Zeke rang the bell at the front desk of the Ames Hill Motel. From behind a curtain, an older gentleman emerged and greeted Zeke.
“Hi, we called about a room for tonight,” said Zeke. “Mr. and Mrs. Hughes.”
The attendant watched Lucy explore the lobby as he slid a book across the counter for Zeke to sign.
“How many nights?” the man asked.
“Just one on this trip,” Zeke replied. “We have to leave early tomorrow. But I wonder if you could tell us a little about Ames Hill? We’re here to see the old Ames Hill nursing home.”
“The old mansion is at the top of the hill,” said the man as he took the book back. “You looking to buy the place?”
When Zeke didn’t know what to say, he often asked questions. “Would you recommend it?” he asked.
“There hasn’t been much interest in it,” the man replied.
Zeke continued with the questions. “None at all?”
The man took some time to answer. “There was one couple a few weeks ago,” he said. “Stayed here for a couple of nights, if I recall.”
“Do you remember what they looked like?”
“Older couple. Mixed race,” the clerk replied as he flipped pages in the guest register on the counter. “Here it is,” he said as he turned the book around and pointed at the entry.
Mr. and Mrs. L. Byrd. - Room 108
Zeke thought for a moment. “Sir, I wonder if you could do us a huge favor,” he said. “Can you also put us in room 108?”
While the man turned and pulled a key off the wall behind him, Zeke extracted the newspaper article about the closing of the nursing home.
“Also, is there any chance you recognize this article?” Zeke asked, handing the man the paper. “I know it’s been a few years.”
The man took the time to read through the clipping. He made a variety of noises while his finger followed the words down the page.
“This newspaper is from the next town over,” the man said. “They don’t write about Ames Hill much, but this was big news back in the day. As I recall, the writer of the article died shortly thereafter.”
“Any idea how he died?”
“There were a lot of suspicious things going on at the time,” the clerk replied.
Zeke turned the article over. “Like this?”
The man took another moment to read the back. Zeke watched as the countenance on the man’s face changed. It was as if a flood of great memories washed over him until he read as much as he could and looked back at Zeke.
“Yes,” the clerk said. “But after this, everything went quiet.”
“You have been most helpful,” Zeke said as he took the article and room key.
Zeke and Lucy went back outside to the car.
Inside, the motel clerk pulled a card from his drawer and picked up the phone. He dialed the number on the card, and a man came on the line.
“Yes,” the clerk said, “you wanted me to call if anyone asked about the place on the hill.”
The clerk waited for a response. When none came, he hung up.
—
Before turning in, Zeke and Lucy drove further into Ames Hill to look around. The tour was a short one, and the only sign of life this late on a Sunday evening was an old gas station. A shadowy main street was lined with a bank, post office, and pharmacy. The most distinguishing feature was the namesake hill in the middle of town. After another pass through the small, deserted downtown district, Zeke circled back and stopped the car at the foot of the hill. A large gate prevented entry up the winding driveway. A lamppost near the top illuminated a large manor—the old nursing home.
“We’ll have just enough time to see the place in the morning,” Zeke said.
“We’re here now,” Lucy said as she unlocked the door and climbed out. “Let’s take a look around.”
“But the gate is locked,” Zeke said from the car. “Let’s try not to meet any local law enforcement.”
“It’s okay,” Lucy replied. “We know people.”
“Yes, in another county,” Zeke said to himself as he turned the car off and scrambled to follow his wife, who had already found a way around the gate.
Zeke caught up, and the two held hands as they walked up the long, winding driveway. When they reached the top of the hill, they took a moment to take in the view. The hill rose above the buildings of the town, and the plains of Kansas stretched as far as they could see.
“This hill seems a bit out of place,” said Lucy. “You can see for miles.”
After a few moments, the couple turned to move closer to the house, and a light flickered on a nearby pole. Thinking the worst, Zeke and Lucy ran and hid in the shadow of a nearby tree. As they were waiting to see if the coast was clear, their attention turned to some noise coming from the bottom of the hill. Zeke and Lucy both watched as a vehicle slowly drove past their parked car below.
“We have company,” said Lucy, who strained to see any occupants in the dark vehicle.
“Seen enough yet?” asked Zeke.
When the suspicious car turned a corner out of sight, the couple raced straight down the hill, jumped in their car, and sped off.
—
Zeke and Lucy’s next stop was the gas station they passed on the way into town. One part gas station and one part bookstore, the curious establishment was empty except for a lone employee.
Zeke greeted the attendant while Lucy looked around.
“What’s there to do here in Ames Hill?” Zeke asked.
The young man turned from his magazine. “Most people work in the paper mill just outside of town or have retired from there,” he said.
Zeke found a stack of street maps and unfolded one on the counter. “Can you point out the paper mill for me?” he asked.
“It’s downwind from here,” the attendant said, pointing at the map. “Most of the time.”
“Right,” said Zeke. “Does Ames Hill have a historical society?”
“A what?”
“Like a museum or anything like that.”
“I think you’re looking at it,” the young man replied. “Our library burned down, and we kind of took over. There are also some brochures over there on the rack. Feel free to have a look around.”
Zeke joined Lucy at the rack where she was already loading her purse with brochures. He found a crude bulletin board on the wall with a wide variety of business cards and notices.
A few caught Zeke’s attention, and they soon found their way into his pocket. Next, the couple split up and wandered around the dozen or so book racks.
“I’ve never been to a bookstore gas station,” said Lucy as she turned to the attendant. “What time do you close?”
“I’ll be locking up shortly, ma’am.”
“Do you like living here in Ames Hill?” she asked. Lucy had mixed feelings about her first time being called ma’am.
“It’s as good a place as any,” he replied.
At the two talked, Zeke found himself in the back of the store with a rack of the oldest books, a few of which had charred, unreadable bindings.
After a few minutes, Zeke emerged from the back and placed a charred book on the counter. “Can we check this book out?” he asked.
“They’re all for sale,” the young man answered. “Hardbacks are a dollar.”
“We’ll take this book, a newspaper, and the street map,” said Zeke as he pulled out his wallet. “Just one last question. When did your library burn down?”
The young man looked at the calendar on the wall. “Here,” he pointed. “Three weeks ago today.”
Lucy thanked the attendant for his help while Zeke paid for the items.
Back in the car, Lucy examined the charred book. “What did you buy?” she asked.
Zeke grinned. “The holy grail,” he replied. “And the best gift I think I’ll ever be able to purchase for you.”
Lucy opened the book and lost her breath when she read the cover page.
The Expeditions of Albert H. Greyson
—
Back at the motel, Zeke laid out the materials on the bed. The Greyson book had not left Lucy’s hands since the gas station. Among the other spoils were several brochures from local attractions as well as business cards for a real estate agent and a funeral home.
Zeke took a copy of the hidden map left by Father Gregory and laid it on top of the Ames Hill street map from the gas station.
“We have a match,” he said.
“I’d say we’re making great progress,” said Lucy. “But we need to have a good look around the room.”
“For what?”
“Isn’t that why you wanted the same room? To find anything Father Gregory and his wife left behind?”
“Actually, no,” Zeke said. “I was hoping that if anyone was paying attention, they would wonder the same thing and search the room. We’ll need to leave something behind so they will come to us.”
“So we can be the next to turn up dead?” Lucy asked.
“We’ll just have to expose them first.”
Lucy took a seat on the edge of the bed, eager to start reading. “Zeke, there’s still a library card in this book. It shows everyone who checked it out.” From inside the cover, Lucy slid the card from its pocket. “I’m afraid the last person who checked out this book is dead.”
Zeke looked over her shoulder. “Father Gregory?” he asked.
“No,” she replied, “the writer of the newspaper article about the closing of the nursing home.”
Zeke sat down next to Lucy and took out his notebook.
“What are you writing?” she asked.
“The links between Edenbury and Ames Hill,” he replied as he read the list.
A.H. Greyson
Bizarre acts of nature
Arson
The media
—
Monday morning, the smell of sausage had Olivia wandering from the bedroom into the kitchen.
“Well, hello there, young lady,” said Grandpa Wilkes, standing by the stove. “Ready for some breakfast?”
Olivia followed the voice and found a warm smile wrapped in an old man costume.
“You must be Grandpa Wilkes,” she said, returning the smile.
“The one and only,” he replied. “Stephanie said you might like some company, so I came over to cook us some breakfast. Stephanie’s parents went out to the grocery store.”
Olivia took a seat and took a few moments to scan the open newspaper on the kitchen table.
“What is it about this place?” she asked. “What makes Edenbury so special?”
Grandpa Wilkes set a plate of pancakes on the table. “How much did your father tell you?”
“Enough to have me excited when I found out I was being sent here,” she replied.
He sat down at the breakfast table, and for the next forty-five minutes, the two of them ate and talked. Grandpa Wilkes told Olivia all about the Warren farm, Lisa, the rocks in the park, and even the 1860 miracle that ended the drought in the area.
Olivia was especially interested in the more recent miracles and hearing Grandpa Wilkes talk about being closer to the dirt.
“I heard some kids down at the park are giving lessons to the older folks,” he said. “Of course, people my age get more excited about the healing mist.”
“What kinds of things do you think I’ll see here?” Olivia asked.
“Dear, there is no telling what you’re going to find,” he replied. “We thought things had gone quiet for good, but it seems like creation is back at it again.”
“So all those mysteries you had here in Edenbury—the Famous Four solved them?”
“Not quite all of them,” Grandpa Wilkes replied. “God always leaves a little wonder to appreciate. I don’t think we could handle all the answers at this point.”
“Grandpa Wilkes, you sound like my father,” Olivia said affectionately. “He would talk like that sometimes.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet your father. I heard he was quite a character.”
Olivia could see why everyone liked Grandpa Wilkes. She thanked him for breakfast and almost fought back tears when she gave him a big hug.
“I think I’ll go to Jake’s Diner later,” she said. “Will you be here tonight for meatloaf Monday?
Grandpa Wilkes also tried not to get choked up. “I wouldn’t miss it,” he replied.
—
The next morning, Zeke and Lucy headed back to the scene of the crime. Driving calmly through Ames Hill, the couple took in the sights as the town was just waking up.
As Zeke turned the corner, the mansion on the hill came into view. With it, they could see it was even more stately in design in the light. The gate was open, and two cars were parked at the top of the drive. One of which was a police car.
“Looks like we might meet some law enforcement after all,” said Zeke as he turned in and headed up the driveway.
“What are you doing?” asked Lucy.
“Going to see if they’ll let us look around. It’s for sale, after all.”
As Zeke piloted the car back and forth up the switchbacks, Lucy looked out the window.
“Honey, I think we have a problem,” she said with widened eyes.
Green footsteps covered the grassy areas where Lucy had stepped the night before.
“When I cut across the grass, I’m afraid I left a trail of evidence.”
“Too late to turn back now,” Zeke said as he watched a police officer kneeling on the lawn, examining her footprints.
Zeke parked the car and turned to Lucy. “You may want to stay off the grass,” he said.
The couple got out and made their way to the police car. Another officer stood on the large wrap-around porch of the mansion, watching Zeke and Lucy.
“What’s your business here?” the officer called.
Zeke motioned to the real estate sign. “I understand the place is for sale.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to come back another time, folks,” said the officer examining the grass.
Zeke was ready to return to the car, but Lucy hesitated.
“Just one question, please, sir,” she asked. “Why did the nursing home close? Because everyone who lived here died?”
“No,” replied the officer. “Because no one ever did.”
—
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