The receptionist desk, highly decorated to match the Christmas season, was empty in the Huntington & Chandler office.  Neil had his feet kicked up on his desk in the office behind it and to the side a little.  The computer monitor next to his feet played a movie quite loudly.  Neil’s attention was on the work-up in his hand.  There was a stack of similar looking documents in his lap.  Neil finished with the one, put it face-down on the desk and picked up another.

Image Credit: Keary O.

Ed Chandler walked over and stood in the doorway of Neil’s office.  He was tired of Neil playing loud movies and music all the time.  It was not that he didn’t appreciate Neil’s taste, it was that he feared it gave off an air of unprofessionalism that their fledgling business could hardly afford right now.

Ed leaned on the jamb, took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes and opened his mouth.  But he didn’t say anything.  Instead, he was confused.

“What are you doing there?” Ed asked.

“Going over the big Shady-Waterman Real Estate job,” Neil didn’t budge.

Ed was over and behind Neil quickly to take a look.

“What Shady-Waterman job?” Ed asked.

“I’ve only been working on it for the better part of the week.  Where have you been?” Neil casually asked.

“Miami,” Ed replied matter-of-factly.

“Really?  What were you doing there?”

“Schmoozing for a big contract client,” he said, “What is this all about?  How did they hear about us?” Ed wondered.

“I have a buddy in I.A. He used to do jobs on the side, but they’ve been auditing the department.  So he threw me a bone.” Neil mentioned.

“Oh my God.  He’s Internal Affairs and he’s crooked?  This could be huge.  Why don’t we blow the whistle on this?” Ed was searching for understanding.

“Because then we wouldn’t have any clients and the whole department would be after us,” Neil was nonchalant, “I got alimony and child support.”

“I’ll help you out, I’ll defend you, we can’t in good conscience let this pass.”

“Well, we better.  Otherwise Ed Chandler could do time for corruption, bribery, and racketeering,” Neil said.

“What are you talking about?  Are you threatening me?”

“No, doofus, I’m trying to protect you.” Neil said.

“You know what, forget it.  I don’t even want to know.  What are you doing for them, anyway.” Ed relented.

“Employee background checks for a lot people.”

“That should bring in some good cash.” Ed said.

“I think it’s bogus, though.  Shady-Waterman employ about as many people as they are inquiring on and not all of their documents are in order,” said Neil.

“Then why are you still processing them?” Ed asked.

“For the money,” said Neil, “I have alimony and child support.”

“Yes, I’ve heard.  But didn’t your wife remarry, and wouldn’t that negate the alimony?”

“Ok, child support still,” said Neil, “and a gambling problem.”

The bell from the front door indicated that someone had entered the office.

“Speaking of child support, Neil, our receptionist has arrived,” Ed said.

Eva shook off the snow from her red-hooded jacket.  She stomped her feet and uncovered her head.  The front windows, obscured with moisture and ice, were decorated with holly and colorful lights.

“Winter break!” she screamed.

Ed and Neil emerged from Neil’s office to see a huge smile on the face of a pretty teenaged girl.  She dropped her coat on the back of her chair at the reception desk and handed Ed a plate of cookies covered in plastic wrap and drizzled with snow.

“What is that noise?” she asked, “It doesn’t sound very professional.”

Eva sat at her desk playing on the computer in between texting her friends.  Everything in the office was tidy because of her and it smelled sweet and inviting for the same reason.  The phone rang and Eva promptly answered it in a confident yet inviting tone.  When she was finished with the call, she opened the door to Ed’s office the rest of the way.

“Sorry to bother you Ed, but we have a good one that I don’t think you want to pass up,” Eva told him.

“I’m a wee bit busy with this Miami thing, where’s your Dad?” Ed asked.

“Christmas root canal.  I think it was my cookies,”  she said.

“I guess that explains the peace and quiet,” he replied.

“I’m pretty sure you’ll want to hear this anyway.  It involves ghosts,” she smiled.

“Ghosts?  Like spiritual apparitions of the dead that haunt the living?” he joked.

“The very same.  There were five calls that came in earlier which were of a similar nature.  I was holding onto them for Dad, thinking he’d get a kick out of them.  But then there was the whole cookie thing, some crying, and then he left for the dentist.  Anyway, there are those five plus this one.  What makes them so great is that they are all in the same neighborhood,” Eva stated.

“Did they all call in individually or have they all talked to each other?” Ed asked.

“They seemed to have all acted independently.  Each of them were a little embarrassed about making the call,” she said.

“I guess it’s safe to say that they haven’t contacted the police either, huh?” he asked.

“You are correct,” said Eva.

She handed the message slips to him and he looked through them quickly.

“I better get started then, and why don’t you go make some more cookies, for when your Dad gets back.  I’m getting all sorts of work done,” Ed remarked.

The next morning Neil and Ed arrived at the first client’s home.

“How’s the tooth?” asked Ed.

“Funny tasting.  All the weird crap they put in there for the temporary crown is grossing me out,” Neil kept moving his mouth around uncomfortably, ”So, ghosts, huh?”

“Do you believe in ghosts?” Ed asked.

“I’ll believe in anything if it pays enough,” Neil replied.

Neil then suddenly froze in place.

“What’s wrong?” Ed asked.

“I’m not sure, but something seems a little off here.  I don’t know.  All I know is that I can’t go in there with you.  Gimme your keys, I’m going to drive around.  Just call me when you are finished.  Don’t commit to anything, just let them know that you’ll be in touch,” Neil said.

Ed handed him the keys, “Is everything alright?”

“I don’t know.  I’m still trying to work that out,” Neil replied.

“Well is there anything special you want me to ask them?” Ed inquired.

“Yes.  See if they’ve had any break-ins recently,” Neil said as he headed for the car.

Ed continued forward towards the home.

“I’ll call you when I’m finished.  Have you got your cell on you?

Neil held the phone up in his hand and got into the car.

Ed walked up to the door, still a little confused, and pushed the doorbell.  An elderly couple answered it together.  They seemed tentative and frightened but still polite.  Ed introduced himself and the two led him into the dining room where they offered coffee and cookies.  They were both well into retirement and had been in the neighborhood for years.  Mrs. Jergensen poured Ed a cup and sat back down.

“It started just last week.  My husband, Bob, was making sure the doors were locked for the evening and then he said…”

“I’ll tell the damn story.  A shadowy white thing appeared at the window and it was loud and sort of dancing around,” Bob started as his bony fingers adjusted his suspenders.

“It was dancing?” Ed smirked.

“At first I thought there were some damn kids playing a joke, but there aren’t any kids on this street.  And it was so loud, I mean, if an old fart like me can hear it, it must have nearly woken the dead.  Then it went into all this bullshit that it was the Ghost of Christmas Past and all this crap.  I tried to grab it thinking some fool was under a sheet or behind the curtains, but there was nothing there,” Bob said.

“Tell ‘em about what it said, Bob,” she urged.

“I’m getting to that Norma, just hold your britches.  Anyway, it just pissed me off more than anything until it started talking about me and my past.  It knew details about my upbringing, my years in the Navy, and all sorts of details.  I darn near soiled myself.  It was gone shortly after and before I had my wits back to examine it proper,” he finished.

“And then a similar thing happened again just yesterday.  Except it happened during the day while I was dusting the mantle,” Norma exclaimed.  “It was the same window in the living room as the other time.  But this time it was the Ghost of Christmas Present it said.  It caught me so off guard and it seemed so real that I just stood there like an idiot.  It went into our whole financial situation even talking about things I didn’t know about.  Credit and other stuff like that.  I didn’t even understand everything it was talking about.  Then it was gone.”

Ed got into the car as Neil pulled up to the curb.  He got in and they drove off.  Ed took his recorder from his belt and played it for Neil.  Ed listened just as intently the second time as he did the first.  When it was finished Ed just looked at Neil.

“Is that not the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard?  What people do you think the Ghost of Christmas Future was talking about?  That they would show up on Christmas Eve and all that?  Think it’s some sort of door-to-door religious thing?  Trying to get converts whilst in the spirit of the season?” Ed asked.

Neil just shook his head and handed Ed a file that he had placed in between himself and the driver’s side door.  Ed flipped through it and his face lit up.

“Zoiks, Scoobs! I should have known.  Shady-Waterman,” Ed hollered.

“I knew there was something strange about where we were but I just couldn’t put my finger on it.  I had gone through so many files, I just didn’t consciously recognize the address.  Then with the distraction from my tooth and all, it just took a second before it clicked.  Did they have any break-ins?” Neil asked.

“Not really.  They found their door unlocked last week before this all started, but they didn’t think anything of it until I pressed on about it.  Didn’t have anything taken though.  What are you thinking?  Mini-wireless projector?” Ed asked.

“Yeah.  Probably some other spyware to gather convincing details too.  Good thing you went in and not me, Shady-Waterman knows my face,” Neil noted.

“Well, we did all the work-ups, so going to the cops is out.  Unless we want to lose our license and invest in some cozy, iron-barred real estate.  Ideas?” Ed asked.

“I’ve got a couple rattling around.  If they’re using wireless technology, then they’ve got to be close by when they broadcast their holiday messages.  Start calling all the other clients and ask them if they’ve seen any suspicious vans in the area.  It’s a neighborhood of older folks and they’re usually pretty in-tune with what is out of the ordinary.  They might be able to pin down a time for you too for when the van typically arrives.  Get that much for me and I’ll take care of the rest,” Neil said.

It was Christmas Eve and Neil was playing his movies quite loudly again.  Eva walked in later this morning than usual, but had another plate full of cookies wrapped in plastic.  Ed walked out of his office.  He had a Christmas present, an envelope, and the newpaper in his hands.

“Good morning, Eva.  Come into your dad’s office with me,” he said.

Neil’s movie was obnoxiously loud while the other two joined him.  Ed reached over and turned Neil’s speakers off.  He slapped the newpaper down on Neil’s desk.

“Apparently, the problem solved itself.  Earl Shady and Hank Waterman were caught last night in a van with a kilo of coke.  Not the sort of white powder we’re used to seeing this time of year, but it looks like it’s going to keep them off our clients backs for a while,” Ed said.

“Funny that coincidence.  I was going to try and talk to them today.  Saves me some work,” Neil replied.

“Whatever works, I guess,”  Ed smiled, “this is for you, Eva.”  Ed handed her an envelope.  She set the plate of cookies on her dad’s desk.  Ed unwrapped the plate and ate one.  Eva looked at the check and hugged Ed.

“Thank you so much, Ed,” she told him.  Ed handed the present to Neil.  Neil smiled in surprise and tore it open.  It was a pair of headphones.

“Those are top of the line, the guy said,”  Ed noted.

“Thanks.  I got you something too,” Neil said.  He reached behind him and plopped a full-size tire with a small red bow onto his desk.  “I heard you needed a spare.”

Ed smiled and offered a cookie Neil’s way.  Neil shook his head and placed his hand on his mouth in pain.