Chapter One.
Sunny
We parked at the Queensborough Community College parking lot.
The college administrator had allocated a reserved space for our group to use as a base, as Harry had been in contact with the President of the QCC.
Naturally, we had to mention the QCC in our filming, and we would, but we’d also made a donation.
Callie seemed on edge, which was something I disliked.
This wouldn’t be a straightforward job, but Callie insisted we investigate.
Even though Callie’s episodes turned out to be extensively reworked for TV, I knew how seriously Callie took this.
When I say heavily edited, I didn’t mean faked.
Not all the recordings ended up on TV for various reasons.
However, two things would happen. All footage would be copied and forwarded to the Paranormal Society of America’s collection.
The original filming would be sent to Callie’s own personal archive at the house we’d built on Hellfire land.
But Callie would also copy all activity evidence separately, with timestamps and dates.
It made it easier for her to review, rather than spend hours with nothing happening.
Phil did most of this, with Jack and Harry helping when they had availability. But I was starting to think we needed an additional editor because Phil was swamped.
I made a mental note to talk to Callie about it. However, I didn’t know where they’d stay because the tour bus was full now. That was another problem. Where would we put an extra person?
“Who’s joining us this time?” Callie asked.
“It was supposed to be Fanatic and Willow, but we’ve got Celt and Chey instead. Willow picked a case up,” I replied.
“Oh, I hope she’s well,” Callie murmured. She liked Willow, which was great because Callie needed someone in her corner, as she was wary of the other old ladies.
“Willow’s fine, probably kicking ass and taking names. You’re alright with Chey and Celt?”
If Callie said no, I’d send them home. Nobody upset my woman, especially when she was pregnant.
“I like Chey. She keeps Celt in check,” Callie replied and began bouncing on her seat.
“I need to pee!” she exclaimed, hopped out, and headed inside our RV.
I shook my head and climbed out after her, checking everyone was here.
The tour bus had stopped, with the second RV on one side, the management area on the other, and us opposite, forming a square.
The two SUVs had been parked neatly beside the control centre, and I could see Diaz and Solace discussing something.
I nodded at my former teammates and looked for the third.
Ashford leaned against the command post, smirking at Diaz as she waggled her finger at Solace. Whatever they were arguing about, they could resolve it.
“I’m going to get together with Connor and Jack,” Callie said and marched past me. She stopped and yanked out the bag with the other two turkey sandwiches. She’d already eaten two.
I made another mental note to confirm that we had cooked turkey available.
I headed back towards the tour bus to check on the status of everything and ensure that someone wasn’t killing somebody.
This team loved each other, but they squabbled like children.
Michelle and Connor had settled into our routine easily and fought like siblings, too!
It was no wonder that they worked well together.
I felt like everyone’s dad sometimes. Nobody had better comment on my age either!
Callie
“I think that plan’s the best,” I said to Connor, who rubbed his chin but nodded.
“I don’t feel Amityville should be tackled without Michelle,” Jack argued.
“If we need her, there’s only an hour and ten minutes between the two locations. And plus, the cemetery is forty-five minutes from here, while the house is thirty-five. We can be back on site easily enough,” I replied.
“Callie, I’m not certain about this. We both have bad gut feelings, and even Connor mentioned being uneasy. Three top investigators experiencing that? Dangerous,” Jack pressed.
I patted my lips. Jack was right; ignoring those instincts would make me an idiot and possibly put the team in danger.
“Okay, I still believe Michelle is needed at the cemetery. Has anyone tapped Callum? He might fly out?” I suggested.
“I’ll call him now,” Connor said and yanked his cell out.
“What if he can’t come?” Jack asked.
“Then we load up on holy equipment,” I replied.
Jack nodded. “I’d feel better for that.”
“Callum can catch a flight today; he’ll be here by tonight, and Hugo’s coming too,” Connor announced, getting off the phone.
“Great!” I exclaimed. “Someone let Michelle know.”
“Where will they sleep?” Jack worried.
“They can stay with Sunny and me for now.”
“Who?” Sunny demanded, entering.
“Callum and Hugo are flying in. We agree we’ve all got a bad feeling about this and want backup,” I explained.
Sunny’s eyes narrowed on me, and then on my stomach.
“Don’t start, Sunny, you know I wouldn’t risk the baby. But we have to sort something out. The tour bus isn’t big enough anymore,” I said.
“Yeah, I know. I’ve been researching other designs. I might have a potential idea; I need to check it properly.”
“That’s your task for the week,” I quipped, and Sunny nodded.
There was a knock, and we glanced up as Jack entered. Behind him, Chey popped her head in.
“Hey!” she exclaimed. Chey bounced onto the tour bus. “This is way cooler than mine!” She looked around. “Damn, guys, this is great!”
“Yo,” Celt said as he followed Chey in. He and Sunny did that weird clasp-armed, shoulder-touch, hug thing. They separated, and Celt whistled. “Seriously, Callie, this is nice!”
“Thanks.” Footsteps clattered behind them, and Freddie and Harry came in.
Freddie skidded to a halt, and her mouth dropped open. “Holy shit!” she whispered, her eyes going from Chey to Celt and back again.
Harry couldn’t stop staring at Chey either.
“This might be a problem.” Jack chuckled, amused.
Phil and Michelle entered, and Phil repeated Freddie’s actions.
“Okay, settle down. This is embarrassing,” Connor teased.
“There are two members of The Wild Wind here.” Freddie gasped.
“We’re human just like you guys, and we’re pretty big fans of yours,” Chey responded, smiling.
“Before we all go fan crazy, can I sit down?” Michelle demanded.
Everyone moved around and took their seats.
“You’ve got ten minutes, no more,” Sunny announced.
His words opened the floodgates.
Phil, Freddie and Harry mooned over Chey and Celt, and they replied in kind. Sunny rolled his eyes and looked resigned as I smirked at him. He was gruff and grumpy. But Sunny meant well.
◆◆◆
“Okay,” I said. Diaz, Solace, Ashford, and Merrick had arrived, so everyone was here and we could begin. “Callum and Hugo are arriving this evening. Jack, Connor, and I all have bad feelings about the graveyard and the house. I believe Michelle is needed at Sleepy Hollow…”
“Wait, what? We’re looking into Sleepy Hollow?” Chey squealed and bounced in her seat.
“The Old Dutch Burial Ground there, yes, as well as the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery,” I replied, smiling.
“Oh my God, are we investigating the Headless Horseman?” Chey demanded.
“Harry will give us a rundown of the hauntings,” I said.
“Sorry for interrupting, I’m so excited.”
“It’s fine, Chey, at least you haven’t brought rocket launchers,” Sunny quipped, and Celt winced.
“Yeah, heard about that… Jesus.” Celt shook his head.
“As I was saying, Michelle is needed at the graveyard, but Jack strongly feels we need someone at the house, too. According to the stories, the entity doesn’t like male priests, so maybe Callum goes to the cemetery, and Michelle comes to Amityville?”
“As in movie house, Amityville?” Celt asked.
“Yes.”
“Yeah, ain’t going in that!” Celt exclaimed, and I just smothered a laugh.
“You’re with Jack’s team then. Connor and I are going to share the house between us.”
“Are you okay?” Michelle demanded, sitting up straight.
“I’m fine, but Sunny’s worried about me doing this, and I don’t want him stressed out.
I’m not quitting, but Connor shall now oversee some investigations to ease the pressure on me.
There are three lead paranormal investigators here.
However, only two teams are needed for this investigation.
So, Connor and I will trade off,” I explained.
“Fair enough,” Freddie replied.
“Okay, Jack, Celt, Phil, Callum, and Hugo are team one. Connor, Sunny, Michelle, and Chey will make up the second team. Freddie and Harry are on monitors. The cameramen will be Connor, Sunny, and Phil. Solace, did you sort your rotas out?” I asked.
“Yes, considering you’ve got Celt and Sunny, we’re going to do a two-on-two-off rota. Merrick and I will take nights while Ashford takes days. I’m staying at the house for the full week.”
Several eyebrows rose at that, but nobody questioned Solace, knowing I’d explain, eventually.
“Do you need anything?” I asked, and Solace shook her head.
“We’re good,” she replied.
“Jack’s team will be taking Sleepy Hollow, we’ll have Amityville.
Then we’ll swap on day four. The main base is obviously here, which is about forty-five minutes from the graveyard and thirty-five to Amityville.
We’ll get the usual lookie-loos, so be careful.
Remember, dignity at all times,” I said.
“Harry, what have you got for us?” Jack asked.
“Facts: Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and the Old Church Burial Grounds are two separate places, although adjacent to each other. Sleepy Hollow is obviously well-known for the Headless Horseman. Sorry to disappoint everyone, but no famous Headless Horseman was haunting Sleepy Hollow. However, a headless Hessian corpse was discovered at the Revolutionary War Battle of White Plains. Historians found the corpse buried in the Old Dutch Burial Ground. It’s highly likely that Irving heard of it and used it in his legendary story.
The character of Ichabod Crane was based on two real men.