A Ghost to Die For (21 page)

I sat at a cozy table in the hotel’s lounge, an elegant Victorian-styled saloon. I figured it would be at least an hour before Alex would call, if he called at all. And since he warned me that the meeting could take up to three hours, I settled in for a good long wait. I ordered Irish coffee and almond biscotti. I took out a paperback novel from my purse. I flew through the first three chapters and had flipped the page to begin chapter four when my phone rang. It was Alex. And he was agitated. He asked that I come over to the museum, pronto. Uh-oh. This did not sound good.

Chapter 37

Greg Winslow met me at the museum’s front door. He looked nervous and would not look me in the face. He simply ushered me in and in a solemn voice, told me to follow him back to the boardroom. I wanted desperately to get him to talk, but it was painfully clear to me, he was in no mood. And where was Alex? The fact that Alex did not meet me at the door made me anxious. The museum’s rooms were dark and the hallway too. At the very end of the long corridor I could see light shining out from underneath a door. That little bit of illumination was my destination. We approached the door. Greg knocked once, paused and then knocked three times in quick succession. Weird, is this some kind of secret society? Then the lights behind the door went out. Total darkness enveloped me. Just as I turned on my heels to run, the door opened and a hand reached out, grabbed me and pulled me into the room. It was Alex.

“Shhh, don’t make a sound,” he warned.

A burst of bright light made me squint. Applause filled the room. “Surprise!” a cacophony of voices shouted out.

Of course, I looked to Alex, He was doubled over laughing. I wanted to jab him in the ribs, but I resisted, only because a room filled with people was watching us. Alex straightened up. “Shannon, you’ve been punked.”

I must have blushed every shade of embarrassment possible, from bubble gum pink to fire engine red. I was speechless. Geraldine approached and put her arm around me.

“Shannon, don’t feel so bad about Alex getting the best of you. He had a lot of help doing it. And in his defense, this is for an excellent reason. This party is for you. It’s our way of thanking you.”

I was stunned. “For what?”

Greg, who was now standing at the head of the table, and acted as toastmaster explained, “For solving the mystery of course. And for your generous offer to sell us the items and story. Oh, which by the way, I have a little something for you. If you do not mind?” he gestured for me to join in. I did.

Greg handed me an envelope. “Do please open this, and let us know if this will suffice.” The room fell silent. I opened the envelope and pulled out a check in the amount of twenty thousand dollars. Along with it was a paper detailing the tax liability, for which the museum’s attorney had prepared all necessary paperwork to satisfy requirements of California State and the Internal Revenue Service. I looked to Alex. He ever so gently nodded his head. I knew that he had covered all the bases and the deal was a good one. “Yes. I do agree to these terms. And thank you.”

There was applause and then so many questions that I found myself taking nonstop. Finally, Geraldine came to my rescue. “Oh, enough, enough, it is time to let Shannon go home and get some well-earned rest. Alex, I’ll walk the two of you out to the front door. The rest of the board will finish up the business meeting.”

The three of us went to the front and before we left, I asked Geraldine about the impostor painting owned by Otis and Harriet. She bubbled with news. “Those two are thrilled to be part of the exhibit and they agreed to sell their painting. Of course, I cannot disclose the amount we paid for it. But I assure you, they got a good deal.”

We left on that high note. In the car on the way home Alex asked, “There remains the mystery as to what happened to Ruby Red. Will you consider it?”

“Oh, but Alex I have. I’ve gave it a great deal of consideration throughout today.”

“You did?”

“Yes. I believe that what ever happened to Ruby is karma and I believe her energy is toxically negative, bad juju as we would say in New Orleans. And, I consider this is my last thought on it. In other words, this is
the end
.”

Author’s Notes

If you are familiar with my Shannon Delaney series you know that I incorporate real history into the novels. This book,
A Ghost To Die For
certainly fits into my penchant for the twists and turns found in San Diego’s history. I have taken artistic license with a few of the twists and turns of San Diego history.

The cover artwork depicting a Celtic cross grave monument is derived from an actual photograph, taken
by my husband Christopher Cox. I use photo-editing programs to crop, cut, and apply special effects and then the title, to create the front cover artwork. The spine of the book and it’s back cover, as well as the process of transforming all the separate elements into a full book jacket is accomplished through the expertise of Arline Chase and Shelley Rodgerson Chase at Write Words, Inc.

And, since I have mentioned Arline and Shelley, I’d like to add that I very much appreciate their dedicated work involved in the entire publishing process. Not the least of which is the job of distribution. Arline and Shelley see to the details that allow my Shannon Delaney books to be distributed and sold worldwide, in various formats.

Additionally, it is with sincere gratitude I thank the three pre-publication reviewers of this novel. They answered my call to read and review this book in its raw manuscript form, and then deliver to me a blurb, all in a time-crunch schedule of seven days: Scott Wise, Jessie Hedge, and Patrick Smith. In my experience within the professional paranormal investigation and research community, these three ghost hunters represent the best the paranormal community has to offer.

As this book goes to press, I am researching book six of Shannon Delaney’s adventures into the world of paranormal mystery.

Chapter 1

Mount Esperanza Memorial Park, cemetery is fictional. Though, in the San Diego region there is a historic cemetery named Mount Hope. By no coincidence “esperanza” translates from Spanish to English in its meaning as “hope.” The Celtic cross shown on this book’s front cover is located in a cemetery in Southern California, don’t go looking for it at Mount Hope, you will not find it there.

The reoccurring and supporting character of Alex Blackthorne is known as a present-day magician whose expertise is Victorian-style parlor magic and debunking so-called spirit illusions. By profession Alex is a professor at a college in San Diego, his specialty is merchant sea trade history, though more often than not, it is his skills as a magician that are called into service.

Chapter 2

Haunted Lit, first mentioned in Chapter 1, is explained in more detail in this chapter. Alex’s brief explanation and reference to Haunted Lit as immersive theater is true to this type of entertainment theater. His reference to promenade theater is also accurate. In the Gothic nature of literature and entertainment in the latter part of the 1800s, Victorians had a fascination with death, and the possibility of transcending death’s finality. Lantern light plays and shadow charades were often staged in dark venues, such as cemeteries, morgues, and mortuaries. Alex’s example of Wicked Lit is also true and readers can learn more about it, and the reference to the cemetery in Altadena, California, at the following Internet sites: Wicked Lit official site: www.WickedLit.org

and Mountain View Mortuary and Cemetery: www.mt-view.com

The article
October Hoax Evokes Financial Fright
first appeared in the
Fedco Reporter
magazine, which is now defunct, I’m the author of this article and I retained all author’s rights. I’ve used the story, in this novel, as a plot device, because the history is true. I wrote monthly columns for
Fedco
the last five years the magazine was in publication, in the latter part of the 1990s. History surrounding the activities and events in the lives of the very real D. D. Dare (reported to be David D. Dare) and J. W. Collins (reported to be John W. Collins) is filled with as much documented evidence as it is speculative accounts. If you care to delve into more information regarding these two con artists, without getting too bogged down by myth, speculations and so-called accuracy, then look to the Internet sites at the San Diego History Center and the
Journal of San Diego Yesterday:

www.SanDiegoHistory.org

and: www.SanDiegoYesterday.com

Chapter 3

San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter is one of the city’s most vibrant historic districts. And while the Museum of Mystery is of my invention, the other museum mentioned in this chapter, the Gaslamp Quarter Museum, is real. Readers can find out more about the Gaslamp Quarter and the museum of the same name at the official site of the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation:

www.GaslampQuarter.org.

Chapter 4

In this chapter, Shannon touches upon additional aspects of haunted history in San Diego, including the infamous ghost of Kate Morgan, reported to haunt the famous Hotel del Coronado, which is located immediately outside San Diego city proper on Coronado Island. To learn more about Kate Morgan, a visit to the official Internet site of the “Hotel Del” (as locals call it) is a must, once on the Web site, click on the section regarding press releases. Also, notice that in this book I spell the hotel’s name as Hotel del Coronado, as it is on the official site. Be aware that many people spell it as Hotel Del Coronado:

www.HotelDel.com

No story that involves San Diego culture of the late-1800s could possibly exclude mentioning the colorful and extravagant Jesse Shephard. As depicted in this book, the tale of Shephard’s ability to channel famous composers is not new; it is an old story, or myth, depending on a person’s view of history. His home, Villa Montezuma is a popular attraction in San Diego. But is it haunted? I believe it is a hot spot for paranormal activity. Learn more about Shephard and his villa at: www.villamontezumamuseum.org

Chapter 5

In Chapter 5, Shannon, Alex and Rosario Santiago have breakfast at the historic Horton Grand Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter. The Horton Grand is a real hotel and having lodged at it, here’s my basic description: It is a boutique hotel of Old West Victorian decor. The hotel is a marriage of two establishments.

The first establishment is what is called in Old West terminology a
livery hotel
. The livery shop (think of a saddle maker) was on the main street level and rooms for rent were above it. Reportedly, and most historians agree, Wyatt Earp once lived in a room above the livery shop. The other half of the hotel was a brothel and the decor is more elaborate. I’ve stayed on this side of the hotel. A friend had stayed at the Horton Grand, on my advice, and they stayed in the upstairs corner balcony room that I had lodged in.

After her mini-vacation to San Diego was over and we got together to chat about, my friend made the remark that her room was lovely, fireplace, bay window with a cozy seat, great view, but she had one complaint, the room did not have a closet. I could not help but to point out that she had stayed in a brothel room. There was not much need for a clothes closet considering the original intention of the room. I understand that the rooms on the other side of the hotel, (what some people call the Wyatt Earp side) do have closets. I had the chance to peek into the Wyatt Earp Room. Yes, it has a closet, though the decor was not as lavish. Visit the Web site of the Horton Grand Hotel:

www.HortonGrand.com

Chapter 6

Filippi’s Pizza Grotto is real. Shannon’s favorite pizzeria in San Diego is located at 1747 India Street and it has been “the heart of Little Italy since 1950.”

Should you need to refresh your memory as to what the Seven Deadly Sins are: Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Anger and Greed. Read a “sinopis” about this topic on the Internet site of 7 Deadly Sins:

www.DeadlySins.com

Chapter 7

I’ve been asked many times about Atlas, Alex’s Irish Wolfhound. Atlas is a composite of two “big guys” who shared my life for twenty years, Connor and Brendan, gray-colored Irish Wolfhounds. The old adage of being gentle when stroked and fierce when provoked is as old as Ireland itself. You can see for yourself what a “wolfie” looks like at the official site of the Irish Wolfhound Club of America:

www.IWClubOfAmerica.org

Chapter 10

Shannon’s favorite perfume is
Magie Noire,
by Lancome, Paris. Loosely translated, the name means Black Magic or Magic Night.

The reference to Doctor Who is the long-running British TV science fiction series. I’m not exactly a fan of the series, however, I am an avid fan of a
Dr. Who
spin-off series called
Torchwood
.

Chapter 11

The legend of Marie Laveau makes an appearance in this story by reference to her voodoo practice. Marie Laveau is the most famous voodoo queen in Louisiana history. She is the subject of an official biography on the Louisiana Online Encyclopedia Internet site: www.knowla.org