Chapter 5

We all stood at the front gate of Brill Mansion. A fence surrounded the place. The gate and fence were made of iron. It was almost 7. The gate opens. Zachary stood behind it. There was a man that stood next to him. He had white hair of an aging man. Wrinkles all around his face. He looked familiar.

Zachary signed, "come in." The man repeated it aloud to the group. So this man was his personal translator.

"My name is Drake. I will be your butler and translator to understand Master Brill and for him to understand you." He said, also signing. He had some sort of accent. I couldn't tell. I felt uneasy about him.

"We won't be needing that, thanks." Lockwood said. "We have Dottie here." The way Lockwood pointed me out like that made me feel out of place. I glance at Zachary. He signed to me and only me.

"He insisted. I had no choice." I nod at him.

"What did he say?" George asked, looking between me and Drake. I reach for my satchel.

"He said to head inside." Drake said, eyeing me. I stared back at him. Being mute was a blessing and a curse. If I could speak, I would be saying a lot of things to this man. We all followed him inside. I stood next to Zachary, far enough from Drake.

"Why do I feel like I know him?" I asked Zachary.

"I don't know. He started working here after you left. My father hired him before he died." He signed back. We both glanced at Drake. He wasn't looking at us. He was busy showing around the Mansion. I shook my head, focusing on the case.

"We might have found out who the ghost is." I signed. Zachary's eyes lit up.

"Who?" He signed, enthusiastically.

I bit my lip, then signed, "You said you saw close enough that it was a man, correct?"

Zachary nodded.

"George went to check the records and there were only two deaths here."

"My mother and father." He finished. "You think my father is haunting the place?"

I nod. Zachary sighed. I glance back at Drake. He was staring at us. I wondered how much he had heard. We stopped. Zachary walked forward, eyeing me.

"Master Brill and I will be in the guest house outside. It's lined with silver, so we will be safe there." Drake said. I glance at Zachary behind Drake.

"Later." He signed, secretly so Drake wouldn't see. I nod back.

"Any questions?" Drake asked. We all looked at each other.

"Very well."

We laid our supplies in a chain circle. I kept my satchel. Drake and Zachary had long gone left.

"Okay, we're going to split up into groups." Lockwood called. "Holly, your with George. Kipps, with me. Dottie, with Lucy."

Lucy walked over to me. She smiled at me. Good sign.

"Alright. Kipps and I will be in the basement. George and Holly, upstairs. Dottie and Lucy, main floor." He looked around at everyone. "Everyone fine?"

We all nod.

"Fine. Head to your areas."

Everybody left to their Designated areas. I turn and head to the supplies. I pull out a small iron chain. Small enough for two people. I turn around and stopped. Zachary was standing beside me.

"Zach!" I signed, "What are you doing here?"

he ushered me toward a dark Corner. I follow.

"Drake doesn't know I'm here." He signed. I rolled my eyes.

"So why are you here?" I asked.

"I want to help." He signed. "I could be good for something. Plus, I can actually see ghosts." A smug but playful grin ran across his face.

I sighed in frustration. "Fine!" I turn. Lucy stood right behind me. I jumped.

"What were you guys.. arguing about?" She asked. I grab my notebook.

"He's coming with us. He wants to help." I wrote. I handed it to Lucy. She read it over.

"Fine. But your Watching him." She said sternly. She turned then stopped. "Does he know where his father died?"

I turn and sign to Zachary. He nods.

"Then lead the way." She said, standing aside.

Zachary walked pass her and ushered us to follow. We follow him down the gloomy hallway.