“ I don't know how to apologize for disturbing you at this hour, but I couldn't avoid it, seeing that the ghost has appeared again.”
Ernest approached the armchair in front of Houg’s desk, then, turning to the banker, said: “I already knew that. To be honest, I was hoping to hear something more.”
“ This time, my daughter saw her,” Houg muttered; then he went to sit in front of Ernest.
“ And where was your daughter when she saw her?” Ernest asked.
“ In her brother’s room. She was keeping him company because Rebecca, the nanny, had gone into town.”
“ But where did the ghost appear?” Ernest asked again.
“ In the family’s chapel that is behind the house; you can see it as well from that window,” Houg answered, showing the window that was at his left.
Ernest just turned his head to take a look, but he didn’t do anything else.
“ Can I talk to your daughter?” Ernest asked.
“ Sure,” Houg said and pressed a grey button he had on the table.
Not even thirty second passed and the housekeeper entered the room.
“ Please be so kind as to call Barbara. Tell her that Mr. Devon needs to talk to her,” Houg said.
The housekeeper nodded and went out.
Silence fell in the study. Roni, who was sitting on the couch on the right of the desk, wasn't making a sound. His silence was due to the fact that the story was making him enthusiastic and he couldn't wait for Houg’s daughter to arrive to understand what she had seen.
Houg instead put his head into his hands and, lost in his thoughts, he mentally drifted away from the room until when, back in himself, he said: “I’m so shocked that I didn't even offer you something to drink.”
“ I'm good like this,” Ernest said.
I’d like to drink a shot of brandy instead,” Roni said.
“ I agree with you, a shot of brandy is what we need,” Houg said and he headed towards a minibar to take the bottle and two glasses.
In the meantime Ernest went near the window and looked outside in the search of the chapel. It was plain dark outside and instead the room where they were was lit up so Ernest couldn't see anything. After a while a beautiful girl arrived, accompanied by the housekeeper.
“ She’s my daughter Barbara,” Houg said turning to Ernest. “And he is Mr. Ernest Devon and he’s here to help us,” Houg said again turning to his daughter this time.
“ Are you a Ghostbusters, Sir?” Houg's daughter asked ironically.
“ No, I’m not, miss,” Ernest replied.
“ So, are you a medium, an exorcist, something like that?”
“ Neither am I,” Ernest answered calmly.
“ Then, I don’t see how you could help us,” Barbara said, but Houg intervened:“Please, Barbara, it’s not nice to answer this way to our guest; he’s a private investigator and he’s also very smart. He wants to ask you some questions to better understand the situation and I’d be glad if you answer.”
Not a word did Barbara speak, then she noticed Roni and she got closer to greet him; then, she turned to Ernest and said: “Well, Mr. Devon, you can start questioning me, I’m ready.”
“ First of all I’m not going to question you, Miss. Like your father said earlier, I just want to ask you some questions to understand what you saw.”
“ Well. I saw my mother's ghost and I assure you I'm not crazy.”
“ Where were you when you saw it?”
“ I was in my brother’s room. Rebecca had gone out and he couldn't sleep; I looked outside the window for a second and I saw something moving in the chapel. I turned off the light to see better and…”
Barbara stopped and turned her head to her father, who encouraged her to continue.
“ And then I saw my mother's ghost,” she continued. “Right after I turned the light back on and I called Mary Ann which quickly ran to me. I told her everything and she looked outside the window, but she didn't see anything.”
“ But are you sure that it was a ghost?” Ernest asked.
“ Well, yes… yes… I’m sure, at least I think so.”
“ What makes you think that it was a ghost and not a flesh-and-blood person?”
“ Because a flesh-and-blood person must be crazy to do what I saw and then because I observed the face and it was really my mother's and, since she died more than a year ago, it had to be a ghost. I can’t find any other explanation. But actually, a doubt remains…”
Which doubt?” Ernest inquired.
“ If I saw my mother, or at least her ghost, why am I so much frightened? After all, she’s my mother; but in that moment I almost fainted.”
“ Now, please, try to remember the entire scene.”
“ I turned off the light, and then I looked outside the window. At first I didn't notice anything strange, but then I saw a woman and I could swear that she was my mother. She had a long white dress that touched the floor and she had a red rose in her hands. Maybe she felt my gaze on her, because she looked at me and she smiled at me, almost as if she wanted to mock me. Then she started some kind of dance. She was slowly moving her arms and head; they were really weird movements and for all the time her gaze didn't leave the window. I didn't have the courage to look anymore and I called Mary Ann.”
“ But Mary Ann didn't see anything, right?” Ernest asked.
“ Exactly, she didn't see anything.” Barbara answered.
“ Was this silhouette inside or outside the chapel?”
“ I saw her on the stairs, and then I don't know, I can't remember very well.”
“ Did your brother see anything?”
“ No… I don't think so. He just got worried because he saw I was nervous.”
“ Where is he, now?”
“ He’s sleeping. Luckily Rebecca came back early and my brother falls asleep fast with her.”
“ I’m done, for the moment, Miss. Should I have some questions to ask you, I hope you’ll be available.”
“ Of course...” Barbara said turning to her dad to have the permission to go. After receiving it, she greeted Roni and Ernest and left the room.
“ What do you think?” Houg asked Ernest right after his daughter’s exit.
“ I still don’t know what to think. It is sure that it’s not a simple matter,” the investigator answered.
“ I know that well, otherwise I wouldn't have asked for your help…” Houg said standing up and proceeding: “At least now we know that my son didn't make up anything.”
“ Why did you think your son could have made up everything?” Ernest asked surprised.
“ Because he's a kid and you know how kids are: too often they fly with the fantasy. Just a simple light reflection and they see dragons, monsters or ghosts,” Houg replied.
“ Anyway, I need to talk to your son as well. In the meantime, if you agree, I’d like to see the chapel,” Ernest said.
“ I’ll accompany you.” Houg said and pressed again the button on the desk.
After a while the housekeeper entered the study.
“ Did you call, Mr. Houg?” she asked.