Return to Garrison Manor

Return to Garrison Manor

Suzanne Marsh

The old wrought iron gate creaked open as I entered. It had been ten years since I last set foot in Garrison Manor. I still had a mile to walk before I arrived at the carved mahogany door. I walked slowly, I was in no hurry to arrive at the main house. I had been summoned home by my brother Mac, why? I have no idea. I trudged on. I took a deep breath, as I faced the two welcoming gargoyles. The main house was built in 1866 by my great Grandfather. It had fallen into disrepair since my Father took over. Father was very close to one hundred, in fact that was why I had been summoned, he wished to speak to me before he died. That was all well and good. I approached the front door, which is a heavy large carved door. The main house itself is brick and sits six hundred and forty feet above the Hudson River in New York State. Made of red brick and mortar, it never was truly a home, more like a mausoleum. Before I could lower my backpack, Max, the butler opened the door. He must have been my great Grandfather's butler. He ushered me into the foyer. That had not changed since I left, it was still oaken parquet. Max guided me into the library. My eyebrows shot up in surprise, my bother Mac and sister Catherine were waiting, like vultures ready to swoop down on me.

Mac, strode over and greeted me:

“Hey bro, glad you are here. Father has been waiting for you.”

“Me? Why? He was the one that drove me out of here.”

“Bro, I don't have any answers, but I better warn you, Mother is not happy with your return.”

“She is the other reason I left home.”

Max, left the room as the three of us spoke. The library was all oak paneling, with ladders reaching to the second floor, full of books that dated back to the 1800's. Mother arrived a few moments later. She still was the most sinister ugly woman I have ever met. I did not look anything like her, however I bore some resemblance to Father. She sauntered in:

“Hello, Mac, Catherine and of course Michael. The reason the three of you were summoned

your Father is on his deathbed. His last request is that we all be together when he dies.

That being said, your rooms are just as you left them. Will the three of you please follow me

to your Father's rooms.”

Mother, quietly marched up the stairs, to the small sick room, as she termed it. It reminded me of a

broom closet. We three walked in, the sheer shock of seeing Father, laying there as white as the sheets that covered him. It took him a few moments to gain his wits: I just stood there, this was not the man I remembered, the man who was so angry I did not go into business as his partner. Here I was face to face with him once again. Father asked the others to step out for a moment:

“Michael, I need your help, someone is poisoning me. Please come over here so that I can

see you.”

I strode over to the bed; taking his thin blue veined hand in mine. I knew this was going to be difficult for him, since he was the one who forced me to leave.

“Michael, I don't have long, my final will is hidden; only you know where the passage is.

I showed it to you when you were a mere boy. I leave you everything, you are my only son,

blood of my blood. Your brother and sister are Sarah Coventry Garrison's children; from a

previous marriage.”

He began to cough, gasping for breath. I continued to hold his hand as he fell asleep. I had made a promise to him, and I would keep it. I began my assent up the winding oak staircase. My room was on the third floor, my brother and sister had their bedroom suites on the second floor. The third floor, was mine exclusively. I stopped on the second floor landing, I turned left toward my step-mother's suite. I tapped lightly on the door:

“Mother, Father is requesting you go to him. He has been gasping for breath. I am about to call

Doctor Levenson.”

“Michael, why would you want to trouble Doctor Levenson? There is nothing he can do to save

your Father.”

“Look Sarah, you are not my Mother so back off! I am going to call the Doctor. You have no say

in the matter. Do you understand me?”

She slammed the suite door, stormed down the stairs and into Father's sick room.

Once I secured the lock on my door. I went into the small closet that held my collection of first edition books. I carefully slid the back shelf a slight bit to the left, pulled the small lever. I entered the passage that would take me to where Father had placed his last will and testament. The passage descended into the basement. There at the bottom of the stairs was a room, with bright white lights. I flipped the switch, to discover a safe. I tried several combinations before I finally got the correct one. I swung open the door. The safe had so many drawers, I had no idea which one held the will. I began going through the drawers. The I noted that the room was sound proof, it made me wonder what Father had hidden here that he thought I should see. I opened the second drawer down, there sat Father's last will and testament, and family bible I had never seen. I opened it up hoping to clarify what Father had told me earlier about my parentage. I opened the bible, there in the center was a family tree, the Garrison family tree. I read further, there it was: 'John M. Garrison married Althea Lee 1940 December 25^th, 1940.'

'Michael J. Garrison born June 14^th, 1941.' 'Althea Lee Garrison, born June 15^th, 1922 – died June 16^th, 1941' the rest of the entries were ones Sarah Coventry made.

I continued thumbing through the bible, there hidden in the folds of the bible was a newspaper item. The headline made me stop and read:

“Althea Lee Garrison, was pronounced dead from arsenic poisoning.”

Now I was beginning to wonder who actually murdered my Mother and now Father. I continued to search the bible then I saw Sarah's spidery writing:

“Now it is my turn Althea.”

Just what that meant was just a guess at this point, but I was not going to leave this alone. I needed closure and the only way was to pursue what clues Father left me. I went back to where Sarah had written in the bible: 'Sarah Coventry married John M. Garrison June 30^th, 1941. I stared at the entry as if it were a rattlesnake poised to strike. This could not be happening, not in the high and mighty Garrison family. I called an old friend of mine from my West Point days:

“Hey Mace, this is Mike Garrison, are you still connected with the FBI?”

“Mike, great to hear from you, yeah I am still an FBI agent, why?”

“Mace, someone killed my Mother a few days after I was born, with arsenic, now whoever it

was is killing my Father I think the same way.”

“Mike, you have any idea who might be responsible?”

“Mace, I think it was my step-mother”

“Why? What makes you think that Mike?”

“I found the family bible; Father had it hidden, there was a headline from the newspaper

the Hudson Post. It states that Althea Lee, my Mother was poisoned by arsenic, now

my Father? Who's next me.”

“Mike, what is your step-mother's name?”

“Sarah Coventry Garrison.”

“Let me do some digging, in the meantime I suggest you don't eat with your family.”

“I won't, I can drive into town, Father kept my GTO in the garage.”

Mace McGuire, hung up the phone. He went over to the building where the FBI files were kept on computer, old cases. He began his search with Sarah Coventry. There was no such person listed in any files birth or marriage. This did not bode well. Who was Sarah Coventry? Mace, quickly dialed Mike's number:

“Mike, Sarah Coventry does not exist. Call me the second you receive this.”

Mike, returned to his bedroom suite, he noticed someone had been there. The hair on the back of his neck rose, warning him something was amiss. 'What next?' he thought:

“the ghost of Garrison Hall? I don't believe in ghosts or anything paranormal'; he thought with disgust. Father had often said there was an apparition that would appear in time of crisis; seeing is believing, or so someone said. I went into Garrison, for dinner, it had been quite a while since I had eaten at Margie's Steak House. I arrived at the same time Mace came driving up. He got out of his black FBI SUV. This could not be good. It wasn't. We sat at the back and Margie served us herself.

“Mike, I had to go through quite a few cold cases before I found your Mother's, it was never

solved. Sarah Coventry is actually Sara Lee, like the coffee cake. Your Mother Althea's

fraternal twin. I would suggest you keep a close eye on the woman. I need you to sign

a court document so the lab can exhume your Mother's body.”

“Didn't father realize she was my Mother's sister? He's not stupid.”

“We think she had plastic surgery before resurfacing as Sarah Coventry.”

“Mace, in the family bible there was a note. I read it, this is becoming all to clear.

“What did the note say Mike?”

“Althea, now it is my turn.”

“For the next few days you need to very cautious, if she thinks you are unto her you

will be the next victim. I'll check in everyday, you know old buddies.”

“Yeah, old buddies, trying to solve a murder with another one in the wings.”

Mace smiled at Mike as they finished dinner. Mike drove back to Garrison Hall. The house was as quite as a morgue. Mike, quietly as possible made his way to the second floor landing, turned toward his Father's sickroom. He opened the door; checked on his Father, the went up to his own suites. Mike tossed and turned most of the night. The following morning he was up early. He went down the back stairs to his Father's room. The old man was awake, when he saw Michael, he motioned him to have a seat:

“Michael, I saw your Mother last night. Her apparition told me I would see her very soon.”

Michael took a deep breath:

“Father, you need to keep fighting. You have to be strong.”

“Michael, I am ready. I have made my peace with you, that is all I ever wished for.”

Michael could almost taste how badly he wanted to inform his Father of the deceit; also the murder of his Mother, and his Father. He held his Father's hand until he dozed off, then went to his suites. He noticed several items out of place, someone had in here nosing around. He dialed Mace's number:

“Mace, someone is getting suspicious about what I know”

“Mike, stay put, good down in the passage you told me about and stay there. I'll call the

locals, they can be there quicker than the FBI.”

Mike did as Mace instructed, suddenly a spectral being appeared in the form of his Mother.

“Michael, why are you hiding? You are the rightful heir of Garrison Hall.”

Michael, began looking around the suite, there had to be a camera or something that Sarah was using. Sure enough he finally located what he thought might be a camera, yank it out. He then proceeded to the secret passage. He pulled the hand and the door shut and locked. He knew the passage would lead him outside as well as into the secret area he had been the other day. He followed the passage way to the left, emerging into the dusk. He crept along the back of the house, he kept himself hidden, until he heard sirens. Mace arrived first, then several agents. Finally the locals arrived.

Michael, pulled Mace aside:

“Mace, my 'Mother' appeared as an apparition, asking why was I hiding, Sarah must

have been watching me the entire time.”

“Mike, Sarah is a professional assassin, she kills for money. We think there is someone or

something close to here that is her actual target. She was just marking time until she could

act.”

“Mace, we are just across the Hudson from West Point, I know that sounds like a stupid thing

to be telling you, since we both graduated from there. Maybe that is her real target.”

“Could be Mike, could be.”

Mace, produced a warrant to search the premises and a warrant for Sarah Coventry's arrest. Mace, also brought a Doctor from West Point, to check on Mike's Father. They entered the room. The elderly man lay gasping for breath. The Doctor took his vital signs; told Mace that John Garrison still had a chance, provided they got him to Hudson Hospital immediately. The FBI agents began searching. They had asked Mike where his step-mother's rooms were. He told them the second floor. The lead agent, knocked on Sarah's door:

“Open up, FBI.” Nothing, the opened the door; their suspect had escaped. Mike, grabbed Mace: “Follow me, she must have seen me open that secret passage the first night I was home.” Mike led the way. Sure enough, the door was open. The agents and police bounded down the stairs. Just as Sarah, with Mac and Catherine, were finishing emptying the vault.

“Hands in the air, turn around. You Sarah Lee as well as Mackenzie Lee and Catherine Lee are

under arrest for theft.”

Sarah glared:

“All of those are my husbands, they are mine for the taking? The old goat is almost dead.”

Michael began to tremble:

“You killed my Mother, and you almost killed my Father, but guess what, he is on his way to

the hospital as we speak. You were poisoning him with arsenic just like you did my Mother.”

Mace, motioned the local police to take the three of them. One of the FBI agents called down:

“Mace, you have to see what we have.”

Mace and Michael bounded up the stairs, and down the to the second floor. There in Sarah's suites were guns, ammunition and grenades. Michael and Mace had been correct, she hard a larger target, more likely than not, it was West Point. She was a home grown terrorist as were her children.

Later that evening, Mace and Mike visited John Garrison:

“Mike, son, they told me you saved my life. I want to you to know, I will recover at least

that is what the Doctors tell me. I am not exactly sure where I will go, but you are

the rightful owner of Garrison Hall.”

Mike felt the tears welling in his eyes as he replied:

“Father, you are coming home with me, no matter how much time you have left, I want you

to be there. I am ready now to take over the reigns of Garrison Industries.”

Mace, quietly left the Father and Son alone as he thought: 'all in a day's work Mace, all in a day's work.'