A Ghost at Stallion's Gate (14 page)

“Perhaps, at that time there was speculation that the little boy was, indeed, related to Gertrude Straub and somehow, the family or the genealogist was fishing for a Coover connection as well. Maybe the queries in the Baton Rouge newspaper went dry and the theory was to look for a Straub connection in a known Coover residential area. After all, the Coovers were originally from Montana,” Eric answered.

“So, what you are saying is that there is a connection, a family history of one sort or another between Gertrude Straub, whose maiden name is Monette, and Marla Devereux, whose maiden name is Monette?” I questioned.

“Potentially, yes. I have not uncovered information as to where Gertrude was after her divorce. Albeit, if we use the Kelsey family’s genealogist newspaper queries as a lead, it would indicate there is an excellent chance that Marla and Gertrude were related and for whatever reason, they were both in Louisiana,” Eric explained.

“And, they were both involved with Reggie Coover? Rats, again, this case is becoming convoluted, to be sure. You know, from the moment I met Darren, my gut instinct was that he was not straightforward with me. I wonder if I should try talking with him, again?” I suggested.

“Better yet, I should have a word with him,” Eric countered.

“You? Eric you cannot do that. You would scare the life out of him,” I argued.

“Oh, my dear Shannon. I do not mean to literally materialize in front of Darren’s eyes, rather, I will leave a few hints here and there. A gentle whisper in his ear, a photo will fall off the wall, an email message, some such finessed communication.”

I glanced at my watch and announced, “I’m going on another ghost hunt tonight, how soon can you work your magic on Darren?”

“Tonight,” Eric answered.

“Okay,” I agreed. “For now, excuse me, I need to freshen up.” I got up and pushed in my chair. I turned to go into my bedroom. Eric had one more question.

“Is Alex escorting you this evening?”

“Yes.”

“Enchanting,” he said.

I turned to ask what he meant by that remark and saw
that he had already dismissed my presence. Eric was, once again, delving into cyber space. I let his remark go and left my question unasked.

Chapter 25

Alex was punctual, as I expected and instead of him coming to my door, I went out to meet him when I heard his car drive into my parking spot. This was not the opportunity I have always wanted, of having Alex, the living Blackthorne magician come face to face with Eric, his ghostly ancestor, the original Blackthorne magician, while in my presence. As much as I longed for this to happen, now was not the right time.

“We have time, what’s the hurry?” Alex asked as I slid into the passenger seat next to him.

“Oh, no hurry, if there is a scenic route, let’s take it.” I smiled and hoped he would not guess my motive.

“We can do that part of the way, but once we approach the downtown area of Los Angeles, I’d just as soon get to our destination without driving around that neighborhood,” Alex said.

We drove past lovely historic neighborhoods in Pasadena and down winding shady avenues, and then Alex hopped on the freeway to downtown Los Angeles. The boring scenery reminded me that I had a question for Alex.

“I was wondering, do you know if Gracie had anything to report about the photos taken the other night at the Regency?”

“Actually, I asked her about that, just a few minutes before coming over to pick you up. She had called me just to confirm we were still on for tonight. Anyway, she said nothing showed up, not even the always questionable floating orb,” Alex answered.

This news did not surprise me. “Alex, I have an idea, and I’d appreciate you backing me on it,” I said.

“Okay, what’s on your mind,” he answered.

“When we get there, I’d like to suggest we go right in, skip the auditorium and go to the dressing room area of the theater. If it is known which dressing room Marla would have used, I’d like to go there.”

Alex took a second to glance in my direction and then asked, “Are you following one of your hunches?”

“Yes. So, will you agree?”

It was at that instant we exited the freeway. A right turn, then a left turn and we were within moments from pulling into the downtown parking lot. I could see Francisco and Gracie standing by her car.

“Alex?” I asked again.

He pulled in and parked, switched off the ignition and turned to me. “As you wish. I’ll bring it up and you follow my lead, okay?”

We greeted Francisco and Gracie. True to his word, Alex introduced my concept before Gracie could give instructions.

“Gracie, I was talking with Seamus today and he gave me an excellent idea, he suggested that right off, we should try going to the part of the theater where the dressing rooms are. By any chance, do you know which dressing room Marla Devereux would have used?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I can find it. And that sounds good to me. Shannon, are you game?” Gracie asked.

It was all I could do to keep from smiling when I agreed with her.

Within fifteen minutes we were inside the Regency and huddled in a small room that was once the main dressing room for the star of the theater.

Francisco was the first to describe the room. With his voice recorder on he spoke aloud, saying, “The room is approximately ten by ten feet. A singular door is the only access off an internal corridor. The door is at the end of the west wall of the dressing room. Adjacent to the door, on the east wall is an old dressing table, no chair or stool, and an attached mirror, approximately four feet tall and the mirror glass is very dusty. The north wall has a small dressing area where a privacy curtain was attached, but is now gone. The south wall has a makeshift closet, no doors on it, but it is an alcove built into the structure of the room. The dressing table mirror once had a frame of light bulbs around its exterior. All the bulbs are missing and there is no electrical cord attached. A singular pendant light, with a white frosted glass Art Deco style shade is suspended about two feet down from the ceiling in the center of this room, this light is fully functional. The ceiling is approximately ten feet high. No windows. With me tonight is Shannon Delaney, Alex Blackthorne and Grace Jordan. Shannon, Alex and Grace, if you are in agreement with the description, please say so one at a time.”

In turn, as he named us, we each said yes.

And then Gracie added, “I would like to say that the walls and ceiling in this room are painted a matte beige color and that there are no decorations such as wallpaper, pictures or photos. The only item on the wall is a slate blackboard that is positioned just inside the door, above the light switch. The blackboard measures two feet by three feet. And according to the history of this theater, the blackboard is original to this room. It is attached to the wall by heavy wood screws. All the dressing rooms had blackboards in order for the theater manager, costume designer or stage manager to convey messages pertinent to an entertainer’s performance. It has already been authenticated that the blackboard is genuine slate. There is a thick film of dust covering the blackboard’s surface.

“Well done,” Francisco commented.

“Is there chalk anywhere?” I asked.

Gracie explained, “At one time, chalk was probably attached by a string, just to keep it handy. We’ve not found chalk anywhere. I imagine it disappeared long ago and since the theater is not in active use, there is no reason to equip the old blackboards with chalk.”

With that said, I nudged Alex to prompt him into getting this show on the road. “Shannon, where would you like to start?”

“Um, I would like to set up a digital video camera, first to have it focused on the mirror, but off to the side so that the camera does not show in the video. Then, turn the video camera so that it is focused at the blackboard.”

“Wow, Shannon that’s a great idea,” Gracie said. “My only suggestion is that if we have two video cams, let’s run them simultaneously. I have one, and a tripod stand for it, who else brought one?”

“I did,” I spoke up. “And Alex brought a tripod stand.”

It took another fifteen minutes to set up the cameras and test them. I asked Gracie and Francisco to stand off to the south wall opposite from Alex and myself near the north wall. Then I asked that we turn off all lights, including our flashlights. Now, in total darkness with the exception of the tiny operating lights on the cameras, we were ready. I stepped in close to Alex and reached down to clasp his hand.

“If you do not mind,” I said aloud, “I would like to be the only person who will make a comment or ask a question.”

Everyone agreed.

I stood perfectly still for a moment, said a quick prayer, took a calm breath and said, “Okay, here goes.”

Chapter 26

“We mean no harm. We are here tonight to ask for your assistance in solving the mystery of the disappearance of the actress Marla Devereux. We have brought with us special equipment that will help you to communicate with us. Please speak to us or if you wish, write a message in the dust on the blackboard.”

I waited for a few moments of silence and then asked, “Is Marla Devereux here tonight?”

No response.

“Is Gertrude Straub here tonight?”

No response.

“Is Reggie Coover here tonight?”

No response.

“Is Marla Monette here tonight?”

No response.

Not having much luck, or at least not aware of any reaction, I decided on a more desperate approach and I said, “Rory, come to me. I need your help.”

“Carrots,” the familiar horse voice said aloud. I could tell that I was not the only one who heard it. Alex stiffened and Gracie let escape a hushed exclamation of surprise.

“Rory, I promise you that when the pasture is replanted I personally will see to it that carrots are grown on every foot of its surface. Will that make you happy?” I asked.

“Three carrots. Four of them,” was Rory’s cryptic reply.

Huh? I wondered and then said, “Okay Rory, however many carrots you want, and however you want them planted. But for now, Rory, can you tell me where you are?”

“High water,” Rory replied.

Alex nudged me and whispered in my ear, “Probably the name of another horse.”

Excellent idea, I thought, given that horses often had whimsical names, such as Fine Cotton, Seabiscuit and War Admiral.

“Rory, are you with a horse named High Water?” I asked.

“Run. High water,” Rory said and then we all heard the pounding thunder of hooves. And as quickly as the hooves descended upon us they were gone. Silence filled the air.

I waited a few minutes and then said, “I think that’s it for tonight.”

Francisco turned on the overhead light. Alex and him began to dismantle the video cameras.

Gracie was visibly agitated and could not contain her excitement. In a nonstop run of comments she blurted out, “That’s amazing, astonishing, I’ve never experienced anything like this, ever, we need to get right back to my apartment and go through the recorders and video cams, I’m calling Ruben, he can meet us there, he’ll go over the video cameras on his computer while we do the recorders, oh-my, Shannon, this is okay with you?” And only then did she take a breath.

Within fifteen minutes we were packed up and on the road to Gracie’s apartment. I was thankful I was not riding with her, I’d be afraid she could not concentrate on driving. 

Ruben was inside her apartment when we got there. He had his computer setup in her kitchen. Briefly he explained the process he uses to examine videos. Alex and Francisco understood all of what he said. I let Ruben’s explanation go in one ear and out the other. All I really wanted to do is sit down and try to wrap my brain around what had occurred tonight.

I went into the living room and sat down on Gracie’s sofa and waited for the others to join me. Gracie was getting coffee ready and Alex and Francisco were in the kitchen talking with Ruben. One of Gracie’s cats jumped up in my lap and I welcomed the cat’s soft fur beneath my fingertips. I nuzzled the kitty and its purr was immediate, “Are you Heckle or Jeckle?” I whispered to it.

“Heckle has a blue collar and Jeckle has a green one,” Gracie said as she set a mug of coffee on the table in front of me. “That’s Jeckle, he’s always the first to make friends, Heckle will follow in a minute or two,” she assured me.

Gracie went back to the kitchen to fetch Alex and Francisco. By the time they were seated in the living room and we were ready to begin analyzing the evidence, Heckle was in my lap. Both kitties had made themselves at home with me and in doing so, they greatly eased my apprehension.

Alex sat next to me, as before. Francisco sat in a chair across from us, next to Gracie.

Gracie suggested, “This time, let’s listen to each voice recorder aloud and in turn. Since we were there for such a short time and we all heard out loud the voice of Rory, I see no reason for us to individually listen to our own recorders.”

“I agree,” Francisco said. “I timed the session and it was only seventeen minutes, though it seemed much longer. And there’s only three recorders to listen to, since Shannon did not bring one.”