The Third Horror

  He turned and opened the refrigerator door. He reached onto the shelf and pulled out the head, smoothing the blond hair behind the face.

  Kody stared once again at the sickening green lips, the lifeless blue eyes.

  “It’s not a real head. It’s a model, Kody,” Bo said, speaking very slowly, as if instructing a two-year-old. He raised it higher. “See?”

  Kody nodded.

  “Please,” Bo said, sliding the head back into the refrigerator. “Go to your trailer. Okay? Rest. You’ll be fine. Really.”

  “Okay,” Kody replied uncertainly.

  “We need you on this picture,” Bo said, his eyes still studying her. “I need you. And I need you alert and in good shape. So, try real hard to get it together— okay?”

  “I’ll try,” Kody told him.

  She followed him out the kitchen door. Bo headed toward the crew members, who were working intently on the boom camera. Kody began to follow the driveway down to the street.

  She had taken only a few steps when she heard Persia’s scornful words, deliberately spoken loudly enough for Kody to hear. “I guess Kody just can’t take all the stress,” Persia was gloating to one of her assistants. “She isn’t a pro, after all.”

  • • •

  Well, well, Kody—so freaked out?

  Did that little head frighten you, poor thing?

  From the living room window, Cally’s ghost watched Kody trudge down the driveway to the long, tan trailer parked across the street.

  My poor sister is terribly upset, Cally thought gleefully.

  Kody, did it really upset you to see my head in the fridge?

  I should be dead, right? Dead and gone. I shouldn’t be popping up in the kitchen like that—should I!

  Cally tilted her head back in a scornful laugh.

  You said you came back to find me, Kody. You said you came back to keep your promise.

  But when you did find me, what happened?

  You totally freaked—didn’t you, kid!

  That’s because you’re a liar, Kody. That’s because you didn’t really come back to find your dead, dead sister.

  You came back to become a movie star.

  Only things aren’t off to a good start, are they?

  Someone got her pretty face bashed in, and—guess what, Kody? A lot of people out there think you were responsible.

  That’s because no one would suspect a ghost could loosen a few bolts. Am I right? No one would ever suspect a ghost.

  Well, dear sister, the bad news is that this morning was just the beginning.

  I’m afraid things aren’t going to go right on your movie, Kody. I’m afraid there might be a lot of tragic accidents.

  A lot.

  What choice do I have, after all?

  I mean, I can’t really let you become a big movie star, can I? You made a promise to come back, to find me.

  Well, maybe it’s time, Kody.

  Maybe it’s time right now. No time like the present. Isn’t that the old expression?

  Well, okay. You can keep your promise now, Kody.

  Here I come.

  • • •

  The morning sun beamed down on the metal trailer top, heating it like an oven. Desperate for some fresh air, Kody rolled a window open, but there was little breeze.

  She squeezed behind the small Formica table and stared down at the fruit plate and blueberry muffin she had picked up at the caterers’ table.

  Why did I take this stuff? she asked herself. I have no appetite.

  Kody’s stomach felt as if it were tied in a knot. Her throat still throbbed, dry and achy. She took a sip from a bottle of water she had also picked up from the table.

  She carried the water with her as she slumped onto the low couch. The leather felt warm and sticky under her. A fly buzzed noisily, banging its body against the windowpane.

  Maybe I should quit, she thought sadly, raising her legs onto the couch cushion and stretching out. She rubbed the cool water bottle over her burning forehead.

  Maybe I should quit before I go crazy, Kody thought.

  Maybe everyone already thinks I’m crazy.

  Maybe everyone already thinks I’m some kind of murderer!

  She sighed and shut her eyes, covering them with one arm.

  I thought so long and hard about doing this movie. I talked to Mom and Dad about it for months and months.

  I was so sure I’d made the right decision.

  But now . . .

  She heard the tapping at the trailer door, but ignored it.

  At first she thought it was just the creaking of the trailer.

  But then she recognized the rhythm of the soft knocking.

  Tap tap tap.

  Silence.

  Then: tap tap tap.

  This time Kody didn’t delay.

  The grip of terror tightening every muscle, she forced herself to her feet.

  And as the final tap sounded, she dove to the door and pushed it open.

  Chapter 13

  “Rob!” Kody cried, her voice revealing her shock.

  “Hi.” He stood on the bottom step, one hand resting on the slender railing. The bright sunlight made his auburn hair glow. He peered up at her, his expression serious.

  “Rob—I thought—”

  What did I think? Kody asked herself. That it was my dead sister knocking on the door?

  Maybe I really am crazy!

  “Just wondered how you were doing,” Rob said.

  “Okay, I guess.” She backed up, motioning for him to come in.

  He climbed the steps quickly and lowered his head as he stepped into the narrow trailer. “Bad morning, huh?” he muttered. “Did you hear anything about Joanna? Is she—?”

  Before Rob could finish, Kody threw her arms around him and pressed her mouth against his. “Hold me,” she whispered. “I need you to hold me.” Then she kissed him again.

  Kody had never done anything like that in her life.

  Cally had always been the bold one, the aggressive one, the one who took action. Kody had always stood back enviously and watched Cally as Cally made sure she got everything she wanted.

  But now Kody had acted on impulse, had acted because she felt so strange, so frightened, so—needy.

  Rob didn’t seem to mind. As she lowered herself to the couch, he dropped down beside her, wrapping his arms around her waist, and kissed her, kissed her . . .

  They were still wrapped in each other’s arms as the door swung open and a figure stepped quickly into the trailer, clearing her throat loudly.

  “I guess you didn’t hear me knocking,” Persia said.

  Kody pulled back from Rob with a start. Rob leaped to his feet, his mouth wide open.

  Persia laughed. “Well, Kody,” she said coldly, “you’re certainly learning how to succeed in the movies.”

  Rob glared at her angrily. “What’s your problem, Persia? What do you want?”

  “Bo says we’re breaking for the day. The girl died,” Persia told them matter-of-factly. “The police are all over the place. Investigating.”

  “You mean Joanna?” Kody asked, swallowing hard.

  “I didn’t know her name,” Persia replied. “Anyway, your car is waiting if you want it. Ciao.” She backed out of the trailer and closed the door.

  Kody turned back to Rob. “That’s horrible news,” she whispered, feeling a chill down her back as she shut her eyes and saw the camera ramming into Joanna’s face again. “I—I can’t believe it.”

  Rob wrapped his arms around Kody’s waist and hugged her tight.

  • • •

  When Kody arrived at 99 Fear Street the next morning, she knew immediately that things were not back to normal. Two black and white police cars were parked at the bottom of the driveway where the caterers’ truck usually stood. There were no production workers scurrying around, preparing for a morning shoot.

  Warily, Kody entered the house and stepped into the living room. To her surprise, the room was fille
d with people.

  “There you are,” Bo called to her. Dressed in his usual gray sweatshirt and baggy chinos, he stood in front of the mantel. He didn’t smile. He motioned with his clipboard for Kody to join the others.

  Kody found Rob leaning against the back wall. She walked over to stand beside him. He gave her a solemn nod. “Bo called a meeting,” he whispered.

  The room was quiet. People whispered to one another or sat staring at Bo. No one smiled or laughed.

  After a few more crew members found places on the floor in front of the couch, Bo cleared his throat loudly and stepped forward to speak.

  “As you all know, we have had a tragic accident,” he began.

  Is he staring at me? Kody wondered, leaning close to Rob. It was hard to see Bo’s eyes through the blue glasses.

  “Because of the strange nature of Joanna’s death,” Rob continued, “the local police—”

  He stopped and raised his eyes to the doorway. Kody turned to see a young man with long, dark hair and a dark mustache poke his head into the room. The man carried a red metal toolbox.

  “I’m going down to the basement now, Mr. Montgomery,” the man told Bo.

  “Thank you,” Bo replied, frowning at the interruption.

  Kody gasped loudly.

  She recognized the man. “Mr. Hankers!” she cried.

  He had already disappeared from the doorway.

  “That man is here to help us with our rat problem,” Bo announced.

  “You mean my agent is down there?” Persia joked.

  A few people chuckled. Others murmured unhappily about the rats.

  “Mr. Hankers has assured me the problem will be dealt with quickly,” Bo said. “But until he finishes his work, I’d advise all crew members to take care when going down there.”

  “Are you okay?” Rob whispered to Kody, his features tight with concern.

  Kody nodded. “I—I recognized that man,” she explained. “He worked for us. We had a rat problem too.”

  Rob nodded. “No way I’m going down in the basement,” he whispered. “I hate rats.”

  Bo continued talking, holding his clipboard down at his side, gesturing with his free hand.

  But Kody didn’t hear his words. She was thinking about Mr. Hankers. He had been the man her father had hired to deal with the rat problem two years earlier. How strange to see him again.

  How strange to see Mr. Hankers and Mrs. Nordstrom still working in the house two years later. It was as if time had stood still.

  Aren’t they afraid to come here? Kody wondered.

  After all that happened in this house, aren’t they afraid to step inside?

  Is Cally still here too?

  Will I find her?

  Kody believed in ghosts. The rest of her family had always teased her about it. But after Cally’s death, Kody wanted to believe even more than before.

  She wanted Cally’s ghost to be in the house.

  She wanted to find Cally, to have one last talk with her. Kody wanted Cally to know that she had kept her promise.

  Are you here, Cally? Kody thought, gazing around the crowded, somber living room.

  Are you here watching us?

  If you are, please let me know.

  Please . . .

  The gentle hand on Kody’s shoulder made her jump.

  Chapter 14

  “How are you doing?” Bo asked. Then he saw her jump. “Sorry, Kody. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He kept his hand on her shoulder. I can’t believe how tense she is, Bo thought.

  “Sorry. I was just thinking about—things,” Kody told him.

  Bo wanted to comfort Kody. He felt guilty about the way he had accused her the day before. He knew he had to calm her down so the picture could continue.

  This picture will continue—no matter how many freak accidents slow things down, Bo vowed to himself.

  “We’re all really upset,” Bo told her. “I was watching you while I was talking. I got the feeling you didn’t hear a word I said.”

  He watched Kody blush and felt bad for her. She was having a rough time.

  “I think we’ll all feel better when the police end their investigation and we begin shooting,” Bo said to her and Rob. “I hope to start tomorrow morning.”

  He clapped Rob on the back. “I want to do the attic scene first. You know. You and Kody stuck in the green goo. You can read over the script today, since we’re not shooting.”

  “There isn’t much to read,” Rob replied. “Kody and I mainly do a lot of screaming.”

  “I want to block it out first thing,” Bo told him, scribbling a note on his clipboard. “I have some ideas for camera angles to make it more interesting.”

  “Why are we shooting green goo in the attic? And why is Rob in the scene?” Kody asked, narrowing her eyes at Bo. “Actually, it was Cally and I. We were in the bathroom when the green goo came pouring out of the faucet.”

  “I know,” he told her. “But the bathroom is too cramped. The attic will be much more dramatic.”

  “At least we’ll be upstairs,” Rob said, smiling. “As far away from the basement as possible.” He shuddered. “I really hate rats.”

  “Yeah, me too.” Bo nodded agreement. “That’s one reason I want to start in the attic. We’ll be safe up there.”

  I like Rob, Bo found himself thinking. Good attitude. Good poise. He gazed at Kody through his blue lenses. Maybe I should replace her now, he thought. Maybe if I beg the studio, they’ll let me talk to a real actress.

  He turned to say something else to Kody, but Persia stepped between them, her dark eyes flashing angrily. “Hey, Bo—how about a little quality time for me? After all, it was my stand-in who died. I mean—I just keep thinking, it could have been me!”

  Bo felt like laughing in her face. Actors were all the same, he thought. So needy. So jealous of his attention.

  “Why, of course, Persia dear,” he said softly. He put his arm around Persia’s shoulders and led her away, talking soothingly to her.

  • • •

  “Do you believe her?” Kody asked Rob, watching Bo lead Persia away.

  “Hey, I’ve lived in L.A. my whole life,” Rob replied. “I believe her.”

  Crew members huddled in small groups, talking about Joanna, the police investigation, and what it all meant for the movie. Kody saw the special effects guys heading up to the attic to prepare for the next day’s shoot.

  “I rented a car,” Rob told her. “A Mustang convertible. Since we’re not working today; why don’t we take a long drive?”

  Kody smiled at him. “You’re a life saver!” she declared, taking his hand. “Let’s go.”

  They climbed into the little car and drove north along the highway that led out of Shadyside. Through small towns and past miles and miles of farms. The green fields seeming to stretch on forever.

  With the top down, Kody slumped low in the seat, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face, letting the wind flutter her blond hair behind her.

  Neither of them spoke much. It felt good just to drive, to be moving, moving farther and farther away from 99 Fear Street and its dark horrors.

  They had lunch at a diner built from an old railroad car. Rob told her stories about growing up with a father in the movie business. “Sometimes it was great,” he told her. “We never had to worry about money, and my parents gave me everything I wanted.”

  “But sometimes it wasn’t so great,” Rob admitted. “They gave me lots of stuff, but they were never around much. I mean, they didn’t spend a lot of time with me. Sometimes I felt as if I were just one of my parents’ possessions. They’d trot me out at parties and show me off. It was like, ‘Look, we own one of these too!’ ”

  Kody didn’t have to tell Rob about her life. He already knew a lot of it.

  She sat back in the booth and listened intently as he talked. It felt so good not to be thinking about the movie, about the tragedy of the day before—about Cally.

  It was evening as
they drove back to Shadyside. The wind carried a chill. Low clouds had rolled over the sun and were threatening rain.

  Kody guided Rob to a spot called River Ridge, a high cliff overlooking the Conononka River. It was a popular makeout spot for students at Shadyside High, Kody knew. But early in the evening, with the clouds threatening rain, the Mustang was the only car in sight.

  As soon as he shut off the engine, Rob leaned over and kissed her. Then he wrapped Kody in a hug. They held on to each other for the longest time.

  Neither of them moved.

  Neither of them whispered.

  Neither of them wanted to let go.

  What a beautiful day this was, Kody thought. I feel so relaxed now, so . . . peaceful.

  When the rain started to fall, softly at first, then as a hard, steady downpour, Rob jumped out and pulled up the top. He was drenched by the time he climbed back in the car.

  He kissed her, a long, rain-wet kiss. Then he whispered, “Let’s go back to my room and rehearse.”

  Kody started to say yes—then realized she didn’t have her script. “I left it in my trailer,” she told him, wiping raindrops off his forehead with her hand.

  “We can share mine,” he told her.

  She shook her head. “It’s better if I have mine. I like to make notes on it. Just drop me at the trailer, okay? I’ll get the script. Then we can go to your room and rehearse.”

  Rob obediently started the car, and they drove down along the river, through a nice-looking neighborhood of big houses and wide, well-cared-for lawns, past the high school, toward Fear Street.

  The rain came down harder as they turned onto Fear Street. The wind picked up, howling around the small car, making the old trees on both sides of them shiver and bend. In the headlights, the rain seemed to be blowing sideways.

  Rob slowed when the movie company trailers came into view. The trailers were all dark, rainwater streaming down them.

  Kody glanced up at the house. It was dark too, except for a flicker of light in the first-floor front window.

  Probably the guard, she thought.

  “I’ll be right out,” Kody told Rob, reaching for the door handle.

  “Don’t get wet,” he joked.

  She leaped out of the car and ran, in the sharp light of the headlights, the few steps to her trailer. The rain instantly soaked through her T-shirt and felt cold and tingly in her hair.