The Passed Prop--The Morelville Cozies--Book 1 Read online

  The Passed Prop

  A Morelville Cozy – Book 1

  Anne Hagan

  To the Actors and Staff of Hagan’s House of Horrors

  PUBLISHED BY:

  Jug Run Press, USA

  Copyright © 2015

  https://annehaganauthor.com/

  All rights reserved: No part of this publication may be replicated, redistributed or given away in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without prior written consent of the author or the publisher except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages for review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are actual places used in an entirely fictitious manner and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, organizations, or persons, living or deceased, is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  Chapter 1 – Haunted

  Chapter 2 – Passing

  Chapter 3 – Inquiring Minds

  Chapter 4 – Gossip

  Chapter 7 – Aftermath

  Chapter 8 – Barb’s House

  Chapter 9 – Road Trip

  Chapter 10 – Veterans

  Chapter 11 – Dead Ends & New Beginnings

  Chapter 12 – Cat Lady

  Chapter 13 – Framed

  Chapter 15 – Again!

  Chapter 16 – For Sale

  Chapter 17 – The Missus

  Chapter 20 – Gunsmith

  Chapter 21 – Chased

  Chapter 22 – The Plot Thickens

  Chapter 23 – Ulterior Motives

  Chapter 25 – Off Track

  Chapter 26 – A Chance Meeting

  Chapter 27 – Police Business

  Chapter 28 – No Trespassing

  Chapter 29 – What’s Your Bid?

  Chapter 30 – Denouement

  About the Author

  Check Anne Out on her blog, on Facebook or on Twitter:

  Chapter 1 – Haunted

  Thursday, October 30th, 2014

  Fall Festival – Morelville, Ohio

  “Arrrrgh! Don’t touch me! Get away! Get away!” The teenage girl clung to her boyfriend and edged him out of the room as quickly as she could. He drug his feet, laughing all the while, enjoying the show.

  Dana smirked from behind her secret security vantage point. Just another satisfied customer.

  Her earpiece buzzed, “What’s your location Crane?”

  Speaking softly into her mike, she replied, “Sector 2 viewpoint.”

  “Roger. Visitor incoming.”

  Dana half turned and faced the entry door into the closet sized room. Moments later her mother came through from the access hallway and closed the door softly behind her.

  Chloe smiled at Dana and handed her a cup of apple cider. “How’s it going, so far?” she whispered.

  Looking through the two-way mirror at the parlor set on the other side, she caught sight of one of the actors taking a quick swig of a Coke he’d been hiding behind a stand. There were no customers in the room. “Great. No security or safety problems to speak of. I don’t think there have been any technical glitches either. I’d forgotten how much fun this stuff is. Makes me wish I was out there in the mix, scaring some folks.”

  “You’re just like your father, I swear!” Chloe’s voice rose but then she lowered it again. “Maybe next year we can get him up here for the festival and you two can reprise one of your old roles.”

  It was Dana’s turn to smile, “I’d like that.”

  “There’s been a line out the door for the past couple of hours for this. It seems to be slowing a little now though.”

  “Mama, we both know how this goes; Halloween night is the big night for us. We’ll be totally swamped tomorrow night.” Dana set the cup down, stood and stretched. “How’s it going on the festival side?”

  “Good, I think,” Chloe told her. “We’ve sold a lot of food; I can tell you that. The craft vendors all seem to be busy too and the bands’ been keeping them toe tapping.” Turning back toward the door then, she said, “I best be getting back to the kitchen. They need a lot of hands for cleanup.”

  “And I best make a round of the circuit and make sure everything’s okay.”

  ###

  11:05 PM

  “Kill, kill, kill!” The four Quadvillians stood in a circle, masks off, hands in, shouting their motto.

  Craig Stroud walked into the ready area, already laughing. “Great show tonight people,” he announced to the assembled actors who were busy removing costumes and makeup. “Quads, you guys get better every year. You four really nailed your scenes tonight.” He looked about the room, “Harris, Crumley, great job in the clown scene. A couple people...ahem...came out of there with wet pants.”

  “That’s what I like to hear!” Crumley shouted back. Several people clapped.

  “Really,” Stroud continued, “A great job by everyone involved. We raised a few thousand for the community center tonight and people really had a good time. That said, we can expect a bigger crowd tomorrow night and, I suspect, more than a few return visitors who were scared enough to run through tonight who may take it a little slower tomorrow...” He grinned.

  “We’re on starting at 8:00 tomorrow night. Be prepared to be on set until after midnight. This entry,” he jerked a thumb over his shoulder, “will be open at 6:30 for costuming and makeup.” Looking at Dana, he asked, “Is your mom still on board for makeup again tomorrow?”

  She nodded, “Absolutely. She wouldn’t miss it.”

  “Alright then, it’s a wrap everyone. Make sure your area is clear and then have a nice evening.”

  Dana looked at Craig, “Do you want help closing up?”

  “Thanks, but I can get what’s left once everyone clears out. Why don’t you go on home? We’ve got a long night ahead of us tomorrow.”

  Dana nodded, “Okay then. I’ll be along about 6:00 with mom because she’s doing food again too. While she gets things going in the kitchen, I’ll get her makeup kit set up back here.”

  Dana walked out of the area of the old school building turned community center that had been cordoned off for the haunted house and into the gymnasium. It was empty save for the stanchions and ropes for the waiting line and the inside food line for haunt goers. Dana crossed the floor and made her way to the cafeteria and kitchen.

  She smiled at Beth and Cole when she spied them sitting in the cafeteria arguing over a pile of cookies on a plate between them. Taking one, she asked, “What have you two been up to?”

  Her niece told her, “Cole spent all the money mom gave him about five minutes after we got up here so he’s been tagging around bugging me and my friends ever since!”

  “No I haven’t!”

  “You have too!”

  “Stop, stop, stop, both of you.” Dana’s voice remained controlled in the face of their bickering, “Where’s your mom now?”

  She had to go pick Lance up at the terminal. He worked late tonight,” Beth replied. “Aunt Mel’s still here though. She’s out directing traffic.”

  Cole made a face, “She told us to wait in here, out of the way.”

  “Good plan. Hang loose for a few more minutes. I’m going to check on your grandma and my mom in the kitchen.”

  Faye Crane was up to her elbows in suds at one end of the triple sink. Dana touched her shoulder as she moved past her and snuck up behind her own mother working with another woman stacking metal chafing pans on wire racks.

  “Boo!”

  Chloe turned, “Really? You really though
t you could scare me?”

  “It was worth a shot Mama. I don’t get many opportunities.”

  Mother swatted at daughter, “You’ve had plenty! You and your brothers are the reason I’m going gray.”

  Changing subjects, Dana asked her, “So when do you think you’ll be finished here?”

  Faye called over from the sink, “Take her home now. She worked for Barb all day and she’s been here all evening; she’s whipped. We’re almost done anyway.” She was quiet for a beat and then she added, “And hey, if you don’t mind, could you drop the kids off at their house? They have school tomorrow and they’re just underfoot here.”

  “No problem,” Dana told her mother-in-law. Over her shoulder to her own mother who was still standing by the pot rack, she said, “Gather up your stuff Mama and let’s get going.”

  ###

  11:15 PM

  Faye Crane

  I finished up at the sink and drained the basins. I was giving them a good rinsing down when Old Man Purcell came into the kitchen pushing his squeaky wheeled mop bucket. I ignored him until he started hollering at the volunteers.

  “Why are ya’ll still in here? You should’a been gone by now. You’re messing up my whole routine! Why can’t you get it right?”

  The man always grated on my last nerve but now he was just being downright rude and I was incensed. I stomped over to him and got in his face, “There’s no call for you to be so rude Purcell! These people all volunteers,” I swung my arm around to indicate the other three women and one man still remaining in the kitchen, “and they’ve been working to raise money for this community and this center tonight; money that helps to pay your salary to clean this place!”

  Purcell didn’t back down. He harrumphed and shook his head vigorously, “Shoulda’ known it was you that was trying to run this little fiasco. You never could get your act together. Anyone else would have had their crew out of here when the last customer left and I’da been able to mop the kitchen, then the cafeteria, then the gym and work my way out like but nooooo, you have to mess me all up!”

  “You’re a royal pain Old Man! You know that, right? Go mop the gym...we’ll all be out of here within the next ten minutes or so.”

  Purcell grumbled and mumbled and I, admittedly losing my temper with his antics, shot back a few choice words but he eventually went on his way.

  Once he was out of sight I said, “Everyone, I apologize for that. I lost my cool.”

  “It’s okay, Faye,” Judy Wright said. He was way out of line. Just forget about it.”

  “Thanks for that.” Taking a deep breath, I continued, “We had a great night tonight. The final concessions total isn’t in yet because I haven’t had time to count it all up but we had nice weather and a good sized crowd from all over that ate quite a bit. I think...no, I know, we did well.” The little knot of volunteers was now all smiles.

  “I’m working tomorrow night but Stephanie’s in charge. If you’re scheduled to work with her, she wants everyone here by 7:00. If you have food to drop off, the main door through the gym will be open at 6:00.”

  “Thank you everyone for your donations of food and other items and for your help tonight. We’re done here. You can all go. I’ll take care of the final checks myself.”

  Old Man Purcell was still pushing a dust mop on the gym floor when I purposely turned out the lights in the cafeteria that stood between it and the kitchen. He sneered at me, fully understanding what I’d done.

  “Bout time Faye!”

  “I’m leaving. Goodbye!” And good riddance...

  As I made my way to the door, he wobbled across the floor from the other direction and came up behind me. I was no sooner clear of the door than he yanked it closed. I heard the latch click into place locking himself in and me out.

  Chapter 2 – Passing

  Friday, October 31st, 2014

  6:00 PM, Fall Festival, Morelville, Ohio

  Chloe Rossi led the charge into the community center as Stephanie Rogers unlocked the main door and swung it open for the waiting group. Chloe marched ahead with a crockpot full of steaming shredded chicken for sandwiches and Faye’s grandchildren in tow both carrying cases of hamburger sized buns.

  Dana, who’d arrived with them, lingered outside, her Boston terrier ‘Boo’ on a leash.

  “What a cute little dog,” Stephanie said as she stooped down to ruffle Boo’s ears.

  Boo responded by bathing the young woman’s face with her tongue.

  “Boo! Down!” Dana yanked her back gently. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I love dogs and she’s just a cutie!” Standing up and meeting Dana’s eyes, she asked, “Aren’t you coming in?”

  “Um, no. Not with her. Beth insisted on bringing her since her name is ‘Boo’ but she doesn’t need to be in there and near the food.”

  “Oh, but you work in the haunted house, right? She won’t hurt anything in there and,” she wiggled a finger at Boo, “maybe I can get away and bring her a treat later” At the word treat, the pup wagged her tail and circled Stephanie, wrapping her in most of the length of her retractable leash.

  “Heel Boo, heel!” Dana tried to tug her back the way she’d gone as Stephanie, laughing, stepped through the circle of the cord. “We’ve started training but, as you can see, she’s not doing so hot.”

  “She’s fine. Just take her on in. What damage could she possibly do?”

  By the time Dana stepped through the door into the gymnasium, her mother and both of her sister-in-law Kris’s kids had disappeared into the cafeteria and beyond. Keeping Boo on a shorter lead with one hand and pulling her mother’s rolling scare kit along with the other, she made her way into the haunt.

  She stopped up short in the actors costuming area and, after flipping on the lights, took a quick look around.

  “Ah ha,” she said, spying a desk against one wall that was serving as a makeup dressing table, “that should hold you!” Leaving the kit for a minute, she walked Boo over to the heavy desk and looped one end of the leash around a leg. “Just try pulling that around little missy.”

  Beth ducked her head into the room, “Aunt Dana?”

  “Yeah sweetie?”

  “They have lots of help in the kitchen. Your mom said she’ll be in here in a few for when the actors start coming in. I’m going to sit out in the gym and wait for Craig to see if he’ll let me help him check the sets tonight.”

  “Okay. If he says yes, you do exactly what he tells you and don’t touch anything he doesn’t tell you to touch, got it?”

  The teenager replied, “Got it,” and nodded then went back the way she’d come in.

  Dana rolled her mother’s makeup kit over to a table, took a seat in one of the padded folding chairs that were pulled up to it and began opening the drawers of the case. She worked quickly and silently to lay out the tools and makeup her mother would need to help the haunt actors get into character.

  Ten minutes later, she was almost finished, when Chloe walked into the room.

  “Aww, sweetie, thanks so much for doing that. It’s a big help. The crew will start trickling in any minute.”

  “That reminds me; I need to make sure their door is unlocked.” Dana wandered over to the emergency exit that was temporarily being used by actors that arrived in partial or full costume so they wouldn’t be seen by haunt goers. After looking at the door, she realized it was already unbolted.

  “Now that’s odd; it isn’t locked. I know Craig locked it last night after some of the folks used it to leave. Right after that, I left him back here and went out through the gym. This isn’t cool. Maybe I better take a walk around and see if anything is missing.”

  “Speaking of missing dear, where’s Boo?”

  “She’s right over there,” Dana replied, pointing toward the desk.

  “No she isn’t. Her leash and collar are there but she isn’t.”

  “I see that now,” Dana confirmed as she swung in a circle.

  “Boo! Boo! Bo
o come!” she called.

  She listened and waited but the little dog didn’t come into the wardrobe room.

  Chloe walked to the gym side door and called out, “Boo!” paused and waited, then called “Boo!” once more.

  Dana, frustration clear on her face, went toward the actors’ entrance into the haunt and called out for the little dog yet again. The dog didn’t come to her. “I’ll bet she’s gone and found Beth who’s running around here somewhere. She wanted to help with sets. Her and that dog are inseparable these days. You’d think she was hers, not mine.”

  “Well, let me help you find her and I’ll just run her back to your house real quick. She doesn’t need to be here underfoot anyway.”

  Dana grabbed a flashlight. “I’ll start looking through the haunted house. Why don’t you see if you can round up the kids and have them help find her?”

  “The kids are right here,” Cole spoke up as he and his sister strolled in. “We heard you calling for Boo.”

  “She wasn’t with you?” Chloe asked Beth.

  The girl shook her head no.

  “Alright everyone, you two go with my mama that way,” Dana said, pointing left into the access hallway that circled the haunt, “and I’ll go this way.” She turned on a flashlight and moved to the right, hitting the small nightlight switches that would give dim light to the pathway for the actors as she went.

  Right away, by the light of her cell phone, Chloe managed to find the actor’s entry to one of the rooms ajar. “Oh, she’s so little,” she told the kids, “she could have easily slipped through here and now she could be in any of the sets.”

  “We’ll never find her in there now,” Cole whined.

  “Nonsense,” Chloe said firmly. “One of you turn on a light app on your phone and let’s go. I know you both have those fancy phones!”

  “Not me,” Cole replied.

  “Yes you do,” Beth ratted him out.

  “No, I mean I’m not going in there.”

  “You’re a scaredy cat! You’re almost 16 years old and you’re afraid! I’m telling all your friends,” Beth jeered at him.

  “I’m not scared. I just think she’s probably in this hallway is all.” With that, he continued down the darkened access hall flipping on the little lights as he went as he’d seen Dana do.