Ghosts of the Riverview

Chapter 1-1

Chapter 1

Billy took one last look around the expensive house, including checking the precious cat’s food and water dishes, before Griffin returned. He’d spent the last week watering the plants, organizing the mail, feeding the cat, dusting the vases, and blowing the snow in the yard. A college drop-out, Billy had lucked into performing odd jobs for a wealthy insurance executive when the man started dating one of Billy’s friends, Skottie. Even after Skottie died in a car crash, Griffin Glass still kept Billy on for the odd job.

Briefcase in hand, the older man swept into the living room and gave Billy an approving nod. Griffin kicked clumps of snow off his shoes before slipping out of them.

“Welcome back,” Billy said. “How’d it go?”

“Well, thank you.” Griffin set his briefcase down and picked up the calico cat. “I bought a restaurant.”

“Oh, yeah?” Billy asked, relieved he’d kept the house up to Griffin’s high standards. “Which one?”

“The Riverview.”

“Never heard of it.”

“It closed in the 70’s.”

“I think I know the one,” Billy said, trying to picture the last, derelict building on the waterfront. Some of the guys used to smoke pot there after school, until the cops made it a regular stop on their patrols. Billy hadn’t thought about the place in the seven years since high school. “Is that the one that’s supposed to be haunted?” He tried to remember the spook stories he’d heard about loud noises and doors slamming, but nothing particular came to mind.

Griffin smiled and asked the cat, “Was Billy a good house-sitter?” The cat purred. “A glowing review, Billy. Yes, the Riverview is purported to be haunted. A group of paranormal investigators recently toured it. They found evidence of something or other, if you believe any of that nonsense.”

“Why did you buy it?”

“Because it now has a gimmick. And it was incredibly cheap. Anyway, I need a crew to get in there and make the place look respectable to prospective investors. Just because I bought the land doesn’t mean I can afford the entire business. That’s where you come in.”

“Another job?” Billy asked. “That’s great. What do you want me to do?”

“Take a few people to the restaurant next weekend and clean up. Basic stuff, really. A new paint job, scrub the kitchen. It doesn’t need to be operational, just aesthetically pleasing. I plan on showing it off to a Japanese group the following week and I prefer there’s no cobwebs or dead animals laying around.”

“I can do that. Anyone in mind I should ask?”

“That lesbian friend of yours can probably handle the physical work,” Griffin said. He swept into the kitchen, where Billy followed. “And I hear Matthew recently got out.”

“I don’t know how reliable Matthew is,” Billy said. He’d gone to school with the guy, but that was before the drugs.

“He was Skottie’s friend, so I’ll do him a favor. I’m sure he could use the money,” Griffin replied. Billy winced at the name of his dead friend. Griffin sucked in a breath and then pulled a bottle of white wine from a top cabinet. “Let’s say a thousand for your management skills and five hundred for each of your four worker bees?”

“I’ll take care of everything,” Billy said, glad he wouldn’t have to worry about rent for months to come. He grabbed two wine glasses for Griffin and himself, scratched the cat’s chin, and sat by the stove. He made small talk about the weather and Griffin’s trip while he planned the team he needed to assemble to clean out the haunted restaurant.