Dead End by Lynn Emery

Author:Lynn Emery
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: murder mystery, mystery, female sleuth, female detectives, private detectives, paranormal, suspense, women detectives
Publisher: Lazy River Publishing
Published: 2024-06-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Real Estates

“This is the last one.” Jessi said. She stepped forward and the original hardwood floor creaked beneath her feet. The sound echoed in a weird fashion through the house.

Monday night brought them to a two-story Victorian mansion on Prytania. Jessi and Charmaine both carried flashlights. They’d arrived just after seven o’clock, well after nightfall. Twin beams swept the interior of the room they were in. The first of two parlors was empty of furniture since it had not been staged yet for sale. A fireplace with the original ornate mantel sat in the south wall to their right.

“Find a switch so we can turn on the chandelier. Somebody will call the police to report us as burglars,” Charmaine mumbled.

“No, I need it dark. Some spirits won’t appear in white light. The spectrum drives them away,” Jessi said.

“Isn’t that what we want?” Charmaine gazed at the wallpaper pattern. “Ugh, I don’t get the obsession with cabbage roses.”

“According to Gina, they’re still making design changes. This house was built in 1900 on land originally owned by a member of the Glapion family.” Jessi found a small lamp sitting on the floor against one wall. She turned it on and soft yellow light spilled from beneath the creamy shade. “That’s not too bad.”

“Listen, I don’t know why you’re letting Madame Laveau—”

“Madame Glapion, to be accurate. Jean Louis Christophe Duminy de Glapion was her last husband,” Jessi corrected.

“Wow, what a mouthful. He probably collapsed under the weight of that name.” Charmaine giggled at her own joke. “Anyway, I’m not a lawyer but even I know you can’t sue to reclaim land lost over two hundred years ago. Aside from the statute of limitations, tracing ownership documents will be next to impossible. Records have been lost in floods, fires, and just misplaced over the decades.”

“We’ll see,” was Jessi’s soft reply. She walked in a circle, staring up at the plaster medallion on the ceiling.

“You getting anything yet? My EMF meter hasn’t said ‘boo’ since we got here. I think Gina is imagining things at this point. She’s spooked by the other two encounters” Charmaine shook the device and it let out a sharp beep. “False alarm. I touched the test button.”

“There’s something funny about this one.” Jessi glanced at her anemometer in her hand. “You feel it? The air is heavy.”

“Stuffy, you mean. I’m going to check out the dining room. Bet the same busy wallpaper is in there, too.” Charmaine started to walk toward the archway.

Jessi blocked her path. “I don’t think we should split up.”

“Girl, not even the dust is stirring in here. My ankles are starting to hurt. Go upstairs while I finish going through the rooms down here.” Charmaine went around Jessi and pressed a wall switch. “Huh, that’s weird. Must be a short in the wires.”

Both looked up at the chandelier with faux candle sticks. The bulbs glowed dim and then pulsated. A shadow spread across the ceiling like a stain. Loud clacks like they were inside a giant popcorn machine reverberated through the room.

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