The Fallen Parler: Part One (A supernatural mystery thriller) by B.C Safari Read Free Book Online Page A

father’s death. ‘Fine, I was truanting,’ he agreed on second thoughts.
    ‘Well this is the best day for your detention,’ grinned Mrs Lee, placing a dishevelled mesh of documents on Junior’s desk, ‘I’ve been looking for someone to help me sort through these newspaper cuttings.’
    For goodness sakes . Junior had planned to sleep through the entire length of detention - a plan which, after examining the size of the pile before him, was certainly not a possibility.
    ‘We’re holding a ‘history of Shorebridge’ event at the school,’ said Mrs Lee, ‘I need you to sort through these papers. Separate the general newspaper cuttings from everything that has anything to do with St. Andrew’s, could you?’
    ‘Well, I technically don’t have a choice,’ hissed Junior.
    Mrs. Lee shot him a menacing glare and after that Junior did not speak aloud again. Sorting through the pile of scraps was a tedious job which no-one with a short attention span, like Junior, should ever endeavour. Very soon, cuttings with headlines that read ‘ SHOREBRIDGE TOWN HALL RESTORED’ and ‘ WOMAN OPENS LIBRARY IN SHORBRIDGE ’ became one big jumble in Junior’s head. Every now and then, Mrs. Lee would hover over Junior’s shoulders, ensuring that he was completing the task correctly. The frustrated young man would mumble a curse word under his breath each time she came. He was almost halfway through the pile when the face of a man, whom he knew too well, appeared to him again. ‘HOUSE FIRE KILLS COUPLE AT THE WILLOW LODGE’ . Junior was certain he had seen his father’s face in the newspaper cutting. Of course, this would’ve been impossible, as the man in the article was named Arthur Mannox, and his wife, named Annie. The Mannox’s had died in fire at the Willow Lodge. In many ways, the resemblance between Arthur Mannox and Allan Roterbee was remarkable. Mannox could’ve easily been mistaken for Mr. Allan Roterbee, and at the very least, a doppelganger version. He did not look a day younger or older than Allan Roterbee had been on the eve of his death, which tempted Junior to search for the publication date of the article ‘4 th November 1947’ . Junior sat stiff in his seat, stunned. His flabbergasted expression enticed Mrs. Lee to pry into what had caused him such shock.
    ‘Nothing, nothing,’ coughed Junior, folding the flimsy paper into his blazer, ‘I just remembered…I forgot to turn the iron off when I left the lodge this morning.’
    ‘Silly boy,’ chortled Mrs. Lee.
    The article detailed the death of Arthur and Annie Mannox. It would’ve been impossible for Allan Roterbee, who was born in 69, to have been alive in 1947. Junior would’ve been happy to conclude that Arthur Mannox was any old man who happened to live in Shorebridge many years ago. However, the fact that Arthur and his wife died in a fire at the Willow Lodge could not have been mere coincidence. What was the connection between Allan Roterbee and Arthur Mannox? Mannox was old enough to be Allan Roterbee’s father, and their resemblance was truly astonishing. However, Allan always told the twins that his father was an Italian man who died fighting in the war…certainly not from a house fire. As far as Junior knew, his father had no reason to lie about such a matter. Every new question could only be answered with another new question. Soon, Junior amassed a confusing trail of queries. Was Allan Roterbee tied with Shorebridge in more ways than through Dr. Willow? Who exactly was this other man, Arthur Mannox? Why would his father never mention Arthur Mannox if they were, in fact, related?
    ‘You look pale Mr. Roterbee!’ exclaimed Mrs. Lee, ‘like you’ve seen a ghost!’
    Glancing at Junior’s unusually chalky cheeks, she cried, ‘that’ll be enough for today, you’re free to go!’
    Junior nodded vacantly and started towards the door. His thoughts were running rampant again. The most likely explanation was that there was no link