Читать книгу The Ghost Of Margaret Houg - Elton Varfi - Страница 11

Luisa didn't know what made her call Ernest and invite him to dinner. Now it was too late for a do-over, soon he would come to her. She knew that during dinner the conversation would have taken a turn that she definitely wouldn't like. Ernest would ask legitimate questions, but she wasn't ready to answer and he would feel bad once again. She was feeling stupid, but the thing that made her feel worse was that now she couldn't do anything anymore; she could just wait the collateral effects of her brilliant idea. She was thinking about these things when the doorbell rang.

Luisa went to open and she felt terribly guilty when she saw Ernest with a big rose bouquet in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other one.

“ The roses are for you, the wine is for me instead.” Ernest said, feeling the happiest man on Earth.

“ They're beautiful, but you didn't have to do all this.”

“ No trouble! You decided to assume the hard task of feeding me and this is the least I could do in return.” Ernest answered smiling.

Luisa was stunned in front of the door, grabbed the rose in her hands and she didn't know what to say. Ernest didn't look like he had lost his ability to speak and so asked: “We'd better get ourselves inside.”

“ Yes, of course, I’m sorry. Be my guest.” Luisa said, freeing the way.

“ It is nice, here, very delicious.” Ernest said as soon as he got in, but he didn't get a reply “You seem to be settling in all right” he kept talking.

“ Yeah, to be honest I'm doin' real good here,” Luisa replied, placing the flowers in a vase “It's not bad, really. I’m thinking about moving here. What do you say? ...Do you like the idea?”

“ I don't really think it’s a good idea that you…”

“ Hey, what's wrong with you? I’m kidding, Luisa! I haven't gone mad just yet.” Ernest interrupted her “Tell me the truth: you're not happy at all of having invited me, or am I wrong?”

“ No, no. But it makes me weird having dinner with you again after all this time.” Luisa said, trying to smile.

“ It's only been ten months, it's not a long time,” he muttered. “Anyway I really appreciated your invitation and I see nothin' wrong with having dinner together. It’s the most normal thing in the world to me and it doesn’t...”

“ When did you become such a talker?” Luisa interrupted him, smiling happily.

“ What do I spy with my eye? Luisa is smiling, I can't believe it.” Ernest said, kidding her.

Maybe you couldn't talk about proper laughs, but she certainly was friendlier. Ernest got closer and hugged her to manifest all his approval.

“ Everything good, then?” continued him “See, you don’t need too much to feel better.”

“ Well done, you became a talker with a wicked sense of humor. I wasn't expecting this from you.”

“ I know, unfortunately you have a wrong idea of me, but anyway...So, and what’s this delicious smell coming from the kitchen?”

“ You’ll see it in a while.” Luisa answered.

“ You're such a good cook. You cooked me such good things; even in these times I miss your meat dumplings…”

“ How's work?” Luisa interrupted him, as if she wanted to change topic, “Now you're a private investigator, aren’t you?”

“ Yeah, but to be honest I didn't have a lot to do. Recently, though, I received a serious offer.”

“ What is it about? If you don't mind me asking...” Luisa questioned.

“ I’ve to go chasing after a... woman.”

“ Some jealous husband sent you after his wife?” Luisa hypothesized, smiling, “I can't imagine you as a peeper.”

“ No, you're wrong, it's not about that. It would be easier. The thing is even more complicated than what it seems. Unfortunately I can't tell anything more.”

“ I understand, professional secret. I’m not asking you other questions. Now, we’d better enjoy our meal, I think dinner is ready.” Luisa said and went into the kitchen.

Ernest took a seat at the table and just as he was about to sit the phone rang. Luisa got out of the room and picked up the phone: “Hello? ...Yes, he's here. I’ll put him on. It’s for you.” She said to Ernest, who got up very surprised and curious about who was looking for him.

His surprise grew when from the other side of the phone he heard Roni’s voice.

“ Roni, what do you want?” he asked, “What happened?”

“ I know that this is not the right moment to bother you, but it happened again.”

“ What?”

“ The ghost appeared again and Mr. Houg is waiting for us.”

“ I don't care about the ghost, about Mr. Houg and about you, Roni. I haven't had dinner yet and I have no intention of moving from here. Okay?” Ernest answered very angry. Roni though had no intention in giving up.

“ I know that you’ll hate me to death, but in ten minutes I’ll be there, so I can take you to Mr. Houg’s house.”

Ernest couldn't believe it. He finally got to be alone with Luisa and Roni was ready to ruin everything because of that damn ghost that had found the right night to make her apparition.

His thoughts were interrupted by Luisa’s voice: “Is something wrong?”She asked.

“ Unfortunately yes.” Ernest replied, “Roni is arriving and I have to go away with him.”

“ I'm really sorry!” Luisa said.

“ Not as sorry as I am. Fate is against us. Looks like we can't stay in peace us two, huh?”

Luisa didn't know what to say. She was looking at Ernest and from her eyes you could tell she was really sorry.

“ Well, there will be further opportunities to date, don’t you think?”

Ernest didn't answer quickly. He looked at her in the eyes and he really wanted to believe that there were going to be other occasions, but knowing Luisa he knew that it would've been very difficult.

“ Now it’d be better open the wine bottle, at least we make a toast.” he said.

Luisa nodded and brought two glasses.

“ This toast is for us two, hoping that we can see each other again as soon as possible, Roni permitting.” Ernest said and got his glass closer to Luisa’s who did the same thing.

They had just started drinking, when the doorbell rang.

“ Here he is.” He said.

Luisa went to open the door.

“ Good evening,” Roni said “Sorry to disturb you, but it’s an emergency.”

“ Yes, Roni, we know how much you’re sorry, but now we’d better go.” Ernest said greeting Luisa and going out. Roni did the same.

After closing the door Luisa stayed still in the living room, thinking about what had happened. Ernest had messed her up. Maybe she still loved him! Maybe it was only cuteness? A strong smell of burnt brought her back.

“ Oh no!” she said “Dinner went down in flames!”

While they were heading towards their cars, Roni was looking at Ernest who strangely seemed calm.

“ We’d better go with mine,” Roni said “Don’t worry. We’ll use yours later on.”

Ernest obeyed, he went towards Roni’s car and they left.

Roni couldn't speak; he knew how much his friend cared about that night, but with his big surprise it was Ernest who asked him what happened.

“ Well, I don't know much. Mr. Houg phoned me warning me that the event happened again.”

“ The event?” Ernest asked.

“ Yes; clearly he was referring to the ghost. He sounded really worried about it and he immediately asked about you.” Roni ended and with the corner of the eye looked at Ernest, which kept looking calm though.

“ Who did it appear to, this time?” the investigator asked, “To his son again?”

“ Probably yes, we’ll know it soon.”

“ You're right, Roni, soon we’ll know how things are. It’s weird. In this moment I should've been dining with Luisa and I’m not. I should be mad at you, but I’m not. Can you explain me why?”

Roni looked at him in the eyes for a while and tried his best to give an answer.

“ I'm really sorry about the dinner, but I’m happy to see that you’re not angry. I can't tell you why. Even though we’ve known each other for years, I’ve always tried to understand you, but I think you’ll stay a big mystery to me.”

Ernest, after having listened to Roni, started laughing and gave him a pat on the back.

“ I'm talking seriously, you really are a mystery,” the antiquarian continued.

“ Instead, I find out tonight for the first time that you’re really reckless when you drive. I’d like to arrive to your friend’s house in one piece, bit if you keep driving like this the odds are just a few.” Ernest made him notice.

“ Don’t worry; we'll arrive safe and sound.”

In the meantime in front of Ernest’s eyes the shadow of Houg’s house appeared that kept getting bigger as they were getting closer.

Roni didn't slow down not even when, got past the gate of the mansion, they got the internal road. That house was beautiful, but at night it looked sad, it looked like there wasn't anyone living inside it; it was lifeless and it made you dread by looking at it.

Arrived at the entrance, Roni hit the brakes abruptly. They got out of the car and they didn't even have the time to knock that the housekeeper had already opened the door.

“ Mr. Houg is waiting for you in his study,” she said, gesturing them to follow her.

They followed her in silence, climbed the stairs and arrived in front of the door of the study that was open.

“ Please, take a seat,” the housekeeper said again, taking two steps backwards.

Getting into the room, Ernest observed her face and understood she was scared.

As soon as Houg sensed that they were there, he suddenly got up and headed towards them.

“ I don't know how to apologize for disturbing you at this hour, but I couldn't avoid it, seeing that the ghost has appeared again.”

Ernest approached the armchair in front of Houg’s desk, then, turning to the banker, said: “I already knew that. To be honest, I was hoping to hear something more.”

“ This time, my daughter saw her,” Houg muttered; then he went to sit in front of Ernest.

“ And where was your daughter when she saw her?” Ernest asked.

“ In her brother’s room. She was keeping him company because Rebecca, the nanny, had gone into town.”

“ But where did the ghost appear?” Ernest asked again.

“ In the family’s chapel that is behind the house; you can see it as well from that window,” Houg answered, showing the window that was at his left.

Ernest just turned his head to take a look, but he didn’t do anything else.

“ Can I talk to your daughter?” Ernest asked.

“ Sure,” Houg said and pressed a grey button he had on the table.

Not even thirty second passed and the housekeeper entered the room.

“ Please be so kind as to call Barbara. Tell her that Mr. Devon needs to talk to her,” Houg said.

The housekeeper nodded and went out.

Silence fell in the study. Roni, who was sitting on the couch on the right of the desk, wasn't making a sound. His silence was due to the fact that the story was making him enthusiastic and he couldn't wait for Houg’s daughter to arrive to understand what she had seen.

Houg instead put his head into his hands and, lost in his thoughts, he mentally drifted away from the room until when, back in himself, he said: “I’m so shocked that I didn't even offer you something to drink.”

“ I'm good like this,” Ernest said.

I’d like to drink a shot of brandy instead,” Roni said.

“ I agree with you, a shot of brandy is what we need,” Houg said and he headed towards a minibar to take the bottle and two glasses.

In the meantime Ernest went near the window and looked outside in the search of the chapel. It was plain dark outside and instead the room where they were was lit up so Ernest couldn't see anything. After a while a beautiful girl arrived, accompanied by the housekeeper.

“ She’s my daughter Barbara,” Houg said turning to Ernest. “And he is Mr. Ernest Devon and he’s here to help us,” Houg said again turning to his daughter this time.

“ Are you a Ghostbusters, Sir?” Houg's daughter asked ironically.

“ No, I’m not, miss,” Ernest replied.

“ So, are you a medium, an exorcist, something like that?”

“ Neither am I,” Ernest answered calmly.

“ Then, I don’t see how you could help us,” Barbara said, but Houg intervened:“Please, Barbara, it’s not nice to answer this way to our guest; he’s a private investigator and he’s also very smart. He wants to ask you some questions to better understand the situation and I’d be glad if you answer.”

Not a word did Barbara speak, then she noticed Roni and she got closer to greet him; then, she turned to Ernest and said: “Well, Mr. Devon, you can start questioning me, I’m ready.”

“ First of all I’m not going to question you, Miss. Like your father said earlier, I just want to ask you some questions to understand what you saw.”

“ Well. I saw my mother's ghost and I assure you I'm not crazy.”

“ Where were you when you saw it?”

“ I was in my brother’s room. Rebecca had gone out and he couldn't sleep; I looked outside the window for a second and I saw something moving in the chapel. I turned off the light to see better and…”

Barbara stopped and turned her head to her father, who encouraged her to continue.

“ And then I saw my mother's ghost,” she continued. “Right after I turned the light back on and I called Mary Ann which quickly ran to me. I told her everything and she looked outside the window, but she didn't see anything.”

“ But are you sure that it was a ghost?” Ernest asked.

“ Well, yes… yes… I’m sure, at least I think so.”

“ What makes you think that it was a ghost and not a flesh-and-blood person?”

“ Because a flesh-and-blood person must be crazy to do what I saw and then because I observed the face and it was really my mother's and, since she died more than a year ago, it had to be a ghost. I can’t find any other explanation. But actually, a doubt remains…”

Which doubt?” Ernest inquired.

“ If I saw my mother, or at least her ghost, why am I so much frightened? After all, she’s my mother; but in that moment I almost fainted.”

“ Now, please, try to remember the entire scene.”

“ I turned off the light, and then I looked outside the window. At first I didn't notice anything strange, but then I saw a woman and I could swear that she was my mother. She had a long white dress that touched the floor and she had a red rose in her hands. Maybe she felt my gaze on her, because she looked at me and she smiled at me, almost as if she wanted to mock me. Then she started some kind of dance. She was slowly moving her arms and head; they were really weird movements and for all the time her gaze didn't leave the window. I didn't have the courage to look anymore and I called Mary Ann.”

“ But Mary Ann didn't see anything, right?” Ernest asked.

“ Exactly, she didn't see anything.” Barbara answered.

“ Was this silhouette inside or outside the chapel?”

“ I saw her on the stairs, and then I don't know, I can't remember very well.”

“ Did your brother see anything?”

“ No… I don't think so. He just got worried because he saw I was nervous.”

“ Where is he, now?”

“ He’s sleeping. Luckily Rebecca came back early and my brother falls asleep fast with her.”

“ I’m done, for the moment, Miss. Should I have some questions to ask you, I hope you’ll be available.”

“ Of course...” Barbara said turning to her dad to have the permission to go. After receiving it, she greeted Roni and Ernest and left the room.

“ What do you think?” Houg asked Ernest right after his daughter’s exit.

“ I still don’t know what to think. It is sure that it’s not a simple matter,” the investigator answered.

“ I know that well, otherwise I wouldn't have asked for your help…” Houg said standing up and proceeding: “At least now we know that my son didn't make up anything.”

“ Why did you think your son could have made up everything?” Ernest asked surprised.

“ Because he's a kid and you know how kids are: too often they fly with the fantasy. Just a simple light reflection and they see dragons, monsters or ghosts,” Houg replied.

“ Anyway, I need to talk to your son as well. In the meantime, if you agree, I’d like to see the chapel,” Ernest said.

“ I’ll accompany you.” Houg said and pressed again the button on the desk.

After a while the housekeeper entered the study.

“ Did you call, Mr. Houg?” she asked.

“ Yes, Mary Ann, we need a flashlight,” he said.

The housekeeper got out and the others followed her.

Arrived downstairs, Mary Ann brought the flashlight.

They went out in the garden. Houg led the way, Roni and Ernest followed him. Once outside, Houg pointed at the chapel with the flashlight. Ernest immediately noticed the stairs and tried to imagine the exact point where the ghost could have appeared. When he got in front of the chapel he turned to the house and asked Houg: “Where's your son’s bedroom?”

“ Second floor, the third room from the right,” Houg answered.

Ernest localized the room, and then he took the flashlight and headed towards the stairs of the chapel like he was looking for something.

“ Nothing at all,” he said after a while.

“ What were you hoping to find?” Roni asked.

“ Something, anything.” Ernest replied mysteriously, and then he climbed the stairs and entered the chapel.

Houg and Roni followed him without saying a word. Ernest turned the light several times trying to lighten up the various parts of the chapel, but it seemed as he didn't find anything. Then, suddenly, the flashlight lit up a door.

“ And this?” Ernest asked.

“ It's the access door to the family cemetery,” Houg answered.

“ Can I go in?” Ernest asked.

Before Houg could answer, Roni intervened: “Don't you think it's a bit too much going in a cemetery at this time of the night?”

“ What's up Roni? Are you scared, maybe? You can wait here, if you want. Me, instead, with Mr. Houg's permission, I would like to take a look at the family cemetery,” Ernest replied in a mocking tone.

“ But of course you can go, even though I frankly don't really understand what you hope to find,” Houg said.

Ernest approached the door and opened it. A breath of cold air hit his face in the instant when he went out. He made light with the torch to read the names written on the graves. He stopped when he read ‘Margaret Houg’. He got closer to see better and he noticed that on the grave there was a red rose and underneath it there was something. He took the object with his hands to understand better what it was and he noticed that it was a tarot. Taking a better look at the card, he read: “The death.”

There was something strange; he heard a weird breathing, it seemed like a tired breathing, maybe of someone scared. He then decided to put the card in his pocket, took the rose and turned around. It was a huge surprise and he almost started screaming. Houg was right behind him and Ernest didn't hear him arrive, so he wasn't expecting to see him. He had a labored breathing. He was scared.

“ What's up?” Houg said.

Ernest didn't answer right after, he waited about ten seconds and then asked: “Did you put the rose here?”

“ No,” Houg answered.

“ We should probably go inside, now,” Ernest said and headed towards the exit.

They walked all the chapel down and just before getting out, the flashlight turned off.

“ Maybe the batteries are dead,” Roni said coming down the stairs with Houg.

Ernest stayed behind for a moment and he felt observed. He lifted his head to Houg’s son’s bedroom, but he didn't see anything.

The three men went back inside the house and took a seat in Houg’s study.

“ So, you didn't put the rose,” Ernest commented as soon as they sat down.

“ Absolutely not, maybe it was my daughter, even though I have high doubts on this.”

“ Why?”

“ Because, knowing my daughter, I don't think she could do a thing like this. Since her mother died she has never gone to visit her grave. Barbara is a hostile and stubborn girl, and, between us, we don't really get along. To be honest she didn't get along with my wife as well. That’s why I highly doubt that she could've placed that flower…” Houg said.

“ Maybe your son, then?”

“ Oh no, he doesn't get out of the house. The only time was when we admitted him, a month ago. It’s been over a year since he went outside.”

“ How old is your son?”

“ Twelve years old.”

“ And doesn't he go to school?”

“ Three times a week he gets private lessons,” Houg answered promptly.

While the banker got up to light up a cigar, Ernest got the tarot out of his pocket and placed it on the desk.

Houg took it in his hand, looked at it and then asked: “What is it?”

“ I found it together with the rose on your wife's grave,” Ernest said.

Houg held the card in his hands, he looked surprised.

“ What does it mean?” Houg asked again.

“ Only one thing, Mr. Houg. Who put that on it knows very well the meaning of that card. Someone here in the house knows how to read tarots?” Ernest asked.

“ No, no, no one,” Houg said and then continued: “All this is ridiculous. Someone put a card with a death symbol on my wife's grave? Do you think this means that I and my family are in danger?”

“ I don't exclude it, Mr. Houg.” Ernest replied.

“ This is a nightmare, and I’d like to get out of it as soon as possible. I’m not afraid for myself, but for my children,” Houg said.

Ernest took a look at the clock and said: “It's pretty late, Mr. Houg. Roni and I really have to go. Tomorrow morning I'll be here again and we'll talk about this again.”

“ Okay, I’ll lead you to the door,” Houg said.

They went down the stairs and headed towards the living room.

Ernest turned around and his gaze stopped on the portrait of Margaret Houg. For a while he felt shivers down his back.

“ See you tomorrow, then,” Houg said to Ernest when he got to the door.

“ Yes, Mr. Houg, I'll be here as soon as possible,” Ernest answered.

Houg said goodbye to Roni, then he turned around again to Ernest like he wanted to tell him something, but then he changed his mind and got back inside the house.

The two friends left in silence and only after a few kilometers Roni commented: “It's a great mystery, don't you think?”

“ Looks like it,” Ernest replied.

“ I was left with no words. It’s a good mess. It won't be that easy.”

“ Yes, I know that it's not going to be easy, but who plays these little games will make a mistake in the end and I'll be ready to put him with his back on the wall,” Ernest answered and then added:“At least I hope so.”

“ Let's wish that all of this ends as soon as possible and mostly that nobody gets hurt,” Roni said.

“ If it’s like I think, it's very probable that this entire story will finish very soon.”

“ Don't tell me you already have a suspect?” Roni asked.

“ Maybe.”

“ Come on, don't play the mysterious, speak!” Roni encouraged him.

“ Houg’s daughter.”

“ What does she have to do with this?” Roni asked surprised.

“ Well… first of all, did you hear what his father said of her? That she's a hostile girl and they don't really get along; secondly, nobody has seen the ghost except her; thirdly: did you also notice the resemblance to her mother, or not? Possible conclusion: she wants to make a despite to her dad and she plays at telling stories of ghosts.”

“ I'm sorry but this version doesn't convince me because: one, her brother saw the ghost at first, and he was even admitted in hospital because of this; two, it is true that she's a hostile girl, but it seems too much inventing this just to make a despite to her father; three, I don’t understand what the resemblance with her mother has to do with this,” Roni made clear.

“ Maybe I’m wrong. The fact is that I’m tired and a little off. But in his story there’s something odd. It doesn’t convince me at all.”

“ Why not?”

“ Because she says he has seen the ghost in her face, but we were in the chapel as well and we were forced to use an electric flashlight to make light, or am I wrong?”

“ This is true,” Roni answered.

“ So, how did she manage to see the face well, if the chapel was in the dark? And then, how can she remember well all the movements, if she says that she saw her just for a few seconds?”

“ I don’t know, Ernest. It’ll be better that you make it clear with her tomorrow.”

“ Of course, I’ll do it.” Ernest answered.

“ But the thought that it could really be a ghost doesn’t even touch you?” Roni asked.

“ Don’t talk nonsense, it doesn’t exist any ghost! Have you ever seen a ghost that plays with card or puts roses on graves?”

“ Okay, never mind,” Roni answered and didn’t talk for the rest of the journey.

Arrived in the point where Ernest had left his car, the investigator lifted his head and looked in the direction of the window of Luisa’s apartment.

“ I really think that she’s sleeping at this hour,” Roni said smirking.