Mark did so, and the door was opened by Mia. She took a step back and made sure Mark could navigate safely in the darkness of the trailer. “The less light, the less heat,” she explained.
Ted assisted Mark with the com and then pointed out the fixed cameras Mia and Cid had set up inside. “We thought that we would film the cellar as we opened it. Burt and Orion are working on clearing the old doors so we can have an easier entrance. Murphy’s already been down there, but you’ll be the first human in a long time.”
“Be careful of where you put your feet,” Mia cautioned. “Walk to the outside of the stair treads,” she suggested.
“You’re not going inside?” he asked.
“Not unless there’s trouble. We would like to air this. Sometimes, what I can see, the camera can’t, and it kind of spoils it for the home viewer. This way, their and your experience is basically the same, but you get to be here in person,” she explained. “If you need me, tap your earcom three times, and I’ll be there, sword raised.”
“Wow!” Mark exclaimed, seeing the scabbard Mia was wearing and the housed sword behind her.
“You have a meeting to go to. If you have any questions, that’s the time to do it.”
“No question is a dumb one,” Ted said.
“Are you going to be there at the meeting?” he asked Mia.
“Yup, all the PEEPs, including Brian, Glenda and Orion, will be there. Burt will lead it. He can be a bit serious, but he’s an alright guy,” Mia said.
“Burt to Ted, over,” Burt’s voice came over the computer loud and clear.
“Ted here.”
“As soon as Mark is set, let’s start the meeting, over.”
“On our way,” Ted said and punched a couple of keys. “Team, report to conference table, over.”
Mia picked up Brian. Mark helped her out of the truck, grabbing Brian from her until she climbed down.
Cid watched as Mark handed Brian back to Mia and took her hand. They walked by Cid. Mia winked at him, pretty pleased with herself.
“Cid to Ted, over.”
“Ted.”
“Private line, dude.”
“You’re on private, go ahead.”
“I think the kid’s after your woman, over.”
“If it’s not Angelo, it’s twelve-year-olds,” Ted commented.
“Well, since you’re emotionally thirteen, I think you may have the advantage,” Cid teased.
“No comment. I’ll see you out there, over and out,” Ted said, transferring the com to his iPad.
Mia saved Ted a seat. Normally, she would have Mike at her left, but Mark sat there. Mike looked on with amusement as Mark still had ahold of Mia’s hand. Glenda scooped up Brian and was bouncing him on her experienced hip. Ted sat down on Mia’s right and patted her knee.
Burt looked around and asked Mia, “Murphy?”
“He’s on your left,” she said.
“Okay, now that everyone is present,” Burt began. “We have a very unusual investigation here. We have, by all accounts, four very peaceful ghosts inhabiting the old house, two very active boys and their parents. We are the trespassers here. I suggest that the first team in, stop and knock on the doorframe. Perhaps, if we are invited in, we will get more of a cooperative reception. Think of it this way, how would you feel if four people, a camera, and an axeman came bursting through your front door?”
There were a few murmurs around the table. Burt waited until the team had taken it all in before continuing, “The goal of this investigation is to find a way to save this house. If there is no way to save it, we must seek out a way of preserving whatever we can, be it a forgotten manuscript, a pile of gold or that beautiful wood trim. This house has protected and loved all who have and still are residing there. Let’s give it the dignity it has earned.”
Mia was stunned.
“Audrey, Mia found this.” Burt held up the oilskin-wrapped bundle. “I’m thinking that you and Mark may want to look this over while Mike, Glenda and I finish checking out the first floor. Also, Mark, your hunch about the tins in the cellar was correct. Murphy spotted them, but due to the rusted nature of the exterior of the tins, he could not recover them himself. Cid, I need you and Sam to look over the structure before I can okay any of you going down there. Safety first, team.”
Orion stood staring at the ley line. Murphy walked over and asked him, “Whatcha doing?”
“Trying to figure out was this is.”
“Mia says it’s a blown ley line.”
“But where was it coming from, and where was it going to?” Orion asked. “Most importantly, what power it would have taken… No, wait. Something is taking its power.”
“The house?” Murphy asked.
“Could be? It’s a mystery. You know, ley lines have their own wing in the Dark Library.”
“Why?”
“They were and are used by more than bilocators and ghosts. They were exploited by magicians, and demons travel them.”
“I’ve never seen a demon on one.”
“The line you and Mia travel is aboveground. I assure you, the lines extend hundreds of feet below the surface too.”
Murphy pushed back his hat. “Maybe the line isn’t blown, just the top part.”
“Ah, now I know why Mia values you so much. You speak and think plainly.”
Murphy glared at the birdman.
“Sorry, I know that sounded like an insult. It isn’t. Sometimes I get so caught up in the conspiracy, the what ifs of things, that I don’t see what is in front of me. Too many of us are like this. You, sir, see the world for what it is. Very valuable.”
“Hello, what has you two so enthralled?” Mia asked, walking up.
“Murphy has discovered a demon spur line,” Orion said.
“Spur line as in ley line?” Mia asked.
“Yes. This may have been the route the elemental took to get here,” Orion said.
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Mia started. “In order for the lines to last, they have to been used over and over again. The visitation by the elemental was recent.”
“So something else has
