The Team and the Ghost

by S G Read

  They hurried inside and wiped the blood off of Waif’s bleeding knee before it was washed and a plaster put on the wound. The cotton wool was put into a plastic bag ready to go to a lab for testing.

  ‘J. C find me a lab close to Lingfield who will do some testing tonight and it doesn’t matter how much it costs.’ Stevey ordered.

  ‘On it.’ JC answered and ran upstairs.

  ‘While we are gone they will come for her and possibly the other two girls so you must make sure they do not take them.’ Stuart warned.

  ‘How?’ Ben asked.

  ‘We will find a way.’ Sherman answered. ‘You know the song; always look on the bright side of life!’

  ‘Are we going to set fire to the place?’ Simon asked.

  ‘No we are not but between us I am sure we can come up with some delaying tactics.’ CJ declared. ‘For one Mrs Brown is at the shops, so if we lock all the doors and turn all the lights off they will think no one is in but when she comes back we will need to explain what is going down and see if she will help us.’

  ‘How do we get to Lingfield if your mother is out?’ Stuart asked.

  ‘A taxi.’ Stevey answered. ‘Calling Brian back from Devon would take too long.’

  They phoned a local taxi and explained what they needed and how long it might take but they put the phone down on them.

  ‘Well that didn’t work.’ Stevey complained. ‘I won’t use them again.’

  ‘What about Dan?’ Simon asked.

  ‘He rides a bike everywhere.’ CJ answered. ‘An old bone shaker it is too.’

  ‘Ronnie drives a car.’ Simon declared.

  ‘Ronnie.’ Stuart echoed. ‘It is worth a try, he does owe us.’

  J. C came running down the stairs.

  ‘I have one who will stay open for you tonight as long as it is cash but I did not tell them we were kids. I assumed that when he saw you and you waved the cash in his face he would still do it.’

  ‘Good work JC come on let us go and see Ronnie.’

  Chapter 12

  When they left, the house was all locked up and there were no lights on, just in case they had callers. They all walked down to the gap in the two fences.

  ‘There is a big dog in there.’ Waif warned.

  ‘We know, it is called Marmalade but it is friendly with some people.’ Simon assured her.

  They walked into the breakers yard without seeing Marmalade but suddenly he was there and woofing happily to see them. They all stroked him including Waif and she was soon under his spell. They found Ronnie sitting in the kitchen of the old house which now boasted a new roof.

  ‘Hello there boys; oh and girls.’ Robbie said when he saw them. ‘To what do I owe this honour?’

  ‘You know you said if there was ever anything you could do for us just ask.’ Stevey replied.

  ‘I do and I meant it, so what is it I can do for you?’ He answered.

  Stuart looked at the others and after a few seconds they all nodded in agreement without even speaking. As fast as he could he related the story of Waif the two other girls and the DNA sample without mentioning Waif’s mother. At the moment she was alienated against her father for leaving her there. Stuart was hoping that they were right about it being her mother and that she did not know that Waif survived after birth. He was also being careful in not getting Waif’s hopes up.

  ‘Well it so happens that the back bedroom has just been decorated and is therefore habitable so if you others wait here I will run Stuart and Stevey to Lingfield get his blood for a DNA sample, on to East Grinstead to have it tested and then come back here with or with out her father. And don’t you worry none Waif, if no one else wants you there is always room here as Marmalade has taken a shine to you.’

  Ronnie drove away with Stuart and Stevey in his car. The rest all went up into the back bedroom which overlooked the hall. That way that they could watch what went on over there. Stevey clutched the address in his hand all the way to Lingfield but they were both nervous as they walked down the path to the front door. A woman opened the door. Both boys waited for the other to speak but neither did.

  ‘Well?’ The woman asked.

  ‘Are you the woman who used to be known as Sister Sonia at The Convent of St Agnes?’ Stevey asked awkwardly.

  ‘I don’t know what you are about but…’ The woman started.

  ‘Look it is important okay Mrs Barker!’ Stuart interrupted. ‘It concerns your daughter.’

  ‘My daughter what has it to do with Charlotte?’

  ‘No not Charlotte! Your first daughter, the one who lives at the convent.’

  ‘I think I would like you to go now, you are opening old wounds.’ A man said coming to the door to help his wife.

  ‘God this is hard work!’ Stuart exclaimed. ‘You try to help someone and all they want to do is to shut the door in you ruddy face. All Waif wants to know is why you didn’t want her!’

  ‘Who is Waif?’ The woman answered stopping the door from closing.

  ‘Your daughter, the one you left at the convent.’ Stuart explained heatedly, he was ready to explode.

  ‘I gave birth to a son ten years ago and he was still born.’ Mrs Barker declared in tears.

  ‘Now see what you have done.’ Mr Barker exclaimed.

  ‘It was a girl and she was not still born!’ Stuart declared causing both the man and the woman to stop speaking and just look at him.

  ‘I’ve got a sister?’ A girl asked pushing between her parents.

  ‘Yes an older sister she is ten now but we have her in hiding because the Mother Superior was having her taken to Scotland away from us, mainly because we found out about her. Stevey get the book.’

  Stevey walked to Ronnie’s car to collect the book and walked back, so that they could see the missing page the impressions left by the writing on it on the next page and their translation of it.

  ‘It was a girl.’ Mrs Barker said quietly. ‘And she is alive.’

  ‘So what do we have to do to get her home?’ Mr Barker asked.

  ‘I have Waif’s blood here, so if we can have some of your blood to check against it we have a lab waiting to test it.’ Stevey answered.

  ‘You can have some of my blood with pleasure.’ Mr Barker declared.

  ‘And mine.’ Mrs Barker added.

  ‘You can have all mine, if it will give me a sister.’ Charlotte declared.

  No one pointed out that if they indeed took all her blood she would be dead. For speed the piled into Ronnie’s car and headed for the lab in East Grinstead. As Toby surmised, the sight of the boys were outweighed by the bundle of notes available. The technician took blood samples from the three family members to match against Waif’s sample and then came the wait to see if the boys were right. Mr Barker took Ronnie to one side and they went out the door leaving the other four waiting; they were back before the results were in and now Mr Barker had his car.

  ‘If the results show us that it is out baby then she will come home with us and woe betides anyone who tries to say other wise.’ He declared.

  ‘That witch has a lot to answer for.’ Mrs Barker exclaimed.

  ‘Have I really got a sister mummy?’ Charlotte asked.

  ‘If the tests say so you have.’ Mrs Barker answered.

  ‘What ever this costs I will pay you back.’ Mr Barker declared when he saw Stevey put a bundle of money on the table.

  ‘There is no need I have lots.’ Stevey replied. ‘We thought you knew and didn’t want her because her mother had died.’

  ‘Who said I died.’

  ‘Mother superior who else, she told everyone that you had died and the baby lived and told you the baby had died just so she could keep the baby and ill-treat her.’ Stuart answered. ‘For the last few weeks she has been locked in a cellar and then they were going to take her to Scotland but friends on the inside helped her escape. Now she is hiding in Ronnie’s breakers yard, with the rest of our team.’

  It was dark by the time the results
came out of the machine and the technician held them up for all to see.

  ‘Mrs Barker’s DNA is a match to Charlotte’s DNA and Mr Barker’s is also and all three have enough similarity with the fourth sample for me to say without doubt that she is your daughter.’

  Back in the breakers yard the boys kept watch and saw a police car drive up to the hall but as it was empty the police car drove away again. They saw Pat drive up and turn on the lights but the police car did not return.

  ‘Do you think it is safe to return?’ Sherman asked his stomach rumbling.

  ‘They are probably keeping watch for us to return, they are sneaky like that.’ Simon answered.

  ‘I’m with Simon on that one.’ Toby declared. ‘I am hungry but that is nothing compared with Waif being back in the hands of the demon Mother Superior.’

  ‘More like Mother Inferior.’ Simon retorted.

  ‘Good one Simon, we will use that if we need to confront her.’ Sherman declared and settled to wait a while longer.

  The mobile phone rang but Simon did not answer it. The boy’s looked at him for the reason why he did not answer it.

  ‘It was Mrs Brown, you know what I am like for keeping secrets that is why I did not answer it okay.’ He explained.

  The phone rang again and Simon passed it to Toby, he looked at it and then ignored it.

  ‘That was Mrs Sellars, Mrs Brown must have rung her to see if we were there and she is ringing us as well.’ He explained.

  Ten minutes later they heard footsteps on the stairs and all massed in front of the girls to shield them.

  ‘So what is going on?’ David asked. ‘We have had the police at the house looking for a girl who.’ He said craning his neck to see round them. ‘Is probably hiding behind you lot as we speak?’

  ‘How long have you got?’ Toby asked.

  ‘I am all ears boys.’

  For once the boys delegated someone to recount the whole story, as well as he could remember it to David who sat and listened patiently.

  ‘Why did Stuart not ask me for a lift?’ David asked.

  ‘You were out until six and they had been gone sometime before then.’ Toby explained. ‘Ronnie was willing and if the results are unfavourable, he said Waif could stay here for as long as she wanted.’

  ‘Waif?’ David echoed not asking for her but asking about her name.

  ‘Yes?’ Waif answered and stepped forward into sight.

  ‘Is that your name?’

  ‘Yes she was named Foundling Waif by the mother Inferior.’ Toby explained.

  ‘Well she certainly has some answering to do, even if you haven’t found her father.’ David declared. ‘But now I think it is safe to return to the hall to eat. I will not let anyone take you anywhere Waif until we know one way or another.’

  The phone rang again and he Toby answered it.

  He listened to what was said and just answered okay.

  ‘I have a message from Stuart, they are on their way here with your father Waif, we are to keep you out of harms way until they get here, so I think we can do as Mr Sellars wants. Especially as he is going to protect you as well as us.’ He declared.

  ‘You lot certainly get yourselves into things.’ David complained, ‘not that I am saying you were wrong to in this instance.’

  They all crossed the breakers yard to the gap between the two fences, with Marmalade accompanying them. As usual he stopped at the hole and would not come any further.

  ‘Why doesn’t he come with us rather than stay there all alone Mr Sellars.’ Celia asked.

  ‘We never have found out and you are?’

  ‘I am Celia Carter-Rees I have been helping the boys.’ Celia answered.

  ‘And you?’ He asked turning to Molly.

  ‘I am Molly and I am with her.’ She answered pointing to Celia as they walked along.

  ‘I am sure the boys have already thanked you for your help but just in case they have forgotten, I thank you for them.’ David said as he ushered them into the house. ‘And if you have run away from the convent, it would be better for you to ring your parents, rather than let the Mother Superior get in first.’

  They both nodded and Simon took them to the games room where the phone the boys used was installed. Waif went up with them to be out of sight while Pat and Wendy laid the table for the evening meal. As she laid the table a police car pulled up followed by the convent car. Sergeant Portland climbed out and put on his cap to look official before he walked up and knocked the door. No one answered it and he had to knock again making David walk over and open the door while the boys all slipped upstairs.

  ‘Good evening sergeant, I was expecting you we have serious charges to lay against the Mother Superior of The Convent of St Agnes.’

  ‘You have Mr Sellars. She is the reason I am here apparently her charge, one Foundling Waif, of all names to be called, has been kidnapped by the boys.’

  ‘Which one they can’t all have kidnapped her surely?’

  ‘I would like to talk to Stuart, he seems to be their leader.’

  ‘Unfortunately he is not here at the moment so you are not able to.’ David replied. ‘He will be back soon if you will call back.’

  ‘I will settle with talking to one of the others.’ The sergeant exclaimed.

  David looked round. He saw Toby come down the stairs and point to the drawing room.

  ‘Come in sergeant, he will see you in the drawing room apparently.’

  With the sergeant came a constable the mother superior and Ursula. They all walked into the drawing room and sat down to wait for Toby. He eventually walked in and sat down.

  ‘How can I help you sergeant?’ He asked.

  ‘We are here to collect the girl known as Foundling Waif.’ The sergeant replied.

  ‘What an odd name she must have been named by an idiot.’ Toby retorted. ‘And why again are you here?’

  ‘For the girl I just mentioned!’ The sergeant answered.

  ‘So you think she is here. It is a shame you haven’t got a search warrant or you could look for her, still I will ask someone. Sherman are you there?’

  They heard Sherman walk down the stairs.

  ‘Do you want me Toby?’

  ‘Yes the sergeant is looking for a girl named Foundling Waif.’

  ‘What an odd name she must have been named by an idiot.’ Sherman declared.

  ‘Amazing that is just what I said.’ Toby replied.

  ‘So where does he think she is?’ Sherman asked.

  ‘Here.’

  ‘Oh here I’ll call someone.’

  Sherman walked to the bottom of the stairs and called down the next one and the reception was the same with exactly the same comments but repeated by both this time and then by all three and so on until the last person walked in, it was Simon.

  ‘Did you want me?’ He asked.

  ‘Yes the sergeant is trying to find a girl named Foundling Waif.’

  ‘What an odd name.’ Simon declared. ‘She must have been named by an idiot.’

  One by one the others agreed.

  ‘So where does he think she is?’ Simon asked candidly.

  ‘He thinks she is here.’ Toby declared.

  ‘Here! Most odd, still I will ask someone who might know, he seems to know most things.’ Simon walked to the bottom of the stairs. ‘Are you about Tim?’

  Simon walked back in with Tim following.

  ‘Did you want me?’ He asked.

  Ursula saw him and fled from the room screaming. She ran out the front doors, leaving the wide open and ran up the drive in sheer panic.

  ‘Is it something I said?’ Tim asked sensitively.

  ‘No I think she is just neurotic.’ Simon answered.

  ‘Oh is there a cure?’ Tim asked sympathetically.

  ‘Possibly a rest home, far, far away.’ Toby suggested.

  ‘What did you want me for?’ Tim asked.

  ‘The sergeant here is looking for a girl named Foundling Waif.’ Toby expl
ained and the same comments from the other boys followed but not from Tim.

  ‘She is upstairs.’ Tim answered honestly.

  ‘Is she I didn’t see her?’ The others answered almost in union.

  ‘Yes and she is almost over the last beating she received at the convent although she will probably bear the scars for the rest of her life.’

  ‘Go and fetch her and we can end this fiasco.’ The Mother Superior ordered.

  ‘That is a big word for you Mother inferior.’ Tim replied less politely. ‘I will fetch her but I have to ask why you would beat her like that because she would not do the laundry for you. Waif are you there?’

  Waif walked into the room in her rags, with her bandages still showing in some places and nasty wheals in others.

  ‘Did you want me Timothy?’ She asked politely.

  ‘The Mother superior wants to take you back to the convent.’ Tim explained.

  ‘Well I do not want to go.’ She answered.

  ‘You do happen to be a ward of the court.’ The mother superior explained.

  ‘A decision based on lies though Mother inferior.’ Stevey declared as he walked into the room.

  The look of relief was plain to see on Toby’s face and he relaxed a little into the chair he was sitting in.

  ‘You are a rude little boy.’ Mother superior cried getting to her feet. ‘Let us go and bring our ward with us.’

  ‘A few minutes will not matter one way or the other.’ Sergeant Portland replied, he stood up himself and walked over to Waif. ‘Some of these wounds look like they needed stitches.’ He declared as he examined her.

  ‘That is why we are sending her up to Scotland to get proper treatment.’ The mother superior declared.

  ‘Those lies roll off your tongue too well for you to be any sort of Christian.’ Stuart argued as he walked in, ‘you are sending her away because you thought we were getting close to finding out about your earlier lies.’

  ‘The boy is talking rubbish.’ The mother superior declared.

  ‘Not my son.’ David said from behind Stuart. ‘Did you know that she took a baby from the mother and then told the mother that it had been still born and that it was a boy? What was worse than that, as soon as the girl was able to understand, she told her that her mother was dead and that her father did not want her.’