Extra whip bold brew boo.., p.1
Jerry McNeal 05-Port Hope, page 1
Also by Sherry A. Burton
The Orphan Train Saga
Discovery (book one)
Shameless (book two)
Treachery (book three)
Guardian (book four)
Loyal (book five)
Orphan Train Extras
Ezra’s Story
Jerry McNeal Series
Always Faithful
Ghostly Guidance
Rambling Spirit
Chosen Path
Port Hope
Cold Case
Wicked Winds
Spirit of Deadwood
Romance Books
Tears of Betrayal
Love in the Bluegrass
Somewhere In My Dreams
The King of My Heart
Seems Like Yesterday
“Whispers of the Past,” a short story.
Psychological Thriller
Surviving the Storm
The Jerry McNeal Series
Port Hope
By Sherry A. Burton
The Jerry McNeal Series: Port Hope
Copyright 2022
by Sherry A. Burton
Published by Dorry Press
Edited and Formatted by BZHercules.com
Cover by Laura J. Prevost @laurajprevostphotography
Proofread by Latisha Rich
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from the author at Sherryaburton@outlook.com. This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are products of the author’s imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
For more information on the author and her works, please see www.SherryABurton.com
Thanks Mom!
To my hubby, thanks for helping me stay in the writing chair.
To my mom, who insisted I keep the dog in the series.
To my editor, Beth, for allowing me to keep my voice.
To Laura, for EVERYTHING you do to keep me current in both my covers and graphics.
To my beta readers for giving the books an early read.
To my proofreader, Latisha Rich, for the extra set of eyes.
To my fans, for the continued support.
Lastly, to my “writing voices,” thank you for all the incredible ideas!
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
About the Author
Chapter One
Jerry gripped the phone, knowing Patti would disappear the moment he answered. “What do you mean help us? I’ve already helped you and your family find peace. What does Max have to do with this?”
Patti’s spirit faded in and out as the phone continued to ring. “Answer it, Jerry. She needs you.”
“Are you going to be alright?”
“Help us, Jerry. You’re the only one.” Patti faded out, reappeared, flickered, then vanished altogether.
Jerry sighed and pressed the button to answer the call.
“Jerry! Thank God you answered. I didn’t know what else to do. Jerry, it’s the woman from my dreams. She said he killed her!” Max sniffed.
“It’s alright, Max. Tell me what you know.”
Max sobbed into the phone. “The lady visited me today.”
“In your dreams?”
“No. This time, it was different. I was awake. I looked up to see her standing there, staring at me. I tried not to let her know I was scared. She told me to call you.”
Jerry ran a hand over his head. “This woman told you to call me? She actually said, ‘Call Jerry McNeal’?”
Another sob. “No. She told me to call the man with the dog.”
Jerry wanted to think it was a coincidence but knew better. “Okay, Max, I need you to start from the beginning.”
“My shoe came untied. I stopped to tie it. When I looked up, the lady was standing there.”
“And you’re sure the woman was a ghost.” As soon as he asked, he knew he’d made a mistake. The sobs on the other end of the phone proved it. Jerry blew out another sigh. “I’m sorry, Max. I know better than to doubt you. It was the cop in me trying to be sure. I believe you, honest I do. Now tell me about the lady.”
After a moment, the sobbing eased. “It was her, the woman from my dreams. She had red hair and green eyes just like before.”
Patti. But why would she be haunting Max? “Max, did the woman say anything else? Tell you her name, maybe?”
“No, she didn’t say her name. I thought it was Virginia, but I’m not sure anymore. She just told me to call the man with the dog. She said you needed to help.”
It didn’t make sense. He’d already found Patti’s body and visited her parents to give them closure. What else did she expect him to do? And why make a game of it? Why not just tell him outright when she was sitting next to him? Unless it wasn’t her. Don’t be ridiculous, Jerry. Of course it’s her. Who else? “So, this woman – this ghost – told you I needed to help her. What happened next?”
“No, she didn’t say ‘her.’ She said ‘us.’ ‘Call the man with the dog. He needs to help us.’” Max started sobbing again. “She said ‘us,’ Jerry. Why does she think I need help? Please tell me what to do. I’m so scared.”
I’m trying. “It’s going to be alright, Max. Tell me, this ghost, what was she wearing?” Each time Patti appeared, she was wearing a blue dress. If the clothing matched, it might confirm her to be the woman visiting Max.
“I don’t remember.”
“Come on, Max, It’s important. Close your eyes and try to picture her. Was she wearing a dress?” Jerry waited as silence filled the phone.
Finally, Max spoke. “No, she had on pants and a white shirt. I think it was a sweatshirt. Yes, I’m sure of it. It had a lighthouse on the front, but it didn’t look like ours. There was something written on it, but I can’t remember what it said.”
“That’s good, Max. Really good.” Actually, it wasn’t, as it didn’t confirm his suspicion. Not that he would’ve known what it meant if he’d been right. “Max, does the name Patti mean anything to you?”
“That was the name of your friend you said you were going to visit.”
“That’s right. My friend Patti was murdered. The thing is, I wasn’t going to see her. I was going to see her ghost.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“Me too, Max. What’s more, Patti had red hair and green eyes, and told me I needed to take your call.”
“Do you think Patti is my ghost?”
“I think it’s a possibility, but I’m not sure.”
“I don’t understand. Why does she think I need help?”
“I don’t know, Max. But I’m going to find out.”
“How?”
“I’m going to come to visit you. We’ll put our heads together and see if we can figure this out.” What he didn’t say was that he was kicking himself for not taking the time to help Max when he first realized she was the real deal. If not for Max and her psychic intuition, a lot of people would be dead. Not only Savannah and Alex, but other officers that had no clue how close they’d come to being victims of a deeply unhinged woman. On behalf of all the officers that put their lives on the line every day, Jerry owed it to the girl to help her find peace.
“Really?” Max’s voice brightened. “Are you bringing Gunter? I haven’t told anyone about him. Not even Chloe, and she’s my best friend.”
“That’s good, Max. Listen, I need to talk to your mom to make sure it’s okay that I come to see you. Can you put her on the phone?”
“She’s not at home, but I can have her call you.”
“Okay, Max. And I want you to do me a big favor. If you see the ghost again, ask her if her name is Patti.”
“Okay. I will.”
“Try not to be scared. I don’t think the woman is there to harm you. I think she’s only there because she knows you’re special. I’m going to hang up now, Max. After you call your mom, text me your address.”
“Okay.”
Jerry clicked off his cell phone. Patti had disappeared when he’d answered the phone, but to his relief, Gunter was still there, sitting on the edge of the porch watching a monarch butterfly flutter around the yard. A part of him had worried that the dog – who seemed to enjoy Patti’s company – would choose her over him. Jerry pushed off the swing, and Gunter popped up, looking at him expectantly. “Looks like we’re going to Michigan, boy.”
Gunter jumped up and placed his paws on Jerry’s chest, his tail wagging.
Jerry ran his hands through the dog’s fur and gave him a pat on the head. “Glad it meets your approval.”
Gunter snaked his tongue across Jerry’s ear.
Jerry chuckled and pushed him away. “Knock that off before someone sees us and gets the impression I like you.”
Gunter growled.
Jerry laughed a full belly la
Jerry’s cell chimed. He pulled it out of his pocket and saw a message from Max giving him her address in Port Hope, Michigan. Port Hope sounds like the name of a soap opera or a Hallmark movie, not a place where ghosts hang out.
“Spirits, Jerry, not ghosts.”
Jerry sank the phone back into his pocket and turned to face his grandmother. “Sorry, Granny. How long have you been there?”
She smiled. “Long enough. I’m glad to see you and the dog getting along. I knew you’d grow to like him if you gave him a chance.”
Jerry glanced at Gunter, who now sat looking anything but dignified as his hind leg scratched at an imaginary itch. “He’ll do.”
Granny glanced at his arm. “He didn’t mean to bite you, you know.”
“I know.”
“How is it?”
“Better.” He flexed his fingers. “Hand’s a little worse for wear.”
Granny raised an eyebrow. “That was an expensive lesson.”
Jerry shrugged. That he’d gotten angry enough to put his hand through the bathroom mirror didn’t bother him so much as the reason. “My only regret is I won’t be here to see Savannah’s and Alex’s faces when they see their new bathroom.”
“You could hang around a bit.”
“I thought about it for a minute or two. I like how peaceful it is. I heard an owl last night. It reminded me of the one that used to hang out near the house when I was a kid. Slept like a baby after it showed up.”
Granny smiled.
“I thought you might’ve had something to do with that.” He decided to take a chance. “I’m going to Michigan. This kid, Max, lives there and is being visited by a ghost. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
Her smile faded. “You know I can’t tell you.”
He felt his jaw tighten and worked to ease the tension. “I know you believe I need to find my own way, but at least tell me if the kid is in danger.”
“You need to go to her, Jerry.”
“I’m planning on it.” His tone had a bite to it.
“That’s enough with the attitude. It doesn’t suit you.” Granny lifted her hand to his cheek. “I’m glad you came, Jerry. You’ll be a better man because of it.”
He worked to soften his tone. “It’s been a good visit, considering.”
Granny removed her hand and smiled a wrinkled smile. “Just remember you’re never alone. There are those that can help if you give them a chance.”
“What happened to finding my own path.”
“Mind your manners, Jerry. You’re not too old to be taken over my knee.” She laughed as if picturing it. “Receiving help from the living is never frowned upon. Remember, people like you are placed on this earth to help each other, not compete.”
“I’ll try to keep that in mind.” The truth of the matter was he was much better at asking for answers than asking for help.
“I’m always near if you need me.” She disappeared before he could answer.
I love you, Granny.
Gunter followed as he loaded the SUV and again as he made a final sweep of the cabin to make sure he hadn’t left anything. He placed the key in the drawer and thumbed the card left by the hot neighbor. He sighed, realizing he’d never made time for that beer. You’re a party animal, Jerry. That’s all there is to it.
Jerry had just set his gun bag into the Durango when his cell alerted him to an incoming Michigan call. He closed the door, leaned against the SUV, and pressed connect. “Hello?”
“Mr. McNeal, it’s April Buchanan. Max told me what’s going on and said you’re coming to see her.”
“If that’s okay with you.”
“It’s more than okay. This stuff’s been going on way too long. Max is not sleeping. She won’t admit it, but I can tell from the dark circles under her eyes. She called me a little bit ago and told me she’d just seen a ghost. I didn’t want to believe her, but something had her so upset, I could barely understand her.”
Jerry wanted to confirm that Max had indeed seen a ghost but decided to wait and do so in person. “I will do everything I can to help Max with this, Mrs. Buchanan.”
“Thank you, Mr. McNeal. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
The desperation in the woman’s voice pulled at his heartstrings. “I’ll be there soon.”
“Thank you. Do you have our address?”
“I do. Max texted it to me after we spoke. I’m driving up from Tennessee. I’ll check the Internet to get a hotel.”
Laughter drifted through the phone. “I take it you haven’t had a chance to Google our address.”
That doesn’t sound promising. “No, ma’am.”
“Our town is about the size of a postage stamp. It’s tourist season, and everything is most likely full this time of year. If you don’t mind roughing it, my friend Carrie has a camper she keeps at Lighthouse Park for when her parents visit. She already knows the situation and is as worried about Max as I am. She’s the one that saw your article in the Gettysburg newspaper and insisted I reach out to you to see if you could help Maxine. Anyway, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind letting you use it while you’re here.”
“That would be much appreciated.”
“Good, I’ll make sure everything is ready when you get here. And thanks again, Mr. McNeal.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be in touch with Max to let her know when I get to Michigan.”
“Sounds good. Once you cross into Michigan, you’ll have about a three- to four-hour drive, depending on how your Navigator brings you. Hopefully, it will be daylight – the lakeshore is a beautiful drive. You’ll be able to see Lake Huron just to your right most of the way.”
“I look forward to it. I’ll see you soon.” The call ended, and Jerry looked to Gunter. “Ready for a road trip?”
Gunter jumped up, placed his paws on Jerry’s chest, then pushed off, spinning in happy circles.
Jerry raised an eyebrow. “I doubt you’d be this excited if you knew how long of a drive we have ahead of us.”
Chapter Two
When Seltzer’s number showed up on the screen, Jerry pressed the button on the wheel. “What’s happening, Sergeant?”
“How’s Tennessee?”
“In my rearview mirror.”
“I take it everything is wrapped up.”
“We found my friend’s body. Actually, it was Gunter who found her.”
“Our post sure lost a good trooper when that dog was killed. Glad to hear he’s still on the job.”
“His job at the moment is riding shotgun with his head through the window.” Jerry laughed. “I mean literally through the window – it’s rolled up.”
Seltzer didn’t miss a beat. “Makes for less road noise that way. So, where are you off to?”
“Michigan – I’ll be heading up after a quick stop in Indianapolis to check in on a brother.” Actually, Doc had mentioned the man during a recent call and asked Jerry if he was in the area to check in on him. Jerry felt obligated to oblige, as he’d failed to adequately warn the guy of the accident he’d seen – a mistake that had cost the man his left leg.
“What’s in Michigan?”
“May be something. Might be nothing. Remember the kid I told you about?”
“The one that was dreaming about someone being murdered?”
“That’s the one. Her name’s Max, and it seems the woman is already dead and scaring the heck out of the kid.”
“Sounds like you’re the man for the job. Think you can help?”
“The hell if I know. If I can’t, I don’t know who can. Here’s the thing – her ghost has red hair and green eyes.”
“Could be a coincidence.”
“Could be, but I don’t think so.”
“Sounds like you’ve already got a theory.”
“I’m hoping that Patti somehow found out that we’re connected and is visiting her.”
“You don’t sound too convinced.”
“Max’s ghost is wearing different clothes. Every time Patti appeared, she was wearing a blue dress. Max says her ghost is wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.”
“It’s cold in Michigan.”
“Good try, but ghosts don’t normally change clothes. I mean, I guess they could, but I’ve not seen it. The thing is, Patti told me to answer Max’s call. She said I needed to help them.”
