The Murders of Cozy Hollow

Chapter 2 - The Grand Tour

Ed, his sons and Tank followed their realtor throughout the house. There were no furnishings or window coverings at all. The sunlight radiated through the tall windows into the rooms and halls making the dormant house feel light and airy during the day. The kitchen was huge and recently renovated to include a granite island and stainless steel appliances. The bathrooms were redone but kept in vintage styles. The boys could not believe they'd all have their own bedrooms. Their cramped beach bungalow in California only had three bedrooms. The attic was bare and illuminated by narrow perched windows. Overall, space was amble.

Amy Small ended the tour back in the foyer at the base of the grand staircase where they started.

"What do you think?" asked Amy.

"We certainly don't have enough furniture to fill the place," said Ed.

"That's okay, you can work on decorating the house over time. I can help, if you like."

Ed picked up on a hint of flirtation. He was a widower in his late forties and she was a divorcée in her early thirties. Ed figured her options were limited in a town as small as Cozy Hollow. Or maybe she was simply trying to entice a sale.

"What about the basement?"

"Do you want to see the basement now?"

Ed felt Amy's consternation.

"Yes, that'd be great."

"We want to see where the dead girls were found," said Joe.

"Hey, that's not funny. Sorry, don't mind him."

"Follow me," said Amy.

The thick basement door off the kitchen was dead-bolted. The stairs were steep and there were a lot of them. Amy descended slowly and turned on the sole hanging light at the bottom of the stairs. It felt damp and cool. It had little natural light from the one subterranean window in a far corner. Ed noticed Amy never set foot on the cement floor, preferring to stand on the bottom stair under the dangling lightbulb. Tank trotted around exploring the bare cellar and the boys followed. Ed walked to the center and noticed the foot long red X on the floor.

"Is this where the bodies of the Beaumont girls were excavated?" asked Ed.

"I think so," said Amy.

"Cool," said Joe.

"I wonder how far down this Beaumont guy dug," said Kurt.

"Not far enough, I guess," said Rex.

"How old were the girls?" asked Will.

"I think they were all around your and your brothers' ages," said Amy. "It happened before I was born."

"Have there been any other violent crimes committed in the house since?" asked Ed.

"No."

"What do you boys think about the house?"

"It's creepy but kinda cool," said Kurt.

"I love it," said Rex.

Of course, Rex had been sold the moment he spotted Willow Arnold across the street in her little bikini.

"Joe, what do you think?" asked Ed.

"I don't know, dad," said Joe. "What if it's haunted?"

"Well, maybe if there are ghosts around they can keep us company."

Ed could never have fathomed how relevant that statement would become to he and his sons.

"It's okay if you're too creeped out," said Amy. "I'd certainly understand."

"No hard sell?"

"No, it's your decision. There are other houses I can show you in Cozy Hollow."

"Boys, why don't you go pick out your bedrooms."

"Are you serious??" cried Amy.

"Let's sign those papers. We're home."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!!"

***

The boys could be heard running around upstairs arguing over who would get which room. Kurt was obviously trying to mediate. Ed and Amy stood around the kitchen island as Ed read and signed the offer and other necessary paperwork. He'd sold their house in Redondo Beach and planned to use the cash to pay for their new house. Ed didn't believe in haunted houses. The house was perfect and truth be told, he'd fallen in love with it the moment they drove up. He had a good feeling.

"I take it the commission on this sale will help you out?" said Ed.

"You have no idea," said Amy. "This is my very first sale."

"Wow, congrats. How long have you been trying to sell houses?"

"Two months. My divorce last year ruined our finances. I have an eight-year-old daughter, Sophia. It's just the two of us now."

"I'm glad this sale helps you out."

"It really does, thanks. I wanted ask about the boy's' mother."

"My wife, Olivia."

"Yes, are you divorced or separated? I noticed you only had me put your name on the documents."

"No, she passed away last year. It was unexpected. Brain aneurysm. I'm widower. To be honest, I needed a change so I dragged my sons across the country to make a fresh start."

"I'm so sorry about Olivia. I understand you're a detective or something?"

"Yes, I'm a detective. I'll be working for the Cozy Hollow Sheriff's Department. Do you know Sheriff Ross?"

"Yes, everyone knows Sheriff Ross. He's a little old and crotchety."

"I can handle crotchety."

"Fun fact, Sheriff Ross was the deputy back in 1971 that had the idea to dig up the basement floor in this house to find the bodies of the Beaumont girls."

"That is a fun fact."

At that moment, Rex and Joe entered the kitchen looking quite proud of themselves.

"We've all picked out our rooms," said Joe.

"Of course, Kurt got the biggest one," said Rex. "But I have a great view of Main Street."

"Good to hear," said Ed.

"Can I ask you a question, Mrs. Small?"

"You can call me Amy," said Amy. "Sure, fire away."

"Okay," said Rex. "Amy, do you know who lives directly across the street on Main?"

"Why, did you see that pretty girl out washing her car?"

"Yes, who is she?"

"That's Willow Arnold. She's sixteen. She's very sweet. An only child. Her father's the town doctor."

"Willow, cool name."

"Rex's gotta crush," said Joe teasing. "And she's a year older than you. I bet she'll want to date Kurt."

"Shut up, you little shit!"

"Hey!" said Ed. "Language! Sorry, Joe's our resident wiseass."