Drunk On Shadows & Lost In Lies

Drunk on Shadows & Lost In Lies
Word count:  2,091

    “I know but, it’s been six months since Louie died and Jessie is still saying that he sees and talks to his Daddy,” Maggie said into the phone propped between her ear and shoulder. She stirred the pancake batter as Rod Stewart belted out over the radio “Wake up Maggie, I think I got something to say to you”. No! My son doesn’t need a shrink, he’s only four! What’s wrong with you?” She raised her voice just a bit then caught herself. “I’m sorry. It's Christmas time and this whole thing just has me a little rattled. You know? ...Karen, I know you study this paranormal stuff at the university but, do you really believe in it? I mean, do you really think ghosts exist? Could Louie still be shuffling around this house?” She sat down on a stool at the breakfast bar starring out the kitchen window towards Louie’s studio, which for now, still sits untouched but, eventually she will have to turn it back into the garage. “I mean, sometimes at night, I swear I can hear him playing that old ovation acoustic he used to play when he couldn’t sleep. Some nights, I can actually feel him climb into bed with me and every so often I hear him calling out “Hey Magpie, we need more beer!” Ha, but is that a ghost or just my broken heart wishful thinking?” Maggie set the mixing bowl in the sink and turned around to find Jessie standing there.

    “Daddy said, he is worried about us,” Jessie stood there in his guitar covered pj’s.

    “Karen? I got to go. Jessie’s up and I need to feed him breakfast. I’ll call you later.” Maggie placed the phone on the hook without taking her eyes off Jessie. “Morning baby! Now, why would Daddy be worried about us? We are doing fine, right?”

    Jessie shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know? He just said, something like…”Tell  your mommy to beware of wolves wearing clothes.” I don’t get it!”

    Maggie reached down & scooped him up sitting him on a stool while kissing his face. “I think you mean…”Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing,” you silly boy!

    “Yeah, that was it! How did you know?”

    “That’s something your Daddy use to…” The kitchen door opened.

    “Hey guys, I brought doughnuts!” Russell said, as he entered the kitchen kissing Maggie on the cheek and dropping the box on the counter.

    “Russell!” Jessie called out.

    “Russ, I just made pancakes!” Maggie said irritated.

    “Oh, in that case…I don’t mind if I do” Russell said, as he pulled up a stool. “How’s my favorite family today?” Russell slid his arm around Maggie’s waist and pulled her to him on the stool. Just then a loud crash from behind them in the sink made Maggie jump away from Russell.

    “What the…? Oh no! Not Louie’s favorite Hard Rock Café mug.” Maggie started to cry.

    Russell stood and joined her at the sink. “Oh yeah, he got that up in Toronto when we were touring Canada. Good times! Hey Mags, it was just a cup. Are you really OK? I don’t know why you won’t let me move in here with you guys and help out?

    “Ok!” Maggie said, without looking up. A hand cupped over her eyes.

      A week later, as Russell settled into the loft above Louie’s studio, he started to experience some of the strange occurrences that Maggie and Jessie had been talking about. The lights flickering, things randomly falling off of shelves and the sound of Louie’s shuffled foot steps around the studio. As Russell unpacked the last box of his prized album collection he decided to put one on them on turntable for a listen. As he carefully pulled it out the album cover he found the record had been broken in half.

    “NO!  Not my Talking Heads, extended play, bootleg version of “Psycho Killer!” He paused as he heard a laugh come from somewhere down in the studio below and an eerie feeling crept up his spine.  Just then the door to the studio opened and Maggie stepped in.

    “Hey Russ, dinners almost ready…” Just then the stereo display lit up like a Christmas tree and a song blared through the studio in surround sound. “Hey there Little Red Riding Hood, you sure are looking good. You’re everything that a big bad wolf would want.”  Russell stood frozen looking over the edge of the loft as Maggie ran to turn it off.

    “Wow, maybe you do have a ghost on your hands.” Russell laughed.

    “That’s what I’ve been telling you. That’s why Karen is coming by tonight after dinner with her paranormal team from the university. So I guess we will find out one way or the other. Any way, dinners ready when ever you are.” Maggie glanced around the studio at the guitars and equipment with watery eyes then shut the door.


  Later that night Karen approached her, “Maggie, the paranormal team is all done here. They have packed up their equipment and are ready to head out. Before they go Jeffery, our team leader, has brought Charlotte along with him tonight. Charlotte has a very rare gift and this evening she was able to speak with your ghost and has a very important message for you. Karen said, as she reached out for Maggie’s arm.

    “What? She talked to my ghost?” Maggie was having trouble catching her breath.

    “Is there some where the four of us can sit down in private and talk?” Karen asked.

    “Five. You mean the five of us.” Russell said, taking Maggie’s hand. Karen glanced over at Maggie and she nodded in approval.

    “Right through here.” Maggie gestured in the direction of her dinning room. They walked through the double French doors into the dinning room and took a seat at the large cherry dinning table.

    “So what exactly did my ghost say to you anyway? I mean, I’m sorry, I don’t understand. You talked to him or her?” Maggie took a deep breath and fighting back her tears asked, “Is it my husband, Louie?”

    “Yes it is. He is here with us now and he is very upset…” Charlotte was cut off by Russell as he slammed his had on the table.

    “Alright, that is quite enough! I don’t know what you’re trying to pull here Karen but this is your friend and she has been through a lot. She doesn’t need…”

    Maggie spoke up, “sit down Russell or leave the room. I need to hear what this woman has to say. Please.” Russell gave Charlotte the evil eye for a few minutes then glanced back a Maggie and sat back down.

    “Well first of all he wants you to know that he loves you and Jessie more than you will ever know. He wants you to know that it wasn’t a suicide or a drunken accident like the papers suggested it was. He would have never chosen to leave the both of you. Not for all the record contracts in the world.” Charlotte smiled.

    “Louie…He is here! He used to always tell me that. I would say, someday Louie, you’re going to get that big break you always wanted and you will go off on tour and I will never see you again. He would make me stare straight into his crystal blue eyes and say, “I’d never leave you behind Magpie, not for all the record contracts in the world.” 

    No one noticed but Russell was looking frantically about the room with beads of perspiration forming on his face as Charlotte continued.

    “Louie wants you to know that the big gig they had that night was unbelievable! The band came alive like never before. Then when they closed with his new song “You let me bleed,” it brought the house down. After the show he was approached by a big record label. They took him out and wined and dined him and tried like hell to get him to sign with them, just him, without the band. He said, he was really drunk but, not that drunk! He couldn’t do that to the best friends he had ever had.” 

    “That’s not true! I don’t know how you knew all of that but, that is not true.” Russell shouted. “He disappeared after the show with those record label guys and was gone for hours. I promised Maggie I would watch out for him and make sure he didn’t drink too much. When he didn’t show up by 4:00 am, I decided to go looking for him. I didn’t have to go far though, I found him passed out in a lounge chair next to the pool. He told me He did it, he finally did it. A big time record label wants him but, just him and not the rest of us. He was laughing and so drunk I could hardly understand him. I asked, so you did it huh, you signed on? He said I sure did. I was so hurt and mad I kicked the lounge chair and it buckled and he slid into the pool. I left him and went back to the room. I didn’t know he would drown Maggie I swear!” Russell grabbed her shoulders as she yanked away from him.

    “Are you kidding me Russell? I don’t care what he said to you. You two have been like brothers all your lives. How could you kill him?!” she stood and backed away from the table.

    “Russell,” Charlotte continued. “Louie wants you to know that he did say yes but, only after convincing them that he wouldn’t do it alone so they agreed to sign the whole band.”

    Karen spoke up, “You didn’t just kill Louie, you fool. You killed everyone’s dream that night!”

    Russell stood. “No! No! This can’t be happening…there is no such thing as ghosts!”

    “Oh, ghosts are real alright. Just not in this case. You see, there was a couple in the hot tub that night, not too far away from the pool. They heard the whole argument but couldn’t see any thing because it was too dark. They thought that the disagreement had just ended and one person stormed off. It wasn’t until the next day that they realized it was murder.” Karen pointed out.

    “So, I suppose you expect me to confess to murder even though this was some horrible accident and turn myself in to the police or something?! Is that it?” Russell asked.

    “No, that’s not it at all! Karen said, through a disgusted laugh. “You already confessed and Jeffery got it all on tape for me with his equipment. Also, I hope you don’t mind but, I took the liberty of bringing along a couple of New York’s finest.” She finished with a big smile on her face as two officers entered the room.

    “Russell Jenkins, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney…, the officer said as he walked up to Russell & pushed him against the wall, pulling his hands behind him and slapping on the cuffs.

    “Oh, one more thing Russell, Louie says, to tell you not to ever come near his family again and that he will be seeing you soon!” Charlotte smiled as they lead Russell out of the room in handcuffs.

    Maggie was standing in the corner with her arms wrapped around herself. “I’m not quite sure what just happened here. Karen, you planned this whole thing and you knew what the out come would be? How did you make all those things happen around the house? Oh my…tell me you didn’t use my son in this scheme of yours!”

    “What? No! I would never do something like that!” Karen stopped talking and Maggie followed her eyes to the door way where Jessie stood crying.

    “What’s wrong baby? I’m so sorry, did the yelling wake you up?” Maggie said, as she started towards him.

    “Daddy said that he can’t come to talk to me anymore. He said, that he loves us but he has to go now and that we will see him again some day.”

    “Oh, you just had a dream baby.” Maggie said as she picked him up and carried him back to bed.

    “Charlotte?” Karen starred at the woman with curiosity.

    Charlotte just grinned and with a wink of an eye she said, “OK, boys our work is done here let’s haul out!”