“Oh!” Walker was silent for a minute. “Maybe two-and-a-half to three months.”
“Has anything at the front of the house changed? Trees cut down, new trees planted, large garden statues moved or added… anything new at the front that the system might pick up on?” Harry asked.
“We moved a slow-growing shrub to the back and replaced it with a mature one for a more finished look.”
“Would that trigger the door alarm?” Bertie asked. “Something as simple as switching a plant?”
“It’s a much larger plant so, yes it could, but only if there was enough wind,” Walker replied. “However, we’ve been getting alarms even when it’s dead calm. That’s what puzzles us.”
“Have you had the electrician who installed it come and check for a possible malfunction?” Harry asked.
Walker nodded. “We actually replaced the system, just to be certain.”
Harry rubbed is chin. “What do you think is causing it, Mr. Walker?”
“Well… I don’t like to accuse people of anything without evidence, but I’ve wondered if it might be teenagers… playing pranks… not intending any harm, but just not realizing how stressful it can be. We were all teenagers at one time and did careless things, without really thinking.”
“It’s possible,” Harry agreed, nodding his head. “But most kids these days are wrapped up in online games and social media… if they’re not into serious sports.”
“That’s true,” said Bertie, “but sometimes they need to work off some excess energy.”
Both men nodded and she continued, “However, I’m guessing that your wife is leaning more towards the ghost theory.”
“Yes, she is,” Walker said. “She is convinced and, no matter what I say, she will not change her mind. And, if you want to hear something really crazy, she thinks the ghost is actually IN the doorbell.” He sighed. So, that’s why I’m here.”
“You want me to check it out, and put her kind at ease,” Harry said.
Walker nodded. “Winnie told a friend about the situation, saying she thinks our house is haunted.”
“Haunted? Is it really that bad?”
Walker grinned. “Anyway, that’s when Janet – her friend – told her to contact you, said you could solve anything!”
“By any chance, would the name of her friend be Janet Thorne?” Harry asked.
“Yes… why? Do you know her?”
Harry nodded. “Known her for a long time, but we won’t go into the details now. Tell me exactly what you want me to do.”
“Whatever you think is necessary to get to the bottom of this. I don’t care how long it takes. I just want to get to the bottom of it, so I can sleep good at night again.”
“Okay,” Harry agreed. “Let’s start with a little basic information. Does this happen more frequently during the day, or at night?”
“It’s hard to say. It happens at all hours,” Walker said. “There doesn’t seem to be any particular time.”
“Does it ever happen late at night, say after midnight?”
“I don’t recall it ever being that late. Why? Do you have an idea?”
Harry chuckled. “I’m keeping an open mind to begin with, but I’ll be in touch. All I need for now is your street address.”
Walker gave him the address, and then said. “It’s a relief just to know you’ll be working on it.”
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