I understood her concern. The dismal condition of the graveyard wasnt a favorable reflection on a university that espoused the traditions and ethics of the old South. As Benjamin Franklin had put it: One can tell the morals of a culture by the way they treat their dead. Indeed.
What I didnt yet know was why shed sent John Devlin to find me.
I understand youve been working in Oak Grove Cemetery, he said.
I suppressed a shudder.
Oak Grove was one of those rare graveyards that evoked uneasiness, that literally made my skin crawl. The only other time Id experienced a similar sensation was while visiting a small cemetery in Kansas that had been dubbed one of the seven gateways to hell.
I adjusted my collar against the glacial prickles at my nape. Whats this about?
He ignored my question and asked one of his own. When was the last time you were there?
He ignored my question and asked one of his own. When was the last time you were there?
A few days ago.
Can you be more specific?
Last Friday.
Five days, he murmured. Youre sure about that?
Yes, of course. A big storm blew in that night and its been raining off and on ever since. Ive been waiting for the ground to dry out.
CamilleDr. Ashby said youve been photographing the graves. He waited for my nod. Id like to take a look at those shots.
Something about his tone, about this whole conversation put me on the defensive. Or maybe it was his ghosts. Can you tell me why? And Id also like to know how you found me tonight.
You mentioned your dinner plans to Dr. Ashby.
I may have named the restaurant, but I didnt tell her Id be taking an after-dinner stroll, because I didnt know it myself at the time.
Call that part a hunch, he said.
A hunchor had he followed me from the Pavilion?
Dr. Ashby has my number. Why didnt you just call me?
I tried that. No answer.
Well, yes, there was that. Id turned off my phone for the evening. Still, I didnt like any of this. John Devlin was a haunted man and that made him a dangerous man in my world.
He was also persistent and perhaps intuitive, so the quicker I rid myself of him the better.
Why dont you give me a call first thing in the morning? I said in a brisk, dismissive tone. Im sure whatever it is can wait until then.
No, Im afraid it cant. This has to be done tonight.
I shivered at his foreboding tone. How ominous-sounding. Well, youve certainly gone to a great deal of trouble to track me down, so I suppose you may as well tell me why.
His gaze swept the darkness behind me and I had to resist the urge to glance over my shoulder. The rain uncovered a body in one of the old graves at Oak Grove.
It wasnt unheard of for old bones to wash up over time, due to rotting coffins and eroding soil.
Do you mean skeletal remains? I asked with some delicacy.
No, I mean fresh remains. A homicide victim, he replied bluntly. His gaze lit on my face, studying me intently as if gauging my reaction.
A homicide. In the cemetery where Id been working alone.
Thats why you want my photographs. Youre hoping theyll help pinpoint how long the body has been there, I said.
If were lucky.
This I understood and was only too happy to cooperate. I use a digital camera, but I print out most of my shots. I happen to have some enlargements in my briefcase, if youd care to follow me back to my car. I nodded in the direction from which wed both come. I can email you the rest of the images as soon as I get home.
Thanks. That would be helpful.
I started walking and he fell into step beside me.
One other thing, he said.
Yes?
Im sure I dont have to school you on cemetery protocol, but there are certain precautions that have to be taken when dealing with an old graveyard like Oak Grove. We wouldnt want to inadvertently desecrate a burial site. Dr. Ashby mentioned something about unmarked graves.
As you said, its an old cemetery. One of the sections is preCivil War. Over that much time, its not unusual for headstones to get moved or go missing altogether.
How do you locate the graves when that happens?
Any number of ways, depending on whether cost is a factorradar, resistivity, conductivity, magnetometry. Remote sensing methods are preferred because theyre noninvasive. As is grave dousing.
Grave dousing. Is that anything like water witching? His tone gave away his skepticism.
Yes, same principle. A Y-shaped rod or sometimes a pendulum is used to divine the location of a grave. Its been roundly debunked in scientific circles, but believe it or not, Ive seen it work.
Ill take your word for it. He paused. Dr. Ashby said youd completed the preliminary mapping, so I assume youve already located the graves by one means or another.
Dr. Ashby is being optimistic. I have a lot more research to do before Ill know where all the bodies are buried, so to speak.
He didnt crack a smile at my feeble pun. But you must have a general idea.
Something in his voice bothered me and I stopped walking to glance up at him. Earlier, Id thought his dark good looks had an almost fallen angel quality, but now he appeared merely tough and persistent. Why do I get the impression youre not just asking for a copy of my map?
It would save us a lot of time and potentially some bad PR if we have an expert consultant on hand during the exhumation. Well pay you for your time, of course.
Since youre dealing with an old grave, I suggest you contact the state archaeologist. Her name is Temple Lee. I used to work for her. Youll be in good hands.
Wed be hard-pressed to get someone down here from Columbia tonight, and as I said, this cant wait until morning. The minute that body was discovered, the clock started ticking. The sooner we get an ID, the greater our chances for a satisfactory resolution. Dr. Ashby seems to think your credentials will pacify the committee.
The committee?
Local preservationists, members of the Historical Society, fat cat alumni. Theyve got enough clout to raise a real ruckus if we dont handle this thing according to procedure. You know the cemetery and you know the rules. All you have to do is make sure we dont step on any toes. So to speak. This time, I did see a faint smile.
And thats it?
Thats it. He glanced out over the water. Once the fog lifts, we could get more rain. We need to get this thing done.
This thing done.
What a portentous turn of phrase.
As I said, well pay you.
Its not that. I didnt like the idea of going out to Oak Grove after dark, but I also didnt see how I could refuse. Civic duty notwithstanding, Camille Ashby currently controlled my purse strings. It was in my best interests to keep her happy. Im hardly dressed for the occasion, but I suppose if you think I can be of some help
I do. Lets grab those photos and head on out there. He took my elbow, as if to propel me forward before I could change my mind.
His touch was strangely magnetic. It both attracted and repelled me, and as I pulled away, I found myself dredging up my fathers third rule and silently repeating it like a mantra:
Keep your distance from those who are haunted.
Keep your distance from those who are haunted.
Id rather drive myself, if you dont mind.
He gave me a sidelong glance as we continued along the walkway. Whatever you want. Its your call.
We fell silent as we walked back through the mist, the lights from the East Bay mansions softly illuminating the ghost child floating between us. I was careful not to touch her. Careful not to look down as I felt the chilly brush of her hand against my leg.
The woman trailed behind us. It was odd to me that the little girl seemed the more dominant of the two, and I wondered again about their relationship to Devlin.
How long had they haunted him? Did he have a clue they were there? Had he experienced cold spots, electrical surges, inexplicable noises in the middle of the night?
How long had they haunted him? Did he have a clue they were there? Had he experienced cold spots, electrical surges, inexplicable noises in the middle of the night?
Did he realize that his energy was slowly being drained away?
The subtle radiation of his body heat would be irresistible to the ghosts. Even I wasnt entirely immune.
As we stepped into the haze of a streetlamp, I stole another glance. The illumination seemed to repel the ghosts and as they drifted away, I caught a fleeting glimpsea remnant, nothing moreof the vital man John Devlin had once been.
He cocked his head, as unmindful of my scrutiny as he was of the entities. I thought at first he was listening to the distant wail of the foghorn, but then I realized the sound that had captured his attention was closer. A car alarm.
Where are you parked? he asked.
Overthere. I pointed in the direction of the alarm.
We hurried across the damp parking lot and as we rounded a row of cars, I glanced anxiously down the line, spotting my silver SUV beneath a security light where I had left it. The back door was ajar and shattered glass sparkled on the wet pavement.
Thats mine! I started toward it.
He caught my arm. Hold on
Several rows over, a car engine revved.
Wait here! he said. And dont touch anything.
I tracked him as he wove through the glistening cars and only turned away when Id lost sight of him and the sound of his footsteps faded. Then I walked over to the open back door of my vehicle and peered inside. Thankfully, Id left my laptop and camera at home, and I had my phone and wallet on me. The only thing that seemed to be missing was my briefcase.
The sound of the engine grew louder and I glanced around just as a black car skidded around the corner. Headlights caught me in the face and for a split second, I froze. Then adrenaline shot through me and I dove between my vehicle and the next as the car sped by me.
Devlin appeared out of the mist just as I picked myself up off the pavement.
You okay? Did he hit you? He sounded anxious, but his dark eyes gleamed with the thrill of the hunt.
No, Im fine. Just a little shaken up
He sprinted away, cutting through the rows of parked cars in a futile effort to head off the culprit before he could get away. I heard the whine of the motor and the squeal of tires as the driver stomped the accelerator and swerved into the street.