When the Warrens returned that evening, the family was together in the living room. Michael and Stephanie had stayed home from school that day, much too tired and worried even to go in late.
The station wagon pulled into the driveway again and, behind it, a white hatchback. Ed and Lorraine got out of the wagon and were followed by four others, three men and a woman. Four more people got out of the hatchback and brought with them video cameras and recording equipment.
"Oh boy,” Carmen whispered to Al as they watched through the window. "What're the neighbors gonna think?"
They met the Warrens at the door and Lorraine said jovially, "I'm really sorry, but we told you it was gonna be an invasion of privacy." Once inside, she said, "We've brought our researchers with us and some people to videotape every room in the house so we can have a record of the layout. We'll need to interview you again, on video, and get a complete record of your story."
"Well, then," Carmen said hesitantly, "I guess we should get started...."
The house came alive with the sound of voices moving in and out of every room, men and women with video cameras perched on their shoulders, others holding up lights, some speaking quietly into small tape recorders, describing the house, giving their impressions.
While all this was going on, Ed and Lorraine interviewed Al and Carmen before a video camera, having them go over the entire story again, but slower this time and in more detail. When they had something to add, Stephanie, Michael, or Laura would speak up.
It seemed to take forever, but by the time the sun disappeared and the crickets were chirping outside, they were done. Those who had come from the hatchback with their video and recording equipment agreed to meet with the Warrens the next day, thanked Al and Carmen for their patience and wished them well, then left, leaving them with the Warrens and the three male researchers whom they'd hardly had a chance to meet in all the confusion.
First, there was Chris McKenna, Ed and Lorraine's grandson. He was a pleasant, soft, gentle-looking man with blond hair and somewhat sad eyes. He'd been fascinated by his grandparents' work since he was a child.
John Zaffis was Ed and Lorraine's nephew, a tall, lean man with energy to spare; as they spoke, he seemed to find it difficult to sit still.
The last researcher was a man named Sal Valenti. He had attended a number of Ed and Lorraine's lectures and gone to their classes. Like John and Chris, he was a member of the New England Society for Psychic Research, the organization founded by the Warrens.
It was the researchers' job to maintain round-the-clock surveillance of the Snedeker household, to keep records of everything that happened, of their impressions, their feelings, and the feelings of others around them.
John asked politely if they could have some coffee and went to the kitchen to fix it.
They all sat in the living room and talked quietly for a while.
"I think it's important that you get to know one another," Ed said, "because, like it or not, this is the only way we can do this. The only other way would be to do nothing. I think it's best if everyone meets first, and tries to get to know one another."
It wasn't easy, of course, to become acquainted in such a short period of time. But Laura and Chris hit it off right away. It wasn't long before they had one another laughing as if they'd been friends for a while.
Al and Carmen talked with the three men, too, and found them friendly and even apologetic about the situation. They told the Snedekers that whatever sleeping arrangements they wanted to make would be just fine.
"Well, as a matter of fact," Al said, "we were thinking of moving mattresses in here, on the living room floor, so we could all be together. Mr. Warren told us not to split up."
"That's a good idea," Lorraine added. "And I think it would be especially wise if no one went downstairs. That's...not a good place to be."
"That's why we thought we'd bring everyone up here," Carmen said, turning to the three men. "So if you don't mind potluck when it comes to sleeping arrangements—"
"Not at all," Chris said.
John shook his head and smiled. "Whatever you want to do is fine with us."
Sal nodded silently with a smile to let them know he agreed. He was clearly new at this and a little nervous.
They talked a while longer as the night wore on, then Ed and Lorraine stood.
"We should be going," Ed said. He turned to the researchers and said, "You guys wanna get your things from our car now?"
The three men left to go to the car outside.
Ed looked at Al and Carmen and said, "Let us know how it goes after the first night. You have our number. I know that, sometimes, personality conflicts come up, and that makes things difficult. If that's the case, please tell us. But I hope you'll do your best to work with them. They're here to help. Together, we'll get to the bottom of it, then we'll consult the church."
Al and Carmen said goodnight to the Warrens, who left them with their new houseguests, the three men whose job it was to find out what was wrong.