tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35473271493938014652024-03-05T09:34:54.874-05:00Raindrops on Corpses & Whiskers on Zombies... These are a few of my favorite things.S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.comBlogger336125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-43907791992510960522015-11-17T22:10:00.001-05:002015-11-17T22:10:26.674-05:00Specter of Death- Part 25<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Doctor Tynesdale?” Kim
shouted. “Can you hear me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Without waiting for a reply,
Angela grabbed her bottle of water and doused the unconscious man’s face.
Sputtering, Phillip Tynesdale blinked twice then massaged his forehead before
speaking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “My apologies, ladies,” he muttered. “I don’t know what
came over me. A sudden dizzy spell. If you would be so kind as to hand me my
bag … I should check my blood sugar levels.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian retrieved the
doctor’s bag and helped him dig through the papers and files to retrieve his
glucometer kit. She inserted the test strip into the machine and, because Dr. Tynesdale’s
hands were trembling so severely, she pressed the lancet into his finger.
Taking over, Dr. Tynesdale pressed on the tiny puncture to produce a drop of
blood and applied it to the test strip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “No wonder,” Kim gasped. “Sixty-three is way too low! How
long has it been since you last had a meal?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Embarrassed, he pulled a
small snack from his bag and ate it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “That should hold me until I can get some lunch. In fact,
I think we all need a lunch break. If one of you lovely ladies will drive,
lunch is on me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">They piled into Kim’s car
and she took them to one of her favorite lunch spots. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On the other side of town,
Bill and Detective Sanchez were pulling into the Inner Sanctum’s parking lot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I’m surprised they’d pick a spot in this part of town,”
Sanchez muttered. “Guess they couldn’t find a building on the nicer side.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “No, I’d bet this was a deliberate choice. One, they’re
less likely to have anyone prying.” Bill replied. “Two, they have plenty of
access to people who are down on their luck. Isn’t that what most cults do? Prey
on the easiest targets?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Hmm, good point.” She said, smiling. “Well, we should
probably get in there. Remember, in there, I’m just Gabriella not Detective
Sanchez, okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">She slid out of the car at the same time as her passenger. Bill waited until they fell in step next to each other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Sure thing, Gabby.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bill grinned at the
detective’s scowl. She threw a playful punch at his shoulder then shocked him
by snuggling up against his body. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “It’ll look less conspicuous if we pretend to be a
couple,” Gabriella whispered in Bill’s ear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Anything you say, sweetie.” He chuckled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hand in hand, they crossed
the threshold into the Inner Sanctum. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">**** I will be spending next week with my family to celebrate Thanksgiving. Since it is highly probable that my nephews and niece will be keeping me busy, I plan to post the next installment of Specter of Death on Tuesday, December 1st. (assuming the zombies don't rise up) Happy Thanksgiving!! </span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-55783782316921628912015-11-10T17:10:00.000-05:002015-11-10T17:12:31.937-05:00Specter of Death- Part 24<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Blushing, Bill smoothed his
hand over his buzzed scalp and offered the new detective a sly grin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You don’t know me but I’d never try to manipulate an
officer of the law … unless, of course, it worked. In that case, you’ve got
me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you? Well, ordinarily,
I’d say no to a civilian tagging along but those Seekers aren’t right in the
head. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind having someone watching my back.” Detective
Sanchez replied. “But if I tell you to leave … you’d better be out the door
A-friggin’-sap. Got that?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Yes, ma’am!” He said, trying to hold back a chuckle.
“As you wish.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Together, Detective Sanchez
and Bill exited the morgue, leaving the others to their work. Dr. Tynesdale
picked up where he left off in the deciphering of Seth’s symbols. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Now, those two symbols have opposite meanings which is
why it is so vital to get input from the zealots who created them. On one hand,
it could mean the key has unlocked the beyond. But, if it is the other, it
means the key locked the gateway.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian’s weight shifted
from side to side as she fidgeted with her rings. The weight of a hand that
wasn’t there rested on her shoulder. The same gesture would have provided
comfort if offered by Kim or Angela but the shadow figure’s presence only
brought fear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> She tried to focus on Dr.
Tynesdale instead, and his tedious rambling. The doctor had moved on to another
theory as he fumbled through his notes and files. Gillian’s mind wandered until
Dr. Tynesdale cried out and let loose a torrent of profanities that would make
a trucker blush. His files and a mountain of papers burst from his hands and
fluttered to the floor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Doctor? Are you okay?” Kim asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Pardon my language,” he responded, his voice wavering.
He slowly lifted his hand and pointed to Gillian. “I, um, don’t mean to alarm
you, dear, but are you aware that there is a, uh … spirit of sorts behind you?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim and Angela whipped
around to look at their friend but they saw nothing. Mutual expressions of confusion passed between the friends They glanced back at the
professor and his previously rosy face had paled to the color of skim milk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I’ve studied this for years but never before have I
actually seen a shadow person with my own eyes. Truth be told, I always assumed
those who claimed to have seen one were a little off in the head. Please, tell me you
ladies see it too!” Dr. Tynesdale said, his eyes never leaving Gillian’s face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim and Angela exchanged
worried glances and shook their heads no. One raced to get the professor a
glass of water while the other felt his head for signs of a fever. They fussed
over him for a moment before Gillian broke the silence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Don’t worry, Doctor Tynesdale, I see it too. It’s been
following me ever since the Ouija Board séance.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Extraordinary,” he murmured just before fainting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-5255475824873700372015-10-17T00:15:00.001-04:002015-10-17T00:15:21.828-04:00THe GaL iN THe BLue MaSK: THE GAL'S 31 DAYS OF HORROR: AMONG THE STACKS: S.G...<a href="http://the-gal-in-the-blue-mask.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-gals-31-days-of-horror-among-stacks_55.html?spref=bl">THe GaL iN THe BLue MaSK: THE GAL'S 31 DAYS OF HORROR: AMONG THE STACKS: S.G...</a>: The Gal in the Blue Mask: Hello!! Welcome to The Gal and thank you SO much for being a part of The Gal's 31 Days of Horror. Tell...S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-74735126007998942452015-10-13T21:40:00.000-04:002015-10-13T21:41:14.327-04:00Specter of Death- Part 23<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Hang on a sec,” Kim
interrupted. “Before anyone goes anywhere, we need to coordinate with Detective
McDonald. The last thing we need is to interfere with her department. I’m going
to call her first before anyone does anything, agreed?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Unenthusiastic nods were the
only sign of agreement but Kim ran with it. She picked up her phone and dialed
Marie’s direct line. On the fifth ring, just as she was about to hang up, the
detective answered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Hey, Marie, it’s Kim. We think we might have uncovered
something that will help decipher those symbols. Did you want us to—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On the other end, Detective
McDonald interrupted, leaving Bill, Angela and Gillian only speculation as to
what was being said. With the exception of a few, “uh huhs,” Kim remained
silent until she said goodbye. Her friends stared at her with wide, expectant,
eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “She’s sending someone from her team over to find out
what we’ve got and they’ll take it from there,” said Kim. “In the meantime,
Doctor Tynesdale, why don’t you continue with your other findings?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For twelve minutes, Dr.
Tynesdale had a captive audience. He was free to prattle on about his theories
and no one objected because they had no choice but to wait. On the thirteenth
minute, a young woman wearing a trendy business suit entered the morgue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Hello, I’m looking for an M.D.I. named Kim,” the woman
said as she pulled out her credentials and flashed her badge. “Detective
McDonald sent me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim stepped forward,
extended her hand, and introduced herself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Here I thought I’d met everyone on Marie’s team.” Kim
chuckled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Actually, I just transferred here. Detective Gabriella
Sanchez and it is a pleasure to meet you too.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim introduced the others to
Gabriella and marveled that someone so young had already reached the rank of
detective. Clearly, the others were surprised too but it was Dr. Tynesdale who
addressed the pink elephant in the room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Dear me! You look like you could be one of my students,”
he exclaimed. “You must have been on the fast track to already achieve a
detective’s position. If you don’t mind my asking …”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “If she doesn’t, I do!” Bill interrupted. “That’s an
inappropriate question and has nothing to do with the case, Phillip. I
apologize, Detective Sanchez, on behalf of my colleague. Now, let’s just get
back to the case.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">To speed things up, Kim
filled in the new detective on what they’d discovered so far and their idea to
check out The Seekers’ inner sanctum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Sounds good. I’ll go check them out,” said Detective
Sanchez. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Look, Detective, one of the victims was our friend and,
well, I hate not being useless. Mind if I tag along?” Bill asked. “I won’t
interfere or bother you. I need to do something to help even if it’s just
keeping my ears open.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “And to keep an eye on the young detective, right? That
whole bit about my age was planned, wasn’t it? You wanted to get on my good
side so I’d let you come along.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-17186458570048977562015-10-07T00:02:00.002-04:002015-10-07T00:02:59.469-04:00Specter of Death- Part 22<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In painstakingly slow and
deliberate speech, Dr. Tynesdale explained the symbols found on the victims
prior to Seth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Now, here’s where we find something different,” the
doctor said, pointing to an autopsy photo of Seth. “Up until your friend, the
victims were all 'keys to the beyond.' This time, there is a key rune intertwined
with this symbol here.” Dr. Tynesdale held up his tablet with a page from
Seth’s <i>Runeation</i>. “However, it also
resembles another symbol on page eighty-three so it could mean two very
different things.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Sensing his colleague was more accustomed
to giving lectures than offering his professional opinion for a murder case;
Bill discreetly glanced at the ladies to see how they were holding up. Kim’s
jaw clenched, in an effort to keep from interrupting, while Angela chewed on
her lower lip. Gillian’s eyes had a glazed, distant appearance. It wasn’t until
he noticed her hands—balled into fists so tight that her knuckles had turned
white and Bill feared her fingernails would dig into her palms and draw blood.
It was time for him to intervene. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Since time is of the essences here, Phillip, what can we
do to aid in determining which symbols are correct?” Bill asked. “You know I’m
willing to do anything I can to assist. I’m sure these lovely ladies would too.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Angela and Gillian nodded in
agreement. The ringing of Dr. Tynesdale’s phone cut off Kim’s verbal
acknowledgement. From the doctor’s end, he uttered “ah, yes” and “I see” multiple times before the call ended. Again, the four friends waited for answers that
seemed to never come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “It seems we were wrong in assuming your friend Seth
created these symbols. Apparently, they are part of the teachings for a group
called Seekers of the Astral Beyond, also known as The Seekers. There is an
acknowledgement to The Seekers on the last page of <i>Runeation</i>.” Dr. Tynesdale explained. “My assistant informed me that
The Seekers have; what I believe they refer to as … an inner sanctum, on the
other side of town.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I’ll go!” Gillian blurted out before the doctor could
finish his sentence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Worry creased Angela’s
forehead and knitted her eyebrows together. Both Kim and Bill wore matching expressions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Now, dear,” Dr. Tynesdale answered. “Please don’t take
offense but I think this might be a better job for our mutual friend, Bill. I
might be old fashioned but sending a beautiful, young woman into a hive of
fanatics just doesn’t sound chivalrous … or safe! They could snatch you up and
we’d never see you again. Cults like The Seekers have a terrible reputation.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I can take care of myself,” Gillian objected. She hated
being brushed aside simply for being a woman and her scowl showed it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Jilly, we know you can,” Kim said as she placed a comforting
hand on Gillian’s arm. “But, we have no idea who these people are. For all we
know, they might be responsible for Seth’s murder. I think I speak for everyone
when I say we can’t bear losing another friend. Maybe it would be best if we
found another way for you to help.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “So, why is okay for Bill to go alone? If they killed
Seth they can kill any of us,” argued Gillian. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You’re right, no one should go alone,” said Angela. “That’s
why <b><i>I</i></b>
am going with Bill. If it wasn’t for that shadow spirit thing following you, I’d
be behind you going, Jilly, but until we know who or what that thing is … I
think you should lay low.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-44038726463216855192015-09-22T18:17:00.001-04:002015-09-22T18:18:11.124-04:00Specter of Death- Part 21<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dr. Tynesdale flipped
through his handwritten notebook until he found the information he needed. In
reality it only took a few minutes but it felt like an eternity. The tension in
the room was palpable. Wide, eager eyes all focused on the doctor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Ah, yes,” he muttered. “It says here the coding is found
in your friend Seth’s book <i>Runeation. Ha!
That’s quite clever. It sounds like ruination but spelled R-U-N-E, like ancient
runes. See</i>?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Holding up his page, Dr.
Tynesdale pointed to the book’s title and chuckled. The others stared back him
with veiled agitation. <i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Ahem … yes, I supposed this isn’t the appropriate time
for an amusing play on words. What I’m sure you’ll find fascinating is—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Okay,” Detective McDonald interrupted. “I’m going to
pick up a bunch of those books and get my department scouring them now.
Thanks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">She had already bolted down
the hall before Dr. Tynesdale could respond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Oh my!” Tynesdale exclaimed. “I didn’t get to tell her
the rest. Anyway, these symbols have a most dire meaning. Now, on the first
photo here … this victim was found several days after the murder. Our dear Kim
did not have this one but look here at the brand on his chest, just above the
heart. It’s not the same as the one on your friend, Seth, because they were in
progression.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The group leaned in to get a
better view of the forensic and autopsy photographs. The shape burned into the
victim’s chest resembled a stylized infinity symbol. Bill accessed the e-reader
app on his phone to pull up Seth’s <i>Runeation</i>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “According to Seth’s book,” Bill added. “That symbol
means ‘key to unlocking the beyond’ but it doesn’t say what the beyond actually
is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “That’s creepy!” Kim, Angela, and Gillian replied in
unison.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian’s skin rippled with
goose bumps; she had a feeling about what ‘the beyond’ meant and it made her
stomach churn. <i>The shadowy figure that
followed me back from the morgue</i>, she thought, <i>that thing is from the beyond</i>. She felt a hand touch her back, just
below her shoulder blade but knew none of her friends were standing behind her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-59690574273084983202015-09-15T20:29:00.003-04:002015-09-15T20:29:54.410-04:00Specter of Death- Part 20<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Okay, it’s worse than crazy but I shouldn’t freak out?”
Gillian gave a nervous chuckle and rolled her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “It might be nothing.” Billy answered. “But I’ll explain it
all when we get together with Kim and the detective. One of my colleagues from
the university came with me and he can help so try not to worry, Jilly.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As if on cue, Bill’s cell
phone rang. On the other end, Kim relayed a message from Detective McDonald.
They were all going to meet at the morgue around noon, assuming another body
wasn’t discovered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “We’ll be there!” said Bill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While they waited for noon, Gillian
paced. Finally, Billy caught her arm and pulled her onto the sofa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Okay, maybe you can’t wait until we’re all together. The
truth is, I think you made contact with a spirit and when you didn’t say
‘goodbye’ it crossed over into our realm. Now, I don’t believe it can actually
hurt you but what <i>you</i> believe makes
all the difference.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Stern-faced and resolved,
Gillian raked a trembling hand through her hair. Outwardly, she appeared to
wave it off without a care but inside, she could feel the presence of a dark
spirit watching her every move. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">At noon, everyone assembled
in Kim’s morgue. Dr. Tynesdale, still giddy with the extensive data he’d
received, expounded on earlier theories and hypotheses on the symbolism of the
ancient runes carved/branded into the corpses after their demise. Not in the
mood for chit-chat, Angela interrupted his pondering. Too many of her friends
were directly impacted; there was no time to waste. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “No offense, Doctor, but we need real answers not
hypotheticals. Can you decode whatever the symbol is, or not?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Why, of course, my dear.” Tynesdale replied. “I was just
explaining the progression, that’s all. The fascinating part is yet to come.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Detective McDonald rolled
her eyes. A voice in the back of her mind said, <i>this bumbling idiot wouldn’t know a rune from graffiti</i>. The thought
both delighted and angered her thought she didn’t understand why. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You see, we were so focused on whether the symbols were Old
Norse or Anglo Saxon that we almost missed the cipher in your friend Seth’s
books. It wasn’t either … it was a mark of his own design in a book prior to <i>Specter of Death</i>. Thank heavens one of
my grad students is a complete and utter suck up. Once she found out I needed
some research she picked up every one of Seth’s books and has been scouring
them ever since. Now, let me see … I had it right here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim choked back the urge to
scream, “Get on with it!” After spending the entire morning with Dr. Tynesdale,
she knew if anyone tried to rush him, he’d get flustered. Then it would take
twice as long to extract the information. <i>It’s
like pulling teeth. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-67939744966496675472015-08-19T09:43:00.000-04:002015-08-19T09:43:49.805-04:00Specter of Death- Part 19 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bill and Angela raced up the
stairs taking them two or three at a time. Without bothering to knock, he threw
his shoulder into the door jamb and crashed through. Gillian’s screaming
stopped when she saw her friends. Her bloody hands trembled as she rinsed them
under the tap. At her feet, a bottle of White Diamonds perfume had shattered to
pieces. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Are you okay? What happened?” Bill asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Let me see,” Angela ordered. “Hmm, I don’t think you’ll
need stitches but I’ll grab the first aid kit and get you bandaged up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian pulled her towel
tighter against her body as goose bumps prickled her flesh. Bill removed a
bathrobe from the hooks behind the door and draped it around Gillian’s
shoulders. She offered him a weak smile and muttered, “thank you.” Angela
returned a moment later with the first aid kit and proceeded to bandage up her
friend’s hands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “So, are you going to tell us what happened?” she asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian scowled. “It was my
own fault. I slipped as I was trying to—” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “How ‘bout the truth, instead,” interrupted Bill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Angela nodded her agreement
and placed a reassuring hand on Gillian’s shoulder. “C’mon, Jilly, we’re your
friends and we’re worried about you. We can’t help if you’re not honest with
us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I—I know. I just don’t want you to think I’ve gone off
my rocker. As it is, I’m starting to wonder myself… ever since the morgue.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “That’s probably a good place to start then,” said Bill.
“Why don’t you get into some warm clothes and dry your hair first? We’ll wait
just outside the door in case you need us, okay?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian nodded. The instant
the bathroom door closed, she raced to dress in record time. While the thought
of telling her friends what was going on was less appealing than a four-hour
root canal, she hurried to not be alone.
True to their word, when she opened the door, Bill and Angela were
waiting for her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Downstairs, the three friends flopped onto
Kim’s cozy sofa and settled in for Gillian’s story. Angela carried in a tray
with coffee and cookies; she had a feeling they’d be talking for a while.
Gillian’s first instinct was to chug the coffee. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “It’s decaf,” Angela said, smiling. “So drink as much as
you want.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian set the mug down,
grumbling that decaf coffee was sacrilege. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “It is but you do not need another drop of caffeine
coursing through your system, Jilly.” Bill answered. “So, let’s get to the
bottom of whatever is going on here. What happened in the bathroom?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> I should probably start before then,” Gillian admitted
with a sigh. “It all started the night we used the Ouija board at the morgue.
Someone or … some<i>thing</i>, touched me
when the lights were out. I felt a hand rest on my shoulder and then it gave a
squeeze. It wasn’t Marie or Kenj and it wasn’t the firemen either. Believe me,
I wish it was. Then, as I was driving home I kept seeing a shadowy figure
following me. It crossed the road in front of me, it was lurking behind bushes;
it was in my rearview mirror. Then, when I came inside, and we were all on the
phone … I saw it in the yard. That night, it was in my room. At first, I
thought it was Angela, playing a prank. Or, I should say I hoped it was Angela.
It wasn’t. That brings us to the shower. Everything was fine. I had just turned
off the water because I got a chill. Sorry, Angela, I think I used up all the
hot water again. When I pulled back the curtain, it was there. I grabbed the
first thing I could reach to throw at it but before I could release it, the
thing’s hand enveloped mine and the bottle shattered. So, go ahead. Tell me I’m
crazy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian looked down at her
bandaged hand and sighed. When she looked up, both Angela and Bill wore
matching expressions of concern.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Listen, I don’t want to freak you out,” said Billy. “But
you’re not crazy. It’s something worse.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-80795248268161512482015-08-12T23:48:00.000-04:002015-08-12T23:49:02.261-04:00Specter of Death- Part 18 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bill draped his arm around
Kim and gave her a friendly squeeze. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You looked like you could use a hug, my friend.” He
said. “And for what it’s worth, I’m here to help. You don’t have to do this all
on your own, okay?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Thank you,” she whispered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Don’t give it another thought. Look, I know you and
Phillip have a lot of work to do so … I’m going to head over to your place to
check on Angela and Gillian. Cool?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim hugged him again and
repeated her thanks but in typical Bill style, he gave her a playful poke in
the ribs and laughed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Don’t thank me yet; Phillip is going to talk your ears
off. I’m simply saving myself.” he murmured before announcing his departure for
Dr. Tynesdale’s benefit. “I’ll be back around lunchtime.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">With a wink to Kim and wave
to Phillip, he was out the door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On the other side of town,
Gillian and Angela huddled over a pot of coffee and nibbled at honeyed toast. Though
Angela had made no mention of it, Gillian’s awkward behavior the night before
left her apprehensive. Puffy, red eyes proved what her friends expected;
Gillian did not sleep again that night. Instead, she downed another cup of
coffee in three gulps and poured some more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Golden sunlight streamed through the
windows sending a stab through Gillian’s retinas and into her brain. She raised
a hand to shield her raw orbs and from her peripheral vision caught sight of it
again. Someone was lurking in the shadows, watching and waiting. When she
glanced back again, the shadowy form was gone; much like it had done the night
before. <i>You’re losing, girl</i>. <i>Have more coffee. </i>She reached for the
pot again only hear a voice behind her say, “Hey, save some of that for me.”
With a squeal, Gillian jumped back, sending her coffee mug and Angela’s
crashing to the ground. Shattered stoneware and coffee dregs swirled on the
floor like a Jackson Pollock in brown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Geez, Billy! You scared the crap out of me!” She
exclaimed. “What are you trying to do; give me heart attack?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You’re the second person to say that to me this
morning.” Bill laughed, hoping a little levity would soothe her ragged nerves.
“Here, I thought I was rather dashing but I seem to be traumatizing beautiful
women. Hmm, I’m starting to develop a complex.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian threw a playful punch
at his shoulder before pulling him into a bear hug. Angela finished cleaning up
the spill before throwing her arms around her friends and giving them both a
squeeze. She was relieved to see Bill, more than he would ever know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> After a few more mugs of coffee, Gillian
finally shuffled off to shower. Bill waited until he heard the water running to
ply Angela with questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Kim said something happened last night and our Jilly was
afraid ... like too afraid to turn off the lights. I found that hard to believe
until I saw her for myself. Did she tell you what happened? There has to be
more that she’s not telling us.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “So far, she hasn’t told me anything. Maybe with you
here, she’ll feel safer. I think she really believed I was trying to mess with
her last night. She was talking as if I was in the room with her. I’ve never
seen her like this and it’s freaking me out!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Upstairs, steamy water from
the showerhead caressed Gillian’s aching muscles. The heat soothed physically
but inside, her nerves were raw and jagged. She allowed the water to pound into her flesh until a chill settled over her. <i>Damn!
I used all the hot water. Angela is going to kill me</i>, she thought. A
chuckle escaped her lips, <i>just like old
times</i>. Still smiling she threw back the shower curtain and let loose a
blood-curdling scream. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-2435714967937727132015-08-04T19:38:00.002-04:002015-08-04T19:38:29.665-04:00Specter of Death- Part 17<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You’re kidding, right?” Bill gasped. “Please tell me you
only said that to get back at me for scaring you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I wish.” Kim muttered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “No wonder you’re jumpy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “That’s not all,” she whispered. “Gillian, of all people,
was afraid of the dark last night. Angela and I ran to her room because she was
screaming. She tried to say she’d had a bad dream but I don’t think that was
it. When I reached for the light switch she nearly had a fit. And then, Marie
bit my head off earlier. She’s definitely acting weird. God, what did Seth get
himself into?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bill’s brow furrowed as he
absorbed the shock from Kim’s bombshell. He had wanted to think it was all a
coincidence but the planchette in Kenj’s abdomen was creepy enough without
learning that the other two at the séance were behaving abnormally. Before he
could say anything, a shout from Kim’s office sent them running to check on Dr.
Tynesdale. In unison, Bill and Kim asked what was wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Wrong? No, nothing is wrong. This is extraordinary!”
Phillip replied. “These photos confirm a hypothesis that I’ve held for many years but,
alas, without anything concrete to back it up, I was reticent to share my
theory. This, this could be a breakthrough!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dead silence hung in the
air. Confused, Dr. Tynesdale turned to see why the other two weren’t sharing in
his jubilation. Their solemn expressions reminded him of the string of deaths
and the real reason he was there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “My apologies. I just … well, I got a little carried
away. Sometimes, I get so focused on the enormity of the spiritual realm that I
forget how fragile the mortal world is. The vessels, so to speak, that have the
runes adorned to them were people you knew. Forgive my insensitivity.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Can you tell us what they mean and why the killer is
using them, Doctor?” Kim pleaded. “Is there any way to use this information to
stop the murders?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Perhaps,” he sighed. “I’ll need a little more time to
research and to compare the carvings between the victims. Now, did you say
there were others that had no markings in the beginning?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Well, that’s the thing. Prior to the police determining
there was a serial killer on the loose, the first few bodies could have had
markings show up after the initial autopsy. Or, if the bodies had been sitting
for a while, instead of a fresh wound, the carvings would look like a tattoo or
a brand. Given that some of the victims were heavily tattooed, it could have
been assumed to be ink. I didn’t personally handle every victim so I can’t be
certain what happened in other autopsies but I can pull the records and review
the forensic photos if you think that would be useful for comparison.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Yes, I think that would be an excellent idea.” Dr.
Tynesdale replied. “The more data I have, the more accurate I can be.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Okay, I’m just going to contact the detective in charge
of the investigation and let her know we have a consultant reviewing the files
first.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim wondered which version
of Detective McDonald would be on the other line as she dialed. The detached
voice on the other end was groggy but kind. Marie sounded relieved that they
had an expert for consulting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Give me just a few minutes to finish up here and I’ll be
over to meet your Doctor Tynesdale. Okay, Kim?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Sure, take your time. He just got here and has loads of
files to review.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Bill watched as his friend
hung up her phone and shook her head in puzzlement. More than anything, he
wanted to grant her reassurance that everything would be okay but if even half
of what Dr. Tynesdale told him on the ride from the university was true, he would be telling the
biggest lie of his life. </span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-17413987724828895322015-07-28T19:05:00.000-04:002015-07-28T19:05:00.191-04:00Specter of Death- Part 16<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Trembling, Kim placed the planchette into a container to
be analyzed. Her mind reeled, wondering why the killer would place something so
peculiar into Kenj’s abdomen unless he/she knew about the Ouija attempt in the
morgue. <i>That means Marie or Gillian could
be next! </i>The realization that her friends were in grave danger sent an icy
chill through Kim’s core. She ripped off her gloves and reached for her phone
only to have it ring a millisecond before her fingers touched the smooth
plastic. She jumped back, sending her phone flying to the floor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Damn it!” Kim growled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Something wrong?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim yelped and spun around
to see Bill standing in her doorway, eyes alight and a lopsided grin stretching
across his face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “What the— are you trying to give me a heart attack,
Billy? Who let you in here, anyway? You’re supposed to be signed in and
announced,” said Kim, panting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Sorry about that.” He said, laughing and clearly not
sorry. “There was no one at the desk so I just came back. For someone who works
with dead bodies, you’re awfully jumpy.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Ha-ha, very funny. If you’d been working this case you’d
be jumpy too, Bill. It’s getting creepier by the minute. Anyway …” Kim crossed
the room and gave her friend a hug. “I’m glad you’re here. You said you
uncovered some information about those symbols. I really hope it give us
something. Things have gone from bad to worse since we talked.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I would have been here sooner but one of my colleagues
wanted to join me. Kim, this is Doctor Phillip Tynesdale. Phillip has a PhD in Religious
Studies with a background in Comparative Philosophy, Theology, World Religions,
and Humanities. He’s the one who realized the symbols were ancient runes,” Bill
said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A rotund man with a balding
crown and wire rimmed glasses poked his head out from behind Bill and smiled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “It’s a pleasure to meet you Doctor Tynesdale,” said Kim.
“I can’t thank you enough for taking some time out of your schedule to lend us
a hand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Please, call me Phillip. Any friend of Billy’s is a
friend of mine. I have to admit, the idea of runes being carved into bodies isn’t
something one encounters on an everyday basis so I just had to come see what’s been
going on for myself. Is it true that the carvings themselves change in
appearance or was Bill pulling my leg? He does like to goad me at times.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Oh no, that part is real. Very real,” Kim answered. “I
have images on my computer if you’d like to take a look.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Once Kim got Dr. Tynesdale
settled in with the images, she pulled Bill off toward cold storage to talk
privately.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Look, I need you to tell me everything you found out
about Ouija Boards and not saying goodbye. I haven’t told anyone else about
this yet but my assistant, Kenj, was found dead in her apartment last night.
She’s got the runes carved in her and everything but this time there was
something else. She had a planchette stuffed into her abdomen. What if Gillian
and Marie are next?” </span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-8620718158612314012015-07-14T16:49:00.000-04:002015-07-14T16:49:50.867-04:00Specter of Death- Part 15<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “When you dropped her off, did you notice anything
unusual or out of place, Detective,” Captain Hanson asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Once Kim had identified the
victim as the mayor’s niece, the officers on site called their captain
immediately. Since Hanson arrived before his detective, he had been double and
triple checking everything in Kenj’s apartment. He wanted answers immediately—not
next week, not tomorrow, now. The captain’s tone combined with too little sleep
set Detective Marie McDonald’s teeth on edge. Before she could hold her tongue,
angry words dripping with sarcasm hissed through her teeth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Don’t you think if I’d noticed anything unusual I would
have stuck around, Captain? I’m not in the habit of abandoning injured,
defenseless, women in a dangerous situation. And I certainly wouldn’t serve up
the mayor’s niece to a serial killer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I’m going to assume it’s grief over losing a colleague that
has you shooting off your mouth like that,” Captain Hanson growled. “Consider
this your one and only pass because you are this close to being written up for
insubordination.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Hanson held his hand up to
Detective McDonald’s face and pinched together his thumb and forefinger until
they were nearly touching. It took every ounce of self control not to tell the
captain where he could stick those fingers but she managed. <i>What I wouldn’t give to knock that smug
smile off his face, permanently,</i> her inner voice ranted. Rage boiled from
the depths of her core and bubbled until Detective McDonald had to walk outside
to get some air. She heard the door behind her open and seconds later a warm
hand rested on her shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Are you okay,” Kim asked. “In all the years we’ve worked
together, I’ve never seen you so furious. I seriously thought you were going to
take a swing at Hanson.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “To tell you the truth,” Marie answered. “I don’t know
what’s wrong with me. The rational side of my brain keeps telling me Captain
Hanson didn’t mean anything by his question but I could feel myself seething in
anger. No, not even anger … it was rage. I felt like I could have ripped him to
shreds with my bare hands so I came out here to cool down.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “That’s not like you at all,” said Kim. “Listen, if you
need to talk or—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “No! I don’t need to talk. I need you to do your job.
Find me something so we can catch the bastard already. In case you forgot, we’ve
got a flipping serial killer on the loose,” Marie interrupted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Puzzled, Kim walked away
leaving the detective to her thoughts. <i>Something’s
not right with her. We’ve worked together for a long time and she’s never acted
like this,</i> she thought. <i>I think I’ll
wait for a better time to tell her what Billy said about their Ouija séance.
She’s ready to snap as it is. I’ll just get the body and take it back to the
morgue</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Though Kim was used to working on her own,
she’d grown fond of Kenj and enjoyed having the company. The morgue felt cold
and lonely minus Kenj’s cheerful chatter. Unzipping the body bag, Kim looked
down at her colleague and friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I can’t believe you’re gone,” Kim whispered. “Please,
let there be something here, some sort of hint where to look for this psycho.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">After the victim’s clothing was
bagged and tagged, Kim searched the body for anything that might give them a
clue. Skin cells and blood under Kenj fingernails had been collected and sent
to the lab for analysis. Next, Kim checked a swollen eight inch wound located
on the patient’s abdomen. <i>Something
different from the other bodies, maybe it’ll help</i>. With gloved fingers she
pressed on the swelling; something hard and pointed poked back. She reached
inside with a pair of forceps, and pulled out a piece of triangular shaped
wood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Oh my God! It’s a planchette!” </span></div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-29178636422063982422015-07-07T20:27:00.002-04:002015-07-09T15:18:36.032-04:00Specter of Death- Part 14<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Kim’s head had no sooner hit
the pillow when her cell phone went off, playing the ominous ringtone she’d
selected for her ‘on call’ number. <i>Gotta
change that music until the killer is caught. It’s too creepy</i>, she thought while
blindly reaching for her phone. Exhausted and achy, Kim muttered into the phone
that she was on her way. She pulled on some clothes, bid goodnight to her
friends, and drove to the latest crime scene. She knew the killer struck again
even without seeing the body though her heart had wanted to believe otherwise. One
look at the scene confirmed their nemesis was back in action, taunting them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Guess it was wishful thinking to hope our killer had
given up, huh?” one of the officers muttered by way of a greeting. “Hasn’t
there been even the slightest clue on the bodies? If only we had something to
do go on we could catch this monster!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “So far, nothing,” Kim replied. “But I’m still looking.
One little slip-up ... that’s all we need and we’ll get ‘em. Hey, where’s
Detective McDonald? I need a few words with her.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Dunno, I haven’t seen her. We left a message on her cell
but no one’s seen her since the fire at the morgue.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim shrugged. Assuming her
friend had finally taken a night off, she pulled on her gloves and knelt beside
the body. Unlike the other victim’s, the female body sprawled face down in her
own blood lived in a tiny, one-bedroom apartment. Also different, the victim
dialed 911 from her cell phone. Clearly there had been a struggle but this
time, the victim knew her attacker. She’d let the killer inside of her own
accord; there were no signs of break-in or forced entry. Puzzled by the change
in M.O., Kim wondered if they’d stumbled upon a copycat or if the killer decided
to strike a familiar face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Hmm, this is different,” one of the officers muttered. “The
whole place was wiped down. Usually, we find prints but they’re from the
victim. This time, everything has been cleaned. We lifted a half smudged print
of the victim on the TV remote … that’s it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sighing, Kim scribbled every
detail onto her clipboard then reached to roll the victim onto a gurney. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Oh shit! No, it can’t be!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “What’s wrong? Do you know the … oh damn! This is bad.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Call Detective McDonald and get her down here ASAP,” Kim
demanded. “I’m not doing anything else until she gets here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Twenty minutes later,
Detective Marie McDonald sprinted through the door, hair disheveled and
clothing rumpled. Her bloodshot eyes were shrouded by heavy eyelids that hung
at half-mast.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">his can’t be possible. I’d just dropped her off several
hours ago. As if the mayor wasn’t already breathing down our necks as it is; now his
niece is a victim.” Marie knelt down next to the victim’s body and rested a
gloved hand on the corpse’s head. “Why did it have to be you? Please, Kenj,
please tell me you left us a clue somewhere.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-68089309081028610382015-06-30T19:13:00.000-04:002015-06-30T19:15:38.367-04:00Specter of Death- Part 13<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “No way!” Marie screamed.
“There’s no freaking way! That board was inside my bag, zippered up, and behind
the closed door of my closet.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Across the room, her closet
door remained closed. Panic seized her heart as she padded across the room in
her bare feet. Gasping for air, she reached out for the door handle, almost
expecting something to reach back. The inside of her closet looked much like it
had when she’d thrown her bag in there— except the bag was open. The board and
planchette were gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Okay, there has to be a reasonable explanation for this,”
Marie rationalized. “I must have been sleep-walking. That’s gotta be it!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Her words held more confidence in the
sentiment than her heart. She cleaned her wound and applied a bandage with
antibacterial cream, baffled by the depth of the laceration by a blunted
object. Unnerved, she shuffled to her kitchen in search of coffee. Gone were
the ‘Narnia Cabinets’, this time she could reach in, touch, and feel the wood
at the back of the wall. She grabbed the box of K-Cups and popped one into her
coffee maker. Ninety seconds later she was inhaling the steamy, slightly-bitter
aroma and feeling a sense of normalcy despite of being fully awake at 3am. After
her second cup of coffee, she dressed quickly and headed over to the station to
get an early start. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim, Angela, and Gillian had
stayed up only for a short while after Bill’s call. They sipped warm mugs of
‘sleepy-time tea’ laced with honey and talked. Unsettled by what Bill had said after
she’d turned off speaker-phone, Kim steered the conversation far away from what
had happened at the morgue. Instead, they talked about old times, the crappy
apartment they’d shared in college, and their insanely hot English Lit
professor. When they finally trudged off to their rooms, each hoped—rather than
believed—that they’d have better luck finding clues to Seth’s killer in the
morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Gillian flopped onto the bed in Kim’s
second guest room and sighed. <i>I should
have listened and stayed far away from that stupid Ouija board. Me and my
bright ideas are always getting us into trouble</i>. Drowsy, she flicked off
the light and curled up under the covers. Hovering on the delicious plane
between sleep and consciousness, Gillian’s troubles melted. Her body relaxed
until she floated in weightless slumber, warm and safe. In a distant memory,
she heard the singing of a lullaby and she drifted deeper. Just then, an icy
cold claw wrapped its talons around her foot and pulled. Bolting upright,
Gillian reached for the light switch but it was too far away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Shit! Who’s in here?” she barked into the darkness.
“Angela, if that’s you, it isn’t funny!” A shadowy form skulked across the room
making Gillian fume. “You’re such a jerk! I can see you; now get out and go to
bed before I kick your bony butt all the way down the hall.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian’s eyes laser-beamed
at the silhouette and she wished she has something to throw at Angela. <i>Preferably something hard … like an anvil. I’ll
go all Bugs Bunny on you and see how funny that is</i>, Gillian scoffed
silently. <i>Some friend!</i> She could hear
footfalls coming down the hall. <i>You’re
busted now. Kim’s gonna see what you’ve been up to and she’ll be pissed too. </i>The
door opened and light from the hallway filled the room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Did you call me?” Angela asked from the hallway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim’s head poked over
Angela’s shoulder making Gillian’s jaw dropped. Across the room, there was
nothing, no one stood in the spot where the shadowy figure had been. Angela
flipped on the lights chasing away every hint of shadow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Sorry, I-I, um …” Gillian paused to think up a
reasonable explanation. “I sometimes talk in my sleep. I’m sorry I woke you.
Man, that was one weird dream though.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Laughing, Gillian tried to
smooth over her lie. Her friends chuckled along to show they weren’t angry—also
to hide their concern. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You’re sure you’re okay?” Kim asked. “Do you need anything?
Wanna talk about it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “No,” Gillian insisted. “No, I’m fine, really. I’m going
right back to bed; you should too.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Worry creased lines between
Kim’s eyebrows and around her mouth. She shrugged and offered up a weak smile
to her friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Okay, if you’re sure. Good night then,” Kim murmured as
she reached out for the light switch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “NO!” Gillian cried out, sending a burning red flush
across her cheeks. “Um, I mean, you don’t have to turn off the light right now.
I think I’m going to read a little and try to make myself sleepy again.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim nodded and pulled the
door closed behind her. As much as she wanted to comfort her friend, she needed
to sleep. In a few hours she would have to go to the morgue and sort out
whatever mess remained. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-29143493789971130692015-06-16T17:09:00.000-04:002015-06-16T17:10:33.039-04:00Specter of Death-Part 12<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Billy, what’s going on,”
Kim whispered into the phone. “You told Gillian she’d be fine.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Well, there’s a couple things she said that could be …
well, it could be a concern. One, she said the planchette was erratic and made
repetitive figure eights. That can be a sign of a malevolent spirit. Two, she
took her hands off the planchette and they never said goodbye. Some people
believe those things can open the gate for the spirit to cross over into our
world. I’m not sure I believe all that but Gillian is pretty freaked out right now.
If she decides to search the internet, her fears could manifest … even if they
aren’t real, if you know what I mean. For example, if you break a mirror,
you’ll be looking for signs of bad luck. When we look for bad omens, we usually
find them or create them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Yeah, you’re right.” Kim murmured. “People who believe
Friday the thirteenth is bad luck usually have a really bad day. I’ll keep an
eye on her just to be sure.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Across town, Kenj sat in the emergency
room. She waited for two hours before a doctor came to remove the Hagadorn
Needle from her palm. With the help of morphine, not only did she not care how
long it took, Kenj did feel a thing when the instrument was removed. When she
finally staggered out to the waiting room, she found Marie waiting for her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Hey, can you give me a ride home?” Kenj slurred. “The
doc said I shouldn’t drive.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Of course,” the detective answered through a yawn. “I’ve
been waiting for you the whole time.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Once Kenj was settled into her apartment,
Marie drove home. She was anxious to get out of her damp, mildew-smelling
clothes and into a hot shower. The stink of stagnant sprinkler water had made
her queasy. After hauling in the bag with the Ouija board into her room, she
kicked it into her closet and slammed the door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> The warmth of a steamy shower beckoned her
aching muscles and Marie hurried to heed the call. Enveloped in the heat of its
embrace, she let the shower-spray massage her chilled, stiff neck and
shoulders. Only when the warmth seeped into her core did Marie turn off the
water, towel herself dry, and pull on a pair of warm pajamas. Exhausted and
achy, she shuffled to her bed and crawled under the covers. Sleep came moments
later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> A dull thud forced Marie to pry open her
bleary eyes. Seemingly of their own accord, her legs swung off the bed,
plunging her feet onto the cool, wood floor. The shock of cold pulsated through
her nerve endings like a thousand needle-pricks stabbing into her brain. She
rubbed the sleep from her eyes and found herself in her kitchen. <i>Damn, I must really be tired. I don’t
remember walking in here. </i>Too weary to retrace her steps, every cell in
Marie’s body screamed for coffee. <i>Even
with an IV drip, I wouldn’t be able to get enough caffeine into my body</i>,
she thought while rooting through her cabinets for the magic beans that made
her feel human. The shelves stretched out into oblivion but not even a measly
ground remained. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Caffeine withdrawal jackhammered through
the concrete-like shell protecting her brain, shattered fragments scattered
deep inside never ending shelves and cabinets. She stretched her arm until her shoulder
threatened to separate and still she couldn’t reach the back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Lucky me, I’ve got the cabinets to Narnia,” she scoffed.
“Where’s the freaking coffee?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Behind her, a garbled voice
repeated her words. When Marie turned around, she was no longer in her kitchen
but inside the morgue. Her Ouija board sat on a table surrounded by flickering
candles. <i>Am I dreaming</i>? The words
never passed her lips but the shadowy figures seated across from her at the
table cackled as if she’d said it aloud.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Pulled by a force stronger than her,
Marie’s fingertips settled onto the planchette. Rapid, jittery figure-eights
pulled her arms along with the rhythm until the tiny plastic triangle slipped
from her hands. In mid-air, the planchette froze, spun in the opposite
direction, and embedded itself into Marie’s eye. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Screaming, she sat up, clutching her face.
Warm, salty tears trickled down her cheeks but there was no blood. Her eye was
fine and when the cries of terror ended. Marie was sitting in her bed,
clutching her blankets. <i>It was just a
dream</i>, her inner voice soothed. Laughing at her own silliness, her toes
reached out for the coolness of her hardwood floors and stood. Her foot
slipped, sending her sprawling head-first into the bed frame. Blackness
overtook her before she hit the floor. Seconds later, she blinked hard to stop
the room from spinning. Stabbing pain ripped through her left shoulder. Still
face down on the floor, she reached over to feel for damages. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “That lump on my head is going to throb later,” she
muttered to herself. “And damn, it feels like I’ve got an ice pick stabbing
through my shoulder.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Warm, sticky blood smeared
the tips of her fingers but still Marie’s fingers probed the source of pain</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> “What
the hell is this?” She muttered.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">She plucked the offending
piece from just below her collar bone and stood. In one hand she clung to the
sharp piece that had pierced her and with the other she reached for the lamp on
her nightstand. With one click, the room was bathed in a soft glow. She held the planchette in her hand. Blood dripped from the plastic triangle onto the
floor. When Marie looked down, she was standing on top of the Ouija Board. A
blood-curdling scream of profanities bubbled out from her core and she threw
the planchette across the room. </span></div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-45694050370389213262015-06-09T19:19:00.000-04:002015-06-09T19:19:32.008-04:00Specter of Death- Part 11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Bill, are you sure it’ll be okay with the university if
you head straight here?” Kim asked. “I don’t want you to lose your job.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “No, it’s fine. I worked it all out. Right now, let’s
just focus on finding the killer before anyone else is hurt. Anyway, I’m dying
to find out what happened at the morgue so let’s have it, Jilly. How did it go?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian groaned. Her evening
had been complete chaos and she hated the thought of rehashing it, especially
since the feelings of dread hadn’t dissipated since she left the morgue. Knowing
Kim would hear all about it anyway, Gillian told her friends everything. She
had expected laughing or even a few good natured jokes at her expense but Kim,
Angela, and Bill remained silent until she ended her story with sloshing to her
car and cranking up the heat. For a few seconds, the silence hung heavy in the
air, each waiting for someone else to speak. Then they all spoke at once, words
jumbling together in confusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Oh my God! Is Kenj okay?” Kim gasped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Wait, you took your hands off the planchette before
saying goodbye?” Bill asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “So who touched your shoulder if it wasn’t Marie or Kenj?”
Angela wondered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Nervous giggles rippled
through the group when they all blurted their questions out at the same time. Gillian
wasted no time allaying Kim’s fears. Kenj would be fine after a few stitches.
It was the other questions that made her squirm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Honestly,” Gillian said, “I have no clue who touched me.
I was nowhere near the door so it wasn’t one of the firemen, either. I’ve been
trying to convince myself that it was just stress and I imagined it but …” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian paused as she stared
out the window. A shadowy figure had caught her eye and the feeling of being watched
made her skin crawl. It wasn’t until Kim and Angela turned to look out the
window that she redirected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Bill, what were you asking me about the planchette?” She
said, trying to cover up her concerns. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You said you pulled your hands off but you said goodbye
first, right?” </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Bill’s voice was thick with
concern. “You didn’t just pull away, did you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Um, yeah … I was a little thrown off when he said the
devil and my hands came up. That’s when the planchette flew out and hit Detective
McDonald. What do you mean say goodbye? What’s that all about?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “There’s a spot at the bottom of the board that says
goodbye. It’s just good manners to say goodbye to the spirit,” he replied but
Bill’s voice changed pitch as he attempted to lighten his tone. “Don’t worry,
Jilly. We both know Seth was never the type to stand on ceremony. Look, I need
to get a few things then I’ll be on the road so I’ll see you all soon.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim took her phone off
speaker to say goodbye but Bill urged her to go into another room before
hanging up the phone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Kim, listen, you need to keep an eye on Gillian. Make
sure she stays close. She might not be safe.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Oh my God! Why?” </span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-52150888354140591922015-05-19T18:19:00.001-04:002015-05-19T18:19:15.790-04:00Specter of Death- Part 10<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Billy’s sigh on the other
end of the call sent an icy dagger into Kim’s heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Hey, I’m gonna put you on speaker phone but hold off on
telling us what you found. We’re waiting for Gillian to change … she came home
soaking wet. I don’t even want to imagine what went on inside my morgue.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “What was she doing inside your morgue without you?”
Billy asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I told you they were using that Ouija Board tonight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You didn’t say they were doing it inside the morgue.
What the h—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “She back,” Kim interrupted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The time for grilling
Gillian about what happened would come but Kim had been on the edge of her seat,
waiting to find out what Billy had unearthed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I have to say, there are some incredible people at the
university. I had fellow professors, grad students, and even a few suck-ups
from my classes all working on these symbols. Overall, the consensus is that
they’re ancient runes but we don’t know if they’re Old Norse or Anglo Saxon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Why must there always be a ‘<i>but</i>’ in there?” Angela groaned. “A clear cut answer would have been
nice, for once.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Tell me about it,” Bill agreed. “The meanings behind the
symbols are totally different in many cases, even though they look exactly the
same.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “So, how do we know which is the correct interpretation?”
Kim asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well, I’m on my way now. I should be there in a few
hours. I think it’s best if we all review them together with the detective
working this case. Kim, can you call her and set up a meeting for sometime
tomorrow?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">*** In the push to get my next book launched there will be a two week hold until Part 11 so I will see you all back here on Tuesday, June 2nd. Happy Memorial Day and thank you to those who served or are currently serving. You have my deepest respect! ***</span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-86680432354547170932015-05-12T15:08:00.001-04:002015-05-12T15:08:41.769-04:00Specter of Death- Part 9<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Soaked to the bone in
stagnant water from the sprinkler system, the three women sloshed across the
room, arms outstretched, looking for the shut off valve and the light switch.
Without their candlelight, blackness swallowed the room and everything in it.
They tripped over table legs and stubbed toes on corners as their fingertips
caressed the walls in search of the elusive switches. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Shit!” Kenj shouted as she and a tray of autopsy tools
fell to the floor with a crash. “Oh God … this isn’t good. Um, anyone make it
to the door yet? I really need some light over here.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I’m working on it,” Marie replied. My fingers are so
cold I’m losing feeling. We’re gonna catch pneumonia at this rate.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Jilly? What about you?” Kenj called. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For several seconds there
was silence except for the sound of water pouring down on them. Kenj wondered
if the icy shivers up her spine came from the cold water, her injury, or worry.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Gillian?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Marie,” Gillian replied though her voice trembled. “You
found me. You can take your hands off my shoulders.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Um, I’m over here. I’m not touching you; I swear.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Before fear could send an
icy dagger through their hearts, the lights flicked on, leaving them momentarily
blinded. All three let loose a scream that reverberated off the walls. When
Marie opened her eyes, three firefighters were standing in the doorway. One
still had his hand hovering over the light switch. Another raced off, seeking
the shut off valve for the sprinkler system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Are you ladies okay?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It was then that they
noticed Kenj on the floor with a scalpel sticking out of her thigh and more
than half the length of a Hagadorn Needle embedded in her hand. Beneath her,
the pool of stinking water was tinged red. Both firemen sprang into action,
gingerly lifting her as if she weighed nothing and whisking her outside to the
waiting EMTs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Gillian shivered, both from cold and
shock. Thinking quickly, Marie grabbed her bag and placed the board inside
before anyone from the fire department returned. She didn’t want anyone to see
what they’d been doing. Even though she was willing to do whatever it took to
catch the killers, if word got out it would damage her reputation in the force.
Gillian rushed to her side, soggy candles in her hands. Once the room was
clear, they went in search of Kenj. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Oh God, are you okay, Kenj?” Marie gasped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Don’t worry, Detective.” She answered. “I’m fine. It was
my own clumsiness. I was just telling the guys how we were discussing the
latest case when the power cut out. They think maybe the power surge set off
the sprinklers because, obviously, there wasn’t any fire.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The deliberate tone of Kenj’s
voice said more than the words she’d carefully chosen. Marie gave her a kind
smile and sat down beside the injured MDI that had effectively thrown herself
on a live grenade to protect what they’d been doing inside the morgue. Despite
her protests, the EMTs insisted on taking Kenj to the hospital. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I’ll follow behind the ambulance,” Marie offered. “It’s
better to be safe than sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I don’t see any reason why Rodriguez here can’t just
stitch me up here,” said Kenj. “C’mon, we both know there’s no reason to waste
anyone’s time, especially mine, at the E.R.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I’ve got two words for you,” one of the EMTs responded.
He held up two pudgy fingers in front of his devilish grin to demonstrate “Mor— phine. They’ll gave you a little and you’ll
sleep like a baby instead of the agony you’ll suffer through if you let any of
us sew you back up.” The EMT gave her a wink and attached the gurney straps
around her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sensing she was outvoted,
Kenj sighed in defeat. “Hey, Gillian, you should head home so you can get out
of those wet clothes. I’ll give you a call in the morning. Thanks for your help
tonight.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Gillian hauled herself to her car and cranked
up the heat. Warm, dry, air washed over her, chasing the chill away. As she
rode across town to Kim’s home, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was
watching her. Shadows cast from the streetlights above seemed to take on
ominous shapes that shifted to rear their ugly heads. Even when she pulled into
Kim’s driveway, a dark form dashed across the rearview mirror. <i>I need a hot shower and a good night’s sleep</i>,
her inner voice insisted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Inside, the house was well lit and
cheerful, leaving Gillian to wonder if stress had made her jumpy. Kim and
Angela were waiting at the door to welcome her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Oh my God! Are you okay? You look … wait, why are you
all wet?” Kim asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian shook her head and
raked her hand through her still-damp hair. Before she could reply, the phone
rang.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Billy! Hey, how are you? Please tell me you have some
news for us.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
***By now, you know the drill. Unless the zombies rise up, I'll be here next Tuesday for another installment of Specter of Death***</div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-85059308968673853462015-05-05T17:41:00.000-04:002015-05-05T17:41:07.484-04:00Specter of Death- Part 8<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">At quitting time, Kim
gathered up her things and wished her friends luck. Both she and Angela had
made their feelings known. There was nothing more they could offer on the
subject. No one doubted her sincerity or concern. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Please, be careful. Okay?” Kim’s voice was heavy with
emotion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Don’t worry,” Marie replied. “Besides, we might not be
able to make contact and you’ll have gotten yourself all worked up over
nothing.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I hope you’re right, Marie. I hope you’re right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian walked her friend
out to her car, reiterating there was no need to worry. The feeling of dread in
Kim’s stomach said otherwise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> When Gillian returned, Marie and Kenj had set up small
table surrounded by three chairs, in the center of the room. The board was in
the center with the planchette resting on the table next to it. Candles
flickered on nearby surfaces, making Gillian wonder what OSHA would think of
such a fire hazard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I was starting to wonder if Kim and Angela talked you
out of it,” Marie teased, throwing Gillian a wink. “Looks like we’re all set up
… I think it would be best if you ask the questions since you knew Seth and we
didn’t. He’s more likely to respond to your energy than mine.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I read that someone ought to write everything down.
Technically, they don’t actually take part but when that pointer really gets
going it helps to have someone jotting every letter and number down.” Kenj
added. “Do you want me to do that, Detective or would you rather?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You can do it, if you don’t mind taking the back seat on
the action,” said Marie. “I’d like to be involved and I can’t help wondering if
Kim and Angela might have made you a little nervous. It’s best to approach a
situation like this without uneasiness or negativity. Positive energy is our
best shot at making a connection and we desperately need some answers.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While Kenj settled in with a
pad and a pen, Marie turned off the overhead lights so that only the dancing
flames atop each candle provided light. The three ladies took a deep, cleansing
breath, exhaled, and then nodded to signify they were ready. At the same time,
Gillian and Marie placed their fingertips on the planchette. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “We’re trying to reach my dear friend, Seth Lee. Seth, if
you are here, please speak to us. We need your help.” Gillian’s voice was clear
and calm even though excited little butterflies danced in her stomach. “Seth,
are you here with us tonight?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> The planchette did not move. Marie looked
deep into Gillian’s eyes and gave her a nod of encouragement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Don’t give up,” Kenj whispered. “Sometimes it takes a
few minutes. Try again.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian called out again to
her departed friend on the other side. Beneath her fingertips, the piece of
plastic trembled then slid a couple of millimeters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Seth, is that you? Are you here with us?” This time the
planchette moved back and forth across the board. “Marie, are you moving it?” she demanded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Not wanting to interrupt
whatever connection they’d established, Marie shook her head no. The
detective’s wide eyes reflected sincerity and honesty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “We are looking to make a connection with Seth Lee. Seth,
are you there?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The pointed end moved
rapidly to the corner marked ‘YES’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Seth? Is it really you?” Gillian’s eyes clouded and her
chin quivered when the plastic under her hand slid away from YES circled the
board once and then returned. “We want to find whoever hurt you and stop them
from harming others. Do you know who attacked you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Faster now, the planchette
jerked away from the ‘YES’ mark and made sloppy ovals before returning to the
same affirmative marker. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Good! We need you to give us a name.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Erratic, rapid, circular
motions gave way to loops like an infinity symbol or a figure eight before
landing on ‘NO’. Marie had to bite her tongue to keep from saying anything
aloud but her inner voice muttered a few choice profanities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Seth, we want to stop them from hurting others. You
don’t want anyone else to be killed, do you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The pointer circled back to
‘NO’ which gave Gillian hope. She knew Seth was always reasonable; it just took
time to get him to come around sometimes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Good, we don’t want anyone else to get hurt either.
Together, we can stop them! Now, please, tell us who did it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Their hands swirled across
the board and Marie drew in a sharp breath when they moved too close to NO but
they did not return to it. Instead, the clear circle encompassed the letter C.
Kenj scribbled it onto her pad, followed by A then N. Frantic circles whipped
across the board until it settled on the letter T. After several seconds, there
was no movement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “C’mon, Seth. Don’t tell me you can’t!” Gillian groaned.
“Yes you can. Give me the name.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Before her sentence finished
the planchette was moving again in rapid swirls. Marie made a mental note to
look up the meaning of an infinity sign on the Ouija Board later. The letters
came in rapid succession: SCARRED. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Yeah, Kim told me about the scar. It looks like someone
branded you, she said but it was an open wound when she first saw you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The pointer went back to
‘NO’ making Jillian sigh in frustration. Kenj held up her pad. It had one word:
scared, followed by a question mark. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Was it scared? Is that what you were saying?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Yes’ was the reply which
quickened the breathing of all three girls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You don’t have to be scared, Seth. Not anymore … we’re
going to catch whoever is responsible. And when we do, Marie is going to arrest
them. Did I tell you she’s a detective?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> ‘NO’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Sorry, I should have introduced you. She wants to help
but she needs a name, Seth. Please?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Faster than ever, their
hands circled the board. Gillian wondered if she’d pushed too hard. Seth’s
agitation showed in the rapid, jerking, movements but she said nothing. The
first letter, D, appeared for just moment before the spinning recommenced. The
rest followed in quick succession, almost too fast for Kenj to see: E-V-I-L.
Startled, Gillian lifted her hands for just a second and planchette flew across
the board and struck Marie just below her collar bone on the left side. Before
any of the ladies could react, the candles flickered for a second, as if a
breeze blew through the room, and then the overhead fire sprinklers doused the
entire room in icy water.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Damn it!” Kenj shouted. “Where’s the turn off valve?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">**Please return next Tuesday for another installment of S<i>pecter of Death</i>**</span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-77889474978021225522015-04-28T11:16:00.000-04:002015-04-28T11:16:36.937-04:00Specter of Death- Part 7<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">All day, the feeling of
dread gnawed at the pit of Kim’s stomach. She didn’t like the idea of messing
around with dark forces but the others were resolved to make it happen. Only
Angela had been on her side. At lunch they both tried to steer the
investigation down a different path but their reluctance was met with disdain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “If you’re not into it, that’s totally fine but there’s
no reason for you to try to talk us out of it,” said Marie. “We need answers.
Besides, there’s nothing to be afraid of; this isn’t a horror movie.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Those words echoed in both
Angela and Kim’s minds the rest of the day. In a last ditch effort to stop what
they were sure would end in disaster, Angela placed a call to Billy’s cell
phone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Maybe he can talk Gillian out of it,” Angela whispered
as the phone rang. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Even better, maybe he’s got some information about those
symbols. If there’s work to be done, Marie won’t have time to mess around with those
damn Ouija Boards.” Kim replied. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The phone rang again, then a
third time and a fourth. Angela was just about to hang up when Billy’s voice
came through the receiver. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Angela? What’s wrong? Is everyone okay?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Hey, Bill, I hope this isn’t a bad time. No, we’re okay.
No one has been hurt … yet. We were hoping you could help us avoid that.”
Angela answered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “What do mean yet?” Bill’s voice was thick with concern. “Where’s
Kim and Gillian?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Kim is right here with me and Gillian will be back in a
few minutes. She ran over to the coffee shop for some lattes so we wanted to
catch you before she got back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In one deep breath, Angela
relayed the entire story and their concerns about what could happen if Gillian,
Marie, and Kenj, used their Ouija Board in the morgue. For a second, there was
silence at the other end of the receiver. She and Kim exchanged worried
glances, waiting for a reply. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Seriously? I ducked out of my class for that? It’s a
freaking kid’s toy! It says right on the box for ages eight and up. I can’t
believe you called me for this. Tell Kim I’ll call her tonight after my classes
to talk about the symbols. I gotta go.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “He hung up,” Angela gasped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Well, at least we tried,” Kim said as she draped her arm
across Angela’s shoulders. “Maybe, nothing will happen and we’re worrying for
no reason.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***Again, I apologize for my absence. Hopefully, the plague has been vanquished but I see my doctor this afternoon to be sure. Don't tell him I was working! If all goes well, the next installment of Specter of Death shall be Tuesday, May 5th or Revenge of the Fifth for my fellow geeks. Until then, avoid the plague!!!***</span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-44417833056386086282015-04-14T18:51:00.002-04:002015-04-14T18:58:46.221-04:00Quarantine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-vfg1aJ6Gdw5Lkmz3b-ghbJLwmEfdTe4EfYsNVOao1aWr4_759yGPcvxGCVYohQ34Us20rlmgm2F3oRJgUVP7bg4JnV4DMj18LcOpQ_heZ0rWW8Nqk-a4S-rduFjCIOSiOpZ9WOQ8_Pk/s1600/Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-vfg1aJ6Gdw5Lkmz3b-ghbJLwmEfdTe4EfYsNVOao1aWr4_759yGPcvxGCVYohQ34Us20rlmgm2F3oRJgUVP7bg4JnV4DMj18LcOpQ_heZ0rWW8Nqk-a4S-rduFjCIOSiOpZ9WOQ8_Pk/s1600/Q.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My apologies. Due to an unforeseen plague that has fallen upon my house, Specter of Death has been put on a temporary hold. Once the quarantine has been lifted, your regularly scheduled program will continue. Thanks for your understanding!<br />
<br />
P.S. The whole wart/herpes part is, of course, a joke. The ocelot was quite worried though...<br />
<br /></div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-60493935922834179662015-04-07T18:51:00.001-04:002015-04-07T18:51:32.677-04:00Specter of Death-Part 6<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Detective McDonald, Kim, and
Kenj were in the middle of reviewing the security camera feed when Kim’s phone
alerted her of a new text message. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <i>I found some info
on those symbols. I’ll call you tonight with details, after my evening class.
Hope you’re well. --- Billy<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim’s lips pressed into a
firm line and her eyebrows knitted together to complete the scowl. <i>Oh, Billy, I’d sure be better if you told me
what you’ve discovered</i>, she thought, <i>waiting
until tonight will be torture</i>. She typed in, ‘thank you’ and pressed send. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Something wrong?” Detective Marie McDonald asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “No, it’s just a message from one of my friends. He found
out something about those symbols but he can’t call me until tonight.” Kim
sighed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Tonight? Doesn’t he realize how urgent this is? Can’t <i>you</i> call him instead?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “No, he’s a professor at my old alma mater so he’s
teaching. He has an evening class so he’ll call me tonight.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Detective McDonald sighed,
knowing she’d have to be patient but it wouldn’t be easy. Instead, she decided
to focus on getting what little information was available on the body from the
previous night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Well, then, can you at least give me something on the
body from last night? What about that symbol on him? Kenj, did you tell Kim
about it? It’s similar but not exactly the same as the others.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “It did the same thing overnight though. It was all
bloody when I closed up but today it looks like he was branded years ago.”
Kenji said. “I spent half the night researching online but I’ve got zilch.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Hopefully, Billy can—” Kim’s sentence was cut off by a
buzz through the intercom system. “Oh, yeah. That’s fine. Send them back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Detective McDonald and Kenj
wore matching expressions of puzzlement. Kim noticed their heads, cocked to the
side, reminding her of a puppy she had when she was a child. Moments later, her
friends Gillian and Angela poked their heads in the door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Hey, how’s it going?” Angela asked. “We thought we would
take you out to lunch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Yeah, it’s the least we can do since we kept you up all
night … Oh, sorry, are we interrupting?” Gillian said, worried when she
realized Kim wasn’t alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">After introducing her
friends to Kenj and Detective McDonald, the conversation steered back to the
investigation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I’ve never heard of anything quite like this,” Marie
McDonald admitted. “I’ve talked to everyone on the force. Hell, I even called my
mentor. He was a detective for over thirty years before he finally decided to
retire. All those years and he was flat-out baffled. Right about now, I am open
to anything that might give us some answers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Really?” Gillian asked. “Do you mean that? Because I
have an idea but … Angela is flat-out opposed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Seriously? I can’t even believe you’re going to suggest
this to a room full of professionals, Jilly. It’s not right,” Angela muttered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Detective McDonald noticed
Angela’s body tense as she crossed her arms over her chest. It piqued her
curiosity. Gillian shook her head in dismay and rolled her eyes at her wary
friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Okay, now I’ve got to know,” Marie insisted. “Gillian,
what’s your idea?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “The best way to find out is to just ask Seth. We could
use a Ouija Board and try to contact him. Worst case scenario, we can’t reach
him and you’re no worse off than you are now. Best case … he tells us what
happened and maybe you can stop it from happening to others.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “At this point, I’ll try anything!” The detective
declared. “Since you knew him, we might have a better chance of contact.
Obviously, Angela, if you’re not comfortable with it, you certainly don’t have
to join us. Kenj? Kim? Where do you stand on it?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Sure, I’ll join you,” said Kenj. “I tried it once as a
kid but that was ages ago. Whaddya say, Kim? Are you in?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “No, sorry. I’m not into that stuff. I want to find out
what happened just as much as anyone but … no, not like that.” Kim answered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “That’s okay,” Marie said; her tone was soothing and full
of understanding. “It’ll just be me, Gillian and Kenj then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Hey, why don’t we do here?” Kenj offered. “Tonight,
after Kim is done for the day. Afterwards, I’ll personally drive Gillian back
to Kim’s, if you want.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Gillian nodded in agreement
and, for the first time, Detective Marie McDonald had something to look forward
to in the case. She just had to remind herself that she’d have to wait for
closing time to see if they could make anything happen. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And if it doesn’t, maybe Kim’s friend Billy has some information we can
use</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">***Be sure to return Tuesday, April 14th for the next installment of Specter of Death! Better yet, why not sing up for email alerts so you never miss a post?***</span></div>
</div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-68253187482243030002015-04-01T21:59:00.001-04:002015-04-01T22:00:41.908-04:00No Fools Today! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the object of April's foolery, I am delayed in posting today but I assure you; this is not a hoax. Instead, what I am planning is something fun for all who want to take part. Whether you choose to be a spectator or you want to get in on the action, all are welcome. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I came across an interesting collection of photos, all abandoned places that seemed ripe to inspire stories. After showing it to some of my friends, we have decided to embark on a multi-genre story sharing based on the pictures from this article: </span><a data-reactid=".5q.$mid=11425528023836=26fe36b875cfed07b35.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$range0:0" href="http://www.earthporm.com/haunting-images-abandoned-places/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #dbedfe; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; line-height: 15.3599996566772px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.earthporm.com/haunting-images-abandoned-places/</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's where all of you come in ... I'd like you to join us! Use your blog site, Facebook, or whatever you'd like to post your story along with us on Wednesday, April 22nd. If you give me your links, I will attach them to my post on the 22nd. Let's have some fun!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first image selected was #8 </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq766-HWgGKTHYDnw0TA-sAYQCCERepuMq_pxMwMLB9bE7LHYuZL2S-cElYqkrRYzZYbeKjUwjKw7IkgOnINSon8uT48e_tMFCrr4JP9TfXUSM14hr7uqf7a2hgHDi5k97rTqAKOnCILvu/s1600/abandoned-places-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq766-HWgGKTHYDnw0TA-sAYQCCERepuMq_pxMwMLB9bE7LHYuZL2S-cElYqkrRYzZYbeKjUwjKw7IkgOnINSon8uT48e_tMFCrr4JP9TfXUSM14hr7uqf7a2hgHDi5k97rTqAKOnCILvu/s1600/abandoned-places-9.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the article, photo credit belongs to: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lenzz/. Please don't forget to credit the collection from earthporn.com and also the individual photo. These are merely inspiration. We do not intend to tell the story of the actual place and, as always, any similarities to persons living or dead is entirely coincidental. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Comment below or message me on Twitter or Facebook. Let's do this!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***And of course, Specter of Death will be back on Tuesday so don't miss out.***</span></div>
S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-5893701450987120722015-03-31T18:29:00.000-04:002015-03-31T18:29:00.447-04:00Specter of Death- Part 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kim settled most of her
friends either into her guest rooms or on the pull-out sofas, all except John.
He’d made a reservation at the Holiday Inn and saw no reason to cram onto a
sofa or chair when he had a perfectly comfortable king sized bed waiting for
him. His vow to be a better friend was all but forgotten the moment he climbed
into his cab. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Bill had staggered to one of the bedrooms
in the hopes of gaining a few hours of sleep before his trek home. Angela and
Gillian were still trying to convince the other to take the second guest room
when Kim shuffled off to bed. She set her alarm and hoped coffee would be
enough to get her through the next few days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> She closed her eyes and was whisked away
to a day long-past and a time in her youth where the cares of her current life
were unable to be imagined. Instead, her days were filled with classes and
evenings spent with friends or at parties near campus. In that omniscient way of dreams, she was both
young but retained her memories of days gone by and found herself in a
familiar setting. Kim’s memory screamed to wake, for fear of further pain, but
her dream-self continued down the familiar street. Using every ounce of
strength, she struggled to keep a younger Seth steady as they walked back to
their apartment building. He and Billy shared a room two doors down from her,
Gillian, and Angela. They’d all been to the bar, blowing off steam from exams when
Seth’s behavior warranted ejection from the establishment— a surprising turn of
events given the regular clientele was riotous on a good night. Rather than
ruin the evening for everyone, Kim had volunteered to walk him home. <i>Wake up</i> screamed her inner voice but the
dream girl continued on her way, drunken friend in tow. The memory jumped ahead
to the part she wished to avoid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I’m sorry I ruined your night,” Seth slurred. “I could’ve
made it home alright but I was glad to have you for company. Look, I know you’re involved
with … aw, hell.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Before she realized it, Seth
had pulled her close and his lips pressed against hers, gentle at first then
more demanding. The kiss had stunned her in the dream just as it had in real
life. The room spun and he pulled away just long enough to whisper in her ear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I shall tuck away this moment in my heart to mend the
break … as you will never be mine to have and hold.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">His gentle hand caressed her
cheek as he stumbled into the apartment and immediately passed out on the sofa.
When Kim awoke, a single tear cooled the cheek where, in the dream, his hand
had been. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Damned writers! Even piss drunk they can manipulate words
to haunt us in our dreams.” She sighed and wiped the moisture from her eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Knowing she’d get no more
sleep, Kim hauled her weary body from the comfort of her bed and decided to
tiptoe to the kitchen for a cup of tea. She took great care in turning the door
knob to not make any noise that might wake her guests. Her footfalls soft as a
whisper, she crept to the kitchen only to find everyone else seated at the
table with steaming mugs of coffee. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I see I’m not the only one who couldn’t sleep,” she
yawned and smiled at her friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While it was no surprise
that they’d all had a dream about their dear departed friend, the fact that
their dreams were all from different times of that same exact day sent up
waving red flags.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I think we’re reaching,” Bill muttered as he downed the
last dregs of his coffee. “Just because we all had a dream from the same day
over a decade ago doesn’t mean it’s a sign. It means that we each had a
significant encounter with Seth on that day. For example, that was the day we
went for our first tattoos.” He rolled up his sleeve to show off his ink. “See,
no other-worldly symbols or messages from the grave. Just a normal tat. Seth’s
didn’t look anything like mine either.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “But what if the significance is his tattoo?” Gillian
interrupted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “It could be,” Angela agreed. “Kim, you can check
tomorrow when you— wait, make that in a few hours when you go to work. Sorry,
we’ve kept you up.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Not at all, I wouldn’t have slept anyway. I have too
much on my mind. In addition to Seth, I’ve got a slew of other deaths of
mysterious means. Speaking of, I’d better get ready. I have a feeling it is
going to be a long day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">By 9:03AM, Kim was already
wishing she’d called in sick. Kenj filled her in and none of it was good news.
While she was gone, another body had been discovered. Initially, there were no
markings on the body but just like Seth’s, it appeared later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “As for Candace Malone, her wound has sealed just like
his too. None of this makes any sense,” said Kenji.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “No, it sure as hell doesn’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Startled, both Kim and Kenj
turned toward the voice. Detective McDonald hovered in the doorway, shaking her
head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I’m sorry about your friend, Kim” Marie continued. “Please
tell me you know what’s going on and what these damn symbols mean. He was
your friend so I’m counting on you. We need answers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “We’re working on that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “We? Oh God, we who?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “There was a group of us, old college buddies. We’re
trying to figure out what the symbols mean. Apparently, they were on the cover
of his book … <i>Specter of Death</i>. As
for more, we’re working on it.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Please, I’m begging you. Work faster!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***Part 6 of Specter of Death will be available Tuesday, April 6th but be sure to pop in tomorrow for a special surprise. Yes, it is April Fool's Day but no, it is not a prank. I have a treat, rather than a trick, planned for you, my loyal readers. Until tomorrow ....</span></div>
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S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547327149393801465.post-25557708241253746742015-03-24T18:00:00.000-04:002015-03-24T18:19:57.326-04:00Specter of Death - Part 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Well? Don’t leave me hanging. Where? What is it?” Kim
demanded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Believe it or not, I think I saw it in Seth’s last book,”
Bill replied. “Hang on a sec and let me pull up the e-reader app on my phone.
Okay, yeah … here it is. His most recent book, <i>Specter of Death</i> has it on the front cover.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The entire group leaned in
to look at the tiny screen and gasped. The mysterious symbol carved into Seth’s
chest, right over his heart, looked almost identical to the images on the cover
of his novel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “I feel like a jerk for admitting this but,” John paused and
shifted in his seat before continuing his confession. “I’ve never read a single
one of Seth’s books. I’m such a shitty friend. He would come to our gigs and post
on all of his social media sites to promote my band and I never once
reciprocated. I just, I wish I’d been a better friend to him … hell, to all of
you.” Wringing his hands, John stood and looked each of his friends in the eye.
“Starting right now, I am going to be a friend like Seth was. He was the guy
who always had your back and who supported whatever you wanted to do because it
was important to <i>you</i>. Seth, wherever
you are, I just want you to know how much I miss you and how sorry I am that I
wasn’t there for you when you needed me. I’ll never make that mistake again; I
swear!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> John wiped the tears from his eyes and accepted
hugs all around as he struggled to regain his composure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Look,” Angela chimed in. “You can’t beat yourself up,
John. Sometimes life just gets in the way and we get busy. It doesn’t mean I
don’t think about all of you and I am sure you do the same. If you really want
to do right by Seth, let’s do what we can to help Kim figure out what happened
to him.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “That’s good idea,” Gillian agreed. “Why don’t we all
start with Seth’s book. If the symbol has anything to do with what happened
then, maybe, there’s a hint in the book. I read it when it first came out but
now that I know what happened to him maybe there’s something I missed, you
know? I looked at it as my friend’s horror novel before but now, maybe, there's something that can help us puzzle out what happened to him." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Good idea. I have to head back to the university tomorrow and teach
but I’ll be back on Friday night. While I’m gone I’ll see what I can find out
on campus. Between the library and students looking for extra credit, maybe I
can unearth something that will help too. If any of you need anything or you
find something useful, don’t hesitate to call me.” Billy added. “We should
probably get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day for all of us.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">***Be sure to return Tuesday, March 31st for the next installment of Specter of Death! Better yet, why not sing up for email alerts so you never miss a post?***</span><br />
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S.G. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11138666917176667682noreply@blogger.com0