The Ghost in my iPad 345 & 444

The Ghost in my iPad

by

E C Russell

and

E L Russell

Published by Enos Russell at Smashwords

Copyright 2015 Enos Russell

DEDICATION

To our grandchildren, Chloe, Jengo, Tobin, and Angus. We hope you enjoy all of our stories and continue writing your own. You inspire us.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Our sister, Lee

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.

The Ghost in my iPad ~ Part I – 3:45

Prologue – Part I

Each night when his mom turned his lights out, Jengo heard the voice and it scared him. It scared him bad.

I’m cold . . . I can’t find the light . . .

The lonesome sound was muffled and although it sounded far away, it was still too close for comfort.

Help me . . . It’s dark . . . I’m cold . . . I can’t find the light . . .

Again and again.

Chapter 1 ~ Kidnapping

Later the following day

Don’t turn it off, it’s almost over, Jengo pleaded, his mouth full of the chips he’d pilfered from the counter. He craned his neck around his mom to watch the end of the cartoon.

His mother stared at him and tapped her foot.

Uh, oh, foot tapping was serious. What, Mom? He knew she expected something of him.

Jengo Allbright, don’t talk with your mouth full and no more chips until we eat. She softened her voice. Go out and check the hotdogs, sweetie. You said you wanted to be in charge of them, remember?

Oh Yeah. He skipped out the door rubbing the unaccustomed bristles of his short back-to-school haircut. He used to love hotdogs. Eating them used to feel like a party, but there was no party mood in his house, not since his sister Maddy had disappeared two months ago. He forked the sizzling wieners off the grill and frowned at the couple he’d burned. Wiping his hands on the scruffy jeans he’d worn all summer, he blinked away threatening tears. It was like there was a hole in being. It felt like she’d been gone forever and he missed her something awful. In anger, he kicked at stones on the way back to the house. He was often angry these days.

Back in the kitchen, his older sister Laura placed the potato salad on the table just as a local newscaster broke in on the regular programing.

We interrupt this program to bring you breaking news.

Mrs. Allbright reached to grab the remote, but Laura stopped her. Oh, my God, Mom, wait. Let’s hear. It’s about—

"I know what it’s about, her mother whispered as she fumbled with the remote. I don’t want Jengo to hear." She squeezed the button and lowered the volume.

The telephone rang and Laura picked it up than handed it to her Mother. Caller ID says FBI.

Special Agent Johnson here, Mrs. Allbright. You’ve heard the news? The agent had been working the kidnapping cases for months now and his voice showed the same gentle concern he always did.

While the TV commentator continued in the background, Mrs. Allbright turned her back to Jengo. Yes, we were just listening.

The alleged Holiday Snatcher took a fifth teenage girl in what may—

We may have found something, the agent said, and then ended the call with more assurances saying the FBI hoped they would find Maddy soon.

When his mother turned her back, Jengo heard the Agent’s voice over the phone. He was sick of hearing Johnson’s promises. He always said the same thing. ‘We may have a new lead.’ What a sorry joke. The TV was no better.

. . . report that personal items belonging to Katrina Robins were found early this morning by a local hunter at the old Bartlett Apple Orchard. Her parents reported her missing when—

Mrs. Allbright clicked the TV off and pressed her lips in a white line. That’s not something you two need to be reminded of, she said as she pointed to the screen. The FBI keeps us informed of anything we need to know. Her voice wobbled as she wiped her eyes with the corner of a near-by hand towel.

Laura was taller than her mom and had suddenly matured a great deal since the kidnapping of her younger sister. She wrapped her arms around her mom in a secure hug, I’m not a child. I’m a senior in high school and the TV is hardly a reminder. Maddy fills my thoughts, and I am sure Jengo’s as well.

Mrs. Allbright stood near the TV, which was perched on top of the refrigerator like a giant bird of prey. But Jengo is just starting sixth grade. He doesn’t need to hear about another kidnapping." She shut her eyes and took a deep steadying breath.

Jengo played along and pretended oblivion. Hear what, Mom? He slid the hotdogs on the table and when one jumped the edge of the dish, he picked up the escapee and returned it with his fingers. He’d heard the announcer and he was interested in all the news. Where’s the new mustard? he asked glancing sideways at his older sister and mom while he lined the hotdogs up on the dish. It baffled him that they thought he wouldn’t listening . . . especially to kidnapping news.

In the cupboard. His mom walked around the kitchen island and distributed the plates. It’s nice we’re sitting down for our picnic, Laura. You have been so busy with preparation for your senior year that we hardly get to see you.

Found it. Jengo shouted, returning from the cupboard, but he stopped when he saw his Mom setting the table for four. He set the mustard down. Uh, Mom . . .

She lowered the silverware to the table and stared at the plates. Shaking her head she lifted one and hugged it to her chest. Trying to hide her welling tears, she turned away and Jengo tentatively put his hand on her arm, I miss her too, Mom.

Toward the end of dinner, the phone rang and Laura rushed to answer it. Mom, the Fergusons want me to babysit tonight, okay?

Her mother nodded, But not too late, Laura, it’s a school night, and ask Mr. Ferguson to meet you in his driveway.

I’ll be home by ten, Laura shouted over her shoulder as she ran to get a book from her room.

After his sister left the kitchen, Jengo turned on his mom. You’re not gonna let her drive, are you? It looks like a storm’s coming. The rumble of thunder punctuated his forecast.

"She’ll be fine, Jengo. Laura’s been driving for almost two years and she’s always very careful. The weather’s not so bad and she won’t be late."

His mom looked at him in concern and he could see she knew what he really meant.

Jengo, it scares me to death every time either one of you leaves my sight, but we have to keep going. We have to believe the FBI will find Maddy. She’s strong. She’s a survivor. She’ll come back to us. She hugged him hard. We have to.

His sister was tough, though, that was for sure. When his friend Billy had called her Madison instead of Maddy a few years back, she’d pushed him in the lake.

When Billy cried he was drowning, she told him she wouldn’t rescue him unless he swore he’d never to call her Madison again. Then, she’d added, It’ll cost you five bucks.

Between his screams and thrashing arms, he’d sobbed, "Never again . . . I swear . . . but I don’t have five dollars."

In spite of his lack of funds, which she’d only added only for fun, she’d fished him out. She was a year and a half older than they were and she lorded it over them every chance she got. And no one ever called her Madison again. No one, that is, except Mrs. Schwartz, their nosy neighbor, and occasionally Jengo who liked to tease her and watch her get all fired up. She’d narrow her blue eyes, that looked so much like his, and pull back her right fist for a mighty whack. But he could run faster than she could and when she chased him for payback, he mostly got away. If he didn’t, she’d nail him in the knees and he’d collapse. Then he'd have to take her pummeling. He wished he knew how to do that knee thing. It always surprised him.

Yeah, she was tough, but it had been two months since she’d disappeared. That was most of the summer, from the fourth of July until now, Labor Day. It was a long time to stay strong. He wished she was there so he could pull her short blond hair and call her Madison.

Mom! His panicked thoughts returned to his older sister, There’s a psycho out there. He took Maddy and now that girl Katrina. Five girls. Do you want Laura to be next?

I didn’t know you were listening, his mom said softly. Laura has her cell phone and the car doors will be locked until Mr. Ferguson meets her. She ruffled his hair. Come sit with me on the sofa for a bit and we’ll watch TV.

Even though he thought sixth grade was far too old for sitting cozied up with their moms, Jengo knew she missed Maddy something fierce and she needed him nearby, so he didn’t complain when she gathered him in for a big hug. Even though it didn’t change the fact that Maddy was gone, he had to admit, the closeness was nice.

He and Maddy used to do a lot of cool stuff together, like building that old tree house. He smiled a reluctant grin. For weeks, they'd spent every hour they could perfecting it. He absently rubbed the wrist he’d broken when a board had come loose and he’d fallen through their masterpiece. As a result, his mom had forbidden them to go up in the tree again. Looking for something else to do, they’d turned to repairing the gazebo down by the lake. It wasn’t finished and since he didn’t feel like working on it alone, it remained that way. Jengo had taken to spending a lot of time alone in his room reading and gaming.

After he’d brushed his teeth that evening, Jengo’s mom tucked him into the top bunk with a strict admonition. No iPad, Jengo. It will be an early wake-up for the first day of school tomorrow and you need your rest. She turned off the Buzz Lightyear lamp on the highboy dresser next to the head of his bunk. Maddy had given it to him for his birthday four years ago.

Knowing he could never sleep with the voices, and he knew they would come, he waited a few moments for his mom to walk down the hallway before reaching to turn Buzz back on and climb out of bed. He grabbed his iPad from the top of the dresser and settled cross-legged with it on the floor, waiting for the iPad’s telltale glow.

He chose his favorite app and focused his mind on its kazoo band while he blocked everything else out.

Jengo! he flinched when she touched his shoulder and removed his earbuds. Rats. He looked up and waited for the lecture.

Jengo, toe tapping, when I tell you to do something I expect you to pay attention. No more games. I mean it. She dropped the buds. Turn that thing off.

"But Mom, I always pay attention. It’s just that my stuff is more interesting than the other stuff. He gathered his earbuds then gasped when a blast of white light filled the room and thunder shook the windows. Is Laura home yet?" He absently wiped the screen with a dirty sock, as he looked to his mom for an affirmative nod.

Not yet, but Mr. Ferguson said he would follow her home and walk her to the door. She’s safe. She followed him over to the bunk and reached for his lamp.

Leave the light on. He looked up at her with sad eyes and put his hands together in prayer. Please. His mom called the expression his pitiful-cat-eyes-look and often, it worked. Not tonight.

He could tell she was trying not to laugh at his ploy. You’re a big boy now, you told me so yourself. The nightlight is enough. Climb in and get some sleep.

Jengo glared at the mini bulb plugged into the wall outlet way back in the corner and scoffed. That doesn’t do anything.

She watched him climb the wooden ladder then patted the covers. When the door is closed, it’ll seem brighter. Her face turned sad as her eyes fell to the bottom bunk. Why don’t you sleep down here? When you and Maddy were little and slept in the same room, you used to fight over it.

Yeah, but Mom, we fought over everything back then.

Yes, you did. She reached up to kiss him. No games. Good night, sweetie. She rubbed his short hair before she turned off the lamp.

Why did his mom always call him sweetie? It was okay at home, but she called him that when she picked him up at school, too, and it was downright embarrassing. And why wasn’t Laura home yet? Jengo’s mind whirled with worrisome thoughts. Why did that spooky voice come every night and scare the pants off him? He was afraid to shut his eyes. He knew the voice was coming. It came every night when the lights went out.

He wrapped the pillow around his head and his heart pounded in dreaded anticipation. Too soon, he heard the sorrowful sounds.

"I’m cold . . . I can’t find the light . . . Help me . . ."

Over and over.

"Help me . . . It’s dark . . ."

He reached for Buzz Lightyear. His mom’s wrath was worth it. Immediately, the voice stopped.

Thank God. His head fell back on the pillow just as his Mom opened the door.

Jengo!

Mom. How do you do that? He sat up and stretched his arms out. I can not sleep with the lights off. Ple-e-e-e-ase. Leave it on."

She narrowed her eyes and looked at him in silence. Jengo could see she hesitated and he put on his pitiful-cat-eyes again. Oh, okay, she gave in and he could tell she coughed to cover her laugh. I’ll get it later.

Thank you, he sighed in heart-felt relief as lightning lit his window and threw tree shadows on the blinds.

The earlier promise of a rain erupted into a gully washer with a spectacular light show and bone jarring cracks of thunder. Startled awake, Jengo looked in disgust at the puny nightlight. His mom had done as she promised and turned off Buzz. Grimly, he waited for the voice, but heard nothing . . . not a peep.

Afraid to move, he rolled his