Did you know THE DEPOT was based on a real ghost story?

In 1989 I worked at a restaurant in Rockledge, FL called Ashley’s Cafe.

Although fictional, my idea for The Depot stemmed from the ghost who haunts the 1930s tavern.

My fascination with the restaurant came about the first night I served as the restaurant’s general manager. I’d worked there for almost two years and had never heard or saw a thing, but my first night in my new position was a different story. It’s been so long, I barely remember all that happened, but one thing that I’ll never forget is one of those large oval trays—that can’t possibly balance on its side—came sliding across the floor at me. Also, a five pound bucket of water spilled across the floor when no one was near it. Maybe the ghost was just reminding me who was boss.

But the most nerve wracking occurrences throughout the years was the number of employees—including myself—who felt as if someone had pushed them down the service stairs.

My husband—who happened to be a police officer at the time—also got to hear all the stories from the other officers who’d searched the café in the middle of the night because of alarm calls. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have any stories, but the detective’s account in The Depot is based off several officers whom my husband knew and trusted.

Since I’d always been interested in the supernatural, I looked up the woman’s death who supposedly haunts Ashley’s via microfilm from the old library in Cocoa, Florida.

At the time of her death, it was on record as one of the most heinous murders in Florida’s history. The murderer had gone through great lengths to conceal the woman’s identity, including smashing out all her teeth, cutting off her fingers, and burning her body. According to witnesses, the woman had been dating someone of wealth. And to my surprise, when I looked forward past a few days, the story had all but disappeared. Weeks later, nothing! Think about that! One of the most shocking crimes in Florida’s history in the thirties, and the newspapers drop the story.

Yeah…things that make you say, “Hmmm….”

So, there you have it. While my story is fictional, there is a ghost story. I believe the ghost of Ethel Allen will haunt that restaurant until someone uncovers the truth about her murder.

If you are interested in reading my thirteen-thousand-word mini mystery, The Depot is FREE for all to enjoy…and because of the multitude of readers who begged for more, I wrote a follow-up story, The Library.

Download your copy at your favorite eBook retailer:

Kobo

(Sorry Amazon won’t run free in all areas)

If it's not Free in your area, try Smashwords.

Already read The Depot, the story continues in...

Since I included The Depot at the beginning of The Library, you can't read a sample at the eBook retailers. If you've already read The Depot, but would like a taste of The Library before buying, you can read the first three chapters here.