Previous chapters of the Vista Falls story:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

How should the story continue? Voting is open on the current chapter!

Last time, after seeing a ghostly woman in a gray ball gown, Vera told everyone the legend of “The Woman in Gray.” The Woman in Gray was said to be the ghost of Theodosia Westwick, a wealthy young woman, whose heart was broken by her fiancé, Mordecai Jessop, two hundred years earlier. As the legend goes, Theodosia was in love with Mordecai and didn’t care that he was poor. One of Theodosia’s jealous suitors, the wealthy Harland Latchford, tricked Mordecai into breaking his engagement to Theodosia by saying that a wealthy girl would be miserable married to a poor man. Thinking he was doing what was best for his love, Mordecai left Vista Falls, joining the crew of a ship. When the ship sank and Mordecai was lost at sea, Theodosia locked herself in her mansion—receiving no visitors and seeing no one—until she died. The people of Vista Falls claimed her ghost roamed the halls of the mansion—clad in the gray ball gown she wore when Mordecai proposed. When the mansion was torn down, many people said that her ghost haunted the entire town and would retreat at night to the old courthouse. Others still, worried that when the land where the Westwick Mansion had once stood was developed for the new Vista Falls Hotel and Convention Center, Theodosia’s ghost was angered further. As Vera recounted the legend, her friends had a variety of reactions. Vera wanted to figure out just what they had seen when the ghostly woman appeared before them. Was it the ghost from the legend? Vera declared she’d get to the bottom of the mystery alone if she had to. Did her friends help her? Here’s what you decided.

Chapter 8
Head Ache

“Well, how do you explain what we just saw?” Delia asked. “Maybe it was the ghost of Theodosia.”

“Or maybe it wasn’t.” Chief Colbert smiled.

“There has to be some explanation. And, I intend to find what it is.” Vera smirked.

“We already have one clue—that key-card.”

“That could belong to anyone.” TJ shook his head. “People lose those things all the time. I’ll bet there are a hundred people at the hotel just like Miss Merrick who could have lost their card.”

“It’s a start.” Vera argued. “I know we can get to the bottom of this.” She narrowed her eyes again. “So, is anyone going to help me or am I going to have to figure this out on my own?”

Ward smiled. “What do you think, guys?”

“I have to admit, I’m curious.” TJ smiled, too.

“We’ve never hunted a ghost before.” Delia laughed. “Or have we?”

“Not that I remember.” Lucy shook her head. “Sometimes I have a hard time keeping all of our adventures straight.” She winked at her twin. “You know I’ll help, sis.”

“Me, too.” Rick nodded.

“Kate?” Ward asked.

“I guess. Hey, it’s no different than when we would tell ghost stories at camp. Right? I mean, it IS just a story. Isn’t it?” Kate asked.

“That’s what I want to find out.” Vera said.

“Of course, it’s just a story.” Chief Colbert laughed. “And, I intend to prove it. Right, Jenny?”

“You can count me in.” Jenny nodded.

“And, me!” Mr. Dinello added. “Vera, of course we’ll help you. In fact, we’ll start right now!”

“Good.” Vera grinned.

“I’m so excited.” Mr. Dinello sat up happily. “This reminds me of the time Sam and I went camping with my parents when we were about the age you kids are now. Remember that, Sam?”

“Uh.” Chief Colbert shook his head. “Yeah. Yeah, I remember. But, ummm…I thought we weren’t ever going to…”

“Oh, come on, Sam. That was almost three decades ago.” Mr. Dinello laughed.

“What part of ‘Never speak of this again’ didn’t make sense to you?” Chief Colbert frowned.

“Oh, now I have to know.” Jenny Littlepoole laughed. “Come on, Colbert, my darling fiancé, spill.”

“Jeff Dinello!” Chief Colbert snapped. “I…”

“Go on, Sam.” Mr. Dinello laughed. “Tell your fiancée and our friends.”

“Fine, fine.” Chief Colbert sighed. “I went camping with the Dinellos. We were about fifty miles north of Mapleford in the nature preserve. We were all sitting out by the campfire and Jeff’s father was telling ghost stories. The end.”

“Oh, no, no, no.” Mr. Dinello clapped his hands. “That’s not the end.”

“And, I got scared. The end.” Chief Colbert frowned again.

“That’s not the end either.” Mr. Dinello laughed. “I’ll tell you all what the end was. The end was Sam getting so scared that he ran screaming. He intended to run back to the cabin, but had his eyes shut so tightly because he was so afraid to see any ghosts that he ran straight into a tree and almost knocked himself out!”

Everyone laughed.

“Hey!” Chief Colbert shouted though he had begun to laugh, too. “It’s not funny. I still have a scar on my forehead.”

“Is that what that’s from?” Jenny asked. “I always thought you had gotten that as a policeman.”

Chief Colbert laughed even harder. “Oh, good gracious.” Then he paused. “You still want to marry me, don’t you?”

“Even more than ever.” Jenny Littlepoole giggled. “And, I promise that when we go on our honeymoon, I’ll make sure there are no trees for you to run into.”

“This is allllllllllll very amusing.” Vera stood up stiffly. “But, the longer we sit here and reminisce about ancient history…”

“Not THAT ancient.” Jeff Dinello raised an eyebrow.

Vera continued. “That Woman in Gray—or whatever she is—gets farther away.”

“Okay, sorry, Vera.” Mr. Dinello smiled. “Well, since this is your investigation, what do you want to do first?”

“Yeah.” Chief Colbert nodded. “You’re heading this one up. Jenny and I are off duty. We’re just one of the group right now. We’ve all solved enough mysteries together that I think it’s time for someone else to take the lead. So, Vera, you’re in charge.”

“Me?” Vera’s eyes widened. “I’m in charge.”

“Yup. You’re the head of the team.” Mr. Dinello nodded.

“I’m the head?” Vera grinned widely.

“Uh oh.” Lucy grunted.

Kate and Delia giggled.

“I love to be in charge!” Vera exclaimed.

“We know.” Ward nodded.

“So, what’s the first move in this investigation?” Jenny asked.

Vera’s head was spinning. She’d never been in charge of one of their cases before. Vera loved to tell people what to do. In fact, it was her hobby. But, suddenly, she was feeling overwhelmed and part of her wondered if she could do it.

What should Vera say?

Voting results for how the story continues:

Go to next chapter!