The maintenance guy turned to walk away, but Adrian grabbed his arm, and stopped him in his tracks. Now closer, Judy could see the anger on the stranger’s face as he snatched his arm back before storming out the exit.
Judy waited a moment in case Adrian followed him out, but when he turned away and headed deeper into the office building, she came out from behind the tree and hurried to the stranger. He had stopped by the maintenance van and had his key in his hand.
“Excuse me,” she started, then noticed the security pass on his lanyard.
Matt Hodgson.
“Yes, do I know you?” he replied, a frown etched deep above his thin eyebrows.
“We spoke on the phone,” she continued. “I’m Judy. I was asking about the adoption company. Can we talk?”
“I guess so, but I don’t see how I can be of any more help. I told you what I knew on the phone.”
She smiled, then ignoring his brusque tone.
“You don’t mind, do you?” He pulled out a small tin of tobacco and pulled out a self-rolled cigarette. She waited while he lighted it.
“You’re a busy man.”
“Come again.”
“Working across two sites.”
“Oh, yeah, you could say that.”
“You do work here though, don’t you?”
He glanced at the burning tip of his roll-up as he took a drag. “I work in lots of places.”
Not quite a straight answer.
“It’s just that I came here to see my father-in-law and I wondered whether that was who you were talking with just now.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You been spying on me?”
“I saw you when I parked. I was just about to come into the building when I saw you two talking. I just thought it was funny that we had someone in common.”
She could almost see his mind whirling, as he tried to think of a good reason why he was here. She doubted his story about working across two sites but figured it would be an easy enough story to confirm if she could find the contact details for the building management company. And if he didn’t work there, it gave him very few reasons to be on site.
Unless he was there to specifically speak to Adrian.
“Yeah, I know Adrian. We go back.”
“It’s great that you still keep in touch. You must be good friends.”
Who were arguing with each other like the bitterest of enemies.
Something about her line of questioning must have alerted his bullshit detector because his whole posture changed. He straightened, tipped his head, and eyed her like this was the first time he’d seen her.
“Why are you here?”
“Dropping in to speak to Adrian. He’s taking my daughter away at the weekend. Just wanted to confirm the details.”
“You don’t have a phone?”
“I was passing.”
And then Matt did something unexpected. He stepped close and put his hand on her shoulder. She froze, unsure what was going on and whether she needed to react or just wait it out. She didn’t need to wait for more than a second. Matt’s face turned. It was like he’d been wearing a mask the whole time they’d been talking and now he’d let it drop so she could see the real him.
He lent in and whispered in her ear. His breath was hot and stank of the roll-up he still held in his hand. “Don’t trust him. If I were you, I wouldn’t be letting my daughter spend any time with him. He’s dangerous.”
Then it was over. Matt let go of her arm, opened his van and slipped inside. She stepped back and watched. Much as she didn’t think her father-in-law was dangerous, something about Matt’s comments resonated.
Don’t let your memory trick you, she thought. You saw them together. There was nothing friendly about it. Matt dislikes Adrian for whatever reason, and he’s trying to drive a wedge between you. Perhaps that’s how he gets his kicks.
Matt reversed his van at speed, and as he switched the gears from reverse back into first, he hesitated and looked at her through the closed window. The look sent a shiver across her back.
30
Judy was waiting on the doorstep at Lisa’s for two minutes before she finally appeared, dishevelled like she’d just woken up. Her hair was tied back in a scrunchy.
“Sorry, didn’t hear the doorbell,” Lisa said.
“Is everything OK? I’ve not heard from you for days.”
“I’ve been busy.”
There was an awkward moment as Judy wondered whether she was going to be let inside.
“Oh, come in,” Lisa said, leaving the door wide open as she ambled back into the depths of the house. Judy closed the door and watched her sister-in-law head towards the kitchen. She wanted to get a reading on the house so paused at the bottom of the stairs, looking up into the dark. She couldn’t hear anyone upstairs but didn’t think Ellis was home.
But that didn’t mean they were alone in the house.
“What are you doing?” Lisa was standing by the entrance to the back room, her face impassive. She looked withdrawn.
“Just listening. Has there been anything else happening since I was last here?”
Lisa shook her head. “No, there’s been nothing. I think whatever you did the other night must have scared it off.”
Judy followed her through to the kitchen where Lisa flicked on the kettle and stood leaning against the kitchen counter.
“Really? Nothing at all?”
“Nothing. It’s like that night must have been enough for it. Perhaps it just wanted to give us a scare and now that it’s done that, it’s just gone.”
Judy frowned. Lisa wasn’t being truthful, and she couldn’t understand why.
What are you hiding? Why aren’t you telling me the truth?
“How’s Ellis? Has he seen anything unusual?”
“He’s at work. He’s been busy with that girl of his from the office. He’s hardly ever home these days. To be honest, it’s a nice break. Gives me time to think.”
The kettle boiled and clicked off.
Lisa glanced up at the ceiling, then catching herself, she smiled and got two mugs from the draining board. As she wiped the edges with a tea towel, she asked, “How’s Jemma?”
“Good. Keeping busy with Fortnite and somehow squeezing in her homework, but I’ve got no real reason to complain. I suppose I’ve got to accept that even though she’s not technically a teenager, she’s been acting like one for the last couple of years. It could be worse. She could be messing about on the streets like some in her year.”
“That’s good. I’m pleased. She’s such a good girl. And you’re a good mum. It’s not been easy for you since Phil died.”
The observation hit her from left field.
“No. It’s been difficult. But I’m over the worst of it.”
Lisa poured the water. “The worst of it. You make it sound like an illness you’re recovering from.” She laughed.
“No. That’s not what I meant.”
“Like your grief is the flu.” She stirred the cups vigorously, the teaspoon smashing away at the sides an unnecessary amount of times.
“I wouldn’t have put it like that.”
“No. I’m sorry. I guess I’m just missing him.”
“It’s all right. You should miss him. He was your brother.”
“Tell me, do you ever miss him?”
Lisa’s eyes looked red, like she’d been crying earlier. Was she really missing Phil? When he was alive, and during Phil and Judy’s marriage, it wasn’t like he ever kept close contact with Lisa. They probably only saw each other once a month at their parents’ house when Faith dragged everyone together for a family meal. And those were hardly the friendliest of times. Phil was never relaxed and that meant the rest of the family couldn’t relax.
“Of course I do,” Judy said finally, hoping that she sounded convincing. “Why would you think that I wouldn’t?”
“Are you seeing someone else?”
Lisa picked out the teaspoon from one of the mugs and dro
pped it into the sink. The tension was getting thick in here and Judy glanced nervously at the door. Whatever Lisa was going through, she didn’t deserve to be made to feel like this.
“Why do you ask that?” Judy replied, keeping her voice calm, forcing her irritation aside.
“I’m interested. I just want you to be happy, obviously.” Lisa’s smile didn’t match her tone and did nothing to settle Judy’s concerns about the woman’s state of mind.
“Phil’s been dead almost a year.”
“Eleven months and fourteen days.”
“OK.”
“The anniversary is in two weeks’ time.”
“Yes. I knew that. Of course I knew that. But I won’t put my life on hold for ever.”
“He’s not been dead for a year yet, and you’re seeing some estate agent.”
Judy paused. “How do you know I’m seeing an estate agent?”
Lisa sniffed. “I’ve seen you.”
“When? Where?”
“In town.”
“On what day?”
“Does it matter?”
Yes, I think it might matter, she thought. I think it matters because you’ve not seen me at all have you?
“When did you last speak to your dad?”
“What’s dad got to do with anything?”
“I think he’s told you I’ve been seeing someone else and for whatever reason he’s told you about it.”
For a moment, it looked like Lisa might not answer. She messed with the scrunchy in her hair and took her mug in her hands, not bothering to pass Judy her own drink. “You’re right. He mentioned it. But he’s only trying to help.”
“Help? In what way is spreading gossip about me helping?”
“He doesn’t think you’re done grieving yet. I don’t think you are either. And whilst you’re in a difficult place, you’re liable to make some hasty decisions.”
“I’ll grieve to my own timetable thanks; I don’t need Adrian or you to tell me what’s proper. Jesus, what the hell is wrong with your family?”
“My family?” She raised an eyebrow. “There’s nothing wrong with my family. My family has always been good to you. Hell, if it wasn’t for my dad, you’d never have got that house you’re in now. Phil was always the spoilt one, getting anything he wanted. Look at me in this pokey house, needing to have a stupid lodger to help pay the rent whilst you’ve got your house all paid for now that my brother’s dead.”
Was that what this was about? Jealousy? She was jealous of how her dad had been treating Phil compared to herself. Judy had always assumed that the pair had been treated equally, and that Lisa had chosen to live in the smaller house.
“I’m sorry if you think that. But I don’t know what arrangements your dad had with Phil. It was all sorted out without my knowledge.”
“Great. I’m sure it was all a wonderful surprise for you.”
It was. But you’ve drained away any remaining good thoughts I had about the house.
Judy shivered. There was still more left unsaid. This wasn’t just about a house or the fact that Judy was moving on with her life. Lisa was pissed at her about something else.
“I found Phil’s journals in the attic. I thought you might be interested to know that he’d seen the same woman you’d seen.”
It was like a mask had been lifted. A reminder of what had brought them closer recently. Only now it seems that we couldn’t be farther apart.
“What did he say? What had he seen?”
“Someone in my house. A woman in the shadows. The face always indistinct. Even when he couldn’t see her, he got the sense that she was there.”
“Oh my god, poor Phil. Do you think that’s why he was the way he was?”
Judy’s chest tightened. “What do you mean?”
Lisa’s eyebrows drew close. “I know that you didn’t always see eye to eye. I wonder whether this was partly to blame.”
Judy thought about the time she’d had to lock herself in the bathroom and wondered whether she should ask Lisa if Phil had gone off the rails that day because he’d seen a ghost. She restrained herself. Unburdening herself like that wouldn’t serve any purpose other than further alienate herself from the family, and much as she sometimes didn’t want reminding about her in-laws, they were the closest family she had. Lisa, most of the time, was the sister she’d never had.
“Whatever Phil’s issues were, I’m sure they weren’t because of ghosts.”
“But maybe. I mean if he was on edge all the time. It might explain why he was so argumentative.”
“I think we need to change the subject. I told you about the journals because I wanted you to know that you weren’t the only one who’d seen this woman. What I would like to know is why I’m now seeing her as well.”
“You are?”
Judy nodded. “Several times.”
“I saw her again the other night. She was in the house. She tried to drown Jasper. And there was this teddy bear. I’ve seen it before. I don’t know how it got into the house.” She told Judy how she’d been drawn out of the house only to faint and wake up later on the sofa. Judy listened attentively.
“What happened to the bear?”
“The first time I saw it, I threw it in the rubbish. I couldn’t find it again after the second time.”
Judy frowned but she dismissed it as unimportant. It was far more important to establish what these entities were.
“And this other figure. The second one. You’ve not seen them before?”
Lisa shook her head. “No.”
“And you’re sure it wasn’t burglars?”
Lisa sighed. “It wasn’t burglars.”
If what Lisa was saying was true, and really Judy didn’t have a reason to doubt her, that meant that the ghost or ghosts could physically harm them. She thought again about the thing that Jemma had seen in her room, had heard under her bed.
She can’t stay there again.
“Maybe you should move out,” Judy suggested. “Live with your parents until this settles down.”
“What makes you think things will settle down? You were supposed to fix this. I trusted you to make it go away.” She was agitated, brushing her arm with her hand, shivering as if it was freezing in the kitchen when it really wasn’t.
“I told you I’d look into it with you. I’m no expert.”
“You saw things at the hospital. You have all the gear.”
“I bought the equipment specifically. I didn’t have it lying around.” Judy’s chest was feeling tight. This wasn’t any way to treat her. After going out of her way to try to help, she was being made to feel like the cause of the problems. “Perhaps I should go. Maybe call me if you need help.”
But Lisa didn’t look like she was about to ask for help from Judy anytime soon. She didn’t even come to the front door to show her out.
31
“I want to put the house on the market. How soon do you think you can do that?”
Judy had spent the last ten minutes shaking in her car, the anger from the meeting with Lisa had bubbled to the surface and she’d only just held back tears.
That family are all the same, she thought. Like brother like sister.
She’d not expected such a reaction from Lisa, and she tried to remember what she’d told her she’d do when Lisa had first mentioned her house being haunted. She couldn’t have promised getting rid of the ghost because such knowledge was way beyond her.
And she doesn’t seem to care that we’re now seeing the same ghost in my house. Jemma’s seen it and yet it’s all about poor poor Lisa and how bloody hard done by she is.
The situation was ridiculous, and Judy couldn’t see how it would be resolved until Lisa reached out and offered an apology.
After the confrontation, Judy had driven into town and was sat in Richard’s shop, a pack of doughnuts open on the desk between them. Richard was halfway through his second when Judy dropped her request into the conversation.
Slowly, he finished ch
ewing his mouthful, then put the remaining half back down on the desk. He eyed her up, checking to see how serious she was being.
“What’s happened?”
“Nothing. I’ve just let what you said the other day sink in and you’re right. It’s time to move on. There’s no point in being trapped in that house. That won’t help build good memories.”
And what I need right now is to build good memories.
The house no longer held any appeal for her. She’d mentally listed all the reasons why selling up was the best option. Firstly, and painfully obviously, there was the ghost. It was difficult to find a house comfortable knowing that at any moment, an entity could appear and attack you or your child. Secondly, there were the memories of her life with Phil there. The less said about that, the better. But thirdly, if what Lisa had said was true, then the house had caused a wedge between the family that she’d never even known about. She’d always assumed that Adrian had treated his children fairly, and that was a mistake. Adrian had favoured Phil and Lisa had quietly had to put up with it, the bitterness simmering away throughout her adult life.
“What aren’t you telling me?” He sat back in his chair and stared at her, searching for any clue in her expression that would explain what was going on.
“Will you help me sell the house or not?”
“Has Jemma seen more... things?”
“No.”
“Have you?”
She didn’t answer immediately, wondering whether this was a sign that Richard might believe her if she were to tell him the truth.
Come on then, what is the truth? What do you think is going on?
She reached for a doughnut and took a bite. The caramel topping crunched and a piece of icing dropped onto the carpet. She quickly retrieved it then she bit the bullet.
“Do you believe that Jemma saw something?” Judy asked.
“I think it’s only important what Jemma believes. If it scares her to be in the house, you’ve only got a few options available.”
“And they are?”
The Dark Corners Box Set Page 62