CHAPTER SIX. Andi stood behind the others, eyes glued to the monitors as Ronnie pulled up camera after camera.

Andi stood behind the others, eyes glued to the monitors as Ronnie pulled up camera after camera.

“We can capture four cameras on each monitor, ” he said as four images appeared. “So, we can get twelve of the twenty cameras at once. If I’m not here, and you want to view the other cameras, just hit F9 and your options show up at the bottom, like so.”

Andi watching, seeing twenty thumbnail-sized images lined up at the bottom of one of the monitors.

“Just double-click on the one you want. Each image has a camera number assigned to it so you’ll always know which one you’re viewing. It’s automatically set up to record any movement on my hard drive, but I always make backups.”

“Audio same as the last time? ” Jamie asked.

“Yeah. I’ve got them all opened right now. Well, the ones I’ve got planted. I’ll finish up audio in the morning.” He turned on a fourth monitor. “Sound waves will show up here, so we’ll be able to determine which room it’s coming from.”

“Do you often have sounds, or is it just visual images you capture? ” Andi asked.

“It’s more difficult to capture sounds, although I would say at fifty percent of our sights we’ve managed to record some sounds. Of course, most of it is just gibberish. As if they’re speaking another language.”

“Language of the dead... perhaps, ” Jamie said quietly.

Andi swallowed nervously. For about the hundredth time, she wished she’d not gotten this assignment. Because honestly, even though she’d professed that she did not believe in ghosts, she didn’t mind admitting—at least to herself—that she was afraid to be in this house.

“Everyone might as well get comfortable, ” Dr. Gilbreath said. “Beth’s got a mini-kitchen set up on the dresser there. I think a pot of strong coffee will get us through to morning.” She looked pointedly at Andi. “I know you’re probably not used to our hours, Ms. Beene, so if you feel the need to crash, don’t worry about it. Anything we see will be recorded. You can review it in the morning.”

Andi smiled. “I’ll try to hang with you guys.” If only because she refused to go into the other bedroom alone. In fact, she was fairly certain she would go nowhere alone at night in this house.

“I’ll be lucky if I can hang until midnight, ” Jamie said.

“You never could make the night, Dr. Tucker.”

Andi stared as Jamie casually met her eyes, if only for a moment. Andi smiled slightly, nodding, acknowledging the silent offer. Despite their differences, Andi would welcome Jamie’s presence in the bedroom.

Now, after two hours of staring at the monitors, looking for movement—anything out of the ordinary—Andi was convinced that their first night in the Zeiko Place would be uneventful. As midnight approached, the thought of another cup of the god-awful coffee she’d forced down earlier was not appealing. She slumped down farther in her chair, wondering if she could sneak in a quick nap without anyone knowing.

But the high-pitched scream followed by children’s laughter brought her out of her chair with eyes wide. She looked around the room at the others, but they were all huddled near the monitors.

“There, ” Jamie pointed. “First floor den.”

“Yes, I see it.”

Ronnie zoomed in, the fuzzy aberration taking form. The first thing Andi noticed was that it had no legs, but the head, torso, and arms were well defined. As it began to move across the room, a long, flowing skirt swooshed beneath the torso.

“The mother, ” Dr. Gilbreath whispered.

Loud voices were heard, but as they’d said earlier, it was just gibberish. Andi could not make out words. Then the chilling laughter again.

“Pan back, ” Jamie said.

But no other images appeared, and soon the aberration faded, leaving the den dark and still.

“Holy shit, ” Andi whispered.

“For sure, ” Jamie murmured. She looked at Dr. Gilbreath. “She was well defined.”

“Wonderful image, yes. It will be spectacular if we can capture the children.”

Andi rubbed her forehead. It would not be spectacular if they saw the children. Her eyes widened. What if they saw Mr. Zeiko? How did he die? Her breath caught. He hung himself from the third floor landing.

Oh fuck.

“You want the double or the twin? ” Jamie asked three hours later as they stood alone in their bedroom.

“The twin is fine, although I doubt I’ll be able to sleep, ” Andi admitted.

“We’ll leave the light on if you want, ” Jamie offered.

“I can’t believe I saw what I saw.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. The first house I did with them, I about shit my pants the first time we saw something. It makes it more difficult here, I think, because we know all the stories.”

“He hung himself up here.”

“Yeah, the landing.”

“Does Gilbreath know that? ”

“I’m not sure, but her research indicates that he’s never been seen. Just the wife and kids, and the parents.”

“Parents? ”

“The wife’s parents were either killed in the den on the first floor, or one of the bathrooms on the second. There’s all kinds of conflicting information as to where the bodies were found and in what condition.”

“Which bathroom? ”

Jamie shrugged. “If she knows, she’s not shared it. She doesn’t like to share too much. It makes you see things where there’s really nothing. She likes everything to just play out.”

“I hate this assignment.”

Jamie laughed. “Remember, they are just aberrations. They can’t hurt you.”

“How do you know that? If they can physically turn lights on and off, if they can open shutters, why couldn’t they hurt you? ”

“So I’ve been told.”

Andi shuffled through her bag, pulling out a pair of sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt. She looked questioningly at Jamie.

“You want me to leave the room? ”

Andi glanced at the door. “I actually would like to go to the bathroom and wash up. It’s been a long day.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

Andi hesitated.

“What? ”

“Maybe you could... hang out in the hall.”

Jamie laughed. “To protect you? What makes you think I’d feel the urge to protect you? ”

“Look, we obviously have different opinions as to what happened in high school. And as much as it pains me to say this, can’t we just forget about it and get past it? ”

“Why does it pain you to say that? ”

“Because it was very difficult for me at that time, especially thinking that you’d... outed me, and were laughing at me with the others. I’ve carried a lot of anger with me, mostly directed at you. And it’s not something that I thought I’d ever get over.”

“But now you want to forget about it and get past it? ”

“Has it done any good to hang on to it? I’m not saying I’ve forgiven you, I just don’t want to dwell on it.”

Jamie stared at her for the longest, her expression softening. “I never betrayed you, Andi, ” she said quietly. “You might not believe this, but that night has always stayed with me. I didn’t know you were a virgin. Had I known, I never would have—”

“I know. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

“Why, Andi? ”

“Why what? Why you? ”

“Yes.”

Andi felt her face flush and she turned away. “I... I was extremely attracted to you, that goes without saying. But it was something else, too. I just felt a connection with you, even though we really didn’t know one another all that well.” She looked quickly at Jamie, then away. “And I wanted you to be the first. It felt... right.”

“I... I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. That was a long time ago. But I would be very grateful if you’d go with me to the bathroom.”

Jamie nodded with a soft smile. “Okay. I’ll stand guard.”