The Guest House Hauntings Boxset by Hazel Holmes (novel books to read txt) 📕

“Yes, Mrs. Bell.” Dennis nodded quickly, refusing to look Dell in the eye.

Dell regarded the aging groundskeeper, and noticed an odd lump beneath the arm of his left shirtsleeve. “What happened there?”

“Got stabbed in the thorn bushes,” Dennis answered, keeping his head down.

“That’s quite the bandage for thorns.” Dell squinted. “Have you had any interaction with Sarah since she started working here?”

“If this is about Sarah, then why don’t we just call her down?” Iris asked.

“Yeah,” Kegan echoed.

“Because Sarah was the person who made the report.” Dell watched the reactions of both Kegan and Iris, and while they played the part of shocked and confused, Dell was most concerned with Dennis, who didn’t react at all. “Do you have a shed out back, Dennis?”

“Sure.” Dennis shifted back and forth on his feet, eyeing his toes.

Dell stepped closer, and Dennis took a step back. “Mind if I take a look?”

Dennis immediately looked to Iris, and Kegan stepped between them.

“No.” Kegan stomped his foot. “There is no way I’m letting you a step farther without a warrant. If you think you can—”

“It’s fine, Kegan,” Iris said.

“No, it’s not!” Kegan spun around, but the moment he caught the flash of anger that spread over Iris’s face, he deflated. “Fine.” He flapped his arms at his sides. “Do whatever the hell you want.” He stormed off, muttering to himself as he trudged up the stairs.

“Dennis, why don’t you show Dell where you keep your tools?” Iris asked, providing Dennis the needed push to head out the back. “You’ll excuse me if I don’t join you, but I don’t like the cold. I’ll make some tea, though, and have it ready for both of you when you come back into the kitchen.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Bell,” Dell said and then followed Dennis, who shuffled forward along the tile, dragging his feet, his head down.

Dell kept an eye out for anything peculiar on his trek through the old mansion, but he didn’t spot anything out of the ordinary. It had been a long time since he’d been inside this house. And even with all of those years behind him, traversing these halls still gave him the creeps.

Despite the family’s attempt to keep the grounds neat and tidy, they couldn’t fight crippling effects of age and time. Like Iris Bell, the old structure looked one stiff breeze from falling apart.

Dell had been invited to the house once when he and Kegan were kids. There were enough rooms for everyone who lived in the town, and while they explored every nook and cranny, the fifth floor was off-limits. Kegan never told him what was up there, but now he had the sudden urge to find out.

Secrets clung to the walls of the house, its history written on pages as brittle as the old woman who lived here.

Dennis used a flashlight to guide them out to the shed, which he unlocked with a set of keys from his pocket. The walls of the shed leaned to the left, and the tiny pitched roof was caved in on the right side. Dell was surprised it hadn’t collapsed on itself yet.

Dennis stepped aside after he opened the door, and Dell approached, flashing his light inside. The walls were lined with various garden tools: picks, shovels, hoes, and clippers. He stepped inside, finding the floor covered in wood, and he immediately started feeling around for any loose boards.

A couple had some give, but it was mostly just due to age and frailty. It wasn’t until Dell reached the rear of the shed that a plank finally gave way. Dell dropped to a knee and pried away the loose board, finding the box that Sarah had spoken of. He removed it and set it on the floor, looking back to find Dennis still standing there in the doorway, watching him.

Dell returned his attention to the shoebox and then opened it, and he frowned.

“I don’t trust banks,” Dennis said.

Crumpled bills and change filled the box. Dell dumped the money onto the floor, looking for the IDs that Sarah had seen, but the box was empty save for the cash. Dell walked around the place for a little longer, looking for any other signs of loose boards, but he did so haphazardly. He was at a dead end.

Finished with the shed, Dell followed Dennis back to the kitchen, where Iris had the tea ready for him to drink.

“Find anything, Deputy?” Iris smiled from behind her cup then gingerly sipped her tea.

“I appreciate the time, Ms. Bell, and the cooperation. I’d like to take Dennis down to the station for some more questioning.” He didn’t think Sarah had lied, and if he could get the groundskeeper alone and out of the house, he might be able to work some information out of him. It was apparent that Dennis had been instructed to do whatever was asked of him, and it had been well rehearsed.

Iris looked a little surprised. “Did you find something to warrant more questioning? Did Dennis not comply with everything you’ve asked?”

“Just some due diligence, ma’am. I think we both agree that making sure we get the facts right here is what’s most important.”

The smile vanished from Iris’s face as she set the tea on the table and stood. “If it’ll end whatever nonsense you’re chasing, then so be it.” She turned to leave, chin up, but then stopped just before she reached the kitchen’s exit. “But make sure you don’t keep him all night. Dennis has work in the morning.” She looked past Dell toward Dennis, glared, and then disappeared.

“Do I need to bring anything?” Dennis asked.

“No,” Dell answered. “This won’t take long.”

Dell escorted Dennis down to his squad car, rehashing the conversation with Sarah. He didn’t think she was lying, but he knew that he wasn’t getting the whole truth on what happened at the house, and what happened with that detective in New York. But he would.

69

Sarah kept her