Haunted Hideout: Paranormal Suspense (The Haunted Ones Book 1) Page 5

  Mark nodded his head and then set the bowl in the dishwasher. “Got it. Maybe I’ll get dressed and check out that barn and the yard.”

  But Jake wasn’t entirely certain that the boy was really giving up that easy. The boy probably considered himself the man of the family now; doing what he thought would protect his mother and sister. He was too young for that kind of responsibility. Being a kid these days was tough enough without jumping into a man’s shoes. This thing with guns and growing up too fast was something to watch, that was for sure.

  TEN

  Mark

  THE AGENT WAS ON HIS CELL PHONE WHEN MARK WALKED BY THE KITCHEN. After a quick shower and donning the new clothes, Mark was already sick of the house. Getting outside, breathing fresh air would be an improvement. He closed his eyes and shook his head before going out the back door. As much as he hated this place, it was home now. But when he was old enough he’d go back to Florida.

  At first he’d thought Jake was kind of cool but now he knew the truth. He was just like all the other adults, treating him like a baby. Just because he was small for his age and skinny, didn’t mean he couldn’t be tough—or smart. He could probably beat that FBI guy in an IQ test if he had to. He was smart like his father had been. He was going to be tough and not let anyone play him for a fool. Not like those drug guys had done to Dad.

  He kicked a stone on the path to the barn sending it flying twenty feet to prove his point. Ignoring the sharp pain in his toe, he looked around at the expanse of the backyard. On one side the boundary was marked by a split-rail fence and on the other the dark blue of the river. A cold breeze nipped at his face and he pulled the collar of his jacket higher.

  He flipped the latch and tugged the barn door open. The only light in the dim building flowed from a few high windows and the door where he now stood. But it was enough to show a ladder perched against a half-story, open platform, above. They called that a loft, he thought to himself. There was a thick gray rope dangling from a pulley of some sort. He gripped the line in his hands and yanked on it, lifting his feet from the floor and swinging back and forth.

  Skidding his feet on the floor he scuffed up a cloud of dust. When his nose began to itch, he stopped swinging and rubbed it. The ladder was next. He wandered over to it and began the twenty-foot climb to the old hayloft. He’d seen pictures of barns of course but this was the first time he was ever in one.

  BANG!

  He almost fell off the ladder when the door slammed shut. His heart leapt to his throat and he darted back down. Racing over to the door, he pushed on it, saying a silent prayer that the latch hadn’t caught. What had caused the door to shut? He was trapped and no one would ever hear him yelling. At first it wouldn’t move. He lurched and tugged at it with all his might, yanking at the stuck door. Without warning it flew open, and he stumbled forward almost falling flat on his face.

  He straightened and then looked at the door feeling a chill race through his body. It wasn’t that windy outside that it would have slammed the door, was it? He looked up above the door and only then noticed the horseshoe hanging above it. Unlike what he’d always seen in books, this one was upside down. Or maybe that was the way they did things up north.

  The back of his neck prickled. All of a sudden the barn held little appeal.

  He brushed his hands together and then looked out to the water. The frozen grass crunched under his feet as he walked across the yard, heading for the shoreline. Squinting at the sun sparkling on the water, he peered across to what looked to be an island, dark evergreens topping a rocky shoreline. To the left was another island, and he squinted harder seeing the peaks of a structure that looked like a castle. Yeah, it was definitely a stone castle on that island. The north’s attempt at Disney World’s Cinderella Castle? He’s have to ask Jake about that.

  The beach was carpeted with smooth stones making it hard to walk. He had to look down picking his way across until he was only a few feet from the water, gurgling in small waves against the rocks. He spotted a flat rock about as big around as a golf ball. Picking it up, his fingers curled around it and he let fly, smiling when it skimmed the surface, kissing the water four times before disappearing. He tried another and another, before spotting the perfect stone.

  He stepped a few feet to grab it and then stopped short seeing an old man walking halfway up the long stretch of beach. Where had he come from? He hadn’t noticed him before. And there was no sound of him walking along the rocks.

  A flat, gray hat slung low over the guy’s forehead, and his shoulders were hunched in a bulky, dark coat, his hands in his pockets. He just stood there staring across the water. Mark gazed past the old man trying to see if there was a house or car to indicate where he’d come from. But all he could see was the low-lying shoreline, bordered by fields with the odd tree. His house was the only one around.

  He hurled the stone across the water. Should he go back to the house to get Jake? Even though the guy was old, and just watching the river, he had no business on their property. What was he up to? He made like he was getting another stone but his gaze slid up the shore to take better stock of him to give Jake a better description.

  He dropped the stone and then jerked upright. The guy was gone! Mark peered down the beach and then across to the fields, but there was no sign of him at all. What the hell? He was too old to get away that fast.

  Mark walked quickly across the beach and then broke into a run when his feet hit the grass. He had no idea where that guy had gone and he wasn’t taking chances. Not with the reasons they were here in the first place...no way, José. He had to get Jake. Now.

  He raced up the steps at the back entry and yanked the door open. When he stepped inside he was panting, trying to catch his breath. Mom was just coming down the hallway, still in her robe and pajamas.

  She took one look at him and her mouth fell open. “Mark! What’s wrong?” She held him by the shoulders, while her eyes inspected his face. “What’s the matter?” Her eyes sparked with fear and she looked out the door behind him.

  He deliberated all of two seconds whether to tell and upset her before blurting, “There was some old guy just up the beach from me. One minute he was there and then the next second he was gone.”

  Jake stepped out of the kitchen and stood next to his mother. “Where?” He grabbed his coat from the hook and then slipped it on. “Never mind. I’ll check it out. You guys stay here.” He pushed past them, one hand reaching for the door, the other sliding to the small of his back. There was a gun in his hand when he stepped outside.

  ELEVEN

  Lydia

  LYDIA’S HANDS SHOOK when she pulled Mark into her body. Her poor baby had been outside all alone and...and some guy was out there? With one arm still sheltering his, she reached for the door latch and flipped the dead bolt. Herding him into the kitchen, she raced to the window, just in time to see Jake stepping out from the grass onto the beach. His hand was outstretched holding his weapon.

  When Mark sidled close, joining her in watching the beach area, she turned to him and her words rushed out in a torrent, “Did he come near you? What was he doing? Did he say anything?” Her heart thudded fast in her chest while she fought hard to keep her voice even and steady.

  “What’s going on?” Angela was at the counter. She hadn’t even heard her enter with her feet in thick socks. “What’re you looking at?” She stood on Lydia’s other side, pulling the curtain wider.

  “Mark saw someone at the beach just now. Jake is gone to check it.” She stepped back and then raced across the kitchen and down the hall. The front door was probably locked but she had to make sure! Her fingers twisted the knob but of course it was locked. She looked into the living room on her way by peering at the window, and Jake’s sleeping bag still spread on the sofa. He was going to be staying a few more nights until he could say with absolute certainty they were safe!

  She sprinted back to the kitchen; the kids were still hunched at the window. “Anything?” She clu
tched their shoulders when she stepped between them, her face close to the clouded glass. She swiped it clear.

  “No.” Angela turned to her brother, “What were you doing out there all by yourself? That was a dumb move.”

  “He’s coming back.” Lydia saw Jake shake his head, seeing them staring out the window. But instead of coming in, he strode out of sight at the back of the house.

  “He’s probably checking the barn.” Mark shrugged the coat from his shoulder and set it on the back of the chair. The blue of his eyes were rimmed in white; he was still so shook up. He walked into the dining room and stopped at the window, cupping his hands to the glass and watching the area outside.

  “Maybe Angela’s right. Until we know what’s what around here, no wandering off outside by yourself. Understood?” Oh my God. What would she have done if Mark had been hurt? Until Jake came back in the house, they weren’t out of the woods yet.

  “K.” His voice was muffled but at least he was agreeing. The poor kid was scared to death.

  At the pounding on the front door, her hand flew to her throat. Mark raced to the door. “Make sure it’s Jake before you open it!” she yelled.

  But still she hightailed it right behind her son.

  “It’s me!” She recognized the agent’s voice and opened the door.

  When he stepped inside he cupped his hands in front of his face and blew some warmth into purple-tinged fingers. Even the top of his ears were red from the cold air outside. “You sure you saw someone, Mark? There wasn’t a sign of anyone that I could see; no footprints anywhere or any tire tracks either. You said it was an old man? What was he wearing?”

  Mark met his gaze without faltering. “I saw a guy. Honest. He had on this cloth-type hat that was like a tam or something, and his coat was dark. It hung almost to his knees. He kept watching the river like he didn’t even know I was there. I turned away for a second and then he was gone!”

  Jake looked over at him for a moment, the doubt clear in his puzzled eyes. “I believe you saw something Mark. But maybe it was a bush or tree that kind of looked like a guy? We’re at least a half a mile from your closest neighbor. And if someone was there, I would have seen him walking away. The barn was clear and no sign of any vehicle other than mine. I checked it too.”

  Mark’s face had regained its color and then some. His cheeks were tinged with angry spots of red when he turned and raced up the stairs. She was about to follow him when Jake’s hand on her arm made her stop. “Let him go. He needs some space. I’ll talk to him later. Maybe we’ll go outside and check the beach from where he stood. It might have been a trick of the light or...I don’t know, a bush?”

  She took a deep breath trying to tease the knot of worry in her chest loose. Mark wouldn’t make this up. He was truthful almost to a fault sometimes. But he’d been through a lot in the last seventy-two hours. Maybe he thought he saw something, but that description had been pretty detailed for it being just a bush.

  “I’m getting something to eat.” Angela spun on her heels and went back to the kitchen.

  Lydia scowled after her daughter. “I need a coffee. I’ll talk to Mark later. If you go to the beach with him, Jake, I’m going too.” She shot a cold glance at the agent. How hard had he really looked? Was he any good at his job? But, the other two agents had sang his praise, that he was one of their best. So far, she wasn’t impressed, dismissing her son’s claims that easily.

  “I’m going to make some calls. Let me know when you want to go into town.” He slipped his coat off and hung it on the hook by the door. He fished a set of keys from his coat pocket and walked silently into the living room, shoving them into his pants.

  All this and she hadn’t had a cup of coffee yet. She blew out a long sigh as she walked down the hall to join her daughter.

  TWELVE

  Lydia

  WHEN LYDIA ENTERED THE KITCHEN, Angela was rummaging in the cabinet.

  The girl flicked a packet of hot chocolate powder, and a wan smile flashed. “Seems like a good morning for hot chocolate. We need to turn the heat up in this place.” She mixed her drink and then popped it into the microwave before looking over. “You don’t think there was really anyone out there do you?”

  Lydia sighed and poured a coffee. “I don’t know what to think. I trust Mark. But that agent didn’t see anyone or a sign of anyone. I’m going to check it myself when I get dressed.”

  At the beep of the microwave, Angela pulled out the mug. “Y’know… it could have been a bush or something. Have you ever noticed Mark squint sometimes? Maybe he needs glasses.” She popped bread into the toaster and then leaned against the counter, sipping the hot drink.

  Lydia stirred her coffee but her hand paused at Angela’s words. She’d never noticed that about Mark, yet her daughter...a girl who had always been caught up in a busy social life, had. What kind of a mother doesn’t notice her kid squinting trying to see things in the distance? How had she never noticed? “That’s news to me, Angela. He never mentioned that it was hard to see the blackboard at school or—”

  “He wouldn’t. Bad enough he’s scrawny without wearing glasses too. How much of a nerd would he look like then? Besides...” Angela’s voice trailed off, “...you were always working. You never would have noticed.”

  Oh God. It was the truth. The only surprising thing was that Liam hadn’t noticed either. Surely if it had been that bad he would have. But then again, Liam was busy trying to stay alive and keep them safe. Shit. Here she had thought the FBI agent was incompetent but it might just be Mark’s eyesight. If anyone was incompetent it was her, as a mother.

  She sat down at the table next to Angela. “I’m sorry. I did work a lot and maybe I wasn’t there for you guys as much as I should have been.” She took a deep breath. But that would change. Hell it had to change, considering everything that happened.

  Angela surprised her when she placed her hand on hers. “It cost a lot to live in Miami. You did what you had to do. And maybe Mark’s eyes aren’t that bad. Dad never noticed, did he?”

  Her eyebrows bobbed high and she nodded. The kid had a point. Actually two points. The extra income she earned had meant the difference in living in a better neighborhood and taking a two-week vacation every summer. Lots of their friends hadn’t been able to do that. “Well, I won’t be working insane hours anymore.” She snorted and smiled at her daughter. “Imagine me working in an office, nine-to-five. I’ll get used to it though, I suppose.” It would be mind-numbing, pushing paper rather than working with the public, but at least she’d be around more for the kids. She sure wouldn’t miss the Church-of-the-Open-House, every Sunday trying to move dud houses.

  “I hope we can get the internet hooked up soon. It’s going to be so boring out here without it.” Angela finished the last gulp of her chocolate and then looked down at the table. “I wonder what Sophia thinks. Or actually any of my friends. I just vanished into thin air without warning.”

  It was a whole lifestyle and circle of friends to grieve about. If Angela, who was strong and resourceful was hurting; what must Mark be going through, missing Arnie and David? In an ironic way, it was a blessing that all of the children’s grandparents were long dead.

  Instead of having a second cup of coffee, she got up. “I’m going to get changed, and see how your brother’s doing. Then we’re heading to town for some more stuff. You want to come along? The sooner we get ready, the sooner we can leave. Maybe we’ll get Jake to drive us by the high school so you can see it.”

  When Angela nodded and walked over to the sink to rinse out her dishes, she added the coup de grâce. “I’d like your input on the car to buy. In another year you’ll be driving it, you know.”

  The wide smile on her daughter’s face was a welcome change.

  ***

  Jake glanced up when the two women walked by the living room to head upstairs. He got up and walked to the entryway, placing Lydia’s new set of house keys near her purse on the hall table. He tossed his own k
eys at the other end and then peeked out the window in the door. Still, there was only the Toyota parked out front, no sign of any movement or tracks in the frost.