "Oh Connie, you're more than welcome to make tea for everyone except my boss, Dr. Davis. I have him utterly spoiled, and while I don't believe it tastes any different, he will only drink my tea and if I let him he would drink that entire teapot by himself," she winked at the other woman, while taking out a small recording device from her bag and asked, "So, you mentioned a ghost. Have you seen or experienced any phenomena that you would attribute to a ghostly presence?"

"Oh, yes Miss, indeed! I haven't been a target of the ghost so much as a witness to how it's tried to hurt the Mistress and some of the other ladies who visit the Manor. For some reason it doesn't seem to pay much attention to myself or the other hired help, even when we're standing right beside Mrs. Lumley. It's almost like we're beneath its notice," she said as Mai took the now whistling kettle off of the stove and began to set up the tea leave in the teapot to steep and Mai asked, "What types of occurrences have you noticed happening? Other than the physical assault on Mrs. Lumley, any cold spots or apparitions that you or any of the others working here might have noticed?"

Connie shook her head thoughtfully at first, then she stopped as she nodded emphatically, "You mean like that chill here in the kitchen right after you came in? Those happen quite often here in the Manor, but never when I'm alone. Mostly, when the Mistress is around, it's close to freezing most of the time. I make sure to keep a nice cozy sweater in most rooms to make sure she won't take a chill. Are you saying that's the ghostie at work?" She asked Mai, and when Mai nodded at her as she began to pour water over the tea leaves with water that was now the perfect temperature, she continued, "As to the apparition, is that like seeing the ghostie walk around? I've never seen anything of the sort… I never had the sight like my ma did, but I have seen furniture and the like move on its own several times. I've even seen entire rooms here in the manor upended and a huge mess left behind even though no one has been near the rooms since we last cleaned them, but that only happens when the Mistress leaves the house after being attacked," she said and helped Mai load up the smaller tea tray with wedges of lemon, sugar cubes and a small pitcher of cream when she finished relaying her experiences.

Mai turned off the recorder and stowed it back in her messenger bag, before slinging it back over her shoulders as she smiled at the friendly housekeeper. "Would you mind helping me carry the other tray to the base room? I can easily carry the larger with all of the cups, but both might present a problem… and I might get lost," she added with a goofy grin, confiding her real worry to the housekeeper as she picked up the larger of the two tea trays and balanced it in her hand. When Connie agreed, the both set off from the kitchen and down the hall to where the others were almost done setting up the base. As some of the other teams members swarmed in and out of the base carefully transporting the equipment needed into the large room, where the team's tech expert James Campbell, started assigning locations to set up cameras to Miss Clifford and Miss Ryder, reminding them to take baseline temperatures as they worked.

When both Mai and Connie walked in the two ladies set the filled tea trays down on two the tables near the couches in the room, and Mai introduced the housekeeper to Oliver and Lin and gave them a quick synopsis of the information the two of them had spoken of in the kitchen and Mai removed her recorder, handing it to Lin for transcription.

Oliver nodded slightly at the housekeeper, and said, "Thank you Ms. Murphy, the insight you have offered will no doubt be very beneficial for our investigation. If you should have any experiences while we are here, or remember any other details please let Mai or myself know," as he crossed over to the tea-bearing table and picked up a cup, inhaling deeply of the scent before taking a careful sip of the hot liquid and sighing contentedly and quickly drained his first cup. Just as he turned back to the table to set his teacup down and grab another, a cold breeze, not unlike the one Mai felt in the kitchen earlier, swept through the room and the blood-curdling shriek of a terrified female could be heard from the floor above them.