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Authors: Kathy Herman
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heard of a white man being lynched.”
“The authorities aren’t calling it a lynching, but someone phoned the radio station and claimed that a note was left on a deputy’s windshield that proves it was racially motivated. The sheriff didn’t deny it, but he can’t comment during an open investigation.”
“He’s going to have to tell us something! It’s not like murders happen here every day. I’m sure people are scared.”
“He really can’t, Zoe. I’ve been through this with my mother. She’s a police chief, remember? She never talks about cases when an investigation’s in progress.” Vanessa glanced up at the open door to her apartment and then dropped her voice to just above a whisper. “I have a bad feeling about this. What if the black man Carter saw in the closet was involved? What if he was hiding at our place, planning the whole thing? The timing fits.”
“Whoa, girl. Slow down. You don’t even know for certain that there was an intruder. You said the sheriff’s deputies didn’t find anything to suggest it.”
Vanessa blew the bangs off her forehead. “I know. It’s perplexing. But the man Carter described is obviously African-American. And now a white man is lynched right next door to Langley Manor. How can that be just a coincidence?”
“Sweetie, your imagination’s on tilt. You need to take a deep breath and think about this.”
“I haven’t stopped thinking about it. Something happened I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet. I drove out to the manor house yesterday when Carter was in preschool. I didn’t go in. I just sat in the car with the windows rolled down. I heard a twig crack somewhere close by. I called out and no one answered. But I felt someone watching me. It made my skin crawl, so I left.”
“But you didn’t see anyone?”
“No. That’s what made it so creepy. I knew someone was there, but whoever it was didn’t answer me.”
“It could’ve been an animal. The woods are full of them.”
Vanessa grabbed a lock of her dark, shiny hair and began twirling it. “Maybe I’m overreacting. But it’s frightening that someone was murdered so close to Langley Manor. It makes Carter’s story about the man in the closet all the more unsettling.”
“I’m sure it does. But don’t jump to conclusions. There’s probably a logical explanation.”
“I’m not so sure. There’s something else you don’t know. We found a lemon drop on the floor at the manor house.”
“You’re kidding. When?”
“When you and Pierce were out there and Carter took you on a tour.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
Vanessa tucked her hair behind her ear. “We were a little freaked out and didn’t want to say anything about it in front of Carter. But we’re also trying to keep any more ghost stories from circulating.”
“Pierce and I wouldn’t have told anyone. I can’t believe you didn’t trust us.”
Vanessa sighed. “I’m sorry. We should have. We were trying not to add to the gossip about paranormal activity at Langley Manor. Even one of the deputies who did the trespassing report questioned whether Ethan and I might have planted the lemon drop because a good ghost story could be great for B-and-B business.”
“After what you just told me, you have to pursue this. At least tell the sheriff your concern that there could be a connection between the black man Carter saw and the hanging.”
Vanessa arched her eyebrows, her clear blue eyes the color of her tank top. “I’m sure he’s already thought of it. My mom’s mind works like that. But I think I will call and express my concerns. I need to get back upstairs before number-one son gets into mischief. Thanks for listening. I needed to talk to someone and didn’t want to bother Ethan at work.”
“I’ll be upstairs after five,” Zoe said. “Knock on our door and let me know how it went.”
CHAPTER 7
Zoe walked into the dining room at the eatery and saw Savannah replacing candles in preparation
“The authorities aren’t calling it a lynching, but someone phoned the radio station and claimed that a note was left on a deputy’s windshield that proves it was racially motivated. The sheriff didn’t deny it, but he can’t comment during an open investigation.”
“He’s going to have to tell us something! It’s not like murders happen here every day. I’m sure people are scared.”
“He really can’t, Zoe. I’ve been through this with my mother. She’s a police chief, remember? She never talks about cases when an investigation’s in progress.” Vanessa glanced up at the open door to her apartment and then dropped her voice to just above a whisper. “I have a bad feeling about this. What if the black man Carter saw in the closet was involved? What if he was hiding at our place, planning the whole thing? The timing fits.”
“Whoa, girl. Slow down. You don’t even know for certain that there was an intruder. You said the sheriff’s deputies didn’t find anything to suggest it.”
Vanessa blew the bangs off her forehead. “I know. It’s perplexing. But the man Carter described is obviously African-American. And now a white man is lynched right next door to Langley Manor. How can that be just a coincidence?”
“Sweetie, your imagination’s on tilt. You need to take a deep breath and think about this.”
“I haven’t stopped thinking about it. Something happened I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet. I drove out to the manor house yesterday when Carter was in preschool. I didn’t go in. I just sat in the car with the windows rolled down. I heard a twig crack somewhere close by. I called out and no one answered. But I felt someone watching me. It made my skin crawl, so I left.”
“But you didn’t see anyone?”
“No. That’s what made it so creepy. I knew someone was there, but whoever it was didn’t answer me.”
“It could’ve been an animal. The woods are full of them.”
Vanessa grabbed a lock of her dark, shiny hair and began twirling it. “Maybe I’m overreacting. But it’s frightening that someone was murdered so close to Langley Manor. It makes Carter’s story about the man in the closet all the more unsettling.”
“I’m sure it does. But don’t jump to conclusions. There’s probably a logical explanation.”
“I’m not so sure. There’s something else you don’t know. We found a lemon drop on the floor at the manor house.”
“You’re kidding. When?”
“When you and Pierce were out there and Carter took you on a tour.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
Vanessa tucked her hair behind her ear. “We were a little freaked out and didn’t want to say anything about it in front of Carter. But we’re also trying to keep any more ghost stories from circulating.”
“Pierce and I wouldn’t have told anyone. I can’t believe you didn’t trust us.”
Vanessa sighed. “I’m sorry. We should have. We were trying not to add to the gossip about paranormal activity at Langley Manor. Even one of the deputies who did the trespassing report questioned whether Ethan and I might have planted the lemon drop because a good ghost story could be great for B-and-B business.”
“After what you just told me, you have to pursue this. At least tell the sheriff your concern that there could be a connection between the black man Carter saw and the hanging.”
Vanessa arched her eyebrows, her clear blue eyes the color of her tank top. “I’m sure he’s already thought of it. My mom’s mind works like that. But I think I will call and express my concerns. I need to get back upstairs before number-one son gets into mischief. Thanks for listening. I needed to talk to someone and didn’t want to bother Ethan at work.”
“I’ll be upstairs after five,” Zoe said. “Knock on our door and let me know how it went.”
CHAPTER 7
Zoe walked into the dining room at the eatery and saw Savannah replacing candles in preparation
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