Some ghosts are actually a part of history, and its the history that creates the legends that make them so fascinating to people. Some home owners and even corporationsespecially those with places as significant as Melody Housewant to have a resident ghost rapping on walls now and then to attract their clientele. Watch television, and youll know that theres a huge population out there interested in being frightened. What we do is find out first if there actually is any inexplicable phenomenaor if someone is merely playing games. If there is something beyond the ordinary, we find out why, and deal with it from that point, Darcy said, staring at the man, and returning all the attitude she was being given. Adam Harrison had already spoken with Matt Stone, and apparently, done so with enough dignity that he had agreed to the meeting. Actually, Stone had called Adam, after receiving his letter. And whether or not Stone wanted his property turned into a national center for the occult, he apparently could use the exorbitant fee that Adam had been willing to pay for his team to investigate the stories circulating about the house. She knew historic mansions were incredibly hard to maintain. Especially when they were being held privately. She was suddenly angry with herself for having been intimidated by the good old boys in the bar. Hell. Shed spent enough years in a very similar environment, and that should have prepared her to deal with any form of male that pretended to walk on two feet. She had also dealt with her fair share of total, mocking skeptics. Usually, no manner of behavior bothered her. She had her beliefs, and everyone else in the world was welcome to their own. People who really wanted help usually came and asked for it.
Shed been social enough, she decided.
Excuse me, gentlemen, but my employer has already been in contact with Mr. Stone, and apparently, he is willing to allow us into Melody House. Ill make arrangements to meet him at a later date.
I know you, Dimple-face said suddenly. He offered her his lazy smile once again. I could swear Ive seen your face before.
Darcy hesitated. All she needed to do was tell this pack that shed been a model for a cosmetics company for several years during and right after college and theyd never take her seriously. But then again, what the hell did she care? Her business was with Stone.
Im sure weve never met, she murmured politely. Thank you for your time. And excuse me.
Original Sin! Dimple-face said triumphantly. He grinned sheepishly. I wound up buying the mens aftershave. Your face has been on billboards all over the country.
Even in Hicksville? she was tempted to say, and then she was angry with herself, because shed never felt that way about anything or anyone, her parents being really wonderful people who had taught her continually that people were people, didnt matter where they came from, and everyone in any corner of the country or even on the earth deserved an open mind and respect.
Soyoure a model.
Chisel-faces statement might as well have been, So youre a dumb blonde with boobs. Except that she was more of a redhead and certainly not overly-stacked.
I worked for Original Sins cosmetics, yes, she said, again forcing her tone to be even. I also have graduate degrees in American history and sociology from NYU.
I heard that Adam Harrison would be coming here himself, Chisel-face said.
Darcy gritted her teeth. Yes, Mr. Harrison will come down at some time during the investigation. Hes been delayed. At the moment, he is tied up with business in London. She stopped, irritated that shed felt herself obliged to explain anything to these men.
She was about to rise when the fourth member of the partythe man with the decent haircut and store-bought clothing suddenly leaned forward, extending a hand to her. Sorry, we should have introduced ourselves, especially me, right away. Im David Jenner, Jenner Equipmentand someone from your office approached me about renting some recording and video equipment. He shrugged, flashing a glance across the table. Should the project go forward.
David, nice to meet you, she said. Justin, our office manager, told me that he had talked to you.
You dont have your own equipment? Chisel-face asked.
Of course, we have some very specialized equipment, Darcy forced herself to say politely. But we like to rent video cameras and tape recorders from local facilities. That keeps anyone from suggesting that weve rigged anything. Mr. Stone knows how we work and what we dohe was sent information on the company.
Chisel-face inclined his head, and she wished that the idiot wasnt wearing sunglasses in the middle of a smoky bar. Its good to hear that you think local facilities might offer you enoughyou know, equipment up to the par of yourinvestigative techniques.
Weve worked across the countryand abroad, she said coolly, and we have always maintained excellent work relationships in every area.
That sounds mighty fine!
Darcy was startled when the voice came from behind her. She turned to see that the pool player who had been called Carter had come up behind her. He was taller than she had realized; she was fairly tall herself at five nine, and in her heels, she had another two inches. He wore a beard and mustache, and had intense green eyes. And beneath his worn flannel shirt, he seemed to be in exceptional condition. She did, however, feel as if she had completely stepped back in time. Put a uniform on him, and he might have been the cavalry general Jeb Stuart, having stepped off his horse and into the local tavern. He stared at her with a strange sincerity as he spoke. Too many times, Yankees have come down South and thought themselves like almighty gods. But, hey, you know, this just might be the right one. Ms. Tremayne, Ive seen your face all over on billboards, too. You just may be the one.
Thanks, she murmured. Yankees had come south? Shed done a lot of traveling, but shed never felt a time warp such as this before. You know, she said quietly, my company isnt really headquartered more than two hours away.
A popular face, Chisel-face murmured. Forgive meit just seems so strange. A model. Hm. Maybe they sent you down to manipulate Matt Stone. Not a bad idea? I mean, could you possibly really be the business end of this deal? You are an exceptionally fine-looking Yankeven with a packet of degrees from NYU.
Darcy felt fury suddenly take root in every limb of her body. Get along with the locals! Like hell! Shed had it. Everything shed learned in college, in business, and in life, fled her mind, and her temper kicked in.
Its an excellent school, she said, rising. And Im afraid, gentlemen, that the rest of the world has entered the twenty-first century. The Civil War was lost during the nineteenth. Were all one big country now, you might recall. Washington D.C.where Im basedis extremely close. Busy. The world goes on there.
D.C., Chisel-face murmured, then grinned at his fellows. Ill bet the old boys considered it just one and the same as this area, eh boys?
She rose, hands planted firmly down on the table, and assessed him coolly. Words seemed to spit from her before she took the time to think them out. You know, I did forget to return your rather backward compliment. Actually, youre not too bad-looking for a total asshole. You really will excuse me. In truth, none of this, me, my credentials, my job hereis any of your business. I need to discuss matters with Mr. Stone, and no one else. She allowed her gaze to sweep with disdain over the lot of them and she turned and walked with crisply clicking heels to the door, where she turned back. By the way, just for your information, the South lost the war. If any of you happen to see Mr. Stone, perhaps youll be good enough to let him know that I did come to meet him. Ill be calling.
As she stared at the men, they rose, staring back at her. The most friendly of them, Dimple-face, began to smile.
What? she demanded.
Oh, he said, I think Matt Stone definitely knows you were here.
Really? she grated. And why is that.
Chisel-face spoke up. Ms. Tremayne, I am Matt Stone.
Adam Harrison would have handled it all much better. He would have found a way to be both dignified and smooth. But of course, if Adam had felt that hed cast himself into a den of testosterone, he would have had managed to gain respect immediately, no matter what.
Darcy couldnt quite diffuse the steam rising in her.
Well, Im sorry that I cant say its been a pleasure, since youve done nothing but amuse yourself at my expense, Mr. Stone. And if you destroy this opportunity, it wont hurt me in the least. My employer is the man who deems your house important.
With that, she turned, exited, and let the door close behind her.
Well, that was just great! Mae said from behind the bar.
Matt set his sunglasses on top of his head and turned to Mae with a challenging look. Mae, I didnt know who the hell she was at first, and since it was my understanding Harrison was coming himself, she made me somewhat wary. We dont need a bunch of crackpots thinking that they can come here and recreate a Blair Witch scenario.
Hes right, Clint said, grinning in a way that made his dimple deep, amusement lighting his eyes. A goddess walks inand he sends her out as rudely as possible. Good going, Matt.
Clint was Matts second cousin, but though he carried the family name, his grandfather had been born on what they called the wrong side of the blanket. Probably a good thing; Clints commitment to enjoying life was often entertaining, but Matt was pretty certain that, had the property gone down to Clint, it was unlikely theyd be having this discussion nowthe holding would have been long gone. Not because the fields might have fallen prey to plight or disease, but rather to the plague of gambling debt that never seemed to dampen Clints spirits.
Matt looked from Mae to Clint, shaking his head. Doesnt the concept of dignity mean anything to the two of you?
Not a hell of a lot, Clint said cheerfully.
Dignity? Do you think you allowed that poor girl to feel that she had any? Carter asked.
Shes accustomed to getting whatever she wants, I imagine, Matt said with a shrug. And dont you tell me about dignity, Carter. He admitted, only to himself, that he might have been rudeonly a bit. But at least with reason. Still, he felt obliged to remind his friend about some of his own behavior. If I remember correctly, you were so rude to your friend, Catherine Angsley, in this very bar, in front of far more people, that she left the county, never to be seen again.
Carter shrugged. At least I knew her first.
Mae chuckled. And you, young man, she said to Clint. You sent that beautiful Texan, what was her name? Salela Bennett, running all the way back to Texas!
Sasha, Clint corrected.
Sasha, thats right. Sasha. Why cant I ever remember that name? Mae asked. Oh! Maybe its because no one could possibly keep track of the women who come and go through your ever so charming lives!
Mae! Were just looking for true love, Clint said dryly.
My foot! Youre looking for the next great body. But I think that the two of you could be left in the dust by this new visitor, Mae informed them with a sagely spoken pleasure.
Well, of course, because with Matts brand of charm, shell be heading straight back to Washington, Carter said with a sigh. He arched a brow to Matt. I can recall a few times when you might have been a little rough on Lavinia.
At least he married her first, Mae said.
I was never that rude to Laviniaeven in the midst of divorce, Matt said, irritated with himself that he was still feeling defensive, and now being reminded of his disastrous marriage.
See, Mae? You cant rush into marriage, Carter said. Look at the whole Lavinia thing. There she wasthe most gorgeous thing breathing on earth, and what a manipulative witch.
We just didnt have the same concept of a life well lived, Matt said, wondering why in the hell he should suddenly defend even his ex-wife. Simple fact, Lavinia had been a bitch. Rich, spoiled, and heedless of anyone around her.
Were all missing the point here, old Anthony Larkin suddenly pointed out. Mae, seems to me the world has changed a lot since I was a young man. Hell, yes, these young people should find out if theyre going to make it in an affair before tying the knot. Divorces are too easy these days, and theyre still hard as hell on people. Especially on their kids!
Well, thankfully, Matt and Lavinia didnt have kids. A devils tail might have shown up on one of them, Clint said. I think Lavinias had plastic surgery to get rid of hers, but genetically, it would have still been there.
Lavinia is gone, and its over, Matt said flatly.
That Sibel, Shana, or Sheila girl Clint was dating wasnt a bitch, Mae said with a sniff. Opinionated, and intelligent, and ready to take care of herself. But she wasnt a bitch.
Clint offered an exaggerated sigh. Mae, her name was Sasha. Sasha Bennett. And the problem with our great affair was that she wanted me to move to Texas! And wait a minutewere getting off the subject here.
Anthony shook his white head in a way that made his beard rake back and forth over his chest. All right, heres my opinion from an old geezer, Matt. Lets forget about past transgressionscommitted by the lot of you. Every woman isnt a potential affair. This one seems darned regal and intelligent. She was sent here to work. Matt, youre having trouble up at your place. You told me yourself, you called your grandfathers old friend Harrison after you received his letter. Key concept hereyou called him. Sojust why were you such a jerk to that girl?
She looks too much like Lavinia, Clint said.
No, she doesnt, Carter argued. She has the walk, the movementkind of like a natural grace. Thats all thats the same.
Matt scowled at them both. Hey, looks have nothing to do with anything, gentlemen.
Gentlemen? Mae said with a sniff.
Im unhappy about the whole thing, I suppose. And yes, I called Adam after I got the letter, but thats the pointI expected Adam Harrison himself, Matt admitted ruefully. And then again, maybe it all did have something to do with her appearance. He glared at Clint and Carter. Not that she resembles Lavinia in any way.
She doesnt. Shes really much prettier, Mae put in.
But, Matt continued. She doesnt look like any hard-core investigator, does she?
Looks can be deceiving, Carter said.
Hey, they say youre going to let Liz do a seance, Anthony Larkin reminded him. How hard-core would that be?
Liz was close with Gramps, too, Matt said. A really great nurse to him toward the end. I owe her. He shrugged. She begged when I told her that I had people coming down who were supposedly ghost experts. She wanted first crack at a seance, before any out-of-towners took over. She also holds her Womens Town Meeting in the house once a month, and its a big event that makes the house a good income.