“A little help here,” Pete said.
Cid misted the outside of the tube with holy water. Wayne pulled the pipe back to Carl who secured the wires inside at the box while Gary secured the straps, keeping the conduit in line above them. The whole mishap took minutes, but it was a reminder of the boldness of the ghosts.
The mega light started to fade. Carl picked up all his tools and said, “Gents, that’s all for today.”
“I’m going to need the light down here tomorrow,” Wayne said. “But…” He stopped and pulled the battery out. “I’ll charge this in the workshop.”
Cid waited for the others to climb the steps first. He started up and stopped halfway up the steps and turned. “Is there a representative of the men down here? Someone who speaks English. I do understand Español, Français, Deutsch, and some Italiano.” He held out his recorder and waited. He repeated the best he could the request in each language. Cid waited a while and then climbed the stairs and closed the door.
Jesse was waiting for him.
“Thanks.”
“Leave no man behind,” Jesse said. “It could be the name of our new renovation company. Holden and Garrett Leave No Man Behind.”
“Sounds good, but it should be Garrett and Holden.”
“You think so huh?” Jesse said.
“Alphabetical.”
“Now you’re using the alphabet against me. Why aren’t you a teacher?”
“Too dangerous,” Cid said. “Imagine if it got out that I’m a nerd in front of a class of fifteen-year-olds? I’d be slaughtered.”
“First teacher jammed into a locker,” Jesse said, opening the front door.
“Excuse me, sirs,” a male voice said from behind them. “You didn’t list Irish.”
Cid and Jesse turned around to see a broad-shouldered lean fellow.
“Jon O’Connor?” Cid asked.
“You have me at a disadvantage,” Jon said.
“Cid Garrett, and this is Jesse Holden.”
“Faye spoke kindly of you. Because of this, I will caution you not to speak to the natives. They are mad, nuthouse mad. Some are smarter than others and get great glee from torturing the living. Some want you dead.”
“So there is no way of bargaining with them?” Jesse asked.
“No. We’ve been here too long. The best thing is to open up the gates of Hell. It has to be better than supplying a gombeen with any more power.”
“Is there a demon involved? He would look…”
“Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I know what a demon looks like,” Jon spat. “The demon’s not your worry, the gombeen is. He doesn’t grow old.”
“We think we know how you’re trapped. We just need to figure out how to release the sane and contain the insane.”
“There’s that,” Jon said. “I believe you’ll find something of mine in the north box you were messing with in the attic. I’d appreciate it back.” Jon unbuttoned his shirt and showed the gaping hole in his chest. When I have my heart, then I can rest.”
“What’s in the other boxes?”
“More horror. Tread lightly upon the stairs. Do not let the gombeen know you know of his affairs,” Jon said and faded away.
A deep growl and the heavy pounding of hands on the basement door convinced Cid and Jesse it was time to leave.
~
Carl flipped on the light as he strode into the workshop. He found Kiki sitting at one of the workbenches, running a knife along a whetstone. She turned around quickly, and Carl could have sworn the woman’s eyes shown red.
“Have you been crying?” he asked, approaching her slowly.
It took a minute before the look of confusion left Kiki’s face. “No. Why?”
“Your eyes look funny.”
Kiki shrugged. “I’m surprised to see you back already.”
“The ghosts sucked the batteries dry.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
Wayne walked in and put the battery on the charger.
“I stand corrected,” Kiki said. “How far did you guys get?”
“The new drain is connected,” Wayne said. “I’ll be able to start on those bathrooms tomorrow.”
“I have the existing electrical transferred,” Carl announced. “Tomorrow, I’ll have to go room to room to check the outlets. Those GSBs can be a bitch to set up.”
“I told you we don’t have to worry about code.”
“It’s safer,” Carl reminded Kiki.
Kiki was going to argue with Carl, but Pete and Gary arrived. “Where’s the cowboys?” she asked.
“Locking up. We’re going to do work in the shop until quitting time,” Pete said, walking over and dumping his gear on the bench. He looked down at the knife in her hand and asked, “Doing some whittling?”
“No. I just don’t like having a dull blade,” Kiki said.
Cid and Jesse walked in. They ignored Kiki and started pulling out trim pieces, waving Pete over.
“Excuse me, Boss, but work awaits.”
Kiki watched the men until she was sure each was working. She put her knife away and walked outside.
Cid angled his head, raising his hand. He heard Kiki start her truck and drive off.
“She’s gone.”
“Thank God for that. I swear her eyes were glowing red when I walked in,” Carl said.
“Maybe the work light reflected from her retinas,” Cid said.
“I did have to turn it on when I walked in. I was surprised it was off. There she was in the dark sharpening her knife.” A look of horror filled his face. He took off running up the stairs shouting, “Sally! Sally!”
Cid smiled when he heard Sally respond. “What the hell has gotten into you? Put me down. You gave me a fright.”
Cid informed the others, “Sally’s irritated but safe.”
“You and those ears of yours,” Jesse said. “No
