Ghosts of Averoigne

Yes!

Kara threw her head back in exultation. She brushed the dirt from it quickly, then whirled around.

Logan and Jeremy were standing behind her, along with a half dozen other stunned guests. All of them were staring at her.

“Ummm…”

Quickly Logan bent to replace the stone as Jeremy pulled her away. They retreated together, the three of them, backing into a small corner of the main lobby. There, on a couple of old chairs, they spent the next few minutes passing the bell between them.

“That was unreal,” Logan swore. “How the hell did you—”

“I don’t know!” Kara shook her head excitedly. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this exhilarated. “It was the first time that’s ever happened! I’ve never focused on a photograph in order to find something. It’s always been—”

“And you saw it?” Jeremy asked. “You actually saw someone hiding the bell there?”

Kara nodded, still thrilled. “Clear as day. But not this day,” she added. “Some day a hundred years ago.”

Logan picked up the bell and held it out like he was going to ring it. Jeremy shook his head at him and he put it down.

“Alright, so we’ve got everything we need,” said Logan. “Except information. And I’m assuming you guys accomplished something during your little sleepover, right?”

Kara and Jeremy exchanged glances. It was impossible not to.

“Well?” Logan laughed. “Nothing?”

Jeremy stood up and pulled a low table over, making their little corner into a semi-circle. Across it he spread out a series of files they’d retrieved from the library.

“So there’s this guy,” he starts off. “Victor Walcott. He owned the small farm that used to be right here, exactly where the Averoigne was built.”

“The hotel was actually built on his house,” added Kara. “Right over it.”

Jeremy nodded. “Only from what I gather, he didn’t want to go. In fact, the city re-zoned his property in order to squeeze him out.”

Kara pulled out the photos from yesterday. She handed them to Logan, who flipped through them with a low whistle.

“The librarian would probably shit if she knew you took these,” he laughed.

“Oh yeah.”

Jeremy shuffled through another series of papers. He began reading from a journal this time. “So apparently this guy Walcott goes a little crazy. He breaks some windows, makes some threats. I think here,” he said pointing, “it says he’s accused of hexing someone.”

Kara and Logan’s ears both perked up. It was the first she was hearing about this.

“He gets driven out of town,” Jeremy continues. “Or at least, that’s what people assumed. Because not long after the hotel is built, he just kinda disappears.”

“Like Northrop,” Logan offers.

“Yes, sort of. Only earlier.”

Kara put one hand under her chin and cracked her neck, first left, then right. It was a habit that usually freaked people out, but neither Jeremy nor Logan even flinched.

“So you’re thinking he’s the hotel’s first victim?” she asked Jeremy.

He mad

e an iffy face. “Maybe, maybe not.”

“Maybe he’s his own victim,” said Logan.