Secrets of Broadmead Grange 9. Secrets of Broadmead Grange When Sarah woke next morning and peered out of her bedroom window she could see it had snowed all night again: her Rav-4 was buried under a huge drift. Taking another day off wasn’t an option — she knew she had to get in to work. The down...
All The World’s a Stage 1. All The World’s a Stage Getting into the deserted theatre had been easy. The alleyway at the back couldn’t be seen from the High Street and the rubbish bins made for an easy step-up. The new dressing room windows hadn’t shut properly since they’d been installed. All he ...
Enter Ludo 9. Enter Ludo Jack watched as Zoë quickly turned to the doctor. “That’s — um, it’s all right, Doctor …” A nod from Dr. Manjeep, and the attendant and nurse backed away. And Jack watched as the man in the overcoat brushed it as if shaking off dust, and then marched straight over to the ...
Contradictions 6. Contradictions After leaving Tahir, Jack decided to mosey around on his own for a moment before heading back to the main school building, in spite of the dripping, deadening rain that continued to fall. Someone, somewhere, he guessed must be watching him on CCTV. School like thi...
Secrets 5. Secrets “And this is where I keep — kept — the cash,” said Claire. Her voice low as she discussed her secret. Jack watched her slide back the mirrored closet doors. The doors slid back silently and seemed to disappear into the wall — revealing an enormous, brightly-lit walk-in dressing...
Of Blood and Boats 4. Of Blood and Boats Jack waited by his Sprite, top down, ready to go, mobile phone in hand. After the tour of the beached boat, he was — thanks to Joan — properly intrigued. “Sarah, hope I’m not interrupting.” “Jack, nice to hear from you. All good?” “Sure. Look, you busy now...
Lies and More Lies 11. Lies and More Lies Sarah spent five minutes filling Jack in on her meeting with Patrick Andrews. “Interesting — the delightful Tricia was a full-blown spook?” he said. “So it seems.” She saw Jack shake his head. “She had me totally fooled.” “I wouldn’t feel bad about that, ...
The Gallops 14. The Gallops Jack sped along the main Cheltenham road in his little sports car, letting the Sat-Nav do the work. This was a new road to him and he loved the gentle hills and long curves, woodland and broad fields flashing by in the spring sunshine. Soon as he was off onto the side-...
A Table by the Fire 12. A Table by the Fire Jack walked up the main road from Cherringham Bridge, his coat wrapped tight against the bitter wind. If he hadn’t made a date with Sarah to go through what she’d found, he’d have been happy to stay home on the boat. Wood-burner roaring, a good book, Ri...
Drill Down 9. Drill Down Sarah opened the last of Jack’s galley cupboards and drew a blank. The guy clearly liked to cook — there was no end of spices, herbs, and food groups from all around the world, some she’d never even heard of. But in terms of crockery, all she’d found so far were a couple ...
Fishing 3. Fishing Jack began to reel in his line. The sun directly overhead, warm, and feeling so good after what he had been told was a tougher than usual Cherringham winter. Not much by NYC standards, he thought. “You know, Riley, I'm beginning to lose faith that there are any fish in this riv...
Kingfisher Lake 13. Kingfisher Lake Jack turned off the dual carriageway at the sign for Trask Trout and headed down a winding track towards a stretch of water in the valley that he guessed was Kingfisher Lake. The drive had taken around twenty minutes. Up into the hills that lay to the north and...
Night in Cherringham 12. Night in Cherringham “So, no stars for mum’s dinner tonight?” Sarah watched as her two children wolfed down the chicken fricassee that she had whipped up. Bit of lemon, fresh tarragon, portabello mushrooms, brown rice. Fresh, tasty and, with hungry kids, not destined to l...
With the Help of a Ghosthunter 12. With the Help of a Ghosthunter Floorboards off, Jack watched Todd lean down, and — to aid his headlamp — aim a flashlight into the opening, first one way, then the other. Mr. Anderson had excused himself to the hallway, taking his papers with him, “to attend to ...
Cottage Secrets 6. Cottage Secrets Sarah helped Jack stack the stage pieces just inside the front door. They probably had a proper place to be stored – but all of this would vanish sooner or later anyway. With no heirs, Brendl’s isolated getaway would be sold, his possessions as well. “Want to br...