Round Robin - Haunts

[iblori58]

As he finished his last performance of the day and returned to the backstage area, he unbuttoned the top button of his collar and collapsed into the nearest chair at the nearest makeup vanity.  The bright lights around the mirrors made his head pound and his stomach was a bit queasy.  He’d just rest here for a minute or two and then head on over to his own area to remove the makeup and put on his street clothes.

 He leaned down and reached into one of the scattered mini-fridges under the cluttered counter and grabbed a bottle of water.  He broke the seal on the top and drank half of it in one go.  He closed his eyes and sighed as he thought of the two days off he had coming.  He would need them.  He was getting desperate and it was getting harder and harder to fight this feeling of hopelessness. 

He and Connie belonged together.  End of discussion.  The bond of their love was stronger even than death.  It must be.  Otherwise, why would he have been given this gift, this ability?  Connie had made a mistake but it didn’t have to be a permanent mistake. He could save her, save their love. 

He couldn’t understand why he hadn’t been successful yet.  There must be something he was overlooking.  He had worked it through so carefully.  It was simple and straightforward.  He was offering equal substitutes for Connie. Any of them should have been perfectly acceptable.  He loved Connie so much.  She belonged with him, not with a house full of losers. Not that he’d ever express that sentiment in The Mansion.

Maybe… maybe the offerings he had left weren’t really equal to Connie?  He hadn’t cared about any of those other offerings.  Maybe he needed an offering that he cared about?  His shoulders slumped as he realized there was no one he cared about as much as he cared about Connie. 

Maybe he didn’t have to care about her.  He straightened slightly as he tried to follow that line of thought.  Maybe it could be someone else that cared about her as much as he cared about Connie?

He massaged the back of his neck with the hand that had been holding the cold water bottle.  Maybe that was the missing factor?  Maybe if he could even find an offering several “someone elses” cared about, he could get Connie AND the baby back?  His heartbeat accelerated slightly with the hope that thought trailed behind it. 

As he finished off the bottle of water and neatly tossed it in the trashcan, he heard voices approaching.  He definitely did not want to have to be social right now.  His head was killing him and he just wanted to get cleaned up and changed and head home.  He had work to do. 

As the voices came closer he gently concentrated on feeling light and formless.  He could recognize Claire’s voice now.  It sounded like she had a couple other people with her.  He ignored the small tour group as he concentrated on letting the light penetrate and flow through him.  His headache faded slightly as he slowly felt himself float just above the seat of the chair.  The auras around the lights expanded and became fuzzier and the colors around him faded slightly. 

“Just a little further”, Claire said to her visitors.  “David’s dressing area is back here.  That was his last performance and you should be able to talk to him with no interruptions. Did you like the show?  I can get you passes for tomorrow’s show also if you would like to see it again.”

He watched the trio as it walked past him without even glancing in his direction.  He missed their response to Claire’s question as a small gasp escaped him.  It was hard to see clearly in the reduced detail and relative darkness away from the lighted mirrors but he floated a couple inches higher in surprise! Connie?  No, not quite Connie, but very, very close. 

(tag VCorvidae)

[VCorvidae]

"I don't understand. The other cast members said that he was backstage. We didn't pass him, and he's not on stage." Claire sounded extremely put out that David wasn't where he was supposed to be, and when she tried to get more information, she discovered that there was a problem with her radio. Rather than drag them all over the park, Claire left Chaz and Daphne at the seating area of one of the counter service restaurants across from the Tower of Terror. She'd given them a pair of brightly-colored  smart-cards and told them to help themselves to something to eat while she went to check with Personnel.

"Try the turkey legs. They're amazing!" she'd called before she'd hurried off through a gate marked "Cast Members Only."

To Daphne's amusement, Chaz had taken her parting instructions at face value. He was already into  his third enormous turkey leg before she'd finished her salad.

"She's right," Chaz said as he stopped to lick grease from his fingers. "These are really good. They talked about them on the Food Network. Now I know why."

"Ask her for the recipe," Daphne answered, poking at her salad remains.

Chaz looked at her, "Something wrong?"

"Just... feeling like I'm being watched." She looked over her shoulder, seeing no one who stood out of the crowd of happy tourists.

"Hi!" a young man in a blue Disney uniform shirt and khaki slacks said brightly as he stopped at their table. His name-tag said Dave, and he had a bag slung across his shoulder. "First time in the World?"
Chaz blinked, lowering his turkey. "Yes. You can tell?"

Dave smiled, "It's the glazed-over look. Only people who've never been here before get that. Everyone else knows what to expect. Where are you from?"

Daphne and Chaz glanced at each other, and Daphne turned back and smiled at the man, "Washington."

"Oh, you're not giving me a lot to go on. State or District?" Dave asked, laughing.

"District," Daphne admitted. She was starting to suspect that she knew what was going on.

"Cool.  Have you been on the Rock and Roller Coaster yet?" Dave asked.

Chaz shook his head, "Not yet. It looks like fun, though."

Dave nodded, "It is fun. Want to ride?" He reached into his bag and pulled out a pair of white lanyards with large cards depending from them. "These are universal Fast-Passes. They don't expire, and you can use them for any ride in the park, at any time, and for as many rides as you like." He handed one to each of them. He smiled broadly, "Congratulations. You've just had a Magic Moment. Come on. I'll put you on the ride myself."

Daphne winced at the applause that surrounded them, and then sighed theatrically, "We can't right now. We're supposed to be meeting someone here."

Dave shook his head, "Not a problem. How about we go get the formalities taken care of, and then when we get back, I'll take you all off to the ride?"

Chaz frowned, "Formalities?"

"Just a form that needs to be signed." Dave leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, "The higher-ups want to know who gets the goodies. Makes sure that everyone gets a fair shake, you know? I just need to get your names and addresses. Won't take a minute."

Daphne glanced at Chaz, who shrugged. Remembering their instructions to play tourist, she nodded, "All right. But we need to come right back."

Dave nodded, "We won't be a moment. This way." He led them to the same gate where Claire had disappeared, holding it open so that Daphne and Chaz could enter. Once the gate was closed, he took the lead again, "This way."

This way was down a flight of stairs and then through a series of noisy corridors, once crossing an underground road where electric vehicles buzzed back and forth.

"Neat, huh?" Dave asked, seeing Chaz's eyes widen. "There's a whole city under each of the parks. There are two floors down here that the tourists never know about. They do tours over at Magic Kingdom, if you're interested. And willing to pay for it."

"Maybe next time." Chaz murmured.

Dave grinned, "I saw how you were tucking into the turkey leg. The kitchens are down here." He pointed, "That way."

Chaz looked, seeing nothing to distinguish a kitchen from anything else in the featureless beige corridor.
He turned to ask Dave a question and stopped.

Dave and Daphne were gone.

"Dr. Villette?" Claire came through a doorway and saw him, hurrying over to meet him. "What are you doing down here?"

"One of your employees brought us. Gave us these, said we needed to sign something." Chaz showed her the lanyard. Claire took it and frowned.

"You... don't need to sign anything with a Magic Moment. They're gifts. Something special for the tourists. Did you get his name?"

Chaz nodded, "His name-tag said..." He stopped, closing his eyes as he realized what had just happened.

Claire's eyes were wide and frightened when he looked at her again, "Personnel said that David asked to take a turn on the Dream Patrol after he came off shift."

Chaz nodded, "We got taken. And now he's got Daphne. Call Security." He reached into his pocket for his cell phone, already dreading the call he was going to have to make.
*

That had been entirely too easy. Drug on a cloth pad in his pocket, wait for the man to look the other way, then grab the girl, slap the pad over her mouth and vanish them both. It had taken everything he had not to burst out laughing at the lost puppy-dog look on the man's face when he'd turned and found them gone.

Now, though, he needed to get them out of the Hollywood and out to the Mansion. And do it before they locked down the Mansion. They had to know he would be heading there. There wasn't a lot of time. He waited with the girl cradled in his arms until the cart depot was deserted, then bundled her into the back of one of the electric carts, piling soft-paks of shopping bags over her to hide her, just in case he couldn't keep the whole cart vanished.

He climbed into the driver's seat and pressed the ignition, guiding the cart out of the depot and heading for the entry to the back road system that ran from park to park. No one would look twice at him, at least not yet. And by the time Security knew to look for him in a cart, he'd already be at the Mansion.
He'd have Connie and Davey back before midnight.

(tag Korvar!)

[Korvar]

“What happened?”  Reyes' voice crackled only partially from the cell-phone's speakers.

“We got taken.”  Chaz repeated the phrase in a monotone, professional, not letting the rapid drop of his stomach show in his voice.  “He got out of the Mansion without anyone seeing, and scammed us into heading underground with him for a Magic Moment.”  No time for recriminations, he thought, although there were plenty to be had.  Focus on the task.  “I looked away, literally for a second and he and Daphne were gone.”

“Gone.”  Another lead brick for Chaz's stomach.

“Into thin air.  I tried to...” he paused, considered how secure the line was, how many people could just hear them speaking on either end, “see them, but nothing.  Whatever he did, it wasn't the same as San Diego.”  He was glad of the turkey legs; he could practically feel the parts of his stomach not telling him how badly he had failed sucking calories from them.  He had strained himself to the limit, trying to spot the tell-tale patterns that would tell him where Daphne and Richardson were despite whatever the hell he had done to hide from view, but the hallway remained stubbornly empty.  Stupid superpower, he thought, Why didn't you work?.

“Get yourself to Hafidha.  I want the two of you on the security cameras.  If he can disappear, finding him is going to be the top priority.  The rest of us will be at the Mansion.”

“Is it locked down?”

“Oh, yes.”  Reyes' tone was dry.  “Unfortunately, by him.  At the moment, we have no way in.”

* * *

Daphne felt reality swim back, the feel of something pressing hard into her side gradually resolving into the hard floor beneath her.  The light bit into her eyes; as she blinked away tears the octagonal Stretching Room came into focus.

What happened?  Last thing I remember was some guy offering us a free ride...  She pushed herself up into a sitting position, felt the universe rock and sway for a moment before settling. Retrograde amnesia – short term memory not getting written to long term.  Was I drugged?  She quickly ran her fingers over her head.  No head trauma.  So there's that.

Fragments of memory flickered.  A name badge.  Dave.  David.  Crap.  I hope his Gamma ability is some kind of super-persuasion, or my gravestone is going to read “Daphne Worth: Died of Stupid.” 

The sudden image of the woman she loved being told of her death froze her heart in her chest.  She could see the lines in her face as it crumpled in misery.  Could hear the sharp intake of breath, the denial, the disbelief.  The same look she had seen on countless faces working the ambulances.

No.  Damn, you, no.   Daphne forced herself to her feet, drew in lungfuls of cleansing air, felt determination push out the tingling numbness from her limbs.  Hurt my baby?  No way!

She reached for her side-arm.  Gone.  That was a mistake, David.  Now I'm going to have to club you to death..  She shook the last of the effects of the drug from her head, and started looking for a way out.

* * *
Chaz arrived at the security office at a dead run, a barely coordinated tangle of elbows and knees that still managed to get through the door and come to a halt behind Hafidha without crashing into any part of the crowd of people and technology.   “What have we got?”

Hafidha waved a jangling hand at the row of monitors.  “Every camera in or around the Mansion.”  She looked at Chaz, but something about the determined set of his mouth warned her off.  Blaming himself.  Nothing I can say now to help.  Oh, Chaz..  All business, then.  “She's in the entry hall – the 'Stretching Room'.”  One of the monitors showed a tiny Daphne, systematically working her way around the walls.  Others showed the outside of the Mansion, with Security milling about directing people away.  Hafidha wondered what lies they were telling.

Chaz turned to one of the nearby security staff.  “Do we have schematics?  Something with the positions of all the security cameras on it?”  He was shown to another display, colour-coded lines declaring ride, backstage, machinery.  He flicked his gaze between that and the security monitors, fingers lightly tracing the positions of cameras.

He's matching the cameras to what they see, Hafidha thought, the nucleus of a plan forming.  I can see which monitor he's on, even if I can't see him.  Chaz can tell where that is... and where he is.

Chaz took out his phone, speed-dialled, put it on speaker. 

“Reyes.”

“Villette and Gates in position.  We also have Duncan Foreman.”

“Movement?”

“She's in the Stretching Room, looking for a way out.”

“Richardson?”

Chaz glanced at Hafidha.  She looked over the monitors, but was forced to shake her head.

“No sign.”

“Alert me if there's any change.  One of the technicians is going to --”

“Wait.  Something's happening.”

* * *

Daphne started, her eyes darting to the centre of the ceiling as a voice burst out of the air.

“Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion. I am your host – your ‘Ghost Host.’”

The walls of the chamber seemed to start stretching upward.  No – the other way around.  The room is an elevator, and the floor's taking me underground..

She looked over the walls, ignoring the comic/horrific portraits of previous “guests” and their untimely fates as they were revealed.  She considered climbing the walls, but the image of dangling high above the descending floor wasn't a comforting one.  So, we go on the ride, for now.

The voice continued.  “Your cadaverous pallor betrays an aura of foreboding, almost as though you sense a disquieting metamorphosis. Is this haunted room actually stretching? Or is it your imagination, hmm… And consider this dismaying observation: this chamber has no windows, and no doors... which offers you this chilling challenge: to find a way out! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Of course, there's always my way...”

The lights went out, replaced by flashes and the sound of thunder.  Above her, she could see the flicker of a body, hanging from the rafters.

Wait – is that moving?

It was hard to see, but between flashes of 'lightning', the body appeared to be struggling, clawing at the noose around its neck.

Okay... that's not Disney.

The lights came back on again, and one of the walls moved aside, a wood-panelled hallway beyond.

A translucent figure stood a little distance away.  David Richardson.  Daphne could easily see the through him to the painting hanging on the wall behind. 

“I really am truly sorry,” he said, then vanished.

Daphne frowned.  One exit.  One way.  His way.

Nothing for it, she thought, as she went through the doorway.  But be warned, David.  The first moment I can, I'm going off the rails.
 
- - -

Tag nebula

[nebula]

"I need to know where Worth is," said Reyes. His tone was clipped, terse.

Hafidha muttered under her breath as the laptop keys clicked under her fingers. "It takes a couple of seconds for her to move into - ahh, got her - she's in the hallway."

"Any exits? Staff tunnels?"

"Nothing," replied Hafidha. "You walk through to get to the buggies. Then the only way out is to follow the ride."

She heard Reyes exhale before thanking her curtly and beginning to speak to the person next to him. Hafidha turned to Chaz who was staring at the monitor. "Anything?"

There was a brief, sharp movement as he shook his head and then continued to watch the screen, eyes scanning up and down, searching for the faintest glimpse of Richardson.

Hafidha opened her mouth to say something reassuring, but then looked at Daphne walking slowly down the hallway and found there was nothing to say.

* * *

As she walked towards the buggies, Daphne felt suddenly cold. No wonder Lau had commented on Chaz shivering all the way through the ride - it was freezing in here. She pulled her jacket closer around her and lifted her chin into the air. No way was she going to let Richardson see her tremble.

Another couple of footsteps and she was there. Daphne gritted her teeth as the Doom Buggy swung into view. As she got in, she gave a slight eye-roll at the floating candelabra ahead of her; moving statues, flying furniture and a Black Cab of Doom - she had walked into a Meatloaf video, circa 1987. "Not gonna die in a Soft Rock Ballad," she said to herself as her grip tightened on the safety bar.

The buggy lurched forwards and Daphne felt a hysterical giggle rise in her throat. This was all so ridiculously over the top - any moment now there would be slo-mo doves and a troupe of ninjas. She fought and managed to compose herself. "I am not going to play his game," she told herself. "I'm not afraid - I'm just going to enjoy the ride." She shook herself and then squared her shoulders. "Not afraid," she whispered, before starting to hum Highway to Hell as the buggy moved along the track.

* * *

"How's it going?" asked Hafidha, not looking up from the screen. She could see Daphne sitting in the buggy, back straight and head turning slightly to assess fully her surroundings. Good girl, thought Hafidha, basic training kicking in.

Chaz grunted in response, tossing his head slightly to shake the hair out of his eyes. There was still nothing on the screen and his vision was starting to blur with the effort of staring without blinking. It wasn't working, he couldn't find Richardson. Such a fundamental error, he berated himself, stupid - now look what you did. You let him take her.

"Not your fault," murmured Hafidha. staring straight ahead. "Stop obsessing and start thinking."

Chaz frowned but didn't answer. She was right - but he just couldn't see what he needed to do. Richardson was there, but he needed a way to see him. The screens were no good - too flat: he needed three dimensions.

Chaz pulled out his phone and hit speed dial.

* * *

"Reyes." He gave his name in such an irritated tone that Falkner wondered for a moment whether Stephen Reyes was angry that he was Stephen Reyes. If she woke up every day being him, she'd be pretty pissed off too.

Reyes listened and then said, "I'm putting you on speaker, Villette. I've got Falkner, Todd and Lau in earshot. What have you got?"

Chaz's tone was downcast, apologetic. "I can't do it from from here," he said. "I'm pretty sure I can find him but not on a flat screen. I need visual depth. I need to be in there."

"If there was a way in there, Villette, we wouldn't be standing here, trying to get in."

A pause, then, "I know. I'm sorry." They all stared at Reyes' phone expectantly, waiting for Chaz to speak again. Falkner wanted to step forwards and tell him not to beat himself up about this - it wasn't his fault. But now wasn't the time and maybe she wasn't the person. He would need absolution from Daphne and she couldn't give it - for now, Falkner told herself, just for now.

Chaz's voice came over the speaker, suddenly more animated. "What about the roof?"

Falkner and Reyes frowned at each other and Todd leaned forwards. "Air ducts?"

"Yes," replied Chaz and Falkner could picture him nodding. "I can climb up there and try to gain entry that way."

Reyes was already shaking his head. "There's no-"

"He could do it," said Todd, interrupting. "And Richardson won't be expecting him that way." He looked at Reyes. "It's worth a shot and Villette is a pretty competent climber."

Falkner thought for a moment and then said, "Wait until we've got ropes."

"There isn't time," protested Chaz.

But Falkner was insistent. "Daphne Worth will disembowel me if I let you climb up the outside of a building without so much as trampoline underneath you. The Disney guys have ropes - by the time you get here, we'll have them. Check the cameras one last time - I'm sending a vehicle for you."

She looked at the rest of her team - Lau and Todd were exchaning knowing looks and Reyes looked non-plussed. It suited him. Falkner gave a shrug. "Right now, we don't have an awful lot of other options and one climber is going to make a hell of a lot less noise than a helicopter."

Todd turned away and coughed. Then he turned back, his face serious. "Villette attempting to scale the building might give us a chance for the other option."

"What's that?" asked Lau with a frown.-

"Talking?" suggested Todd.

"You know what kind of success we've had negotiating before," replied Falkner. "In a hostage situation the odds against getting a gamma to release a hostage unharmed are huge. We're fighting a compulsion here."

Reyes bent his head and pinched the top of his nose. "It's worth a try," he said, "The Mansion has a speaker system and we can hardly make things worse." He sighed. "We have an agent in there with him, no way in - short of driving a tank straight through the walls - and our best hope is-"

"Spiderman," interrupted Todd, "But I think I could be a pretty close second. I can drive a tank, but being as we don't have one nearby, the next best thing I can do is talk to the guy."

Reyes moved his hands in a gesture of defeat. "Go ahead," he said, without enthusiasm.

* * *

The buggy continued its frustratingly slow trundle around the track and Daphne craned around the sides of it, trying as hard as she could not to miss anything. She couldn't see Richardson, but that didn't mean he wasn't there. She was cursing herself for not having paid more attention to the layout of the ride. If she could remember with certainty what was coming next, she could make her move.

Suddenly the buggy jerked to a halt. Daphne sat bolt upright, her hands clutching the safety bar. She looked around her as the lights guttered and then died, leaving her sitting in eerie darkness. The temperature dropped even lower than before and she could feel cold air moving across her face. Okay, now she really was scared.

If this was horror film territory, then she was in a big old mess. Nobody wants to be the one alone in the dark with the guy you can't see. Daphne swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. She tentatively stretched one hand out in front of her, feeling through the pitch darkness to feel . . . absolutely nothing.

She moved her hand from side to side. Still nothing. She sat for a moment, wondering whether or not to break the sudden silence.

Then she felt an icy chill rush through one side of her body. She turned to the empty seat beside her.


* * *

Chaz shoved his phone back into his pocket and moved over to where Hafidha was sitting. "I'm going in," he said, waiting for her to berate him for being stupid.

Instead, she made no reply, staring intently at the screen. "Something's happening," she said, pointing to where Daphne's buggy had come to an unexpected halt.

Chaz leaned over her shoulder, frowning at the screen. "I can't-" he started.

Hafidha made a little surprised noise as the screens buzzed and flickered before going black. "What the?" she said, fingers flying over the keyboard. "C'mon, come back to me."

Chaz watched as Hafidha tried again and again to restart the screens. They sat in front of her, resolutely black, refusing to show her anything.

"I don't believe this," said Hafidha with a growl and she leaned forwards to touch the black screen.

It was icy cold and she jumped backwards with a cry. The monitors dulled with icy residue and both Hafidha and Chaz stared at them, unable to move or do anything. There was a loud sound and each monitor cracked across, zigzags spreading out across the matt surfaces.

Hafidha exhaled hard and turned to Chaz. "Please tell me you have a Plan B."

(tag Edmund Schweppe)

[VCorvidae]

"Plan B is going in blind? I don't like it."

"We don't have another choice. We go in blind, or we bring out a dead agent," Reyes said, his voice flat. Chaz studied the photos of the Mansion, tried not to wince and hoped he'd been successful.

"What are we waiting for?" Hafidha asked, glaring at the cracked monitor screens, her hands clenched in her lap.

"Me, I think," an older man answered from the doorway. He stepped inside, cradling a laptop under one arm. "Jeff Horowitz. I'm the lead Imagineer for the Mansion. They told me you want to climb the facade? Is that right? Because none of you looks crazy."

Chaz nodded, "Did you bring climbing equipment? We need to get in there...."

Jeff shifted his computer and held up one hand, "Slow down. You're Doctor Villete, right? Show me what you're planning. Because if you're talking about climbing the front of the facade, the part that faces Liberty Square, you're barking up the wrong tree. You can't get into the ride from there."

Chaz blinked and looked down at the images of the Mansion that he had been using to plan his climb, "You can't?"

"They didn't show you the overlay? Or walk you through the ride when it was down?" Jeff rolled his eyes and muttered, "I love my job. I freaking love my job," under his breath. He sighed, "When they told me you were talking about climbing the outside, I figured that was going to be your answer. And... they won't let me bring the original schematics out of the vault. So I brought this." He set his computer down on the table, opened it up and turned it so that the others could see, "See this? Courtesy of Google Maps and some devoted fans, that's the ride." The image on the screen was a satellite picture, showing the Haunted Mansion from above, complete with a large, white building that was nearly hidden among the trees. Jeff pointed to the building, "That's where you need to go in. Now, if what I've managed to glean from the gossip mills is true, this is someone copying Connie's suicide? She killed herself in the Ballroom. That's here." He reached over the screen, tapped the keyboard, and labels popped up on the image, all on the white building. Chaz leaned forward, feeling Hafidha at his shoulder, and read the labels: Load, Library, Piano, Conservatory, Hall of Doors,  Leota, Ballroom...

Jeff tapped the corner of the building farthest from the Mansion facade, where the label read 'Leota.' "This is where you need to go in. It's the closest point to the Ballroom, there's an air duct and an emergency exit right there, and you can get in on the lower level..."

"Lower level?" Reyes interrupted. "What lower level?"

Jeff looked at him, then at Chaz and Hafidha, "They... didn't tell you much about the inside of the Mansion, did they?" He shook his head, "Let me guess. They had you ride the ride, learn about it that way?"

Reyes was scowling hard enough to curdle cream, "And, I'm assuming, not learning anything?"

Jeff grimaced and nodded, "Sorry to say, but yeah. You saw was the guests see. You didn't see what we see. And that's what you need."

Chaz nodded, "So... what don't we know? What didn't we see?"

"You don't know that the track in this section is between twelve and twenty feet off the ground, and that we use the area underneath for prop storage.  So there's a loading bay back there. And it puts you on the right level to get into the Ballroom proper, through the Pepper's Ghost set-up where the animatronics are."

"Pepper's Ghost?" Chaz looked up to see Todd come into the room, Faulkner right behind him. "Is that how it works?"

"Why am I not surprised that you know what he's talking about?" Reyes snapped. "Let us in on it, Todd. What's Pepper's Ghost?"

"Old, old stage trick. Civil war era, if I remember right. You use a mirror and a really strong light..." he trailed off, frowning. "No... that can't be it."

"Todd..."

"Wait, you need to see this." Todd grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and started sketching. "Look, it's like this. You have two rooms. Sometimes they're the same, sometimes one is black..."

"Ours is black," Jeff volunteered. Todd nodded, still sketching.

"You put a pane of half-silvered glass or a mirror between the room and where the people looking in will be. And you shine a bright light on whatever it is you want to be the ghost. The whatever it is reflects in the glass, and you have your ghost. If you start with dim light, and bring the light up slow, the whatever can look like it's appearing out of nowhere." He pushed the sketch across the table; Chaz turned it around and studied it for a moment. Three squares, set up in an L, with the one in the corner bisected by a diagonal line that Todd had helpfully labeled 'glass.' Todd pointed at at an X that he had drawn outside that square, "That's where you'd be standing."

Jeff was nodded, "That's how we get the dancers in the Ballroom.  The Pepper's Ghost illusion is generated underneath the track for the cars. The guests are actually riding right over the heads of the dancers, and they see the reflections of the dancers and flying ghosts in the glass in front of them as they go past. It's pretty cool. Ours is one of the largest of this kind of illusion in the world."

"So, what he's doing is a light trick?" Chaz asked. "How do we beat it?"

Jeff looked at him oddly, "What... who's doing?"

Todd ignored him, "How was the light down in the tunnels?"

Chaz frowned, thinking back, "It was pretty bright, actually."

Todd nodded, "I'm willing to bet there was a dim corner or a service corridor. He just faded away."

"So, we catch him by turning on all the lights?" Reyes asked, then looked at Jeff. "Where are the lighting controls?"

Jeff looked confused, "What are you talking about?"

"Look, all you need to know is that there is one of my agents on that ride, and if we don't get to her ten minutes ago, there's going to be one more corpse. So where are the damn lights?"

"You want emergency lighting or what we use when we send the maintenance teams in?" Jeff asked quickly.

"All of them. I don't want a shadow that a mouse could hide in anywhere in that building."

Jeff nodded, "Sure. I can do that. But I have to be inside. The controls are inside."

Faulkner shook her head, "I'm not sending a civilian into a hostage situation."

"You can tell us what needs to be done. Tell Hafidha. She knows computers, and she's trained for this," Reyes added.

"That won't work," Jeff snapped back. "and not just because this is my baby." He visibly restrained his temper, taking a deep breath. "Look, if you want to bring your agent out, you need me inside. The controls in there are old, Agent Reyes. Nothing against the lady here," he nodded at Hafidha, who nodded once in response, "but those controls are probably older that she is. I doubt she could figure them out.
I've been working them since the ride opened. I can work them in the dark, if necessary."

"I'll go with him," Todd volunteered.

Reyes closes his eyes, and for a moment, Chaz had the idea that he was counting backwards from one hundred. In Swahili. Finally, he nodded, "Get him a vest. Richardson probably has Daphne's gun."

"Richardson?" Jeff asked, sounding stunned. "Oh, no, no, no. Not David Richardson? He's been doing this?"  He didn't wait for confirmation, growling, "I'm going to break his neck. I'm going to start at his toes, and I'm going to break his damn neck!"

Faulkner looked surprised, "That's emphatic."

Jeff nodded, "Damned fool. I was getting him ready to take my place. There's a big refurbishment planned, it starts next month,  and I was planning to retire once the new Mansion came online. They were going to kick David upstairs during the refurb, get him into harness as an Imagineer. It's every cast member's dream job, and he was my pick." Jeff shook his head, "Damn it. There's no one else who knows the Mansion like he does."

"Except for you," Reyes said pointedly.

Jeff nodded, "Except for me. If we're going, let's go."

Reyes paused, then nodded once, turned, and walked away.

"Todd, you stay with Mr. Horowitz," Faulker said quietly. "Chaz, you need backup."

"I'm going with him," Hafidha answered.

Faulkner studied them for a moment, then nodded, "Good luck."

[VCorvidae]

The buggy continued its frustratingly slow trundle around the track and Daphne craned around the sides of it, trying as hard as she could not to miss anything. She couldn't see Richardson, but that didn't mean he wasn't there. She was cursing herself for not having paid more attention to the layout of the ride. If she could remember with certainty what was coming next, she could make her move.

Suddenly the buggy jerked to a halt. Daphne sat bolt upright, her hands clutching the safety bar. She looked around her as the lights guttered and then died, leaving her sitting in eerie darkness. The temperature dropped even lower than before and she could feel cold air moving across her face. Okay, now she really was scared.

If this was horror film territory, then she was in a big old mess. Nobody wants to be the one alone in the dark with the guy you can't see. Daphne swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. She tentatively stretched one hand out in front of her, feeling through the pitch darkness to feel . . . absolutely nothing.

She moved her hand from side to side. Still nothing. She sat for a moment, wondering whether or not to break the sudden silence.

Then she felt an icy chill rush through one side of her body. She turned to the empty seat beside her.

The seat was no longer empty. The ghostly image of  David Richardson was sitting next to her, glowing slightly; she could clearly see the back of the buggy through his shirt.

"I am sorry. But this is the only way," he murmured softly.

"The only way for what?" Daphne asked, turning in her seat. He wasn't really in front of her, so where was he?

"No one is going to help you. You're perfect, you're the one that it should have been all along."

"You're going to need to give me a little more than that, David." Daphne rattled the safety bar, but it was futile; there was no moving it. She could get out from under it, but it would take her a few minutes.

"There's no where to run, and there's a nasty drop here. I don't suggest getting out of the Doom Buggy," David said conversationally, smiling. "Now, my dear, may I have this dance?"

He vanished, and an arm wrapped around Daphne's throat from behind, a hand pressing something over her mouth. She smelled the chloroform on the pad and tried to fight back. She was still fighting when the darkness closed in and crushed her.

#

The world was spinning. Or maybe it was just the chair. Maybe Richardson had decided to branch out, and he was going to try and kill her on the Teacups instead of at the Haunted Mansion.

Daphne blinked rapidly, fighting back nausea and trying not to remember reading about just how easy it was to die from chloroform poisoning. The fatal dosage was something ridiculously low.... she coughed, took a deep breath and raised her head.

Ballroom. That made sense. She was sitting in one of the big chairs at the end of the table, and she focused briefly on the ropes that bound her wrists to the arms of the chair before looking up to see Richardson standing on the table. He was still wearing his Dream Patrol uniform, and he had a large coil of rope slung over his shoulder like a bandolier. And, Daphne noticed, her own gun tucked into his waistband. He looked down at her and grinned.

"Ah, you're awake. Good. That will make it easier." He looked away and peered up into the gloom. "They've put something around the chandelier. Probably to cut the ropes. I'm going to need to move that. Not a problem."

"David, tell me why," Daphne said softly. Keep him talking. Give the others time to find her.

He looked at her, and she realized that he was really standing there. There was no transparency to him, no glowing lights. He was normal. Whatever that meant.

"David?"

"They're here, you know. Connie, and our little boy. They're here." David said it to the air, not bothering to look at her.

"I know," Daphne said. He looked at her sharply, and she shook her head. "I'm not just saying that. I talked to Minna."

David laughed, "Oh, I see. Yes, if anyone would know, she would. Then you know that they're not supposed to be here. They're supposed to be with me. My wife, my son... we're supposed to be home. And... you know the rules, don't you?"

Daphne frowned, then shook her head, "No. What rules?"

David gestured to the room, "There are only room for a thousand. There was only one vacancy. Master Gracey took them both, though. Because...." he paused, fumbling with the rope. "Because Davey was so small. He was so... so very... little." He coughed, cleared his throat. "If... if I find someone else, someone better, then the Master will give them back to me. I know he will." He looked at Daphne, and she could see the Anomaly staring out at her through his eyes.  "And you're the one. You look... so much like her. Like my Connie."

"This won't bring them back," Daphne said softly.

David shrugged, "If it doesn't, then I'll find the right one." He stopped, cocked his head to one side, and grinned. "Maybe... maybe the Master doesn't want a woman. Maybe he wants a man. If you don't work, then I'll try your beanpole friend. It's got to be one of you. Now, let me get this rope fixed, so I can have you on your way."

As Daphne watched, he slowly faded to a shimmering shadow, and flew off the table and up into the shadows, vanishing from sight.

[VCorvidae]

David shrugged, "If it doesn't, then I'll find the right one." He stopped, cocked his head to one side, and grinned. "Maybe... maybe the Master doesn't want a woman. Maybe he wants a man. If you don't work, then I'll try your beanpole friend. It's got to be one of you. Now, let me get this rope fixed, so I can have you on your way."

As Daphne watched, he slowly faded to a shimmering shadow, and flew off the table and up into the shadows, vanishing from sight.

Somehow, on the way to the Haunted Mansion, the teams were rearranged. At Todd's insistence, Hafidha ended up going with Jeff to the control room. He and Chaz would, as he put it, go ghost-hunting.

"There's one thing I have to ask," Jeff said as they got out of the Disney van outside the back of the Mansion. "It's a lot, and if you have to ignore it to save your friend, then please, do so."

"What?" Todd asked.

"Try not to shoot the glass?" Jeff suddenly looked very nervous. Todd sighed and nodded.

Chaz frowned, then remembered Todd's sketch. "You mean the glass for the Ghost illusion?"

"Yes," Jeff nodded. "If you can avoid it. It's the largest single pane of glass in the world, and we'd have to take the Mansion apart to replace it. If it can even be replaced. I'm not altogether certain it can be."

"If we can avoid it, we will. No promises," Todd drew his gun and nodded at Chaz.

"I understand. Do you remember how you have to go?"

"I've got it," Chaz answered.

"You get the lights on," Todd added.

Jeff nodded and unlocked the door, opening it to reveal the darkness inside. Silently, the four slipped into the Mansion, the door closing behind them with a soft click.

*

It was still too damn cold in the Mansion. What little light filtered through the overhead tracks and silent, abandoned Doom Buggies did little to pierce the gloom. Chaz could very well believe that there were nine hundred and ninety-nine grim grinning ghosts wandering these halls, if it weren't for the brightly-colored props that he kept on finding with his flashlight. Ahead of him, Todd stopped and waited for him to catch up.

"Two doors, he said," Todd whispered. "We need to flank Richardson. Go around, wait 'til I make a move."

Chaz nodded and slowly made his way through the dark, trying not to shiver too badly, trying not to worry. Daphne was fine, he told himself. Just fine. He found the door and turned off his flashlight, slipping inside and waiting in the shadows behind one of the dancers. At least he'd been ready for them. It would have been embarrassing to jump out of his skin because of a mannikin on a turntable. The ballroom lay before him, separated only by the single pane of glass. It was a good vantage point; from here, he could see Daphne, bound to a chair at the head of the table. On the table, translucent and glowing, was Richardson. He was looking up, and doing something with his hands. When he stepped back, Chaz could see the noose hanging from the ceiling.

"That took longer than I thought it would. I apologize for keeping you waiting, my dear," Richardson said. He stepped from the table and hovered in mid-air for a moment before slowly sinking to the floor. As his feet touched the ground, the glow vanished. He held one hand out to Daphne, "It's time for you to meet the Master."

"I wouldn't," Todd stepped into the ballroom, his gun raised and aimed at Richardson. "Put the gun down, David. We don't want to hurt you."

Richardson took a step back and faded slightly into glowing translucency, "Oh, let me guess. You're here to help?" he asked, his voice tart. In one quick motion, he drew the gun at his waist and aimed it at Daphne.  "Your bullets won't hurt me. But mine still work. So you put your gun down, and get out of my Master's house."

Chaz swore softly, his mind racing. He wasn't looking forward to finding out just how effective ghost bullets were on humans. And h was fairly certain that Richardson was right. Anything they threw at him would bounce off or pass right through. There had to be some way...

The idea hit him all at once, and he stepped out of the shadows and into the ballroom, drawing his own gun. Todd saw him and tried to wave him off, but Chaz shook his head and took aim at the single pane of glass.

"Drop it, David," he called out. Richardson turned, and his jaw dropped.

"No..." His aim on Daphne wavered, and he took a step towards Chaz. For a moment, Chaz could have sworn that the glow surrounding Richardson faded.

"Drop the gun and get down on the ground," Todd said, taking over with a short nod in Chaz's direction. "We only want to help you, David."

"Then let me have her!" Richardson shouted, moving closer to Daphne. "Let me give her to the Master, so I can have my wife and son back!"

From where he was standing, Chaz could see Daphne's face, see her as she winked at him, then focused on Richardson. Immediately, he knew she was waiting for an opening. How was he supposed to give it to her?

"It doesn't work like that, David," Chaz said, his voice low, his thoughts racing. "You can't expect Master Gracey to take an unwilling victim."

Richardson glared at him, "You don't know what you're talking about." He took another step towards Daphne, bringing him almost close enough to touch her.  "She's perfect...."

Later, Chaz would swear that two things happened almost simultaneously: Daphne lashing out with both feet, knocking Richardson back and  sending the gun flying,  and every light in the Mansion coming on with almost supernova brightness. Richardson stumbled back, looked at his empty hands, then up at Todd, who was coming closer, his gun still at the ready.

"No!" Richardson backed up a step, then vaulted over the table, sending dishes and candelabras flying in every direction. He hit the ground running, and disappeared behind the enormous pipe organ that stood at one end of the ballroom.

"Villette, follow him! Do not engage!" Todd snapped, but Chaz was already running, following Richardson up the hidden stairs and out onto the ride track. Richardson was no where to be seen, but Chaz could hear retreating footsteps ringing on the narrow, metal walkway, heading towards the beginning of the ride. He looked down at the grating and scowled; if he ran after Richardson, the man would know immediately that there was someone following him, and he knew the mansion better than Chaz did. There had to be hiding places, shadows that not even the bright over-head lights could reach. Following without making any noise and without Richardson getting the drop on him was going to be challenging. Unless.... Chaz looked at the Doom Buggy next to him and a slow grin started.  Holstering his gun, he quickly scrambled up the side of the Buggy, judged the distance to the next one, and jumped.

It was probably the most interesting parkour course he'd ever tried, and even if he could tell anyone, no one would ever believe him. The even layout of the track and the regular spacing of the cars made it easy to make his way along the track without being seen, and he quickly passed through Leota's séance and the Hall of Doors, stopping briefly in the Conservatory to catch his breath and listen.

The halbard took him completely by surprise.

[VCorvidae]

It was probably the most interesting parkour course he'd ever tried, and even if he could tell anyone, no one would ever believe him. The even layout of the track and the regular spacing of the cars made it easy to make his way along the track without being seen, and he quickly passed through Leota's séance and the Hall of Doors, stopping briefly in the Conservatory to catch his breath and listen.

The halbard took him completely by surprise.

He yelped and dove to the side, catching himself on the walkway and taking cover behind one of the buggies and drawing his gun. He vaguely remembered seeing it in the hand of the suit of armor, but he didn't think the damn thing was real.

"So, it's the beanpole," Richardson laughed. "I told her that I thought you might make a good substitute if she didn't work. Looks like the Master agrees. Be a good little victim and come on out."

Great. Sol told me not to engage. Looks like nobody told the UNSUB that. Chaz grimaced and tried to peer over the edge of the car. Where was he? Something creaked behind him, and Chaz reacted without thinking, launching himself forward along the track, hearing the whistle behind him as the polearm passed through the space where he'd once been hidden. That was when he noticed  the shadows that the cars were casting. All at once he saw the flaw in Reyes' plan, and realized that hunter had suddenly become prey.

"You want me? Come catch me!" Chaz took off down the walkway, keeping in the light until he head the sound of solid footsteps behind him.  Back up the incline through the Hall of Doors, trying not to jump as the doors around him gibbered and screamed, bulging outward in artificial animatronic threat. The track made a sharp turn just as the Hall of Doors spilled out into the séance, and Chaz ducked behind the corner and dove into a Doom Buggy he'd noticed on his way through the first time, one where the lap bar hadn't lowered. He pressed back into the seat,  holding his breath and listening hard, his gun ready. Shadows had never bothered him before. Now, they were places where the Anomaly could hide.  And the Anomaly had a hell of a big axe...

"Where are you, Beanpole?" Richardson called out. From the sound of it, he was a few cars back and coming closer.  Chaz tipped his head to the side, focusing on the footsteps. When they stopped, he jumped.

"I thought you were supposed to be some kind of special agent, Beanpole," Richardson's voice seemed to come from everywhere, and it took Chaz a moment to realize it was coming from the speakers in the Doom Buggy. Not good. "Aren't special agents supposed to be... well, special? You guys really aren't all that smart. You're ridiculously easy to fool." Overhead, the lights flickered and faded away to darkness. "And even easier to catch."

The lap bar in the Buggy snapped down, catching Chaz across the thighs. Startled, he grabbed at it with one hand, only to find it locked down, trapping him in the seat.

"Do you have a name, Agent Beanpole?"

Chaz turned and stared at the faintly glowing man sitting next to him. He started to raise his gun, but realized that it was a useless gesture. Instead, he slipped the gun back into its holster, and answered calmly, "Charles Villettte."

"Charles. Not Charlie, I assume?" Richardson asked, looking at him curiously. He smiled when Chaz nodded. "I didn't think so. I wouldn't. I hate it when people call me Dave. Nice to meet you, Charles. That was quite impressive, the way you followed me. I've never seen anything like it."

"Ah... thanks." Chaz looked around, peering through the darkness. Where were Sol and Daphne?

"If you're looking for the girl and the man with the fingers, they're locked in the ballroom. And the others are in the control room. I should have known old man Horowitz would poke his nose in. Anyhow, we have a few minutes to talk. What's her name?"

"Who?"

"The blonde who looks like my Connie. I learned all of their names, but I never got hers."

Chaz nodded. Keep him talking. The others would find a way out. "Daphne."

Richardson started to laugh, "You're joking! Really?" He shook his head, "Never would have guessed it. Makes me think of the ditzy redhead from the cartoon. She your girlfriend?"

"No!" Chaz blurted out. "She... she's my friend."

Richardson nodded. "Real good friends, it looks like. No rings. You married?"

"No."

"Didn't think so. That makes this easier," Richardson sighed. "I really didn't enjoy killing those girls. I just.... I need my Connie back. And our boy. I really do hope that you're the one. I don't want to hurt anyone else. I just want them back." He reached toward Chaz, his ghostly hand solidifying as he plucked Chaz' gun from the holster, then fading back to translucency as Richardson rose and floated out of reach, hovering a foot over the walkway. He leveled the gun at Chaz and said, "I am sorry, Charles."

"David," the voice came from out of the darkness, a sing-song soprano that was vaguely familiar to Chaz. The effect that the voice had on Richardson was electric. He jerked, looking around frantically.

"Leota?" he gasped.

"The Master doesn't like what you're doing, David," Leota sang gently.

"The Master will give them back to me if I find the right replacement!" Richardson shouted back.

"You're wrong, David." It was a man's voice now, and Chaz definitely recognized the ringing, resonant tones. He'd heard it often enough on his repeated rides with Lau. Master Gracey, the Ghost Host. "There has been enough blood spilled in my house, David. It's time for you to go."

Richardson went pale.  "...go?" he repeated weakly.

"You are no longer welcome here. Leave now, and never return."

The lights snapped back on, and Richardson dropped heavily to sprawl on  the walkway, the gun falling from his hand and bouncing away; Chaz heard the distant sound of it hitting the ground. The lap bar loosened, and then sprang open, allowing Chaz to get to his feet. He stepped out onto the walkway, crouched and held one hand out to Richardson.

"David?" he said gently. "You can come with me. Let me help."

Richardson looked up and stared at Chaz' hand like he'd never seen one before, then scrambled back, getting slowly to his feet, the rope coils hanging askew across his chest. He shook his head slowly, his eyes wide and panicked.

"No," he moaned softly, "Master, please! Give me another chance! I can find the right one, I swear it!"

"No more!" Gracey's voice boomed out from all around them. "Leave!"

"Goodbye," Leota sang in a taunting sing-song, her voice almost drowned out by a deep, ominous laugh.

 David flinched and moaned, backing away from Chaz, who rose and followed, keeping his hand still extended.

"David, come with me!" he repeated, trying to stay calm. He wasn't sure what was going on, if this was Hafidha's doing, or if Richardson's powers were out of control. From somewhere down the track, he heard Daphne, calling his name. Richardson heard it too, and flinched.

"They're coming for me," he gasped. "The others... they're coming!"

"David, listen to me!" Chaz raised his voice, trying to break through Richardson's panic. "Come with me! I can protect you!"

"No, you can't..." Richardson looked at him and smiled sadly. "Glad I didn't kill you, Beanpole. You're a nice guy. Get out, while you can. I... I deserve this. I was..." he stopped, looking past Chaz, his eyes wide. His face went pale, and he stammered, "Connie?"

Chaz turned, saw nothing, and turned back in time to see Richardson wheel and run, screaming in panic. Before Chaz could move, he watched as Richardson tripped and disappeared over the side of the walkway. The scream was very short. Chaz slowly walked over to the spot and looked down, wincing at the sight of the body dangling a few feet from the ground.

"Villette!"

Chaz looked up to see Todd and Daphne standing in the doorway where the tracks left Leota's séance and passed into the Ballroom.

"Watch your step," he called dully. "It's a long way down."

"The UNSUB?"

Chaz pointed, "Down there. He fell." He waited until they came around to meet him before asking Daphne, "You okay?"

She nodded, "Nothing serious. Headache and some rope burn. Tricia is going to think I'm cheating on her. What happened?"

"I didn't need to hear that, " Chaz murmured. He sighed and shrugged, "Not sure. He started seeing things, and panicked. I tried to stop him..."

Sol nodded, "Sometimes, it just doesn't work the way we want it to." He  pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at it. "Signal, finally. All right, I'll call this in, get the coroners. One of you call Gates..."

"No need," Jeff called out. He and Hafidha appeared from around the corner. "The monitors came back up a few minutes ago, and we came down."There's an emergency exit across from the ballroom. We can get out that way."

The group started around the track, and Chaz called over his shoulder, "How did you do that, with the voices? If you hadn't, I'd have been the next body in the graveyard."

"What voices?" Jeff asked.

"Leota, and the Ghost Host. Gracey," Chaz answered. "Having them tell him to stop and to get out derailed him entirely."

"Chaz, we were locked in the control room with no control over anything," Hafidha said. "Whatever you heard, we didn't do it."

Chaz stopped short, turning to look at the two behind him, "You didn't?"

"Not a thing."

"Sol, did you hear it?" Chaz turned to see Todd nodding slowly.

"I heard it. Paul Frees' voice, or damn near. Sounded just like the original."

"Impossible," Jeff was shaking his head. "Oh, there's a young man out in California who is redoing the tapes. And he sounds very close to the original. But there's no way..." he stopped, and looked up. "No..."

"Can we go, now that I'm officially creeped out?" Daphne asked.

*

They were met outside the Mansion by Disney security, who bundled everyone but Todd into an unmarked panel van and drove them out of the park and back to the Administration building. In the conference room, Chaz sank into a chair and smiled his thanks at Brady, who shoved a cup of coffee into his hand.

"You okay?" he asked. Chaz nodded and leaned back in the chair, sipping the coffee and watching Faulkner and Daphne, who were talking quietly in the corner.

There was a commotion outside the room, and Erich Strassen walked in. The head of Disney Security looked rumpled and uncomfortable, and he cleared his throat twice before speaking.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I want to offer you Disney's sincerest thanks for your assistance in this... unpleasant matter. Is... ah... the young lady in question all right?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Daphne answered. "Seriously rethinking the Disney vacation, though."

Strassen winced, "Ah... yes. Completely understandable, under the circumstances. Please allow us to offer you our hospitality tonight?" He made the offer in a dull voice, clearly hoping they wouldn't take him up on it.

Faulkner let him squirm for a moment before refusing, "No, thank you. We'll be going back to DC as soon as the paperwork is finished. There is, however, one small detail that you can assist us with."

Strassen looked relieved, then realized that Faulkner was waiting for his answer, "Oh, yes. Of course. What can we do?"

"Minna Barck. Rehire her."

Strassen's jaw dropped, "Miss Barck?  But that's..."

"A suitable reward for the woman who help apprehend a dangerous serial killer," Faulkner finished smoothly.

"If not, I'm sure that Mike Thomas at the Sentinel would be very interested in how you handle felony assault and murder on Disney property," Reyes added, smiling. Chaz looked at him, then hurriedly looked down at his coffee before the sight turned him to stone.

Strassen was sweating. He looked around the room, then nodded quickly. "I'll... see what I can do." He fled, and Faulkner looked around, gathering them all with her eyes.

"Let's go home."

*

(Six weeks later)

"Briefing Room, please.”

Once they were all around the table, Faulkner cleared her throat, "We've had an... interesting note from Miss Barck."

It took Chaz a moment to remember who Miss Barck was. Daphne beat him to it, "How is she?"

"Doing well. She wanted to thank us for getting her rehired. She's working on the Mansion renovation, she says. And... she wanted to pass on a message," Faulkner looked down at the laptop in front of her.  "It's for you, Chaz."

"Me?" Chaz asked.

"She says that she's seen David Richardson. He asked her to thank you, and tell you that you were right. He's with his wife and son now, and happy. " Faulkner closed the laptop and licked her lips. "That's all."

Without a word, the others filed out of the room, leaving Chaz sitting there, staring out the window.