Sorrow's Point (22 page)

I wiped my hand across my cheek. I felt wetness.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I was thinking about my sister. That’s all. I still miss her, even after all these years.”

“How old was she when she died?”

“Eighteen. She was eighteen.”

###

Tabby and I watched the sun rise. I could see why Tor chose the house then. The sunlight danced over the ice on the tree branches. It was so pretty. The evil of the house just didn’t match up with the land around it. Black must have made the house the way it was. The land itself wasn’t bad. It couldn’t be, not to have mornings look like this.

Tor woke up not long after the sun finishing rising.

“That was interesting,” Tor said.

“Calm in comparison to some nights,” I said.

She nodded. “Do you think it’s okay to leave the room now?”

“Probably. The stuff during the day seems to be confined to direct contact with Lucy. I don’t know if she’s saving her strength for the night, or if some of the things that are helping her with her tricks are nocturnal.”

Tor stretched. “Well then, I’m making omelets for breakfast. Come along, you can pick out what you want.”

Tabby and I couldn’t refuse that. I jumped up from the sofa. As I turned towards the doorway, I noticed Will.

“What about Will?” I asked.

Tor headed towards the kitchen. “He’ll wake up when he wants to. It’s not like he isn’t safe in here.”

I couldn’t argue with that. “Very true.”

I followed Tor into the kitchen, Tabby took up the rear. Sun was streaming in through the window when we walked into the kitchen.

Tor immediately got to work beating eggs and I poured us each a cup of coffee.

“So Jimmy, what’s your agenda for the day?” Tor asked.

I took a sip of coffee. “As soon as it’s a decent hour, after morning mass, I’ll call the local priest— see if I can get his attention. If not, I’ll contact one of my old seminary professors.”

Tor stopped beating the eggs, set the bowl on the counter and came over and hugged me. “Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for trying to save my little girl.”

I smiled. “Anytime.”

###

After we ate, I accompanied Tor to Lucy’s room. I was no longer going to let anyone move around the house alone. It just wasn’t safe—except for in the library where last time I looked, Will was snoring.

When we got to Lucy’s room, Tor gently opened Lucy’s door. She was asleep, her chained arms lay beside her on the bed.

I helped Tor refill Lucy’s feeding tube and change the glucose drip on her I.V..

We said nothing to each other the entire time. Tor had tears in her eyes when we were leaving, but I paused just inside the door. On the other side of the door were deep scratches in the wood. They were gouges like someone made them with massive claws. I quickly snapped a picture with my cell phone.

Tor looked at me and I shook my head. We left the room and closed the door behind us.

“What did you do?” she asked.

“Just wait until we get back downstairs.”

When we reached the kitchen, I pulled out my phone and showed Tor.

Her hand went over her mouth. Her eyes were wide with alarm. “What caused that?”

I shrugged. “Whatever did it, didn’t hurt Lucy, I wouldn’t worry about it.”

“Why’d you take the picture then?”

“More proof.”

Tabby walked into the kitchen. “Will’s still asleep.”

“Where were you?” I asked.

“Bathroom.”

“I thought we agreed we’d go nowhere without anyone else.”

Tabby rolled her eyes. “I really had to pee, and Will is in there snoring. I couldn’t wait, so I went to the bathroom.”

If it hadn’t been so serious lately, I would have found my interest in Tabby’s bathroom habits funny, if not odd. But with things the way they were, I couldn’t help but feel like she took an unnecessary risk.

“So wake up Will,” Tor said. “He’s slept long enough. We’ll get our baths,” she turned to me, “then you are free to do whatever you need to do.”

“All right,” I said.

It didn’t take too long, not really. Will was sitting in his chair. The blanket had fallen to his waist, but he slept on, snoring lightly.

“Will,” I whispered.

His eyes snapped open. He slept a lot lighter here than he had at my house.

I turned on my laptop and browsed for a few minutes.

I looked over at Will. “What’s the name of the Catholic church?”

Will rubbed his eyes. “St. Mary’s.”

I Googled it and wrote down a few numbers. I pulled out my cell phone and dialed. The phone rang three times before it was answered.

“St. Mary’s,” the voice said.

“Hello,” I said. I leaned back on the sofa. “My name is Jimmy Holiday and I could use some help. I need to talk to the priest.”

He paused for a moment. “You’re speaking to him. I’m Father John. What can I do for you, Mr. Holiday.”

“I’m calling on behalf of a friend. Will Andersen?”

The man coughed. “Yes. How is his daughter?”

“Not doing so well, the treatment at the hospital did not work.”

I could hear him rustling some papers. “That’s a shame,” he said. “Perhaps I can see if I can find another hospital—”

“No, Father. I… I really think you need to see Lucy. I don’t think she’s mentally ill.”

He cleared his throat. “And what do you think is wrong with her?”

I detected a snide tone in his voice.

“Maybe you should know that I used to be a priest,” I said.

“Really?” he asked. I could tell I’d gotten his attention.

“Yes, that’s a story for another day, I’m afraid.”

“Maybe today is the day,” he said. “Now really, why are you no longer a priest?”

He was starting to annoy me. “Quite simply, I fell for a girl.”

He snorted. “And you defiled your profession…”

It was getting to the point that I wanted to hit him. I really did. He was such a pompous ass. “Actually, I did not. My vow of celibacy was true until I left the priesthood, but I think that’s enough about me. I want to talk about Lucy.”

“Alright,” he sighed. “Let’s talk about Lucy.”

“I think she’s possessed.”

He began to laugh. “Honestly, Mr. Holiday, you had me going there for a minute.”

I let him get the giggle out of his system. “What six-year-old do you know that can speak: Russian, German, Biblical Greek and Latin?”

“What?” he asked. He sounded like he’d just spit his coffee.

“She displays every sign. I have it all on tape.”

“Good God,” he said.

“So, we need your help.”

He coughed again. “I know nothing about exorcism.”

“Father, even I know that each diocese is supposed to have its own exorcist. Contact the bishop, and get back to me.”

He took down my number and promised to get me some word as soon as possible. All I needed was for them to come and investigate, and that was exactly what they would do next. I knew the church too well, much too well.

###

A couple of hours later, the good Father called me back. Tabby and I were sitting at the kitchen table watching Tor pour over several cookbooks, trying to figure out what to make us for lunch.

“Yes, Father,” I said when I answered the phone.

“When do you think it would be convenient for me to come visit Lucy and look at the evidence?” he asked. I could hear a little quiver in his voice. I wondered if his superior had reamed him or if he really was just scared.

“Hold on one moment,” I said.

I placed my hand over the mouthpiece of my cell phone. “Father wants to know when he can come and see Lucy,” I said to Tor.

“As soon as possible? Whenever he likes? Jesus Christ,” she shook herself.

I couldn’t stop myself from grinning. I uncovered the mouthpiece and put the phone back next to my ear. “Anytime would be fine, Father.”

The good Father was quiet for a moment. “Are precautions in place?” he asked.

I chuckled. “Are you asking if she’s restrained? Then yes, in fact recently we had to enhance the way she is restrained, you’ll see why in what we have to show you.”

He coughed. “Is this afternoon too soon?”

“No, Father. The family wishes for someone to help Lucy as soon as possible. This afternoon will work perfectly.”

He cleared his throat. “I’ll be by after one.”

“Do you remember how to get here?” I asked.

“Mr. Holiday, everyone knows how to get to Blackmoor.”

Then he hung up. He was such a prick. I really wished I didn’t need his help.

I dropped my phone a little too hard on the table.

“What’s wrong, Jimmy?” Tabby asked.

I looked at her. “He called it Blackmoor. The only other person I’ve heard call this house that is the local librarian. It’s a name that has been used in horror films a lot.”

“But not when this house was built,” she said.

I stared at her. “Good point. At any rate, he’s supposed to be here at one. Where’s Will?”

Tor shook her head. “He hasn’t left the library. I guess he’s going to sleep the day away.”

“I’ll just be glad when I can sleep again.”

Neither one of them said anything about that. Unfortunately, just because the priest was coming today, that didn’t mean that anything would happen now. We knew we still had nights ahead like last night. How many? Well, that was anyone’s guess.

###

I guess Will finally woke up when he smelled lunch cooking. He stumbled in, sleep still in his eyes.

“That smells good,” he said.

Tor had decided to make homemade pizzas. Tabby and I had helped roll out the crusts.

Will sat down at the table and watched us all work. I couldn’t help but be amused. I had no sleep. Tabby didn’t get a lot, and here he was, the one sleeping the day away and he’s watching us work.

“The priest is coming at one,” I said to him.

That woke him up. He scratched the sleep out of his eyes. “I need a shower.”

“Better get it soon,” Tor said.

I left the rolling of dough to Tabby. “I’ll go with Will so he can shower,” I told Tabby.

“Thanks, Jimmy,” Will said.

I followed Will upstairs to his bedroom. Before he went into the bathroom, I grabbed his shoulder.

“Before the priest comes, we should copy everything just in case he wants to take the evidence with him,” I said.

Will smiled at me. “Way ahead of you, buddy. I didn’t edit anything either, just copied the entire discs. He can fast forward when he likes.”

I laughed. “That’s exactly the way it needs to be.”

Will had me actually come into the bathroom with him. To say I felt awkward would be an understatement, but it was a testament to exactly how scared he actually was.

“Do you think he’s going to help Lucy?” Will asked from inside the shower.

“I don’t know, but at least he’s investigating.”

“I’m sorry,” Will said.

“Sorry for what?”

“Letting you take up the slack. I know I’ve been next to worthless lately. I… I’m just not myself.”

“That’s no excuse, Will,” I said. “You are afraid of Lucy, afraid of all this shit with Tor, and you are afraid of yourself.”

“How am I afraid of myself?” he asked.

“Why else would you jeopardize your marriage. Actually, it’s probably more correct to say that you are afraid of being happy.” I sighed. “You know what I know?”

“What?” he asked.

“Last night, when that scary shit was going down, it was me that kept Tor out of danger. You sat in a chair. Through the whole thing.”

“I was scared.”

“And you don’t think I wasn’t? It was really shitty, Will. Really shitty.”

Will finished his shower in silence. My anger was somewhat abated, but Will really needed to step up to the plate. This was his family, not mine.

By the time we got downstairs, all the pizzas were in the oven. Will walked over to Tor who was wiping off the counter with a dishcloth and hugged her.

At first, she stiffened, but then she relaxed. I turned my head. This was a private moment.

###

When the priest arrived, we’d all been standing, looking out the front window like a bunch of kids waiting for Santa. It would have been funny if the situation wasn’t so dire.

Tor had the front door open before the man even reached the front walk.

“Father, welcome,” she said. “We’re so glad you’ve come back.”

He patted her on the shoulder and allowed her to lead him inside.

He was younger than I expected him to be. Not too much younger than myself. Grey just barely flecked his black hair. He was dressed in black with a brown canvas coat. Will took his coat.

“Do you want to see Lucy first?” I asked.

He nodded. “That would probably be best.” He walked over to me. “I take it you’re the friend?”

“That’s right.”

He looked at me and Tabby for a moment. “Interesting. Very interesting.”

He turned to Tor and Will. “It is best if I see her now. That way, when I ask my questions of her, I am not already biased.”

I stayed out of it then. There was no reason for me to do anything but wait downstairs with Tabby. We heard enough anyway. Lucy cussed at this man, and either refused to answer his questions or answered them in a rude and suggestive way.

“Is he going to believe her?” Tabby asked.

“Believe it or not, this is part of it. The possessed say foul things, do foul things. You’ve seen the old movies.”

She nodded.

“While some of the effects are fantastic, they really are pretty realistic. In fact,
The Exorcist
had several priests on staff as consultants.”

“Really?”

“Yup. One of them even wrote a book about possession after the movie came out.”

Then we heard a thud.

“I hope he wasn’t stupid enough to unhook her restraints,” I said.

The priest ran down the stairs. He stopped when he saw Tabby and I.

“Is she always like that?” he asked.

“Pretty much. Sometimes she’s very violent though.”

He nodded. “She threw her father, I don’t know how.”