The Team and the Ghost

by S G Read

  ‘I have looked.’ Tim declared but joined in anyway.

  It proved useful because if they thought there was a void somewhere Tim could poke his head in and tell them if it was a void and what was in it if it was. By the time they stopped searching, half the rooms upstairs had been searched Minton style and they were sure there was no body in those rooms. They had searched the loft while they cleared it so all they had left to search when they went to bed, was the rest of the upstairs and the downstairs.

  Tim waited until Stevey and Stuart were in bed before bringing up the latest failure. ‘I asked the only woman buried in the convent Lavinia Fellows, a Mother Superior who died and there is something called a covenant which stops them burying anyone else there; so what do we do now?’

  ‘That’s a blow.’ Stuart admitted.

  ‘Now what do we do?’ Stevey complained.

  ‘I must admit I don’t know Stevey.’ Stuart answered. ‘We will ask the others in the morning and see if they have any ideas.’

  ‘Couldn’t we just kidnap Waif and keep her here?’ Stevey asked.

  ‘They have probably been given custody of Waif and we would get into trouble again.’ Stuart answered. ‘We’ll talk about it in the morning, before we continue the search for Tim’s body.’

  ‘Oh by the way, on Sunday the pretty girl you were talking to about Waif, is coming here to start to teach me how to read and write.’ Tim added before he closed the door. He poked his head back through the closed door. ‘She is called Celia.’

  Chapter 7

  Before they continued the search they had a meeting to discuss the latest findings or lack of them.

  ‘So we know she is not actually buried in the convent?’ Toby asked.

  ‘Yes.’ Tim answered.

  ‘And there is no record of her being buried in the church cemetery?’ Sherman asked.

  ‘Yes.’ Stuart answered.

  ‘So we don’t know where she is buried?’ Ben concluded.

  ‘That is about the size of it.’ Sherman answered.

  ‘So what do we do now?’ Simon asked.

  ‘I don’t know Simon, I am fresh out of Ideas. It might be worthwhile to think about it and bounce any ideas you come up with, of the others, while we are searching the rest of the house, just to see if we can think of another way of doing it!’ Stuart answered.

  They sat thinking for a little while before moving off to search. Each team picked up a piece of paper with a room on it out of the ‘to be searched’ bucket and searched it, calling on Tim to look anywhere the searchers could not and then when the room was searched the paper went into the ‘searched’ bucket. They searched upstairs without any luck and stopped for lunch before writing out rooms for the ‘to be searched’ bucket.

  No one came up with any ideas during the search and lunch but while they were searching the first room downstairs Simon suddenly remembered the cave.

  ‘What about the cave they dumped Lenny Mole in? We could search there.’ He suggested.

  ‘It is somewhere to search.’ Ben admitted, not shooting it down in flames as he might have done, had they not been between a rock and a hard place. ‘Go and talk to Stu.’

  Simon did just that and the four searching the room listened to Simon’s idea.

  ‘It is worth a try.’ Toby declared.

  ‘Finish the room you are searching and put the room in the right bucket and we will have a meeting in the drawing room.’ Stuart ordered.

  They all congregated in the drawing room and Stuart tapped his plate.

  ‘Simon has thought we ought to search the cave that Willie Bowyer dumped Lenny Mole in.’ He announced. ‘While we are out searching we might as well try a lot of places at the same time. I can’t see the point of going all the way over to the cave and then just coming back.’

  ‘We could search that wood Willie tried to escape through.’ Ben suggested.

  ‘But it will be all overgrown how do we find soil that has been dug over now?’ CJ asked.

  ‘It’s somewhere to search.’ Simon argued. ‘Surely if we think a place might have been dug Tim could tell us if the soil has been disturbed?’

  ‘Are you willing to come with us Tim?’ Stuart asked.

  ‘If we are not too long, I want to look in on Celia.’ Tim answered.

  ‘Why?’ Stevey asked.

  ‘I paid Ursula back for hitting her and knocked one of Ursula’s teeth out…’ Tim answered.

  ‘Good one.’ Sherman cried.

  ‘Then Ursula had her in the shower and was going to hit her, so I turned the shower on.’

  ‘You have seen Ursula naked?’ Simon asked.

  ‘Oh no she and her two friends had their clothes on it, was only Celia who was naked. Then Ursula took Celia out of the big room they sleep in and was going to knock out one of her teeth to repay her, so I tipped some stuff over her head from a bottle in the cupboard to stop her. After that, I said I would keep an eye on Ursula so that she does not hurt Celia.’

  They all sat there opened mouth.

  ‘So you can go into the girls showers?’ Ben asked after a few seconds.

  ‘Yes but I don’t think he can take a camera in there with him.’ Stevey answered.

  ‘What is a camera?’ Tim asked.

  ‘Probably best if you don’t know.’ Toby answered. ‘Or you might get into trouble.’

  ‘How?’ Tim asked.

  ‘If you want to be friends with someone, you don’t take pictures of them in a shower.’ Toby explained.

  ‘Is that what a camera does then, take pictures?’ Tim asked.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I used to have pictures of my parents but my uncle burnt them.’ Tim replied sadly.

  ‘We found some photographs and negatives in one of the rooms when we were searching.’ CJ declared. ‘They can print photos from negatives.’

  ‘It would be nice to have a photograph of my parents again.’ Tim answered.

  ‘Go and get them CJ and let Tim have a look through them.’ Sherman suggested.

  While they waited for CJ to return, they discussed where else to search and several places came to mind, including the pond by the breakers yard.

  ‘I can search that I like swimming.’ Tim declared. ‘The water no longer feels cold and I don’t have to come up to breathe.’

  No one wanted to swim in the lake when they did not have to, so it was added on to the list to be searched by Tim. CJ returned with the photographs and Tim looked through them, doing what other children would do as he looked. He laughed at some, was sad with others, cried at some and tore one up.

  ‘That was my uncle Humphrey when he was my age.’ He explained. ‘He is now quite old but I am dead.’

  ‘He is still alive?’ Toby asked. ‘How old was he when he killed you?’

  ‘He was eighteen when he killed me because we had a birthday celebration the day before.’ Tim answered. ‘He killed me and lived here for some time before I drove him out.’

  ‘That’s a bit harsh.’ Simon declared. ‘Why did he kill you?’

  ‘For the house, the land and the money that went with it; I found out afterwards when I used to torment him. He told me he had pushed my mother down the stairs and then poisoned my father, so that when he was eighteen he could inherit the estate. If I just happened to die but with no body, he had to stay here for several years before he inherited then he sold it and moved out.’

  ‘So are there any photos you want printed?’ CJ asked.

  ‘Yes please but how do we look at the other things?’ Tim answered.

  ‘The negatives? You hold them up to the light to see who is on them and they can turn them back into photographs if the negatives aren’t too scratched so be careful with them.’ CJ replied.

  They went off to the cave some walking and some on their bicycles. Stevey had his bicycle and thought it might be a good idea to buy enough bicycles for everyone who was here for next time they went out.

  The cave had a family there having a picnic
just as one had been there last time but this time they just walked past smiling including Tim and went into the cave. It had more shoring in it, where the police had made it safe while they removed Lenny’s body so they were able to go quite a way in before it became unsafe. Tim searched the rest using a torch given to him by Simon but in the deepest part a large rock moved when he squeezed past it and fell on him.

  ‘It’s okay I’m not hurt.’ Tim called from the other side. ‘Oh I am afraid the torch has been a bit squashed.’

  ‘Thanks Tim.’ Simon called back sarcastically.

  ‘Was it important Simon?’ Stuart asked remembering the lighter he had found.

  ‘No aunty Rita bought it for me a long time ago, I only brought in case the lights went out when the hall had the old wiring.’

  ‘Is there another torch?’ Tim asked. ‘It is quite dark in here now.’

  CJ walked forward and slid a little torch over the fallen rock to him with it on so that Tim could see it. Tim took it and found a pile of bones.

  ‘I have found a body.’ Tim called back.

  Several boys punched the air but did not cheer in case the cave fell on them.

  ‘What is it wearing?’ Stuart asked.

  ‘Hard to say it is mainly bones.’ Tim answered. ‘There is a belt buckle though and boots.’

  ‘What size are the boots?’ Stevey asked.

  ‘Big.’ Tim answered.

  ‘What does it say on them inside?’ Sherman asked.

  ‘There are two straight lines close together.’ Tim answered.

  ‘Size eleven, a bit big for a nun or a little boy, wouldn’t you think?’ Sherman exclaimed.

  ‘Wait outside and I will see who comes along.’ Tim called back and the boys walked carefully back outside.

  ‘Are you lot okay we heard a crash.’ The man and woman asked, they were now standing just outside the cave.

  ‘We are better than the other person we have just found.’ Ben answered very undiplomatically. ‘He’s all bones.’

  The boys timed the family’s departure at five minutes from the time they learnt that there was a dead body in the cave. They watched them drive away and sat down to wait for Tim to reappear.

  ‘They could have left some food.’ Simon complained, which caused a laugh as it was him.

  While they waited they invented new games to play with whatever was at hand.

  In the cave Tim settled down to wait on the pile of bones and waited for a long time.

  ‘This is my patch.’ A man’s voiced declared.

  ‘You’re a man not a nun.’ Tim answered.

  ‘What of it you little perisher?’

  ‘I was looking for a nun.’ Tim explained.

  ‘Then try a convent there are no nuns here.’

  Tim left him to it and went outside to where the others were waiting.

  ‘Well?’ Simon asked.

  ‘It was a man.’ Tim answered. ‘And he said there were no nuns in there.’

  ‘Not Waif’s mum then.’ Sherman declared.

  ‘No a poor man by the holes in his boots.’ Tim added.

  ‘I bet it was a tramp and if he is all bones why didn’t the police find him when they were here last?’ JC asked.

  ‘The mystery deepens.’ John declared. ‘Are we going to tell the police?’

  ‘I suppose we should.’ Colin answered. ‘We don’t want a tramp haunting us as well.’

  ‘What’s haunting?’ Tim asked.

  ‘What you are doing.’ Simon explained. ‘Sort of hanging around after you are dead and making people jump.’

  ‘And he is helping us.’ Ben added.

  ‘Is that still haunting then?’ Tim asked but no one knew the answer.

  ‘We will see sergeant Portland and ask him how it is going and we will tell him about the tramp in the cave then.’ Stuart decided and they moved off to continue searching, working through the list as they went.

  They ended up at the police station, which was really a house with an office on the front and all squeezed into it, before they rang the bell.

  Sergeant Portland came out and saw the group in the little office.

  ‘To what do we owe this pleasure are you here to report a crime?’

  ‘Not yet.’ Stuart answered. ‘Have they buried Mrs Parker yet?’

  ‘No, it is still an on going investigation but we have arrested someone.’ The sergeant answered.

  ‘I bet it was that Spink woman.’ Simon whispered in his normal whisper.

  ‘We have arrested Daphne Spink and we will be charging her with causing death by dangerous driving.’ The sergeant answered as though it was a question. ‘What did you mean by not yet?’

  ‘We are still looking for proof but we did find what we think is a dead tramp in the same cave they found Lenny Mole in.’ Stuart answered. ‘A large rock has fallen down and will have to be dragged away so that you can get to him but I suppose you will have to find out how he died.’

  ‘We haven’t seen Patrick for a while so it could be him, I will send someone out to investigate.’

  They all pushed their way out of the police station and walked back to the hall where Tim was going to search the pond but Tim was no where to be found.

  ‘Where’s Tim gone?’ Stevey asked.

  ‘To make sure Celia and Waif are okay.’ CJ answered.

  Stevey nodded and they walked on.

  Tim hurried to the convent to make sure all was well, even though it was still lesson time and looked for Celia inside. With no luck he went on to the sports field and saw her playing hockey. All looked well but he still looked for Ursula and when there was no sign of her he looked further. He searched the school and found her in the infirmary throwing her weight about. He stopped to listen to what she was shouting and heard her threaten Celia with her friend telling her the bottle tipped itself over her and he smiled. The smile grew bigger when he realised her hair was falling out. He left her ranting and went in search of Waif who was working happily in the cellar.

  ‘Hello.’ He said from behind her.

  ‘I wish you wouldn’t do that Tim.’ she complained.

  ‘And I thought you were not going to work until you had put flowers on your mother’s grave!’ He argued.

  ‘That was so you could find out where it was and I showed you where it was, so I can work now. It gives me something to do and keeps me away from Ursula.’ Waif replied.

  ‘She will not worry you for a few days, it looks like her hair is falling out.’ Tim declared.

  ‘Why is her hair falling out Tim?’

  ‘Must be worry you girls are funny things.’

  ‘Was it something you did?’ Waif asked suspiciously.

  ‘I might have given her the wrong shampoo but then I am only a boy and don’t know one shampoo from another.’

  ‘Where is she?’

  ‘In the infirmary.’ Tim answered. ‘And she doesn’t seem too happy.’

  ‘I wonder why?’ Waif answered sarcastically. ‘Even I wouldn’t like to lose my hair.’

  ‘Are you better now?’

  ‘Things have improved. Sister Chantel is working on the animals now and has to get up at five in the morning and Sister Angela is in charge of the laundry. I don’t mind Sister Angela she treats me like I am a girl and not a slave.’

  ‘I’ll report back that Ursula is out of the loop for now.’

  ‘What does that mean?’ Waif asked.

  ‘I don’t really know I heard it on a video player and just wanted to say it.’

  ‘I am not allowed to watch a video player even when one is playing and I am free, I am still sent out, unless I am working in the room then I see a bit of one.’

  ‘If you come and see me at the hall you can watch as many videos as you like, up in my room.’

  ‘Why is it up in your room Tim?’

  ‘Now that is a long story and I will tell it to you one day but not yet.’

  ‘How do you get in here all the time without being seen?’

/>   ‘I am like a chameleon I blend into the wall paper or paint on the walls. Turn round I’ll show you.’

  Waif turned round and Tim faded away before she turned back.

  ‘That is brilliant.’ Waif declared passionately.

  ‘What is Waif?’ Sister Angela asked from the stairs.

  Waif looked back where Tim had been before she answered. ‘It is early and I have nearly finished so I thought I might have a walk Sister Angela.’

  ‘Sorry Mother’s orders are that you do no go outside at all and you do not talk to anyone other than staff.’ Sister Angela replied.

  ‘Why Sister Angela? What have I done that is so bad?’

  ‘I do not know Waif but I do have to follow Mother’s orders.’

  Sister Angela took a load out of a washing machine and put it into the tumble drier next to it and started it running. Waif started mopping up the water which had spilt as she moved it over. While she was mopping she was looking for sign of Tim but Tim was long gone.

  Tim checked the school fields but the girls were inside now and he moved to the showers, to make sure nothing happened to Celia in there but everyone was doing just what they should do, getting clean and ready for Chapel.

  He returned to the breakers yard ready to search the pond for bodies or bones and found four boys out on the raft. They waved when they saw him.

  ‘We found our raft.’ Stuart said from the back of a car. ‘So a few wanted to see how well it went.’

  ‘We opted out as they are likely to capsize it at any moment.’ Stevey added from beside him. ‘Are you going in now?’

  ‘Yes there is enough light still.’ Tim answered and walked out into the pond holding his nose and one arm aloft as he did so. He was soon out of sight and started poking around on the bottom of the pond.

  He did not search half-heartedly, he wanted to find Waif’s mother as much as the rest did. He pushed and pulled at things in the gloom until whatever they were, they came free. That way he could either work out what they were or carry them to the surface for appraisal by the others. Most things were met with a thumb down sign and Tim soon learnt that that was no good. One box he found was bigger and well buried in the bank on the side nearest the paddock. He pulled and pushed and scraped away soil until even he tired and had to surface for a rest.