Room for Murder - Tim Myers [55]
From her spot in the maid’s closet, Elise could watch their door without being in their line of sight if they came out suddenly.
Alex waited, staring up at the lighthouse. He was in clear view of the observation platform, but it was closed for the night. What would the sentinel think of his foolishness? Alex had to admit, the lighthouse had seen him do a lot worse, though not lately. With a grin, he saluted the tower with his free hand.
It was time for another tap.
After a quick rapping, he pulled up the pole just in time to hear the window slam upward.
Alex didn’t need Elise’s monitoring to hear the voices inside.
“What was it, a tree branch?” Sheila asked.
Paul said, “There’s nothing out here, I keep telling you that.”
“That wasn’t nothing,” she hissed loudly. “Tell me you didn’t hear it.”
“So I heard something. It was probably just the wind.”
She said, “The wind doesn’t knock on your window, you idiot.”
“Well, there’s nobody out there. We’re two stories up. Do you honestly think somebody’s up on stilts trying to get our attention?”
She said loudly, “Close that window. You’re letting in a draft.”
Good. They were unsettled enough for the moment. Alex carefully climbed back to the window and slipped inside. Elise was waiting for him there, having climbed up the scuttle herself.
“You’ve really got them going,” she said.
“I know, I heard. Are we ready for phase II?”
She held up a set of chains he used in winter. “All set.”
“Okay, here goes.”
Alex started moaning loudly as Elise walked in increasingly large circles away from him, dragging the chains on the rough pine floor of the attic as she added her own set of groans to Alex’s mix. They were hoping the sounds were split enough to make the pair just below think there were several ghosts above them. Mrs. Nesbitt had warned them early on that she could sleep through a hurricane, and the other rooms in that section were empty, so they didn’t have to worry about disturbing anyone else with their antics. That was the only way Elise had agreed to the charade.
It was hard not to laugh, and a few of Alex’s groans sounded distinctly like snickers. Maybe they’d think one of the ghosts was insane!
Finally, they were ready for their crowning touch. Alex motioned to Elise, gestured to the window again, and climbed back out onto the roof. Elise’s job would be to whisper into the microphone, “Leave us, leave us, leave us,” as Alex tapped on the window again.
Alex got to his previous spot, leaned over, and started to tap as he lost his balance again. The bamboo pole slipped from his hand as he went over, sending his foot through the window! The glass shattered as Alex caught himself and pulled back up on the gutter. That had been entirely too close.
Alex scrambled back inside, glad he’d worn his work boots instead of his flimsy running shoes. His little stunt could have ended in disaster in a dozen different ways.
Elise’s eyes were bright in the weak light. “What happened?”
“I slipped and nearly fell. My foot went through the window as it was.”
“Alex, are you all right?”
“I am now, but I think I’ve haunted my last room. I hope the glass didn’t hit them.”
They turned on the walkie-talkie and listened to the room below.
Paul said frantically, “I don’t care about the story anymore. I’m getting out of here.”
“You’re not leaving me behind,” Sheila yelled.
“Hey, you’re on your own. If you’re not ready in two minutes, I’m out of here, with or without you. Pretending to be married to you was just about more than I could take. I’m not about to hang around here and let a ghost get me. If you want to write the story, be my guest, but I’m not touching it.”
“You wouldn’t dare leave me here alone,” she screeched.
“Just watch me.”
Alex tried to fight the laughter bubbling in his throat, but a few sounds still escaped before he could get himself back under control.
Sheila snapped. “Did you hear that? They’re coming back.”
“I’m going. Now.” Paul shouted loudly enough for them to hear without the aid of the walkie-talkies.
“Wait for me. I’m coming, too.” Sheila screamed.