The Time Witch - Part 4

Links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Time Witch Page

Recap:  Evangeline has a big problem—finding a skeleton in the old Carnegie library will keep her out of business for four months. Even worse, she hears a ghostly voice telling her what to do!

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Short on time? Scan the story and read the bold parts to get the gist of the story. Then come back later to read the whole thing!

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“Are you losing it?”

Danna grabbed Evangeline by the arms, steadying her. “You sound like you’re talking to someone, but it’s not me.”

“I can’t explain it,” Evangeline muttered.

“Just tell me what’s going on.” Danna released her grip, looking a little uneasy. I mean, tell me what you can. If you haven’t noticed, Baxter Creek has a few quirks. You probably can’t say anything that would shock me, but I’m pretty open to the strange and unusual.”

Evangeline took another sip of steaming coffee, glad she hadn’t spilled any. It was a nice distraction, but she needed to confide in someone. “Well, I kinda had a weird moment before I found the skeleton.”

“How weird? What kind of moment?” Danna’s eyes lit up with interest, and her enthusiasm was infectious.

Knowing she couldn’t put into words what she’d experienced—because it could expose things best hidden—Evangeline sighed and shrugged one shoulder. But she kept her mouth shut.

“Not gonna tell me, huh?” Danna asked. Her eyebrows rose as if she already knew what Evangeline would say.

“What do you know?” Evangeline steeled herself for the answer.

Leaning in so no one overheard, Danna said, “It’s not really what the Town Council wants us to be known for, but Baxter Creek has its share of sightings.”

“Headless Horsemen?”

Danna laughed. “Hell, no. Where did you hear that?”

“Then you mean… the G-word?” Evangeline didn’t want to hear the answer, as if saying it would conjure one.

“Ghost,” Danna said. “It’s not a bad word. Geez, Eve, sometimes I worry about you.”

No one ever called her Eve, but with a long-ass name that could be broken down into so many nicknames, Evangeline understood. Plus, she liked how it made her feel like Danna had just become her best friend.

“Is that why everyone is so superstitious?” she asked.

Danna didn’t deny it, more focused on what Evangeline had witnessed. “Gotta say, you’re a little pale, like a First-Timer who could spin a tale over a campfire and s’mores.”

With a quick intake of air, Evangeline nodded. 

“Knew it!” Danna pumped the air with a fist, proud of herself.

Since the action made a nearby police officer turn their way, Evangeline put a hand over Danna’s and pulled her close. “So, you’ve seen a ghost?”

“I wish!” Danna shook her head. “Not everyone sees ’em, but I’m not surprised you did. They like white girls. Naw, just kidding, kinda. I mean, I just always knew there was something about you.”

Evangeline’s eyes opened wide. “What about me?”

“You were drawn here, right? Like the library called you or something,” Danna said, dismissing the subject as if they’d been talking about the night sky being full of stars. “Of course, it’s not what you want right now. If only you’d just seen a ghost but skipped the skeleton. It’s a setback.”

Nodding, Evangeline had to admit the skeleton—and the ghost, because she needed to label what she’d seen and heard—had ruined everything. “If only we could ask it to go away.”

“If only,” Danna agreed, misunderstanding. “It’s mostly a volunteer police force, but they take it seriously. They won’t let this go.”

A wrinkle of an idea came to Evangeline. “What if we could?”

“You lost me, girl.”

“What if I just asked the skeleton to go away?” Evangeline wondered.

“That would be a neat trick,” Danna said.

A crazy idea took shape in Evangeline’s muddled mind, but strange times required stranger tactics. Her mind ran through one, kicking it over, trying to poke holes in it but reaching a positive go-ahead: “I might know how to make it all disappear.”

Danna bit her lip. “Like a magic trick?”

Evangeline didn’t have time to explain. “They asked me to stay out of the library tonight, but I need to get back inside.”

“I’m sure they’ll let you get clothes and toiletries,” Danna reasoned. “You can stay with me.”

Evangeline thanked her but had other evening plans involving her mysterious closet. “I have to check something out. Can you cover for me, you know, if I go back into the library but it takes too long to come out?”

Danna’s eyes widened. “What are you gonna do?”

With a shrug, Evangeline stalled. “Nothing bad.”

“I didn’t mean that,” Danna said. “I don’t want to miss the fun, but you go ahead. I can keep these boys busy. After all, I’m a Spencer. We Spencer ladies have a reputation.” She waved to a group of young police officers, letting her hips sway slightly as she headed toward their circle. Apparently, she knew them all.

Evangeline hurried up the front steps of the old Carnegie Library. “Getting an overnight bag,” she sang as an excuse to Chief Cole.

He nodded, thinking nothing of it, but his attention focused on a cluster of hummingbirds hovering nearby. “It must be mating season,” Chief Cole said to his men. The birds’ rust-colored neck feathers stood out from the rest of their bodies, quite magnificent. “It’s just weird that they’re out at night.”

One of the chief’s men scoffed. “Looks like they’re watching us,” he said, perhaps voicing a Baxter Creek superstition.

“I hope they approve and vote for me in the next election.” Chief Cole’s joke did little to improve his mood. His arms crossed, and he scowled at the birds.

“Thank you,” Evangeline mumbled, meaning it more for the hummingbirds’ distraction than the chief allowing her access.

As soon as she was inside, she went straight to the closet. She could hear the police in the basement below and wondered why their investigation wasn’t focused on the library’s main level. Of course, their oversight allowed her to slip under the police tape strung across the closet doorway, step inside, and shut the door.

The closet’s interior appeared undisturbed. The Edison light bulb provided a soft glow, with a smell of dust and the ticking of the hidden clock. Three drawers had been left open. Clearly, the police had removed the skeleton and searched the space but missed the secret door. It was closed and hard to spot.

Evangeline squinted, finding it impossible to see the small door’s outline. More of an access panel than a door! She suddenly doubted it really existed. Or maybe the police shut it?

In all the excitement, she wasn’t even sure if she’d told Chief Cole about the little doorway. She expected the officers to find it, sure it had been left wide open. What happened to my door to the past? It should be easy to see!

But it wasn’t. 

“Where did it go?” Evangeline asked, pausing, waiting for an answer. Talking to myself is getting out of hand, but what if someone is listening?

Who was she kidding?

Talking to myself probably started this whole daydream—or nightmare. She stared at the wood paneling. 

“If you’re there,” Evangeline said to the wall, “please open! Please! Prove I’m not crazy!”

A creak made her jump as a hinge in need of oil squeaked. The noise, however, came from behind Evangeline and not from the wood paneling. She spun around as the closet door opened. Before her eyes could even register the blurry object in the doorframe, she screamed!

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