Ghost of a Chance (8 page)

Tuesday, 21 December, night

It wasn’t until after dinner that Ling had the chance to tell Hannah and Gabby about what had happened at the shop. Mrs Dalrymple had spent almost the entire meal fussing over them. Finally she sat down with a cup of coffee and peered at each of them closely. ‘Are you having a good time? You all look like you need more sleep!’

Gabby looked at Hannah. The red lump on her head had been disguised by suntan lotion, making Hannah look even fairer than normal. Ling was pale; she had been since the first night she’d seen Elizabeth. E.D.’s head had stopped bleeding but his face was scratched and he had a bruise on his cheek. ‘We’re fine, Mrs Dalrymple,’ said Gabby, pretending to be cheerful. ‘We’re having a great time.’

‘Well, I’m very glad, but you haven’t played any of the marvellous games I have here.’

‘Oh, that’s okay, really, Mrs D,’ Gabby said, pushing her chair back.

‘Actually, maybe a couple of games would be fun,’ Ling said cheerfully, clapping her hands. Mrs Dalrymple headed over to the wooden trolley.

‘Ling, are you sure?’ Hannah hissed.

‘Yes,’ Ling said. ‘I think a bit of time not thinking about all this won’t do us any harm at all.’

While Mrs Dalrymple bustled in and out with hot scones and mugs of steaming chocolate, the children worked their way through a game of Monopoly, two games of Pictionary and a game of Trivial Pursuit.

‘Bed time,’ Ling sighed, finally, stacking the cards into their boxes.

‘I thought we were in for an all nighter,’ E.D. said, standing up and stretching. ‘Hannah, how in the heck did you know that the colour of yak’s milk is pink?’

Hannah shrugged. ‘I just did.’

They said goodnight to Mrs Dalrymple and headed to the girls’ room. It didn’t take long to fill Gabby and Hannah in.

‘So you think Elizabeth is asking you to find the will?’ Hannah asked.

Ling shrugged. ‘That could be it.’

‘You could ask her,’ said Gabby. ‘Tonight.’

Angus glanced at his watch. It was just past ten o’clock. ‘We’ll have to wait. I wonder why she only turns up at the same time each night?’

‘10.48,’ said Hannah.

‘What?’ said E.D.

‘I’ve been checking. She comes along at 10.48.’

‘Why? Is this ghost a kind of timekeeper or something?’

Hannah didn’t answer. Suddenly she reached into the drawer of her bedside table and pulled out Sean’s faxes. She scanned them quickly and then started reading.
‘“That such a tragedy as two children drowning occurred during a half past ten night time foray, when all children should be asleep, only serves to heighten the sheer abhorrence of your crime.”
They were coming back from the island at about half past ten.’

‘So at 10.48…?’ Gabby didn’t want to say the rest.

‘At 10.48, Elizabeth was probably in the sea…’ Hannah didn’t want to say it either.

‘Drowning,’ said E.D. flatly. ‘It was the time she was drowning.’

Ling shuddered. ‘How long does it take to drown?’ she whispered.

‘It varies,’ Hannah whispered back. ‘Anything from a few minutes to thirty minutes.’

‘She only stays for a few minutes…’

The room was quiet. The hiss of the waves on the beach seemed ominous.

‘So, tonight,’ said E.D. ‘Ling can ask Elizabeth about the will.’

He stood up suddenly. ‘I reckon there’s someone outside. I’m going to check.’

‘Oh no you don’t.’ Angus stood up as well. ‘I’m coming with you. You have this communication problem that I can help you with.’

‘Don’t you trust me?’ E.D. tried hard to look innocent and failed badly.

‘No,’ said Angus. ‘Not one bit.’

The boys left. Ling looked at Gabby. ‘It must be getting time. I’m starting to feel really strange.’

Hannah looked at her watch. ‘10.21. Not long now.’ She looked down at the fax in her hand. ‘Hey,’ she said suddenly. ‘What’s the date?’

Gabby pulled her diary out from under her pillow. ‘It’s the 21st of December. And I haven’t
written anything in my diary today at all!’ She fumbled for a pen.

‘Don’t worry about that now,’ said Hannah crossly. ‘All you put in it is what you wear and what E.D. has said to you.’

‘How do you know that?’ Gabby snapped the book shut and glared at her friend.

‘Well, you leave it on your pillow often enough. Open. For everyone to see.’

‘You shouldn’t be reading it, Hannah. It’s private!’

‘Guys!’ Ling interrupted. ‘Can we talk about this later?’ She took a cushion from her bed and held it close to her chest. ‘I can’t stand you arguing.’

Gabby glared at Hannah but Hannah was looking at the fax again.
‘The National News, 22 December.
December 22nd is tomorrow! It’s the anniversary of the accident tomorrow.’

Gabby shivered. ‘It’s getting cold in here.’

‘It’s nearly time,’ Ling said. ‘I don’t feel well.’ She buried her face in the cushion.

The door banged open and E.D. and Angus came in, dragging a reluctant Daniel.

‘He was listening in on us,’ said E.D., pushing Daniel into the room.

‘I wasn’t going to tell nothing,’ said Daniel miserably. ‘That’s why I said I’d do it. Kristy
wanted Jamie to come and check out you guys but I told Jamie I’d go. Honest.’

‘Gabby…’ Ling moaned. ‘Get him out.’

Gabby stood up. ‘You have to get him out of here. It’s nearly time.’

The door flew open again.

‘So this is where you hang out?’ Kristy’s voice was loud. She pushed past Daniel and looked around the room.

E.D. turned to Kristy. ‘Yeah, we hang out here. And you don’t. Get lost.’

Kristy laughed. Jamie appeared behind her. ‘Don’t tell me to get lost or we’ll give you another bloody head to think about.’

‘You’re really tough with your bodyguard, aren’t you?’ E.D. stepped forward. ‘What do you do for a living? Steal lollies off little kids?’

‘E.D.!’ Hannah said urgently. ‘Get them out!’ She tried to quickly think of a way to distract them.

‘Why?’ Kristy stayed where she was. ‘What’s going on? Are you up to something?’

‘Not us, so I guess it’s maybe you that the police have just arrived for. I can see them outside now.’ Hannah turned from the window and glared at Kristy.

‘What are you talking about?’ Kristy said.

‘Kristy, I told you the guy at the petrol station saw us,’ Jamie said. ‘We shouldn’t have stolen the Coke from the fridge.’

‘Go out the back way and we won’t say anything,’ E.D. said quickly to Daniel. Daniel looked at E.D. then made a rush for the door, Jamie hot on his heels. Kristy swore, gave one more angry look at Hannah and followed them out.

‘Nice one, Hannah,’ Angus said, moving over to the window. ‘How did you know about the Coke?’

‘I didn’t. I just guessed they wouldn’t like the police arriving. Not that they have. I made that bit up.’

‘Look.’ Ling lifted her head from the cushion and pointed to the middle of the room. The others edged away from the centre of the room leaving Ling to stare at the carpet.

‘Can you see her?’ Hannah whispered. ‘Ask her now, Ling. Before it’s too late.’

Ling was swaying as if she might faint. Her face was grey in the dull light. ‘The will, Elizabeth. If we knew where it was we might be able to help you.’

A soft word reached Ling’s ears. Had it come from inside her head? ‘Will.’ It was as if Elizabeth was breathing the word out. ‘Thomas…’

‘Where is the will?’ Ling leaned towards the shadowy figure.

Slowly Elizabeth reached out with her hand. The image was beginning to fade, but at the last minute she lifted her arm and pointed out the window. The lighthouse on the cliff flashed.

‘In the lighthouse? Elizabeth?’

There was no one there.

Ling slumped over on the bed.

‘Ling!’ Angus ran forward and caught her.

‘I’m okay,’ she murmured, ‘just so tired.’

‘I get the feeling,’ Hannah said grimly, ‘that if we don’t help Elizabeth, Ling will get really sick.’

With a look of concern, Gabby went to her cousin. Together, she and Angus lifted Ling’s feet onto the bed and covered her with a blanket.

‘We have to get the will from the lighthouse,’ said E.D.

‘But how do we get in?’ Hannah bent over to pick up the faxes from the floor where the freezing gusts of wind had blown them.

‘And why is it so urgent? Do you think it’s got something to do with the anniversary of the accident?’ asked Gabby.

‘Or…’ Hannah stopped.

‘What, Han?’

‘Angelo told you that Mr Jamison is out of gaol.’

‘So?’ E.D. shook his head. ‘Mira said he’d never come back here.’

‘But I bet he would if he thought he could get some treasure.’

Gabby threw up her hands. ‘There is no treasure, Hannah. He got all that he was going to get—some trinkets that he gave away. The other treasure is just a legend.’

‘I’m not talking about buried treasure.’ Hannah stood up and pointed to the lighthouse. ‘I’m talking about whatever there might be in that will.’

Wednesday, 22 December, morning

Hannah, Angus and Ling were huddled around a phone as Gabby followed E.D. into the dining room early the next morning.

‘Sssshhh.’ Hannah looked up as E.D. approached.

‘Hey, I wasn’t going…’

‘Quiet!’ Angus turned back.

‘What are you doing?’ whispered Gabby to her cousin.

‘We’re trying all the Thomas Crofts in the white pages. From all the phone books we could find.’

‘Mr Croft? Mr Thomas Croft…oh, sorry…I thought…’ Hannah frowned, clicking off the phone. ‘Rude man. Okay, we can cross that one off the list. What’s the next number?’

‘I don’t reckon this is going to be him either,’ Angus said. He read out the number. The others watched Hannah expectantly.

‘Oh, hello? Hello?’ She breathed out slowly. ‘Answering machine,’ she whispered. ‘Shall I leave a message?’

‘Might as well,’ E.D. said, heading over to the breakfast bar. Hannah left her name and contact details. ‘Two more,’ she said, turning to Angus. ‘Does anyone else want a go?’

‘Hannah, you’re doing a brilliant job,’ Ling said, smiling. Hannah nodded, punching in the next number.

‘Hi there, is that Thomas Croft?’ Hannah’s face tightened suddenly. She held up a hand as Gabby went to speak. ‘It’s about your sister. Elizabeth.’ The others pressed in really close until they were just able to hear the man’s voice.

‘Who is this? What do you want?’

‘Oh, um…’ Hannah looked nervously at the others. Angus nodded encouragingly. Hannah took a deep breath and continued. ‘Yes, well my name is Hannah. I’m staying with my friends down at Intrepid Point. You see, we know what happened. Your sister…’

‘How dare you ring me up like this! Who gave
you my number?’ The man paused, breathing hard. ‘Anyway, I don’t have a sister.’

‘You
did
have a sister,’ Hannah pressed on. Ling suddenly snatched the phone from Hannah.

‘You
do
have a sister,’ she said, breathlessly. ‘Her name is Elizabeth and she speaks to me.’ There was a click and the phone went dead.

‘Ring him again,’ Angus said.

‘Don’t you think we should leave him alone? What if he’s the wrong guy?’ Hannah looked at Gabby.

‘What if he’s the right guy?’ Ling stared at the phone in her hand. Finally she sighed.

‘We’ll try once more. Just to make sure he has the information.’ She pressed the redial number and placed the phone against her ear.

‘Mr Croft, please listen,’ Ling said quickly. ‘Then you can put the phone down and I promise we will never call you again.’ Silence. ‘Okay. My name is Ling. I’m staying with my parents and some friends at a guesthouse in Intrepid Point.’

The man sighed. ‘Listen here, young lady—’

‘We know about Mr Jamison,’ Ling interrupted. The others nodded their encouragement.
‘We know what happened that night. But there’s something important at the lighthouse. A will.’ Thomas’s sharp intake of breath was easily heard through the phone. ‘Elizabeth told me. She wants us to get the will and we think it’s in the lighthouse.’ Ling paused. She knew Thomas Croft wouldn’t hang up now. For ten seconds no one spoke. The only sound was the distant rumble of the ocean outside and the noise of Mrs Dalrymple clattering in the kitchen.

‘How do you know about all this?’ Thomas said, finally. His voice was barely a whisper.

‘Elizabeth visits me.’

‘Elizabeth is dead. Is this some sort of cruel joke?’

‘Elizabeth comes to me every night at 10.48 p.m.; the exact time of the accident. She stays for a few minutes. It’s uncomfortable, but for some reason she has chosen me. Mr Croft, do you know what tomorrow’s date is?’

There was a long pause. ‘Enough of this,’ Thomas Croft said, his voice sounding tired and flat. ‘Enough.’ The phone clicked.

‘No way!’ Angus said, grabbing the phone and pressing redial. Ling rested her hand on Angus’s.

‘No, Angus,’ she said, gently taking the phone from him. ‘Mr Croft’s right. That’s enough.
There’s nothing more I can say. He either comes or he doesn’t.’

‘Do you think he will?’ Gabby watched Mrs Dalrymple walk into the dining room.

‘I’m not sure,’ Ling said, then yawned. ‘I’m going to have a rest, but don’t go to the lighthouse without me.’

‘We should go straight away.’ Hannah frowned.

‘Please wait for me,’ said Ling. ‘I just need to sleep.’

Hannah nodded but didn’t feel happy with the decision. What if they couldn’t get the will? What if they were too late?

Gabby sat on her bed to keep Ling company, making notes in her diary and flicking through some magazines. Out of the window she could see the others slowly making their way along the beach towards the old jetty where E.D. had rescued the seal pup. Gabby smiled. E.D. was such a weirdo, and yet she thought of him often and had written about him more than anyone else in her diary. Creepy.

She glanced over at Ling, who appeared to be fast asleep. Suddenly Gabby wanted to be out there with the others—with E.D. She grabbed her towel, stuffed a couple of magazines into
her bag, scrawled a quick note to Ling and headed out.

‘Hey, we were just coming in,’ Hannah said as Gabby met the others at the gate that led from the beach up to the guesthouse. ‘Is Ling up yet?’

‘She’s asleep still. I was just going to have a quick swim.’

‘Cool, I’ll come in with you,’ E.D. said, turning.

‘Well, don’t be too long. I don’t like the look of those clouds. Anyway, aren’t we going to check out the lighthouse?’

‘Swim, lunch, lighthouse,’ E.D. called, hurtling back down the beach and heading for the water.

‘E.D! You’ve still got your clothes on!’ Gabby shook her head slowly and smiled as E.D. plunged into the water.

Gabby and E.D. returned from their swim to find Hannah and Angus pacing anxiously in the corridor outside the girls’ bedroom.

‘What’s going on?’ Gabby asked.

‘Mrs Dalrymple wants to ring Ling’s parents,’ Hannah whispered. ‘She’s in there now with Ling.’

‘Oh my God, is she okay?’ Gabby snatched her towel back from E.D. ‘I’ll go in and see.’

‘Wait up, Gab. I really…’ They all froze as the door suddenly opened and Mrs Dalrymple appeared. She smiled briefly.

‘Not sure what’s going on,’ she said, trying to sound cheerful. ‘Nothing to worry about. We’ll just let her rest up and see how she is later this afternoon.’

‘Sure, Mrs Dalrymple.’

‘Now, I know you’ve been out and about a bit, but I’ve just heard the weather report and they’ve issued a severe storm alert for the coast here. I’d prefer it if you stayed inside the guesthouse for the rest of the day.’

‘Oh, but…’

‘That’s a good idea, Mrs Dalrymple,’ Hannah said quickly, interrupting Gabby. ‘There are some other awesome-looking games that we haven’t played down in the pool room. We can try some of those.’

‘We can try pool too,’ E.D. said.

‘So, do we go to the lighthouse or not?’ Hannah said, trying to steady the cue on her knuckles. She hit the white ball with a hollow cracking sound and watched it disappear into the middle pocket.

‘Two shots to us, Han,’ E.D. said.

‘Mrs Dalrymple told us not to leave the guesthouse,’ Gabby said, getting up to play her shot. ‘And look at the weather. It could be the middle of the night, it’s so dark out there.’

‘It’s always the weather, Gab. A bit of rain ain’t going to hurt anyone.’

Gabby paused over her shot as a clap of thunder rumbled ominously. The lights flickered.

‘Gabby!’ E.D. shouted suddenly.

Gabby almost dropped her cue in alarm. ‘What?’ she shrieked, terrified.

‘You’re not aiming for the black, are you?’ E.D. was looking horrified. Gabby glared at him.

‘We have to go,’ Hannah said. ‘We can’t wait for Ling.’

‘Who’s we?’ Gabby asked, stealing another glimpse out of the window. She took her shot, smacking the number 11 ball into the corner pocket. She stole a glance at E.D. who was staring wide-eyed at the pocket the ball had disappeared into.

‘I’m in,’ E.D. said.

Gabby smiled. ‘Me too,’ she added, quickly. ‘Angus, I think you should stay.’

‘No way.’

‘Angus, trust me. Ling needs you here. I know.’

Hannah looked up sharply, staring from Gabby to Angus. ‘What do you mean?’ she asked.

‘Call it instinct—I don’t know.’

‘Well, whatever it is, let’s finish this game and get going,’ said E.D. ‘Gab, go the yellow here.’

‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, E.D. Is everything just a game to you? Ling’s upstairs sick, there’s a huge storm coming, it’s almost the anniversary of the drowning, Thomas Croft might be on his way here and we need to find this will in a spooky, locked up lighthouse.’ Hannah stomped out of the room.

‘What’s eating her?’ E.D. said.

‘Beats me,’ Angus shrugged. ‘But she doesn’t easily get stirred up.’

Gabby put her cue down. ‘E.D., grab a coat and anything else you think might be useful and we’ll meet you back here in five, okay?’

E.D. looked at Gabby and nodded. ‘And we finish the game when we get back, yeah?’

Gabby sighed. ‘You’re impossible.’