Notes: I really do grow weary of posting chapters when I know that each one is apparently going to be greeted by a pointless and broken-record complaint. I tried to be polite and patient and explain how long the story will likely be, hoping that would appease this mysterious party. It hasn't. If said party is actually interested in this story, may I respectfully suggest that they would be happier waiting until the story is complete before they resume reading? If they choose to continue reading as it goes up, they will simply have to accept that it's going to be a long story and chapters are very naturally going to leave some things unresolved. I rather suspect that instead of being genuinely interested, this person is a troll who thinks they're being funny. If I am given further reason to believe this, I will commence ignoring said person and deleting their comments.

Chapter Seven

Officer Jimmy Anderson sighed, pushing up his hat as he settled back in the squad car. It had been a long day and night and he was relieved that his shift was just about over. It would feel good to go home and get some sleep.

He had met up with Officers Reed and Malloy while on patrol, which was nice. They had decided to finish out their shifts together since they were examining the same area tonight.

He perked up at the sight of a woman coming out of the nightclub across the street. The area had been so devoid of people for the last hour that he had started to wonder if anyone was around at all. This woman seemed to be out for a good time and knew exactly what she wanted.

"Ma'am?"

Officer Malloy was approaching her now. "Is this your car?" he asked, indicating a blue convertible near a fire hydrant. She was studying herself in one of the side mirrors.

"Why, certainly not," she retorted, straightening up. "I came in a cab." She smiled at him. "But say, you're cute for a cop. Why don't you join me for some fun tonight?"

Malloy looked somewhat amused. "No, thank you, Ma'am. Maybe some other time."

"Yeah, you've gotta find out who had the gall to park in front of a hydrant, after all!" the woman said, proceeding to stroll on her way.

Definitely amused, Malloy watched her go.

She was coming towards Jimmy now, walking past his car. As she drew closer, he sat up straight in bewilderment. "No," he gasped. "It can't be. Miss Street?!"

He shook his head. He was seeing things, surely. This woman was blonde and spoke with a Southern accent. That wasn't Della.

Still, if her hair was dark instead of light, and the drawl was gone . . .

He sighed. Boy, did he ever need to get some sleep.

xxxx

The night passed in relative peace, bringing with it a chilly autumn morning that nevertheless seemed peaceful as well. Pete Kelton made the drive to Manzana Valley, where he was introduced to the staff and the students as the new permanent gym teacher. They seemed accepting and friendly enough, and as everyone began to separate to attend their classes, the science teacher made her way over to him.

"Hello," she greeted. "I'm Janet Gwynne."

Pete perked up. This was someone he definitely wanted to talk to. "Hi, Ms. Gwynne," he said, touching the brim of his hat.

"I hope you'll enjoy your time here," Janet said as they started walking. "Dr. Stuart has been having a very difficult time filling the position of phys ed teacher. It will be wonderful if you stay on."

"I hope I will," Pete said. "But he's been having trouble, you say? What kind?"

"Oh . . . for some reason the gym teachers either can't or won't stay on permanently," Janet said. "One of them received what he felt was a better offer. Another said he'd rather work in the big city. Another . . . well . . ." She trailed off, seeming to feel that she was starting to say too much to the new teacher.

"Well what?" Pete asked.

"Nevermind," Janet said hurriedly. "Anyway, the point is, I really want to welcome you to the school."

"Thank you," Pete said. Deciding he would have to approach the subject himself, he said, "Were you going to say that the other teacher left because of the strange things that have been happening here?"

Janet froze. "You've already heard about that?" she gasped.

"Dr. Stuart told me when I came in this morning," Pete said. "He knew I'd be hearing it from the students soon and he thought it would be better if he told me himself."

"And you still wanted to stay?" Janet looked amazed, even incredulous.

Pete shrugged. "It kind of fascinates me, actually," he said. "Anyway, I notice you're not leaving."

"Oh, well, I've been with Dr. Stuart since his first Manzana Valley Prep School," Janet said. "I'm not going to leave just because I hear disembodied voices in the hall."

"That's good to hear," Pete said. "But what do you think is causing things like that to happen?"

"I don't know," Janet said in dismay. "I've tried to think, and I suppose the most logical idea is that it's someone's idea of a prank, but I can't think any of the students would do such a thing. They realize it wouldn't be funny and it could actually hurt Dr. Stuart and the school."

"So if it's not a student, then what?" Pete wondered. "Could the school have really been built on an ancient burial ground?" This he said with a slight smile and a twinkle in his eye.

"I guess anything's possible," Janet replied, "but even if that was it, it wouldn't prove that the grounds are haunted by restless spirits."

Pete chuckled. "You've got a point there. Some people don't even believe that the dead haunt graveyards. But so, just out of curiosity, if it isn't a prank and it isn't real ghosts, what does that leave?"

Janet frowned, slowing her pace. "You know, I don't really know."

"Could someone be deliberately trying to hurt the school or someone in it, like Dr. Stuart?" Pete ventured. "I guess I read too many mysteries, but it's starting to sound like a classic mystery plot to me. Maybe that's part of what got me interested in taking the job."

Janet gave him a look. "I hope you won't be playing amateur detective instead of teaching basketball, Mr. Kelton!"

"I won't, I promise!" Pete said, holding up his hands. "I'm just curious."

Janet flushed. "Oh, don't mind me. I must have sounded awfully rude. I guess I'm just sensitive on the subject because of what happened four years ago."

"What was that?" Pete asked.

"You didn't hear about the Tobin Wade scandal?" Janet sighed. "I really shouldn't be saying anything, but you'll hear it soon enough anyway."

"I didn't hear anything about a scandal involving the school or Dr. Stuart," Pete said. "Maybe I'd remember if you told me something about it."

"Tobin Wade was Dr. Stuart's friend and assistant at the first Manzana Valley Prep School," Janet explained. "When this area was going to be developed more fully, the developer badly wanted the piece of property the school was on. Tobin . . . well, I still don't fully understand what happened, but he got greedy and started doing everything he could to cause the school to shut down. He had made a deal with someone who would pay him a great deal of money if he could make the property become available for purchase." She glanced up worriedly as the first bell rang. "The short story is, Tobin was murdered and Dr. Stuart was blamed for it, but he was innocent. That lawyer Perry Mason proved that and uncovered the real murderer. But some people are saying now that Tobin is haunting the new school just to torment Dr. Stuart."

"That's very interesting," Pete said, pretending he didn't already know the story. "Do you think there's any truth to it?"

"Not really, no. But then again, I guess I never really knew what Tobin was like." Janet quickly moved to a nearby door. "This is my classroom. Maybe we can continue this discussion later?"

"Sure," Pete said. "Maybe over lunch?"

Janet smiled. "That would be fine. Goodbye, Mr. Kelton." She vanished inside, leaving Pete to ponder over things out in the hall.

She certainly seemed sincere about not wanting harm to come to Aaron or the school. But on the other hand, she referred to Tobin Wade very familiarly. Pete wondered just how close they had been. That might be a subject he could ask some of the other staff members about until it was time for gym class.

xxxx

Perry arrived in his office bright and early and was rather consternated when Della was not there and did not come by what was usually the latest time she ever got there. He had considered picking her up on the way, but had determined that it would be better to let her rest a while longer, just in case she wasn't up yet. By the time it was nearing ten o'clock, however, he was downright worried. He called her apartment and received no answer. The same thing happened when he tried her cell phone. He was just about to call Paul and ask him to help him go out looking when the door opened and a harried Della rushed in.

"Here I am!" she announced. "I'm sorry I'm so late."

"Della, where on Earth have you been?" Perry demanded as he rose from his desk. "I haven't been able to reach you at all!"

Guilt flickered in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Perry. I must have overslept. I was so exhausted. But then I left the house and came here as quickly as I could."

"Did you forget to turn your phone's volume up?" Perry asked. "It seems like I would have got hold of you at least one of the times I phoned."

"I must have forgot exactly that," Della said in dismay. "Perry, I really am sorry."

Perry sighed. "Nevermind that. At least you got here before Mignon Germaine's scheduled appointment." He studied her carefully. "Are you really alright?"

"Why, yes," Della said in surprise. "I promise that's the truth, Perry."

"No more memory lapses?" he persisted, not convinced.

"No. As far as I know, I had a perfect sleep," Della said. "Now, what needs to be done today?"

Realizing there was nothing he could do to get a different answer from her, Perry sighed and directed her to a brief he wanted typed. Silently he hoped that Mignon would bring answers that they both wanted to hear.

xxxx

It was right before eleven that Della got up from the brief and quietly entered the law library from the door in her office. Slipping back into acting on a previously implanted suggestion, she almost mechanically went to the safe and unlocked it before taking out the infamous paper bag Gene Torg had given her two days before. Opening her purse, she placed the barely-finished paste necklace into the bag and then brought the bag into her office to wait for Mignon.

In Perry's office, Paul gave his special knock and entered through the back door. "Hi, Perry," he greeted. "Did Della get in alright?"

"She says she did," Perry said. "I couldn't reach her before she came in, but her explanation is reasonable enough." He leaned back. "I'm probably just overreacting."

Paul sighed. "With all the trouble we've been having, it's hard to know what's overreacting anymore." He went over and sat in his favorite chair facing Perry's desk.

"Well," said Perry, lacing his fingers, "did you have any luck on that research?"

"Nothing seems out of the ordinary about Jane Madsen," Paul reported. "I talked to her right before I came here. The police have been out to talk to her too. She said she's never even heard of Walt Selkirk and has no idea what he was doing at the cabin. I talked to a couple of his coworkers at his current place of employment and they don't know either. He never mentioned the place to them."

Perry sighed. "Maybe it was just a random coincidence," he said. "He might not have even been the man who gave Gene Torg the jewelry."

"I couldn't say about that, but I also ran down the place where he and Torg both worked. There were only two employees there who remember when both of them were employed, and according to them, Mr. Selkirk and Mr. Torg never really associated."

"So it is possible that Mr. Torg doesn't know what he looked like," Perry mused.

"Yeah, it's possible," Paul agreed. "But when it's Gene Torg, it's really hard to know what to believe."

"Touché." Perry watched Paul closely. "What about that other assignment I gave you last night?"

Paul let out an exasperated sigh. "Now that is really interesting. Mr. David Solomon doesn't seem to have even existed before three years ago. The earliest record I can find of his existence is when he went to Amos Berry for a job."

Perry's expression changed to an intent look. "I wonder what would happen if we ran a fingerprint check on him."

"And just who would agree to run a fingerprint check on him just because he was out by Tobin Wade's cabin last night?" Paul retorted.

"I think any of our Lieutenant friends would be willing, considering he was actually trying to break into the cabin," Perry said calmly. "Steve is in charge of the case, along with Sergeant Brice. Try asking one or both of them. They might like to have a talk with him. Alternately, you could take them something he touched, like a particular wrench, and just ask them to check for fingerprints."

"Sergeant Brice might go for that, but I don't think Steve would," Paul sighed. "And how would I get a wrench that only he touched? I'd have to look around the garage for his toolbox, and after last night I don't think I'd be able to get away with that without him getting suspicious!"

"You're probably right," Perry amended. "Alright, just start by telling the police what happened last night and see if they'll agree to talk to him."

"I'm on it." Paul got up. "You'll let me know what happens when Mignon comes?"

Perry smiled. "Of course."

xxxx

That event happened shortly after Paul's departure. Della knocked on Perry's door and then slowly opened it. "Mignon is here," she told him with a smile.

"Good." Perry immediately got up and went into Della's office. "Hello, Mrs. Germaine. It's good to see you again."

"I'm glad to come and try to help," Mignon said. "Miss Street was telling me in greater detail what's been happening since yesterday morning."

Perry nodded. "And what do you think?"

"It's difficult to say. It could be indicative of possession, it's true. But that certainly isn't the only explanation for unusual behavior." Mignon looked to the paper bag on Della's desk. "Is that the necklace?"

"Yes, and the earrings," Della said, holding it out. "There doesn't seem to be anything strange connected with the earrings, though."

Mignon handled them anyway before going on to the necklace. She frowned, puzzled, and Della began to have a sinking feeling.

"What is it, Mrs. Germaine?" Perry asked. "Do you sense anything?"

"No," Mignon answered slowly. "That doesn't mean that there isn't something wrong with the jewelry; I might not necessarily pick up on something amiss with it."

Della found herself feeling desperate and heartsick by this news. "But if even Gene Torg and Pearl Chute sensed something wrong, it would seem like you definitely would as well," she exclaimed.

Mignon gave her a sympathetic look. "No one can sense things all the time, Miss Street. I recommend getting a second opinion before you decide that nothing is wrong with the necklace."

"And if nothing is wrong, and the necklace really isn't possessed, then I must really be going out of my mind," Della practically whispered. She had rarely ever felt so helpless. And she had never thought she would actually be hoping to hear that there was an evil spirit attached to the necklace. Facing the alternative seemed so much worse.

"Let's not think that," Mignon said in concern. "You've always been perfectly in your right mind. I don't believe that would suddenly change."

"But you weren't there yesterday," Della said, half in a daze. "You don't know what I did."

"Here's a possibility you may have not considered," Mignon said kindly. "You were at your worst at the school. What if whatever is behind the mysterious events there possessed you for a time while you were on the grounds and then left you alone once you departed?"

Della blinked in surprise. "I didn't even think of that," she realized.

"Neither did I," Perry said. "That's something we should try looking into. Thank you."

Mignon nodded. "If you would like, I could go to the school and try to determine whether I think the strange events are being caused by the supernatural or human beings."

"I'll pass along your offer to Dr. Stuart," Perry said. "He and I have been trying to focus on the idea that what's happening is courtesy of living people, but it does seem unwise to completely discount the other possibility, especially in light of what's been happening to Della."

"Let me know what Dr. Stuart says and I will be happy to go out there if he wants," Mignon said.

"I will," Perry said. "I should be talking with him today."

"And if you want me to recommend someone else to take a look at that necklace, I will," Mignon said.

"Maybe you could, so we could cover all bases," Della said hopefully, swinging a notepad around to the edge of the desk.

Mignon obliged, writing down the names of a couple of people she knew. Della took it when she was done, looking it over and then passing it on to Perry for examination. "Thank you," she said again.

"I hope you will find a satisfactory answer for your problem, Miss Street," Mignon said. "I can only imagine how it must be plaguing you to not understand what's happening."

"It really has been terrible," Della admitted. "But what bothers me most is knowing that I've been hurting people I care about."

"That would be the very worst thing," Mignon agreed.

After goodbyes had been exchanged and Mignon had departed, Perry looked to Della. "Well?" he asked. "What do you think of Mignon's suggestion that the possible spirit might be at the school?"

"It seems like it could be true," Della said. "I definitely think it's worth investigating. Only . . ." She paused, frowning.

"What is it?" Perry queried.

"Why would the spirit choose me?" Della wondered. "If she was looking for a female body, she could have gone to anyone on the staff or even Mrs. Stuart. Not that I would ever want something horrible like this to happen to any of them, especially Mrs. Stuart," she quickly added. "I just wonder . . . why me?"

"That's a very good question, Della," Perry said. "The necklace seems the more plausible explanation since you've actually handled it. And since the girl Ellena figures into things and she had the necklace. Of course, we don't actually know that she would have stayed with the necklace after her death. Perhaps, since she was so enamored of Tobin Wade, she would have been more likely to go to the school instead."

Della nodded. "If only we could find out something more," she berated.

"Maybe soon we will," Perry said encouragingly. "Pete might be having some luck at the school."

"I hope so," Della said fervently.

xxxx

Pete was indeed learning some interesting things at the school. Many of the staff members had proved fountains of information, especially those who had been with Aaron at the old school. Some had speculated that Janet had actually been romantically involved with Tobin Wade, but no one seemed to know for sure; their relationship might not have gone past coworkers and friends. But Janet had certainly liked and trusted him at any rate and had been crushed by the news of what he had really been.

When it came to the matter of who was trying to make the school appear haunted, however, no one seemed to have any concrete ideas on that. Some said students, others said an unfunny faculty member. There weren't many who thought Aaron was being deliberately targeted for some cruel purpose, or at least if there were, they preferred to stay silent.

Pete was pondering on the information and wondering whether to pause and send a progress report to Paul when several students in the hall up ahead screamed and started scattering. "It's happening again!" one girl yelled.

"I don't hear anything," Pete objected.

"It's starting to feel really cold in that spot," a boy called back.

Wanting to feel that for himself, Pete walked ahead to where everyone had fled. It only took seconds for him to realize that they were right. "This could just be a trick," he said. "There's ways to make it feel like a cold spot when it really isn't a supernatural one." Nevertheless, he couldn't deny that not knowing for sure what was causing it, it really seemed eerie. He shivered, stepping away from the location and wondering what to do.

When the Petersons' house had been made to appear haunted some time back, devices had been hidden in the walls to create cold spots. Telling Aaron about that fact seemed the most logical move to make next. And perhaps after the school day was over, they needed to go over that part of the corridor inch by inch seeking one of those devices.

"What's going on here?!"

Pete looked up as Aaron hurried into the corridor, baffled by the panicking students. Seeing Pete, Aaron slowed down and gave him a questioning look.

"I'm not sure," Pete said. "I think it's one of the 'incidents'—a supposed cold spot."

Aaron stormed forward into the cold spot. "This is outrageous!" he cried. "How could they make it feel like this? There aren't any ventilation grates in this area."

"There's ways," Pete said, "but . . ."

He was cut off as an eerily disembodied voice reverberated down the hall. "Aaron Stuart! By the time of the masquerade ball, you will pay for what you did to Tobin Wade."

"What?!" Aaron's patience and temper were swiftly unraveling. "I didn't do anything to Tobin! It was his choice to turn against me out of selfishness and greed!"

"Tobin Wade tells a different story."

"Oh, he always told a different story from the truth," Aaron retorted. "I doubt he even knew what the truth was anymore! Who are you? Why don't you come out and face me man to man, instead of cowardly hiding behind these childish tricks?!"

The only response was a chill breeze that swept past both Aaron and Pete. When it was gone, the coldness of the spot faded as well.

Aaron let out a shaking breath. "I don't know how much more of this I can take!" he exclaimed, running a hand into his thinning hair.

Pete sighed, more disturbed by the experience than he wanted to admit. "We're going to get to the bottom of this," he promised.

"When?!" Aaron wailed.

When was another question. And now it seemed certain that whoever it was wouldn't stop at these 'childish tricks.' Pete had the feeling that Aaron could very well be in grave danger at the masquerade ball. Maybe even sooner.

It was definitely time to make that progress report to Paul.