Haunted

By Richard Gaunt

The director of America's favorite televised ghosthunters show is trying to uncover the truth about paranormal visitations and life after death but only through scientific means. Using psychics is a complete and utter waste of time, in his mind. After several cases, he is finally thrown in with a psychic and learns more than he ever expected: sometimes publishable evidence is overrated, it seems.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Martian Publishing
• Release date: Oct 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370375776

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

A mist hung heavy across the fields as the glow in the east spread across the farm. The young boy walked toward the barn, the air thick with the scent of yesterday's hay mowing, tickling his nostrils with the earthy, moist aroma. A sneeze cleared the irritants and he brought the back of his wrist across his nose before he grasped the worn wooden handle to pull the weathered door open.

The eerie shadows of the building at this time of day always set his senses on edge. Every knock, every creak was magnified through both the still morning air and his mind. A chill went over his skin despite the warm and humid interior but he pushed past his worry to finish what he had come to do. He tried to imagine his uncle was with him. The barn never seemed as forbidding when he was there. But then uncle's presence filled whatever room he entered.

The boy smiled at the memory and got to work. Arranging the pieces he needed before him on the workbench, he pulled the stool close and climbed aboard, getting busy with screwdriver and pliers. Time passed and his anxiety was forgotten.

There was a noise overhead. He froze. Nothing else happened after a time, so he returned to his task, part of his attention still on the loft overhead, daring the noise to repeat itself.

A few minutes later, he was again intent on his project, humming happily to himself. His uncle would be so pleased when he… There! Again! He slid off the stool and stepped back from the workbench, eyes intent on the planking overhead.

Who's there? he called up. The seconds waiting for an answer seemed to stretch to hours. Surely Aunt Maggie would be calling him in for breakfast any moment now, before he finished what he had planned.

He strained to hear. Maybe it was a mouse, he thought, wondering how it could have climbed up so high. Was that a scuffling noise? Could that be a mouse? Whatever it was, it did not recur.

Nervously, he approached the bench again. It became hard to concentrate with the frequent glances upward, the stressful waiting for the next sound to manifest. The silence seemed to grow thicker than the mist outside.

Bang! He dropped the tool and almost fell off the stool. That was no mouse, he was certain. Something or someone was moving around up there.

Who's there? Come on out. Show yourself! He backed across the dirt floor kicking up bits a straw and hay unknowingly, trying to see up into the loft. This isn't funny!

There was no response. He wiped sweaty palms on the legs of his overalls and anxiously moved toward the workbench again. But his focus was gone and he could no longer concentrate on the task.

He fiddled with the cords almost waiting for the noise to return. Willing it to return.

Forever passed so slowly.

Pop! It was back. But he had been mentally prepared and did not react with such violence. Again his eyes strained in the dimness overhead for some clue, some evidence that he was not merely imagining this.

Off to his left, a rope dangled down. He recalled something about a ladder to the loft that could be lowered.

It was probably this rope.

He stepped quietly to the rope and grasped the rough plaited fibers in his small hands, the beads of sweat on his skin being absorbed unnoticed by the coarse fiber.

Perhaps he could scare whatever it was as much as they had frightened him. He moved his grasp a little higher on the rope and shifted his weight a bit to pull it in one quick movement.

A drop of sweat coursed from his eyebrow, down his cheek, and to his chin. He wanted to wipe it off but he was concentrating on the loft overhead. Just one more noise and he could surprise whatever was up there.

He waited, his hands straining against the rope but not pulling. Not yet. Wait just a bit longer. Another drop of sweat rolled from his eyebrow.

Bang!

With a start, he pulled on the rope as hard as he could.

There was a whooshing noise, something was in his face. He jumped backward and screamed, falling onto the seat of his overalls as his hands came up instinctively to guard his face.

*****

Mike Adams ducked his head unconsciously as the boom mike was swung over his head and into position. He turned and grinned at his partner, Tyler Mellone, and shook his head as the crew got into position. I'd swear they were trying to hit me.

Chuckling, Tyler merely nodded as Mike raised the small radio to his mouth. Everyone ready?

A female voice responded first. Sure, Mike. Angela and I are in the kitchen.

He paused and moment and looked at Tyler. Garland?

After a moment, the radio squawked again. Yeah, chief, Ben and I are at the top of the stairs.

Good. He nodded to the director. Let's go dark.

The lights went out.

Show time, Tyler's voice came out of the darkness.

Mike smiled as they started another case for America's most watched paranormal investigation show. He only hoped they could find some answers and shed some light in this case for the worried mother of a little boy.

He hoped for resolve though he knew most of the viewing audience would only be watching for the evidence, which has been the trademark of his Paranormal Assessment and Survey Team, abbreviated as P. A. S. T., even before they stormed the national consciousness.

Okay, let's head downstairs.

*****

It was dark in the kitchen but for the glow of the digital numbers on the battery-operated clock on the wall above the stove.

Rachel stood in front of the refrigerator and raised her recorder. Ready to go?

Angela laughed. Just a sec, okay? My eyes don't adjust as fast as yours to the darkness.

Rachel chuckled. Not much we can bump into in this room, shin-wise.

Okay. I'm ready.

She raised the recorder and clicked it on. Rachel and Angela in the kitchen. She paused a moment before continuing. Is there anyone here with us?

After a few seconds waiting for a response – if any – Angela spoke, Is there something that draws you to this house in particular?

They each knew to allow the spirits time to respond before saying or doing anything else. Some responses might come quickly while others may take some time to develop. And these responses were not always on a frequency to be heard by human ears but could be captured on the recording. They were termed EVP's, Electronic Voice Phenomena. It was the chance for these responses that they were betting on.

Do you have a connection with the little boy who lives here? Angela looked around to darkened room.

An unexpected knock was heard. Angela jumped, then giggled at her response.

Was that you knocking? Rachel asked.

Silence followed.

Several more attempts were made to get another knock in response but without effect. The room remained silent except for their occasional voices.

Feel anything?

Angela shook her head in the darkness, more for the unseen cameraman than for Rachel's sake. No. Nothing in here.

Okay. Let's move into the dining room.

Angela followed Rachel into the next room while the cameraman and soundman tagged along behind, each finding a spot around the small oak dining table where their equipment would be useful but out of the way of the investigation.

Rachel raised the recorder. Is there anyone here with us?

The ritual was repeated.

*****

When the lights went out, Garland was standing at the top of the staircase.

Ben spoke quietly, Where do you want to start?

Actually, I feel something here… on the stairs.

Really? Ben felt for the railing and stepped down two steps. His hands felt around the space in the stairwell. I'm feeling some temperature variations here. You might be on to something. He fumbled a small device out of his pocket and turned it on, the small meter lighting up the area with its glow.

Meanwhile, Garland was sweeping the area with a digital thermometer. We've got some variation.

Nothing on the EMF.

Go down a bit. Garland knocked the wall. I don't think there would be any electrical here to interfere with the electromagnetic readings.

Yeah, but I'm still not getting anything.

Can you feel any cold spots?

Not yet but…Damn! He shook his instrument. Battery's drained! He turned to Garland. They were charged, right?

Yep, completely charged. Give it a minute… A glow came on.

Okay, we're back. I hate it when the spirits drain the batteries like that.

Yeah, Garland grinned, but it shows us they are here at least.

That's true.

They concentrated on their respective instruments, sweeping them back and forth as they descended the stair.

At the halfway point, Garland turned on his recorder. Garland and Ben on the stairs. He held it before him. Is there someone here on the stair with us?

After a few moments, Ben shook his head. I'm not getting anything now. Not even any cold spots.

Garland flicked off the recorder. Yeah, it feels like we're alone now.

They turned and went back to the top of the stairs. Once there, Ben raised a camera and aimed it down the upstairs hallway.

Flash. He took a photo, the momentary glare showing the two figures, heads turned away and eyes closed against the sudden flash. After a moment, Ben spoke again, Now what?

The little boy is in the first room on the right, so we skip that one and check out the other rooms.

Bedrooms?

Garland nodded, useless in the dark but for the cameras taping the show. Two. And a small bathroom.

Okay. Lead the way.

*****

Mike and Tyler were scoping out the basement.

Mike turned on a pen-light and shone it around the large room. There's a few low objects in here, so watch your shins.

Hunched over an EMF meter, Tyler shook his head, I'm getting nothing in here. No readings at all. He waved it in front of himself as he walked around. The room feels dead.

Following with a digital thermometer, Mike shook his head. No fluctuations at all. Maybe the only activity in the house is upstairs where the little guy is.

Yeah, even the parents said there was no activity anywhere in the house but his room. He shrugged. But we have to check, you know.

"Yeah. If there is activity one place in the house it has to come from somewhere." He continued watching the thermometer as they moved until he ran into Tyler's back.

This place is so small. Mike complained. Just you and I could have covered the entire place in two hours. Seems a waste to have so many people on this case."

Tyler shrugged. Yeah, you can say that now after nothing much has happened, but if the joint had really been hopping…

Yeah, I know. Ain't that just the way it goes, though: no matter how many people you have around, the really good stuff always seems to get missed.

"Just like that old café we did in Northampton last year. We had all those really great experiences happen on the walk through…

And they happened to practically everyone.

Yeah, but the moment we finally got the equipment turned on, the well dried up.

So, he sighed, you never know.

Pointing off into the darkness, Tyler said, Wasn't that the laundry room over there? Maybe we ought to check it out.

After a shrug, Mike nodded. Sure. Let's go.

*****

What's down here? Angela stood in a hallway off the dining room.

A small home office, I think. She led the way. The guy runs some sort of website from the home…

What's this? Angela stopped at a door.

Rachel stopped and turned. Closet?

Angela turned the knob and pulled the door open a little.

Something came at her.

She stifled a scream and jumped back as something hit the floor in front of her, bouncing away along the short hallway.

Rachel could not control her laughter though she tried.

A ball? Angela struggled to keep her own giggling under control.

Rachel shushed her. Don't let Mike hear us or he might get upset.

Yeah, Angela said, mad that he couldn't be in on the fun. He's such a practical joker. I can almost imagine him rigging this closet for us.

"Yeah, you'll notice it was his idea that we start on this floor, huh? She stepped over to the ball and handed it to Angela. Better put this back."

Yeah, so it can't fall out. She put it in the bottom of the closet and closed the door.

They continued to the small office.

Was there anything that happened in here?

Rachel shook her head. No, but we have to check the whole house, you know, just in case. She stepped into the room and raised her recorder. Is there anyone here with us?

~~~~

CHAPTER TWO

It was some time later that the radio squawked. Time to change.

Rachel and Angela moved back to the front door where the others had already gathered in the small glow of the street lights outdoors.

Mike looked around at the group. Anybody get anything? Heads were shaken. Okay. Garland, you and Angela head upstairs. Rachel, you and Ben head downstairs. Let's see if regrouping can make any difference.

The four moved off leaving the older pair at the front door.

Tyler looked around. At least this floor looks more interesting than the basement.

Great! Mike grunted. And normally we find a lot of our better stuff in basements.

Yeah, probably because it is the least human-friendly area of a house. That and the attic.

I'll bet the attic here is as unremarkable as the basement.

Even in the dark, Tyler could hear the scowl.

*****

So, you two didn't find anything? Angela asked as she reached the top of the stair.

We noticed something on the stair, Garland said, cold spots and stuff, but it disappeared rather quickly.

Even that would be more interesting than what we found.

Well, maybe we'll have better luck here than Ben and I had.

I hope so. Where to?

He motioned along the hall. A couple of bedrooms and a bathroom. Then there's the room where the little boy is sleeping but we won't be going in there.

Angela paused. Why not? If that's where it's happening…?

Don't worry. We have cameras and motion-sensitive trips to record everything there. If anything happens, we'll know.

Oh, okay. She stepped along the hall. Which room is next to his?

That would be the bathroom.

Okay, let's start there first.

He followed her into the small room. You think it has something to do with the plumbing?

She sat on the edge of the bathtub. Just a hunch. Pipes are a conduit. Maybe other things travel in them other than water.

Okay. You do some EVP work while I check out the EMF's.

All right. Angela turned on her recorder. Angela and Garland in the upstairs bathroom… Is there anyone here with us? After a few moments. Why are you interested in this little boy.

Davey, Garland said. His name is Davey.

Why are you interested in Davey?

There was a sound.

Angela's voice was tight. Did you do that?

What?

That knocking on a pipe.

No. Garland paused sweeping his EMF meter over the countertop. I didn't hear anything.

Listen! She leaned her head toward the drain in the tub.

*****

Rachel and Ben had quickly traversed the larger room in the basement. The storage bins and shelves of memorabilia had not produced even the faintest flicker on any of their instruments.

So what else is down here?

Rachel pointed to a doorway. There's a laundry room here I think.

Ben shrugged. At least that sounds a little more hopeful than this place.

How so? She opened the door. I would have thought old memorabilia would attract more attention. I am sure there's more memories and history attached to those things.

Yeah, but mechanical things… large electric devices seem to have a bigger pull to spirits, I think. He stepped past her into the small room. I think it has to do with the electric circuits.

Well, I hope you're right. She spoke into the recorder. Rachel and Ben in the laundry room. Is there anyone here with us?

In the quiet pause that followed, there was a distinct tapping noise.

Was that the pipes? Ben turned his EMF meter to shine a faint glow on the wall over the washing machine. Pipes ran upward into the ceiling. Say something else.

Why are you interested in this house?

Another faint tap could be heard.

Leaning over the machine, Ben said, Can you tap twice for us? Like this? He rapped twice on the pipe with a knuckle.

For half a minute, the air was thick with anticipation.

Oh, well, I thought…

There were two taps on the pipe.

Oh, baby!

Rachel spoke to the air. Was that you responding? After the count of ten, she continued, Can you tap twice on the pipe again?

The euphoria of contact ebbed into the silence that continued to surround them.

Working the EMF meter, Ben went around the washer and dryer, even opening their doors to see if the readings differed inside and out.

Recorder raised high, Rachel continued with the questioning but no further taps were heard. After a time, she lowered her hand. Maybe we should go back out and give the larger room another shot.

Yeah, he shrugged, maybe if we move some of the stuff we can stir up some sort of response.

With a final pause in the laundry room, hoping for another sign of paranormal intervention, Rachel sighed and closed the door.

They went digging through the bins.

*****

A cursory tour through the ground floor level had produced no blips or glimpses of anything paranormal. Mike turned to Tyler. "There's not much happening in the house. Maybe we should take a tour of the exterior."

Tyler says, Yeah, there's not enough room in the house for all of us to be moving around much.

Besides, Mike grinned, I could use a cigarette.

They exited through the kitchen door and looked around outside.

And the little guy's room is where, exactly? Tyler looked up at the rear of the house. Maybe we can see something outside.

Pointing with his cigarette, Mike said, His room's going to be around the front but let me finish this first. He took another puff.

Tyler turned to the soundman with them, Marty Fuller. This is so much like most of our investigations. So very little usually happens.

Mike chuckled. Yeah, but most cases start out with a little more promise than this one did. They have some experiences… usually in more than one place in the house. But here… He shrugged and took another puff. The cigarette glowed bright orange in the dark.

Marty spoke quietly. So why did you take this case?

The little boy. Tyler pointed to the upper floor. Mike and I both have children and we can't stand seeing them terrorized by such things. We always take these cases to help ease the family through what might otherwise be a traumatic experience. He nodded and looked at Mike. Innocents should never be used this way by anyone, including the paranormal.

Twisting his cigarette to empty the lit tobacco on the ground, Mike stomped on it and motioned. Let's go check out the front.

As they passed the corner of the house, Mike said, There were two ghosts floating along and suddenly one stops and shudders. The other one says, 'Hey, what happened?' and the first one responds, 'Man! I think I just had a near-life experience!'

Tyler smirked and shook his head. You're sick, you know that? Sick!

Mike chuckled. Well, I thought it was funny.

*****

After touring the two bedrooms without anything of interest, Garland and Angela returned to the bathroom.

This is the only place in the house where we've gotten anything, I think. Angela sat on the edge of the tub again, leaning back and placing a hand on the tiled wall. This is the closest point to the bedroom with the known activity. If we are going to find anything it will be here.

Or on the stairwell, Garland said. That's where Ben and I first found some cold spots.

So let's go over the room again.

They resumed their inquiry, paying special attention to the wall behind the tub but nothing happened. Not even another knocking on the pipes.

Angela shook her head. What now?

I don't know. Garland shook his head. We haven't gotten a glimmer of anything up here other than the tapping on the pipes. I can't think of anything else to check so I guess we just hang around until Mike gives us a call.

As if on cue, the walkie buzzed.

Okay guys, Mike voice came, that's a wrap.

Garland started for the hallway. I hope somebody else got something.

*****

Downstairs, the lights back on, the groups exchanged glances, looking for a glimmer of something exciting to report.

Mike spoke, Well, anything?

More glances were exchanged.

We found something upstairs, Angela said, in the bathroom. A knocking on the pipes.

Was that you? Ben scowled. We were down in the laundry room and heard tapping on the pipes. We answered, thinking it was a spirit.

Rachel nodded. Yes, we tapped twice to get a response.

Garland looked at Angela. Twice? We only heard one, right?

Angela nodded. We never heard two.

Everyone was silent a moment.

Anything else? Mike looked around but got nothing else. All right. Garland, get everyone to grab the equipment and we'll get out of here. I'll run next door and talk to the parents. He motioned to Tyler and they went outside.

Okay, people, Garland said, let's gather up the equipment.

They spread out, turning on lights, to gather their technical apparatus. As they fanned out, the production crew was busy gathering together all their own cords and back-ups.

A few minutes later, Ben joined Garland at the van in the driveway. Is this everything?

Garland shrugged. Yeah, I think so.

Huh? Didn't you make a list or something?

No. Laughing, Garland pointed into the back of the van. See? There's a place for everything. When all the places are filled up, we've gotten everything.

Ben viewed the arrangement and gave nodding approval. Looks like a swell system. And you'll never lose anything, huh?

He winked. That's right.

~~~~

CHAPTER THREE

A long table had been arrayed with computers to view the output of the cameras they had set up to catch any possible activity in the house – especially in the boy's bedroom. Garland got Ben and Angela setup on two of the computers and he took position in front of the third. He and Ben also had headsets to listen to the recordings made by the investigators as they walked through the darkened house.

Tyler had explained the EVP phenomena to the new director, Gayle Winters, as they were preparing to review the evidence. Sometimes in these investigations, recordings are made that will pick up sounds and voices that are not perceived by the people present. Quite often these sounds will appear on digital recordings. That's why our people usually ask a question and then pause before talking again. They are giving whoever – or whatever – an opportunity to respond.

Gayle nodded. But doesn't it happen the other way sometimes? You know, everyone will hear a noise or voice that isn't picked up on the recording?

Yes, Tyler agreed, but that doesn't happen near as often. He indicated the headphones Garland and Ben were wearing. Here the guys will listen to the recordings for any unexpected responses while watching the video from the cameras we set up. Their computers each carry the feed of four different cameras which might be a bit confusing to most people but these fellas have trained to watch four frames at once.

Mike added, A lot of people say the EVP is only picking up random snippets of radio broadcast but we have recordings of voices repeating what they said over and over. If that is being broadcast somewhere in the area I would be surprised. Never once in an EVP have I ever heard the date, the time, the weather, a call-sign, or any music. He shook his head and glanced at Tyler. If it was a truly 'random' broadcast being picked up, why then would only a few words end up on the tape? Why not a rendition of Elvis singing 'hunka-hunka burning love'?

Tyler nodded. "There are still many aspects of our electromagnetic world that are not completely understood. I don't see why this should not be included in the same realm. Just because it is unexplained does not make it paranormal,