More Harry Hogan stories!
Winnie Walker elbowed her sleeping husband in the side. “Cyril! Wake up!”
Cyril sighed. “What is it now, Winnie?” he asked, without opening his eyes.
“The door bell alarm,” she said in a hushed tone.
“I heard it, dear. I’ve been up three times already tonight and it’s always the same – there’s never anyone – or anything – to see. I don’t know what the dickens is going on.” He sounded just as tired as he felt.
“I told you what it is,” Winnie said. “The house is haunted and the ghost is connected to the doorbell. There’s no other way to explain it.”
“Winnie, you know that…”
“Don’t say it,” she interrupted. “I know you don’t believe it, but Janet told me the whole story.”
“Can we leave it until morning, please? I really do need some sleep.”
She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Of course you do, dear. I’ll tell you over breakfast.”
‘Great!’ Cyril thought. ‘More ghost stories from Janet. What a way to start the day.’
“Actually, Janet told me about a retired police detective who is great at solving things like this. He has helped her several times. Maybe we should contact him.”
“I’d love to turn this over to someone else – as long as he doesn’t charge an arm and a leg,” Cyril said, yawning.
“In the morning, dear. Get some sleep.” She snuggled down beside him.
********************
Harry Hogan had just sat down at his desk the next morning, when Cyril walked in. “My name is Cyril Walker. Are you Mr. Hogan?”
“Yes, I am. Please sit down, Mr. Walker, and tell me what’s on your mind.”
“Mr. Hogan, is a ghost capable of triggering a motion sensor?”
Harry was quiet for a minute, not quite sure how to answer, since he didn’t believe in such things. “I really don’t know what their capabilities are, but I always thought it took a solid substance of some kind to do that?”
Cyril Walker shrugged. “I don’t know, but Winnie – my wife – thinks a ghost can do anything.”
Stifling a groan, Harry allowed himself a grin. “I have come across many others who have the same opinion. Exactly what is your problem, Mr. Walker?”
“The alarm on our video doorbell system has been going off fairly frequently. I know the trees will set it off when we have high winds, but that’s not always the cause. Sometimes there’s no wind at all when it happens.”
“Is it that sensitive?” Bertie Blackett looked up from her computer.
“Oh yes,” Walker affirmed. “Even heavy snow will do it in the winter.”
“But that means the system is very effective,” Harry said, “and isn’t that a good thing?”
Walker shrugged. “I guess so, but it’s also become very stressful – not to mention, annoying.”
“I can see how it would be,” Harry agreed. “How long have you had the system?”
“Just a little over a year.”
“And how long have you been getting these alarms?”
“Ever since the darn thing was installed.”
“I mean, how long without being able to explain them?”
