“My mother and grandmother think I’m bisexual and living in sin with Ted and Mia.”
Dieter’s mouth dropped open. He pushed it up with his hand. “Are you?”
“No, I just like being around both of them.”
“Dieter, he may be the first outsider to like them both equally. He sees them as a couple.”
“So do I.”
“No, you’ve always feared Mia leaving Ted because of Murphy.”
“I no longer see that. She rebounded way too fast for having a broken heart. The woman who came back’s soul and heart were intact.”
Chapter Thirty-three
“Hello, this is Mike Dupree and…
“Mia Martin,” Mia said, smiling into the camera.
“We’re here on the beautiful island of Mackinac to…
“Eat fudge!”
“No, to investigate the myriad ghostly encounters that have been reported.”
“So, no fudge?” Mia asked, pouting.
“Alright, maybe a little fudge,” Mike said. “Welcome to PEEPs take on Mackinac!”
“And cut,” Burt said.
Mia rolled her neck and squatted down and stretched her legs. She was getting ready to climb down the rocks and into a cave Patrick had requested she and Mike check out. Burt had declined, not feeling up to the climb down off the cliffside, so it was decided that the two investigators were going to use smaller cameras attached to their clothing. Ted would manage the audio, and the two mini-camera feeds would be edited into one film after the investigation. He and Mason hired a covered, horse-drawn carriage to house the portable equipment. Mike’s previous farm experience came in handy, and he took the reins and got them to the cave in one piece.
“The cave below us was found by some adventurous hikers a dozen years back. They went inside and … Well, let’s show you,” Mike said.
Mia jumped off the cliff and swung into the cave.
“Beautiful, Mighty Mouse,” Ted said in her ear.
Mia turned around and filmed Mike’s more conventional entrance. She had to admit he was quite captivating to watch descend into the cave.
“There used to be a path that you could use to get to this cave, but there was a landslide and part of the cliff fell off,” Mike started.
“And uncovered this,” Mia said, running her hand on the rockface where someone had carved a turtle. “This is Maehkaenah or, in our tongue, Big Turtle. Inside, there are more interesting finds. Come on in and join us.”
“And cut, Mia. Whoa, you’re on fire today,” Ted said.
Mia helped Mike inside. The two moved into position and started talking.
“The turtle is a big player in many of the Native American tribes’ lore. There is a story about how the Great Spirit created a homeland for the tribes by heaping earth on the back of a giant turtle. North America is referred to as a giant turtle,” Mike told Mia.
“That’s not all. Mackinac Island was called Turtle Island because of its shape. I love turtles.”
“Come on. I see you more as a sprinting hare type of person.”
“Quite recently, a turtle saved my bacon.”
“You normally hoard your bacon.”
“Not bacon bacon, silly, my life.”
“I know we’re going off topic, but, Mia, how did a turtle save your bacon?” Mike asked.
“It was just before Hurricane Kelly hit the Caribbean. I had found myself in the water swimming hard to try to get to a Coast Guard cutter. It didn’t know I was in peril, or I’m sure it would have come back for me. I got winded and was starting to sink. Rising beneath me was a sea turtle. Don’t know if I was just in the right place at the right time or the creature saw I was in distress.”
“So, you’re telling me and our audience a sea turtle saved your life?”
“Yes,” Mia insisted. “So those out there on the coast, give a turtle a break. The turtle’s eggs you let hatch may save your bacon one day.”
“Moving on…” Mike said. “This is one of many caves on the island. Most of the caves were squat, shallow limestone, but this one appears to be deep…”
Ted listened to Mike discuss the cave’s geology. He watched their camera feeds for signs of shadows.
Mia set up some light discs to display their reason for being in the cave.
Mike walked over. “Those hikers, seeking just some protection from the rain, stumbled upon this,” he said, pointing to the paintings on the wall. “They were carrying flashlights, and when they pulled their lights away…”
Mia covered the discs.
Ted was able to pick up the illusion that sent the hikers out into the rain screaming. It looked like the painted creatures had crawled out of the wall.
“If you didn’t see it the first time, we’ll repeat it in slo-mo. But how about we show you what actually happened. The phosphorus paint, that the long-ago artist used, absorbed the light and glowed. Here and here. Quite an illusion.”
“I wonder if there’s more to it than simply cave decoration,” Mia asked. She walked further into the cave and poked around at the walls. “I think it was a security system of some kind. A warning for those venturing in to leave. But why?”
“Mike, you’re losing her. Catch up,” Ted instructed.
“Mia, wait up!”
Mike’s cam showed that Mia was standing against the wall. She was pointing across the cave to something. Mike turned, and a black shape seemed to ooze out of the shadows and move across and stop near Mia’s feet.
“Mia, talk to me,” Ted said.
“It’s a Darker than Dark,” she hissed.
Mike directed his flashlight on it. “I disturbed it with my light. Good, it’s starting to move deeper into the cave.”
Mia turned to the camera Mike
