Megan is also mentioned although not by name. Deborah admits to getting a paranormal investigator in who confirms that the spirits present are that of deceased patients. She even discloses the use of the Ouija board and the fact it spelt out Patient Number One. Megan didn’t know how to feel. It felt like she was reading about somebody else. She was only grateful that her name was kept out of it. The thought of any attention sent flutters through her stomach. Ross was stated as declining to comment, with some articles claiming it was a publicity stunt ahead of the imminent announcement of his role of Inspector Dark.

  Marc must be feeling guilty of some sort, Megan wondered. His tricks had gotten out of hand and caused all of this public speculation. He must realise that he’d gone too far. She wondered what he had to say for himself, what was he thinking? A flush of embarrassment hit her hard as she recalled punching him in the face. How could she look at him again? Did she overreact? No, she told herself. He had terrified her and had taken her for an idiot. He won’t be able to have it out with her at the house, not in front of Ross, not if he wants to keep his secret. Still, Megan wasn’t sure she could face him.

  She sat staring at the screen a while longer, re-reading some of the articles then she thought back to Kerry. All of this stuff written about the ghosts, Megan knew was a hoax but something still niggled at her about Kerry. Call it a premonition or whatever but Megan felt that Kerry was trying to tell her or show her something. It sounded ludicrous to herself especially as she had never really believed in any of that stuff. She didn’t believe that spirits could communicate with her in any way shape or form let alone visit her in her dreams. She used to have vivid nightmares as an adolescent she seemed to recall but grew out of them. In fact she rarely remembered her dreams now at all. She wasn’t even sure she had any.

  But now there was news of another missing woman. Megan typed ‘woman missing from Broadway,’ into the search engine. A picture of an attractive blonde popped up. Sarah Lees Missing for just over a week. Sarah left her home last Saturday 25th August for a week- long break in the Cotswolds. She never arrived to check in at the hotel and has not been seen since. Her family became concerned after Sarah didn’t return home as expected on Saturday 1st September. She was finally reported as missing on Monday when she didn’t turn up for work. We are now appealing to the public to see if anyone knows of her whereabouts. There was a video link to an appeal by Sarah’s mother to help find her. There was also reference to Missing Kerry Beck and that they are not being treated as connected at this stage.

  And then it dawned on Megan. The last nightmare she had with the vision of Kerry, there was another woman. She was blonde, but her face wasn’t clear now in her head. Could she have been Sarah? Megan pushed the thought away. She was beginning to sound even more crazy. She wasn’t having visions about missing women. She had no gift, her mind was simply overwhelmed with everything that had happened, of course she was going to have nightmares. Who wouldn’t have nightmares faced with ghosts and witnessing all that she had. Another thing she had Marc to thank for- giving her nightmares. She cursed under her breath.

  ‘Worrying isn’t it?’ Julie said appearing from behind, looking at Sarah’s image. ‘Two women vanishing so close together.’

  ‘Yes,’ Megan agreed, hitting the shutdown button. She didn’t know either women and wasn’t in any way connected to them. She felt for them and wished them to be found safe of course, but for now she needed to distance herself from thinking about them before she really did send herself crazy.

  ‘Her last known movements are unknown,’ Julie continued, ‘she left for a holiday in this area and then nothing. Just like Kerry. Wonder if she ended up in secrecy at the Huston’s too. Can’t help feeling sceptical about them now.’

  ‘It’s probably best not to speculate,’ Megan said sympathetically. ‘I know it’s worrying for you, but the Huston’s do seem like honest and kind people. They have really helped me out. The police will find them, I’m sure.’

  Julie nodded but her look said that she wasn’t convinced.

  ‘I’m heading off now anyway, it was nice to meet you.’ Megan smiled but found herself momentarily blocked by Julie’s frame.

  ‘If you hear anything, if Ross gets in touch with Kerry, you will tell me, won’t you?’ Julie said, her voice desperate.

  Megan pursed her lips and nodded in agreement. Julie side stepped and allowed Megan to leave. Back outside and the rain had stopped. Megan wondered whether to head straight to Blind House or to kill some more time. And then it hit her. Sarah. Marc’s girlfriend’s name was Sarah, wasn’t it? He said that he hadn’t heard off her, didn’t know where she was. Surely not? That would mean that she really was last seen at Blind House. Marc said he hadn’t heard off her since she spent the night there and Ross had made a pass at her, or something. She looked back at the Library doors and shuddered. No, she wouldn’t go back and tell Nancy and Julie. She wasn’t certain of her facts. She wasn’t going to stir up any further trouble.

  It had to be a coincidence; it must be a different Sarah. Megan couldn’t comprehend two women going missing from the Huston’s. It didn’t look good. No, they were respectable public figures, famous, popular. Back to Blind House, it is then, Megan took a deep breath. If Sarah was the woman that Marc was seeing, she would find out soon enough. Marc would know about it by now.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Driving away from the car park, Megan resisted the urge to stop and phone her sister to cancel her plans to come over tonight. The thought of two women going missing after a night at the house didn’t sit well, she’d rather Sammie didn’t get involved. Why were the family so keen to invite complete strangers round when they claimed to enjoy their privacy? Why were they even so insistent for Megan to keep going back when she made it clear that she couldn’t do anymore? Something didn’t feel right. Deborah had gone public now, they could easily afford to get any top paranormal investigator in.

  Overthinking again, Megan breathed in for five and out for three. But doesn’t over thinking protect you from ending up in danger? Isn’t it best to consider everything? No, overthinking stops you from forming a relationship with your sister; stops you moving forwards with your life. In for five and out for three. Megan approached the gates to Blind House, alarmed to see a number of vehicles blocking the entrance. She waited, signalling to turn in. A man with a camera jogged over to her and she wound down her window.

  ‘You visiting the house? Are you a friend of the family?’ The man was brash, poising his camera ready.

  ‘Can you move your cars please?’ Megan gulped down the nerves. She considered putting her foot down and just abandoning ship.

  Another man jogged over, raising his camera over the first man’s shoulder, taking a few snaps of Megan.

  ‘I’m from the national press love, have you seen any ghosts in the house,’ he shouted, continuing to take pictures.

  They were then quickly joined by a frenzy of reporters.

  ‘Do you believe the house is haunted?’

  ‘How do you know the Huston’s?’

  ‘How scared is Ross Huston?’

  The questions were flying at her and the cameras were flashing. Megan held her hand up to shield her face. Breathing in for five and out for three was now impossible. She couldn’t even drive off as she was surrounded. She wound her window back up and sat her ground feeling she might vomit if they didn’t leave her alone soon. How do celebrities put up with this? She longed to be inside of the house with the ghosts than out here with these vultures. In fact she wanted to scream out of the window that there were no ghosts. It’s all a bloody hoax. Megan wanted to cry and she almost did but as quickly as the reporters surrounded her, they had backed away, getting into their cars and parted a way for her.

  Relief washed over her, she could still put her foot down and get far away from the house, from everything, but she didn’t, she crawled the car up to the gates and reached out for the intercom. She knew she had said this to herself last night but this time it really would be one more night and this time would be different. There were no ghosts. She had said it the first day she had knocked on the door to Blind House. Ghosts aren’t real. Christina would have made contact with her by now. Knowing that without a doubt and Marc’s confession together, Megan knew there was nothing to be scared of. As for missing women, the thought of Ross Huston having something to do with it was ridiculous. He was idolised by millions of fans. Besides, Megan reminded herself that Sarah may not even be the same Sarah that Marc was dating.

  The gates opened and Megan pulled up on the gravelled driveway. The gates closed, shutting out the reporters and Megan observed them in her rear view mirror quickly swarming back around the gates with their cameras flashing. She looked towards the house again to see Marc jogging over to her. Her stomach knotted remembering that she punched him in the face. He opened her car door and smiled anxiously at her.

  ‘C’mon let’s get you inside. That lot hounding you?’ Marc said nodding over to the reporters.

  The same questions were being shouted through the gates as the reporters desperately tried to get Marc’s attention. He kept his back to them and ushered Megan inside of the house.

  ‘Ah Megan, sweetheart, bless you for coming back,’ Deborah beamed a huge smile and rushed to hug her.

  Megan was a bit taken aback by her welcome and awkwardly returned the hug. No one was ever this pleased to see her. It’s not that she disliked hugs but when strangers did it, it set her teeth a bit on edge like nails on a chalk board scenario.

  ‘Strong coffee, two sugars right?’ Deborah released her embrace and guided Megan through to the kitchen to be greeted by Ross and Ian. ‘Now my back up is here, she will agree that justice for our spirits is the way to move them on for good. Right, Megan?’

  Megan nodded too afraid to disagree with the lady of the house. ‘Nothing is for certain but yes it’s a positive way forward,’ she said, her voice almost trailing off. ‘I needed internet access so I popped into the library again,’ she began to proceed more cautiously when Deborah raised her eyebrows, ‘Nancy collared me and told me that she is meeting with reporters tomorrow to fill them in on her great-great-grandfather... don’t worry I didn’t tell her anything, she tried to ask... I just said I knew nothing. She thinks I’m your cleaner.’

  Deborah laughed, ‘I bet she’s loving the opportunity to gush about her bloody family history. She won’t be laughing when reporters and historians do their digging and find out the truth. People will start coming forwards, you just watch.’

  ‘It’ll be fascinating to see what’s unearthed,’ Megan admitted.

  ‘So tonight, you communicate with the spirits, those poor souls and tell them that they haven’t been forgotten and we’re doing everything we can so they can finally rest in peace.’ Deborah clapped her hands together, looking pleased with herself.

  Megan noted that Ian just sat there quietly and Marc stood defensively in the corner still appearing anxious. He definitely lacked his usual charisma. He couldn’t look at her and was messing with the sleeves on his hoodie. She wasn’t sure if she felt pleased that he appeared to be feeling awkward, that he knows he screwed up.

  Ross busied himself tidying away some crockery, opening and closing drawers with more force than needed, obviously ignoring what Deborah was saying, ‘Did the press bother you?’ He directed his question to Megan.

  ‘Ah take no notice of the press,’ Deborah threw her hands up, ‘you weren’t bothered were you Megan? She’s a natural.’

  Megan wanted to say that well actually she wanted to vomit in her car, she was that nervous. But once more, she found herself agreeing that she was fine. Deborah handed her a mug of coffee. Megan clocked Ross raising his eyebrows and nodding his head towards Marc.

  ‘Would you mind leaving us for a short while Megan, we have a few private matters to discuss.’ Ross smiled firmly knotting a tea-towel around his fingers.

  ‘Stroll round the garden Megan?’ Marc offered gesturing to the patio doors.

  Deborah clapped her hands together again, ‘Yes go make the most of the last of the afternoon sun, can you believe it was even raining so much earlier?’ She shot another of her dazzling smiles.

  Megan couldn’t help but think that Deborah’s over the top cheerfulness was a bit forced. She expected that she and Ross had been fighting over the whole press thing, he was certainly coming across as tense, biting his tongue, not wanting to cause a scene. Making her way over to Marc, she hugged her coffee to her chest. Thank goodness for caffeine backup, the last thing that she wanted right then was to be alone with Marc. She was hoping to avoid it but no chance of that now. She knew his secret, now what was he going to do?

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  ‘I want to thank you for not saying anything,’ Marc said, not quite able to meet Megan’s eyes.

  ‘It’s not my place, although I think you should own up, look how out of hand it’s got.’ Megan tried not to sound angry. Being in close proximity with him again brought back how hurt she felt. He had terrified her with his pranks. She had started to accept the fact that she had found him attractive and was enjoying his company despite feeling completely out of his league but that had changed. Now her skin prickled to be near him.

  ‘I didn’t see this coming. Never expected Deb to go to the press. The thing is I can’t admit to anything now, mate or not, Ross will fire me... I am sorry you got caught up in this.’

  Megan walked off towards the statue of the Roman lady, stopping to study her fixed expression. Her stone face was still sorrowful and always will be. If the statue could see and hear everything, what stories could she tell? She couldn’t though, not without a voice, with her stone lips pressed together unable to speak up.

  Megan had a voice though, ‘I heard on the news that another woman went missing from nearby. Her name is Sarah something, I wondered if...’

  Marc rubbed his neck and paced around her, ‘Yes it’s my Sar- the Sarah I was seeing,’ he swiftly moved in closer to Megan. ‘As far as Ross is aware, no one but me, him, Deb and Ian knows that she was here the night she disappeared. A week before Kerry disappeared.’

  ‘But you have to tell...’

  ‘No not yet, that’s what they are discussing in there now. No one knows she was here. This on top of Kerry vanishing will cause a shit storm for Ross. This could damage his career. His agent and production team are announcing him as the next Inspector Dark at any time. As far as we know Sarah left here perfectly fine. Ross said that she walked out of the gates and that was that. I’ve checked CCTV and it does show her leaving.’

  Megan’s head was swimming. How could they not tell the police? She thought about how guilty Julie was feeling for not speaking up earlier about Kerry’s last movements. Time was of the essence. ‘But if it’s all innocent, the police-’

  ‘C’mon you know that’s not how the media work, it’ll ruin him. Listen...’ Marc’s eyes darkened, ‘another reason, I’m not risking getting fired yet, is that it doesn’t matter how innocent you say it is, Ross let her walk out of here late at night alone. What did he do to make her want to leave? She never came to me, called me, what? She didn’t even call a taxi?’

  ‘But the police-’

  ‘We’re all sworn to bloody secrecy aren’t we. We have to do whatever Ross and Deborah say. He’d have my ass in court and yours. He doesn’t know that you know about Sarah. I’m gonna find out why she left the way she did.’

  ‘So what do you actually think Ross did to her to make her want to leave without saying anything? To just sneak out?’ Megan pushed.

  ‘I think that he came on to her and she refused his advances, but how heavy he came on to her I don’t know. It must’ve been strong enough for her to bolt like that.’

  ‘Have you considered that perhaps she didn’t refuse him, so that’s why she left because she couldn’t face you?’ Megan hoped that was more the case and not that Ross forced himself onto her.

  ‘Perhaps,’ Marc replied quietly, ‘God he can piss me off sometimes,’ he erupted kicking away a stone.

  ‘Deborah told me that they have an open relationship.’

  ‘He could have anyone. Anyone. But he has to get his kicks out of trying to get one over on me and take the women I care about. Can you see why I wanted to get at him? You think I’m an arse? What kind of a mate does that?’

  Megan gave up trying to argue. She did still think he was an arse but she was getting a clearer picture now how hurt he was feeling. She’d never understand why, as mates, they couldn’t just talk about this than this one-upmanship thing they had going on between them. Defeated she knew that now she had two of Marc’s secrets to keep. She drained the last bit of cooled coffee and looked again to the statue. I guess now I don’t have that voice. She walked off further up the path, the sky now darkening. Marc followed and they walked in silence. On the second lap, they stopped at the top of garden so Megan could admire the archway some more.

  ‘Your sister’s coming tonight isn’t she?’ Marc broke the silence.

  Megan’s stomach flipped; she had almost forgotten. She had figured that surely Ross wouldn’t want Sammie round tonight now. She wasn’t even sure why he was still happy for her to be here. It doesn’t make any sense. It just wouldn’t normally happen would it?

  ‘I ought to check with Ross if it’s still okay for her to come. It must be bad timing for him.’ Megan had lost Marc’s attention. He was looking over to the far left of the lawn which backed onto the woods. He raised his hand to hush her for a moment.

  ‘There’s someone standing over there in the trees, can you see?’ Marc picked up the pace towards where he was pointing.

 

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