Alex opened his eyes. The god laughed.
“They’re calling my name,” Alex said.
The god leapt up, landing on the shattered edge of the roof, fragments of broken concrete cascaded down. Alex reached out with his thoughts and screamed a warning. The god re-appeared, its face a snarl of rage as it launched itself at him.
A hand lashed Alex’s face. Pain blossomed as a sun-bright light that sent fire down into his chest. Alex screamed again, this time at the agony that engulfed his body. The god beat him. Ribs fractured, his nose broke. Blood filled his mouth. Alex choked and puked. The being stepped back.
For a moment darkness returned, and Alex thought the concrete had been put back over the basement. Then, through unfocussed vision, he saw the light return, and knew he had lost consciousness. Alex raised his head. The god smiled, turned and held out its arms in welcome.
“No!”
Gerry Williams fell from the sky with a startled shout. Miriam Walker close behind. All three gods were there now, binding the newcomers in the invisible chains and pinning them to the wall of the basement. Alex couldn’t speak. His jaw ached, and his lips bled. He thought that a couple of teeth were loose as well. The gods stepped back to admire their work. Alex saw Gerry straining at the chains. The former tax officer shouted to be free. Miriam hung, unmoving. She’d been a seaside clairvoyant for fifty years or more. Now, in her eighty-fifth year, she lay trapped in a world of desolation.
The gods vanished, and as soon as they did, the concrete began to slide back into place with a nerve-shredding scrape. As the light in the basement dimmed, Gerry noticed he and Miriam had company. He stared across at Alex in mounting horror.
“Alex? Oh, my God, it’s you,” Gerry twisted against the chains, his terror growing at the realisation of what lay in store.
***
“Can you wake them?” Geordie asked
“No.” The researchers all spoke at once.
Geordie pointed at one of them. “You. Talk.”
“Everything was going well. Brain patterns were within acceptable tolerances and then all of a sudden, they dropped to zero. It’s like the candidates are dead, but they’re still alive.”
“Of course they fucking are,” Geordie snapped. “Didn’t anyone tell you what happened last night?”
“No. We came on duty today to find orders to carry out a spirit-walk with two psychics who were on call.”
Geordie breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth. Calm, be calm. He pointed at Daisy. “You talk to them, Sweetie.”
As Geordie walked to the bed occupied by Miriam, Daisy said, “Last night a spirit-walk ended with the same results. Weren’t you notified?”
“No, we were told that a training mission for the psychics was being undertaken to evaluate their potential for locating others in the spirit plane.”
Daisy didn’t get a chance to reply as the door opened and Marcus Holdstock walked in. He took one look at Daisy and Geordie and said, “What are you two doing here?”
“We heard something was going on,” Geordie said. “Josh here agreed to show us after we promised not to break his legs.”
Holdstock looked at Josh. “Get out.” As Josh got out of the room, Holdstock said, “Have we lost them?”
The researchers said ‘yes’ and Geordie said, “What were you doing ordering a woman of her age into this?”
“She was next on the call list,” Holdstock said. “She knew the risks.”
“No, she fucking didn’t,” Geordie snapped.
Holdstock’s nostrils flared, and he took a pace forward. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that. Despite how highly some people think of you I will be more than happy to throw you out if you show that kind of disrespect.”
“Geordie didn’t mean it like that,” Daisy said. “He saw an elderly lady in distressing circumstances. Especially after Alex last night. We didn’t think you would undertake this task due to the high risk it entails.”
“And you were wrong,” Holdstock said. The red patches on his cheeks began to fade as he calmed down a little. “I am in charge, and I decide our strategic goals.”
Geordie frowned. “I thought Norma was in charge.”
“Norma is taking sick leave. It’s doubtful she will be back for the next few months. I have taken her place in the interim.”
Geordie’s face showed what he thought of that, but for once he kept his mouth closed. Holdstock nodded as if satisfied that Geordie understood the pecking order.
Turning to the researchers, Holdstock said, “We have other rooms available?”
“Yes.”
“Call in the next psychics on the roster. Prep them for a spirit-walk and send them in search of the others.”
For a moment, no-one moved. Even the people who Geordie considered Holdstock supporters seemed a little surprised at the instructions. Holdstock put his hands on his hips and said, “Well?”
“We’ll get onto it now,” the senior man said, a little reluctantly.
“Good.” With a final warning glance at Geordie, Holdstock left the room.
Geordie looked down to where Daisy’s hand gripped his forearm and the nails sank into his flesh. “That hurts,” he said.
“It’s meant too.” Daisy released him. “I didn’t want you to explode. You’d be out of here so fast your feet wouldn’t touch the ground.”
“Can you believe what he said?” Geordie asked.
“No,” Daisy said.
The researchers were gathering some of their equipment in preparation for moving it to another room. Geordie tapped one of them on the arm. “What happens with these two?”
“We’ll get a medical team in to care for them.”
“And the next psychics? What about them?” Geordie’s anger returned. The researcher took a step back.
“We will approach this with a little more care, but Marcus is quite clear about how he wants us to proceed.”
Geordie growled as Daisy pulled him away. “Time to go,” she said.
Outside the room, Geordie looked for a wall to punch. Of all the stupid, reckless, dangerous things to do. Holdstock was sending psychics into a death trap. A couple of the researchers came out of the room and gave him a wide berth as they walked to another sleeping room. Daisy waited a few paces away, watching him with some concern.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“No.” Geordie took a deep breath. “Are you?”
“I feel sick,” Daisy said. “He’s sending those psychics to... I don’t know? Their deaths?”
“As good as.” Geordie kicked the nearest skirting board.
Daisy thought for a moment. “Is there any way we can stop this?”
“Doubt it.” Geordie started walking. “Come on.”
The idea formed as Geordie led Daisy back to the Ops Room. He found Josh sitting at his desk looking sick. “What’s wrong with you?” Geordie asked.
“I’m still trying to get over what you just did.”
Geordie smiled. “Got a job for you. Get hold of the roster that the psychics are on. Phone the first half-dozen and tell them not to be available if they get a call from upstairs.”
“I guess that’s important,” Josh said.
“You got it, kid.”
As Josh opened the database, Geordie dragged Daisy across to a couple of empty chairs. “Sit down, Sweetie,” he said.
She sat, and said, “Geordie, please don’t call me Sweetie. It’s not respectful.”
“Okay,” he said, with a grin. “We need a plan. Josh is doing step one, all we need to do is come up with step two.”
“You mean get Holdstock removed?”
“He could have an accident,” Geordie said with a thoughtful look. “Bouncy, bouncy down the stairs.”
“Jesus, Geordie, don’t talk out loud like that.” Daisy glanced around, but no-one seemed to be listening to them.
“Sorry, Sugar,” Geordie winked. “Maybe we should have a chat later.”
“You mean this evening?” Daisy asked.
“Why not? You, me and a couple of drinks.”
“Yeah, we can bash out a few ideas without worrying about who’s listening.”
“That’s right.” Geordie nodded. “What about your housemate?”
“Hannah?”
“Yeah, we can’t leave her home alone can we.”
Daisy’s disappointment at the thought of having to share Geordie with someone else came across in the look on her face. It made Geordie smile. He turned, snapped his fingers and pointed at Josh. “You!”
Josh looked up from his phone. “Me?”
“Yeah, what are you doing tonight?”
“Umm, nothing.”
“You are now. Daisy here’s got a friend who needs company so we can double-date. You up for it?”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Josh looked a little frightened at the idea of a double-date with Geordie.
“She’s okay is Hannah,” Geordie said. “She used to work here but is on sick leave after getting whacked about on a mission about nine months back. You might know her?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Josh said. “It’s only four months since I came in.”
“Right,” Geordie said. “She’s pretty, or she was...”
“Geordie?” Daisy said, in horror. “You can’t say that.”
“Yeah, sorry. Hannah’s pretty, but got a bit beat up, and she hasn’t quite got over it so needs a nice bloke to spend some time with. You are a nice bloke, aren’t you?”
“I haven’t had any complaints,” Josh said.
“Always a first time.” Geordie laughed before he grew serious. “Hang on, you said you came in four months ago. You’re not from the MOD are you?”
“No,” Josh said. “I transferred in from MI5.”
“Good,” Geordie said with relief. “There’s a pub called The Raven out on the Oxford road, see you there at eight.”
“Okay.” Josh wilted a little more.
“Finished those calls yet?” Geordie asked.
“No, only done the first two.”
“Well, stop talking and get a move on.” Geordie shook his head and said to Daisy, “You young people can’t concentrate on a task, can you, Sugar?”
***
“Here he is,” Geordie said, as Josh came into the pub. “And about time too.”
“Sorry I’m late,” Josh looked out of breath as he reached their table. “You okay for drinks?”
“Fine,” Geordie said. “This is Hannah, who almost gave up on you and went home.”
Josh and Hannah said ‘hello’ before he disappeared to the bar to get a beer.
“What do you think?” Daisy nudged Hannah.
“About what?”
“Josh. First impressions?”
“He looks okay.” Hannah shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Well try talking to him. Geordie’s challenged me to a game of pool in the bar so you can have half-an-hour to get to know him.”
“What?” Hannah stared at her friend in shock. “I can’t do that.”
“Of course you can,” Daisy said, as she and Geordie stood and picked up their drinks. “You used to be so full of confidence. You need to get it back.”
“See you in a bit,” Geordie said to Josh as he reached the table.
Josh watched the pair of them walk off. “Where are they going?”
“To play a game of pool,” Hannah said, not looking up from the table.
Josh sat in the chair vacated by Daisy. “Guess they dropped both of us in it.”
“Hmm.” Hannah sipped at her coke.
They sat in silence for a moment. This part of the pub didn’t have many customers. A separate bar contained a couple of pool tables and a big screen television showing a Champions League soccer match. On the other side, a door led through to a restaurant that seemed to be doing a decent trade. Most of the tables near them were empty which didn’t give Josh much to look at.
“They told me you used to work at Sheddlestone Hall,” he said. Hannah nodded. “And you’re on sick leave.”
“Yeah.” Another sip of coke.
“Do you miss it?”
Hannah thought about it. “Sometimes. But mostly no.”
“You’ve got used to being off.”
“Yeah.”
More silence. Josh drank some of the beer, wiped his mouth and said, “Look, I know this is awkward. Geordie roped me into this, and I bet Daisy did the same to you. If you want I can go through and tell them it’s not going to work and can either give you a lift home or you wait for them to finish.”
Hannah sighed. She lifted her head up and pulled her blonde hair away from her face. To his credit, Josh didn’t wince. “I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s been a tough few months, and I haven’t done much socialising. Tonight’s the first time Daisy has arranged something like this.”
“Do you want to talk about it? I mean, we work for the same organisation, so there’s no need to make up stories like we usually do for friends and family.”
“That’s the hardest part, isn’t it?” Hannah said. “I had to tell my parents that I’d been injured in a street attack. I hate lying to people.”
“Shall we start again?” Josh asked.
Hannah smiled and nodded. He put his hand out. “Josh.”
“Hannah.”
They shook hands. “See, that wasn’t difficult,” Josh said.
“No, I guess not. How long since you started at Sheddlestone?”
“Four months. All research and analysis.”
“No fieldwork?”
“Not yet. Is it true?”
“About the kind of things we deal with?”
“Yes,” Josh smiled. “I’ve been briefed in but still find it hard to believe.”
“It’s all true,” Hannah said. “And more.”
“Is that how...” Josh made a gesture and wished he hadn’t.
“My face?” Hannah pointed to the scarring; her head dipped down to look at the table again.
“I shouldn’t have asked,” Josh said.
Hannah’s eyes were wet with tears when she looked at him. “Why not? Everyone must be thinking it when they look at me.”
“I know, but I should have kept my mouth shut.”
“I’ve got to talk about it sometime, haven’t I?” Hannah took another mouthful of drink as if it would give her courage. “It wasn’t one of the monsters that did this. It was a man. He thought I was a terrorist and attacked me. A stupid mistake. But shit happens, doesn’t it?”
Josh put his hand onto Hannah’s. “It’s out now. No need to talk about it again.”
“Oh, I know that. It’s when I look in a mirror or forget about it until I see the look on somebody’s face and know they are thinking ‘look at that poor girl’.”
“Did you eat before you came out?” Josh asked, trying to change the subject. “I got stuck at the office and didn’t get a chance.”
“Yes, one of the things I’ve been doing a lot of is cooking. I made a lasagne for tea that Daisy and I ate. I don’t mind if you want to get something.”
“It’s okay. I’ll get a takeaway on the way home. I just thought I might be able to drag you through to the restaurant.”
“No, sorry.” Hannah smiled.
“Maybe next time?Josh suggested.
Hannah hesitated, “Is that you asking me out?”
“Geordie and Daisy didn’t tell me how nice you are. Why not?”
“Lots of reasons,” Hannah said.
“Like what?” Josh asked, in a teasing voice.
“My face.”
“You’re pretty,” Josh said. “You’ve got nice eyes and a nicer smile.”
“Liar,” Hannah laughed.
“And a laugh that sounds like Christmas bells ringing.”
“Oh, Jesus.” Hannah put a hand over her mouth to stifle the next laugh. “That must be the worst line I’ve ever heard.”
“There’s more where that came from,” Josh
said, with a wink.
“Keep them,” Hannah sighed. “And thanks.”
“What for?”
“Making me laugh.”
Josh held up his pint glass, and Hannah touched hers to it in a toast. They settled into an easy conversation about the local area. Josh came from Hampshire, via Cambridge University, and that got them talking about their backgrounds which they were still chatting about when Daisy and Geordie returned.
“Drinks?” Geordie asked. When they both nodded Geordie said, “Come on then, Josh, help me carry them back.”
Daisy sat across the table from Hannah. “Well?” she asked.
“Well what?”
“Well what do you think?” Daisy gestured to Geordie and Josh.
“Yeah. He’s okay.”
“Come on,” Daisy grinned. “We saw you two gassing away.”
“Yeah.” This time Hannah smiled. “He’s a nice guy.”
“Good. Any chance of seeing him again?”
“Maybe.” Hannah hoped her smile wasn’t too coy but saw the grin on Daisy’s face and realised she’d failed. “Don’t say anything.”
“Mum’s the word.” Daisy made a zipping gesture across her lips.
Geordie and Josh came back with the drinks and Geordie proceeded to tell them how useless Daisy was at pool. The pair of them traded insults until deciding that Josh made a better target for refusing to play Geordie.
It was in the middle of this that Daisy said, “Geordie, look over your shoulder.”
Geordie did as instructed. “Bugger me,” he said.
Norma Johnstone must have been at the bar a while before Daisy spotted her because she’d already been served a gin and tonic and came over to their table as if she belonged there.
“Isn’t this a happy gathering,” Norma said with a smile. “May I join you?”
She answered her question by dragging a chair over from another table and placing herself between Geordie and Daisy. She ignored the looks being traded between the two couples as she smiled and said, “Hannah, it’s lovely to see you again. Are you back to your old self yet?”
“Not quite,” Hannah said in a quiet voice. She’d allowed her hair to drift across half her face again.
“But it’s good to be out I’m sure.” Norma smiled.
Geordie said, “I thought you were... off work.”
The Tomb (Scarrett & Kramer Book 3) Page 13