House of Echoes

  ‘I’m afraid they’re not going to section me, yet, Lyn,’ she said.

  Lyn shook her head. ‘Of course they’re not. I hope you’ve ticked her off, Simon, and told her to rest more.’

  ‘Indeed I have.’ Simon grabbed his jacket. ‘Farewell ladies. I’ll let myself out.’

  Straight across the yard to the coach house and Luke, Joss noted, as she watched him from the window. She turned to face Lyn. ‘I’m sane, sober and exonerated,’ she said softly. ‘Please don’t suggest anything else in future.’

  Lyn raised an eyebrow. ‘If there was no need, I wouldn’t dream of it.’

  ‘Good. We could manage without you, you know.’

  Lyn flushed a deep red. ‘That’s up to you.’

  ‘Yes.’ Joss looked at her thoughtfully. ‘Yes, it is.’

  27

  Luke’s office was an old suitcase in which he kept all his paperwork, to be produced once in a while and spread across the kitchen table, held in place by a cup of coffee, an apple and a plate of bread and cheese. An office day was not to be interrupted by any one, but on this occasion Lyn ignored the warning frown he gave her as she walked in. ‘Luke, I have to talk to you. Now, while Joss has taken the children out.’

  ‘Oh, Lyn, not again.’ With a groan Luke pushed back a pile of bills and reached for his glass.

  ‘Yes, again. How many times do I have to warn you? Something awful is going to happen and it will be your fault. You can’t see what’s happening in front of your nose.’

  ‘I can see, Lyn. There is nothing happening. Joss is coping very well. The children are happy – partly thanks to you, partly thanks to their mother who adores them. They are in no danger from her or from anyone else. If you would just let this stupid idea go and let us all relax and get on with life I should be a lot happier.’

  Lyn closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ‘There were bruises on Tom’s arm again this morning.’

  Luke frowned. ‘I helped bath him last night, Lyn. The bruises are what’s left from his fall.’

  ‘New ones. Luke, for pity’s sake, please, you have to believe me. It’s a plea for help. That’s what they always say when a mother starts knocking her kids around.’

  ‘Joss is not knocking the kids around, Lyn.’ Luke stood up abruptly. ‘I don’t want to hear any of this, do you understand? I can’t believe you would say all this about your sister.’

  ‘She’s not my sister, Luke. That’s the point.’ Lyn’s voice was suddenly bleak. ‘She has made it very clear. She is the la-di-da lady of the manor, I’m just an uneducated girl who is no better than a nursery maid in her eyes.’

  Luke stared at her shocked. ‘Lyn! You know that’s rubbish! Joss doesn’t think that at all. How could you even imagine it?’

  With a little half laugh Lyn shrugged. ‘Quite easy, under the circumstances. You may as well know, Luke, I’m only staying because I love little Ned and Tom so much and I think they need me. Otherwise I would tell her to stick her job!’

  He stared at the door open mouthed as she went out, slamming it behind her.

  ‘Lyn –’ His cry of protest hung unheard in the air.

  ‘My goodness you’ve walked a long way!’ Janet pulled Joss into the hall of the farmhouse and helped her negotiate the double buggy round the corner into her own kitchen. ‘You idiot. In this weather too.’ The afternoon had degenerated into a cold, blustery grey laced with spinning leaves and icy needles of rain. ‘I’ll run you back when you’ve had a cup of tea.’ She smiled as Tom, cheeks scarlet from the wind, ran to throw his arms around the neck of the old labrador who had risen from beside the Aga to meet him with wildly wagging tail. ‘Joss?’ Sharp eyed she caught sight of the tears on Joss’s cheeks before her guest bent to release the baby from the cocoon of blankets which kept him warm. ‘What is it? What’s happened?’

  ‘Nothing.’ Holding Ned close Joss shrugged. ‘Lyn thinks I’m hurting them, Janet.’

  ‘She what?’

  ‘She thinks I’m battering the children.’ She sniffed hard. ‘Look at Tom’s arm.’

  Janet stared at her for a moment, then she went across to Tom and the dog. ‘Here Tom Tom, let me take your coat off, then we’ll find the bicky tin.’ Pulling off the little boy’s jacket and gloves, she pushed up his sleeves. On his left arm was a series of bruises which looked exactly like finger prints. She swallowed hard. Pulling down the sleeve she straightened and went to find him a biscuit. ‘Most for you and only a tiny tiny bit for Sim, Tom. He’s getting so fat.’ She handed the boy a piece of shortbread, then she glanced at Joss. ‘That wasn’t an accident.’

  ‘No.’ Joss spoke in a whisper.

  ‘If it wasn’t you, who could it have been?’

  ‘Not Luke.’

  ‘Of course not Luke.’

  ‘Not Lyn. Oh, Janet, she adores him.’

  ‘Then who? And don’t tell me that a ghost did that, because I won’t believe it. That was done by a real person, Joss. Come on, think. He must have been playing with someone. What about that Jimbo boy who helps Luke? His mother and sister were both a bit strange. Have you ever left Tom with him?’

  Joss shook her head. ‘That happened last night, Janet. Luke helped me bath him. Those marks weren’t there then. And when Lyn dressed him this morning, there they were.’

  ‘And she thought you’d done it?’

  ‘I’m the only one who goes to the children at night.’

  ‘Joss –’ Janet plonked the biscuits down in front of her on the table and caught Joss’s two hands in a warm firm grip. ‘Is there any possibility you could be sleep walking?’

  Joss stared at her. For a moment she hesitated. ‘No. No, of course not.’

  ‘You don’t sound entirely certain.’

  ‘Well, how can I be? But surely, Luke would have heard me? He’d know.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose he would.’ Climbing to her feet again Janet went to lift the heavy kettle off the stove. ‘OK. Let’s think of something else.’ She poured boiling water into the teapot. ‘What does Tom say?’

  Joss shrugged.

  Janet looked at her sharply. ‘You have asked him?’

  ‘Not this time.’

  ‘Oh come on, darling, you can’t not ask.’ Janet went down on her knees in front of the little boy who was gamely trying to save some of his biscuit, now a soggy remnant of crumbs from the labrador’s enthusiastic lick. ‘Go on, give it to Sim. You’ll have to have another one. You can’t eat it after he’s woofed it!’

  Tom giggled. ‘Sim’s woofed it!’ He was delighted with the word.

  ‘And you can woof the next one. So, Tom Grant, you look as if you’ve been fighting a war. Who did this to you then?’ She pulled the little boy’s sleeve back again gently.

  Tom half glanced at it, his attention still on the dog. ‘The tin man.’

  Behind them Janet heard Joss make a strangled sound that was half gasp and half sob.

  ‘And when did this nasty old tin man do this?’ she asked cheerfully.

  ‘At bed time.’

  ‘Why didn’t you call your mummy and daddy when he came?’

  ‘Did.’

  Tom pulled another biscuit from the tin she was holding and broke it in half.

  ‘But they didn’t come?’

  ‘No.’ He shook his head.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Don’t know.’

  ‘What did the tin man do?’

  ‘Hurt Tom.’

  Janet bit her lip. ‘Did he try to pick you up?’

  Tom nodded.

  ‘But you didn’t want to go?’

  Tom shook his head.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Don’t like him.’

  ‘Tom, what does he look like? Is he big and tall like Daddy?’

  Tom thought for a moment and the dog, taking its chance neatly removed the biscuit from Tom’s grasp. Tom smiled impishly at Janet. ‘Sim wants ’nother one.’

  ‘Sim’s a greedy pig. Tell me about the tin man, Tom.’
/>
  ‘Like Daddy.’

  ‘And what does the tin man look like?’

  ‘Cat food.’

  ‘A cat food tin?’ Janet stared at him then she looked up at Joss, suppressing a giggle with difficulty. ‘Are we talking a bed time story here?’

  Joss shrugged. She was smiling but her face was very white. ‘Tom, tell Aunty Janet about the tin man’s face. What does he look like? Has he got a beard like the milkman?’ Their milkman’s beard fascinated Tom who took every opportunity – of which there were mercifully few – to tug it.

  Tom shook his head.

  ‘Does he wear a hat? A big tin hat?’

  Tom shook his head again.

  ‘Once he gave you some of Georgie’s toys. Has he ever given you anything else?’

  Tom nodded. ‘Flowers. Prickly flowers. Tom pricked myself.’

  ‘Joss, what is it?’ Pushing the tin of biscuits into Tom’s arms, Janet climbed to her feet and went to Joss who had sat down abruptly at the kitchen table and put her head into her arms.

  ‘Roses. White roses.’

  ‘Right.’ Janet was suddenly brisk. ‘I don’t believe what you’re telling me, but whatever it is, I don’t like it one bit. You are not going back to that house. I want you to stay here. All of you. There’s loads of room. We’ll go and collect some stuff when you’ve got this cup of tea inside you, and then we’re all coming back here. Understand?’

  Joss nodded weakly.

  ‘Would you like that, Tom?’ Janet gave him a hug. ‘Come and stay with Sim?’

  Tom nodded. He glanced at Joss. ‘Tom have Sim’s puppy?’ he said hopefully.

  Janet laughed. ‘Not a chance, old son. Poor old Sim is not the puppy-bearing type.’ She glanced back at Joss. ‘Drink.’

  28

  There was no sign of Luke as the two women entered the kitchen at Belheddon. In the courtyard, where they had left Janet’s Audi, the coach house was locked and in darkness.

  Joss frowned. Normally by now Lyn would be cooking supper, but there was no sign of any preparation. ‘I’ll go and see where they are.’ She pushed Ned into Janet’s arms. ‘Tom, you stay here. Show Aunty Janet how well you can ride your horse.’

  The great hall was in darkness.

  ‘Luke? Lyn?’ Joss’s call seemed indecently loud to her own ears. ‘Where are you?’

  The house felt empty. One of the bulbs in the wall light by the door had gone out and the other one gave a weak light which scarcely reached the far wall as she switched it on. The wind was moaning gently in the chimney as she reached the bottom of the stairs and peered up into the darkness.

  ‘Katherine!’ He drew her towards him gently. ‘My little love. Come, I won’t hurt you.’ He cupped his hands around her breasts and kissed the nape of her neck, then expertly he began to undo the lacings of her gown.

  Naked she turned to him, her body young and firm, her skin as white as milk. She did not shrink as he pulled her nakedness against him; her eyes were strangely blank.

  As he kissed and groaned and sweated she gazed slit-eyed into the distance.

  She was listening to the echoes.

  Joss could feel the small hairs on her forearms pricking. ‘Lyn? Are you up there?’

  Her voice sharpened. ‘Lyn?’ She groped for the light switch and turned it on.

  He was there. She could feel him, and this time he was not alone.

  Immobile, with one hand on the banister, she waited a few more seconds, trying to force herself to put her foot on the bottom step – then she turned and ran.

  In the courtyard she stood taking deep breaths of the frosty air, trying to steady the panic churning inside her.

  ‘Joss?’ Janet’s voice from the doorway was sharp with alarm. ‘Joss, what is it?’

  She shook her head, not trusting herself to speak, hearing Janet run towards her, feeling Janet’s arms round her shoulders, shivering so much she could not think as she turned and buried her face in Janet’s coat.

  The headlights of Lyn’s car cut a swathe across the darkness before it turned through the archway and came to rest, focused full on them.

  ‘Joss, where the hell have you been?’ Lyn threw herself out of the car. ‘Luke and I have been frantic. Where are the boys?’

  Joss stood transfixed by the beam of the headlight unable for a moment to speak and it was Janet who answered. ‘The boys are here. They’re fine.’ The calmness of her voice cut through the icy wind. ‘Nothing is wrong. We wondered where you were.’

  ‘I told you I was taking them for a walk, Lyn.’ Joss moved at last, stepping out of the lights. From the darkness she stared round, no longer blinded. ‘Where’s Luke?’

  ‘He went across the fields after you.’

  ‘But why? You knew where I was going.’

  ‘I knew you were going for a walk. Hours ago. In broad daylight. Joss, for God’s sake, you had two tiny children with you!’

  ‘I told you I was going to Janet’s,’ Joss interrupted firmly.

  ‘No. No, Joss, you didn’t. You said you were going for a walk along the cliff. A walk in the sun. Couldn’t you have rung from Janet’s when you found yourself there? It was too much trouble, wasn’t it! And now I see Janet had to bring you home.’ Leaning into the Mini to turn off the engine and the lights she could see for the first time Janet’s car parked in the darkness.

  There was an awkward silence. Janet frowned uncomfortably then she cleared her throat. ‘I offered to bring them back if Joss stayed to have a cup of tea with me, Lyn. If you want to blame anyone, then blame me. Where is Luke now, by the way?’ Behind her Tom appeared in the doorway. He stood for a moment on the step and then jumped off it, running to Janet and sliding his hand into hers.

  ‘He went after her.’ Lyn slammed the car door.

  ‘When?’ Joss swung round, and stared out through the courtyard arch into the dark gardens.

  ‘Hours ago.’

  ‘So, where is he now?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Lyn shook her head wearily. ‘He never came back. Why do you think I got in the car and started driving round? I’ve been up the cliff lane and down to the village. There’s no sign of him.’

  ‘Was it daylight when he left?’ Joss grabbed her sister by the shoulders. ‘It’s dark now, Lyn. I went over to Janet’s hours ago. So where is he now?’ She could feel a sour churning in her stomach.

  The only light now came from the lamp in the back hall, spilling out in a pale wedge into the thick darkness. Silhouetted in the light were Janet and Tom, hand in hand, their shadows, one small, one tall, stretching over the cobbles almost to Joss’s feet.

  ‘Come in, Joss.’ Janet’s voice was clear in the silence. ‘And you Lyn. There’s no point in standing out here and freezing. I’m sure Luke’s OK. He’s probably arrived at the farm by now and is trying to work out where we all are. Come on.’

  After a moment’s hesitation Lyn turned away from Joss. Stooping she swept Tom up into her arms, detaching him from Janet and disappearing into the house.

  Janet waited. ‘Joss?’

  ‘He’s out there, Janet. In the dark.’ Joss couldn’t keep the terror out of her voice. Quotes from David’s letter kept nudging into her head ‘John Bennet … walking in the garden at Belheddon … was confronted by something … his sanity, already unhinged by the death of his son, completely deserted him … he remembered running into the darkness … Something … a figure, at least seven feet tall …’

  Janet reached out and put her arm around her again. ‘Joss – ’

  ‘He’s out there, Janet. Can’t you feel it? In the darkness. Watching us?’

  ‘Luke, you mean?’ Janet followed her gaze, but could see nothing.

  ‘No not Luke. Him. The devil. The monster that haunts Belheddon.’

  With a sigh Janet shook her head. ‘No, I can’t feel him. I can’t feel anything. I’m too cold. Come in and have a cup of tea – ’

  ‘He’s looking for Katherine.’

  ‘Who’s Katherine?
’ Janet’s voice sharpened. ‘Joss, for goodness’ sake!’

  ‘He kills everyone who stands in his way.’ Her stomach churning, her legs unsteady, Joss clutched at Janet’s hand. ‘We have to find Luke. Janet, you have to help me.’

  The latch on the gate was jammed. Frantically she scrabbled at the ice cold metal, trying to lift it. ‘Janet!’

  ‘Joss, I don’t think this is a good idea.’ Janet was beginning to feel the fear. It was contagious. She looked round as a sudden icy wind ruffled her hair, listening to it swirling through the branches of the chestnut trees, and wishing, just for a moment that it would stop so that she could listen in the silence. ‘Joss, let’s go inside. It’s silly to go out there. We don’t know where he is and we’d never find him in the dark.’

  The latch had lifted at last with a metallic click and the gate swung open. Above them the half moon swam high behind a veil of streaming cloud. It gave enough light to see the leaf-strewn lawn as a paler grey in a monochrome world. Running onto the grass Joss stared round – beyond the moon dusk the shadows were black and unyielding, hiding everything and nothing.

  Janet stepped beside her and caught her arm again. ‘Come inside, Joss.’ She spoke more urgently than she intended. ‘Please.’

  ‘He’s out there, Janet.’

  ‘No he isn’t.’ Janet wasn’t sure whether they were talking about Luke or – or who? She felt another cold wash of fear drench her shoulder blades. ‘Joss, the children need you. You must be there for them. You have to pack and come back with me. Now. I have a feeling that we’ll find Luke waiting at the farm when we get there.’

  ‘I suppose so.’ Joss was still hesitating. As she stared out into the shadows there was a movement near them and she tensed feeling her heart flip somewhere under her ribs. For a moment she could see nothing, aware that Janet was staring at the same spot, then suddenly Janet’s cheerful laugh broke the silence. ‘It’s Kit and Kat, look!’