Cherringham--Ghost of a Chance by Neil Richards Read Free Book Online Page B

heading towards them.
    And she felt the familiar tiny thrill of fear that she always felt on a case when she came face to face with the main suspects.
    The feeling that it could be any one of them …

9. A Surprising Interruption
    “Sarah! Jack!” said Lawrence cheerfully. “No, don’t get up, hate to spoil your dinner!”
    Too late for that , thought Sarah.
    “You must be Crispin,” she said holding out her hand to the younger man.
    “Pleasure to meet you,” said Crispin Myrtle, taking her hand and giving it a brief squeeze.
    His hand was cold.
    Sarah looked up at the two men as they stood uncertainly at the side of the table.
    “You not joining us?” said Sarah, taking in Crispin’s tailored suit, hand-made shirt.
    Even as she asked, Sarah knew that Crispin would never eat the food on this menu.
    He clearly aspired to be in a different league.
    Probably off to The Spotted Pig later.
    And a spa hotel? she wondered.
    Yes, that’s more Crispin’s style …
    “Love to,” said Crispin. “But, er, bit hectic tonight, and anyway, just wanted you to know that dad and I have had our wee chat and he has something he’d like to say to you. Isn’t that right dad?”
    “What?” said Lawrence, looking at his son, confused. “Um, oh yes — of course. What I wanted to say was … Crispin’s back in charge now. So, er … anything you need to know, you just, er … talk to him. Not me. Crispin’s the boss.”
    Sarah watched him pat Crispin on the back. But neither son nor father smiled.
    The two of them just stood awkwardly by the side of the table, while she and Jack waited, not eating.
    “Delicious pie,” said Sarah, to break the silence.
    “Isn’t it?” said Crispin.
    Did he pick up on her sarcasm?
    Crispin was one chilly operator.
    Sarah looked from Crispin to Lawrence. The older man seemed vulnerable. Cowed, even …
    “I see Basil has found himself a dining partner,” Jack said.
    Sarah watched Crispin and Lawrence look over to the corner table where Basil and his dinner guest had just stood up, and were heading towards the bar.
    She saw Crispin frown slightly.
    “Hmm, yes,” he said. “One of the participants at the Ghost Dinner, I do believe.”
    “Ah,” said Lawrence with a big grin, as if he’d woken from a daydream. “The mysterious occupant of number three, Jack!”
    “Mysterious?” said Crispin, looking confused.
    “Mr. Anderson,” said Lawrence. “In the bridal suite! With the lead pipe!”
    The old man actually cackled at his reference.
    Sarah could see Crispin even more baffled. He put his arm on his father’s shoulder, as if to lead him away, but as he did …
    …Sarah heard a shrill scream coming from somewhere deep in the hotel.
    A woman’s scream that didn’t stop.
    Almost like a siren.
    Then the scream grew louder.
    “My God!” said Lawrence.
    Crispin staggered back in surprise: “What the hell?”
    But Jack had already pushed back his chair and was up and running.
    When Sarah saw him head towards the door to the lobby she started running too, dimly aware of the other dinner guests rising to their feet, mouths wide open in horror at the sound.
    Into the lobby, Jack was pounding up the stairs.
    “Where is it, Jack?” she shouted, just yards behind.
    “Up here I think — stick close!”
    Heart racing, she bolted up the first flight, then the second, feet sliding on the carpet …
    The screaming now raw, terrifying, nearer and nearer —
    “Help! Someone help!”
    At the second landing Jack launched himself at the double fire doors that opened onto the bedroom corridor.
    Sarah followed him and suddenly she could see nothing, she was in a white fog, not smoke, it was like …
    …mist.
    Or a cloud, so dense she could only see shapes moving, Jack’s sports jacket, a young woman in a nightdress looming towards her shrieking, screaming.
    Then, for a fleeting second, a flash of red in the mist.
    Bright red — blood red.
    The rug began slipping, Sarah tripped and started to