Hastings UK: Chapters 18 and 19 of Phantom of the Hastings Caves

Chapter 18 The prowler in the shadows

As Joy put her Yale key in the top lock in her front door, Dave’s mum opened the door.

“Hi, Molly,” Joy said. “Thank you so much for what you’ve done tonight.”

“It was no problem,” said Molly. “I wasn’t in bed when you phoned from Brighton. I came straight round. Steve and Madeleine are asleep.”

“Great. They’d have been fine on their own, but as they’re fostered I have to take extra care of them.”

“I know,” said Molly. “And there were the burglaries.”

“Yes. But the thief won’t come back. There’s nothing left to steal. Oh, hello you two.”

She bent down to stroke Steve’s two scruffy Jack Russells, who had suddenly run down the stairs.

When Joy stood up, Molly said, “Joy, I’m worried about Dave.”

“Why?”

“Well, Trevor phoned me and told me Dave had gone to Jack’s house as Trevor was going up to bed. I rang Dave’s mobile just now to see if he was still there, and there was no signal.”

“Maybe he’s gone home and switched his phone off and gone to sleep.”

“No, he hasn’t. Trevor texted me and said Dave’s not home yet. Oh, Joy, I know we worry too much. Dave doesn’t want us to wrap him up in cotton wool just because he can’t see.”

“I know.”

“And there’s another thing, Joy. I was looking out for you just now, through the window, and there was a man in the street. He was walking up and down, looking up at the houses. And then when your taxi stopped, he moved into the shadows, away from the lamplight.”

“Let’s take the dogs for a late-night walk. We can see if the man’s still there. And then we’ll go to your house and see if Dave’s back.”

“OK. I don’t want to go to Jack’s house and wake his dad up. He needs his sleep. He’s working too much and he’s looked awful recently.”

“Yes, I know,” said Joy as she put the dogs’ leads on. “Right, let’s see if the prowler is still wandering around out there.”

Chapter 19 A silken touch

“Do you think he’s gone?” Dave asked Jack.

“Yes, I think so,” said Jack, glancing at the entrance door to the caves. “He hasn’t shouted for a while.”

“I recognized his voice,” said Dave. “It was the man who came and talked to me at the hospital when Joy was having her head checked after the burglary. He said his name was Enver.”

“Enver?”

There was a gasp and a rustle of silk from behind the ticket desk.

Jack leaned over and shone his torch down behind the desk. He saw the ghostly girl crouching on the floor.

“Did you hear that? It’s the girl,” said Dave.

“Yes, she’s here, Dave. Behind the ticket desk.”

Dave moved closer to the desk and said, “Hi. Don’t be scared. My name’s Dave. I’m with my friend, Jack.”

“She’s trembling all over, Dave,” said Jack. “And her skin is all clammy and wet.”

He was interrupted by something crashing against the door.

“Liridona!” Enver’s voice shouted. “Liridona!”

“Jack, go to the office and phone the police from the landline,” said Dave. “Tell them there’s someone breaking into the Smugglers Adventure.”

As Jack walked over to the office, something crashed against the door again.

Suddenly, Dave felt a silken touch against his hand and a light breeze on his face as the girl ran past him in the direction of the Monks’ Walk. He set off after her. He felt sure that he could catch her up. The lack of light in the caves at night was no problem for him, but the girl would have to move slowly in the darkness. He walked quickly and silently down the Monks’ Walk.

ISBN-13: 978-1492203292