Ghost Hall (The Ghost Files Book 4) Read online

  I woke up to find that Ellen had pulled most of the covers over herself and was as far away from me as possible. Perhaps that was a sign of anxiety. It wasn’t very often that she had the jitters, and maybe this is one of those times, so I didn’t take it personally. I’d slept a deep dreamless sleep and woke up not knowing whether it was the middle of the night or early morning. The heavy curtains had certainly done their job, forcing me to fumble in the darkness for my watch as Ellen stirred.

  “What….what time is it…where are we?” she stammered.

  I was surprised when I looked at my watch. “Ellen, it’s 8:30; what time do they stop serving breakfast?”

  “I think it’s ten…”

  “Did you sleep well?” I asked

  “Oh yes, like a baby.” She stretched her arms out and pulled off the covers. The sight of her half naked body stirred me now that the jet lag was gone and my energy renewed. In the luxurious bed, we made love somewhat in a hurry. Feeling refreshed and showered, we went downstairs to the dining room eager and ready for the day ahead and wondering about the man Marcus was sending to meet us.

  “What time does Chris check in?” I asked Ellen.

  “I think he said sometime in the late afternoon, so we’ve got time to see the sights, have lunch, and enjoy ourselves.”

  That’s exactly what we did, after an excellent breakfast that had everything but chocolate pancakes. We walked around the shops, visited a beautiful cathedral, and, true to my word, I spent the equivalent of twenty dollars on a small box of very special chocolates. Ellen found some souvenirs and a gift box of four Belgium beers brewed by Trappist Monks. “For when we get home so you’ll have memories of being here,” she said.

  Lunch was enjoyable as we both sampled the classic Belgium dish of steamed mussels and French fries washed down with two fine Belgium beers. I couldn’t help thinking that this country was growing on me in spite of the fact they put mayonnaise on their fries, chain smoked, and drove like maniacs. I was happy as I put aside the real reason for our visit. Just for today we’re tourists.

  Time passed quickly and before we knew it, we had to dash back to the hotel and wait for Chris. He was late, maybe from a flight delay, so we spent what was left of the afternoon checking the equipment and bracing ourselves.

  We listlessly watched Belgium cable TV switching from one channel to the other. “At least they have subtitles in English.” I observed. Ellen was disinterested and twitchy; the later it got, the more tense she became. I knew she just wanted to get going but we needed to exercise patience. Without Chris and the key we could do nothing.

  We didn’t even know where the city hall was, as Marcus had insisted that everything was to run through Chris and only when he arrived would we be granted access. The phone finally rang. “Hi, it’s Chris. Meet me in the lobby?”

  We both scrambled for the door and in my eagerness I was still holding the TV remote. “Best leave that here,” Ellen said with a smile. “We don’t want him to think we’re a pair of brainless Americans made stupid by television.”

  On first impression of Chris was of a striking man standing at least six foot three, with silver grey hair, a bone-crunching handshake, and a hearty smile. He introduced us to his wife. “Lucy, meet the ghost hunters, Monty and Ellen.”

  At least twenty years his junior, tall, svelte, extremely blonde, and very Californian, she stood in killer stilettos. Neither of us is short but next to her we were midgets.

  Meet-and-greets over, we go to the hotel coffee shop to discuss the details. Chris appeared tired and worn out, his face drained. That could have been from the incessant transatlantic travelling or something more stressful. Lucy, on the other hand, looked like she just stepped off the red carpet in her designer clothes and flawless make-up. Whatever was fazing Chris was not bothering her in the least as she double-checked her false nails.

  “I don’t know where to begin,” Chris said. “You know about the accidents and stuff gone missing…and the builder who fell. Well, there was no reason for it to happen. It was like he went flying through the air.”

  Ellen listened intently. “How is he…do you have any news?” she asked.

  He seemed hesitant to answer, as if he knew his reply would upset us. “I didn’t want you guys to know until I got here. We got word yesterday that he’d died from his injuries.”

  Ellen took in a deep breath. “That’s very sad news.”

  “A tragedy and it’s another headache for Marcus, too. He’s going loco over this; he’s on my back night and day to find another contractor and get you guys to sort out the mess. Plus the builder’s death is an insurance nightmare.”

  “So when do we get in there?” I asked, more determined than ever to help Ellen since a life had been lost.

  “Whenever you want…I never thought it would come to this, having to bring in paranormal investigators. It’s kind of weird”

  “Let me explain,” Ellen replied. “I figured that you don’t know much about what we do. Sometimes we take on malevolent ghosts and then there are less harmful ghosts who are not really a problem except they’re stuck here and unable to move on. We do what we can to help send them to the light.”

  Chris was as sceptical as they come, we could see it straight off the bat. The words “ghost” and “malevolent” left him cold as if Ellen was speaking in a foreign tongue. He was only there on orders, forced to cooperate because he had to. I got the feeling he’d wiggle out of it at a moment’s notice if he could. Lucy was as quiet as a mouse, apart from the occasional sigh as her big blue eyes constantly drifted around the room surveying her surroundings.

  Was she bored or indifferent? Running her fingers through her artificially straightened hair, she leaned provocatively toward me.

  “Are you guys like the ghost buster guys in the movie? You know, with the special foam and all?”

  “No, Lucy, that’s just Hollywood,” I replied, trying to be polite. “We have special equipment but no foam.”

  “What a dumb comment. This aint no damned movie!” Chris replied angrily.

  We were not impressed with the disrespectful way Chris spoke to his wife but we said nothing. She’s a space cadet but he’s far worse. The guy was a jerk.

  Chapter Three

  While we waited for a cab outside Chris couldn’t wait to fill us in on local culture.

  According to him, Belgians were a friendly bunch. Beer drinking was the number one sport, a lot of cafés ignored the smoking ban late at night, the waffles were the best, and as it was such a small country, the moment the sun came out they all headed for the coast. Our cab arrived and Ellen was very quiet. Building up her psychic energy, she breathed deeply as she climbed in the back seat. I was used to seeing it but Lucy wasn’t.

  She stared at Ellen in bewilderment. “Does she have asthma?”

  “No, she doesn’t.” I replied, counting to ten. “She’s using her relaxation techniques.”

  Chris was curious about the bags. “So…you have infra-red cameras?”

  “We have the best equipment on the market, including a new upgraded EMF meter.” I explained that not only did it pick up manifestations but that ghosts were drawn to the meter if it was at a strong enough frequency to attract them.

  City Hall was less than 10 minutes from the hotel. We reached the entrance down a narrow street. On one side, there was construction in progress; the other had a few shops and a café. But it was the architecture of the building standing dead ahead that floored me. I was captivated with the domed roof and carefully carved windows.

  “It’s so beautiful….stunning,” Ellen said. “How old is this place?”

  “Look above the windows and you see the writing. ‘A.N.N.O 1872’…but this is the third building,” Chris said.

  “The last one after the fire, you mean,” Ellen replied as I snapped photos of this inspiring façade.

  “The final rebuild, and it’s still standing.”

  “I find it very strange that this build
ing caught fire twice without explanation,” Ellen remarked as we reached the door.

  Chris turned the key, and it was the smell that hit me first—the smell of a place that had been unlived in or unused for so long that it became rank. “Smells like somebody died in here,” I joked, but no one laughed.

  “It was last used as a stock exchange then it was abandoned sometime in the 1960s,” Chris said. “No one’s really sure. Wait till you see the rest of it.”

  The temperature outside must have been at least 25 degrees Celsius but inside it was cold, despite so many windows affording good light from the sun. The main reception area had two steps going up to an old booth, presumably where you went for information. Thick layers of dust coated every surface.

  Paint and wallpaper was peeling off, covering strips of yellowing paper. A stack of old cardboard boxes stood next to what was once the reception window that was blackened with dirt.

  Lucy’s stilettos clanked on the stone floor, annoying the hell out of me. Why the girl didn’t think to wear safer shoes in a place like this was beyond me. Trying to ignore it, Ellen and I took in everything we saw. It was eerie but fascinating.

  Trying to get a feel for the place, I knew in my gut that something was bad. Ellen knew it, too, but we preferred to stay quiet and reserve judgement. The double doors opened to a large hall, compelling me to look up. I’m captivated by the superb architecture—the immensely high ceiling and glass doomed roof, the ornate pillars that held up the second floor balcony and everywhere were doors leading to rooms. The place was humongous, and for once in my life I was speechless. Feeling like a tourist, I snapped one photo after another on the digital camera. Ellen frowned.

  “For the memories.” I shrugged. “Whatever’s lurking here doesn’t distract from the beauty of this building.”

  “I guess you’re right…I…I’m going to take a look upstairs.”

  I love my wife, the way she looked and moved and her infectious smile that melted everyone’s heart that came in contact with her. In spite of his trophy wife, I did catch Chris looking at her the way men do. He couldn’t resist because Ellen’s so special and I don’t have a problem with it, she’s with me and like a good wine she ages beautifully.

  “Before we go up, Ellen,” Chris said softly, “I want to show you where the accident happened.”

  “Yes, of course.” I noticed she was biting her lip, not something she normally does.

  “Are you okay, honey?” I asked.

  “No, I’m not okay,” she said. “I’m...I’m getting negative energies.”

  “Try to control them don’t let it take you over.”

  “I want to go upstairs now. Are any of you idiots coming with me?” she snapped back.

  Chris and Lucy were not quite sure how to take this outburst and neither was I. It wasn’t like Ellen to be so short. Something was affecting her behaviour and whatever it was must have been very strong. We’d only been there a short while and she was freaking out already.

  “Best we go up,’ I said to the group. “We’ll see the accident spot later.”

  Chris led us up the wide stone steps through the main reception to the first floor, and to my shock Ellen roughly pushed past him. It was as if something or someone couldn’t wait.

  From the moment we were up there, Ellen was pulling open the doors to every room in a mad rush as if she’d lost something and was desperate to find it. “Why is she acting so crazy?” Lucy asked.

  I wished Lucy wasn’t there. Neither of them had a clue about what we did or was even interested in understanding Ellen’s abilities and sensitivity. Maybe they saw it as a waste of time or a cheap parlour joke.

  Without warning, Ellen leaned far over the balcony, looking down.

  “Ellen, step back from the ledge!” I yelled.

  “He’s angry. He says I should know why…he…he’s red-eyed,” she said panting and trying to catch her breath. “Damn you…get out of here!”

  I moved closer, hoping to get near enough to react if something dangerous should occur. I was really concerned about her perilous position, but I was careful not to startle her. “What is it…tell me what you see,” I said in a calm tone.

  “I see death and hate and…he is very angry we’re here and wants us to go away or…”

  “Or what?”

  “Or he’ll make sure we…we hurt,” she replied without emotion. I managed to grab hold of her while urging Chris to run downstairs for the equipment so we could set up. By the time he was back up, Ellen had slumped onto the dirty floor with her eyes half closed. “What happened?” she asked as I roused her.

  “You were channelling an angry spirit that wanted us to leave or else we’d be harmed.”

  “I don’t remember. He must have got hold of me before I called the Keepers.”

  The Keepers were Ellen’s guides who come in as she’s about to open up and receive messages. Normally, there was enough time for her to summon them, but not on this occasion. It was too late, leaving the door open for an angry spirit to come straight in, altering her behaviour and manipulating her to the edge of the balcony.

  That wasn’t good. Not good at all.

  “Has he gone now? Do you feel anything?” I asked.

  “No…he’s gone, but rest assured he’ll be back.”

  “Do think he’s the only one?”

  “Oh, no, there’s more than you can imagine. The place is full but they’re not all bad, I sense that most of them are stuck here and need to go into the light. But, there are some who are malevolent and have no intention of leaving.”

  Chris was really spooked. He was standing dead still, hugging one of the camera bags close to his chest, wide-eyed with fear. Lucy, however, leaned against the balcony without a care in the world, smoking a cigarette and looking bored out of her skull.

  I asked Chris to help me to set up the equipment for when we came back later in the evening, “Whatever you say,” he said. “Let’s do it now. I need to get out the hell of here.”

  Ellen appeared to be back to normal, explaining our new EMF meter to Chris and describing how accurate it was. He expressed an interest in the EVP meter, and for Ellen it seemed like a sign that he was taking things far more seriously. Still, his eyebrows rose when she told him the EVP meter picked up disembodied voices.

  As we made our way downstairs Lucy, who was right behind Ellen and in front of me, yelled out in anger. “What the hell did you slap my ass for?” She turned around to face me, glaring.

  “Excuse me?” I replied. “I never touched you.”

  We all stood looking suspiciously at one another as Lucy was rubbing her rear. “Must have whacked you good, girl!” Chris said with a wicked grin.

  “Bastard, it’s not funny, not funny at all!” Her eyes were teary.

  Ellen being the angel that she was gently took Lucy’s hand to guide her down the rest of the steps. “It wasn’t Monty,” she said. “It’s a mischievous ghost who hasn’t introduced himself to me yet.”

  “Am I supposed to believe all this shit…like a horny ghost just slapped my ass, not your husband who was right behind me?”

  “Yes, Lucy, you have to believe it. And let’s face it, you’re a beautiful girl. I don’t think there’s a man alive or dead who wouldn’t take notice.”

  “So now it’s my fault that a son of a bitch ghost has slapped me!”

  “No…no, that’s not what I meant,” Ellen said. “I—”

  “That’s enough bitching,” Chris interrupted. “Lucy, get over it, I’m sick of your bull!”

  I was surprised she wasn’t scared out of her wits after what happened. But she sulked on account of Chris’s comment. Ellen was embarrassed and said nothing. So, without involving them in any decision about what to do next, we returned to the hotel to relax, have some dinner, and prepare ourselves to come back later in the evening.

  After what we’d witnessed so far, I figured that whatever it was Ellen encountered was far from friendly and was capable of ext
reme poltergeist activity—perhaps ready to add more victims to its list.

  Chapter Four

  “I need to rid myself of the dirt in that place,” Ellen said after we returned to our hotel room.

  “We’ll talk as soon as you’ve showered and relaxed,” I replied. “I’ll order some fresh juice and you’ll feel better.”

  “Do you know how much I love you?”

  “Not half as much as I love you.”

  “Wanna bet?”

  “You’re so beautiful even when you’re edgy.”

  “Really?” She had those bedroom eyes that got me every time they flashed, making me weak at the knees. “So after we’ve talked, do you think we can make out, only this time slower?”

  “Hey, sexy I thought we were here to work, not play?”

  “How about we play first, then we talk, so when we go back I’ll have ghosts on my mind, not loving?”

  Neither of us could wait to get to the bed. We made love slowly and passionately this time, with the curtains drawn and the faint sound of traffic and people far below. It was a slow start for me, which was a little bothersome. Some things could affect a man more than he realises, and watching my wife in what could have been a dangerous situation added to my anxiety. I was feeling a million miles away, out of my comfort zone, in a strange land where I was having trouble figuring things out. If it was a vacation, it would be exciting. We’d be planning trips searching great places to eat and drink, kicking back and taking it easy.

  But this job was badly organised. There was a short call from Marcus, with sketchy details, and two cryptic emails. There was reluctant Chris and disinterested Lucy whom we depended upon for the key. But we were only five minutes in the building and a nasty ghost showed up full of hate and threats and another ghost comes along with a passion for le derriere. All these thoughts turned around in my head as I tried to get aroused, until the feel of Ellen’s body and her soft warm hands caressing me overpowered my anxiety and I surrendered to the pleasure she offered.