The Curse (Seacliff High Mystery Book 2) (2 page)

“Sorry, my lips are sealed.” Caleb rotated his wrist in front of his mouth, as if turning a key. “You might want to use the facilities before you start, though.”

“You know, after the events of the past month I’m not sure that ghosts flying through dark, haunted woods will have the same potential to scare me.” Mac scooted closer to Eli and leaned against his arm.

Alyson was happy to see that Mac and Eli seemed to have moved past the shy, dancing-around-each-other phase of their relationship. She really cared about both of her new friends and could see they’d make a good couple.

“They’re having a Halloween Fright Night special at the theater tonight,” Devon informed the group. “Does anyone want to go? I thought we could get some dinner before the triple feature.”

“I’m in.” Trevor picked a piece of pepperoni off his slice of pizza and plopped it in his mouth. “Maybe I’ll see if Chelsea wants to go. Most chicks like a good scare. Makes them feel all helpless and needy.”

“That’s a totally sexist thing to say.” Mac kicked Trevor under the table. “But I’m in too. Maybe we could stop by the costume shop and get our outfits for the haunted hayride. I’ve been meaning to do that all week. All the good stuff is probably gone. I’ll probably end up with a bunny costume or something.”

“The hayride is a costume thing?” Alyson asked.

“Yeah, everyone dresses up.” Mac leaned forward. “The hayride ends up at the barn for a huge Halloween party, so everyone dresses up in a scary costume. The scarier the better. Last year I went as a headless scarecrow, and Trevor was a deranged farmer with a huge bloody ax that he spent the night threatening everyone with. It was rubber, but it was still totally awesome.”

“Sounds fun,” Alyson agreed. “I’ll have to stop back by the museum to check with my mom before we go out. And I’d love to stop at home and change.” Alyson looked down at her dusty clothes.

“I’ve got to get the U-Haul back to the rental place and pick up my Expedition. Maybe I could swing by the museum afterward and pick everyone up. We could take a run out to your place if you want,” Devon suggested to Alyson.

Everyone except Caleb agreed to Devon’s plan.

Several hours later, the gang headed over to the costume shop to pick out their outfits for the haunted hayride. The entire downtown section of Cutter’s Cove was decorated for the upcoming holiday. The trees lining the sidewalks were draped with orange lights and handmade mini ghosts. Hundreds of scarecrows and jack-o’-lanterns were displayed in front of brightly lit shops. Several shopkeepers were handing out sugar cookies shaped like pumpkins and cups of hot cider.

The shop they were headed to was located in an older section of town. The large windows of the old brick building were festively decorated with costume displays and an animated haunted village. Inside the store, excited children were running up and down crowded aisles in search of the perfect costume, while harried mothers trailed along behind them, trying to bring some order to the festive chaos.

“Isn’t Chelsea joining us?” Alyson asked Trevor as she sorted through the huge variety of costumes available in the adult section.

“She’s going to meet us at the restaurant. She already has her costume.”

“So what scary thing is she going to be this year?” Mac asked sarcastically. “Last year she was some sort of princess or something.”

“She said something about a cat,” Trevor answered as he tried on a mask that sort of resembled the swamp creature from the Black Lagoon.

“Maybe it’ll be a black cat.” Alyson tossed the tiara she had been looking at onto the pile of accessories in the bin before her. “Black cats are sort of scary.”

“I guess.” Mac sounded doubtful. “I for one am going to find something really hideous.”

“Check this out.” Eli held up a pirate costume that came complete with a gold medallion. “Does this remind you of anyone?”

“The mystery body in the cave,” Devon answered. A few weeks earlier the gang had discovered a hidden cave near Alyson’s house that contained, among other things, the skeleton of a long-dead pirate. Or at least they thought it must be a pirate. So far they hadn’t been able to identify who the skeleton had once been.

“I think I’ll take the pirate costume.” Eli folded the costume he held in his hands. “With everything that’s gone on, it seems kind of appropriate.”

“Check out that guy on the pay phone,” Mac whispered as she nodded toward the back of the shop. “There’s something really odd about him.”

“Like the fact that he’s on a pay phone,” Trevor pointed out. “Who uses those anymore?”

Alyson started to swing around.

“Don’t turn around,” Mac whispered.

“You said to look.”

“Yeah, but don’t be so obvious about it.”

“I see what you mean,” Trevor, who stood next to Mac, agreed. “It looks like he’s wearing one of those jumpsuits they wear in prison. He has a coat on over it so it’s hard to tell.”

“Yeah, but look at the coat,” Eli added. “Somehow a dark blue dress coat doesn’t really go with the orange jumpsuit.”

“Maybe he broke out of prison and then stole the coat to cover up.” Alyson was whispering now too. She started to turn around again.

“Don’t turn around,” Mac whispered urgently.

“Can you hear what he’s saying?” Devon, who was standing next to Alyson and couldn’t see the man, asked.

“I’m not sure,” Mac answered. “His back is to us.”

“I’m going to the bathroom,” Alyson announced.

“What! You’ll have to walk right by him,” Mac hissed.

“Exactly.”

“Aly, wait.” Mac was still trying to reason with her as Alyson walked away.

Alyson strolled past the pay phones. Just as she neared the bathroom door she dropped her lipstick, then slowly bent down to pick it up. She knew the move was an obvious ploy, but she figured the guy would be so immersed in his conversation he wouldn’t notice.

When she had stalled as long as she felt she could, Alyson opened the bathroom door and went inside. She spent a few minutes there, then leisurely came out and began walking back down the hallway toward the pay phones. As she passed the man, he reached out and grabbed her arm.

Alyson jumped as the large hand closed around her forearm.

“I seem to be out of change. Do you happen to have a quarter?” the man asked.

“Uh, sure.”

Alyson opened her wallet and took out several coins. “Just in case you run out.” She handed the man the change.

“Thanks.”

Alyson hurried over to where her friends were waiting. She put her hand over her mouth and giggled. “I thought I was going to die when he grabbed me.”

“You and me both,” Mac said.

“Could you hear what he was saying?” Trevor asked.

“A little. He was talking to someone about a meeting. He wanted to postpone it for some reason. He mentioned a guy named Butch. His voice sounded odd. Intense but controlled.”

“Did you get a better look at his jumpsuit?” Eli asked.

“No, he had the jacket on and I didn’t want to stare.”

“Utility repairmen sometimes wear orange jumpsuits,” Devon pointed out. “I think maybe our imaginations are getting the best of us.”

Alyson woke up on Monday morning to find her room freezing cold. The fire she’d lit the night before had burned out and the work crew had yet to hook up the central heating system her mother was having installed. Pulling her quilt around her shoulders, she hopped over to the fireplace at the foot of her bed and threw another log on to the still-smoldering coals.

Dragging her quilt with her, she stumbled into the bathroom across the hall and turned on the portable electric heater she and her mother had been using. Back in her room, she looked out the window at the gray sky and drizzling rain.

“Looks like we’ll have to skip our run this morning,” she said to the furry German shepherd that was still curled up on the rug next to her bed. “Just let me get dressed and I’ll let you out.”

Tucker thumped his tail once, as if he understood but was quite unconcerned about moving from his position. Alyson looked through her closet for the warmest things she could find, finally settling on soft gray cords, a light gray turtleneck sweater, and a heavy dark gray wool sweater to wear on top. Digging through her drawer, she found heavy wool socks and matching wool mittens.

After a quick shower, she put on everything but the mittens and went downstairs in search of breakfast. She let Tucker out, then wandered into the kitchen and its welcoming warmth.

“It’s freezing today,” Alyson commented to her mother as she stood with her back to the crackling fire in the kitchen fireplace. “It wasn’t this cold in New York even when it snowed.”

“I think it just feels colder here because of the damp air caused by the fog.” Her mother was stirring a pot on the stove. “Want some hot chocolate?”

“Thanks.” Alyson walked over to take a steaming hot mug from her mom. “I think I hear Tucker whining at the door already. I don’t think he cares for this cold, damp weather any more than we do.”

She let the soaking wet dog in, then grabbed a towel from the laundry room to dry him off. Once he’d stopped dripping on the floor, Alyson let him curl up on the rug in front of the fire to finish drying.

“I’ve got waffles for breakfast,” Alyson’s mom announced. “Why don’t you set out the butter and syrup?”

Alyson did as her mother asked and sat down at the table to enjoy the hot meal.

“I sure will be glad when they get the heater hooked up. I’m all for a cozy fire for atmosphere, but nothing beats warm air blowing through handy wall vents.”

Alyson took a bite of her waffle, chewing slowly to enjoy the sweet flavor. “Are the workmen coming by today?”

“Yes,” Mom answered. “They should have the heater installed and the first-floor remodel done in a couple of weeks. I thought I’d go into Portland this week to start shopping for wallpaper and paint. I’m hoping to get the furniture ordered in time for delivery before Thanksgiving. It would be so nice to have our living space all decorated before the holidays.”

“Just be sure to order a comfy couch,” Alyson requested. “I hate stiff couches that give you a backache when you sit on them.”

“The room is so big, I’m thinking about getting a three-piece sectional that forms a U facing the fireplace. A couple of end tables, a large coffee table, some lamps, maybe a chair or two for each side of the fireplace. Should do for a start.”

Alyson’s mom took a sip of her coffee. “And I want to see if I can find a nice long dining table. I’d love to find an antique one that seats at least twelve. Actually, I was thinking about taking a trip down the coast to go antiquing. Want to come? We could make a weekend out of it.”

“Sounds like fun. But this weekend is the haunted hayride; maybe the week after that. I’ll let you know,” Alyson answered.

Mom got up and began loading the dishwasher. “I talked to Donovan this morning.”

Donovan was the handler assigned to Alyson and her mother when they entered the witness protection program.

“It seems like it’s a bit early in the morning for a phone call,” Alyson commented.

“As brilliant as he is I think he forgets about the East Coast versus West Coast time difference.”

“We both know he wouldn’t have called if something wasn’t up.” Alyson pushed her unfinished breakfast to the center of the table. “So what is it? Has Clay Bonatello been spotted in Cutter’s Cove or something?”

Clay Bonatello was one of the two brothers Alyson had seen murdering a man execution style. The brothers, from a powerful Mob family, had thus far managed to escape arrest. Alyson knew the brothers were looking for her, but she tried to keep that knowledge filed in the back of her mind, where it wouldn’t interfere with her mission to build a new life.

“No, nothing like that. It seems someone stole your file. Don’t worry,” Mom sat down on the chair next to Alyson’s as panic filled her face, “the file they stole was a fake one planted by Donovan. Our cover is secure. He just wanted to let me know what happened because it verifies our suspicion that the Bonatellos haven’t completely bought the story of your untimely death.”

“They’re never going to stop looking for us, are they?”

“I don’t know. Maybe the fact that the file they stole reinforces the story Donovan created for us will put the matter to rest once and for all.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever feel safe.” Alyson sighed.

“When Donovan put us in witness protection he promised he’d look out for us. He promised we’d be safe. We have to trust that; we have to trust him.”

“Yeah, I guess. I’m sorry I got you into this.”

“Oh, honey, don’t blame yourself. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m very proud of you. Things are going to work out. Now, you’d better get going or you’ll be late to school.”

Alyson parked the Jeep her mom had bought her just a few weeks earlier in the last row of student parking. She really was going to have to get an earlier start, especially on rainy days. The trek to the weathered school building had been a long and soggy one. Stepping out of the warmth of the car, she quickly raised her umbrella against the increasing downpour. Sloshing through the puddles that had formed on the parking lot concrete, she made her way toward her first-period classroom.

“Some weather today,” she said to no one in particular as she took her seat on the tall stool next to Mac’s.

“I hate when it rains,” Chelsea complained from behind her. “My hair gets all frizzy and I can’t do a thing with it.”

“I like the rain,” Trevor commented from his position next to Chelsea. “Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want it to rain every day, but a little rain now and then freshens the air and keeps things green. A few years ago we had a horrible drought that turned the hillsides brown.”

“I remember that.” Mac nodded. “It was awful. Several fires resulted from the dry conditions. I agree with Trevor; a little rain is nice.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way. Go rain,” Alyson said in a mock cheer.

“Maybe football practice will be canceled today and we can all hang out after school,” Mac suggested.

“The cheerleaders will probably still practice in the gym,” Chelsea said, declining Mac’s offer.

“I’ll let you know if Coach cancels practice,” Trevor promised. “He might make us watch game videos or something. But then again, maybe he’ll give us a break. We’ve won all our games so far.”

“I’m in either way,” Alyson joined in. “My mom’s helping out at the museum today. If I go over there I’m sure they’ll just put me to work dusting or something.”

The class flew by as Mr. Harris explained the methodology behind a rather complicated experiment they were to perform. Alyson and Mac aced their experiment, while Chelsea, who was seated behind them, complained the entire time, leaving Trevor to have to do everything himself.

After morning classes they gathered at their usual table by the window for lunch. The Seacliff High School cafeteria had to have one of the best settings of any high school in the country. It sat high atop a bluff that overlooked the ocean in the distance. Huge windows along one wall afforded everyone in the building a million-dollar view.  Each day since Alyson had been attending the school she’d eaten at the same table with Mac, Trevor, Eli, Devon, and sometimes Chelsea. Today Caleb had joined them for the first time.

“What’s up?” Mac asked.

“I think something terrible happened. I just came from the drama department. Spyder and V never arrived home on Saturday.”

“What?” Alyson exclaimed. “What happened to them?”

“I don’t know. The cops are officially calling them runaways, but that doesn’t make sense. If you’re going to run away, why take a truck filled to the brim with skeletons and tombstones?”

“You mean they never dropped the stuff off at the barn?” Trevor asked.

“According to what Miss Star, the drama teacher, told me, the stuff was never delivered.”

“Why don’t the cops think foul play was involved?” Devon asked. “It doesn’t seem like a typical runaway situation to me.”

“Spyder and V both have reputations for being troublemakers. And you’ve seen the way they dress. The cops seem to think they fit the profile of typical runaways: isolated, out of touch with the real world, antisocial. That sort of thing.”

“But you don’t agree,” Alyson concluded.

“No. It just doesn’t make sense. If they were going to take off why didn’t they do it
before
loading the truck with all the props? It seems like if they were trying to hide they wouldn’t want to be driving around with a truck full of stuff that’s going to draw attention to them. I’m really worried. I think something happened to them. Maybe something bad. I was hoping that you guys would help me look for them.”

“Sure, why not?” Alyson jumped right in.

“If they never delivered the props, isn’t that going to leave you short? I mean, the haunted hayride is in five days. Do you have more stuff?” Mac asked.

“That’s the other part of the problem. If we don’t find the truck we have to reproduce weeks’ worth of hard work in just a couple of days. The drama department members have volunteered to work during lunch and after school all this week to do it. Personally, I’m more concerned about Spyder and V than the missing decorations, but I seem to be in the minority. Everyone I’ve talked to seems to think they took off, just like the cops said.”

“We’ll help with both,” Alyson volunteered. “Let’s get together after school and retrace their steps out to the barn to see if we can find any clues. Tomorrow at lunch we can carve tombstones and paint skeletons.”

“Yeah, we’re all in,” Mac confirmed for the group. “Can you drive this afternoon?” she asked Devon. “The dirt road out to the barn is narrow and in bad repair. With all this rain, it might be washed out, so I’m thinking we might need a four-wheel drive, and Alyson’s Jeep only seats four.”

“Yeah, sure. Let’s meet in the parking lot.”

Devon only attended high school two periods a day and was graduating in December, and his part-time job at the sheriff’s office had ended, so he currently had afternoons free. Since he’d started dating Alyson, he was usually more than happy to come back after the others got out of school for the day.

“As long as you’re going out to the barn, can you take a load of decorations?” Caleb asked. “I rented a small trailer to haul some of the stuff that’s still here, but it’s going to take more than one load.”

“Sure, no problem,” Devon answered. “I can hang around after class tomorrow and help out at lunch as well.”

“Did Spyder and V have any other friends at school?” Eli asked. “Anyone who they might have confided in if they were planning to take off?”

Caleb sat quietly. He seemed to be considering the question. “Not really. They’re part of the drama group, yet they aren’t. They never really spoke to anyone, although they both always seemed to be willing to help out with whatever was needed. Like this weekend. I asked the entire group for help delivering the props to the barn, but Spyder was the only one who volunteered.”

“The cops must have spoken to their parents,” Devon added. “I wonder if they took anything. Like clothes or toothbrushes. If I was running away I think I’d at least pack a bag.”

“Good point,” Trevor agreed. “So how do we find out?”

“Spyder has a brother,” Caleb said. “He’s quite a bit younger. I think he’s in middle school. Spyder’s mentioned him in passing, but I don’t even know his name.”

“I can pull up the school records and check for anyone with the same last name,” Mac volunteered. “What’s Spyder’s last name?”

Caleb hesitated. “I don’t know. Everyone just calls him Spyder. Even Miss Star.”

“Okay, I’ll pull up your drama class roster and we can figure out Spyder’s real name by process of elimination. You know everyone else’s name in the class, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Mac looked at her watch. “We have about fifteen minutes left before the period is over. Let’s go over to the computer lab to see if we can log on. It might be easier to access school records from a school computer. We probably shouldn’t all go; it will seem suspicious. I help out in the computer lab all the time, so it won’t seem odd if I tell the room monitor I’m helping Caleb out with a school project. We’ll meet up with the rest of you after school.”

Mac and Caleb got up and hurried out of the cafeteria.