Audra went to Town Hall the next morning. Even though she had a very wealthy friend, Audra knew she needed a job.
"Sheriff?" The Mayor looked her up and down as if that were the most ridiculous request.
"Just acting sheriff until we can have the elections," Audra tried to reason. "Come on. I am the FBI Agent that helped make this town safe again, and uncovered an inheritance which taxes on the interest alone will help to build that mall, amusement, and waterpark."
"You pick up on politics quickly," the Mayor conceded and tossed her a badge. "First order of business is to finish hiring the contractor to rebuild the sheriff's station. Margret Shelley has donated to have it become a premier, state-of-the-art law enforcement center, including the ability to police and punish specters. Ethan Cole had a list going. His files would be in his temporary office at the jailhouse."
Audra breathed deeply at the thought of entering the jailhouse but made herself drive there. The closer she got the more she was haunted by the memory of Principal Shelley nearly killing Eric and Cordero. She remembered how her legs seemed to fail her in getting there fast enough. She remembered going to help Cordero. She wished she could go back and finish Principal Shelley off.
She drove past the jailhouse realizing that she was a strong woman, but not that strong, not yet. She called the jailhouse from behind the wheel on her cellphone and asked for Ethan's belongings to be sent to her at the B&B.
When the file box arrived, Audra was struck by how light it was. She didn't realize that she had been looking forward to seeing something personal of his. She wasn't sure why. The only thing inside was a notepad with names and numbers in his scribbled handwriting. She flipped through a few pages and then saw the one-eight-hundred-four-roses number. She thought of the vase he'd sent to her.
She transferred the number of three contractors he'd had marked to call back. She dialed them and set up back-to-back appointments to meet with them on the site to discuss their bids after lunch. After setting the appointments, she hopped in the car to get lunch and some air. She parked on the square near Bishop's, but found herself walking towards the Daylight Candle Shop.
She opened the door to find specters and people mingling. The people did not appear to be local. It took a minute for her to encounter Mackenzie as she was helping someone towards the back of the store.
"Audra," Mackenzie said, absentmindedly dropping the customer to come to Audra.
"Have you seen him?"
Audra wished that she could have hidden the desperation in her voice. Mackenzie hugged her, understanding her need to see him again.
"Honey, you can not put your life on hold waiting for the dead to show up. If he comes back, he'll find you."
Audra wanted more than that. She needed to know for certain if he was going to come back.
"I know that's not what you want to hear. I've lost people who never came back. Why do you think I allowed the one family member who did to drag me all the way here?"
Audra laughed. "Where is Marcus?"
"Candle calls," Mackenzie said. "Desperate house wives are a gold mine. They may squawk about me in public, but they know I know what's up."
Audra shook her head and Mackenzie took note of the sheriff's badge on her belt.
"Are you here to stay?"
"No promises," Audra said. "I just need to be here for a while."
"I understand that. I see you are without specter protection."
"Call me a believer," Audra responded. "I'd like to talk more about that when you get the time."
"Sure thing. I close the shop at six. Come on by."
Audra headed back towards Bishop's and took her usual seat. Ashley popped up.
"You're back?" she asked quizzically.
"For now. Can I get a rib platter?" Audra asked without looking at the menu."
"Coming right up," Ashley said and phased out.
Audra found herself jumping every time the door opened. She cursed herself for being so simple. She made it through three ribs before she asked for a to-go tray. As she drove back to the B&B to prepare for her contractor meetings, she gave her self a tough love pep talk.
"Audra, Ethan is… dead." Her voice started out stern but had turned to a squeak by the last word. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Audra, Ethan is dead."
By the time she pulled into the B&B she had repeated the short phrase half a dozen times. When she parked, she put her to-go tray in her lap and looked at the empty seat next to her. She hated how true those words were beginning to feel. She hated wishing that they weren't true.
"Why Ethan?" she finally asked.
Sheriff Miller appeared in the seat Audra was holding reserved for a different ghost.
"Do you really want to know?" he asked.
Audra swallowed and nodded.
"She was a sick woman. Please, don't try to make any sense of these senseless tragedies."
Audra contemplated the Sheriff's advice as she rode out to the site of the burned down sheriff's station. It was the same thing she'd told Margret, hoping it would help her to find closure and not blame herself for what Principal Shelley had done.
She made it to the lot of the station with time to spare. It was clear and barren land. There was no evidence that there was ever a structure there, let alone a fire. She sat in her car and tried to remember the unimpressive trailer that Ethan had brought her to on her first day in town. She remembered sitting in the meeting room with the table that was almost too big for it, and opening the files of the five victims killed by Principal Shelley, all because they were illegitimate daughters from two of her own illegitimate sons. A family scandal she couldn't bare.
As a late model pick-up truck pulled onto the lot and parked next to her, Audra took a deep breath and pushed thoughts of Ethan aside. She read the magnet on the side of the pick-up: Rutherford Contractors, LLC. A tall, handsome man with brown hair and dark eyes wearing jeans, a polo shirt, and work boots walked confidently towards her. His smile was easy as he carried a rolled up blue print under one arm and extended the other towards Audra for a handshake.
"Sheriff Wheeler," Mr. Rutherford said. "It's an honor to meet you. I want to thank you for the work you and Ethan did to bring that nightmare to an end."
Audra nodded and smiled.
"Thank you," she responded.
He pointed her to the back of his truck and she followed him.
"I went to Town Hall to get a copy of the plat to see the layout of this particular property," he began as he let down the back gate of his truck and rolled out the blue print on the truck bed. "You have close to a hundred acres right here. When I talked to Ethan he said he was interested in starting with something somewhat modest with room to grow. However, I caught an interview on the news with the Mayor relaying Ms. Shelley's desire to see this station become cutting edge and state-of-the-art in law enforcement. I came up with this yesterday."
Audra looked at the plans and in her head she said yes. "Walk me through it, Mr. Rutherford."
As Mr. Rutherford talked, he pointed between the lines on the blue prints and the imaginary structure that would stand on the lot.
"There is currently an ordinance that will not allow for anything built within town limits to be over five stories tall. This building would house five stories and would be able to accommodate everything from day-to-day administration, officer education and training, research and development, satellite operations and more. You may feel like a little bit of a ghost yourself in this building, until it's fully operational."
Audra smiled. He pointed out and listed all of the possibilities and versatility of the spaces that would be created. He even mentioned the use of specter monitoring, tracking, and holding technology. Audra was completely impressed with the presentation but she went through the motions of meeting with the other two contractors who had very modest proposals by comparison. Mr. Rutherford remained her first choice.
After her last meeting she headed back into town. As she passed the drug store she spotted Magic leaving work and lighting a cigarette. Magic spotted her in her car and waved. Audra pulled over. Magic stomped out her cigarette before leaning against the car as Audra got out.
"Nice to have friends in high places," Magic said bumping her hip against the car and giving Audra an extended hug. "Sheriff Wheeler?"
Audra nodded.
"I have to ask," Magic began. "Why did you come back?"
"I'm not sure," Audra said honestly. "It just feels like I should be here."
"Have you gone to the house yet?"
"Not yet. I know Cordero is there, still recouping, and I'm sure he's expecting me but, maybe I need someone to ride there with me." Audra looked to Magic questioningly.
"Of course," Magic said. "Can I drive?"
"Sure. I was just on my way to see Mackenzie at the shop. You wanna come with me? Then we could leave for the country."
Audra was surprised to see a chill run over Magic.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I don't know," Magic said. "For the last few days every time I think about that candle shop it feels as if someone is walking over my grave. The last time I went to visit Margret Shelley in the hospital she kept mumbling about what's coming next. I never really thought about it before, but it stands to reason these specters are a sign of something." Magic turned to look at the Daylight Candle Shop.
"What do you think is coming next?" Audra asked.
"If these are supposed to be good ghosts, I have to think there will be some sort of an opposite to them, like yin and yang or something. I've never seen that Mackenzie at church," Magic commented.
"Maybe she's not religious."
"Maybe." Magic shrugged. "But, she comes to town with her ghost grandfather who plays for the church. You'd think she'd come every once in a while. Can I wait for you in the car?"
"Of course," Audra said handing Magic the keys to the BMW.
Audra entered the candle shop just as Mackenzie closed out her register.
"Business is booming?" Audra asked.
"It's morbid what people will come to see for themselves. They just want a souvenir from the specter haven and home of the latest serial killer," Mackenzie said. "Okay, have a seat and tell me what is on your mind."
"Do you know what's coming next?" Audra asked.
"Next?" Mackenzie looked away to avoid eye contact.
"Dr. Shelley and Sherriff Miller said they were a sign of heaven and Earth folding onto each other. What's next?"
"Audra, I'm not certain you know what you're asking."
"I want to know what is coming next. It doesn't take a genius to know that what happened with Principal Shelley began nearly four decades before specters showed up. They weren't the first sign were they?"
"Audra, with knowledge comes responsibility. Do you want to be responsible for the information that you are asking about?"
"I want to know that there is a purpose to all of this. There must be a reason that Kendra has been in a coma, and a reason all of those girls were murdered, and a reason that Ethan was killed."
"If you believe that nothing is random," Mackenzie took Audra by the hand, "all of those things had to happen to bring you here to stay."
"Why?"
"Audra, you've been through so much. I promise to tell you all that I know. But not tonight. You need space to truly grieve for your loss. When you're ready, I'll still be here."