Well, we left off just as Jackie was about to tell her story to us. “I still do not believe that John, my husband, died of a heart attack,” she said, “I think he was murdered. Except I have no proof. That is why I want to hire you to help me find that proof and the person responsible. However, although I live in this huge mansion, I really do not have much money.

John had no life insurance, and I inherited this mansion from an uncle who always said I was his favorite niece, and he had no children of his own, and his wife had died years before. Kenaston (the man I was going to hire to manage Baldwin Corporation) said you were very reliable and had good success in solving mysteries of all kinds. Also…”

Then she paused for a bit and began to look worried. “What is wrong?” asked Kat. “You will probably think I am crazy already,” Jackie continued, “but even more so when I tell this next part. Three nights ago I had this dream, yet it felt like it was perfectly real and I am still sure I was awake at the time. In that dream John was standing at the foot of my bed talking to me.

He told me not to get anyone involved, that he had died of a heart attack like the coroner said, and that because I had involved Kenaston then he would also die at 5pm today. Then he walked into the closet and disappeared.” Meow,meow!=Ghost! We go home now! Meowy!=Me agree! Kat looked down at them and frowned. I looked at my watch, it was now 5:30pm.

Then my phone rang. It was Annelie. “Private Steve,” was all she said. “I need to take this call outside,” I told Jackie, “Rock, Mac, you come with me.” We went outside and away from the mansion a bit. “Watch the windows,” I told Rock and Mac, “okay Annelie, what is up?” “I just got word that Kenaston was killed about half an hour ago. He walked out of the building where his office is located and started across the parking lot to his car when he was shot. He died instantly.

The police noticed an open window on the third floor of the office building across the street and discovered a rifle set up on a tripod of some kind. That office was empty.” “Sounds like a deliberate hit,” I said, “but it does not have anything to do with us, but likely with Jackie since no one knew we were coming here today except Kenaston and he was not to let anyone know about our meeting for security reasons and he understood that. I also do not believe that Jackie’s husband is dead.”

“Why is that Steve?” asked Annelie. “Because I do not believe in ghosts,” I said. Then I gave her the name of Jackie’s uncle and asked her to find out whatever she could about him and this mansion. While we were outside, things were happening inside. Everyone had been talking about different things when suddenly Jackie went pale as she looked up the stairs.

Everyone else turned around and saw a man at the top of the stairs. “I told you not to involve Kenaston, Jackie,” said the man, “now he is dead too, just like me. Do not make the same mistake with these people.” Kat pulled out her gun when the man took a step down. “You cannot kill a man that is already dead,” he said smiling at her.

“Come down one more step and I will certainly try,” she said, also smiling. “Well, I do not believe in ghosts,” said John and he began up the stairs. But when he got close to the man, who was John, Jackie’s husband, there was a blinding flash of light and John was knocked off his feet. However, he managed to hold onto the banister so he did not fall. But the other John had disappeared.

Frank then ran upstairs and Jackie yelled at him not to go up there. He made it okay, but there was no sign of that other John. Our John was okay, just a little shocked by that electrical jolt. He and Frank came downstairs again as we came inside.

“We had a visit from husband John,” said Kat, “he said that Kenaston was dead.” “He is dead, shot while leaving his office just after 5pm,” I said to everyone. “Just like John said would happen 3 days ago,” said Jackie, “now I am afraid to ask you to help me, John told me just now not to get you involved.” “We will take the case,” I said, “but we need access to the whole mansion to search for secret passages.

I do not believe your husband is dead, mainly because I do not believe in ghosts. We need your full cooperation too.” “You have my cooperation,” she said, “but why would my husband be doing this?” “That is part of the mystery we will have to solve,” I said, “and we will.”

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.