~*Clayton House*~ Halloween Night Category#3 ~Blue~

~Clayton House~

Part I

Walking the steep hill on that cool blustery day, Roni thought to herself, she exercised, worked-out enough but apparently not, as she stopped a few minutes to catch her breath. The hill seemed a whole lot steeper now or could it be that she was getting older. She turned and looked out across the Kinniconick valley below. You could never grow tired of a scene like that. Smiling to herself. The trees were all beginning to turn their glorious Autumn colors. She had heard from the weather meteorologist earlier that morning, next week the weather was

returning to much warmer temperatures. Maybe they’d have that Indian Summer afterall. She hoped so, enjoying the Summer warmth a while longer before Winter’s arrival would be so nice. The Fall foliage was at its top peak. Bright lemon yellows, subtle oranges, burnished coppers, russets. In finest form, natural beauty this kaleidoscope, a celebration of Autumn’s gorgeous season in its perfection.

Reaching the crest of the hill, she could now see the house. Briars and high weeds had formed an archway overtaking the vibrant yellow climbing roses at the entranceway to the courtyard. A swing with its slow rhythmic creaking back and forth movement from the wind as angel chimes made a tinkling sound in the breeze. Looking around, you could see that the gardens were overgrown, a grapevine winding its way throughout a Maple tree, it’s branches like arms extending outward almost as if in an embrace, a welcoming.

Though it was sad to see this old place so neglected, it couldn’t mar the beauty all around, Leaves the color of brilliant orange and yellow. Oak trees their leaves dipped in fiery red flames lining the now almost invisible drive overgrown with uncut grass. It’s once immaculate cobblestone steps leading up the pathway to the old Victorian farmhouse. The house was listed on record dating back just before the Civil War and it was for sale.

Roni was shocked to see the disrepair, yet it begged to be restored to its former loveliness. With a natural eye for visual art and display, it wasn’t too difficult to imagine all the natural beauty that was once evident neither was it too difficult to believe with its massive white columns it had been used as a boarding house, then in later years as a bed and breakfast, sometime in the 1920’s through to the 1990’s but what was hard to believe, with its neglect how it could possibly still be standing. There were two front entryways. One was at the front of the kitchen, the other in the actual foyer of the house.

The kitchen itself also had a back door leading outside. Perhaps at one time the guests used both doors. There was another door leading outside, located upstairs in a back room used for laundry. Both Roni and her sister knew the house well, climbing the giant Oak tree beside the house, its branches covering the top portion of the roof, the girls had easily slipped inside through a narrow crawl space that lead down into the attic at the back of the house, they had been throughout its rooms so many times, they knew every nook and cranny every inch of it.

Though the Clayton House originally owned by Honorable Judge John William Clayton and his lovely wife Marie in 1857. At one time it had contained fifteen bedrooms for guests who once boarded here and again when it was remodeled, changed to a bed and breakfast. It was said Marie enjoyed serving as hostess to their many guests before, during the Civil War and afterward. The old place seemed to emanate love yet Roni remembered from their childhood, a couple who lived in the house for a while, what were their names? Ah yes, Claire and Antonio Donte’ he was maybe French or Italian, they had been a strange couple, extremely paranoid.

He once told her that he saw people walking up and down the staircase very late one evening when there was no one actually there. And sometimes when he fell asleep in the formal living-room he would awaken from hearing noises and laughter in some of the rooms. Laughter in the kitchen, pots and pans clinking. One time he had said, there was a fire in the kitchen’s fireplace and he had not started a fire that evening. It wasn’t cold enough yet.

Grandmother Marilee would scoff saying, “ that man is as loco as that woman, he only says these things to scare you girls.” Locals had given the man some credit, he seemed devoted, he took care of both his wife and mother in law when it was difficult for him to care for himself, while his wife screamed and bantered at him daily. Was it his lack of interest for addressing the issues, admitting to himself, there was a problem or was his reluctance solely based on simple avoidance to confront the constant turmoil? Who could possibly misunderstand extreme verbal abuse? Maybe he was someone who had fallen into self - defeat and slowly grown accustomed to being browbeaten and verbally abused daily? Was he one of those people who in a self- deprecating manner accepted his circumstances in his life? She wondered….

Roni recalled one day when she and Tori had caught an adventure bug, daydreams of hunting for treasures deciding to explore the old grounds, when their grandmother Marilee warned them not to be gone too long, Supper would soon be ready. The sisters reached the top of the hill and circled around behind on the other side when the shrew of a woman had come out onto the back veranda screaming at them like a demon had been let out of hell. The sisters ran like hounds were after them. Roni remembered when they tried to slide underneath the broken boards at the last fence row before they reached the bottom of the hill.

Tori had gotten her long pony tail caught in the barbed wire fencing, she had almost cried when she thought she’d have to cut it. Roni smiled as she recalled how she had carefully removed each strand of her sister’s hair until it was all free, thankfully. Patience had never been one of Veronica’s virtues. Still, it had made her angry, thinking about how that woman had scared her sister, yet she had simply shrugged her shoulders and spoke of compassion saying the woman was like a wounded wild thing, they need love most of all. She had said. But Roni disagreed, no one could be sick and scream like that.

Still, she wondered whatever happened to the people, especially the old lady, she had seemed nice. She made a mental note, she’d do some checking or better yet ask Tori if she had time to do some sleuthing for her, afterall she was the investigative reporter. It seemed such a shame to let a once beautiful old house fall into such disrepair. All of those rooms but three were removed and had been remodeled and though now in need of extensive work, Roni could envision how it must have looked in its golden days, a welcoming sight for many a weary traveler and those desiring to get away from the noise and city life.

The former section of the house where the rooms had been, at some point had been turned into a patio. It must have had white lawn furniture in- between side tables and those straight backed chairs situated around elegant dining tables with tall glasses of lemonade and iced tea. One could easily imagine the lovely Marie with her dark hair piled high onto her head, a strand of pearls hanging loosely around a slender neck while many Southern genteel ladies joined her, dressed in crinoline and white lace, dining there casually or out on the veranda at the back of the house. Judge John Clayton had the idea when he had it built upon a hill, stately overlooking Royal Bluff, the town situated between Garrison and the Ohio River. A gift for his lovely wife…….

Victoria and Veronica Jessup, The identical twin sisters, and only children of the late Frank and Josephine McCarty-Jessup. Family and close friends referred to the twins as Tori & Roni. It had been years since the sisters had visited their rural Northeastern Kentucky home town nestled within the Appalachian Mountains. The women seemed to have inherited their love of the land from both their parents, grandparents who were descendants of Hebrew and Irish Immigrants. Their father had been a Forestry Conservation officer while their mother had taught 3rd graders at the local elementary school that once was located in the Kinniconick Valley in Garrison.

Kinniconick a gorgeous stream of water winding its way throughout the Kinniconick valley. Locals had hoped to have the stream protected when the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was signed by Congress on October 2, 1968. Though to this day it’s yet to be included, this untouched and unspoiled stream with its purest pristine emerald green waters, the result of many natural minerals in the area along the beds of the stream, where in many places silver deposits are said to be found. The stream has been of interest to geologists, nature conservationists and environmentalists alike

A little over 99.9 miles long just shy of 100 miles to be classified as a river. Yet is equal to any of the natural bridges, caves, forests and other natural scenery, its beauty as breathtaking. At its beginning, you can look into the distance and see the high Cumberland Mountain peaks known as Long Knob and Sugar Loaf Mountain. Some say the Shawnee referred to it as Falling Water or Willow Bark. In many places along the stream there are high waterfalls and willows growing gracefully along its banks as it meets and pours into the Ohio and Scioto Rivers.

When today, local and regional fishermen can appreciate its abundance of Muskie and Walleye while canoers, kayakers, and the little more adventurous enjoy its cool, clear waters during exploration of scenery from the stream, while paddling into the valley. There is just something about the entire valley it’s winding stream that seems to move and flow on forever, its peaceful serenity stays with you long after you have left. Yes, there is something about the stream and valley it’s attraction pulls you in and holds on tightly and won’t let go.

The old boarding house was part of that attraction. One of the reasons Roni and Tori Jessup, their friends went there on that Halloween night. Still yet to this day neither could fully explain exactly what had happened and why it happened when they and their lifelong friends Alison Jarrett and Julie Adams, their boyfriends visited all those years ago during LSU’s Fall break……..

Part II

The sisters grew up in Garrison, raised by their grandmother since losing both their grandfather and parents in an accident, their untimely deaths had been hard on both girls, and difficult for Marilee, but she didn’t have the time to grieve, at fifty-two she was raising two little girls on her own. It took more than two years for her to get a good night’s sleep again and not wake up through the night when the least little thing would bring her to tears, so sensitive were her emotions. She knew she had to get a grip on herself. Each day she began improving.

When the girls caught the bus for school, she would take a walk, then complete the daily farm chores. Though she would be near exhaustion by the time she helped the girls get ready for bed in the evening and turn out the light herself, it didn’t take long to fall asleep. About the time Marilee felt like life was worth living again, she had occasional help from Jake Wilson, a long- time friend and neighbor to both she and her late husband, Alec. When he began stopping by, at first he would stay for ten or fifteen minutes, then a little longer the next time, a couple hours, next.

Most of the time now, if it was real late, she’d grab bed linens in the closet, an extra quilt and pillow and he’d pull out the sofa bed and sleep there, get up the next morning, sometimes he’d have breakfast waiting for both she and the girls. Helping out around the house with the more difficult or heavier chores, he never asked her what she needed done any more, he’d go ahead and get it all done before noon and let her know he was leaving and would see them later in the evening. He had been a rare priceless friend to both she and her granddaughters.

Often helping with their homework and getting in wood for Winter, making certain the furnace she used as a source of backup heat was in working order, the generator working properly and various other chores. One weekend in late evening, he was in the kitchen helping her with the supper dishes. When she leaned over kissing him on the cheek.

“Ha!” His face turning a bright shade of red. “Now what was all that for!?” He wanted to know. She only smiled, then said. “Jake, why you are as handy as a pocket on a shirt.” “Hmm, he thought for a second, then replied. “I never thought of myself as a pocket before but if your tryin to give me a compliment Marilee, I’ll gladly take it and thank ya for it.” He said smiling.

She couldn’t help but smile as she straightened and wiped dry another bowl, replying. “It is a compliment, Jacob Wilson, me and the girls couldn’t do without you, I appreciate you more than you know.” Walking over to the pantry, she put away the flour she had used earlier that evening to make homemade biscuits. Wiping down the countertops. She closed the door as she turned around she saw that Jake was silent for a moment. For only a brief moment she studied the expression on his face. Noticing fine little lines at the corners of his sky blue eyes.

The light sprinkling of gray in his once coal black hair. He was still an attractive man, standing at least 6’1, always neat in his appearance which was a whole lot more than she could say for herself as she quickly glanced in the mirror taking in her tired appearance. These days her clothes nearly fell from her. She had lost too much weight as she smoothed her hair and straightened the apron around her waist.

“Your welcome Marilee, I enjoy spending time with you and the girls, I don’t see that I’m helping you all that much but it’s better to have good company than to be alone. Besides it’s you and the girls who are the real help to me. You keep me from feeling sorrow and missing Grace. I still miss her but what I’m trying to say is that You and the twins help ease the pain.”

“I’m glad Jake, I know we never get over losing our loved ones but having good friends around us who genuinely care it lightens the heartache.” She replied. “Yes m’am it does.” He finished. Marilee looked over every thing in the kitchen all neat clean and in order then asked if they all would like some dessert. No one could turn down Maw-maw Marilee’s peach cobbler, it had been Frankie’s favorite.

She smiled at the thought, knowing no one had ever called him Frankie but her then felt her eyes beginning to sting. “OK, let’s have some peach cobbler and ice cream.” Her granddaughters yelled in unison, “Yay! Thanks Grandma.” Although it was true, Marilee was strict she was very loving and patient with her two beautiful little granddaughters. With both twin girls, people got a double dose of gorgeous at the same time, and while she



doted on them she was also protective knowing full well she had to be mother, father and grandfather. By the time they left home and attended Louisville State University, Roni had chosen to study Interior Design and Tory since the 2nd grade held a fascination for writing and reporting, studied Journalism. She hoped she would have made her son proud, with a job well done, when both Roni and Tory had learned attributes of greatness at home. Grandmother Marilee had instilled godly principles and a strong Biblical foundation within the hearts of both her girls.

After graduation, Roni, the oldest by 5 minutes had opened her own shop down on East Street facing the river. “The Vintage Place” was doing very well since the grand opening, that had been nineteen years ago. Roni’s clientele not only consisted of local and regional residential and businesses within the tri state but as far away as Nashville. Thanks to her sister’s investigative reporting she did sometimes for a prestigious high profile law firm and its former and present clients, along with Leona Donagher’s strong endorsements.

Leona had been employed formerly as a Paralegal for one of Kentucky’s finest Attorney’s; Channing Commeldowne or as Roni referred to him. The incomparable “Mr. C.” Ms. Leona had been responsible for referencing several clients who had previously commissioned Roni’s work and for several clients in Palm Beach, Florida where she herself owned a vacation home. The sisters had shared a home on Alden Avenue for two years after graduating until Roni met and married Detective Devon Blake with the Ashland Police Dept.

During an outdoor concert on the Scioto River, time goes by so quickly, it was hard to believe it was eighteen years ago. Within the next year, Tory met his brother Dalton during a family holiday dinner when he came home on leave from Operation Desert Storm. Today, a recently retired Marine Corp Vet and Engineering Contractor for Blythe & West from Cincinnati, Ohio. In spite of the couple leading stressful though successful lives by their standards, Tory and Dalton had two beautiful children, Wesley and Janessa. Grandmother Marilee doted on them since their birth as much as she had the twins.

One Christmas, during dinner, noisy with all the hustle and bustle, with a house filled with family and friends, love and laughter going around. It was when Tori and Dalton had met for the first time. The table filled with food and every dessert imaginable on the serving hutch. Suddenly the room got quiet when every- one heard Jake Wilson ask Marilee why didn’t she want to marry. Roni recalled seeing the look on her grandmother’s face. It had been priceless. The twins knew how much their Maw-maw loved their grandfather, when she didn’t think they saw, or could hear her crying in her bedroom sometimes late at night. They knew she cried for their dad and missed him and their mama, too.

It was Roni who spoke first. She knew she had to get this right the 1st time, there wouldn’t be any do—overs, not with Grandmother. “What’s wrong with marrying pa-pa Jake, Maw—maw?” Roni wanted to know. The sisters lovingly nicknamed Jacob, Pa—Pa, it had endeared the girls to him that much more., besides Maw—maw never seemed to mind. They grew up never really knowing their dad’s Father Alec. They had never known a time when Jake wasn’t there for them. Roni didn’t let her grandmother finish, she knew she had put her in the spotlight now she needed for her to shine.

“If you think you are too old to marry again, you aren’t---lot’s of people remarry later in life.----“besides me and Tori have never known a time when you and Paw—Paw Jake haven’t been together.” she went on. “I think if it’s what you both want, that is wonderful.” She finished. Careful to take note of her grandmother’s reaction. That’s when Roni saw it, and realized her grandmother had been holding back because she thought every- one would not approve of she and Jake marrying. They were both in their sixties. “Be happy Grandmother You and Paw—Paw Jake be happy.” She had said. She glanced at Tori and noticed for the first time their obvious attraction for one another and a year ½ later they were married but not before Maw—maw and Paw-paw Jake! Smiling at the memory.

Part III

Tori and Dalton settled into married life but with Dalton stationed so far away from home, Roni had often been there for Tori and the kids. She seemed like a second mother to them and they often laughed and kidded about how so easy it would be for their aunt and mom to fool them and every body. They looked so much alike you really couldn’t tell them apart, no one could except maybe Maw—maw. Since childhood, thankfully their history of pulling pranks and taking real advantage since they were identical twins was few and far between. Though every now and then the sisters would get into some shenanigans, and do it up right!

Though Wes and Jan had a very strong resemblance, to their mother they had not been twins. It didn’t seem possible that they were a senior in high school and a junior in college now. She and Devon had been together for a number of years and had accepted it just wasn’t meant that they have children. Showering love on both Wes and Jan was enough for them both, their lives were fulfilling. Though sometimes Devon working long hours for the department, while Roni spent many hours decorating, staging homes and businesses, especially around this time of the year could get real tricky.

Roni was going to take a short look around inside the house but noticing the time on her wristwatch, she realized she’d be late meeting Devon at Bellini’s Restaurant afterall the dinner was in honor of her birthday. She retraced her steps around to the front of the old farmhouse, looking around one last time, when she felt the sensation of someone watching her. She glanced around briefly, feeling an eerie prickle move down her spine. She didn’t see any one, so she glanced toward an upper floor before she turned to go. That was when she saw a curtain hanging from one of the windows and for a split second, she saw it move. She stood for a second longer but didn’t see it again. As she turned to go, she glanced to the side and she knew she saw movement once again.

Whoever it was, didn’t want her to see them. She definitely would ask Tory to do some investigating on this old favorite haunt of theirs. When she got into her car, carefully backing up, it was much easier with the new back- up assistance in cars these days, she could see what was behind her. Whoever invented that neat little trick she’d simply like to thank them, giving them a big kiss on their face. It was ingenious and would get her safely turned around to drive down the mountain.

Once safely back out on the highway, she realized she was slightly shaking. She detested feeling unnerved. Which made her determined more than ever to claim the house as her own, buying it then go about the business of restoring it to its former beauty.. She hoped Devon would love the idea….

Their favorite waiter Geno Ronaldi; a senior college student seated them at a table with a window view overlooking the river. The weather hadn’t improved very much since earlier that afternoon. At 6:30pm it would be almost dark. Not liking the time change in the least, still she wouldn’t complain. There were a lot worse things in life. Briefly, she looked out the large windows noticing the tugboats passing along the river. “I went to see the Clayton House today.” There, she said it. But afterward she didn’t miss the incredible look on her husband’s face either. “You did what!?”

“ Please tell me, I heard wrong, and You didn’t go to The Clayton House?” He asked her. “Yes, I did, Devon and it is a shame that whoever has the place for sale has left it in such disrepair for the new owners.” “Why would you care? Why would you be concerned after what happened there?” Clearly he wasn’t finished.

“You, your sister and your friends could have been killed that night and one of the psycho’s has never been apprehended” He said. Frustration evident in his voice. Roni knew it was the detective in him…..he had the natural instincts to investigate to question, to seek and search out, his formal training had only fortified those instincts. She was glad he was concerned but he was wrong about the house. Even if the old tales they had heard while growing up were true and the place was haunted, so what----“There is absolutely nothing wrong with that house, Devon it was the man who had been hiding out in the house.” She said offensively.

There was a moment of silence at the table as Geno brought plates and breadsticks with fresh salads, then refilling their drinks. “I’ll be back in a few minutes with your main course Mr. and Mrs. Blake. He smiled. “Thank you, Geno.” Devon replied. “Your very welcome.” The young waiter answered.

“ Roni, it’s your birthday, let’s celebrate and discuss this another time ok?” She detected pleading in his voice. “Sure Devon that’s fine, it’s ok, it’s fine. Yes, let’s celebrate it’s not every day one turns forty.” She said. Giving him a mysterious smile from across the table. You do know that you suffered from some memory loss of that night?” Here he treaded softly, he was cautious, testing the waters. He wasn’t sure what she did remember and what she didn’t. Do you remember that your friend Julie Adams and her boyfriend were kidnapped and shortly after they were murdered?”

Roni’s grandmother said as a family they all discussed what had happened after her recovery, but Roni never talked about it again. “We understood that the man vanished with Julie and has never been found.” Roni stated. The following year he had met Roni at a Hal Ketchum concert in the park. Maybe she didn’t know what had happened to both she and her sister and their friends. But it was certain Roni had changed.

Devon thought about telling her the truth but he wanted to hear it from her, he’d let her tell him what she knew or remembered. Tomorrow morning, he’d talk with the team and do an investigation on the house, find out who owns it now, who was behind selling it. The homicide division’s cold case team has on file many unsolved cases who are unidentified, not identifiable or their killer has never been apprehended, and brought to justice. Ten years ago there was another murder at the house and less than three days ago yet another murder the victim has yet to be identified. Both Roni and Tory were so fortunate that night. Some of their friends were not. The 20 year anniversary was soon coming up……….





Part IV

Final Chapter



It was late Friday afternoon when gray eyed, dark haired twenty-two year old Roni Jessup walked out of the Visual Merchandising class, the last one for the day. She was so ready for Fall break. The VM Class was informative, she enjoyed it. They had staged the windows outside the class room, adding festive Fall decorations to display. Every- one in class said that Roni’s display would win 1st place for certain. She would be changing it when they all returned from break. Julie Adams waved toward her, getting her attention. “Hey, Roni what are you guys planning to do during Fall break? She wanted to know. Smiling. Dark eyed Julie Adams had been a lifelong friend of both Roni and Tory’s since 2nd grade.

She would easily pass for a movie actress, especially the glamorous movie starlets of an earlier era, reminiscent of a young Natalie Wood. Her hair and makeup always perfect, she always wore matching shoes, accessorizing and coordinating her clothing. Since elementary school both Roni and Tory could see that in spite of Julie’s well put together appearance in addition to her sweet personality, she seemed sad or that something was troubling her. When they were seniors in high school she gave the sisters an idea of why she seemed sad and preoccupied. But in spite of the problems at home Julie always got good grades.

Both Roni and Tori were pleasantly surprised when they learned that Julie a double Major in English and Teaching at the elementary level had decided to attend LSU and offered her to move in with them, they were renting a 4 bedroom cottage style house off campus rather than stay at the dorms or driving home on the weekends. The three young women shared the rent and living expenses, finding it much easier on themselves. Soon after another school friend, Alison Jarrett a Nursing major moved in with them.

The young women studied together, ate together, and often went out together. Becoming virtually inseparable. Several times both Julie and Alison came home with Roni and Tory and though Alison would go see her folks, especially during the holidays Julie remained at the house with the twins, Grandmother Marilee and Jake. On that late Friday afternoon Maw-maw asked about Julie when it seemed she hadn’t come with them this time. Tory replied. “She came with us Maw—maw, she just went into town to pick up a few things for us.”

“What do you young ladies have planned?” Grandmother had wanted to know, glancing at Jake hoping to get his attention. It worked. He was all ears, listening intently to what the twins were planning that evening. It was Halloween spook or whatever they called it these days, fright night she supposed. They had already purchased costumes, candy and various other trickster goodies having them on the ready when they needed them. But the most obvious, they had other things up their sly little sleeves but weren’t telling.

Julie walked into the kitchen, plopping down on a stool at the peninsula giving the twins a conspiratorial little wink when she said. “I’ve got every- thing we’ll need.” Grandmother Marilee noticed in one of her shopping bags, blonde hair was showing through. “What’s that you’ve got in one of your bags, Julie?” She looked directly at Julie with a gaze that brooked no sass or nonsense. These young ladies might be college age, preparing to graduate but they were still her responsibility and she felt responsible for Julie’s well- being.



She had laughed. Marilee would never forget how sweet that child was. She ended letting the cat out of the bag while the twins were in their old bedrooms getting dressed and told Marilee they were going to the Halloween Festival and they and a bunch more were getting together later for Fright night. Julie changed clothing herself. Though she didn’t give away their entire plans, later after they had left, Marilee and Jake had a hunch just exactly where it was they were all headed. Later they would be grateful that their hunch had been right.

Roni, Tory and Julie saw Alison Jarrett with her boyfriend Tom standing in line at a sales table waiting on the woman to put their apple cider and a small jar of apple butter into a bag they were holding that contained a couple more purchases..

Roni suggested they all get something to eat before they decided what they were going to do. When Tom’s friend Joe stopped at their table and a cousin from Ohio, she thought his name was Mike. They took in all the sights and sounds of a Fall festival on that Halloween evening. Tory had noticed a man watching them while they were at the concessions wagon getting some drinks. He kept looking at them strangely it gave her a creepy uneasy feeling. She meant to tell Roni but was distracted when Julie had asked a question. By the time she looked back toward the area where he had been standing, he was gone.

They gathered into Mike’s van. An older model belonging to his parents, they had purchased a new model giving the older van to their son when he announced after high school graduation his intentions of attending LSU He was driving home every other weekend and back and forth to his classes on campus. He couldn’t afford to drive home to Waverly Ohio every weekend, but this was his last semester, He had thought about attending grad school but he needed to make some money first. It seemed the ad agency would be a good place to start putting his IET degree to use. He’d never had so much fun, laughed so much in his entire life, these Kentucky mountain people weren’t so bad afterall, he had teased.

It was well after midnight when the gang arrived at the bottom of the hill. They had picked up some eager teens along the way. They thought what could be the harm in that, they were responsible adults, they’d see that the kids got home safely. Tom shined a flashlight upward when it fell upon a two story white house illuminating it in the darkness. “Hey man, whose house is this anyway?” He asked to no one in particular. at the top of the hill. This was gonna be a night they’d never forget. For years Roni and Tori had been climbing the Oak tree in the yard beside the house but that wasn’t going to work any longer. Instead they all one by one slipped around back.

Finding the hide a key, Roni let themselves inside the back door to the kitchen. She had often believed it was one of the doors, guests may have used upon entering the house. It was silent as a tomb. But little did their friends know, Roni and Tori had slipped up to the house a day early to set up the ghostly goblins that weep and wale in the night and spooky eyes that follow your every move, giving you ghoulish frights. They were ready!

The twins along with their friends walked throughout the house from room to room. Floor boards creaking loudly beneath them. Suddenly there was movement from the corner of the foyer near the stairway. Both Roni and Tori believed it to be some of the kids they had hired from the Maynard farm down the road from Maw—maw’s. They could barely contain a giggle. When suddenly someone grabbed Julie and wouldn’t let go! In the middle of the chaos and confusion there was kicking, screaming and sheer terror! The local kids who had wanted to come along for the ride for fright night were fighting for their very lives!

Roni feeling real alarm as her heart seemed to lodge within her throat….something wasn’t right, though they had masks covering their faces Roni knew these were not the Maynard kids…..She had never known fear as she had on that night. But when one of the men grabbed Tori, tearing her clothing and yanking her hair, Roni felt anger well up inside her, she never thought about his size or that she was no match for him in physical strength as she charged the hulking man, digging her nails into his face, his head, his arms and hands, then biting, as she continued kicking him.

With a swiftness of a jungle cat, he backhanded her, the force knocking her off balance then backward. She hit the floor with a resounding thud, momentarily dazed. She tried to keep her thinking clear as she possibly could when she remembered she was near the staircase. As she felt around in the dark for the old axe handle that had been kept by the stairwell since they had been kids. Roni prayed it was still there, as the man attempted to grab Tori once again. Her scream shattering the air.

As Roni’s hands wrapped around the handle. There was no time to think but to act and do it fast! She brought the axe handle up into the air with all the strength she had, then coming down with a force she never knew she was capable of. Whacking the evil vile monster over the top of his head, blood spray was every- where..

Roni wrapped her arms around her sister and ran for the front of the house. Mike was doing his best to fight two of them off. Alison and her friend decided to make a run for it to try to get help, but one of the men, threw a knife, stabbing Joe. Roni didn’t know where Tom was after she saw him being beaten. When suddenly there were blue lights everywhere. At first Roni thought the lights were from the police. As the lights grew brighter and brighter, one by one they rushed into the house, of their own volition swiftly encircling and surrounding those in the room. It was staggering to watch as all chaos broke loose as the lights swirled in and out at a dizzying speed zigzagging crisscrossing the room, encircling the evil men who had so viciously attacked them.

There was a loud piercing noise and the clanging of what sounded like metal on metal clashing together. When suddenly they heard a sound of what resembled a horse’s cry, then metal upon metal once again clashing against one another. The blue lights seemed to forcibly hold the vile evil men where they stood. Roni’s feet felt almost frozen in place but she made her way with Tori at the end of the hallway toward the foyer. Mike had fought off two of the men while another lay crumpled on the floor. Two were missing. Roni looked toward the hill and could see bright car lights coming swiftly now in their direction.

This time she saw police lights as they lit up the night sky. As she opened the main door she recognized Paw-Paw Jake’s pickup truck. She was so relieved she couldn’t help it, she started crying. “Don’t cry, Roni.” Tori had said. Tori was weak as Roni pulled her sister close to her. When Roni looked up, the piercing Blue lights simply vanished. Had she not seen them, been a witness, she would have never believed…… Mike had made his way out to the main foyer with the girls. Roni and Tori both hugged him. They had no idea at that moment where every- one was. But all Roni could think of was those Maynard kids and the kids who came with them for the fright night.

“What about them?” She had asked of the EMT who was attempting to place an oxygen mask over her face. But no one seemed to know any answers. Or they didn’t want to tell her. “Where’s my sister!? She demanded to know. Looking around, she saw Maw- Maw had gotten through the crime scene tape and immediately went to her granddaughters.

Tori had been placed already inside another ambulance while EMT’s were caring for her injuries. They were serious but she would be ok, they both would be ok but what of the children from the farm down the road, what about the children who came with them that evening? What about them!? Their families?! Where was Tom, and Joe. Allison and Julie had came, too. She knew Mike was going to be alright. If it hadn’t been for him, she and Tori might not be alive.



Sadly it was later discovered the Maynard kids from the farm had been beaten to death by three of the five most vilest evil men who had been evading the police for the past six months and had used the Clayton House as a hideout.

Two of the men had rushed Tom and his friend Joe, taking in their height and size. Convinced if these two were taken out first, the others would be easy targets. Another had grabbed Julie Adams, kidnapping her for insurance to once again evade the police. They simply vanished into the night. The case still remains an unsolved mystery. The last man was found a few feet from where Roni had fought him to protect her sister and herself.

It had been a nightmare and one none of the survivors wanted to be reminded of, though Mike stayed in contact with the girls for a few years after that horrific night, then his calls and visits finally stopped. Maybe he felt like he couldn’t begin again, start over unless he broke contact and tried putting it all behind him. A great deal Roni had blocked out her doctor had said.

Though the truth is both she and Tori simply chose not to talk about it. But what about those piercing blue lights? What were they? Where had they come from? Where did they go? The way they flew around the room on that night, it seemed they were there to help them, protecting them somehow…….Never seeing any thing like them before or since that night…..They both would never forget it…..



Since Devon could remember both he and his younger brother had always heard, several people had been murdered in that house a long time ago and possibly in the 20’s, 30’s and even during the 60’s. Once he became a cop a detective he learned the murders were not simply hear- say or handed down through the local gossip train. These were not tall tales to spook and scare children and teenagers on a Halloween fright night. Or something that author Stephen King had dreamed up in another of his fantasy fiction horror novels.



This is real life where sometimes terrible things happen, these days it seems to be an every- day occurence It can seem a cold uncaring world when your work is with homicide or any other profession dealing with human behavior. You become an unwilling bystander a witness to stark reality, such cruelty and suffering from the evil that some men do…..there becomes a race against time itself to find the perpetrator or perpetrators.



Yet at the end of the day one must deal with the deeds of the day, the week….. When one is touched by vile circumstances when there are no immediate answers to the many questions----What happens or has happened that some make the choice to commit heinous crimes against another human being (s)---------There is a requirement you demand of yourself for the sake of self- preservation--------- there has to be balance somewhere…..you have to separate what you experience at work from every- day living, your life away from crime and its devastating effects------counting your blessings, appreciate the real goodness, kindness in people, the true goodness in life when it comes to you, because this is as real as it gets.

~The End~

Copyright © 2017 S.A.L.M. (KYBluebird)

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