The Rattler (Rattler Trilogy Book 1) by P. A. Fielding Read Free Book Online

here. You guys are back early!” No response. “That’s strange.
Jim, lad, you’re absolutely losing it. Just hurry up and finish the ceiling.”
He had the weird feeling he wasn’t alone, but shrugged it off and carried on
painting.
    Jim
had finished the ceiling and one wall by lunchtime so he went down to the kitchen
for something to eat. He enjoyed a ham and cheese sandwich that Mary had made
before she left for town. He made a mug of strong, Yorkshire Tea, had a quick
look at the sports news in the newspaper, and finished his lunch.
    “Time to get back to it.” He stretched, and started to
walk slowly up the stairs, mug in hand, his footsteps echoing as he walked. He
paused to look around the stairwell. The house was by far their biggest
property to-date and, with over £750k spent on its bricks and mortar, was certainly
the most expensive.
    He
walked towards the bedroom, and was just about to place his mug down next to
the iPhone when he heard footsteps running along the landing. “What the blazes
was that? Definitely heard something that time.” He
put the unfinished tea down and walked purposefully up the stairs to the second
floor. Jim knew he was alone but was determined to get to the bottom of it.
James was a bit of a practical joker, and it wasn’t far from Jim’s mind that
his son was playing a prank. He walked up the final few stairs, half expecting
to find some kind of remote toy moving about. Nothing. Jim looked into the bedrooms and bathroom – all empty. He stood, scratching his
head.
    “What
have you been up to this time, James?” he said, scanning the landing. Suddenly,
two loud bangs could be heard coming from the attic. Jim quickly ran towards
the stairs leading up to the attic, found the light switch, flicked it – nothing. He started to climb the dark stairs. There were no further sounds
– and the only thing Jim could hear was his increased heartbeat.
    As
he approached the attic door a ghostly light was trying to poke itself under
the gap at the bottom. He slowly turned the knob and pushed open the door. If
James had jumped out at him at that moment, he would probably have shit his
pants! The attic was empty apart from the wooden chest at the far end, opposite
the door. He looked around carefully as he walked towards the chest. Without
warning, one of the windows smashed hard against the frame. Jim almost jumped out
of his skin. “Bloody hell! That’s probably what I
heard.” He took a second to compose himself, shook his head, and then walked
over and closed the window.
    He
examined the chest. It was empty but, as he closed the lid, his eyes were drawn
to what seemed to be freshly made, deep, scratch marks on the floor in front of
it. “The kids must have moved it.” He shut the attic door and started down the
stairs, just as the phone in his pocketstarted
to ring, startling him and causing him to stumble. “Get a grip, man!” he
cursed, before he sat down abruptly and answered it.
    “Hello?”
    “Jim,
it’s Carl; how’s it going?” Mary’s older brother, Carl, was sitting outside a
popular pub in central London. “Not bad, thanks, mate. I’m just finishing off
painting the guest bedroom, ready for Aunt Sally. What can I do for you?”
    “Just
calling to see if there’s any feedback regarding the BL4 beta?” Jim moved his
fingers thoughtfully and slowly over some gouge marks on the stairwell’s wall.
“Not had chance to play it yet, but we’ll give it a good run out tonight, and
no doubt Zoe will carry on with it whilst we are away next week. She enjoys
being a games tester.”
    “That’s
great. No worries. Just hope it’s what she’s been expecting, that’s all. The
game’s getting good previews from the journalists who have been invited to try
it out, so hopefully..., fingers crossed.”
    “Right
then, mate. I’ve got to go. I’ll text you later, and speak to you sometime
tonight.” He ended the call. “OK. Back to the painting. I suppose my brew’s