Chapter 9

Professor Roland arrived right on time. Cassie and April watched him unfold his lanky six-foot frame from the front seat of the bright red van. He stretched and gave them a wave. He called them over, but stopped to look around before opening the back of the van. Satisfied there was no one else around, he pulled out two black cases and sat them on the ground. Each was the size of a medium suitcase.

He put his hand on one now and focused on Cassie and April. “This is my usual equipment for picking up energy, in layman’s terms. If there are spirits in what was the old monastery section, we will find them.”

Cassie pointed toward the side of the building. “Let’s not go through the main building. The cook and the handyman are both still around today.”

“This way, professor.” April led the way, half dragging one of the cases.

“Here, girl, give me the case; it’s heavy.” The professor reached for the case April was carrying.

They made their way around to the side door near Cassie’s rooms as April pointed out some points of interest for the professor.

April stopped to give the professor time to look around. “This is where we have seen her, the ghost. She has also been out there in the garden and along the tree line leading into the forest.”

“Let’s not forget she has visited me several times in my room as well,” Cassie said.

The professor took his time looking around and at last he seemed ready to go on. “Very well, a long history, lots of people, lots of spirits possible. So we will do one area at a time. Let’s start with your room, Miss Malone. It seems to be the area she has been in most recently.”

They took the equipment up to Cassie’s room, and April pointed out Lydia’s room and told him what happened there.

“Goodness, is it any wonder the spirits can’t rest here? Lots of bad things when it was a monastery, and who knows what went on back when it was a castle. You have enough history here for a dozen good books, Miss Malone.”

“Call me Cassie, please. Fellow ghost hunters must be on a first name basis. And professor, we don’t want to find too many more ghosts.”

“We will find those who want to be found, Cassie. No promises.”

She started to laugh but then she saw his face. He was stone still and his eyes were scanning the area.

“What is it professor?” April moved closer to Cassie.

“Ah, ladies, we have a visitor.”

He opened one of his cases and brought out what appeared to be a microphone and a recorder in one. He flipped the switch and the meter sprung to life and danced back and forth like it was being pulled with a magnet.

“Whoa, we have more than one visitor here.” He moved the microphone in a slow arch and watched the needle move to the highest position.

“How do you know there is more than one?” Cassie moved closer to look at the equipment.

“The needle registers location and intensity. There is energy coming from two very separate locations, both strong. See the needle jumping?”

“Where…where are they?” April turned around in a circle.

“In the room across the hall from you, Cassie. And the other is down the hall, or at least it was.”

“So what do we do now, professor?” Cassie felt April’s hand take her own.

“We try to find out if they move when we move. The longer a spirit has been around the more power it has to maneuver. A young or new spirit is often trapped in one small space for a long time. Depending on the circumstance of the death and the character of the person who died. Some spirits just refuse to move on until they have settled the score or worked out what they need to work out.”

“So some are stronger than others?” Cassie looked at Lydia’s room again.

“Yes, some are stronger and smarter than others, just like in real life.”

“So if someone was mean in life will he or she be a mean spirit after death?” April asked.

“Sometimes, but not always. It just depends on why he or she is staying around. Is it to atone for past sins, to watch over a loved one, or is it to get revenge or try to help right a wrong?”

April moved closer to the equipment to watch the needle as they started down the hall. “Is it true some spirits don’t know they are dead?”

“I’m not sure it’s true. I believe they know they are no longer flesh and blood and of this physical world, but won’t, for whatever reason, move on.”

“Kathleen is staying around to find her sister. We know that at least, but maybe to find out what happened to her, right?” April’s eyes followed the moving needle.

The professor did another sweep with his microphone. “I believe Kathleen has been trying for a long time to get someone in this world to help her, April. For some reason she is attaching to the two of you now. Your decision is to help her or leave the grounds because she won’t stop showing up as long as you are here.”

“We are trying to help; we just need to figure out what to do.” Cassie stepped back to give the professor more room to maneuver with this equipment.

“The signal is fading here. Let’s go back then and go through the other room, I think you said it was Lydia’s room, where she died?” The professor turned so fast he almost knocked April over.

“It’s all right, April, I’m not picking up any evil here. I remember reading about her death in the newspaper, though the details were sketchy as I recall.” The professor stopped to adjust a dial on his equipment.

“I don’t think I want to go into Lydia’s room, thanks just the same.” April shivered.

“Neither of you have to go. I will just go in with my equipment and do a quick sweep.”

Cassie and April stood in the hall while the professor did his recordings. Cassie fought an almost uncontrollable urge to giggle. A few months ago she was reading the work of untalented writers and today she was in a castle/monastery/writers retreat in Ireland with a ghost hunter.

“One just never knows.”

“What did you say, Cassie?”

“I was talking to myself. I was just thinking it wasn’t long ago I was in another country in a boring job, and look at me now!”

“Yes, well, maybe a bit too exciting for me. Now I am wondering what on earth we are going to do to help Kathleen. How can we help?”

“We are doing it, April. We are following all the clues we find, and I’m convinced we will find some proof, or at least something to guide us to more proof.”

“But what about these other spirits, Cassie?”

“You mean who are they?”

“Yes, who are they and what do they want…from us, from you and me, Cassie?”

“Oh, good question, April. I have been so consumed with Kathleen and what happened to her sister, Maeve, that I haven’t thought too much about what any other spirit might want from us.”

The professor came out of Lydia’s former room and looked at both of them and smiled. “We’ve got one in there, ladies.”

“Just to give you some history, professor, Jacob, Lydia’s husband, and I have gone out a few times, and he wants no part of any of this. He is in some sort of denial about it all, even after seeing Kathleen himself. Also he has big guilt about putting her here, I think.”

Professor Roland sat his equipment down and looked around. “Interesting he saw the ghost and still denies it. I can see why he might have issues, certainly. But if it is Lydia in there she is here for a reason. Do you two have any idea what it is?” The professor rubbed his stubbly chin and looked at Cassie and April.

“We think Lydia wanted justice for both sisters, the same as we do, because she knew the story of Maeve’s disappearance too. Maybe Kathleen visited Lydia many times too. Maybe Lydia has a personal reason, like clearing her name,” Cassie said.”

“Hum, good theories, and sounds like it might be a strong enough cause to hold a spirit bound here to this place. But remember this, ladies, and it is important, there are spirits everywhere. We become another form of energy when we die, that is all. It is my theory most spirits are fine to be in that final form, and they cause no disturbance. However, some left something undone so important to them they hover around the place they died or the place where something traumatic happened to them or a loved one.”

“So you think Lydia or maybe another spirit has chosen to stay around to see if we do help Kathleen?” April asked.

“Yes, I think you are right. But it does not mean you will be contacted in any way you can recognize.”

Cassie sighed in frustration. “It makes sense of course, but if Kathleen is strong enough to show herself and speak, why can’t she do more?”

“I’m not sure I want her to do much more,” April said.

“It is just so frustrating. I feel we are just on the edge of finding out what we need, but there are some missing pieces.”

The Professor patted Cassie on the back. “Keep going then, Cassie. That is what good research is all about. You keep at it.”

“We both are doing all we can, professor, and we appreciate your help. There is one more area for you to see if we have time.” They all looked at their watches.

“We have an hour before the group is due back, professor. This way.” April stepped out in front to lead the way to the renovated area where the priest’s suite of rooms used to be.

“Remember professor, this entire area has been renovated. I needed to look at the old master map in the office to figure out where his rooms used to be.” April patted the key in her pocket.

“Now tell me again exactly why we need to visit this area?”

“We think he, the priest, and his assistant was somehow involved with Kathleen’s sister and her disappearance. I rather not say much more right now. We are still looking into things and ask you to please keep all this confidential, professor.”

“Understood, Cassie. My interest is not gossip, it is in finding and tracking bound spirits, and if I can, helping them release. One must be part detective and part scientist, but it also helps to have a lot of compassion for these wandering souls. I try to remember that, and make no judgment about anything until I have the entire story. Anything you say is just between us.”

“Of course, and I didn’t mean to be rude. I am just concerned we get things right.”

“By all means, Cassie.”

April pulled the key from her pocket. “It’s the last room at the end of the hall there.”

She unlocked the door and she and Cassie stood back to let the professor in with his equipment. Cassie stood in the doorway and looked into the room. It looked harmless enough. There was no sign of the room ever being used. It was clean and tidy if somewhat bleak and bare.

“Well now, what have we here…a dark spirit, a dark energy?”

April’s eyes were huge as she looked at Cassie and then backed up against the wall in the hallway. “Oh Cassie, I don’t like this.”

“Easy April, nothing is going to hurt you.”

The professor came out a little pale and shook his head back and forth.

“This is an unusual reading, ladies. I picked up a presence, but it’s odd because though dark, I am not getting a strong reading as I do most times with a dark energy like this. It might be because the room has been altered so much. Tell me, where are the other rooms he used and those of his assistant?”

April pulled her notes from her pocket. “He used the entire wing for their quarters, I think. There was a sitting room, library, kitchen area, and his assistant had two rooms, and his own formal living area.”

“That might explain the odd reading. I need a better site. Can we get into the adjoining rooms and see what we can find?”

“Yes, I have the master key.” April handed Cassie the key and unfolded her notes again.

“Can you tell from your notes, April?”

“Yes, I was right. He used the entire wing, and the room we were just in was his library. This room here across the hall was his master suite where his bedroom was, and his sitting room adjoined it.” April put the notes back in her pocket.

The professor adjusted his equipment and went inside. He didn’t turn on the lights in the room but used the light on his recorder. Cassie and April stayed in the hallway and listened to the sound of the recorder hum. Then they heard a new sound…a bop, bop, bop, like someone hitting the wall with a tennis ball.

“What the… Come and look at this, ladies.”

Cassie felt as if her shoes were nailed to the floor but April was pushing her forward. “What is it? What was that noise?” April whispered.

“Well, that my dear girls, was the dark spirit saying hello.”

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph.” April crossed herself three times as she backed out of the room.

“So, professor, the priest is still here, but why?”

“The big question, for sure, Cassie. What has he left undone?”

“I can’t imagine. We may as well be honest with you, professor, we think his assistant killed Maeve either by accident or to stop her from talking. We think he, and maybe even the priest as well, abused a lot of other girls during their time here.”

“But Cassie, how can you hope to prove it after all this time? Have you found something to point you in that direction?”

“We think the monastery Sisters may have kept some information hidden in the old monastery building, and we think Maeve hid her journal somewhere in the monastery.”

“Ah, there you go. The priest wants Maeve’s journal, or he wants no one else to find it. Ladies, you be careful because if he knows you are looking for it and if you are getting close, he will cause you some trouble.”

“How professor, how could he?” April turned pale again and clutched at Cassie’s hand.

“This spirit has been around a long time so it is strong and it is dark. It will stay here as long as the journal is a threat and as long as there is anyone alive who might remember Kathleen and Maeve. If Kathleen’s spirit is not at rest, then the priest’s spirit can’t be either.”

“I wonder if Lydia knew about the priest spirit too?” April asked.

The professor began to pack up his equipment. “I have a feeling she did, and is the reason she is still around. Of course, we are assuming it is her we are picking up. Oftentimes, spirits can meet and work together. Something tells me Lydia is around to help Kathleen. Tell me, why do you think the priest was involved?”

“We are just guessing right now, but it makes sense. Otherwise, if not the priest, and he knew it was his assistant, he would have just gotten rid of him and kept silent if he didn’t want anyone to find out and cause a big scandal,” Cassie said.

“Yes, a good theory, Cassie.” The professor motioned them toward the hallway.

April held up her hand. “Wait, I have one other big question.”

“Just one, April?” Cassie laughed.

“Well, maybe two more questions…where is the spirit of Maeve and the horrible assistant?”

“Maybe Maeve was lucky enough to let her spirit go when she died. Her suffering was done and though I am sure she loved her sister, Kathleen, she was not strong enough to hold on here for some reason. It’s just my feeling. Maybe you will run into Maeve’s spirit too before you are done. As for the assistant who could have been the killer—who knows why we don’t find him? Or maybe it is him we are mistaking for the priest.”

“Oh, don’t say that, professor. Cassie is already threatening to go back to America if we find one more ghost.”

“Now Cassie, you can’t tell me you aren’t having a grand old time with all this. I can see the writer in you, the detective in you, and the love of life in you. All the things that make a good writer keep writing. If I am any judge of character, my guess is you won’t stop until this mystery is solved, written your book, and gone on to yet another adventure and another book.”

“Thanks professor, I can see now why you are such a popular teacher; and I knew I liked you from the moment we met.” Cassie said.

April was grinning from ear to ear. “Cassie, pay attention to his wisdom. It’s another good reason for you to stay in Ireland. There are lots of subjects for books and mysteries to solve in this country.”

“How can I not consider staying after all of this? It would be like leaving in the middle of the best movie ever. At least I can say I won’t leave any time soon.”

The professor packed the last piece of equipment back into its case. “How long will you be staying here at the retreat center, Cassie?”

“Six months, unless they catch us snooping, and then I will be out on the street, professor.”

“I suppose it is going to be a real issue at some point. If you do find proof the priest or his assistant killed Maeve, and if the Sisters and the church hushed it up, it will be a huge scandal. It might cause the church to stop the sale of the property to the retreat center.”

“I know, and I don’t want to hurt them, of course. We have no choice now; we have to follow this no matter where it takes us, which is to the truth, we hope.”

“Just be careful, ladies. Inside my other case I left by your room, Cassie, I brought a really sensitive recorder for you to use. If you sense a spirit, and you will get good at that, click on the recorder and just let it run. I will download it all and analyze it later. Let’s get out of here for now and I’ll show you how to work the devices before they all return to the center.”

By the time they heard the arrival of the group, the three of them were sitting in the community room having tea. All the workshop ladies were in good spirits and impressed with the professor. They bombarded him with questions about his work and Irish history. Cassie could tell they were excited about his coming lecture on Irish myths.

The class went well, the ladies seem to hang on the professor’s every word, and Cassie could see them taking notes. The bells for supper started to ring and the professor was pushed along to the dining room by his new admirers. The meal passed pleasantly and without any suspicious looks from Rose or Emily. They all seemed to enjoy having the professor there to add something to their studies. They were thrilled with the ideas he gave them for their future stories.

The ladies in the workshop were reluctant to give up the professor to Cassie and April, but eventually they got him away from the group. They walked him to his car and they made their plans to meet the following weekend so he could download any readings they got from the equipment. He warned them to stay away from the priest’s quarters for now. It took little to persuade them. They were reassured to hear the professor say the priest’s spirit was bound to the old original part of the monastery.

As Cassie and April walked back into the center, each lost in thought, they were not aware someone watched them from the balcony above.