Monague O'Hara Paranormal Detective
Chapter 3

Monty found himself walking through a dark alleyway, having just left a quaint pub called Paddy McNaughton’s. It was cold and dark and a heavy mist was swirling all around him. Leaving a well known local drinking establishment after a good night of drinking, song and dance, nothing unusual for him. The unexpected part, he was not alone, holding onto his hand was none other than Gloria Sullivan.

Next there is a blood-curdling scream, and out of the mist came three Fear Gortas, or Irish Zombie’s, this did not cause any fear or terror in him, Monty O’Hara. As he knew all about creatures such as these. Unlike the typical Hollywood Zombie, that just wants to eat your brain and turn you into another Zombie, Fear Gortas are not that scary. Fear Gortas are the rotting corpses of the dead from famine They walk the streets asking those who they encounter for food. Gloria not knowing these sorts of things was really freaking out.

If you give the creature food, you’ll be blessed with prosperity and fortune. If you don’t, you’ll be cursed with poverty and misfortune. The moral of the legend of Fear Gortas is to share what you have and look after each other. Not a particularly nasty form of Zombie. So, even If I actually believed, any of this bullshit, I would not be particularly frightened.

Next a door over to my right opens and standing in the lit doorway is what looks like a leprechaun. The leprechaun gestures to me to come over to him. “Monty my son,” he shouts. “Come over here and introduce your fine lady friend to your old Da !.”

At this point I woke up. It was only a dream. Ever since viewing the old ancient chest in the Sullivan basement, I keep having all of these strange and vivid dreams. The chest can’t be the reason as I know this paranormal stuff is just bullshit.

Gloria Sullivan has just woken, in a cold sweat, from a vivid and rather strange dream. She has just emerged from an old traditional Irish pub. This in itself would be a strange thing. She has never been in such a place, but she had felt it to be familiar surroundings. Maybe this was just something programmed into her soul through having Irish genes.

Hanging onto the hand of Monty O’Hara leaving this place, another unbelievable occurrence. Or was it?. This was probably also down to, in this case, “Irish jeans”. A hansom and cocky Irishman, a twinkle in his eye, everything about him screaming trouble, stay away. It was the way he filled out those jeans that was starting to do strange things to her, cold logical Gloria Sullivan, icy super efficient lawyer, she knew better than to hook up with the likes of Montague O’Hara, but the way he fills out those jeans, she can’t get it out of her mind.

Back to the dream, three zombies suddenly appeared, moving towards them. At this, she was scared shitless, but Monty seemed to be taking it all quite calmly. Next, a door opens over on the right. Standing in this lighted doorway was what appears to be a Leprechaun. Beckoning them both towards the door. The Leprechaun seems to think Monty is his son. It was then she woke up.

The morning after the last dream, the one where a mysterious Leprechaun claimed to be my father, I feel it is about time that I make a start on this investigation. The problem I have though, is being far from home, here I have limited resources available, I knew this, when I took on this job, and under normal approach, this would not matter, as I would just make up some bullshit, put on a bit of a show, create a “solution” for the case, heroically go through the “solution” then pocketing a bit of cash, go off and look for the next opportunity.

This job was different. Ever since staring at the old ancient chest in the Sullivan basement, as well as the dreams Monty has been feeling ill at ease. Back home he would always know someone that he could gain access to an academic library with a good Folklore section. These libraries were normally part of a university or sometimes a museum. A possible gateway into one of these places just popped into his mind.

Henry Jackson or Hank the tank, as he was known to his old drinking buddies. And for a wild year when Hank was a grad student at Oxford University the same time that Monty was there, they were drinking buddies. From what Monty can recall Hank was taking up a position at Brooklyn College’s Academic Library. It was onto the internet to track down Hank, who was still at Brooklyn College. Monty managed to get a work phone number and after a quick phone call arranged to meet him at the library tomorrow.

The next morning Monty headed off to Brooklyn College. After an inquiry or two regarding it’s exact location Monty is now knocking on the door of Hank’s office located deep within the bowels of the library. The first knock was just a light tap, with no answer, so, the second time he knocks, it is a bit harder. A muffled, “come in.” is heard from inside. Hank’s probably hung over, thought Monty recalling their drinking buddy days. Monty opens the door and entered.

“Hung over as usual I see, Hank.” Not this time Monty,” Hank replies, “Married and newborn twins. Sometimes I think hangovers are much easier.” Hank continues on. “I know a renowned intellect, such as myself, would be enough to drag you across the Atlantic just for a social visit, but I fear that is not the reason you are here.”

“Hank I need a favor from you.” says Monty. “I need access to an academic library, with a comprehensive European Folklore section for a week or two.”

Next Monty went on to explain how, since completing his education due to his aristocratic families influence, he has not been able to obtain a decent position at any of the British Universities. His life at present centered around a website Montague O’Hara Paranormal Detective and with a mix of podcasts and other activities involving his specialty, European Folklore and a few special projects generated by the website he manages to drag out a living.

“There always has been money in bullshit.” Monty adds.

With the project he was hired to come to New York for, turning up something he did not allow for, a bit of additional research is now needed, so he needs access to the library that Hank looks after.

Hank being an easy-going sort, he knows Monty can’t break anything, so there can be no harm done, organizes a special pass that will give him the access that he requires for two weeks. As Hank takes Monty to the library section that he is interested in he notices a small group of geeky looking library workers staring at him, whispering to each other and looking up something on their phones.

Hank shows Monty to a desk with a PC on top, then he gives him the required information, and passwords so he can log onto the network. This will enable him to make use of the library’s card index database to replace the books and information he wants. Hank then heads back to his office, hopeful that no one else will bother him and give him a chance to catch up on his missing sleep, leaving Monty to get on with his research.

The group of nerds and geeks still seem to be most interested in Monty being in this small corner of the library. Eventually a small timid geeky woman who seems to have been delegated by the others quietly approaches Monty.

“You are him aren’t you ?.” she timidly asks. “The one on the website, Montague O’Hara, Paranormal Detective.”

Monty was not expecting this. Has he discovered a small fan club of Montague O’Hara Paranormal Detective hidden deep in the bowels of the Brooklyn College Library ?.