Ghost Club 3, page 7
‘I’m not sure. Maybe –’ Angeline was cut off by the sight of an evil-eye charm on the floor. She swooped down and picked it up, her eyes ablaze with her new plan. ‘With this! You heard what Ripley said, they’re precious to him.’
Angeline looked to her parents. ‘I think I might go to my room.’ She hoped her face looked as glum as she intended. ‘It might help me deal with the shock. Would that be okay?’
‘Of course it would,’ Lily said. ‘Would you like company?’
‘We’ll go with her,’ Edgar said. ‘It is often better to be with others when you are feeling down.’
Angeline tucked her book under her arm and the three catchers made their way through the distraught crowd to the foyer.
‘How will we know which room he’s in?’ Dylan asked.
Angeline answered with a cheeky smile. ‘Watch this. Edgar?’
‘I’m on my way.’ Edgar approached the receptionist. ‘Excuse me, I hope you don’t mind my asking, but I find Romanian history fascinating. I was wondering, could tell me about that ancient vase in the glass case on the opposite side of the foyer?’
‘Why certainly.’ The receptionist led him to the vase and proudly retold its story, giving Angeline the perfect opportunity to lean over the desk and flick through the pages of the guest book.
‘Room 231.’ She smiled. ‘Let’s go.’
She and Dylan snuck up the stairs and waited just out of sight until Edgar was ready to join them.
‘Nice work, partner,’ Angeline said.
‘You too.’ Edgar nodded. ‘Shall we?’
They hurried through the narrow, winding corridors of the hotel, up steep flights of creaking stairs and around tight corners until they found the old wooden door of room 231. Angeline took a deep breath and wiped her hands on her dress before she knocked.
There was no answer.
They waited. Edgar gave Angeline a nod and she knocked again.
Still nothing.
‘Mr Granger,’ she called. ‘It’s Angeline Usher. I know you said you’d like your privacy, and this must be a very difficult time for you – it would be for me too if I decided to leave Ghost Club – but I was hoping that perhaps you wouldn’t mind if we chatted to you for a few brief moments.’
Angeline waited, holding her breath so she didn’t miss his answer.
Again, nothing.
‘Maybe we should go,’ Dylan whispered.
‘Not yet.’ Angeline wasn’t giving up.
‘You are one of my greatest heroes, and I’ve read your book How to Catch Ghosts and Other Pesky Para-normals a million times. Your capture of the ghost of Miserable Manor was my favourite. It’s one of the most exciting books I’ve read, and I’ve read a lot of books.’
‘She has,’ Edgar agreed.
‘It encouraged me to become the best ghost-catcher I can be. It would mean everything to me – more than everything – if you would sign it.’
Edgar and Dylan gave her the thumbs up. Surely Ripley couldn’t deny them after a speech like that.
There was silence, followed shortly after by, ‘I’m sorry, but I’ve asked for privacy and I’d really appreciate it if you could respect my request.’
It was then that Angeline remembered. ‘Oh, I’ve found one of your evil-eye charms. You must have dropped it while you were sitting at our table.’
There was another silence before Ripley’s muffled voice said, ‘Leave it outside the door.’
And that was it.
Edgar offered a brief smile and gestured for them to leave, but Angeline wasn’t moving.
She knocked on the door, this time with more force. ‘Mr Granger, I don’t mean to be rude, but you have to understand that announcing your retirement like that without an ounce of warning has come as quite a shock to all of us who admire and look up to you. I really don’t think after all these years of being such fans that it’s fair to ask us to leave, and considering that only a short while ago Dylan almost certainly saved your life, I think the least you could do is –’
‘Are you alone?’ Ripley’s voice murmured through the door.
‘It’s just the three of us: Edgar, Dylan and me. We really won’t take up much of your time, if you’d only –’
A sharp click interrupted Angeline’s plea, followed by a series of others, and the door slowly opened.
Ripley’s eyes peered out. He searched the corridor beside them and over their shoulders. ‘Come in.’
He quickly ushered them inside. Dylan flinched as Ripley slammed the door behind them and turned all the locks. ‘Sorry, I have a very heavy door at home and I always forget that I don’t have to be so forceful when I’m not there.’
Dylan stubbed his toe on a potted rosemary plant beside the door. He straightened it back up and noticed a coarse white powder spilled at the entrance.
The room was even grander than theirs, with a high ceiling, mosaic-tiled floor and a four-poster bed with gold velvet curtains.
‘I’m sorry about not wanting to see anyone – it’s nothing against you, you understand. Deciding to leave the Ghost Club was a big decision, but I underestimated just how emotionally taxing announcing it would be.’
‘Thank you for letting us in.’ Angeline handed over the charm.
Ripley gave her a crooked smile. ‘You can be very convincing.’
‘ “Being a ghost-catcher requires you to be the ultimate negotiator.” I read that in your book Where the Wild Ghosts Are.’
‘Well, I don’t think you have any problems there. Please sit down.’ Ripley’s eyes darted around the room. In one hand he held the string of evil-eye charms. ‘And Dylan. I really do appreciate your actions on stage. Angeline’s right – I’ve no doubt you saved my life, and I’m eternally grateful.’
‘You’re welcome, Mr Granger.’
Ripley’s face took on a gloomier shade. ‘Who would have thought that having faced all these years of bad-tempered ghosts, an old light fitting was nearly the end of me.’
He sank into a lounge chair and tried to look cheery, but his hands fidgeted in his lap.
‘Not just you,’ Angeline said. ‘I was almost hit on the head by a shield in Rasnov Citadel.’
‘You were?’ Ripley’s eyes widened.
‘Yes.’ Angeline smiled. ‘And Dylan saved me too.’
But Ripley’s thoughts suddenly seemed to be elsewhere.
Dylan’s eyes worked their way over the room. Evil-eye trinkets hung from the doorway, dangled in front of the window and were pinned to the bedhead. ‘Boy, you really like those things.’
‘They remind me of Greece and the lovely people I met.’ Ripley flicked his hand over his shoulder.
Dylan thought he saw something fly from his fingers. The confident Ripley they’d seen in the Grand Hall had been replaced by this small, anxious man.
He sat forward in his chair. ‘Shall I sign your book?’
Angeline stood up and handed it over. It was then that she noticed the edge of an open suitcase sticking out from under Ripley’s bed. The top drawer in the dresser was also open, with one sock dangling from its corner, and the coathangers in the wardrobe were bare.
‘Are you leaving tonight?’ Angeline asked.
‘Since I’m going anyway, I thought it best to begin my journey posthaste!’ he said with a forced, jaunty air.
‘But Myra said you were leaving in the morning.’
‘I changed my mind.’ He scribbled a quick signature and handed Angeline her book. ‘So, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to finish –’
‘Can I ask one thing?’ Angeline interrupted.
Ripley’s eyes shot to the door as if all he wanted to do was escape. ‘Just one shouldn’t hold me up too much.’
‘Why are you retiring?’
‘I’ve loved my time at Ghost Club, but getting call-outs at all hours of the day and night, being away from home, sometimes for weeks at a time – it was exciting when I was young, but now that I’m older it’s very tiring. I’m looking forward to long walks on the beach with my dog, Woofer, and afternoons on the veranda reading books. I also feel it is a good time to write my autobiography.’
‘Another one?’ Dylan asked.
‘Yes,’ Ripley replied, ‘but this time with the wisdom that age and experience bring. Of course this moment comes with a great deal of sadness. I will miss everyone, the excitement, the pace.’ He smiled at each of the catchers. ‘Though it seems I am leaving the club in very good hands.’
Angeline blushed.
Dylan frowned. There was something about the explanation he didn’t quite believe. ‘But only last month you said in an interview that –’
Angeline’s Tracker vibrated in her pocket. She activated the screen to see Fleischmann staring back at her. ‘Angeline, there you are. Are you with Dylan and Edgar?’
‘Yes – and Ripley too.’
‘How fortunate. I need all of you to come to the Grand Hall immediately. There has been a paranormal incident.’
‘Actually, Grandmaster,’ Ripley began, ‘I was just about to –’
‘We would be very grateful for your expertise! Especially as you’re about to leave us for the very last time.’
The three catchers stared at Ripley.
‘It would be a true privilege if we could share your last Ghost Club moments,’ Edgar said.
Angeline’s pleading eyes locked onto his. ‘Please, won’t you come?’
Ripley paused before saying to Fleischmann. ‘We’ll be right there, sir.’
When they arrived at the Grand Hall, it looked as if a tornado had passed through. Decorations had been ripped from the walls, tables were upside down and the floor was littered with smashed plates and jack-o’-lanterns.
Ghost-catchers with torn outfits and frazzled hair held their equipment high, recording and monitoring the room from every angle.
‘Thank you for coming.’ Grandmaster Fleischmann greeted them.
‘What happened?’ Angeline asked.
‘At first there was a slight breeze, followed by a howling wind and finally a cry of what seemed to be a young woman.’
Ripley dropped his head, and Dylan thought he heard him mutter, ‘It’s her.’
‘Pardon?’ Dylan asked.
Ripley shook his head. ‘It’s quite a stir.’
‘As you can see –’ Fleischmann nodded at the crowd ‘– there will be ample footage we can have analysed, so I’m sure it won’t take long to discover who has caused this.’
‘Yes,’ Ripley answered. ‘You should be able to wrap this one up in no time.’ He rubbed his hands. ‘But I really should get back –’
‘May I make one final request?’
Ripley paused. ‘Why, of course, Grandmaster.’
‘We would be greatly honoured if you would be the head catcher on this investigation.’
‘Oh, I . . .’ Ripley turned to see the gaze of the entire room trained directly on him.
‘I . . . you see . . .’
The room was silent. Hands were clasped in anticipation.
Ripley took a deep breath, his shoulders rose, and his chest puffed out. ‘The honour will be all mine.’
The hall filled with the relieved cheers of the ghost-catchers.
Grandmaster Fleischmann held up his hand for silence. ‘If I may, what better way to pay tribute to the club you have served for so long than by sharing your valuable skills and expertise.’
Ripley frowned. ‘Yes, well, I’ll hand in my reports as usual.’
‘And your reports are always exemplary, but what better way to truly share than by having the youngest members of the club accompany you to watch your every move.’
Angeline stumbled ever so slightly as she felt her heart backflip in her chest.
‘After all,’ Fleischmann continued, ‘you are familiar with their exemplary record of catchings and –’ he flashed a smile at Dylan ‘– you have even seen one of them in action.’
‘Yes . . . indeed . . . I . . .’ Ripley stammered before saying with more conviction, ‘I would be delighted.’
The crowd fell into raucous hoots and cheers. Fleischmann shook Ripley’s hand. Cameras flashed. Grandma Rose, Arthur and Lily squeezed through the bustle to hug the young catchers. Angeline and Edgar wore wide, brimming smiles and began to talk excitedly about going on a catch with the one-and-only Ripley Granger.
But none of the excitement filling the hall was felt by Dylan. He’d hoped the convention would be about speeches and dinners, seminars and unveilings, followed by a quick return to the relative safety of Gravesend. He sighed and looked away, catching, only briefly, a look on Ripley’s face. One that Dylan had seen before on his very own face. A look of trepidation.
A look of fear.
It was only a moment – a slim fraction of time – before a more confident Ripley took over and waved to the adoring crowd.
‘It is so very wonderful to meet you again, Ripley.’ Endora’s cheeks were almost as red as her hair. She spoke from the screen of a large TV that Angeline had plugged her Tracker into.
‘The pleasure is all mine!’ Ripley replied, ‘although it is criminal that while the rest of us age, you haven’t changed one bit.’
Endora giggled while Zelda pushed her way in front of the computer’s camera and meowed.
‘Or you, Zelda,’ Ripley added.
‘She really is terribly excited to see you. We both are,’ Endora gasped as if she had just been for a long run.
The others waited for her to start the briefing until Dylan decided it was time to end the awkward silence. ‘Have you made any discoveries about what happened in the Great Hall?’
‘Oh, yes, certainly.’ Endora shuffled through some papers. ‘I’ve analysed the footage of the incident from different angles and it has been very illuminating.’
Endora’s fingers flew over her keyboard. Her image on the TV reduced to a small square in the corner, while the rest of the screen filled with vision of the Grand Hall being thrown into chaos. A howling wind blasted into the curtains, decorations swirled into the air, and ghost-catchers were sent scuttling for cover, all while trying to hold their recording devices steady.
Then they heard the scream.
‘I’ve seen a lot of ghosts cause a lot of chaos,’ Angeline said, ‘but this one’s pretty good.’
‘The curious thing is,’ Endora frowned, ‘not one catcher recorded vision of a ghostly presence.’
‘But some kind of entity obviously created this,’ Edgar said.
‘I agree, but it wasn’t until I searched through the footage from Ripley’s speech earlier that I had more luck.’
The screen image changed to that of the famed ghost-catcher on stage.
‘We all know that during your speech, Ripley, there was the incident with the chandelier, which of course could simply have been an accident.’
They all watched as Ripley addressed the audience. ‘But one night, things went too far.’
‘As Ripley keeps talking,’ Endora said, ‘observe what happens near his shoulder.’
Ripley’s speech continued. ‘While the guests sat in front of the fire, they heard an ominous sound upstairs.’
‘There it is!’ Angeline pointed at the screen where a pale figure hovered behind Ripley.
‘The guests at the chalet were unable to move, their eyes wide and their fingers gripping their armrests. There, at the top of the stairs, staring directly at them, ready to pounce, ready to –’
‘Mr Granger, watch out!’
Suddenly Dylan entered the picture, leaping onto the stage and sending Ripley crashing to the floor.
‘And at that exact moment,’ Endora said, ‘the figure disappears.’
‘There was a ghost behind me?’ Ripley asked.
‘It seems so,’ Endora said.
‘But the room was full of catchers who are able to see ghosts.’ Dylan frowned. ‘Why didn’t anyone notice her then?’
‘If ghosts are reluctant to be detected,’ Edgar explained, ‘they can reduce the intensity of their spectral core so that it’s very difficult to see anything – even for us ghost-catchers.’
‘Do you know who it is?’ Ripley tugged at his collar, as if the room had become very warm.
‘I was hoping you might know,’ Endora said. ‘But in case you didn’t, I employed this new imageenhancement software to answer just that. It saturates what little colour there is in ghostly images and increases the contrast to highlight any detail. It then uses an auto-intelligence function to fill in the missing parts and create an image of what the ghost most probably looks like.’
‘Ingenius!’ Edgar was impressed.
‘I know,’ Endora said.
‘What did you come up with?’ Ripley moved to the edge of the lounge.
‘This.’ Endora looked down at her keyboard and began typing.
The image behind Ripley transformed from a faint, blurry figure into the sharp image of a young girl with long brown hair, dark eyes and a light, summery dress.
‘That is amazing,’ Angeline said.
Endora beamed. ‘It won’t always be precise, but it’ll come in very handy for future investigations.’
Dylan leant in closer to the screen. ‘I think that’s the girl I saw by the roadside.’
‘When?’ Endora asked.
‘Just before we arrived at the hotel. I only saw her briefly, then she disappeared.’
Angeline turned to him. ‘Why didn’t you say anything?’
Dylan shrugged. ‘People kept telling me ghosts were everywhere in Romania, so I never thought to mention it.’
‘Now that we have a clear image of our ghost,’ Endora said, ‘what can you tell me about her?’
‘She’s beautiful,’ Angeline admired.
‘And young,’ Edgar suggested. ‘Approximately twenty-five.’
‘Very close,’ Endora said. ‘She’s twenty-six. What else do you notice?’
Dylan searched the image. ‘She has a sweetheart locket around her neck.’
‘What’s that?’ Angeline asked.
‘It’s a small pendant, usually heart-shaped, that opens up so you can store a picture of a loved one inside. My mum has one with a picture of her and dad. Often there’s an engraving as well.’
‘Good work.’ Endora smiled and zoomed in on the picture so they could just make out a small engraving. ‘To Elena, with all my heart. George.’
