Graham Park Read online

  GRAHAM PARK

  A TWISTED TIMBERS THRILLER

  A NOVEL BY

  Kevin M. Moehring

  This one is for my daughter Mira, who says my books are boring because there are no fairies, princesses or unicorns. Love you bug!

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are all the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  Copyright ©2017 by Kevin M. Moehring

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  ISBN: 978-0-692-98167-2

  Chapter 1

  If you are not from the Northwest, then you have probably never heard of the town of Twisted Timbers. If you have never heard of the town, then you have no idea of the reputation it has of being one of the most peaceful small towns in America. Ever since the fire that destroyed the sawmill, the town has become one of the most popular vacation destinations for people looking to connect with nature. The remoteness of the town has made it the perfect getaway for families looking for peace and quiet.

  For kids who grow up in the small Oregon town, the lack of excitement in the town has led their imaginations to create myths and urban legends. Every child has heard the stories of how the old mill burned down and how the ghosts of the workers who were killed still haunt the area. The most popular legend is the one that focuses around Graham Park, the amusement park located about ten miles east of town.

  As the story goes, one of the men who died in the mill fire visits the park on a regular basis. He waits there in the hopes that he will get to spend another day riding the rides with his young son, who at the time of his death was just an infant. Details of the haunting of Graham Park vary depending on who is telling the story but usually involve the Ferris Wheel spinning around, with its bright lights shining, long after the park is closed for the season. Several people have filed reports in the past claiming to see the bright lights shining while they traveled down the main highway.

  There has never been any hard evidence that Graham Park or the town of Twisted Timbers is haunted but that has never stopped the topic from being repeatedly discussed during recess at school or from being told around the campfire during boy scout trips. Most of the kids in the area have been to Graham Park during the summer months and have never seen anything they would consider odd or could be labeled as haunted. Many of their fondest memories include the first time they rode the roller coaster or getting their first kiss atop the very Ferris Wheel that is the subject of many of these myths. Twisted Timbers is the kind of place were families live for generations, with the children often living very similar lives as their parents did years before.

  As the winter is slowly melting away in the area and the trees are beginning to bloom, most residents are taking up the tasks of getting the town ready for the upcoming tourist season. Since the saw mill closed, tourism has been the leading source of revenue for the town. The natural beauty of the area has drawn hikers and campers to the area for generations. Nestled deep in the Oregon forests along the Nehalem River, Twisted Timbers is sixty miles away from the nearest interstate. The remoteness of the town adds to the feeling of seclusion which many people are looking for when they visit the area. Graham Park is the lone tourist attraction in the area that does not allow its visitors to feel closer to nature. A family trip to the theme park is usually the highlight of their stay in the small, secluded town.

  It is unlikely that the people that visit the town, as an escape from their hectic lives, have any knowledge of the sorted past of Twisted Timbers. They would never allow their kids to ride the Ferris Wheel at Graham Park if they knew what the town residents often said about the large metal structure. They would not be so quick to camp in the woods that surround the town if they knew the odd sounds that often break through the silence on chilly winter nights. They would never come to Twisted Timbers if they had ever heard the stories that the town youth would make up to scare one another.

  Chapter 2

  Mitch Thompson grew up in Twisted Timbers and unlike most of his peers, he stayed in the town even after he graduated high school. In the three years since he graduated, he has worked with his father, the town sheriff, and has hated every second of it. He quickly learned to detest the tourist season and the increased responsibility that came along with it. On a typical day, Mitch would be relegated to traffic control outside of Graham Park or along Main Street. Nothing exciting ever happened and for a twenty-one-year-old, excitement was all that he craved.

  Sheriff Bill Thompson was getting older by the day and Mitch knows that one day he would be counted on to take over the duties as sheriff. This was not something he looked forward to. This past winter was hard on his father. The old man has arthritis in both of his knees, making it hard for him to walk. Some days, Bill would never even get out of bed. This allowed Mitch several opportunities to practice the duties that his father would normally take care of on a daily basis. The paperwork was by far the least popular task that Mitch was forced to deal with, sometimes spending long hours sitting at his desk.

  Now that spring is quickly approaching, Mitch has taken it upon himself to step into the role of preparing the town for the tourists. This includes making sure the highway that leads into town is free of debris and all of the temporary street signs that direct tourists to the local attractions have all been mounted. If there is one thing that his three years of experience has taught him, it's that tourists will always get lost, even when there are giant signs pointing them to their destination.

  As he makes his way north on Highway 25, the road that leads visitors to Graham Park, the sun is slowly starting to set behind the trees. Views like these are what brings the people to the area. The orange and red sky cast the entire road in front of him in a warm glow. As he nears the location for the turn for Graham Park, Mitch slowly pulls his truck to the shoulder and turns on his hazard lights. As he climbs out of the cab, he reaches into the bed of the truck and pulls out the last of his signs. A few turns of his wrench and the new sign is added to the existing street sign and Mitch returns to his truck.

  As he does every time he is in this area, he decides to make a pass around the park to make sure everything is as it should be. He has heard all of the rumors and urban legends before, but he was never a believer. Growing up as the son of the town sheriff has made him more of a realist and not one that puts too much stock into the rambling of little boys on the playground. The sun has completely set now and only his headlights lead the way on the pavement leading to Graham Park. The large pine trees along the side of the road have always hidden the entrance to the park. In fact, during the day when the lights of the park cannot be seen, many tourists miss the driveway and are several miles down the road before they realize they have made an error.

  Mitch has made this drive several times, although he is having a tough time remembering the last time. He can't remember if he has made a single trip out to the park since he took down the signs at the end of last season. Maybe he was too caught up in dealing with his ailing father or maybe it just slipped his mind. There is no other reason for him to be heading in this direction and with the park closed for the season, there was never a call to the sheriff's office in the winter months. As he rounds the final bend before the gravel driveway to the park he is greeted by an unus
ual sight. He slams on the brakes to the truck and stops right in the middle of the road. He has not seen another motorist in the last twenty minutes on this baron stretch of road.

  Mitch gets out of the truck and stands beside his open door, staring into the distance. If he wasn't here seeing it with his own eyes, he would not believe it to be true. Breaking through the darkness, like a neon light in a dark alley, the Ferris Wheel shines brightly. The lights flicker in the distance. The reds, greens, yellows and blues are all at full power and Mitch is left speechless and trembling. Even now that he is standing here staring at it, he doesn't believe it. He watches for a full minute or two as the cars on the ride make their usual loop around. His heart instantly beats faster, fearing that the rumors he has heard for years is true.

  Chapter 3

  Standing alone in the middle of the road, with his truck running, Mitch is left wondering what he should do next. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his pack of cigarettes. His father has begged him to quit for years now but Mitch has refused. The fact is that he has control over his habit and only lights one up after a long day and before bed. This, however, is surely reason enough to take a few drags. The feeling of the nicotine hitting his body and the warm smoke filling his lungs is enough to calm him down and allow his heart to return to a normal pace.

  Like everyone else who grew up in Twisted Timbers, he has heard the stories of the Ferris Wheel operating on its own. Never has there been any proof of this actually happening, until now. The young man stands in awe at the sight of the lights rotating in the complete darkness. No other rides in the park seem to be turned on. There is not a single car to be found in the large gravel parking lot. Are the stories he has heard all throughout his childhood actually true?

  He hates that he has no idea what to do about the situation and reluctantly pulls out his cell phone. He doesn’t want to call his father, but this is most definitely a unique situation and he could use some advice. Service in this area is normally shady at best but even with the storm that is due around midnight, Mitch is relieved that his call goes through without issue. It takes several rings for his father to answer on the other end. Sheriff Thompson has the voice of a movie star hero, the deepness of it has always made his words seem to come across with much more meaning.

  "Dad, I need you to listen to me. I know it's late and I'm sorry for calling but I need some advice. I was hanging the last of the tourist signs and decided to turn down Graham Road and take a look at the park. When I got closer, I could see the lights from the Ferris Wheel were on. What do I do?" Mitch hears himself say the words and instantly feels like an idiot. He tells himself that if he heard one of the other deputies tell him the same story, he would probably laugh and hang up the phone.

  "Not again, Mitch you're going to have to check it out. Call for backup and don't go into the park until they arrive. You got it? Do not go in until you have backup." His father did not find it funny at all, in fact his tone was more serious than Mitch would have expected. His father hung up the phone as soon as he finished talking and allowed no time for another question from Mitch.

  Did he just say, ‘not again’? What is that supposed to mean? Maybe the stories the kids told on the playground were true. He is certain that if there was ever anything big that happened at the park, he would have heard about it at one time or another during his childhood. Mitch is speaking out loud as if there were several people standing around in a group. He looks down at his cell phone and presses the button to completely end the call with his father.

  Like his father had instructed, Mitch dials the cell phone again and calls the station. He knows that both Donovan and Johnson are on-duty and they would race out to the park as soon as they could. Neither of the two deputies believed what he told them, but they did as they were told. They were not going to ignore an order from the son of the town sheriff, even if they have several years more experience. The station was at least a half an hour drive away and Mitch was going to be alone until then.

  He climbs back into his truck and puts it into gear, makes the wide turn onto the driveway and drives through the gravel parking lot of Graham Park. He allows the truck to idle him closer to the front gate until he gets to the end of the gravel and the beginning of the cement walkway that leads visitors through the gates. He decides it may be a good idea to spin the truck around and back in close to the gate, in case there is a need for a quick escape.

  Once he is happy with the positioning of the truck, he slowly exits the vehicle. Mitch opens the tailgate and takes a seat on it. Lighting up another cigarette happens without much thought as he stares at the lights of the Ferris Wheel again. The ride has always been one of the main attractions at the park and is the first thing visitors see as they enter the parking lot. Now, with its lights shining, it rises far above the wrought iron gate. The large metallic letters that spell out Graham Park look tiny in the shadow of the ride. As he takes the last puff from his cigarette, with no warning at all, the Ferris Wheel stops spinning, and the lights go dark. The only light in the area is now the headlights from his truck, which are now regretfully pointing away from the park. As he climbs down from the bed of the truck, he is certain that he hears something. The sound is coming from far off in the distance, but the silence of the nights in this part of the world make unusual noises almost echo through the darkness.

  "What is that? Is there someone on the roller coaster?"

  Chapter 4

  Stuart Johnson and Fred Donovan arrive much quicker than Mitch had expected them to. Not much has happened for the last five minutes and Mitch was never able to hear the sounds that he swore he heard in the moments right after the Ferris Wheel stopped spinning. He was sure he heard the metal chain pulling the passenger car up the giant hill of the roller coaster. From the first time you ever ride a roller coaster, that sound is embedded in your mind as the scariest thing you have ever heard. In the last few minutes the only thing he has been able to hear is the normal sounds of the Oregon wildlife.

  His two fellow officers exit the squad car in unison and walk over to where Mitch has parked his truck. There was an extended period of awkwardness as the two deputies look at the now dark ride, then back to Mitch, and again at the ride. He knows what they are thinking and how silly he must look just sitting here staring at a Ferris Wheel that is most definitely not working.

  "I know what you're thinking but it was lit up. I am not imagining it. As soon as it shut off, I could have sworn I heard the roller coaster too." Now that he has said it out loud, he realizes how strange it sounds. Everyone knows that the park would not be hosting visitors for another few weeks and the thought that rides would be operating in an obviously vacant amusement park sounds rather silly.

  "Have you been drinking on the job again Mitch?" Stuart Johnson has always used his sense of humor as a way to bring a little levity to tense situations. He has been on the force for almost fifteen years now and is considered the next in line to become sheriff, a title that he hopes to avoid at all costs. He enjoys his job but has no plans on increasing his work load.

  "I have not been drinking. I know I sound crazy or drunk. The ride was most definitely lit up and operating. We need to go inside and have a look around. I called my father, I mean, I called the sheriff and he told me to get you guys out here before I went in and looked around."

  Fred Donovan is now standing on the opposite side of Mitch and is kicking at some of the loose gravel in the parking lot with his cowboy boots. Fred has always considered himself to be a good-looking guy even though he has had zero success with the ladies for as long as Mitch has known him. He is the epitome of bravado on the outside but whenever a skirmish breaks out, he is also the first one to volunteer to be as far away from the action as possible. "Don't you think it might make more sense to come back out here in the morning at first light?"

  "Oh man," Mitch jumps down from the tailgate and pulls up on his belt. "Fred, are you a little scared? Afraid there might be some ghosts hanging ou
t in our little town?" Mitch doesn't say another word and returns to the driver’s side of his truck. He reaches into the cab and grabs his flashlight and rifle. He sticks the flashlight into the pocket on the back of his jeans, checks the rifle for ammo and slams the door shut. "We sit around here and do nothing all winter and now that there is the first sign of action, you're ready to go off and cry about it?"

  "That's not it Mitch but we've all heard the stories about this place and I was hoping to head over to the Bottom Dollar for a few drinks. It's ladies’ night and you know how much I love the ladies!" Fred has a grin from ear to ear at the thought of spending the night partaking in his favorite past time, chasing shots and chasing women.

  The laughter from Mitch and Stuart comes out as one giant chorus. Fred turns instantly red in the face as his attempts at trying to find a female friend have always been the subject of great ridicule. "It's not about how much you love the ladies, it's about how much the ladies do not love you," Mitch jokes. Grab your flashlights and rifles and let’s get going."

  Even though Mitch has been to the park dozens of times as a child, the fact that there are no lights on gives the place an ominous feel that makes him uneasy. It may be for personal pride or the fact that he feels the need to constantly impress his father, but Mitch is more than ready to lead the officers into Graham Park. He is not worried about ghosts or spirits but the one line his father uttered on the telephone has him a bit concerned. If this sort of thing had happened before, and his father was aware of it, what was the end result.

  He is certain that if things were too dangerous, his father would not have instructed him to enter the park, even with the other officers. His father has always done things by the book and cautioned on the side of safety, so chances are he would not send his son into a dangerous situation with only two other men to protect him. Stuart and Fred are both great police officers, but they are not the sort of people you would want by your side when you needed to do battle. If it came to writing tickets or directing traffic, then they would be the first names on the list.