“Phew. You don’t want a mad Mia around. She’s unpredictable,” Ted said, googling florists in the area.
“I say we try it again but move faster through the big room. It’s the heart of the house. Let’s get some film on the downstairs at least,” Mia said.
“Ted, ask Mark if he wants to go again?” Burt asked.
“Grandpa?” Mark asked.
“Go ahead, one more time, then we’ve got to get back for supper. Your gran is making my favorite, and I’m not missing it.”
“Thanks,” Mark said.
Ted helped him put on his earcom and smiled at his exuberance. Would Brian be this way when he’s twelve? He hoped so. “Heads up, people. Jake has just informed me that we have a thunderstorm headed our way. I’m looking at the Doppler. We better pack up in two hours or less, or suffer the consequences.”
“I didn’t even see it,” Sam said. “You have three screens to watch. How did you pick up on the storm?”
“I have help. We call him Jake. He was monitoring the conditions.”
“This is amazing,” Sam said again. “Could Jake tell me how the Cubs did?”
A cartoon dog walked out onto screen two. Ted pointed him out, and the dog pissed on the corner of the screen. “That’s his way of saying, they lost. He’s not always direct.”
“Still, think it’s amazing.”
Mia and Mike picked up a few longer pieces of tin and slid them over the two-yard expanse that Mia refused to walk on. She salted the edges before she would let Mark walk on it. They reentered the house and moved through the large room into the front parlor. Mia admired the woodwork as she passed under it. “It looks like it’s in good shape. No scratches. The wood’s a little dry but apply some lemon oil, and I bet it would shine again.”
The front porch had fallen but had yet to detach from the house. It blocked the windows, creating an eerie atmosphere inside. Burt turned on the camera light, and Mike pulled out a small flashlight and handed it to Mark.
“The temperature is cooler in here,” Mia reported. “It could be the shaded windows, but I’m experiencing a chill. Heads up, we have company.”
Mike put a calming hand on Mark’s shoulder as a long cylindrical shadow moved out from the dark corner. It passed by the camera. Burt got the distinct idea that it was male. Mia saw the well-dressed male move towards her. He stopped and bowed his head slightly.
“Can we help you? Are you trapped here?” Mia asked.
He shook his head and tapped his chest and pointed to her.
“At the moment I’m fine. Are you William Wayne?”
The ghost looked surprised.
“I’m sorry about what happened to your family. The young man over there asked us here to see if we could help you and/or this house.”
The man put his hand fondly on the wall of the house and nodded.
“Mark loves this house too,” Mia explained. “How did this happen?”
“Greed,” the ghost managed before he disappeared.
The room became warm again. Mia announced, “William Wayne has left the room.”
“That was so cool!” Mark said excitedly.
“It’s rare that we can hear them when they speak. Normally, we pick them up in recordings. It takes a lot of energy to break through the veil,” Mike told him.
“Mia and Cid sometimes can hear them,” Burt said, taking the big camera off his shoulder. “It’s getting hot in here. I think we should call it a day and return after we investigate the manuscript and have a swim.”
“Sounds like a great idea,” Mike said. “Mark’s makeup is running.”
“Hey, I’m not wearing makeup,” Mark protested.
“Come on, Mark, Mr. Dupree is just jealous your skin is so flawless,” Mia said.
“His balls haven’t dropped yet,” Mike pointed out.
“Guys, you’re on mic,” Ted warned.
Mike, Mark and Mia started laughing. Burt shook a finger at them.
“You said balls on the air,” Mark teased.
“I did, didn’t I? Well, time to grease the sound editor’s palm and get out of trouble,” Mike said, leading the way out.
“After you,” Burt said to Mia. “I don’t know how this is going to end up, but so good so far.”
Mia walked over the tin bridge and put a foot on one edge until Burt made it safely across. Then she pulled the tin off the porch. “Just so no one else gets any ideas.”
“Smart thinking. We don’t need to come back to find the place full of bums and hobos.”
“Hobos, really? Have you been talking to Murphy? Hobos indeed.”
Burt laughed. He liked it when Mia pretended to be outraged.
The group packed up. They had about forty minutes left until the storm clouds rolled in. Burt walked directly into the lake, fully clothed. Mike tossed Mia in after Cid cornered her. She went in shouting, “Judas kitchen wench!”
Ted found Glenda and Brian playing poker. Glenda was playing both hands and informed Ted that Brian owed her three bucks fifty. Ted paid her and lectured Brian on the evils of gambling.
Audrey sat on the edge of the dock with an eye on the approaching storm. Ted sat down beside her. “Hello, pretty lady, my son and I were wondering if we could buy you a drink?”
Audrey giggled.
“She’s playing hard to get,” Ted said to Brian.
“Pblsst.”
“Whoa, you don’t swear at a lady. That’s the last time I let you play cards with Glenda.”
Audrey leaned over and planted a kiss on Brian’s head.
“Where’s mine?”
“Not on my life. You’re married to a flying tiger.”
“Oh yeah, where is the wife?” Ted looked around.
“Fifty feet out. Mike tossed her in, and then Burt dunked her. She, well, you know how it goes. I think she’s having a good time. You?”
“Loving it. I wish I hadn’t fucked up. I hate what I did.”
“Stuff happens. A lot of it wasn’t your doing, and whatever was, has been forgiven. You have to let go of the bad. It just drags you down, Ted.”
“That sounds like experience.”
“I’ve made some bad choices, but I can’t punish myself over and over
