The Hardy Bros: Secrets of the Lighthouse by Ann ♪ ~ Chapter 6

Secrets of the Lighthouse

Chapter 6

   “So you don’t believe there actually was a murder?” Joe asked, before taking a huge forkful of fluffy cake smothered with thick chocolate icing.

   Margaret sat down once she had served everyone and took a sip of coffee before answering, “Oh, I suppose it’s quite likely, it’s just I’ve talked with the girl whose ancestor’s were related to the victim and she has questions. Since she has doubts to the veracity of the story, she’s not very popular with the town’s promoters who don’t even want a hint of an idea that there wasn’t actually a murder that took place. Can you imagine, there are people who would be very upset if there hadn’t been a murder?” She shook her head as she, too, took a bite of cake. Ah, she’d outdone herself this time. “Having said all that, though, those screams seem to be all the proof that is necessary.”

   “Has anyone tried to check it out? Investigate it?” Frank asked. He was really curious what the local police thought about it all.

   “Oh yes, but nothing’s ever come of it.” She smiled, “I’ve heard from Gertrude that you two are quite famous for solving some very baffling cases. How about a go at this one?”

   Frank and Joe were pleased with the compliment and a bit embarrassed by the praise, but as for checking the mystery out, they were all for that.

   “We sure would love to look at the lighthouse,” Frank said with a glance at his brother. “What are the hours that it is open today?”

   “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. I have a key, so you aren’t limited by the visiting hours. You see, since I live right next door, and my cousin is part of the town committee in charge of the lighthouse, if things need to be checked I would be able to do so.”

   Sharon’s eyes were big as she regarded Frank and Joe, “Wouldn’t you be scared to go in there?”

   Frank smiled at her gently, “We love finding answers to things, and since we would have to go in there to do so, we are very willing to do that.”

   The little girl’s admiration for the two handsome brothers continued to grow. Michael was pretty impressed with their bravery.

   “Can I go, too, Mom?” he asked, looking at Margaret hopefully.

   “We can all go over there to start with, but if Frank and Joe want to stay until midnight that’s up to them and no, you won’t be a part of that investigation,” she told him firmly. Addressing the two Hardys again, she wore a very serious look on her beautiful face, “I haven’t fully explained why I feel so strongly about such things. As disconcerting as it is to hear screams on a fairly regular basis, my little Sharon has a heart problem, and there are times when she has finally gotten to sleep and getting the rest she needs so much, when the sounds startle her awake, disturbing her sleep. That is my main problem.”

   Frank and Joe nodded, easily understanding her feelings. Joe looked over at Sharon and gave her a wink, which tickled her very much. Joe was even more determined to find out what was going on at the lighthouse since such a precious little one was being caused problems. That wasn’t something he found acceptable. His brother felt the same way, and Frank turned toward her to give her another smile. Sharon was thrilled at the attention from them.

   “We’ll see what we can find out. There must be some explanation,” Frank said.

   Michael’s somber little face regarded the brothers, “Yeah, there is – it’s haunted by the murdered lady! How are you going to get her to stop? Can you ask her to please not to scream since it is bothering my sister?”

   “Somebody is probably playing a trick, Michael,” Frank explained carefully. “Hopefully we’ll find out who it is.” He truly hoped they would be successful; he felt the pressure of letting this nice family down.

   “Sharon, why don’t you and Michael go grab your jackets and we’ll go over there in a short bit,” Margaret suggested as she got up to clear the table. The two children nodded and left the table in search of their windbreakers. Once they left the room, she had a little bit more information to share with the Hardys.

   “The children are very brave, and they enjoy going to the lighthouse in the daytime. One thing that also goes on over there that I’ve tried to protect them from is that a bloody knife shows up sometimes, that people have seen, but then it disappears.” Margaret carried some of the plates into the kitchen, followed by Frank and Joe who had insisted on helping her. They set down the dishes they carried and shared a look. Their first instinct was that someone was having a good time playing a prank, but the prolonged time that it had been going on made them wonder at that theory. Plus someone must have investigated it.

   “The police have never come up with anything?” Joe asked.

   Margaret gave a laugh, “Not exactly, the police chief of the town is one of the witnesses for the bloody knife.”

   “What about the screams, are they always the same? Any variations?” Frank questioned, hoping to gather as much unique information as possible. Who knew what all could be used as clues toward the answer to this enigma.

   “Interesting question. Sometimes they are longer, a lot of times they sound more like a witch than someone being murdered. The screams are several times a night during the last week of October.” Margaret sighed, “One thing is always the same, and that is that each one is bloodcurdling. It wears on me at times.” With that she led them into the living room, where they were soon joined by an excited Sharon and Michael.

   “Doesn’t it bother any of your neighbors?” Joe asked as the five of them walked out and down the steps of the Jordan’s home. Trees were abundant on the far side of the lighthouse, but there were other houses in the area.

   Margaret tilted her head, “Maybe one or two, but since we are the closest, it’s not quite as loud for everyone else. A couple of the nearby houses are vacant during the fall and winter months. The worst time for the screaming is during the month of October.”

   The five crossed the paved parking lot and arrived at the huge wooden door of the lighthouse. The small cottage attached to the structure was in pristine condition, with the white siding looking freshly painted.

   “We’ll go in to the keeper’s house through the lighthouse after we show you the tower,” Margaret said as she put the key in the lock, going on to explain the absence of tourists that day and the reason for it not being open right then.

   “Steven Connors, the one who acts as guard and ticket taker, is off today, so it’s closed right now.” Margaret opened the door which gave a very satisfying squeak as it swung in. “Welcome to our haunted lighthouse.”

   Frank and Joe followed Margaret, Michael, and Sharon into the interior of the lighthouse. A dim light came on when Margaret flipped a switch. If the effect was supposed to be a non-illuminating one while contributing shadows to the interior, it was successful. Michael and Sharon held on to their mother’s hands as they walked the few steps to the winding circular staircase that ascended up into the structure.

   “It’s a pretty straightforward lighthouse. It was built in 1832 and the iron stairs are original. With modern technology, lighthouses aren’t relied on as much in some areas, but many are still in use, with new ones even being built.” Margaret said as they began to climb the steps. Frank’s and Joe’s eyes naturally swept over the area, taking in everything. The iron steps were solid. The smooth stone of the interior circular walls was cold to the touch as Joe found out, reaching out a hand to run along one of them as he went by.

   “Yeah, as much as I’m for technological advances, which fascinates me, there are plenty of old-fashioned things such as lighthouses, that shouldn’t be forgotten about. It’s fine to have technology as long as there’s not already something better, or at least we can fall back on certain things, such as human involvement that doesn’t have to rely solely on computer controlled devices that could fail,” Joe observed. “True technology adds to life without endangering it.”

   Frank turned and grinned at his brother after that mouthful. Joe stuck his tongue out at his big brother, evoking a chuckle from him. Frank agreed with his brother’s observation, but couldn’t resist teasing him. After all, Frank figured he owed Joe, who liked to stay a few up on him.

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