Chapter Two.
Sunny
After a fantastic lunch, we sat in one of the cosy sitting rooms on offer as we planned.
Fiona was detailing what had happened and where it had happened.
In all honesty, it didn’t seem as if anything was off limits where the ghosts were concerned.
The main hotel had the most incidents. However, chalets thirteen and nineteen also boasted activity, as did Santa’s house, workshop, and the church.
“When the village was bought—the first time around—to be converted into a resort, most of the original buildings were demolished. But part of the hotel is original, the church is, and several of the chalets are,” Harry said, looking up from his laptop.
“Yes. Some of them are original but were expanded, and new roofs were put on. We restored a lot here, but some buildings did have to be torn down from the previous resorts,” Fiona assured.
“And Santa’s house?”
“That’s original,” Simon confirmed.
“The workshop?” I asked.
“That was the former windmill. It was a weird design, one we hadn’t seen before.
It has a basement, a ground floor, and two further levels.
When we came across it, it was just a shell; everything that made it a mill had been ripped out.
We renovated it to make it a three-storey workshop,” Simon said.
“Okay, so I suggest we set up our cameras in those areas,” Callie said.
“Are there any other buildings with activity?” I asked, and Fiona and Simon shook their heads.
“The Santa ride is the only other thing. As you saw on your way in, a path cuts through the woods to the stone arch and two towers. We have an illusion there that lets kids think they’re passing through a portal to the North Pole.
They’re in it for about fifteen seconds.
But our employees have reported seeing other figures there too,” Simon said.
“How does that work?” I asked, intrigued despite myself.
“The arch is a small tunnel. The driver parks the sleigh in it, and lights appear like the Aurora Borealis. They swirl around, and then, after fifteen seconds, the driver moves forward, and the children think they’ve been transported to the North Pole,” Fiona explained.
Her face was lit with joy, and a glance at Callie showed she wanted to experience this too.
Inwardly, I sighed. Sheesh, this was turning into a bad idea, and knowing her mind was already working on things, I asked, “Got a plan, babe?”
“Yes!” Callie beamed, and my heart sank. Worst nightmare ever!
Callie
Sunny really seemed grumpy about being here.
I’d never considered whether he liked Christmas.
But he appeared to be set into a modern-day Scrooge.
I felt like kicking him, but refrained. Did Sunny really not like Christmas?
Liv had recalled some good times with him and Cherry.
Maybe he was missing them, which was making him grumpy.
I grabbed my phone and sent a text. If this wonderful place was making him miss his family, there was something I could do about that.
“Callie?” Jack asked, and I shook myself. I recalled the stories that Fiona and Simon had told us over lunch.
“Sorry. Right, there’s clearly a lot of activity around here. Let’s set up in the two cabins, Santa’s workshop and house, the church and the main hotel. I’m concerned about how we investigate the tunnel. Are the figures seen when the illusions are turned off?” I asked Simon.
“No. Only when they’re on, which is strange,” Simon replied.
“Actually, that does make sense. The shimmering lights might help them materialise,” I replied.
“Never thought of that,” Simon said.
“It’s what we’re trained for. Okay, so we’ve got Monday through to Sunday when we fly out again. On Monday, I think we will investigate the two cabins and the tunnel. Tuesday, we’ll do Santa’s workshop; it’s got four levels and will need all of us.”
“You could do three teams,” Ashford suggested. “You don’t need all four of us on security, as nobody knows we’re here.”
“That would be a great idea,” Connor agreed as I considered it.
Slowly, I nodded. “Maybe even four teams. I’ll look into it.
On Wednesday, we can do Santa’s house, since it has multiple levels.
On Thursday, we’ll examine the church, and we’ll follow up at the hotel on Friday.
On Saturday, we’ll have one team investigate the church while the other two follow up where needed.
Phil, you have the plans. I know you’ve not had much time to decide—”
“I’ve decided where cameras can go in the cabins, church, workshop, and tunnel. The hotel is what I’m working on now, followed by Santa’s house. I can give you the camera positions for those buildings as soon as you want them,” Phil replied.
“That’s great. If you want to get started,” I said, looking at the rest of the guys, “I’ll look at creating three teams.”
A chorus of agreement came back at me as I grabbed a pen and paper and wrote everyone’s names down. They all left—Sunny stopping to give me a toe-curling kiss before leaving.
Within a few minutes, I made up the teams. Connor would lead with Solace and Merrick.
Jack would have Diaz and Michelle. I’d take Phil, Ashford and Sunny.
Freddie would stay with Harry and watch the monitors.
Freddie liked to join investigations so she could swap out with Michelle, who also liked watching the cameras.
Once I’d decided the teams, I headed out after the guys, intending to help with set-up.
As I walked through the snow towards the church, I saw something—or someone—dart out of the corner of my eye. I turned to greet them, but there was no one there.
Surprised, I frowned and looked around. I’d definitely seen someone, although I didn’t want to admit it. Because I was sure I’d seen a damn elf!
Sunny
Callie joined us and seemed a little off. I wanted to ask why, but she shook her head at me, and I guessed she’d tell me later. We worked quickly, placing the cameras according to Phil’s plans, and headed back to collect the locations for Santa’s house and hotel.
“You know what’s bothering me?” Callie said as we strolled back through the village.
“What?” I asked, capturing her hand and hauling her close.
“Nothing is malicious.”
“Huh?”
“Whatever ghosts are here seem content and happy. They’re not causing trouble… more like mischief.”
I considered her words for a few moments.
“We’ve got Casper the Friendly Ghost or something?”
“Don’t know. But everything Simon and Fiona reported seems done in innocent fun, for attention. A kind of ‘look, we’re here and we want you to remember us’ behaviour,” I replied.
I frowned. “What are the odds of that type of haunting? I don’t think we’ve ever encountered that.”
“Oh, I have, where all spirits were benign. Usually, there’s at least one rotten element. But a purely non-malicious haunting? That’s rare, Sunny, so rare I’ve only investigated one like it.”
“Interesting,” I drawled.
Callie stared at me for a few moments. “What, babe?”
“Are you okay? You seem grumpy, like the Grinch is infusing your body,” she asked finally.
“It’s Christmas in June, babe. I’m not into this shit; it’s far too much,” I answered honestly.
“Sunny! This is one of the most magical places I’ve ever seen. How can you not be spellbound by this?” Callie exclaimed.
“Callie, this is… not my thing. I’m not interested in shit like this.”
“This place is wonderful!” Callie looked shocked at my reply.
“Not to me,” I said shortly. “In fact, I can’t wait to get out of here.”
Callie stared at me in disbelief. “You really are channelling your inner Scrooge! Damn, I hope you won’t be this miserable when the baby arrives. Christmas is a magical time for families, Sunny. I won’t let our child’s Christmas be anything less than filled with amazement.”
How the hell did I answer that? Small, toned-down Christmases were disappearing from my future.
Callie was really going to go all out. A part of me understood why, but I didn’t want that.
No doubt Callie wanted the movie Christmases that she’d seen on TV.
A sharp pang hit me as I considered the child she’d once been and how she must have yearned for a family time like that.
A bitter feeling settled in my stomach. Callie had been denied all of that.
And while I didn’t wish to begrudge her anything, this was something that was going to make me miserable. Damnit!
Callie
After we’d all got back to the hotel, I checked that Harry and Phil had set up the command centre and found them staring at the screens.
“What?” I asked.
“Look at this,” Phil said, moving to the end monitor. He pulled up a camera that was in one of the cabins, and I observed.
“Holy hell. That’s activity,” I murmured.
On the screen, the camera focused on the living area, capturing movement.
As we watched, a vase wobbled on a table, then righted itself.
It was a minor incident, and maybe one that could be explained away, a wobbly table leg perhaps.
But a bedroom door opening and shutting, followed by a poinsettia being picked up and carried to the window ledge, couldn’t be easily disputed.
“We moved that from where we set up a camera,” Phil said.
“It seems the ghosts don’t like where you placed it,” I replied.
“Nope. This is cabin thirteen,” Harry added.
“Well, it’s certainly proved something is happening there,” I mused as I considered tonight’s plans.
“Everyone needs to get their heads down for a few hours. I’ve spoken to Connor, Ashford, and Solace. They’re going to keep setting up and will start investigating tomorrow night,” Sunny said. He’d gone to check on everyone and had just returned.
“That sounds like a plan,” I said with a nod. I’d informed everyone on their teams when I headed out to help set up.