Blur (7 page)

Three hours later, I sat across from Rosie, who’d inherited Ruth’s diner from her mother several years back. As she looked over my job application, I studied the rail-thin, bleach-blond woman and gathered she was somewhere in her sixties because of her weathered skin. She did have a cigarette resting behind her ear, so she could have actually been younger.

“You’re new in town?” she asked in a gravelly voice.

“Yes, we just moved here a couple of days ago.”

“Have you ever waitressed before?”

I sighed. “No. I worked at a boutique, though, so I’ve used a register before and have experience with customers.”

She nodded. “You’ll be on your feet a lot. Do you have any problems with that?”

I shook my head.

“Are you available to work nights?”

I bit the side of my lip. “I’d prefer days, if that’s possible.”

She studied me. “To be honest, I really need the help at night. I don’t expect you to work past midnight, but my second shift is really hurting right now. I’m even willing to pay you an extra dollar an hour.”

I sighed. “That’s fine. Is there a chance that I can switch to days in the future? When school starts, my mom won’t want me working past ten.”

She nodded. “We won’t make you work past nine during the week, but we’d need you until midnight on Friday or Saturday. Would that be an issue for you?”

“No,” I answered.

She asked me a few more questions then hired me on the spot.

“Wow, that was fast,” I blurted out.

She smiled. “We need the help, desperately. Can you start tomorrow?”

I nodded. “That shouldn’t be a problem.”

“You’ll be training with Susan. So, we’ll see you around four, tomorrow afternoon?”

I agreed and then she found me a uniform, which wasn’t easy with my short frame. When it was all said and done, I left the diner so giddy that I wanted to scream.

“Let me guess, they hated you,” smiled Nathan as I got into his Mustang. He’d been listening to the stereo and waiting for me in the parking lot.

I held up my hand. “I start tomorrow.”

He slapped it. “Good job. I also have awesome news; Sonny called my cell phone and I start next Monday. Pending a drug test. I’m sure Duncan had everything to do with it, but I’m not complaining.”

“That’s great!” I said and then swore. “So, how are we going to work this out? I need a ride to and from work until I’m able to get a car. They want me working second shift.”

“If I’m at the marina, I’ll try and work something out with Sonny. Maybe I can take my lunch break and pick you up at the cabin? I’m sure he’ll be cool with that. It’ll just be for a little while, anyway.”

I smiled. “Thanks. I know it isn’t easy driving me around everywhere.”

“Yeah, you’re kind of a pain in the ass,” he smirked.

I smacked him in the shoulder again. “You are an
ass
so I guess it kind of makes sense.”

He rubbed his arm. “I must have a permanent bruise there from you beating up on me all the time. Show your brother some love,” he pouted.

“Shut your yap and you won’t get hurt.”

“Ho, ho… big words from such a little twerp,” he said.

I raised my fist again. “You don’t listen very well, do you?”

He snorted and shook his head. “You’re so violent.”

I smiled. “Just remember that.”

“So, let’s head over to the marina and check out the surveillance equipment,” he said.

“Okay.”

Nathan gave me a sideways glance. “Although I’m sure Duncan will be monitoring someone else.”

“What?”

Nathan smiled. “Oh, come on. You know he has the hots for you.”

“Whatever,” I said, looking out the window.

“He does, but that’s okay because he seems like a decent guy. I think you should go for it.”

I snorted. “Go for it? Look, I’m not interested in going for anything right now.”

“Right. That’s why you blush every time he looks your way.”

“I do not!”

“You’re face turns as red as a tomato.”

I could feel it burning right now as he teased me.

“See!” he laughed.

“It’s just a sunburn!”

He shook his head and gave me a knowing look.

I turned up the radio and tried avoiding his smartass grin.

When we arrived at the marina, we walked over to the cabin next door, where Duncan was adjusting his surveillance equipment.

“All set?” asked Nathan.

He nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got cameras set up all around the perimeter of this place. There’s no way I’ll miss this guy if he comes back.”

“You still want to do our cabin, too?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I’ll follow you in my truck. I’m ready whenever you are.”

“Shoot, I just remembered, I have to pick up mom’s dry cleaning. Is it okay if Nikki rides with you and shows you where we live? I’ll meet you both at the cabin as soon as I’m done.”

My eyes narrowed, I didn’t remember her requesting anything like that. In fact, she was supposed to drive into town herself sometime today. I didn’t mention any of this, however. I didn’t want Duncan to think Nathan was trying to play matchmaker.

“Sure,” replied Duncan. He looked at me. “Should we get going?”

I nodded and then followed him to a white pickup truck with “Sonny’s Boat Repairs” on it.

Duncan apologized. “Sorry, it’s nothing fancy but it gets me places.”

I smiled. “It’s better than what I have, which is nothing.”

He turned the radio on and glanced at me. “You look nice. How did your interview go?”

I smiled. “I got the job. In fact, I start tomorrow evening.”

“See, I told you, you’d get it.”

I looked down at my clothes. For the interview, I had worn a peach silk blouse and mid-length black skirt with heels. My feet were already killing me.

“I guess I know where I’ll be eating dinner from now on.”

I laughed. “It’s
your
stomach. I’m not cooking, you know, I’m only serving.”

He shrugged. “That’s okay. I’ll come in and be one of those annoying customers who sits and drinks coffee all day long, but I’ll leave a much better tip.”

“As long as you tip, I’ll save you a booth.”

“So,” he said, changing the subject. “Do you remember anything about the face you saw in the window?”

I shook my head. “No, it left so quickly. I know it wasn’t an animal like the sheriff suggested.”

“You called the sheriff?”

“He came over for dinner. He has the hots for my mom.”

He laughed. “Boy, he works fast.”

“My mom is already looking at engagement rings.”

He raised his eyebrows.

I laughed. “I’m just kidding.”

“I was going to say...”

“No, but she certainly likes him. Anyway, he went out and looked around for a while, but figured it was just a raccoon.”

“But you don’t believe it?”

“No,” I said. “There wasn’t any fur on the face that I saw.”

I then explained about the feeling of being watched when we were on the deck and the shadow that flew into the trees. As I went on, his face darkened.

“What?” I asked.

“That’s happened to me before, too. I thought I was imagining it and made excuses, thinking it was a large barn owl or something.”

I could feel the goose bumps traveling up my arms again. “This thing that I saw stood as tall as you. I couldn’t make out what it looked like, but it was something much larger than a bird.”

“Hopefully, these cameras will pick something up. They have a range of one hundred feet. I’ll make sure some of them are pointing towards the woods, too.”

When we made it back to the cabin, it was almost five o’clock and my mother was gone.

“Wow, nice place,” said Duncan.

“It is. Too bad I’m not enjoying it because I’m so freaked out at night.”

“I don’t blame you.”

I showed him around the cabin and then he started unloading the truck.

“Um, is there a way that you can put a camera near my bedroom balcony?” I asked.

“Have you seen someone looking through it?” he asked, incredulously.

“Actually, I thought I saw someone staring at me through the window in my bathroom when I was getting out of the tub.”

He raised his eyebrows. “He actually saw you naked?”

My face turned pink. “I think so.”

Duncan smiled wickedly. “I guess it would be inappropriate for me to say, ‘Lucky man’?”

My jaw dropped and I smiled. “Uh, yeah!”

“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t resist.”

“Right.”

“I’m sorry, that was uncalled for; a feeble attempt to flirt.”

“You were trying to flirt with me?”

His gray eyes burned into mine. “I was. Did it work?”

I shivered in pleasure. “Well, I…”

Thankfully, Nathan pulled up in his car at that moment and I was saved from having to answer anything.

“Hey, guys,” he said, slamming the door.

“Hi,” said Duncan, walking past him. “Nikki just gave me a tour of the place, so let’s start getting these things set up before it gets dark.”

“Sounds good,” replied Nathan.

“Where’s the dry cleaning?” I whispered.

He smiled sheepishly. “Oh, I must have forgotten it.”

“You did that on purpose. Thanks,” I said, sarcastically.

“You’re welcome. Did you guys make out, yet?”

I punched him in the shoulder.

It took a couple of hours to set up all of the cameras. Mom showed up just as we were finishing up.

“What’s all this?” she asked.

Nathan explained that we were setting up surveillance to catch a Peeping Tom.

“I thought we were through with that?” she said. She was wearing dark sunglasses and looked like she was still suffering from her hangover.

I cleared my throat. “Duncan had someone looking in his windows last night, too, mom. It’s not just us.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Really?”

Duncan nodded. “Yeah and it was definitely not an animal.”

Mom yawned. “Then I hope you catch whoever is doing it. It’s probably some pervert or something.”

“Or a killer,” I said.

“What?” she asked, incredulously. She’d obviously heard me but didn’t believe what I was suggesting.

“Nothing.”

She yawned again. “Listen, I’m going to lie down for a while. I’m so wiped out.”

“Do you want me to make dinner?” I asked.

She grimaced. “Actually, I’ve been nauseated all day. I’m going to eat a couple more crackers and then go right to bed.”

“Duncan, would you like to dine with us?” asked Nathan as mom trudged up the stairs and into the cabin. “I make a mean frozen pizza.”

Duncan laughed. “No, I have to head back before my old man starts hounding me again,” he said, raising his cell phone. “He’s already sent me a message, wondering where I am.”

“Okay, thanks for setting all of this up. I kind of hope we see some action tonight,” said Nathan.

“Here’s my number,” he said, holding out a business card. “My dad made these for me to give to customers. Call me if something happens.”

“Will do. Your dad has my number, call me if you catch a prowler.”

“Okay. Good luck with your new job, Nikki,” said Duncan. “I’ll give you a couple of days before I stop in and harass you.”

“Thanks.”

After Duncan left, we walked around the perimeter of the house again to make sure all of the cameras were facing the right way.

“There’s even one by your balcony to make sure some Romeo doesn’t try and steal you away at night.”

I snorted. “If someone shows up on my balcony, I’m going to beat them with my bat while I scream bloody murder.”

He laughed. “That guy has no chance.”

We went into the kitchen where Nathan made a pizza and then joined me on the couch to watch movies.

“So what do you think of mom dating Caleb?” I asked.

“He seems like a good guy.”

“You don’t think it’s too soon for her?”

“I think mom is lonely and wants to feel protected. The town’s sheriff sure fits that bill.”

I shrugged. “I suppose. I’m just worried about her getting hurt.”

“Nobody can hurt her as much as dad did,” said Nathan. “Sad but true.”

That was for certain.

I fell asleep halfway through some horror flick about zombies when several loud thuds from outside woke me up.

“What was that?” I gasped.

Nathan stood up and I could tell he was as freaked out as I was. “I don’t know.”

Something heavy banged against the door, and we both jumped.

“Oh, my God, Nathan, what’s happening?”

He ran into the kitchen and came back out carrying the butcher knife.

“You’re not going out there, are you?” I whispered in horror.

He swallowed. “I was considering it.”

More loud bangs and I grabbed the phone. “I’m calling nine-one-one.”

“Wait, it could be a raccoon or a bear.”

“A bear; like you’d want to tackle that by yourself, anyway.”

He nodded. “True. I’m going to open up the blinds and look outside.”

I followed him over to the window. “Can you see anything?” I asked as he peeked through the gap in the blinds.

“Shit,” he whispered.

“What?”

He turned towards me, his face as white as a ghost. “It’s the cameras. Un… fucking… believable!”

I looked outside and gasped. Even in the dark I could tell that someone had destroyed all of the surveillance equipment we’d set up.

We raced upstairs and woke up mom. She called the police, and a half hour later, one of the deputy sheriffs arrived at the house.

“I don’t know who did this, but they’re gone now,” he said. He was a middle-aged man with a curly black moustache that he kept touching, which creeped me out.

Mom let out a long, ragged sigh. “Why would somebody do this?”

“Oh, I don’t know… so they wouldn’t get caught spying on
us
?” I muttered sarcastically.

“Can you check for fingerprints or anything?” asked Nathan.

He nodded. “Yeah, I put a call in for a couple of our guys to get out here and do that, so try not to touch anything. They should be arriving any minute.”

“So, where is the sheriff?” I asked.

“Caleb? Oh, it’s his night off,” replied the deputy. “He won’t be back in until late tomorrow night.”

Mom nodded. “He mentioned that he was going out of town today with his daughter.”

“Let me get a statement from you and then I’ll be on my way. There isn’t much we can do without any evidence right now. If we pick up something from the fingerprints, we’ll proceed from there.”

After everyone was gone, mom dragged herself back to bed but Nathan and I were still spooked and unable to sleep.

Nathan shook his head. “Duncan is going to be pissed when he finds out what happened. That was thousands of dollars in video equipment this person destroyed.”

“Let’s call him, it’s only eleven. I’m sure he’s awake.”

A half hour later Duncan pulled up in his white truck. Our eyes met immediately and I had to admit, I was really glad to see him.

“Wow,” he said, “This is amazing. I can’t believe someone trashed all of these cameras. Did you see anything?’

“We heard the crashes but were too freaked out to investigate when it was happening,” I said. “It actually happened pretty quickly.”

“They must have brought their own ladder,” said Nathan. “I locked up the other one we’d used, earlier.”

Duncan walked over to one of the trees and smiled proudly. “They missed one. I hid it pretty good. Let’s go see if it recorded anything interesting.”

Nathan slapped him on the back. “You are the man!”

Fifteen minutes later, we stared in awe at the video screen.

“What in the hell?” asked Nathan.

We watched in disbelief, as two of the other cameras were violently ripped from the house, but there was no sign of whoever was doing it.

“Ghosts?” I gasped incredulously. “I mean, there’s nobody there!”

Duncan and Nathan looked at each other, both obviously stunned as well.

“This is freaking crazy. It doesn’t make sense,” said Nathan.

We rewound the video and watched it again with the same results. It seemed as if an invisible force had destroyed each of the cameras.

“Okay, common sense doesn’t explain this at all,” said Duncan. “Maybe it is some kind of poltergeist?”

“If it is, I’m definitely not staying here any longer,” I said. The thought of the cabin being inhabited by ghosts freaked the crap out of me. I saw the movies Poltergeist and Amityville Horror. I knew when it was time to leave. Not after the ghosts tried killing you, but before.

“We have to show the sheriff,” said Nathan. “Maybe he can make sense of it.”

“Sense? A fucking ghost is messing with our minds, Nathan,” I snapped. “You keep trying to make scientific excuses because you don’t want to believe it. Look at the film! You heard the loud bangs! The cameras didn’t just fall from the house by themselves! We’ve got to get the hell out of this town!”

He raised his hands. “Okay, calm down. You’re right. Something is happening that is beyond any explanation that I can come up with. We’ll show mom tomorrow and still talk to the sheriff. If it is some kind of ghost, we’ll get the cabin… exorcised or something.”

“Maybe you should talk to the owners of the cabin?” interrupted Duncan. “They might already be aware of these ghosts.”

“What about your house, Duncan?” I asked. “How do you explain the face in the window or shadows flying into the trees?”

He smiled wryly. “Maybe the ghost is roaming the town? I don’t know. None of this shit makes sense to me, either.”

We watched the video one last time and then Duncan turned it off. “I’m going home to check on the cameras I’ve installed there, to see if they’re still in place. I’ll call you if I find anything else odd.”

“Duncan,” I said. “I’m sorry about the damaged equipment. I wish we could somehow replace it for you.”

He waved his hand. “Hell, it’s not your fault. If anything, we may have actual proof that ghosts inhabit Shore Lake,” he said with a sinister smile. “We could all become rich and famous.”