Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Oscar woke up to find Nigel brewing coffee, Chris still asleep, and Tina gone to get her rest in the trailer. As he slipped out of his sleepwear and into a t-shirt and cargo shorts, Nigel told him about the strange encounter with Ethan.
The sound of their voices roused Chris, who sat up and listened blearily, before saying, “Maybe he’s planning on grabbing any valuable paintings or furniture, taking off with the boat, and starting a new life in South America.”
“I don’t know whether I should applaud your imagination or your paranoia,” Nigel replied with an arch of the brow.
“Okay, I don’t really think he’s going to do that.
” Chris stretched with a wide yawn. “Maybe he was just doing exactly what he told you. He’d finished and was about to leave when you showed up.
It’s weird he was carrying around the salt in a briefcase, but maybe he had paper or something to make notes on in there as well.
In case there was something valuable. Though I imagine Ms. Montague would want a full inventory either way. ”
“That does make sense,” Nigel admitted.
Oscar kissed him on the forehead. “What was that about imagination and paranoia?”
He laughed, clearly chagrined. “You’re right. He was acting strange, though.”
“He’s probably never been in a haunted house before,” Oscar pointed out. “I’m going to go ask Lawson and Montague about the seance mentioned in the tape last night.”
They were finishing up a late breakfast when he stuck his head in the trailer. Not wanting to wake Tina, he indicated he’d be waiting by the chairs and shade, and ducked back out.
A few minutes later, both women joined him.
They looked tired, as though neither had been sleeping well.
Before he could say anything, Montague said, “I believed one of the paintings we saw last night might have been of value, so I sent Ethan to look over the contents of the room. Alas, there was nothing worth salvaging.”
“Nigel mentioned.” Was that why she began with talking about Ethan, because she assumed he’d ask? He hadn’t intended to. “We watched another of the tapes last night, the one labeled ‘discussion.’ You had decided to perform a seance. What happened?”
The line between Lawson’s brows deepened as she thought back. “We were trying to contact Ullman, if I’m recalling correctly. To use Patricia’s connection to him through her ancestor, right?” She looked at Montague.
Montague nodded. “Yes. But he had no interest in discussing things with me. His only desire was to curse and insult us.”
“He called me a dried-up harridan.” Lawson laughed.
“His insults couldn’t hold a candle to some of the student reviews I got.
At any rate, Robin ended up having to cut the session short.
There is a tape of it in the box somewhere that you’re welcome to watch, but I think it would be a waste of time. ”
“We’ll skip it, then.” He turned to Montague. “What’s the latest update on the tropical storm?”
“Unfortunately, the likelihood it will strike us here has only increased. There’s still the possibility it will swerve to the north or south, of course.”
“There’s also now the potential to blow up into a hurricane right before landfall.” Lawson scrubbed at her face. “We absolutely don’t want to be on the island if that happens, which means we have tonight and tomorrow night before we need to evacuate. Even that might be cutting it close.”
Montague reached out and took one of her hands. “I have Ethan checking the forecast hourly for that very reason.” She turned her attention to Oscar. “We need to help Robin move on before we leave. Whether she wishes to or not.”
Lawson closed her eyes, as if in pain, but didn’t disagree.
Oscar really didn’t want to force the issue with Robin…
but he also couldn’t leave the island in good conscience if she was still stuck here.
“We should hold another seance, this time for Robin. That will let the two of you communicate with her directly. Hopefully that will be enough for her to let go.”
Lawson blinked rapidly, then wiped her eyes with her free hand. “I agree. Thank you, Fox.”
He truly didn’t want to leave Gloria behind, either. Ullman’s capture hadn’t let her move on, though, and Oscar wasn’t at all sure how to convince her to leave. Was the fact she’d been summoned here all those years ago a part of the problem?
She was a negative spirit, though; that might be enough to keep her in this world.
Both with the Vanderwalls and now, she’d started off as more of a prankster.
Moving the tools, hiding the ledger, baiting people with tales of buried treasure.
In the ’80s, she’d escalated to throwing things and then murder.
There was no reason to think she wouldn’t do the same now.
He put her aside for the moment and focused on Robin.
“We’ll do the seance in the parlor instead of the seance room.
” He definitely didn’t want to call her into the room where Gloria had pushed her to her death.
And the mirror might even help her appear in a way Lawson and Montague could glimpse her.
“In the meantime, try to get in some sleep this afternoon. You’ll need to rest up for tonight. ”
“So will you.” Dr. Lawson pointed at him.
Oscar had avoided any coffee for that very reason. “I’m going to try. See you tonight.”