44 Gilmore Street

by Shani Struthers

  “Look down, what are you wearing?”

  “I’m wearing… everything’s so hazy. I get so far and then it’s like… I don’t know – my mind closes in on me. It collapses.”

  “Try to focus, to concentrate.”

  “I am trying, honestly I am. My dress – it’s white I think. No… it’s not white: it’s cream. I’m not, well… it would be wrong for me to wear white. A short dress, not too short though. He doesn’t like me to show too much leg but it’s nice enough, just above the knee. I’ve got flats on. I wanted to wear heels, but he doesn’t like them either. He wants his wife to look respectable, not like a whore. I don’t think heels make you look like a whore but I don’t want to upset him further, not on our wedding day.”

  “There’s a lot your husband doesn’t like, isn’t there?”

  “But he likes me – he loves me. And I love him.”

  “Who else is at the wedding? Can you see?”

  “It’s not like the other wedding. It’s just us. Oh, hang on. Wait. There are two other people, but I don’t know them. They’re witnesses, but they’re not friends. I… it’s so hard to remember, I think they’re passers-by, we’ve asked them if they’d stand in, or rather he’s asked them. They look a bit uncomfortable actually, a bit disinterested. Again it’s a shame but I don’t say anything, not this time. When the ceremony’s over, there’s no one waiting to throw confetti, not like the last couple. No one to cheer. We just leave the building, walk through the town, towards home – our home. We’re renting a house, I haven’t seen it yet; it’s a surprise. But he said it’s a nice house. It’s a nice town too. I’ve not been here before. I think I’m going to like being by the sea. The sound of the seagulls above, it’s really starting to irritate him. He wishes they’d shut up.”

  “Aren’t your parents there? His parents?”

  “No, no parents. I’ve never met any of his family. He says I wouldn’t like them. To be honest, I don’t think he likes them either.”

  “What’s the matter? You don’t seem happy now.”

  “No… I… I’m fine, I… I just wish my parents could have come. I’m their only child, they’ve always doted on me, but they don’t like him, they think he’s trouble. Their opinion’s unfair. They’ve only met him the once, hardly even spoke to him. They don’t like his job. He’s worked the fairgrounds up until now. He’s travelled up and down the country doing that. Even been over to Europe. Can you imagine? I want to go to Europe one day. My parents, they said they wanted someone better for me, I think they meant someone who’d been to university. That’s their definition of ‘better’. But you can’t help who you fall in love with, can you? Oh, I remember now! The fairground’s where I met him, he was on one of the stalls. He swept me off my feet that night, singled me out, ignored the girl I was with, she’s taller than me, a looker, with masses of blonde hair. He ignored her, even though she tried to get his attention. And that made me like him even more. I went back the next night. He said he knew I would. He kissed me, said he wanted me, said he’d never wanted a girl as much. And I wanted him. I ached for him. My parents tried to stop me from seeing him. Threatened to lock me in my room. Can you believe that? But you can’t stop a stone from rolling, that’s what he says – we’re two rolling stones. So we’ve come away, to this town, this house. It’s a new start for me as well.”

  “It’s a seaside town you live in? Do you know where?”

  “There’s a pier, he’s going to try and get work on it. That’ll be fun, my husband working on the pier. I’ll go and visit him every day. He said he’s looking forward to that and to getting home every night, to having tea ready for him. I’m not a good cook. But I’ll learn, of course I will. Lots of magazines have recipes in them don’t they? It can’t be that hard.”

  “Which magazines, what are they called?”

  “I… erm… I don’t know. I can’t remember. ‘Good’ something? It’s the fashion magazines I like really, but I’ve no time for them now, I’ve got a husband to look after. I’m going to become a good cook, because that’s the way to a man’s heart, through his stomach. My mum used to say that.”

  “Your husband’s name, you must know it.”

  “I… of course I do. It’s…”

  “What’s the matter? Why are you hesitating?”

  “My husband… those words. They sound strange.”

  “Strange? How so?”

  “Wrong.”

  “But you’ve just got married, you’ve just said so.”

  “But it’s wrong! Why is it wrong?”

  “You did get married, didn’t you? You went through with the ceremony?”

  “Yes, yes! Of course we did. I’m a respectable married woman. I’ve got the ring on my finger to prove it. I don’t know why it’s wrong. I get mixed up at times. I get confused.”

  “Okay, don’t worry, don’t get agitated. Breathe with me again. Good. What did you do after the wedding? Did you go somewhere special to eat?”

  “Eat? At a restaurant you mean? We couldn’t afford that! We’re not fancy people. Don’t get me wrong. I’d like to have done. It would have been so nice, special like you say. But we’ve only got enough to tide us over, until he gets another job. So no, there’s no meal out, there’s no honeymoon. There’s only us, walking through rain-drenched streets, past shops with their lights on, even though it’s the middle of the day. The glow from within should match mine, but it’s a cold light that falls onto the pavement, a pale, sickly yellow. I’m shivering. I wish I’d bought my coat with me. I’m hoping he’ll put his arm around me but he doesn’t. He’s got his hands in his pockets instead, his head is down; he wants to get home. He’s eager to show it off I think. My clothes, the stuff that I brought with me, he’s taken it there. Said my dresses are hung up in the wardrobe already. I wish I could have brought my records with me. I love music. Love Elvis. Have you heard him? Do you like him too? They call him the King of Rock and Roll and I agree. There’s no one to match him. But I could only bring what I could carry. It’s funny…”

  “What is, what’s funny?”

  “I miss my records as much as my mum and dad. I really did have quite a collection. We’ve stopped. We’re no longer walking through the streets. There are no more shops, there’s no light either, there’s only rain and it’s soaking us to the bone. He’s pointing. This is it, the house he’s rented. It’s… small, much smaller than my parents’ house. He’d acted like it was special. That’s why I wasn’t allowed to come here with him when he dropped our cases off. But it’s not special. Even from the outside I can tell how dirty it is. The house looks… unkempt. Oh no, he’s seen it.”

  “Seen what? Tell us what he’s seen.”

  “My expression. Quickly I smile again but too late. He’s noticed. He’s angry. I can tell he is. But I am too. I’m so angry with myself. I’m spoilt that’s what I am. It’s not his fault he can’t afford a better place for us to live. When he gets a job, maybe it’ll be different. But for now, this is good; this is fine. I turn to him and try to say how excited I am. But he turns away. Puts the key in the door. Unlocks it. The hallway, it’s so dark. And there’s a smell, it hits you straightaway, it’s… unclean. I’m still smiling. I’m forcing myself to. We can clean it. I can clean it. It’s going to be a little palace by the time I’ve finished. We go inside, he shuts the door. And that’s… that’s when it happens.”

  “When what happens? Don’t hesitate. You can tell us.”

  “When it all turns to shit.”

  Chapter Ten

  Cash was beside himself.

  “A rabbit? You’re serious? You’ve moved on a rabbit?”

  “Yes, Cash, a rabbit, an animal spirit. He’d erm… well – he’d met a murky end. His poor little soul was grounded.”

  Cash burst into hysterics. “A rabbit? A bunny?” She’d swear there were tears pouring down his face. “Psychic Surveys are now in the business of moving on grounded bunnies! That’s priceless! Absolutely pricele
ss.”

  Even Jed – who normally adored Cash, who took the opportunity to curl up by his feet whenever he was around – was shooting him daggers.

  Echoing Corinna, Ruby started lecturing him on how animal spirits were as valid as human. Heck, even more so, their souls tended to be a lot purer. But it was no use, he wasn’t listening, he was too busy laughing.

  Drumming her fingers on the table and making a show of sighing heavily, she looked forward to the others turning up, even Ness.

  Now, now, Ruby, she quickly admonished, of course, Ness!

  Cash was still at it when the other members of the Psychic Surveys team bustled into the office, Jed jumping up to greet each one of them.

  “Hello, boy, it’s good to see you too.” Theo returned his enthusiasm. Of all her team she could sense him the most clearly, even if she couldn’t actually see him. Only Ruby’s mother, Jessica, was able to see him too – her psychic connection with him almost as strong as Ruby’s.

  Straightening up, Theo turned to Cash. “What’s so funny?”

  “Funny?” Cash managed. “The bunny…” he said before dissolving into laughter all over again.

  As they congregated round the meeting table, Corinna shot him a look too.

  “Leave him, he’ll calm down soon,” Ruby told her. “Tiny minds and all that.”

  “Haire today, gone tomorrow. That was their surname wasn’t it? The people haunted by the bunny. Haire. Oh come on, it’s golden, Ruby, golden.”

  It took a full five minutes for him to collect himself.

  “Right,” said Ruby, “now you’ve finished, can we continue as normal?”

  “Normal?” There were still tears on his cheeks. “We can try.”

  Ruby kicked him under the table lest he start all over again.

  She cleared her throat in what she hoped was a suitably authoritative manner. “First of all, thanks for coming in on a Saturday morning. We need to be at Gilmore Street first thing on Monday so obviously we’ve got to get you guys,” and here Ruby nodded specifically towards Theo and Corinna, “up to speed before then. First though, let’s do a quick recap on what else has been happening this week. The old woman in East Preston, the one Ness and I went to visit, that all went smoothly. She was stubborn, as we’d gathered, but there were no fireworks or anything. We had a bit of a chat with her and off she went. She was a bit set in her ways that’s all, a bit too fond of her usual routine. There was also the Malling case, the one Cash finds so hilarious, where Corinna and I moved on the spirit of a rabbit.”

  Theo burst out laughing now. “Sorry,” she said, just as quickly holding up a conciliatory hand. “Corinna’s told me all about it. It’s a great case. My grandchildren are going to love it when I tell them.” Her entire body was shuddering with mirth and even Ness seemed amused. Corinna glanced wearily at Ruby.

  “Carrying on,” said Ruby pointedly, “Ness and I have also been embroiled in this regression case but more about that later. Theo and Corinna, you’ve had some cases to deal with too, how did they go?”

  “Pretty standard,” Theo’s words were punctuated with bursts of laughter. She and Cash really were incorrigible. “I’ve typed up the reports and emailed them to you for filing. Two were non-starters, one, the house in Hove, had negative energy but it was residual, the spirit had long gone, but whoa, what a tortured life he’d led.” She lowered her voice in a conspiratorial manner. “Drugs,” she added, “and an overreliance on the vodka too.” Returning to her normal pitch, she continued, “We gave the house a psychic sweep, advised on oils and crystals, and then went on our merry way. I’ve told the man who lives there now, Toby, to get back in touch with us if problems persist, but they won’t of course, not now we’ve been in. No, I’m afraid the star case went to you this week, Ruby. Oh, how I wish you’d given me a call on that one.”

  “And me,” Cash piped up. “It’s golden,” he repeated. “It really is.”

  Deciding to rescue the situation, Ness jumped to her feet.

  “Tea?” she enquired.

  “Please,” Ruby muttered, considering telling Theo and Cash to stop rabbiting on before swiftly deciding against it. They didn’t need any further encouragement. “Overall, it’s been another busy week but at least we’ve got some cases wrapped up. Two of them are ongoing however. Ness and I had quite a time at Gilmore Street, the spirit there – that of a man, Benjamin Hamilton we think, who was the previous occupant – is very aggressive.”

  Theo turned serious. “Aggressive? And the rest! From what Ness said on the phone, he delivered quite a blow to your stomach.”

  “You didn’t tell me that.” Cash said accusingly.

  “I… well, no I didn’t. But that’s correct, he did.”

  “Ruby!” Cash admonished.

  Before she could reply, Ness started speaking. “His language is also foul, he swears – a lot. We get the impression – the distinct impression – he’s something of a misogynist. A bit of a loner, Ben died at the house in his mid-eighties, in the living room. It was a week before his death was discovered.”

  Corinna raised an eyebrow. “A week?”

  “Not as uncommon as you might think, sweetheart,” commented Theo.

  Ruby nodded in agreement. “Although Samantha Gordon and her family, which consists of her husband and two children, a girl aged ten and a boy aged thirteen, have experienced only standard phenomena for us it was extreme. They’ve ‘sensed’ rather than seen anything and have suffered from mood swings too. Oh, and things keep going missing, she mentioned that yesterday, keys, the daughter’s homework book, for example, her shoes, make-up, that sort of thing. As we all know items going missing can be an early sign of a haunting. We’ve tried to find out about Ben, but there’s very little on record. I’ve no picture of him to show you either, the article in the local rag that detailed his death – a tiny article – carried no picture.”

  “He didn’t even warrant that.” Theo sighed as she said it.

  “On the plus side, there’s a resident in Gilmore Street, Delia, who knew something of him and was willing to speak to Ness and I. I’ve no picture but I can give you an idea of what he looked like at least.” Ruby related all they’d been told, including Delia suspecting Ben of having Asperger’s.

  “Asperger’s?” Theo queried. “That could account for his frustration.”

  “But of course he could just have been shy,” countered Ness. “There’s no proof.”

  “There never is,” Ruby replied, expressing some of her frustration. “The strange thing is, although he was a loner, Delia considered him actually quite pleasant. At least he was never rude to her, not like he’s been to us.”

  “That could be because he sees you as trespassers on his property,” suggested Cash.

  “And he knows what you’re trying to do – move him on basically,” Corinna added. “You know how resistant some spirits can be about that.”

  “Possibly,” Ruby agreed, taking a sip of tea. “Delia thought he might have worked for the railways but obviously he’d been retired for a good number of years. I contacted Southern Rail yesterday, to see if they had any record of a Benjamin Hamilton, but drew a blank, which is typical of any correspondence with Southern Rail really.”

  Everyone laughed, settling into the meeting. Ruby explained that they were all required on the Gilmore Street case and that a date was set for Monday. “But we need to go in prepared, all of us turning up might cause him to become even more aggressive. Hopefully though, our combined effort might just be what’s needed. We’ll have to see.”

  “I take it the children will be at school?” asked Theo.

  “Yes, and the husband will be at work. He’s not so keen on us getting involved apparently but I get the impression it’s Samantha who wears the trousers in the Gordon household. What she says goes. Now, onto the second ongoing case, that of Ellie Grey.” From looking fairly relaxed, all four faces suddenly became intent. Even Jed bothered to prick up his ears. Ruby frowned. It was am
azing the effect that girl had had, everyone responding to the fragility within her. Responding to something anyway. “There have been two regressions this week, carried out by Ailsa Isaacs, both recalling the same past life. In it she’s young, in her early twenties we presume, she’s in a house, she’s living with someone – again we have to presume here but we think it’s her husband – and she’s terrified of him basically. He’s a bad lot. That’s about as far as we’ve got. About as far as we may ever get.” Looking directly at Ness, she continued, “I know I’ve said this before, but I’m really not sure how much further we can take Ellie’s case, if in fact it can be called that. As you all know, she thinks something terrible happened to her and her instinct is that the perpetrator was never bought to justice or might still be alive. Unlikely I know, but like I say, that’s her instinct. What it has to do with Psychic Surveys I’m not really sure, but I’m willing to spend a couple more sessions on it.” Before Ness could protest, she added, “And I think we’re better off moving the regression sessions to a more neutral location. Would Ailsa be willing to host them at either her place of work or where she lives?”

  Despite Psychic Surveys being her business, Ruby couldn’t help but feel uneasy as she waited for Ness’s reaction. It wasn’t easy going up against such ‘giants’ in the field as her. After what seemed like ages, Ness replied.

  “Ellie feels comfortable at mine. That’s where the last two regressions have taken place and for the sake of continuity – which is very important in a case like this – should carry on. I really don’t want the sessions relocated.”

  There was silence again, as though the room itself was holding its breath. All eyes were either on her or Ness or looking carefully elsewhere – Jed in particular guilty of the latter.

  “I don’t think—”

  “Ellie’s a very fragile girl.”

  “I know that, Ness.”

  “You had to rush off after yesterday’s session, so did Ailsa. But Ellie stayed behind. We talked.”