The House on Rectory Lane

by Stuart James

  ‘What is it?’ Asked Marsden. ‘What did you find?’

  ‘We’ve found two bodies buried behind a wall at the back. There’s a possibility another two are further down according to the infrared. We won’t know for sure until it’s opened properly. Get this. There’s a small piece of loose slab at the far end. Like a hidden trap door at the back of the basement. It looks as though they’d possibly built a passage way. Some kind of underground tunnel, between this house and the one down the lane. We’re looking into it now.’

  ‘You mean to the Morley’s place? It would explain how they got in and out of the house.’

  ‘It looks that way. Structural engineers said earlier that it’s a strong possibility. Again, we won’t know until it’s all taken out. God knows what we’ll find.’

  Reynolds thought to herself, ‘Probably the Prescotts.’

  One week later ‘Come on, Sean. You’re going to be late.’ It was early morning. Jake and Kate were both up, watching Sean slowly eating his breakfast, dressed in his new school uniform. ‘He looks so cute,’ Kate said, planting a kiss on his head. ‘I’m so proud of you.’

  Jake watched his family. How close he had been to losing them both. Life had slowly started to go back to being normal. It was what they needed now. He’d taken up running again. Nodding at Reynolds when he saw her at the gates up the road. Still loaded with officers and reporters. He’d taken Kate out a couple of nights ago. They returned to the curry house. Thankfully, Pete and Laura didn’t turn up.

  She kept apologising for her involvement with Pete. The criminal gang. Letting them try and frame the family. Moving to the house on Rectory Lane. Putting Jake and Sean through so much. She was determined to make life better for the three of them.

  Jake told her he was dealing with the deceit, but couldn’t understand what she’d seen in Pete. He let her know it would take time. He’d deal with it. Come to terms and then they could move on.

  Pete was a major player in the operation, but Jake put it all to the back of his mind. He hadn’t heard from lovable Laura; it was best that way. Jake didn’t want to think about everything that had happened here. They needed to move on. Build a life. ‘Sean. Come on. You don’t want to be late on your first day.’ He slowly rose from the table, leaving half his cereal.

  They both went in with him. Kate was pleased to find some of the parents welcoming him from the dinner party they hosted. It seemed so long ago now. As they said goodbye, Sean trotted in and waved back. Jake and Kate held hands at the gate, both tearful.

  Work had slowly picked up. Jake had a few jobs booked in.

  Kate spent the morning with one of the mums from school. A coffee meet-up. She spent the rest of the afternoon trying to get the house in order.

  That evening, Jake got a call from an old friend in Camden, Chaz, and his girlfriend Lydia. ‘Hey, Chaz. What’s happening?’

  ‘You know, Jake son. A bit of this, a bit of that. Listen, how do you fancy some company this weekend? I’m off, and Lydia’s up for it. How about it?’ Jake thought, I could do with it. God knows I need it at the moment. Beer. Pizza. A few laughs.

  ‘Yes, mate. Sounds great.’ Jake gave him the address and told him he’d see him Friday night.

  Sean had enjoyed his first day. He told his parents as many names of kids in his class as he could remember. He removed a picture of a red dragon from his school bag. A book they were asked to read and an empty packed lunch box.

  ‘Hey, you ate it all up,’ Kate proclaimed. ‘Good lad. Daddy’s cooking tonight.’ Sean turned up his nose, and they both laughed.

  They spent the evening eating pasta, sharing a bottle of red wine, and sitting in front of the telly. Sean was in bed. Tired after his exciting day. Kate came back and found the fire roaring in the living room. Jake had it down to a fine art. The flames dancing like a sheet caught in the wind. They listened to the wood splints crack as they cuddled up together. The future was going to be so much better for them now. They could both feel it.

  Epilogue Chaz and Lydia arrived just before half seven on Friday evening. Jake and Kate spent the evening preparing dinner. The kitchen looked romantic, but not overboard. Candles flickered from a stand on the table. Pasta simmering on the stove. A smell of the open fire wafted through from the front room.

  ‘Wow. This is amazing,’ stated Chaz. He was a small guy, cropped black hair. He dressed for the weather. A thick jumper, scarf, and blue jeans. Lydia was taller. Elegant. She also had a jumper and wore leggings. They all hugged. Lydia took in the surroundings.

  ‘I love it here.’ Chaz removed his scarf and accepted a bottle of beer from Jake. Kate gave Lydia a generous glass of wine.

  ‘So, how is Ramsbury treating you both?’

  Jake glanced towards Kate. ‘Oh, you know, new town and all that. We like it.’

  ‘You must miss Camden, though right?’ Asked Lydia.

  You don’t know how much. ‘Yeah. We do. But we’re settling here. Things are looking up.’ The letterbox flung open making Kate jump.

  Jake leapt up. ‘I’ve got it.’ He headed out to the hall and found a package lying on the floor.

  A brown envelope with Jake Morley clearly written in black pen ink, the address neatly hand-written underneath. He had a weird feeling about it. How had someone got in without buzzing? It was too late to be the postman. Jake placed his thumb into the top corner and slid it across the top. He looked inside. The DVD. He turned the envelope upside down and spilt it out into his hand.

  On the front, clearly marked, it said, Our House.

  Jake screwed up the envelope and placed the DVD into the pocket of his hoodie.

  He wondered why Reynolds sent it back to him. She must have just been here. He didn’t want it. They didn’t need reminding of the horrible incidents that had occurred here.

  He walked back into the kitchen.

  Chaz looked up. ‘You OK, buddy?’

  ‘Yeah. Just the wind.’

  Jake led Chaz into the living room while Lydia and Kate caught up. It had been a long time since they’d all been together.

  ‘You OK, pal? What’s on your mind?’

  Jake shut the living room door. ‘I want to show you something.’ He got the DVD from the pocket of his hoodie and set it up.

  ‘Bit early for filth mate, don’t you think?’ Jake sat beside him and pressed the play button. For the next few minutes, Chaz watched the family who lived in the house before Jake.

  ‘What’s this?’ He asked while swigging his beer. ‘Just watch.’ Jake started the recording from the beginning. Kids were running around in the background. It went blank for a minute and then a woman appeared.

  ‘Go on, love. Just say who you are.’

  ‘Is it recording?’

  ‘Yes, just say your name.’

  Laughter could be heard.

  Chaz turned to Jake. ‘What’s going on mate?’

  ‘Just watch.’

  ‘I’m Julie Prescott. Erh, proud mother of Tim and Shauna.’ The two children were jumping in the background trying to be seen. The tape jumped to the garden. They were queuing in line waiting impatiently.

  ‘It’s my turn, Maddie. You’ve already had a go.’

  ‘I haven’t.’

  ‘I’m not your friend anymore.’

  A ball being kicked around. The mother was sat watching. Mr Prescott filming. The tape again went blank. A minute later, the living room. The fire crackling. Silence. The father filming them watching telly. His wife asking him to turn it off. Covering her face. ‘Do your dance.’ Directed at the children.

  ‘Dad. Come on.’

  ‘Mark. Turn it off. They’re not dancing.’

  White noise.

  ‘Who is this a video of Jake?’ Chaz asked.

  ‘The family who lived here before us.’

  ‘No way.’

  ‘Yes, mate. I found it in the loft. Keep watching.’ The recording continued with Julie asking her husband to turn the tape off. Mr Prescott asking the kids to
dance. The nativity play. Children dressed as biblical characters and Christmas carols. Another gap. Cut to the garden. The snow thick on the ground. The family out together. The snowman behind the kids who were wrapped in scarfs and woollen hats. The snowball fight had begun.

  This time, there were others in the garden. The camera panned to their faces. The adults laughing. Drinking beer, wine, talking. There were about eight people in total.

  Jake leant forward. He didn’t remember this from the original recording. Maybe he missed it. There was a party inside, the living room. Jake saw the Prescotts. Someone playing a guitar. People singing. He knew this wasn’t on the first DVD they watched. This was a slightly different recording. There were platters of food on the table. Bottles of wine. Kids dancing in the middle of the floor. He thought he recognised Karen chatting on the sofa with a guy.

  White noise again and the woman running through the house.

  The camera operator chasing her. The woman reaching the room upstairs.

  Clearly petrified. Fear in her eyes.

  ‘It’s not snuff is it, mate? I ain’t into that. Hold up. Pause it,’ asked Chaz, just where the person carrying the camera was bashing the door in.

  Jake looked over. ‘What?’

  Chaz asked him to go back a fraction. Jake pressed the rewind button.

  ‘There. See. Ha ha, matey. You don’t fool me, son.’

  ‘I’m lost. What?’ Jake asked.

  Chaz took the remote and walked to the screen. He pressed the slow forward button, and the picture moved, ever so slightly. ‘There ya go, pal. Games up. Good one though. You had me.’

  ‘Had you what?’

  Chaz pointed to the screen. The mirror on the landing. A reflection of the person carrying the camera. The tormenter. More than likely the person who had killed the Prescotts.

  Kate.

  Kate’s reflection was clearly caught on the video recording.

  THE END

  Thank you so much for reading, The House on Rectory Lane.

  I appreciate it more than you could ever know and if you enjoyed it, all I ask is that you take a

  minute to review it and tell your friends about it.

  This book is dedicated to my sister, Catherine Dunne, who at the time of writing this, is

  severely ill ~ You are my hero and inspiration and I love you more than life.

  Also a huge thanks to my wife and best friend, Tara, who, along with the birth of my children has been the greatest thing to ever happen to me. You support me in everything I do and are always

  there for me. Granted, you need lots of patience to deal with me, as everyone says, but I’m so glad

  I am spending my life with you and love you more than anything in this world.

  I also want to big up my kids, Oli and Ava, who are both a credit to Tara and myself and we love

  you so very much.

  A big mention to my mum and dad, Jimmy and Kathleen, who are a light in my every day. Thanks to the main man, John (Stretch) McCathy for your advice and great knowledge.

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