Concept date: 22nd August, 2019
First published: 30th January, 2020.Status: COMPLETED.
Version: EXTENDED.
Age Recommendation: 12+
Average Reading Time: Approximately 45 Minutes.Revisions: 4. [Last Edit: April 2020]
Angel-in-charge: Margret Team Assigned: Team 74
Human Time: 1999AD-1419AH Mission: 401980 - 2 – 7012
MISSION SUMMARY: "In the early summer of 1999, Anne and Kent Murphy are excited - and dreading it a little - that work on the new restaurant extension for their Hotel; 'The Gallows Tree' is underway. But contractors excavating in the old gardens have hit a problem; they have discovered the remains of ancient dungeons, complete with graveyard. Now work has halted while Archaeologists from Rutland University check out the uncovered ruins. Mr. Tibbs is on scene because two souls have gone missing from the current human time line..."
Age 15+
1. THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS.
He sighed and removed the padlock on his caravan’s door and stepped inside. He threw down his hat and well worn jacket and slumped on the cushions beneath the big window with shabby curtains – closed to keep out the bright sunshine. He stretched out and remembered there were a couple of bottles of coke in the small fridge. He reached down and from a rucksack, discarded at his feet; he pulled a bottle of ‘Johnny Walker’ whisky – half empty.
A couple of loud knocks on his door made him hastily replace the bottle and shout; “Enter!” In stepped Ray Chapel, who grinned and gestured towards the rucksack with the whisky bottle half hanging out. “Just in time am I?” He held up a full litre bottle of coke. Fielding had to chuckle and gestured for Ray to sit down – after he grabbed a couple of clean glasses from the small sink, which was crammed with dirty dishes and cutlery.
Ray stared at the sink and turned to the professor who was opening the bottle; "I thought you asked that student....Emma, wasn't it? to clean up the caravan for you, before they headed home for the weekend?" The professor grunted; "I did and received a lecture about female emancipation and the fact it was almost the twenty-first century and so on."
"Lazy feminist bitch." Ray murmured with real anger in his voice and joined the professor on the caravan's sofa. Fielding poured out the whisky and Ray topped up the glasses with a little coke. “So it’s just two weeks then.” Ray finally broke the silence as the pair sat sipping their whiskies. The professor nodded and sighed; “We’ve no idea what’s going to happen to the excavation, or for that matter, the bloody Hotel now.” Ray nodded and then remembered the letter that had arrived this morning from the University; from the Dean’s office.
He pulled it from his pocket and handed it to the professor; “Our eviction notice, I expect.” He grunted and refilled the glasses. The professor placed small spectacles upon his nose and tore open the envelope; he read quietly for a few minutes, and then slowly offered the letter to his sad assistant – with a strange smile on his face.
Ray read the two pages with an incredulous smile spreading across his face. “The old Dean must have finally lost the fucking plot!” He exclaimed and laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. He swallowed down his whisky and laughed again; “A fucking team of paranormal investigators!” He shouted and just stared at the letter, then dropped it upon the small table.
The professor shrugged his shoulders and refilled the glasses; “Well, it actually makes sense – in a crazy way – the police investigation discovered bugger all. Then of course, what about all those stories that started to appear about the ruins; ghosts, apparitions and noises. All that shit is bound to attract the nutters - even the so called professional nutters!"
Ray leaned back and raised his glass in mock salute; “Well, fucking good luck to....” He picked up the discarded letter and re-read part of it. “So, fucking good luck to Professor bloody Tibbs and his merry crew.” He muttered and sipped his whisky – still smiling.
The pair sat in silence for a few minutes, then Ray’s mood changed a little, his voice couldn’t hide irritation with some of the letters content. “How the fuck, are they allowed to use the Hotel to doss in and we’re stuck in this mobile flea-pit?” he asked, throwing the offending letter back on the table.
The professor didn’t answer that question, but patted his aggrieved assistant’s shoulder and smiled; “I thought the end paragraph would cheer you up a little; the local police liaison will be Detective Constable Sharon Smith. So, surely that will put a smile on your face and a spring in your step.”
Ray had to smile at that and sipped his whisky slowly. He nodded and raised his glass; “To Detective Constable Smith.” That’s when the professor’s mobile phone started to ring – the theme tune to ‘The Dam Busters’ filled the caravan. Fielding scrambled to the rucksack and pulled his phone out. He sat listening, grunting Ok several times, then switched it off and sipped his whisky.
“That was Maggie; the ghost hunters will turn up tomorrow morning.” Fielding muttered and started to laugh softly, adding; “Apparently this Tibbs fellow has an envious reputation in the field of shifting through paranormal crap.” They both laughed at that.
“He must be quite a persuasive fellow; this Tibbs.” Ray said and held up the fast diminishing whisky bottle. Fielding chuckled; “I agree, if he managed to persuade ‘old Dean, I can’t make a decision’ Cartwright to allow them on site, then the fucker should be a politician.” They both laughed again. Fielding gestured to the small cupboard above his head; “There’s a fresh one in there – I keep it for emergencies – like this.”
The pair shared the new bottle for about an hour, then both stumbled to their respective beds and slept badly. But both were up early in the morning; neither looking the worse for their drinking session.
Ray sniffed at his bowl of cornflakes; “I think the bloody milk is on the turn. I’ll get some more, where I pop into the village this morning.” Regardless of the milk’s condition, he scoffed down his breakfast and watched the professor eating yet more digestive biscuits; he must have eaten about a dozen this morning. There were packets of them scattered about the caravan. No wonder the bloody old boy was like a matchstick. Ray smiled to himself and poured more tea from the big metal tea pot and stared through the window.
He could see, at the end of Gallows Lane [the small road that ran up to the Hotel] a white Transit van had just turned into the lane from Cooper’s Road. He sighed; “I think the fucking ghost busters are here.” The professor just grunted and rose from the table, finishing his tea.
“Let’s go and welcome the spirit chasers to our little Shangri-La.” Fielding, straightened his jacket and slapped his flat cap on, he peered out the window and wiped his face. “Jesus, that’s a big black fella they have driving the bloody van, even the ghosts don’t mess with him, I bet.” He chuckled and watched the van park up. Ray eased himself up and adjusted his black jeans that had numerous pockets filled with bits and pieces. He picked up his dirty, off white ‘safari’ jacket and checked that he had some packets of soft mints.
The professor pushed through the small door and stepped into the early morning sunshine. Ray followed, slamming the door behind him. They both watched as the team of paranormal investigators decamped from their clean new van. “They are probably better funded than we are; there must be money in apparitions and ghosts.” Muttered Ray then caught sight of the tall, young woman in the tight blue jeans and white T-shirt that did not hide her impressive figure.
He smiled broadly and whispered to the professor; “I must be in the wrong fucking business.” Fielding just nodded, but straightened his thin tie – she was a real beauty, no argument about that. The young man in the dark blue suit approached and held out his hand; “Hello, Jericho Tibbs – I believe the Dean has informed you of our coming?” He and the professor shook hands. “Yeah, the Dean sent us a letter.” The professor said softly and gestured towards the closed up hotel; “Sorry, we don’t have keys for the place, so we can’t help you getting in.” That made Ray smile until Jericho pulled a set of keys from his pocket and smiled; “No trouble; the police liaison officer gave us these.”
“Oh good, she’s a very efficient detective constable.” The professor muttered, but thought; she’s also a hard faced sarcastic bitch and he really couldn’t see how his assistant, could even fancy the damn woman - that was yet another bloody mystery around here. He restrained from smiling at his thoughts.
The little group headed for the hotel front doors and Ray stared at Alex’s bum as she walked in front of him, then he caught Wilson smiling at him. He pretended to check his pockets and grin; “Mint anyone?” he asked, pulling a packet of soft mints from a pocket. No-one accepted his generous offer and they reached the doors. The professor was a little impressed that Jericho found the correct key
immediately, from the big bunch he held.
Jericho pushed the door open and smiled at the professor; "We'll settle in and meet up later. I'm sure you can give us some insight into the so called mystery." The professor nodded and turned away, indicating for Ray to follow him. Ray smiled at Alex; "If there's anything we...I can help you with, just pop over to the caravan." He pointed to the scruffy little caravan at the far end of the car park. Alex just nodded and turned away.
Ray and the professor stood by the entrance to the excavations and watched the team disappear into the hotel. Ray rubbed his chin; "That's odd, they don't appear to have much equipment or even luggage." The professor just shrugged his shoulders; "It's probably in the van. They'll get it later I expect." Both men wandered into the dig area and made their way to the 'dungeons' - which were
covered with large dirty, canvas tarpaulins, held down with old house bricks.
Ray pulled one tarpaulin back a little and both men stared down into the circular pit. "I'm amazed that anyone survived down there for a few weeks - let alone years." He spoke quietly and thought; a place like this was bound to have ghosts - if they were real. He threw back the canvas sheet and stared up at the hotel. "I wonder what our amateur ghost busters will make of the mystery?" Then smiled and joined the professor walking back to their caravan.
2. THE MYSTERY.
Jericho stood by the window and watched the pair disappear into the caravan. "I suspect that our neighbours are not happy that we're here, never mind dossing in the hotel, while they sit it out in that little box." he said quietly - unsmiling. Wilson chuckled and lowered his mirror; "The younger man - Ray - is lucky to have anything. Apparently he's not a good archaeologist or person. if his old mentor - the professor - hadn't taken him on; he would be probably selling white goods in a high street somewhere - badly."
"He certainly liked the look of your arse." Owen said to Alex, who just folded her arms and sighed. Jericho called the briefing to order; the mission was simple - solve the disappearance of two souls, still in their flesh suits, from the hotel. There were no witnesses and the police had drawn a huge blank, after investigating for almost two weeks. The team sat in the restaurant and checked their mirrors; the story was indeed strange.
The young couple who owned the 'Gallows Tree Hotel' had closed the hotel for the duration of the building works - an extension to the very restaurant the team were sitting in - so, the only people in the hotel were the owners and old Thomas O'Connell, the Night Porter who lived in a small backroom of the hotel. It was him that had raised the alarm about the couple's disappearance.
"According to the police report, O'Connell came on duty - as usual - at 10pm and simply couldn't find the couple; anywhere. He became suspicious because both their cars were still in the car park and found, in their private apartments, that dinner had been set out, but not eaten. They normally ate about seven o'clock in the evening when the hotel was closed. He searched for about half an hour, then went out to the caravan and woke up Larbert and Chapel who helped him search. Finally, they called the local police at 11.10pm. A police search turned up nothing; no signs of foul play or any disturbance - nothing out of the ordinary. They haven't been seen or heard of since." Owen concluded his report by asking Jericho if they could use the bar!
Jericho, sadly, said no. But told Owen and Wilson to fetch the two cases from the van. They had already chosen their rooms, but Jericho believed they wouldn't need them. "We'll wrap this up and be back home in time for a delicious dinner." He pacified the trio, but Owen muttered to Wilson, on the way to the van; "When he says things like that, the bloody wheel normally falls off." Wilson had to agree with that - grinning broadly at his young colleagues cynicism.
Ray watched from the caravan as Wilson and Owen carried two large cardboard boxes into the hotel. Then he saw the old mini-car of the Night Porter - O'Connell - pull into the top of the car park. "He's early today. I wonder what the old fucker will make of his free-loading guests." He said to Fielding, who was studying photographs of the ruins, taken on their first day on site. He looked up and smiled; "Old Thomas must be dedicated; turning up for duty when there's no-one here to pay his bloody wages anymore." Ray just grunted and watched Thomas disappear into the hotel, behind Owen and Wilson.
"Maybe he has no where else to go." Ray muttered and sat down on the sofa and sighed loudly; "The police questioned him for nearly two days you know and he never changed his story - not a word." The professor was staring hard at the photographs; "Where did we put the pictures that the builders took, when they first uncovered the ruins?" He asked Ray; who shrugged his shoulders; "I don't know, I thought you had them." The professor shook his head and said simply; "No." The missing photographs seemed to trouble the old professor and he searched the caravan - a couple of times with no success.
The professor watched Ray from the corner of his eye as he looked in the kitchen cupboard; "I could never understand how such a small caravan could have so many bloody cupboards." He watched the agitation on Ray's face and his jerky body movements. Finally Ray jumped up and smiled; "I think I'll pay the ghost busters a visit - see of they need anything." The professor nodded, then in a quiet voice said; "Behave yourself around the young woman Raymond. Those people are total strangers who could take real exception to some of your comments and mannerisms."
Ray nodded, then grinned; "Yeah. Sure. I promise best behaviour - scouts honour." And made his way out the door. The professor sighed; "You were never a bloody scout Raymond. They certainly wouldn't have you." He went back to searching the caravan with some purpose.
Ray wandered into the hotel foyer and found it empty. The two cardboard boxes were on the Reception Desk and Ray carefully peered inside; one contained six bottles of 'Johnny Walker' scotch and the other four bottles of brandy, with a dozen mixed glasses. He actually laughed out loud and shook his head. The bastards certainly knew how to chase bloody ghosts!
"Essential supplies." was all Jericho said, he was standing in the doorway with the Night Porter; who was smiling - unusual for him. Ray grinned; "You ghost busters certainly know to investigate spirits all right." Thomas walked behind the desk and started to write in the Guest Book and Jericho walked past Ray and stood in front of the desk. From his coat pocket, he pulled a thick brown envelope and started to count out twenty pound notes. "That's for four rooms for two nights." He told Thomas who nodded.
Ray licked his lips; there must be at least a grand in that bloody envelope. He wondered where the cock teasing tart was and wandered off. Jericho watched him go and collected the receipt from Thomas, who placed the money in the safe beneath the counter. Jericho walked to a quiet corner of the closed bar and called Alex. The conversation was brief and Jericho then called Wilson.
Owen appeared in the doorway and jerked a thumb behind him; "What's that sneaky fucker after?" As Ray walked up the stairs. Jericho didn't smile; "Alex." he muttered and Owen turned to go after Ray. Jericho grabbed his arm and really did smile; "Wilson's on the case." Owen chuckled and stared back up the stairs; "Couldn't happen to a nicer scumbag." Jericho indicated to the front doors; "I think we should pay a visit to the old professor and have a little chat. Bring a bottle of scotch as a little peace maker." Owen nodded and the pair left the bar, heading for the caravan.
Thomas watched them go and sat slowly down. He rubbed his face and folded his arms. "If they are fucking ghost hunters I'm the Pope's left testicle." he said softly to himself and pulled the shabby little red notebook from his jacket pocket. He carefully pulled off the fat elastic band that held the book together and flicked through the well scribbled pages. He stopped and read two pages with interest. "Oh fuck!" he said and looked about. The shit had hit the fan alright.
That's when he heard the altercation upstairs; he rose slowly from the chair and with a little smile creeping across his face, watched Ray hurriedly walk down the stairs and out the front door - not a happy man by any means. Thomas peered up the stairs; to see the big black man, arms folded and grinning; in his underwear!
Thomas chuckled to himself and headed for the kitchen - a fried egg sandwich was in his mind. He stopped and stared out the hall window, to see Ray jumping into the professors old jeep and head up Gallows Lane. Thomas smiled; maybe the bastard will learn that some women have very good - and powerful - friends.
The professor watched Ray go - apparently unconcerned. He had remembered that Ray was going into the village to get supplies; especially milk for his bloody cornflakes - and more coke for their whisky. He turned back to Jericho and Owen; "We were called the very morning that the builders started to uncover the ruins. The Murphy's made no objections to us being on site or the fact that their work on the extension had to stop - completely. They were really good about it all. I think they actually were quite interested in the whole thing." He sat down and gestured to the papers and photographs, spread across the small table.
"It appears we have Anglo-Saxon period stone enclosures - probably pit-dungeons by their constructions." He tapped a photograph and continued; "Quite a rare find to be honest. Didn't find any forgotten prisoners in them - no bones, nothing really. Except in one, we found a necklace that definitely wasn't Anglo-Saxon in origin - more like Edwardian or late Victorian." He accepted a cup of tea from Owen, who had made a brew in the old metal tea pot,
"That's another real mystery Jericho, we dug out the structure; it looked like it hadn't been disturbed for centuries, yet lying in the dirt at the bottom of the large pit was the bloody modern necklace." The professor shrugged his shoulders - he had no rational answer for that. "What about the stories that sprung up after the ruins were exposed?" Owen asked, sipping his tea.
The professor sighed at that; "Most are from old Thomas, he claims that he saw two figures by the large pit one night - just days after we arrived on site - the figures were all white and ghostly and appeared to jump into the bloody pit. Of course, when he finally managed to get up the courage and take a look; there was nothing in the pit." He tapped his cup with a nervous finger and stared at the ceiling. "Then I saw something one night, when I was sitting in the doorway there [he pointed to the caravans door] I would have sworn that I saw the figure of a young woman - dressed in a long white dress, running into the excavation. She had the most wonderful, full figure and was quite well build up here." He indicated large breasts and then half smiled; "I put that down to Mister Johnny Walker, I'm afraid."
Jericho and Owen chuckled at the professors candour. Leaving the bottle as a present, the pair walked back to the hotel. "We'll start with the hotel, then the ruins." Jericho said, but stared back at the excavations - he had a gut feeling about the place and it wasn't good.
3. THE HOTEL.
He rose from the table and stared out the window and saw the professors jeep was back in the car park. That's when old Tom appeared in the doorway; he spoke directly to Alex; "Excuse me Miss, but Mr. Chapel would like a word." Everyone glanced at each other and it was Jericho that answered; "Yeah, sure."
Ray stepped through the door with a sheepish grin on his face and was clutching a large bunch of colourful flowers with both hands. "I'm sorry about this morning Miss, I was wrong and I would like to say sorry for my stupid behaviour." he held out the flowers and Alex accepted them with a quiet; "Thank you."
Ray stood a little embarrassed for a few seconds, then nodded to Wilson and walked away. They watched him go in silence and everyone started to laugh - quietly. "What the fuck did happen?" Asked the intrigued Owen, who sniffed the flowers and pulled a face, adding; "I can smell manure."
Wilson chuckled; "When Jericho gave me the heads up about him, I dived in Alex's room and she was waiting for me. So, she went to the bathroom and switched on the shower, whilst I found myself a big armchair and turned its back to the door." He couldn't stop himself chuckling again, then continued; "I pulled off my shirt and trousers and sat waiting. Sure enough the pervert knocked softly at the door and came in, saying quietly; 'Hello, anyone there? He spoke just above a whisper and went straight for the bathroom, knowing full well, that anyone under a shower wouldn't hear him. That's when I stood up and asked him what the fuck he was up to!"
Alex grinned; "I opened the door and stuck my head out saying; "Oh darling, do come and scrub my back." Everyone laughed at that. Wilson almost giggled; "He looked like he had shat his pants and mumbled something, then fled the bloody room." Alex stopped laughing and held up the flowers; "The stems are covered in dirt and...is that bloody shit?" She grimaced and dropped the flowers on the table. "Where did he steal them from, I wonder?" She muttered, wiping her hands on several table napkins.
Owen, still chuckling about the whole scene, waved a hand towards the doorway; "He probably nicked them from that derelict church we passed in Gallows Lane, the old churchyard is overgrown and full of flowers. Bit of a strange place, by all accounts." He sat down and poured himself another coffee - that's when he noticed everyone was looking at him. He shrugged his shoulders; "What now?" he asked and poured milk into his cup.
Jericho folded his arms and sighed quite loudly; "Why is the old church so strange?" Owen sipped his coffee and said quietly; "Oh, it has a history of ghosts, demons, apparitions and all sorts, including the disappearance of a young girl last century. When the church was closed up [in 1971] the locals gathered around and cast salt along its paths and around the church walls. Apparently none of the villagers will go near the place. It's now owned by the Murphy's - well, until they disappeared. Don't know who would own it and the hotel now." He smiled broadly and picked up some more biscuits; "Do you think old Tom has any custard creams?"
Jericho held up his hands in mock despair and Wilson just shook his head. Alex sighed, but just had to smile; "Oh Owen, you can be a right twat some times." Owen scratched his head - unsmiling; "Now what the fuck have I done?" No-one bothered to answer that question. But Jericho pulled on his jacket and pointed towards the door; "Lets go people." and that was all he said.
4. THE CHURCH.
"They paid for two nights Miss." Tom said and smiled at Jericho. The detective nodded and looked Jericho up and down - almost with contempt. "You know that the church has been sealed off by local council engineers and no-one is to go near it - you understand that?" Jericho nodded and picked up his glass. Owen offered the constable a brandy, which she refused. "Just stick to the hotel and the diggings in future, otherwise you might find yourselves down the station explaining to my Inspector - you do understand that?" Jericho nodded again.
"If I had my way, I would charge the lot of you with criminal damage to the church, but the engineers have informed my Inspector that it was subsidence. An act of God apparently. So he's decided to take no action" She looked quite disappointed by that decision. She walked to the door and turned again to Jericho; "We've managed to locate the couples next of kin and they will be flying in tomorrow. It's a certain Sean Murphy - a cousin of John Murphy and I have no doubt, from my telephone conversation with him, that you and your band of so called Paranormal Investigators will be off site and not returning." Now she did smile at that.
The detective glanced at old Tom; " I understand that he's bringing his own staff with him, but that's his call. He'll have his accountant with him and really needs to look over the books." She gestured to he uniform officer who had said nothing the whole time; "Lets go. Our business with these people is finished - for now." They both left and old Tom just sighed; "I didn't know Mr. Kent had a cousin." But smiled strangely - which Alex noticed as he turned away.
Owen refilled the glasses all round and gave one to Tom, who took it with some gratitude. "Now that's one police officer who has honed her people skills to perfection." Wilson muttered with real sarcasm in his voice. Everyone had to chuckle at that - including Tom. Jericho stood rubbing his chin - deep in thought. He finished his brandy and turned to Owen; "Find out all you can about this 'Sean Murphy' and while your at it, check the history of our missing couple again. I have a bad feeling we've missed something bloody obvious about the pair." Owen nodded and the meeting broke up and the team headed for the excavations - again.
6. THE NECKLACE.
"Was it found before the couple disappeared?" Jericho asked, peering down into the hole. The professor nodded, then hesitated; "Actually, I think it was found on the very day they disappeared."
"Who discovered it?" Wilson asked and the professor pointed across the yard as Ray was walking towards them; "Ray did, he was the lead Archaeologist for this pit. He and a volunteer discovered it - a lad called Leon O'Connell, I think." Ray joined the little group and everyone realised at once, that he had been drinking - but said nothing. He stood by the edge, but didn't look down. "I didn't put it there, if that's what your fucking thinking." He said quite loudly and staggered a little - Wilson grabbed his arm and pulled him back from the precipice. He pushed away Wilson's hand and snarled; "I don't need fucking help you black bastard, you stick to handling that white slut of yours!" He was more drunk that anyone had realised.
The professor grabbed him with both hands and pushed him towards the caravan; "Go and bloody sleep it off you idiot." He spoke close to Ray's face, that suddenly smiled; "Yeah, sure." He muttered and pulled away from the professors grip and staggered towards the caravan - muttering obscenities. The professor tried to apologise to Wilson and Alex, but they waved it away and appeared to treat it as a drunken joke - for the old professors sake. He was clearly distraught and embarrassed by his colleague's actions.
"You best go after him Fielding." Jericho said quietly and patted the professors arm. He nodded and went after Ray, who had pulled open the caravan's door and fallen through it. Everyone watched the old man hurry away. Owen tapped Wilson; "Jesus, you showed real restraint there big man. I would have thumped him for that." But Wilson just grunted; "I don't thump drunks - even foul mouthed racist bastards." Jericho certainly appreciated Wilson's actions with the man and said so. the group returned to staring at the pit.
"No one had even suggested that he placed it down there; so why so quick to deny it?" Alex said softly - she had calmed down from the insult thrown at her. "That probably means the bastard did put it there." Owen said, then added; "Yet another bloody O'Connell; the lad with Ray when the necklace was found." He muttered and knelt down by the edge and tugged at the ladders that had been fixed to the wall of the pit. "They are well secure Jericho, should I go down and take a look?" Alex stepped forward; "No, I'll do this one - no swimming in crap required." She grinned and started to descend down the ladder - slowly and carefully.
"That's our girl." Jericho said with some pride. Then Owen gripped the ladder and swung onto it, when Alex had reached the bottom; "She didn't hesitate going in after me." He smiled and made his way down. The pair wandered around the bottom and found nothing unusual. Alex pulled out her mirror and slowly moved it around in a full circle. She stopped suddenly and called quietly to Owen, who now stood by her shoulder - after a few minutes Alex looked up to her colleagues and shouted; "There's a bloody half open time portal!" She gestured to the brickwork facing her. "It's linked to August 6th, 669AD." Owen called out and saw that Jericho and Wilson were already on their way down.
They gathered by the portal and Jericho nodded; "Well, lets take a trip back to ancient times and see what happens." Everyone agreed with that. But from above they could hear a heavy engine running and they stared up to see the bright yellow bucket of the small JCB [which had been left by the builders - pending their return] appear at the edge, pushing loose, damp soil down upon them.
"Into the portal!" Jericho yelled and the four disappeared into the brickwork, as large amounts of dirt started to fill the pit. This went on for some minutes until the pit was about half full; then the machine tipped over the edge and fell bout eight feet onto the dirt and lay on its side - the engine now silent.
The forest was quite damp and cold, despite the warmth of the summer day and the team, in single file, quietly made their way through the thick undergrowth. Jericho was consulting his mirror as they walked. "I think we all know who was driving the bloody JCB." Owen turned and spoke to Alex who nodded. Wilson, who was at the rear muttered; "If we were living humans that bastard would have buried us alive, now that definitely deserves a thump."
Alex chuckled and pushed foliage from her face as the little group moved on, she spoke to Owen; "What better place to dump some unwanted people - without resorting to murder - than sending them back in time some fourteen hundred years!" Jericho waved for silence and the group hid behind some large overgrown rocks and stared down into the small clearing.
There was thin grey smoke coming from the reed thatched roof of the mud build hut. The door was closed with nothing but a large stick pushed between the frame. A wooden pitch fork lay against the wall and two scruffy goats were tethered a few feet away. There was a small patch of cultivated land next to the house - probably herbs and small vegetables, Owen whispered to the others.
Alex tapped Jericho's shoulder and pointed to the rope slung between two small trees - it had washing hanging there. "Since when did our Anglo-Saxon ancestors wear modern trousers?" She said quietly and then chuckled; "Isn't that a bloody large brassiere I can see?" She added. Everyone exchanged glances and Jericho rose and headed for the house with the others following. As he approached, He shouted [In 'Old English] "Hello in the house!"
The group waited outside, they could definitely see someone moving about inside and Jericho repeated his salutation. A woman appeared in the door way, clutching her discoloured apron. She was probably in her late twenties but looked tired and well worn. Her dress and woollen blouse had clearly seen better times - she had no shoes. "One for me I think." Alex said and approached the woman with her hands clearly in view. "We're strangers here and we mean you no harm, We just need to speak to you." But the woman stood rigid and silent, staring at them, if they were monsters from some dark hell. Finally, she stepped forward a couple of feet and stopped again. She was crying and rubbed her face a few times.
"Your clothes...that clothing...are you really from home?" She spoke quietly and started to sob openly and staggered a little, then held onto the water butt by the doorway. "Are you from home?" She almost whispered and fell to her knees and wept loudly. Alex grabbed her and held her tight; "It's alright Anne, it's alright, your safe now." Owen turned to Wilson and muttered; "Mrs. Anne Murphy I presume?" Wilson nodded and consulted his mirror; "It sure is, but where's Kent Murphy?"
Alex managed to get the distraught woman to her feet and the group shuffled into the house - it was semi dark, the only light coming through the door and gap's in the roof. A small open fire, constrained by several large stones, was the centre piece of the house - there was no other furniture - apart from a wooden frame that had straw piled upon it. "That's the bloody bed." Owen said and watched the smoke disappearing through the roof. "I love the chimney." Muttered Wilson and coughed from the smoky atmosphere.
Anne gulped down some brandy from Alex's hip flask and hugged her tightly. Jericho quietly asked; "Where's Kent?" Anne took a couple of deep breaths and sobbed again, but quickly composed herself, she gestured towards the door; "They took him for questioning some days ago. We're strangers here and they want to know about us. We couldn't tell them what happened to us because they would treat us a demons or ghosts. They are really primitive and superstitious - savages. They have never heard of Jesus Christ - they're pagans!"
Owen whispered to Wilson; "If they were really that savage, they would have killed them immediately and not bother to ask any questions." Wilson had to agree with that, but he was a little puzzled; "Why didn't they take her as well?" Owen smiled; "She's a woman and no threat to them - it's their culture. They didn't even persecute witches." Wilson nodded; "Who are the real savages then?"
Everyone sat on the straw covered floor and listened to Anne's story.
7. THE MURPHY'S.
Jericho shrugged his shoulders and asked Anne to continue, which she did; after taking another swig from the hip-flask. "We were just sitting down to dinner - liver and bacon casserole; Kent's favourite. When old Tom appeared and said something was happening at the old church; we had just purchased it and the land that it stood on. That was another part of our plan to attract visitors." Wilson tapped Jericho and said quietly; "Didn't he say, that on the night they disappeared, he had come on duty at ten o'clock - as usual?" Jericho just nodded and waited for Anne to continue.
"Well, we just left dinner and Tom offered a lift in his car - it was already parked by the doors - so we all jumped in and drove up to the church. We could see smoke and little flames through the partially open door. Someone had got in and started a fire. We squeezed through the door and saw a bonfire burning in the middle of the bloody church!" She sighed and shook her head; "We had hurried out so quickly that Kent had left his mobile phone on the dinner table, so Tom said he would go outside and call the Fire Brigade. Kent and I started to look around for something to extinguish the flames, when suddenly, something in the middle of the bonfire just flashed and a green smoke filled the place. We really did start to choke and staggered towards the door, but never made it. We must have passed out."
Anne started to sob again and accepted Alex's hip flask. Wilson sighed; "I suspect that the green smoke was some kind of knockout gas - little wonder old Tom went outside." Owen checked his mirror and looked quite grim; "Thomas Edward O'Connell was born in 1694 and there's no record of his dispatch [death] - he's a missing soul. Should have been collected in 1753 - he obviously didn't turn up for that little party and guess where he spent most of his life?"
"Let me guess; Gallows Tree Manner House?" Alex sighed, and added: "He couldn't have dragged the Murphy's down that tunnel from the church to the pit on his own - he must have an accomplice - but who?" Wilson scratched his chin - thinking. "If old tom is from the original family that owned the house and land, then we need to look for other O'Connell's- maybe?"
Owen smiled; "The lad that found the necklace with Ray; he was a O'Connell."
"Did you say necklace? Someone stole my bloody necklace - it was around my neck the night we went to the church and was gone when I woke up in this shit hole. It was my Great-Grandmother's." Anne shouted and straightened her self up - now a little worse from the contents of Alex's flask - she hadn't drunk strong alcohol for some time and it was showing- She didn't speak for a minute or so and then said; "When we came around, we were here...in this terrible place....we couldn't believe what had happened and we just wandered around in shock, I suppose. Nothing was the same. After a few hours, we realised that something terrible had happened. We were lost in a forest with nothing - absolutely nothing except the clothes we were wearing." She slumped against Alex's shoulder and had passed out. She was sleeping - heavily.
Jericho and Wilson gently placed her upon the bed of straw and covered her with a thick, rough blanket. "Best let her sleep it off." Alex said, making the woman as comfortable as she could. The little group sat in silence for a few minutes. "The necklace was obviously dropped in the pit when Anne and her husband were pushed through the time portal, then not discovered until Ray and the boy went down the hole to finish clearing it." Wilson said softly, but pulled a face; "That doesn't make sense, if Ray's part of this; why draw attention to the pit by telling everyone about finding the impossible necklace?"
"He didn't - because it dropped from Anne's neck as young O'Connell and his accomplice: old Tom O'Connell pushed the couple through the time portal. When they found it the next day; the boy didn't have time to hide it from Ray and so it became part of the mystery." Jericho folded his arms and sighed; "What the hell is the time travelling Tom after in this century? This young O'Connell must be a descendent of his?"
Owen stared through the doorway; "I think we have visitors." He said softly.
Jericho went to the doorway and watched as the half dozen men approached; everyone had a spear and shield, a couple carried swords at their hips. One had a bright two coloured tunic over his rough shirt and was wearing a silver helmet; that was the leader. Jericho raised his hand in welcome and greeted them in their own language - old English.
They seemed totally surprised that the stranger dressed in strange clothes could speak their tongue. Offa [the Chief] asked Jericho why he had come onto their lands and what the woman was to them. Jericho replied that the woman and her man belonged to his tribe and they had come to collect them and return the pair home. Offa half-smiled; he wanted to know how he [Jericho] could speak the language, but the other strangers' couldn't. Jericho smiled and told Offa that the priesthood to which he belonged had taught him several tongues as a boy.
Offa asked where the woman was and Jericho pointed to the sleeping Anne and explained that she wasn't well. The Chief nodded - he did not smile, but held up his spear and waved it twice. From the trees came two burly warriors carrying a litter; they laid it down in front of Offa. It was a body covered with a rough blanket. "I don't think this is good news." Wilson whispered to Alex, who glanced down at poor Anne and really did feel sorry for her.
Jericho and Alex pulled back the blanket and stared hard at the face looking up at them. Alex sighed and threw the blanket back over it. Jericho thanked the Chief for returning the body to his woman and didn't ask how he died. The Chief was a little puzzled that Jericho didn't ask about the man's death and so told him what had happened.
Whilst being questioned by the Chief and the local priest [pagan] John had simply keeled over and died. No violence had been used against him. So they had returned him to his woman for burial - according to whatever customs the strangers followed. Their task completed, the Chief and his men disappeared into the forest. Alex sighed; "I best get the hip-flask ready." They all looked at the sleeping woman and felt sympathy for her, but most of that sympathy was kept for John Murphy; his soul was now lost because he had died outside his own era.
Wilson knelt by the body and consulted his mirror; "According to Human Records he was suffering from a weak heart for some years and was on really serious medication for it. The poor bastard had no access to such drugs here - it was a sudden death waiting to happen, no matter how well the local tribe treated him."
Owen scratched his head; "What amazed me was that they just accepted you - I mean had they seen coloured people before? If this was early Christian times, they would have been quite frightened of people like you Wilson, because all the painting of devils and demons at the time were mostly read or black." Wilson grunted and rose up and pointed to the trees. "We have more visitors."
A group of village woman stood by the trees, they were carrying clay pots and flowers. The old lady who was in charge introduced herself; they were here to help Anne bury her man with decency and respect. She was accompanied by her two teenage sons - big strapping lads - who would dig the grave for Anne's man. She explained that if 'John' had been a member of the tribe; the men of the village would have buried him, as was the custom for these people.
Both the young men smiled constantly at Alex as they set about breaking open the hard earth by the trees. Hagga {the old lady] said he should be buried near the trees, home of the tree spirits that the tribe worshipped. She also informed Jericho that if Anne stayed, she would be treated with respect as a widow-woman and provided for by the village. That was the custom here; poor widows - with or without children - would be looked after. Wilson smiled and said quietly to Owen; "Real savages, aren't they?" Owen just smiled and said nothing.
"I'll put a call into James [a Knight of God] and he can eradicate Anne's memories of all this." Jericho muttered and discretely operated his mirror.
8. THE RETURN.
Wilson carefully laid Anne upon the old tomb stone and removed the rough blanket; Alex had dressed her in the clothes they had found hidden in the hut and she had been returned to the interior of the derelict church. The team checked for the local council engineers, returning to complete the shoring up of the building. Soon as they appeared in Gallows Lane, Jericho operated his mirror and the team disappeared.
They walked back to the hotel in relative silence, stopping only to watch the professor hooking up his caravan to his old jeep - he didn't look happy. They waved at him and he walked over. "What's going on Fielding?" Jericho asked and the professor shrugged his shoulders; "That Sean Murphy has arrived and the first thing he did was to order me and Ray off site. He's wandering around the hotel trying to find Tom O'Connell, apparently the Reception safe is wide open and empty. But Tom's old mini is still in the car park." He pointed to the car, sitting at the top of the car park.
"Where's Ray then?" Owen asked and could see that question agitated the old professor. After a few seconds Fielding sighed; "He gone. I can't find him anywhere. I think your case of 'Johnny Walker' that you left in Reception has gone too." Jericho offered the professor his hand and Fielding grabbed it and smiled; "I take it there was no ghosts or demons to chase here then?" He smiled when Jericho nodded; "Yeah, none had checked into the hotel." Both men chuckled and Fielding jumped into his jeep and with a little wave drove from the car park and turned into Gallows' Lane. They watched him disappear as a police car turned into the lane.
The big man standing in the doorway of the hotel was on his mobile phone - he also didn't look happy. The team walked up and said hello; at first, he simply ignored them until his call was finished. He stared at them and folded his arms; "Are you the so called Paranormal Investigators?" Jericho nodded and he snorted with undisguised contempt; "Well, sling your fucking hooks, your free loading days here are over. I want you out within the hour. Now piss off - I'm busy. I'm expecting my son to join me."
A restrained Jericho pulled out the receipt old Tom had given him and offered it to Mr. Murphy; "We paid for our stay here actually." He said quietly and didn't smile. Sean Murphy snatched the receipt and looked at it - he smiled. "Like I said you dumb morons - fuck off." He ripped the receipt up and allowed the pieces to flutter to the gravel. He pushed past Jericho and headed for the police car that had stopped some yards from them.
Wilson sighed; "He and that Detective Smith should get on like a house on fire." Everyone chuckled at that and headed for their van. Alex seemed troubled and said to Owen; "Doesn't that Murphy remind you of someone?" Owen nodded, but screwed up his face; "No-one comes to mind - sorry."
Anything the temporal detectives had left in the hotel, had already disappeared - there would be no trace of their occupancy anywhere. They eased into their van and watched Murphy talking with detective Smith. Alex actually laughed; "I don't think that he'll take Anne's survival and return too well. He's anticipated new fortune has just vanished."
Wilson leaned over the steering wheel and smiled broadly; "Could not have happened to a nicer man." Owen sat quietly in the back [with Alex] and consulted his mirror - he tapped Jericho on the shoulder; "Our Mr. Sean Murphy is a fake. His real name is Joseph O'Connell and he use to be an employee of John Murphy some years ago - when John ran a building company in Wexford. He has quite a bit of previous for fraud and theft. He's a con artist."
Owen looked at his mirror again; "He has two sons, one called Leon who's done time for fraud already, despite only being young. Where have we heard that name before?" Jericho rubbed his chin and turned to Owen; "Buzz human records and find out who Mr. Murphy was calling when we turned up."
"I have no doubt, Anne has told her rescuers that John didn't have a cousin called Sean." Jericho said quietly as they watched 'Sean Murphy' being pushed into the rear of the police car - still protesting his innocence. "I still feel a little sorry for Anne, she has lost her husband and will never known what happened to him, especially since James [a Knight of God] had removed all her memories about the last few weeks here." Alex said softly and took a sip of her hip-flask - she was disappointed; it was empty. She borrowed Owen's - he didn't protest.
Jericho leaned back in his seat and stretched his legs - as best he could - and watched the police car pull away. "Lets go Wilson, we'll jump when we reach a quiet stretch of road." A police van pulled up and the police car stopped by it. Detective Smith jumped out the car and walked towards the teams van. They watched as Sean Murphy was transferred to the police van, which then departed.
She tapped on Jericho's window; he pressed the button and the window slid down. "I'm glad to see that your not buried at the bottom of the pit, as that will save us some real trouble. We don't have to dig the bloody thing up." As usual she didn't smile. They all appeared to look quite bemused by what she said and Jericho held up his hands; "Someone tried to fill in one of the pits?" He asked with a 'surprised' expression. The detective just snorted; "That drunken idiot Ray Chapel called us; shouting about you and your so called team being buried alive in the big pit."
Everyone exchanged glances of bewilderment and shrugged their shoulders. "Well, obviously he was mistaken." Alex said and made a show of swigging Owen's hip flask. She passed it to back to him and he took a swig; "I'll drink to not being buried alive!" He exclaimed and grinned. The detective just shook her head; "He claims that old Tom O'Connell buried you. He watched him do it, he was absolutely certain that all of you had gone down into the pit just moments before."
"Well, its nonsense, we all here - alive and well." Jericho said - so Ray wasn't a murdering bastard after all - just a drunken racist one. Detective Smith folded her arms; "The pit is half filled with a bloody small digger over turned on top of it. The building company is coming to retrieve its machine - we won't dig the bloody pit up then; since your all sitting here."
"What will happen to Ray?" Owen asked and sipped his hip-flask. "He'll receive a Police caution for wasting our time - when he sobers up. My Inspector has already contacted that old professor to come and collect him." She turned to walk away, when Jericho asked about Tom O'Connell. She stopped and smiled; "He has simply vanished, we can't find any trace of him - nothing. That happens a lot around here - apparently." She returned to her car and the police vehicle pulled away. Wilson started the engine and followed it down Gallows' Lane.
Night was approaching fast and Wilson switched the headlights on. Jericho spoke softly; "I get a mental picture of what probably happened, Tom O'Connell arrived in this century from where - ever he had resided before, and found that his old home was now owned by someone else - the Murphy's. But he had descendants; Joseph O'Connell and his sons and they hatched a scheme to get the house and land back. The discovery of the ruins set the plan in motion - or I should say the re-discovery of the ruins. I think old Tom got a job here because he knew that the ruins were here and more importantly; the bloody time portal was here." Jericho accepted Wilson's hip-flask and took a swig.
"So they hatched an audacious plan, firstly they would get rid of the Murphy's; a double murder would attract too much attention - from the police and the press. Far better if the couple simply vanished and were never seen or heard of again. Then the 'next-of-kin' shows up. The Murphy's had no family or close friends that knew they had no other family. So Joseph O'Connell [Sean Murphy] turns up and having worked with John Murphy for so many years, knows the man well. He easily passes himself off at Murphy's cousin with some good, false documents. There was no-one to say otherwise - the Murphy's were gone. But they didn't count on us turning up and retrieving Anne Murphy - it was an excellent plan and probably would have worked." Jericho concluded and smiled.
The van headed for the village. Detective Sharon Smith sat and watched the white van behind them, in the side mirror and then opened her large handbag. She pulled the scruffy notebook, still held by the big elastic band and tapped it gently with her fingers. Apparently Tom had dropped his precious book as he fled from the scene with the digger. She turned to the uniform officer [who always said nothing] and smiled - maybe it was becoming a habit for her - she chuckled; "God works in bloody mysterious ways, don't he?"
Her colleague didn't answer - but did smile. He appeared really interested in the little notebook and watched, as Sharon pushed it into her bag.
9. THE END.
Jericho told Wilson to stop the van outside 'McKay's Fish & Chip shop' in the village - everyone was practically starving. He pulled the brown envelope from his pocket, that contained the money that supplies had given then for this mission; "Who fancies a fish supper?" Everybody said 'YES!' and Jericho, with Alex, disappeared into the busy shop.
Owen rubbed his hands together; "I could eat a fucking horse - dead or alive." he said to Wilson, who just chuckled; "Your always fucking hungry. I would swear that you had hollow legs or large worms." Wilson glanced into the side mirror; a police car had pulled in behind them and the uniform constable stepped out and headed for the chip shop. "Isn't that old misery guts' driver?" He asked Owen, who nodded.
Wilson grunted; "Pull up his details for me."
Jericho and Alex returned carrying several packages, wrapped in white paper - the smell was gorgeous, as they climbed into the van. Owen and Wilson sat grinning. Alex handed out the packages and tins of juice to her colleagues who were smiling broadly - again. "What's up with you two?" She asked, examining her two battered sausages and chips, with loads of ketchup on. Jericho opened his Cod and chips, then also saw the look on Owen and Wilson's faces. "What have you found out?" He asked and opened his tin of Coke.
Owen had already stuffed half his steak pie down his throat - he also had a battered sausage to content with after that. "That young policeman is called William O'Connell and his brother is called Leon - their father is a certain Joseph O'Connell - aka Sean Murphy. Now that's a real cracker isn't it?"
Jericho sipped his coke before attacking his limp fish. "I see." was all he said and started eating his fish with a small wooden fork. Owen finished his pie; "The number Mr. Sean Murphy called on his mobile was the extension in...." He didn't finish because Jericho said quietly; "The extension in old Tom's room - am I right?" Owen nodded - he wasn't surprised - very little about Jericho surprised him these days.
They all watched as the constable returned to his car - carrying three packets.
"Unless he's like our Owen - an empty vessel waiting to fill up with food - he's bought dinner for three people; I wonder who?" Wilson lowered his steak pie and smiled at Jericho. Alex suddenly yelped - that made Owen jump - and said quietly; "That bloody face. His face Jericho, where have we seen it before? Who does he remind you of?"
Jericho dropped his wooden fork back into the chip paper; "Sweet bugger! He's a dead ringer for old Tom O'Connell!" Everyone watched the police car pull away and Jericho yelled at Owen; "Get control to trace his destination and I will bet that its not the bloody police station." Wilson dumped his supper on the floor and started the van. Owen groaned about his dinner but operated his mirror; "I have him." he said quietly and the van pulled away.
They found the police car parked outside the derelict church - empty and silent. "I can see torch light inside." Wilson said, as the team quietly left the van and made their way to the church. They crouched in the overgrown church yard and Jericho operated his mirror; "Three people inside - eating fish & chips." He whispered. "Who's with him?" Owen asked, still thinking - with some regret - about abandoning his dinner to a waste bin in the village high street. Jericho scratched his chin; "Constable O'Connell, his brother and Old Tom O'Connell."
Alex crouched down and leaned against an old tombstone; "I don't expect its a happy family meal." She muttered and adjusted her jacket - the night was oddly cold for an summer evening. Jericho sighed; "I should have noticed the similarity between Constable O'Connell and old Tom before this. They definably are his descendants - there were more O'Connell's involved in this than you could poke a bloody stick at." Wilson nodded; "He must have a time controller - the time portal in the pit was locked only to one location and the pit had been filled in for centuries."
"Well, lets get the damn thing and put a end to Tom's travels. I'LL offer him the opportunity to return to 1753, be collected and move on." Jericho reasoned and the team headed for the church and a large opening in the North Wall - covered with a tarpaulin. "I still don't think Anne will ever be safe, whilst this mob are around." Alex commented and Wilson agreed with her; "There's so much money and property at stake, they're bound to try again to get their hands on it."
They stood outside the new 'doorway' and Jericho pulled out his mirror and almost grinned; "I have an idea." was all he said and stopped time. They wandered into the church and found the three conspirators sitting around a small folding table on camping chairs. A fish supper lay before each man, Owen immediately started to pinch chips from each until Alex gently slapped his hand.
Wilson pulled the little, scruffy red note book from William O'Connell's fingers - it appeared he was about to hand it back to his ancestor; Tom. Wilson grinned; "My mirror informs me that I'm a holding a time portal calling device." Jericho nodded; "Just don't recite anything written on page 7, otherwise you'll be some where else - and at some other time." Wilson very carefully placed it in his jacket pocket.
"What have we here." Alex picked the map up from the table and smiled; "They deliberately flooded the crypt. This is a schematic showing the water values and drain points of the church's water system. It's Edwardian; old Tom must have picked it up from that time."
Jericho grunted; "They flooded the crypt after dragging the Murphy's thru the tunnel - to stop anyone finding it at the excavations. They also hid the tunnels exit at the dig with undergrowth. To give old Fielding his due, he kept worrying about the builders photo's of the site - they had gone too - because the big pile of bushes and branches were not on those original pictures. But were on the one's the archaeologists had taken. That would have a been a dead giveaway that something was hidden there."
Jericho grinned and operated his mirror; time started again. Owen suddenly looked up; "There are cars pulling up outside - police cars." Jericho said quietly; "I think our miserable police colleague has finally realised there are too many O'Connell's in this story and its not just a co-incidence."
The three at the table suddenly jumped up in unison and shouted at each other, they pushed past the temporal detectives and rushed to the tarpaulin covered hole; straight into the arms of living detectives.
Detective Sharon Smith smiled broadly at Jericho - it was certainly becoming a habit for the young woman - the temporal detectives stood to one side as the three were lead away by uniform officers. Detective Smith adjusted her glasses; "Now my happy little ghost busters, you are definitely going down the police station to help us with our enquiries and that actually makes me very happy. I have already thought of several charges I can press against you."
EPILOGUE:
"With the recovery of Anne Murphy's soul, but the loss of John Kent Murphy's soul; the mission was not considered a total success. But Team 74 managed to close a dangerous 'Time Portal'."
W.A.S.
CHARACTERS:
Leon O'Connell served several years in prison and was never released; he died in 2006, in Wentworth prison, from a drugs overdose. How he obtained the lethal dose was investigated by authorities, but no charges were made against any inmates or prison officers. His soul was collected and processed.
Thomas Edward O'Connell was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his conspiracy to kidnap and murder the Murphy's. He was considered quite strange by social services and prison authorities because they could find no records concerning him - anywhere. He died in Brixton prison in 2013 and because he was a human out of his time; no soul was collected and it remains missing to this day.
Detective Constable Sharon Smith was promoted to Detective Sergeant over her successful conclusion to the Gallows Tree Hotel Mystery. But she left the police in 2004 and started her own company; investigating paranormal activity! It was highly successful and was actually a TV series at one point. She married a TV presenter and had three children. She died in 2025 from complications following surgery for haemorrhoids. [She had suffered with them for years - maybe that's why she never smiled.....] No soul was collected and the case was investigated by Temporal Detective Inspector Wilson Franklyn and team 22. The case awaits resolution.
Ted English, the local Historian who attended the site for the Murphy's, wrote a book about the 'Gallows Tree Hotel Mystery' and actually mentioned the team of 'Ghost Busters' who helped solve the case. The fact. that he could find no trace of them - anywhere, added to the mystery. Luckily, the book didn't sell too well. Old Ted died in 2020 during the flu-like epidemic that swept the world that year. His soul was collected and processed.
Gallows Tree Hotel changed hands several times over the years following Anne Murphy's death. Unfortunately it suffered a disastrous fire in 2014 and lay in ruins for some years until it was finally demolished in 2021. There is now a car park and small visitors centre at its location, which services the Anglo-Saxon ruins, they have become quite a tourist attraction. There are many stories about the ruins; of paranormal activity, ghostly sightings and apparitions. The site has become a regular stop for paranormal detectives over the years.
The derelict church was completely demolished in 2001; after the major subsidence it couldn't be saved. Contractors working on site reported strange sights and sounds, when filling in the old crypt and it remains buried beneath the grassy mound that now stands there.
The Anglo-Saxon pagan temple, which lay below the crypt was never found and the great Chieftain Offa remains undisturbed with all his gold and treasure to this day. He was buried with his beautiful young wife; Essa. She was much loved and respected and was often seen around the villages in her long flowing white dress, administering to the sick and poor. Her early death was greatly mourned and Offa soon died after his wife and she was interned with him. Legend says she still visits the area today in that white flowing dress - a strapping young woman with a 'Venus' like figure....
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Copyright © 2011-2021 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without permission.
Angel-in-charge: Margret Team Assigned: Team 74
Human Time: 1999AD-1419AH Mission: 401980 - 2 – 7012
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| "THE GALLOWS TREE HOTEL MYSTERY." |
MISSION SUMMARY: "In the early summer of 1999, Anne and Kent Murphy are excited - and dreading it a little - that work on the new restaurant extension for their Hotel; 'The Gallows Tree' is underway. But contractors excavating in the old gardens have hit a problem; they have discovered the remains of ancient dungeons, complete with graveyard. Now work has halted while Archaeologists from Rutland University check out the uncovered ruins. Mr. Tibbs is on scene because two souls have gone missing from the current human time line..."
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| "ALXANDRA" Available: 18+ Only |
NOTES: This episode contains mild bad language and sexual references.
"This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead or actual events is purely coincidental." The Author.
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| 30 Min. |
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| Book series 2. |
"THE GALLOW'S TREE HOTEL MYSTERY."
1. THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS.
Old professor Fielding Larbert walked slowly back to his caravan, hands in pockets, head down. His threadbare flat cap lay at an angle upon his hairless head. He stopped and looked back at the fenced off excavations; they were due to pack up the dig in a couple of weeks – the funding had basically dried up and the whole place would be closed up until – well, that was a mystery in itself. What the hell would happen to the Hotel now?
He sighed and removed the padlock on his caravan’s door and stepped inside. He threw down his hat and well worn jacket and slumped on the cushions beneath the big window with shabby curtains – closed to keep out the bright sunshine. He stretched out and remembered there were a couple of bottles of coke in the small fridge. He reached down and from a rucksack, discarded at his feet; he pulled a bottle of ‘Johnny Walker’ whisky – half empty.
A couple of loud knocks on his door made him hastily replace the bottle and shout; “Enter!” In stepped Ray Chapel, who grinned and gestured towards the rucksack with the whisky bottle half hanging out. “Just in time am I?” He held up a full litre bottle of coke. Fielding had to chuckle and gestured for Ray to sit down – after he grabbed a couple of clean glasses from the small sink, which was crammed with dirty dishes and cutlery.
Ray stared at the sink and turned to the professor who was opening the bottle; "I thought you asked that student....Emma, wasn't it? to clean up the caravan for you, before they headed home for the weekend?" The professor grunted; "I did and received a lecture about female emancipation and the fact it was almost the twenty-first century and so on."
"Lazy feminist bitch." Ray murmured with real anger in his voice and joined the professor on the caravan's sofa. Fielding poured out the whisky and Ray topped up the glasses with a little coke. “So it’s just two weeks then.” Ray finally broke the silence as the pair sat sipping their whiskies. The professor nodded and sighed; “We’ve no idea what’s going to happen to the excavation, or for that matter, the bloody Hotel now.” Ray nodded and then remembered the letter that had arrived this morning from the University; from the Dean’s office.
He pulled it from his pocket and handed it to the professor; “Our eviction notice, I expect.” He grunted and refilled the glasses. The professor placed small spectacles upon his nose and tore open the envelope; he read quietly for a few minutes, and then slowly offered the letter to his sad assistant – with a strange smile on his face.
Ray read the two pages with an incredulous smile spreading across his face. “The old Dean must have finally lost the fucking plot!” He exclaimed and laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. He swallowed down his whisky and laughed again; “A fucking team of paranormal investigators!” He shouted and just stared at the letter, then dropped it upon the small table.
The professor shrugged his shoulders and refilled the glasses; “Well, it actually makes sense – in a crazy way – the police investigation discovered bugger all. Then of course, what about all those stories that started to appear about the ruins; ghosts, apparitions and noises. All that shit is bound to attract the nutters - even the so called professional nutters!"
Ray leaned back and raised his glass in mock salute; “Well, fucking good luck to....” He picked up the discarded letter and re-read part of it. “So, fucking good luck to Professor bloody Tibbs and his merry crew.” He muttered and sipped his whisky – still smiling.
The pair sat in silence for a few minutes, then Ray’s mood changed a little, his voice couldn’t hide irritation with some of the letters content. “How the fuck, are they allowed to use the Hotel to doss in and we’re stuck in this mobile flea-pit?” he asked, throwing the offending letter back on the table.
The professor didn’t answer that question, but patted his aggrieved assistant’s shoulder and smiled; “I thought the end paragraph would cheer you up a little; the local police liaison will be Detective Constable Sharon Smith. So, surely that will put a smile on your face and a spring in your step.”
Ray had to smile at that and sipped his whisky slowly. He nodded and raised his glass; “To Detective Constable Smith.” That’s when the professor’s mobile phone started to ring – the theme tune to ‘The Dam Busters’ filled the caravan. Fielding scrambled to the rucksack and pulled his phone out. He sat listening, grunting Ok several times, then switched it off and sipped his whisky.
“That was Maggie; the ghost hunters will turn up tomorrow morning.” Fielding muttered and started to laugh softly, adding; “Apparently this Tibbs fellow has an envious reputation in the field of shifting through paranormal crap.” They both laughed at that.
“He must be quite a persuasive fellow; this Tibbs.” Ray said and held up the fast diminishing whisky bottle. Fielding chuckled; “I agree, if he managed to persuade ‘old Dean, I can’t make a decision’ Cartwright to allow them on site, then the fucker should be a politician.” They both laughed again. Fielding gestured to the small cupboard above his head; “There’s a fresh one in there – I keep it for emergencies – like this.”
The pair shared the new bottle for about an hour, then both stumbled to their respective beds and slept badly. But both were up early in the morning; neither looking the worse for their drinking session.
Ray sniffed at his bowl of cornflakes; “I think the bloody milk is on the turn. I’ll get some more, where I pop into the village this morning.” Regardless of the milk’s condition, he scoffed down his breakfast and watched the professor eating yet more digestive biscuits; he must have eaten about a dozen this morning. There were packets of them scattered about the caravan. No wonder the bloody old boy was like a matchstick. Ray smiled to himself and poured more tea from the big metal tea pot and stared through the window.
He could see, at the end of Gallows Lane [the small road that ran up to the Hotel] a white Transit van had just turned into the lane from Cooper’s Road. He sighed; “I think the fucking ghost busters are here.” The professor just grunted and rose from the table, finishing his tea.
“Let’s go and welcome the spirit chasers to our little Shangri-La.” Fielding, straightened his jacket and slapped his flat cap on, he peered out the window and wiped his face. “Jesus, that’s a big black fella they have driving the bloody van, even the ghosts don’t mess with him, I bet.” He chuckled and watched the van park up. Ray eased himself up and adjusted his black jeans that had numerous pockets filled with bits and pieces. He picked up his dirty, off white ‘safari’ jacket and checked that he had some packets of soft mints.
The professor pushed through the small door and stepped into the early morning sunshine. Ray followed, slamming the door behind him. They both watched as the team of paranormal investigators decamped from their clean new van. “They are probably better funded than we are; there must be money in apparitions and ghosts.” Muttered Ray then caught sight of the tall, young woman in the tight blue jeans and white T-shirt that did not hide her impressive figure.
He smiled broadly and whispered to the professor; “I must be in the wrong fucking business.” Fielding just nodded, but straightened his thin tie – she was a real beauty, no argument about that. The young man in the dark blue suit approached and held out his hand; “Hello, Jericho Tibbs – I believe the Dean has informed you of our coming?” He and the professor shook hands. “Yeah, the Dean sent us a letter.” The professor said softly and gestured towards the closed up hotel; “Sorry, we don’t have keys for the place, so we can’t help you getting in.” That made Ray smile until Jericho pulled a set of keys from his pocket and smiled; “No trouble; the police liaison officer gave us these.”
“Oh good, she’s a very efficient detective constable.” The professor muttered, but thought; she’s also a hard faced sarcastic bitch and he really couldn’t see how his assistant, could even fancy the damn woman - that was yet another bloody mystery around here. He restrained from smiling at his thoughts.
The little group headed for the hotel front doors and Ray stared at Alex’s bum as she walked in front of him, then he caught Wilson smiling at him. He pretended to check his pockets and grin; “Mint anyone?” he asked, pulling a packet of soft mints from a pocket. No-one accepted his generous offer and they reached the doors. The professor was a little impressed that Jericho found the correct key
immediately, from the big bunch he held.
Jericho pushed the door open and smiled at the professor; "We'll settle in and meet up later. I'm sure you can give us some insight into the so called mystery." The professor nodded and turned away, indicating for Ray to follow him. Ray smiled at Alex; "If there's anything we...I can help you with, just pop over to the caravan." He pointed to the scruffy little caravan at the far end of the car park. Alex just nodded and turned away.
Ray and the professor stood by the entrance to the excavations and watched the team disappear into the hotel. Ray rubbed his chin; "That's odd, they don't appear to have much equipment or even luggage." The professor just shrugged his shoulders; "It's probably in the van. They'll get it later I expect." Both men wandered into the dig area and made their way to the 'dungeons' - which were
covered with large dirty, canvas tarpaulins, held down with old house bricks.
Ray pulled one tarpaulin back a little and both men stared down into the circular pit. "I'm amazed that anyone survived down there for a few weeks - let alone years." He spoke quietly and thought; a place like this was bound to have ghosts - if they were real. He threw back the canvas sheet and stared up at the hotel. "I wonder what our amateur ghost busters will make of the mystery?" Then smiled and joined the professor walking back to their caravan.
2. THE MYSTERY.
Jericho stood by the window and watched the pair disappear into the caravan. "I suspect that our neighbours are not happy that we're here, never mind dossing in the hotel, while they sit it out in that little box." he said quietly - unsmiling. Wilson chuckled and lowered his mirror; "The younger man - Ray - is lucky to have anything. Apparently he's not a good archaeologist or person. if his old mentor - the professor - hadn't taken him on; he would be probably selling white goods in a high street somewhere - badly."
"He certainly liked the look of your arse." Owen said to Alex, who just folded her arms and sighed. Jericho called the briefing to order; the mission was simple - solve the disappearance of two souls, still in their flesh suits, from the hotel. There were no witnesses and the police had drawn a huge blank, after investigating for almost two weeks. The team sat in the restaurant and checked their mirrors; the story was indeed strange.
The young couple who owned the 'Gallows Tree Hotel' had closed the hotel for the duration of the building works - an extension to the very restaurant the team were sitting in - so, the only people in the hotel were the owners and old Thomas O'Connell, the Night Porter who lived in a small backroom of the hotel. It was him that had raised the alarm about the couple's disappearance.
"According to the police report, O'Connell came on duty - as usual - at 10pm and simply couldn't find the couple; anywhere. He became suspicious because both their cars were still in the car park and found, in their private apartments, that dinner had been set out, but not eaten. They normally ate about seven o'clock in the evening when the hotel was closed. He searched for about half an hour, then went out to the caravan and woke up Larbert and Chapel who helped him search. Finally, they called the local police at 11.10pm. A police search turned up nothing; no signs of foul play or any disturbance - nothing out of the ordinary. They haven't been seen or heard of since." Owen concluded his report by asking Jericho if they could use the bar!
Jericho, sadly, said no. But told Owen and Wilson to fetch the two cases from the van. They had already chosen their rooms, but Jericho believed they wouldn't need them. "We'll wrap this up and be back home in time for a delicious dinner." He pacified the trio, but Owen muttered to Wilson, on the way to the van; "When he says things like that, the bloody wheel normally falls off." Wilson had to agree with that - grinning broadly at his young colleagues cynicism.
Ray watched from the caravan as Wilson and Owen carried two large cardboard boxes into the hotel. Then he saw the old mini-car of the Night Porter - O'Connell - pull into the top of the car park. "He's early today. I wonder what the old fucker will make of his free-loading guests." He said to Fielding, who was studying photographs of the ruins, taken on their first day on site. He looked up and smiled; "Old Thomas must be dedicated; turning up for duty when there's no-one here to pay his bloody wages anymore." Ray just grunted and watched Thomas disappear into the hotel, behind Owen and Wilson.
"Maybe he has no where else to go." Ray muttered and sat down on the sofa and sighed loudly; "The police questioned him for nearly two days you know and he never changed his story - not a word." The professor was staring hard at the photographs; "Where did we put the pictures that the builders took, when they first uncovered the ruins?" He asked Ray; who shrugged his shoulders; "I don't know, I thought you had them." The professor shook his head and said simply; "No." The missing photographs seemed to trouble the old professor and he searched the caravan - a couple of times with no success.
The professor watched Ray from the corner of his eye as he looked in the kitchen cupboard; "I could never understand how such a small caravan could have so many bloody cupboards." He watched the agitation on Ray's face and his jerky body movements. Finally Ray jumped up and smiled; "I think I'll pay the ghost busters a visit - see of they need anything." The professor nodded, then in a quiet voice said; "Behave yourself around the young woman Raymond. Those people are total strangers who could take real exception to some of your comments and mannerisms."
Ray nodded, then grinned; "Yeah. Sure. I promise best behaviour - scouts honour." And made his way out the door. The professor sighed; "You were never a bloody scout Raymond. They certainly wouldn't have you." He went back to searching the caravan with some purpose.
Ray wandered into the hotel foyer and found it empty. The two cardboard boxes were on the Reception Desk and Ray carefully peered inside; one contained six bottles of 'Johnny Walker' scotch and the other four bottles of brandy, with a dozen mixed glasses. He actually laughed out loud and shook his head. The bastards certainly knew how to chase bloody ghosts!
"Essential supplies." was all Jericho said, he was standing in the doorway with the Night Porter; who was smiling - unusual for him. Ray grinned; "You ghost busters certainly know to investigate spirits all right." Thomas walked behind the desk and started to write in the Guest Book and Jericho walked past Ray and stood in front of the desk. From his coat pocket, he pulled a thick brown envelope and started to count out twenty pound notes. "That's for four rooms for two nights." He told Thomas who nodded.
Ray licked his lips; there must be at least a grand in that bloody envelope. He wondered where the cock teasing tart was and wandered off. Jericho watched him go and collected the receipt from Thomas, who placed the money in the safe beneath the counter. Jericho walked to a quiet corner of the closed bar and called Alex. The conversation was brief and Jericho then called Wilson.
Owen appeared in the doorway and jerked a thumb behind him; "What's that sneaky fucker after?" As Ray walked up the stairs. Jericho didn't smile; "Alex." he muttered and Owen turned to go after Ray. Jericho grabbed his arm and really did smile; "Wilson's on the case." Owen chuckled and stared back up the stairs; "Couldn't happen to a nicer scumbag." Jericho indicated to the front doors; "I think we should pay a visit to the old professor and have a little chat. Bring a bottle of scotch as a little peace maker." Owen nodded and the pair left the bar, heading for the caravan.
Thomas watched them go and sat slowly down. He rubbed his face and folded his arms. "If they are fucking ghost hunters I'm the Pope's left testicle." he said softly to himself and pulled the shabby little red notebook from his jacket pocket. He carefully pulled off the fat elastic band that held the book together and flicked through the well scribbled pages. He stopped and read two pages with interest. "Oh fuck!" he said and looked about. The shit had hit the fan alright.
That's when he heard the altercation upstairs; he rose slowly from the chair and with a little smile creeping across his face, watched Ray hurriedly walk down the stairs and out the front door - not a happy man by any means. Thomas peered up the stairs; to see the big black man, arms folded and grinning; in his underwear!
Thomas chuckled to himself and headed for the kitchen - a fried egg sandwich was in his mind. He stopped and stared out the hall window, to see Ray jumping into the professors old jeep and head up Gallows Lane. Thomas smiled; maybe the bastard will learn that some women have very good - and powerful - friends.
The professor watched Ray go - apparently unconcerned. He had remembered that Ray was going into the village to get supplies; especially milk for his bloody cornflakes - and more coke for their whisky. He turned back to Jericho and Owen; "We were called the very morning that the builders started to uncover the ruins. The Murphy's made no objections to us being on site or the fact that their work on the extension had to stop - completely. They were really good about it all. I think they actually were quite interested in the whole thing." He sat down and gestured to the papers and photographs, spread across the small table.
"It appears we have Anglo-Saxon period stone enclosures - probably pit-dungeons by their constructions." He tapped a photograph and continued; "Quite a rare find to be honest. Didn't find any forgotten prisoners in them - no bones, nothing really. Except in one, we found a necklace that definitely wasn't Anglo-Saxon in origin - more like Edwardian or late Victorian." He accepted a cup of tea from Owen, who had made a brew in the old metal tea pot,
"That's another real mystery Jericho, we dug out the structure; it looked like it hadn't been disturbed for centuries, yet lying in the dirt at the bottom of the large pit was the bloody modern necklace." The professor shrugged his shoulders - he had no rational answer for that. "What about the stories that sprung up after the ruins were exposed?" Owen asked, sipping his tea.
The professor sighed at that; "Most are from old Thomas, he claims that he saw two figures by the large pit one night - just days after we arrived on site - the figures were all white and ghostly and appeared to jump into the bloody pit. Of course, when he finally managed to get up the courage and take a look; there was nothing in the pit." He tapped his cup with a nervous finger and stared at the ceiling. "Then I saw something one night, when I was sitting in the doorway there [he pointed to the caravans door] I would have sworn that I saw the figure of a young woman - dressed in a long white dress, running into the excavation. She had the most wonderful, full figure and was quite well build up here." He indicated large breasts and then half smiled; "I put that down to Mister Johnny Walker, I'm afraid."
Jericho and Owen chuckled at the professors candour. Leaving the bottle as a present, the pair walked back to the hotel. "We'll start with the hotel, then the ruins." Jericho said, but stared back at the excavations - he had a gut feeling about the place and it wasn't good.
3. THE HOTEL.
The team gathered in the restaurant that afternoon and Owen fetched freshly brewed coffee from the kitchens, that old Thomas had opened for them. Jericho informed his team that they would be staying the night - after all - and that Thomas had given Owen several 'takeaway' menu's for local fast food places. But everyone settled on the menu from the 'Star of India'. It was also decided to invite the professor and his assistant - though nobody thought Ray would put in an appearance after his confrontation with Wilson.
"Strange eh, we're in a country hotel noted for its location and cuisine. Yet we're ordering Indian takeaway." Owen chuckled and consulted his mirror - once Thomas had left the room. He sighed; "Well, parts of the hotel itself go way back to the late Medieval period - around 1460 - it was a manor house and belonged to the De Walt family, who owned it for about two hundred years. Then the house passed into the hands of the O'Connell family, they stayed for about a hundred and fifty years." He looked up and saw that he had everyone's attention.
"That's a co-incidence right there; the night porter in 1999 having the same surname as the family that owned the house from the 1680's?" Owen smiled, but Wilson just grunted; "O'Connell is a very common name."
Owen continued; "In 1810, the house was a 'coach stop' and ran by the Jessel family, who spent some real money on the place. They did all kinds of improvements, but the family apparently died out in 1882 and the house was sold to the Anderson family, who were textile and mill owners. It remained in their family until 1936, when the last surviving Anderson died. The house was almost derelict until 1950 when an American couple brought the place and opened it as small hotel. During the sixties and seventies, the place changed hands several times." Owen sipped his coffee and grabbed a couple of biscuits.
"Any paranormal activity reported over those years?" Alex asked and Owen shook his head; "Not a bloody sighting - nothing. Now I find that really strange for such an old house - don't you?" Alex had to agree with that and both Jericho and Wilson really did think that was odd. "So all the paranormal stuff apparently started after the ruins were uncovered?" Jericho rubbed his chin as Owen nodded. "In 1989, a certain John Murphy bought the house and re-opened it as a country hotel - he appears to have made quite a success of it and when he died, his only son, also called John, took the place over and ran it with his wife. That's the couple who have apparently disappeared."
"Hold on, I thought the blokes name was Kent Murphy?" Wilson looked puzzled, but Owen smiled; "Kent was his middle name and he always used it to distinguish him from his father. I suppose he got so use to being called 'Kent', that he just let it continue, even after his fathers death." Wilson grunted and finished his coffee; looking for a refill. Alex topped the big man's cup up with a small smile.
Jericho held up his little glass orb - it was clear. "No demon activity detected in the hotel itself. Alexandra and I wandered around the place and found nothing to indicate the presence of a demon - well, not recently." Everyone sat in silence and enjoyed their coffee and biscuits. Wilson sighed; "Owen and I checked every bloody mirror in the place - and there were loads of the buggers - no Jerusalem Mirrors I'm afraid." Owen coughed; "No time portals either."
"So, the house is apparently clean for our purposes. Obviously no souls have been collected here and so we are left with one conclusion - regarding the house - that the couple are no longer here, dead or alive. But where the hell are they? The pair are missing from the current human time line, so we know that something 'un-natural' has befallen them; but what?" Jericho sipped his coffee; this was a real puzzle and very little made any sense - from a Temporal Detective's point of view.
"Strange eh, we're in a country hotel noted for its location and cuisine. Yet we're ordering Indian takeaway." Owen chuckled and consulted his mirror - once Thomas had left the room. He sighed; "Well, parts of the hotel itself go way back to the late Medieval period - around 1460 - it was a manor house and belonged to the De Walt family, who owned it for about two hundred years. Then the house passed into the hands of the O'Connell family, they stayed for about a hundred and fifty years." He looked up and saw that he had everyone's attention.
"That's a co-incidence right there; the night porter in 1999 having the same surname as the family that owned the house from the 1680's?" Owen smiled, but Wilson just grunted; "O'Connell is a very common name."
Owen continued; "In 1810, the house was a 'coach stop' and ran by the Jessel family, who spent some real money on the place. They did all kinds of improvements, but the family apparently died out in 1882 and the house was sold to the Anderson family, who were textile and mill owners. It remained in their family until 1936, when the last surviving Anderson died. The house was almost derelict until 1950 when an American couple brought the place and opened it as small hotel. During the sixties and seventies, the place changed hands several times." Owen sipped his coffee and grabbed a couple of biscuits.
"Any paranormal activity reported over those years?" Alex asked and Owen shook his head; "Not a bloody sighting - nothing. Now I find that really strange for such an old house - don't you?" Alex had to agree with that and both Jericho and Wilson really did think that was odd. "So all the paranormal stuff apparently started after the ruins were uncovered?" Jericho rubbed his chin as Owen nodded. "In 1989, a certain John Murphy bought the house and re-opened it as a country hotel - he appears to have made quite a success of it and when he died, his only son, also called John, took the place over and ran it with his wife. That's the couple who have apparently disappeared."
"Hold on, I thought the blokes name was Kent Murphy?" Wilson looked puzzled, but Owen smiled; "Kent was his middle name and he always used it to distinguish him from his father. I suppose he got so use to being called 'Kent', that he just let it continue, even after his fathers death." Wilson grunted and finished his coffee; looking for a refill. Alex topped the big man's cup up with a small smile.
Jericho held up his little glass orb - it was clear. "No demon activity detected in the hotel itself. Alexandra and I wandered around the place and found nothing to indicate the presence of a demon - well, not recently." Everyone sat in silence and enjoyed their coffee and biscuits. Wilson sighed; "Owen and I checked every bloody mirror in the place - and there were loads of the buggers - no Jerusalem Mirrors I'm afraid." Owen coughed; "No time portals either."
"So, the house is apparently clean for our purposes. Obviously no souls have been collected here and so we are left with one conclusion - regarding the house - that the couple are no longer here, dead or alive. But where the hell are they? The pair are missing from the current human time line, so we know that something 'un-natural' has befallen them; but what?" Jericho sipped his coffee; this was a real puzzle and very little made any sense - from a Temporal Detective's point of view.
He rose from the table and stared out the window and saw the professors jeep was back in the car park. That's when old Tom appeared in the doorway; he spoke directly to Alex; "Excuse me Miss, but Mr. Chapel would like a word." Everyone glanced at each other and it was Jericho that answered; "Yeah, sure."
Ray stepped through the door with a sheepish grin on his face and was clutching a large bunch of colourful flowers with both hands. "I'm sorry about this morning Miss, I was wrong and I would like to say sorry for my stupid behaviour." he held out the flowers and Alex accepted them with a quiet; "Thank you."
Ray stood a little embarrassed for a few seconds, then nodded to Wilson and walked away. They watched him go in silence and everyone started to laugh - quietly. "What the fuck did happen?" Asked the intrigued Owen, who sniffed the flowers and pulled a face, adding; "I can smell manure."
Wilson chuckled; "When Jericho gave me the heads up about him, I dived in Alex's room and she was waiting for me. So, she went to the bathroom and switched on the shower, whilst I found myself a big armchair and turned its back to the door." He couldn't stop himself chuckling again, then continued; "I pulled off my shirt and trousers and sat waiting. Sure enough the pervert knocked softly at the door and came in, saying quietly; 'Hello, anyone there? He spoke just above a whisper and went straight for the bathroom, knowing full well, that anyone under a shower wouldn't hear him. That's when I stood up and asked him what the fuck he was up to!"
Alex grinned; "I opened the door and stuck my head out saying; "Oh darling, do come and scrub my back." Everyone laughed at that. Wilson almost giggled; "He looked like he had shat his pants and mumbled something, then fled the bloody room." Alex stopped laughing and held up the flowers; "The stems are covered in dirt and...is that bloody shit?" She grimaced and dropped the flowers on the table. "Where did he steal them from, I wonder?" She muttered, wiping her hands on several table napkins.
Owen, still chuckling about the whole scene, waved a hand towards the doorway; "He probably nicked them from that derelict church we passed in Gallows Lane, the old churchyard is overgrown and full of flowers. Bit of a strange place, by all accounts." He sat down and poured himself another coffee - that's when he noticed everyone was looking at him. He shrugged his shoulders; "What now?" he asked and poured milk into his cup.
Jericho folded his arms and sighed quite loudly; "Why is the old church so strange?" Owen sipped his coffee and said quietly; "Oh, it has a history of ghosts, demons, apparitions and all sorts, including the disappearance of a young girl last century. When the church was closed up [in 1971] the locals gathered around and cast salt along its paths and around the church walls. Apparently none of the villagers will go near the place. It's now owned by the Murphy's - well, until they disappeared. Don't know who would own it and the hotel now." He smiled broadly and picked up some more biscuits; "Do you think old Tom has any custard creams?"
Jericho held up his hands in mock despair and Wilson just shook his head. Alex sighed, but just had to smile; "Oh Owen, you can be a right twat some times." Owen scratched his head - unsmiling; "Now what the fuck have I done?" No-one bothered to answer that question. But Jericho pulled on his jacket and pointed towards the door; "Lets go people." and that was all he said.
4. THE CHURCH.
The van pulled up by the overgrown gate and the path that ran up to the church door - which was also overgrown. Jericho, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, stared at the derelict church and rubbed his chin; "Well. someone has been here recently. The foliage around the church door has been pulled back and I would bet a dollar, that the door has been recently opened."
Wilson leaned over the steering wheel and pointed to the huge red and white sign hung on the church wall. "DANGER - DO NOT ENTER - VERY DANGEROUS STRUCTURE!" He grunted; "Some fuckers can't read then."
Jericho pushed open the van's door and smiled; "Neither can we." The team de-camped and Wilson struggled for a few seconds with the rusted gate. "No fuckers opened this in a while." he muttered and the team made their way up the path and arrived at the large broken door, which had been fixed shut by having large pieces of dark wood nailed across it. Everyone could see that the door had been opened from the inside and that had splintered the wood outwards. The undergrowth was all flattened towards the path. Someone had left the church; very forcibly. But how had they entered in the first place?
Leaving Alex watching the door, Jericho and Owen took the East side and Wilson the right. They battled through the undergrowth for some minutes and met together at the rear of the church - everything was boarded up and secure. Jericho rubbed his chin and stared at the churchyard - it looked like it had not been disturbed for years. "Well, someone got out the church, but how the hell did they get in?" he asked his colleagues, who just shrugged their shoulders. Owen pointed to the roof, which was partially covered with a thick, tar painted tarpaulin. "Through a hole in the roof?" He ventured as an answer.
Wilson shook his head; "They would have needed ladders at least and that would have left marks in undergrowth, not to mention footprints all over the place and no-one has been walking around these walls in some time." Owen pointed to the overgrown south wall of the churchyard; "That's were that Ray fellow must have nicked the flowers; the road runs right next to it and look at those flowers growing there?" Wilson nodded; "Looks like the same flowers that appeared in Alex's shit smelling bouquet."
Jericho pulled the orb from his jacket pocket and held it up; the circumference was clear. He sighed - a little with relief - and started to walk back to the front door. "Well, who ever broke out of the church was probably human; but how did they get in to start with?" He muttered. They found Alex sitting on a tombstone, reading her mirror.
"I take it you knew, that Ray Chapel has previous for exposing himself, peering through windows and was once caught masturbating outside a girls school?" Alex held up her mirror and added; "Quite an innocent little pervert compared to some we have met." Jericho just smiled and pointed to the door; "I think we can squeeze through there, but be bloody careful; I don't want to have call a Knight for a quick resurrection!" Everyone chuckled at that and Wilson pulled the door open a couple of feet - little bits of masonry fell about their head. "I now have bloody brick dust as dandruff." Owen cursed and the team squeezed into the old church.
Despite the summer heat, it was dark, damp and gloomy inside. They used their mirrors to illuminate the semi darkness. "I can smell burnt..." Owen didn't finish his statement because their mirrors were all pointing to the middle of the church. There was a partially burnt bonfire piled three or four feet high. It appeared to have been constructed from the old pews, some crates and other bits of church furniture. There was a distinct smell of petrol and traces of some other pungent entity.
"Bit early for Guy Fawkes night." Wilson said and shone his mirror about. That's when he saw the dark shadow on the floor by the smashed alter. As he looked down, he could see the footprints in the debris and dust - all heading towards the door. - from the alter. "I bet this place has a crypt and I think I know where the entrance is." He called to the others and carefully made his way to the alter.
They gathered around the hole in the floor and shone their mirrors down - a well worn set of steps presented itself, twisting and turning downwards to a dark reflective pool of water. "Its fucking flooded." Cussed Owen and then sighed; "It must be deep because the crypt would have a vaulted ceiling; whatever is down there is under several feet of dirty stinking water." They all turned to Jericho who smiled; "We need someone who is slim and a good swimmer to take a look." They all then turned to Alex and grinned.
Alex held up both hands and said firmly; "No bloody way am I diving into that filthy water!" and folded her arms; repeating loudly; "NO." Wilson chuckled; "I'm way too big, as Jericho says; it has to be someone who is slim and agile - and that's certainly not me." Jericho nodded his agreement with that; "Sorry, its you or Owen." he muttered and smiled - again. "How come you have discounted yourself?" Owen said openly and also folded his arms. Jericho shrugged his shoulders; "One simple little fact stops me from diving down there." Alex nodded; "Oh, I see, you can't swim." Jericho held up both hands; "No, I can swim really well." Owen, looking a little bemused had to ask; "Well, if you can swim, what's stopping you going down there?"
Jericho sighed; "The little fact that I'm the bloody Inspector."
Wilson laughed outright at that and agreed totally with his 'boss'. "Down to you two." He said with some real pleasure. Alex shook her head; "I can't strip down to my undies because I'm only wearing a little pair of cotton panties. It must be Owen. I know my lovely colleagues wouldn't want me parading around in just little panties that will go see-through in water." She smiled and then saw the look on their faces. "Bloody perverts!" She muttered and Owen pulled a coin from his pockets; "Toss you for it?" He flipped the coin and shouted; "Heads!"
Unfortunately for him, Wilson caught the coin before he did and turned it around in his big fingers. The coin displayed 'heads' on both sides. They stared at Owen who simply groaned and stared at the dark water in mock despair. "Off you go lad." Was all Jericho said between chuckles.
Owen descended the steps in just his underpants and vest, clutching his mirror. As he stepped into the water he yelped; "It's fucking freezing!" and disappeared from view. Jericho carefully watched his own mirror, with Wilson and a very happy Alex at his shoulders. "Record everything you can." He told Owen, whose teeth could be clearly heard chattering; everyone could make out a couple of things Owen said and they weren't pleasant about his Temporal colleagues.
That's when the church seemed to move beneath them, there was a loud crashing noise and the trio dived to the floor, with Wilson throwing himself over Alex as bits of masonry fell about them. Part of the church's front had collapsed. They lay in darkness until Wilson rose to his knee's, shaking bits of brick and mortar from his head and shoulders. "What the fuck just happened!" He shouted and shone his mirror to the front of the church - it was now just a pile of rubble - a bloody big pile of rubble.
Alex staggered up, coughing from the dust swirling around. Jericho was shouting into his mirror; there was no answer from Owen. Wilson and Alex were now yelling down the hole, but again; there was no answer from Owen. "Oh fucking shit!" Shouted Wilson as he pulled off his jacket and boots. but Jericho stopped him; "Your way too big." Was all he said and pulled his own jacket off, kicking his shoes away and pulling down his trousers. He was already stepping into the water, when Alex joined him - just in her panties. That would have put a smile on Owen's face. They plunged into the darkness together.
Wilson knelt by the hole and shone his mirror down. Only a few minutes pasted - but it seemed like hours to the big man. Despite the cold, damp atmosphere; he was sweating and his mouth was dry; "Come on, come the fuck on." he whispered. He again shouted down the hole, then suddenly Alex's head popped up from the water, she was panting and clearly crying; "No bloody sign of the little git...no bloody sign." She sobbed between chattering teeth. Wilson pulled her up with both hands and wrapped her in his discarded jacket. A very silent and grim faced Jericho popped up and dragged himself up the steps.
They all sat around the hole and consoled Alex, who was weeping, gripping Wilson's jacket around her. Jericho finally muttered; "I'll see, if I can get hold of James [a Knight of God] on the hurry up, but we must find Owen first. He can't do anything without the body." Wilson cuddled Alex and nodded; James could only resurrect him, if he had the body, otherwise Owen's soul would be lost - for good - he wasn't from this era.
Before Jericho could put the call into Control, his mirror buzzed with an incoming call - it was Owen! Jericho grabbed up his mirror and shouted; "Are you fucking alright boy?" Owen's wet and smiling face appeared - with daylight around him. "Yeah, I'm fine, but you'll never guess where the fuck I am?"
Everyone sighed with huge relief and Alex brushed away her tears and took several deep breaths before saying; "You bloody little twerp, we thought you had bloody snuffed it!" Wilson couldn't hide his relief and finally said: "Where the fuck are you baby brother?"
Owen grinned and pointed his mirror around; they could see that he was at the excavations!
5. THE EXCAVATIONS.
Old Tom sat at the Reception desk and watched with some amazement as the four 'Paranormal Investigators' trooped past him. Jericho was clearly wet from head to toe and clutching his clothes with both hands. Owen was next - again just in his underpants and carrying his clothes over one arm. The big fella looked quite normal and had a huge grin on his face. Tom smiled to himself when he saw Alex; wrapped in the big man's jacket and nothing else - she was also very wet.
He rose from his chair and was about to ask what happened, when a grim Jericho simply said; "Don't even bloody ask." and they disappeared up the stairs. Tom watched closely and was rewarded with a quick glimpse of Alex's bare bum at the top of the stairs. "Not even wearing panties." He muttered and really did grin. That had made his day; well, if he was honest; it had made his bloody year actually!
He sat back down in reception and opened his paper. He was having quite a good day so far and chuckled to himself. He sipped his coffee and took a bite from his cheese and onion sandwich. He looked up to see the professor walking towards the hotel with a pile of papers tucked under his arm.
Tom pointed up the stairs and said with quite a smile; "The ghost busters are back and very wet." he chuckled at the puzzled look upon the professors face and shrugged his shoulders; "They said don't bloody ask - so I didn't." Fielding just grunted and wondered where the hell they found somewhere to swim around here - the place was miles from the sea and no-one - well, anyone sane - would dive into the local river? He would wait until someone came down to reception. But Tom slapped the paper down and smiled; "The bar's open - if you fancy a drop of the good stuff." The professor didn't have to be asked twice.
The team came together in Jericho's room - after hot showers and a change of clothes - Owen slapped a bottle of brandy on the desk and they gathered around as he filled glasses. Jericho tapped the rough drawing that Owen had produced; "At the rear of the crypt, the builders constructed - for all intents and purposes - a fake door with angels and such things engraved on it. But the collapse pulled the top part down and behind lay a small tunnel." Owen was able to squeeze through and simply walk, quite crouched down, through it.
"You would have never made it big man; you would have been stuck like a pig in a poke." Owen chuckled and sipped his well earned brandy - Wilson just grunted and rolled his glass in both hands. Then smiled; "If I was a skinny, weedy thing like you, I would never have witnessed our lovely colleague stripping down to her little white panties and diving into the water." He raised his glass, adding; "Being like a pig in a poke does have its advantages." Alex slapped his arm - but did smile a little.
Jericho continued unfazed by the banter; "The tunnel bought Owen out into the diggings from behind a concealed entrance. Now that's really interesting because someone had to conceal that entrance and they did it with bushes and thicket. Why? I believe the doorway was revealed by the builders when they first excavated the site. But it was hidden when the archaeologists turned up - again - why?" he took a long sip from his glass and smiled at his team, replacing the glass down for Owen to refill.
Owen scratched his nose; "I know this is bloody obvious; but they wanted to hide the secret tunnel that ran to and from the old church?" He said quietly. Jericho nodded; "But why?" he asked again. "So they could use it when they liked without anyone else knowing about its existence." Alex muttered, then added; "But for what purpose?"
Jericho rubbed his hands together; "Spot on and if we discover that purpose, I think we may find out what happened to our vanishing hoteliers." Wilson accepted a refill from Owen and said; "What bothers me is the bonfire in the middle of the damn church - what was that for?" A knock at the door ended the discussions - for now. Alex pulled open the door and found detective Constable Sharon Smith standing there with an uniformed officer and old Tom at the rear. The detective didn't smile - which was quite usual for her.
She walked past Alex and stood by the desk, looking down at the hand drawn map. She removed her thick, police issue spectacles and wiped them with a bright blue hankie. "I take it Mister Tibbs, that you know withholding vital evidence into a possible abduction and maybe murder, is a serious offence?" she replaced her spectacles and smiled - it certainly didn't suit her face.
Jericho raised his arms and smiled; "Yes of course, we were on our way to your good selves, but we simply had to change from our wet clothes and get a quick brandy to steady our nerves. I'm so sorry for the delay, but your here now - how can we be of assistance?" Old Tom coughed; "That's correct Officer, I saw them return; they were drenched - from head to foot." The detective just grunted and scooped up the map. "When are you departing?" She asked, folding the drawing and pushing it into her oversized handbag.
Wilson leaned over the steering wheel and pointed to the huge red and white sign hung on the church wall. "DANGER - DO NOT ENTER - VERY DANGEROUS STRUCTURE!" He grunted; "Some fuckers can't read then."
Jericho pushed open the van's door and smiled; "Neither can we." The team de-camped and Wilson struggled for a few seconds with the rusted gate. "No fuckers opened this in a while." he muttered and the team made their way up the path and arrived at the large broken door, which had been fixed shut by having large pieces of dark wood nailed across it. Everyone could see that the door had been opened from the inside and that had splintered the wood outwards. The undergrowth was all flattened towards the path. Someone had left the church; very forcibly. But how had they entered in the first place?
Leaving Alex watching the door, Jericho and Owen took the East side and Wilson the right. They battled through the undergrowth for some minutes and met together at the rear of the church - everything was boarded up and secure. Jericho rubbed his chin and stared at the churchyard - it looked like it had not been disturbed for years. "Well, someone got out the church, but how the hell did they get in?" he asked his colleagues, who just shrugged their shoulders. Owen pointed to the roof, which was partially covered with a thick, tar painted tarpaulin. "Through a hole in the roof?" He ventured as an answer.
Wilson shook his head; "They would have needed ladders at least and that would have left marks in undergrowth, not to mention footprints all over the place and no-one has been walking around these walls in some time." Owen pointed to the overgrown south wall of the churchyard; "That's were that Ray fellow must have nicked the flowers; the road runs right next to it and look at those flowers growing there?" Wilson nodded; "Looks like the same flowers that appeared in Alex's shit smelling bouquet."
Jericho pulled the orb from his jacket pocket and held it up; the circumference was clear. He sighed - a little with relief - and started to walk back to the front door. "Well, who ever broke out of the church was probably human; but how did they get in to start with?" He muttered. They found Alex sitting on a tombstone, reading her mirror.
"I take it you knew, that Ray Chapel has previous for exposing himself, peering through windows and was once caught masturbating outside a girls school?" Alex held up her mirror and added; "Quite an innocent little pervert compared to some we have met." Jericho just smiled and pointed to the door; "I think we can squeeze through there, but be bloody careful; I don't want to have call a Knight for a quick resurrection!" Everyone chuckled at that and Wilson pulled the door open a couple of feet - little bits of masonry fell about their head. "I now have bloody brick dust as dandruff." Owen cursed and the team squeezed into the old church.
Despite the summer heat, it was dark, damp and gloomy inside. They used their mirrors to illuminate the semi darkness. "I can smell burnt..." Owen didn't finish his statement because their mirrors were all pointing to the middle of the church. There was a partially burnt bonfire piled three or four feet high. It appeared to have been constructed from the old pews, some crates and other bits of church furniture. There was a distinct smell of petrol and traces of some other pungent entity.
"Bit early for Guy Fawkes night." Wilson said and shone his mirror about. That's when he saw the dark shadow on the floor by the smashed alter. As he looked down, he could see the footprints in the debris and dust - all heading towards the door. - from the alter. "I bet this place has a crypt and I think I know where the entrance is." He called to the others and carefully made his way to the alter.
They gathered around the hole in the floor and shone their mirrors down - a well worn set of steps presented itself, twisting and turning downwards to a dark reflective pool of water. "Its fucking flooded." Cussed Owen and then sighed; "It must be deep because the crypt would have a vaulted ceiling; whatever is down there is under several feet of dirty stinking water." They all turned to Jericho who smiled; "We need someone who is slim and a good swimmer to take a look." They all then turned to Alex and grinned.
Alex held up both hands and said firmly; "No bloody way am I diving into that filthy water!" and folded her arms; repeating loudly; "NO." Wilson chuckled; "I'm way too big, as Jericho says; it has to be someone who is slim and agile - and that's certainly not me." Jericho nodded his agreement with that; "Sorry, its you or Owen." he muttered and smiled - again. "How come you have discounted yourself?" Owen said openly and also folded his arms. Jericho shrugged his shoulders; "One simple little fact stops me from diving down there." Alex nodded; "Oh, I see, you can't swim." Jericho held up both hands; "No, I can swim really well." Owen, looking a little bemused had to ask; "Well, if you can swim, what's stopping you going down there?"
Jericho sighed; "The little fact that I'm the bloody Inspector."
Wilson laughed outright at that and agreed totally with his 'boss'. "Down to you two." He said with some real pleasure. Alex shook her head; "I can't strip down to my undies because I'm only wearing a little pair of cotton panties. It must be Owen. I know my lovely colleagues wouldn't want me parading around in just little panties that will go see-through in water." She smiled and then saw the look on their faces. "Bloody perverts!" She muttered and Owen pulled a coin from his pockets; "Toss you for it?" He flipped the coin and shouted; "Heads!"
Unfortunately for him, Wilson caught the coin before he did and turned it around in his big fingers. The coin displayed 'heads' on both sides. They stared at Owen who simply groaned and stared at the dark water in mock despair. "Off you go lad." Was all Jericho said between chuckles.
Owen descended the steps in just his underpants and vest, clutching his mirror. As he stepped into the water he yelped; "It's fucking freezing!" and disappeared from view. Jericho carefully watched his own mirror, with Wilson and a very happy Alex at his shoulders. "Record everything you can." He told Owen, whose teeth could be clearly heard chattering; everyone could make out a couple of things Owen said and they weren't pleasant about his Temporal colleagues.
That's when the church seemed to move beneath them, there was a loud crashing noise and the trio dived to the floor, with Wilson throwing himself over Alex as bits of masonry fell about them. Part of the church's front had collapsed. They lay in darkness until Wilson rose to his knee's, shaking bits of brick and mortar from his head and shoulders. "What the fuck just happened!" He shouted and shone his mirror to the front of the church - it was now just a pile of rubble - a bloody big pile of rubble.
Alex staggered up, coughing from the dust swirling around. Jericho was shouting into his mirror; there was no answer from Owen. Wilson and Alex were now yelling down the hole, but again; there was no answer from Owen. "Oh fucking shit!" Shouted Wilson as he pulled off his jacket and boots. but Jericho stopped him; "Your way too big." Was all he said and pulled his own jacket off, kicking his shoes away and pulling down his trousers. He was already stepping into the water, when Alex joined him - just in her panties. That would have put a smile on Owen's face. They plunged into the darkness together.
Wilson knelt by the hole and shone his mirror down. Only a few minutes pasted - but it seemed like hours to the big man. Despite the cold, damp atmosphere; he was sweating and his mouth was dry; "Come on, come the fuck on." he whispered. He again shouted down the hole, then suddenly Alex's head popped up from the water, she was panting and clearly crying; "No bloody sign of the little git...no bloody sign." She sobbed between chattering teeth. Wilson pulled her up with both hands and wrapped her in his discarded jacket. A very silent and grim faced Jericho popped up and dragged himself up the steps.
They all sat around the hole and consoled Alex, who was weeping, gripping Wilson's jacket around her. Jericho finally muttered; "I'll see, if I can get hold of James [a Knight of God] on the hurry up, but we must find Owen first. He can't do anything without the body." Wilson cuddled Alex and nodded; James could only resurrect him, if he had the body, otherwise Owen's soul would be lost - for good - he wasn't from this era.
Before Jericho could put the call into Control, his mirror buzzed with an incoming call - it was Owen! Jericho grabbed up his mirror and shouted; "Are you fucking alright boy?" Owen's wet and smiling face appeared - with daylight around him. "Yeah, I'm fine, but you'll never guess where the fuck I am?"
Everyone sighed with huge relief and Alex brushed away her tears and took several deep breaths before saying; "You bloody little twerp, we thought you had bloody snuffed it!" Wilson couldn't hide his relief and finally said: "Where the fuck are you baby brother?"
Owen grinned and pointed his mirror around; they could see that he was at the excavations!
5. THE EXCAVATIONS.
Old Tom sat at the Reception desk and watched with some amazement as the four 'Paranormal Investigators' trooped past him. Jericho was clearly wet from head to toe and clutching his clothes with both hands. Owen was next - again just in his underpants and carrying his clothes over one arm. The big fella looked quite normal and had a huge grin on his face. Tom smiled to himself when he saw Alex; wrapped in the big man's jacket and nothing else - she was also very wet.
He rose from his chair and was about to ask what happened, when a grim Jericho simply said; "Don't even bloody ask." and they disappeared up the stairs. Tom watched closely and was rewarded with a quick glimpse of Alex's bare bum at the top of the stairs. "Not even wearing panties." He muttered and really did grin. That had made his day; well, if he was honest; it had made his bloody year actually!
He sat back down in reception and opened his paper. He was having quite a good day so far and chuckled to himself. He sipped his coffee and took a bite from his cheese and onion sandwich. He looked up to see the professor walking towards the hotel with a pile of papers tucked under his arm.
Tom pointed up the stairs and said with quite a smile; "The ghost busters are back and very wet." he chuckled at the puzzled look upon the professors face and shrugged his shoulders; "They said don't bloody ask - so I didn't." Fielding just grunted and wondered where the hell they found somewhere to swim around here - the place was miles from the sea and no-one - well, anyone sane - would dive into the local river? He would wait until someone came down to reception. But Tom slapped the paper down and smiled; "The bar's open - if you fancy a drop of the good stuff." The professor didn't have to be asked twice.
The team came together in Jericho's room - after hot showers and a change of clothes - Owen slapped a bottle of brandy on the desk and they gathered around as he filled glasses. Jericho tapped the rough drawing that Owen had produced; "At the rear of the crypt, the builders constructed - for all intents and purposes - a fake door with angels and such things engraved on it. But the collapse pulled the top part down and behind lay a small tunnel." Owen was able to squeeze through and simply walk, quite crouched down, through it.
"You would have never made it big man; you would have been stuck like a pig in a poke." Owen chuckled and sipped his well earned brandy - Wilson just grunted and rolled his glass in both hands. Then smiled; "If I was a skinny, weedy thing like you, I would never have witnessed our lovely colleague stripping down to her little white panties and diving into the water." He raised his glass, adding; "Being like a pig in a poke does have its advantages." Alex slapped his arm - but did smile a little.
Jericho continued unfazed by the banter; "The tunnel bought Owen out into the diggings from behind a concealed entrance. Now that's really interesting because someone had to conceal that entrance and they did it with bushes and thicket. Why? I believe the doorway was revealed by the builders when they first excavated the site. But it was hidden when the archaeologists turned up - again - why?" he took a long sip from his glass and smiled at his team, replacing the glass down for Owen to refill.
Owen scratched his nose; "I know this is bloody obvious; but they wanted to hide the secret tunnel that ran to and from the old church?" He said quietly. Jericho nodded; "But why?" he asked again. "So they could use it when they liked without anyone else knowing about its existence." Alex muttered, then added; "But for what purpose?"
Jericho rubbed his hands together; "Spot on and if we discover that purpose, I think we may find out what happened to our vanishing hoteliers." Wilson accepted a refill from Owen and said; "What bothers me is the bonfire in the middle of the damn church - what was that for?" A knock at the door ended the discussions - for now. Alex pulled open the door and found detective Constable Sharon Smith standing there with an uniformed officer and old Tom at the rear. The detective didn't smile - which was quite usual for her.
She walked past Alex and stood by the desk, looking down at the hand drawn map. She removed her thick, police issue spectacles and wiped them with a bright blue hankie. "I take it Mister Tibbs, that you know withholding vital evidence into a possible abduction and maybe murder, is a serious offence?" she replaced her spectacles and smiled - it certainly didn't suit her face.
Jericho raised his arms and smiled; "Yes of course, we were on our way to your good selves, but we simply had to change from our wet clothes and get a quick brandy to steady our nerves. I'm so sorry for the delay, but your here now - how can we be of assistance?" Old Tom coughed; "That's correct Officer, I saw them return; they were drenched - from head to foot." The detective just grunted and scooped up the map. "When are you departing?" She asked, folding the drawing and pushing it into her oversized handbag.
"They paid for two nights Miss." Tom said and smiled at Jericho. The detective nodded and looked Jericho up and down - almost with contempt. "You know that the church has been sealed off by local council engineers and no-one is to go near it - you understand that?" Jericho nodded and picked up his glass. Owen offered the constable a brandy, which she refused. "Just stick to the hotel and the diggings in future, otherwise you might find yourselves down the station explaining to my Inspector - you do understand that?" Jericho nodded again.
"If I had my way, I would charge the lot of you with criminal damage to the church, but the engineers have informed my Inspector that it was subsidence. An act of God apparently. So he's decided to take no action" She looked quite disappointed by that decision. She walked to the door and turned again to Jericho; "We've managed to locate the couples next of kin and they will be flying in tomorrow. It's a certain Sean Murphy - a cousin of John Murphy and I have no doubt, from my telephone conversation with him, that you and your band of so called Paranormal Investigators will be off site and not returning." Now she did smile at that.
The detective glanced at old Tom; " I understand that he's bringing his own staff with him, but that's his call. He'll have his accountant with him and really needs to look over the books." She gestured to he uniform officer who had said nothing the whole time; "Lets go. Our business with these people is finished - for now." They both left and old Tom just sighed; "I didn't know Mr. Kent had a cousin." But smiled strangely - which Alex noticed as he turned away.
Owen refilled the glasses all round and gave one to Tom, who took it with some gratitude. "Now that's one police officer who has honed her people skills to perfection." Wilson muttered with real sarcasm in his voice. Everyone had to chuckle at that - including Tom. Jericho stood rubbing his chin - deep in thought. He finished his brandy and turned to Owen; "Find out all you can about this 'Sean Murphy' and while your at it, check the history of our missing couple again. I have a bad feeling we've missed something bloody obvious about the pair." Owen nodded and the meeting broke up and the team headed for the excavations - again.
6. THE NECKLACE.
Professor Fielding was waiting for the team at the large pit; he had already heard about the police detectives visit. She had told the professor that the cousin was going to close the dig early - he wanted the place reinstated and was also considering cancelling the contract for the new extension. That really did make Jericho think. Sean Murphy had already contacted a solicitor about obtaining 'power of attorney' whilst the pair remained missing. "He's
certainly not hanging about getting his feet under the table." Alex said as they gathered around the hole.
The hole was about fifteen feet deep and four feet wide. The walls were brick and stone and they could see that the top had been smoothed. The professor pointed out that the prisoners were lowered down on ropes and a metal grill would have been placed over the top and locked. "They didn't keep prisoners long, there was usually a quick trial and they were released or executed; there were no real prisons for offenders. You could be hung for stealing bread in those days." He informed the team and added; "The necklace was found right at the bottom of the pit, where the floor had some brickwork left."
certainly not hanging about getting his feet under the table." Alex said as they gathered around the hole.
The hole was about fifteen feet deep and four feet wide. The walls were brick and stone and they could see that the top had been smoothed. The professor pointed out that the prisoners were lowered down on ropes and a metal grill would have been placed over the top and locked. "They didn't keep prisoners long, there was usually a quick trial and they were released or executed; there were no real prisons for offenders. You could be hung for stealing bread in those days." He informed the team and added; "The necklace was found right at the bottom of the pit, where the floor had some brickwork left."
"Was it found before the couple disappeared?" Jericho asked, peering down into the hole. The professor nodded, then hesitated; "Actually, I think it was found on the very day they disappeared."
"Who discovered it?" Wilson asked and the professor pointed across the yard as Ray was walking towards them; "Ray did, he was the lead Archaeologist for this pit. He and a volunteer discovered it - a lad called Leon O'Connell, I think." Ray joined the little group and everyone realised at once, that he had been drinking - but said nothing. He stood by the edge, but didn't look down. "I didn't put it there, if that's what your fucking thinking." He said quite loudly and staggered a little - Wilson grabbed his arm and pulled him back from the precipice. He pushed away Wilson's hand and snarled; "I don't need fucking help you black bastard, you stick to handling that white slut of yours!" He was more drunk that anyone had realised.
The professor grabbed him with both hands and pushed him towards the caravan; "Go and bloody sleep it off you idiot." He spoke close to Ray's face, that suddenly smiled; "Yeah, sure." He muttered and pulled away from the professors grip and staggered towards the caravan - muttering obscenities. The professor tried to apologise to Wilson and Alex, but they waved it away and appeared to treat it as a drunken joke - for the old professors sake. He was clearly distraught and embarrassed by his colleague's actions.
"You best go after him Fielding." Jericho said quietly and patted the professors arm. He nodded and went after Ray, who had pulled open the caravan's door and fallen through it. Everyone watched the old man hurry away. Owen tapped Wilson; "Jesus, you showed real restraint there big man. I would have thumped him for that." But Wilson just grunted; "I don't thump drunks - even foul mouthed racist bastards." Jericho certainly appreciated Wilson's actions with the man and said so. the group returned to staring at the pit.
"No one had even suggested that he placed it down there; so why so quick to deny it?" Alex said softly - she had calmed down from the insult thrown at her. "That probably means the bastard did put it there." Owen said, then added; "Yet another bloody O'Connell; the lad with Ray when the necklace was found." He muttered and knelt down by the edge and tugged at the ladders that had been fixed to the wall of the pit. "They are well secure Jericho, should I go down and take a look?" Alex stepped forward; "No, I'll do this one - no swimming in crap required." She grinned and started to descend down the ladder - slowly and carefully.
"That's our girl." Jericho said with some pride. Then Owen gripped the ladder and swung onto it, when Alex had reached the bottom; "She didn't hesitate going in after me." He smiled and made his way down. The pair wandered around the bottom and found nothing unusual. Alex pulled out her mirror and slowly moved it around in a full circle. She stopped suddenly and called quietly to Owen, who now stood by her shoulder - after a few minutes Alex looked up to her colleagues and shouted; "There's a bloody half open time portal!" She gestured to the brickwork facing her. "It's linked to August 6th, 669AD." Owen called out and saw that Jericho and Wilson were already on their way down.
They gathered by the portal and Jericho nodded; "Well, lets take a trip back to ancient times and see what happens." Everyone agreed with that. But from above they could hear a heavy engine running and they stared up to see the bright yellow bucket of the small JCB [which had been left by the builders - pending their return] appear at the edge, pushing loose, damp soil down upon them.
"Into the portal!" Jericho yelled and the four disappeared into the brickwork, as large amounts of dirt started to fill the pit. This went on for some minutes until the pit was about half full; then the machine tipped over the edge and fell bout eight feet onto the dirt and lay on its side - the engine now silent.
The forest was quite damp and cold, despite the warmth of the summer day and the team, in single file, quietly made their way through the thick undergrowth. Jericho was consulting his mirror as they walked. "I think we all know who was driving the bloody JCB." Owen turned and spoke to Alex who nodded. Wilson, who was at the rear muttered; "If we were living humans that bastard would have buried us alive, now that definitely deserves a thump."
Alex chuckled and pushed foliage from her face as the little group moved on, she spoke to Owen; "What better place to dump some unwanted people - without resorting to murder - than sending them back in time some fourteen hundred years!" Jericho waved for silence and the group hid behind some large overgrown rocks and stared down into the small clearing.
There was thin grey smoke coming from the reed thatched roof of the mud build hut. The door was closed with nothing but a large stick pushed between the frame. A wooden pitch fork lay against the wall and two scruffy goats were tethered a few feet away. There was a small patch of cultivated land next to the house - probably herbs and small vegetables, Owen whispered to the others.
Alex tapped Jericho's shoulder and pointed to the rope slung between two small trees - it had washing hanging there. "Since when did our Anglo-Saxon ancestors wear modern trousers?" She said quietly and then chuckled; "Isn't that a bloody large brassiere I can see?" She added. Everyone exchanged glances and Jericho rose and headed for the house with the others following. As he approached, He shouted [In 'Old English] "Hello in the house!"
The group waited outside, they could definitely see someone moving about inside and Jericho repeated his salutation. A woman appeared in the door way, clutching her discoloured apron. She was probably in her late twenties but looked tired and well worn. Her dress and woollen blouse had clearly seen better times - she had no shoes. "One for me I think." Alex said and approached the woman with her hands clearly in view. "We're strangers here and we mean you no harm, We just need to speak to you." But the woman stood rigid and silent, staring at them, if they were monsters from some dark hell. Finally, she stepped forward a couple of feet and stopped again. She was crying and rubbed her face a few times.
"Your clothes...that clothing...are you really from home?" She spoke quietly and started to sob openly and staggered a little, then held onto the water butt by the doorway. "Are you from home?" She almost whispered and fell to her knees and wept loudly. Alex grabbed her and held her tight; "It's alright Anne, it's alright, your safe now." Owen turned to Wilson and muttered; "Mrs. Anne Murphy I presume?" Wilson nodded and consulted his mirror; "It sure is, but where's Kent Murphy?"
Alex managed to get the distraught woman to her feet and the group shuffled into the house - it was semi dark, the only light coming through the door and gap's in the roof. A small open fire, constrained by several large stones, was the centre piece of the house - there was no other furniture - apart from a wooden frame that had straw piled upon it. "That's the bloody bed." Owen said and watched the smoke disappearing through the roof. "I love the chimney." Muttered Wilson and coughed from the smoky atmosphere.
Anne gulped down some brandy from Alex's hip flask and hugged her tightly. Jericho quietly asked; "Where's Kent?" Anne took a couple of deep breaths and sobbed again, but quickly composed herself, she gestured towards the door; "They took him for questioning some days ago. We're strangers here and they want to know about us. We couldn't tell them what happened to us because they would treat us a demons or ghosts. They are really primitive and superstitious - savages. They have never heard of Jesus Christ - they're pagans!"
Owen whispered to Wilson; "If they were really that savage, they would have killed them immediately and not bother to ask any questions." Wilson had to agree with that, but he was a little puzzled; "Why didn't they take her as well?" Owen smiled; "She's a woman and no threat to them - it's their culture. They didn't even persecute witches." Wilson nodded; "Who are the real savages then?"
Everyone sat on the straw covered floor and listened to Anne's story.
7. THE MURPHY'S.
"At first, we really couldn't believe what the builders had uncovered in the old gardens. Even the local historian - a Mr. Ted English - was completely taken back by its discovery. There were no records of it - none, no folklore or legends, nothing. That's when old Professor Larbert turned up with team from the local University - he's a lovely old man, but his assistant Ray is a real odd fellow - Kent and I really didn't take to him, which is unusual for us." Anne sipped Alex's hip-flask and dried her face with her sleeve. Wilson grunted; "Odd is not the word I would use to describe the bastard." That made Owen chuckle.
Anne continued; "Everything was fine at first, we were quite excited by it all and Kent said we should consider cancelling the extension - despite the money we would lose - and use the ruins as a tourist attraction. Kent believed we would draw more visitors and guests to the hotel if we left it alone. That seemed to make the old professor very happy. But then one night - a couple of months ago - we were just sitting down to dinner...." Jericho interrupted Anne; "Did you say this happened months ago?" Everyone looked at each other, it had only been a couple of weeks. Anne nodded and confirmed they had been in this terrible place for a couple of months.
Anne continued; "Everything was fine at first, we were quite excited by it all and Kent said we should consider cancelling the extension - despite the money we would lose - and use the ruins as a tourist attraction. Kent believed we would draw more visitors and guests to the hotel if we left it alone. That seemed to make the old professor very happy. But then one night - a couple of months ago - we were just sitting down to dinner...." Jericho interrupted Anne; "Did you say this happened months ago?" Everyone looked at each other, it had only been a couple of weeks. Anne nodded and confirmed they had been in this terrible place for a couple of months.
Jericho shrugged his shoulders and asked Anne to continue, which she did; after taking another swig from the hip-flask. "We were just sitting down to dinner - liver and bacon casserole; Kent's favourite. When old Tom appeared and said something was happening at the old church; we had just purchased it and the land that it stood on. That was another part of our plan to attract visitors." Wilson tapped Jericho and said quietly; "Didn't he say, that on the night they disappeared, he had come on duty at ten o'clock - as usual?" Jericho just nodded and waited for Anne to continue.
"Well, we just left dinner and Tom offered a lift in his car - it was already parked by the doors - so we all jumped in and drove up to the church. We could see smoke and little flames through the partially open door. Someone had got in and started a fire. We squeezed through the door and saw a bonfire burning in the middle of the bloody church!" She sighed and shook her head; "We had hurried out so quickly that Kent had left his mobile phone on the dinner table, so Tom said he would go outside and call the Fire Brigade. Kent and I started to look around for something to extinguish the flames, when suddenly, something in the middle of the bonfire just flashed and a green smoke filled the place. We really did start to choke and staggered towards the door, but never made it. We must have passed out."
Anne started to sob again and accepted Alex's hip flask. Wilson sighed; "I suspect that the green smoke was some kind of knockout gas - little wonder old Tom went outside." Owen checked his mirror and looked quite grim; "Thomas Edward O'Connell was born in 1694 and there's no record of his dispatch [death] - he's a missing soul. Should have been collected in 1753 - he obviously didn't turn up for that little party and guess where he spent most of his life?"
"Let me guess; Gallows Tree Manner House?" Alex sighed, and added: "He couldn't have dragged the Murphy's down that tunnel from the church to the pit on his own - he must have an accomplice - but who?" Wilson scratched his chin - thinking. "If old tom is from the original family that owned the house and land, then we need to look for other O'Connell's- maybe?"
Owen smiled; "The lad that found the necklace with Ray; he was a O'Connell."
"Did you say necklace? Someone stole my bloody necklace - it was around my neck the night we went to the church and was gone when I woke up in this shit hole. It was my Great-Grandmother's." Anne shouted and straightened her self up - now a little worse from the contents of Alex's flask - she hadn't drunk strong alcohol for some time and it was showing- She didn't speak for a minute or so and then said; "When we came around, we were here...in this terrible place....we couldn't believe what had happened and we just wandered around in shock, I suppose. Nothing was the same. After a few hours, we realised that something terrible had happened. We were lost in a forest with nothing - absolutely nothing except the clothes we were wearing." She slumped against Alex's shoulder and had passed out. She was sleeping - heavily.
Jericho and Wilson gently placed her upon the bed of straw and covered her with a thick, rough blanket. "Best let her sleep it off." Alex said, making the woman as comfortable as she could. The little group sat in silence for a few minutes. "The necklace was obviously dropped in the pit when Anne and her husband were pushed through the time portal, then not discovered until Ray and the boy went down the hole to finish clearing it." Wilson said softly, but pulled a face; "That doesn't make sense, if Ray's part of this; why draw attention to the pit by telling everyone about finding the impossible necklace?"
"He didn't - because it dropped from Anne's neck as young O'Connell and his accomplice: old Tom O'Connell pushed the couple through the time portal. When they found it the next day; the boy didn't have time to hide it from Ray and so it became part of the mystery." Jericho folded his arms and sighed; "What the hell is the time travelling Tom after in this century? This young O'Connell must be a descendent of his?"
Owen stared through the doorway; "I think we have visitors." He said softly.
Jericho went to the doorway and watched as the half dozen men approached; everyone had a spear and shield, a couple carried swords at their hips. One had a bright two coloured tunic over his rough shirt and was wearing a silver helmet; that was the leader. Jericho raised his hand in welcome and greeted them in their own language - old English.
They seemed totally surprised that the stranger dressed in strange clothes could speak their tongue. Offa [the Chief] asked Jericho why he had come onto their lands and what the woman was to them. Jericho replied that the woman and her man belonged to his tribe and they had come to collect them and return the pair home. Offa half-smiled; he wanted to know how he [Jericho] could speak the language, but the other strangers' couldn't. Jericho smiled and told Offa that the priesthood to which he belonged had taught him several tongues as a boy.
Offa asked where the woman was and Jericho pointed to the sleeping Anne and explained that she wasn't well. The Chief nodded - he did not smile, but held up his spear and waved it twice. From the trees came two burly warriors carrying a litter; they laid it down in front of Offa. It was a body covered with a rough blanket. "I don't think this is good news." Wilson whispered to Alex, who glanced down at poor Anne and really did feel sorry for her.
Jericho and Alex pulled back the blanket and stared hard at the face looking up at them. Alex sighed and threw the blanket back over it. Jericho thanked the Chief for returning the body to his woman and didn't ask how he died. The Chief was a little puzzled that Jericho didn't ask about the man's death and so told him what had happened.
Whilst being questioned by the Chief and the local priest [pagan] John had simply keeled over and died. No violence had been used against him. So they had returned him to his woman for burial - according to whatever customs the strangers followed. Their task completed, the Chief and his men disappeared into the forest. Alex sighed; "I best get the hip-flask ready." They all looked at the sleeping woman and felt sympathy for her, but most of that sympathy was kept for John Murphy; his soul was now lost because he had died outside his own era.
Wilson knelt by the body and consulted his mirror; "According to Human Records he was suffering from a weak heart for some years and was on really serious medication for it. The poor bastard had no access to such drugs here - it was a sudden death waiting to happen, no matter how well the local tribe treated him."
Owen scratched his head; "What amazed me was that they just accepted you - I mean had they seen coloured people before? If this was early Christian times, they would have been quite frightened of people like you Wilson, because all the painting of devils and demons at the time were mostly read or black." Wilson grunted and rose up and pointed to the trees. "We have more visitors."
A group of village woman stood by the trees, they were carrying clay pots and flowers. The old lady who was in charge introduced herself; they were here to help Anne bury her man with decency and respect. She was accompanied by her two teenage sons - big strapping lads - who would dig the grave for Anne's man. She explained that if 'John' had been a member of the tribe; the men of the village would have buried him, as was the custom for these people.
Both the young men smiled constantly at Alex as they set about breaking open the hard earth by the trees. Hagga {the old lady] said he should be buried near the trees, home of the tree spirits that the tribe worshipped. She also informed Jericho that if Anne stayed, she would be treated with respect as a widow-woman and provided for by the village. That was the custom here; poor widows - with or without children - would be looked after. Wilson smiled and said quietly to Owen; "Real savages, aren't they?" Owen just smiled and said nothing.
"I'll put a call into James [a Knight of God] and he can eradicate Anne's memories of all this." Jericho muttered and discretely operated his mirror.
Wilson carefully laid Anne upon the old tomb stone and removed the rough blanket; Alex had dressed her in the clothes they had found hidden in the hut and she had been returned to the interior of the derelict church. The team checked for the local council engineers, returning to complete the shoring up of the building. Soon as they appeared in Gallows Lane, Jericho operated his mirror and the team disappeared.
They walked back to the hotel in relative silence, stopping only to watch the professor hooking up his caravan to his old jeep - he didn't look happy. They waved at him and he walked over. "What's going on Fielding?" Jericho asked and the professor shrugged his shoulders; "That Sean Murphy has arrived and the first thing he did was to order me and Ray off site. He's wandering around the hotel trying to find Tom O'Connell, apparently the Reception safe is wide open and empty. But Tom's old mini is still in the car park." He pointed to the car, sitting at the top of the car park.
"Where's Ray then?" Owen asked and could see that question agitated the old professor. After a few seconds Fielding sighed; "He gone. I can't find him anywhere. I think your case of 'Johnny Walker' that you left in Reception has gone too." Jericho offered the professor his hand and Fielding grabbed it and smiled; "I take it there was no ghosts or demons to chase here then?" He smiled when Jericho nodded; "Yeah, none had checked into the hotel." Both men chuckled and Fielding jumped into his jeep and with a little wave drove from the car park and turned into Gallows' Lane. They watched him disappear as a police car turned into the lane.
The big man standing in the doorway of the hotel was on his mobile phone - he also didn't look happy. The team walked up and said hello; at first, he simply ignored them until his call was finished. He stared at them and folded his arms; "Are you the so called Paranormal Investigators?" Jericho nodded and he snorted with undisguised contempt; "Well, sling your fucking hooks, your free loading days here are over. I want you out within the hour. Now piss off - I'm busy. I'm expecting my son to join me."
A restrained Jericho pulled out the receipt old Tom had given him and offered it to Mr. Murphy; "We paid for our stay here actually." He said quietly and didn't smile. Sean Murphy snatched the receipt and looked at it - he smiled. "Like I said you dumb morons - fuck off." He ripped the receipt up and allowed the pieces to flutter to the gravel. He pushed past Jericho and headed for the police car that had stopped some yards from them.
Wilson sighed; "He and that Detective Smith should get on like a house on fire." Everyone chuckled at that and headed for their van. Alex seemed troubled and said to Owen; "Doesn't that Murphy remind you of someone?" Owen nodded, but screwed up his face; "No-one comes to mind - sorry."
Anything the temporal detectives had left in the hotel, had already disappeared - there would be no trace of their occupancy anywhere. They eased into their van and watched Murphy talking with detective Smith. Alex actually laughed; "I don't think that he'll take Anne's survival and return too well. He's anticipated new fortune has just vanished."
Wilson leaned over the steering wheel and smiled broadly; "Could not have happened to a nicer man." Owen sat quietly in the back [with Alex] and consulted his mirror - he tapped Jericho on the shoulder; "Our Mr. Sean Murphy is a fake. His real name is Joseph O'Connell and he use to be an employee of John Murphy some years ago - when John ran a building company in Wexford. He has quite a bit of previous for fraud and theft. He's a con artist."
Owen looked at his mirror again; "He has two sons, one called Leon who's done time for fraud already, despite only being young. Where have we heard that name before?" Jericho rubbed his chin and turned to Owen; "Buzz human records and find out who Mr. Murphy was calling when we turned up."
"I have no doubt, Anne has told her rescuers that John didn't have a cousin called Sean." Jericho said quietly as they watched 'Sean Murphy' being pushed into the rear of the police car - still protesting his innocence. "I still feel a little sorry for Anne, she has lost her husband and will never known what happened to him, especially since James [a Knight of God] had removed all her memories about the last few weeks here." Alex said softly and took a sip of her hip-flask - she was disappointed; it was empty. She borrowed Owen's - he didn't protest.
Jericho leaned back in his seat and stretched his legs - as best he could - and watched the police car pull away. "Lets go Wilson, we'll jump when we reach a quiet stretch of road." A police van pulled up and the police car stopped by it. Detective Smith jumped out the car and walked towards the teams van. They watched as Sean Murphy was transferred to the police van, which then departed.
She tapped on Jericho's window; he pressed the button and the window slid down. "I'm glad to see that your not buried at the bottom of the pit, as that will save us some real trouble. We don't have to dig the bloody thing up." As usual she didn't smile. They all appeared to look quite bemused by what she said and Jericho held up his hands; "Someone tried to fill in one of the pits?" He asked with a 'surprised' expression. The detective just snorted; "That drunken idiot Ray Chapel called us; shouting about you and your so called team being buried alive in the big pit."
Everyone exchanged glances of bewilderment and shrugged their shoulders. "Well, obviously he was mistaken." Alex said and made a show of swigging Owen's hip flask. She passed it to back to him and he took a swig; "I'll drink to not being buried alive!" He exclaimed and grinned. The detective just shook her head; "He claims that old Tom O'Connell buried you. He watched him do it, he was absolutely certain that all of you had gone down into the pit just moments before."
"Well, its nonsense, we all here - alive and well." Jericho said - so Ray wasn't a murdering bastard after all - just a drunken racist one. Detective Smith folded her arms; "The pit is half filled with a bloody small digger over turned on top of it. The building company is coming to retrieve its machine - we won't dig the bloody pit up then; since your all sitting here."
"What will happen to Ray?" Owen asked and sipped his hip-flask. "He'll receive a Police caution for wasting our time - when he sobers up. My Inspector has already contacted that old professor to come and collect him." She turned to walk away, when Jericho asked about Tom O'Connell. She stopped and smiled; "He has simply vanished, we can't find any trace of him - nothing. That happens a lot around here - apparently." She returned to her car and the police vehicle pulled away. Wilson started the engine and followed it down Gallows' Lane.
Night was approaching fast and Wilson switched the headlights on. Jericho spoke softly; "I get a mental picture of what probably happened, Tom O'Connell arrived in this century from where - ever he had resided before, and found that his old home was now owned by someone else - the Murphy's. But he had descendants; Joseph O'Connell and his sons and they hatched a scheme to get the house and land back. The discovery of the ruins set the plan in motion - or I should say the re-discovery of the ruins. I think old Tom got a job here because he knew that the ruins were here and more importantly; the bloody time portal was here." Jericho accepted Wilson's hip-flask and took a swig.
"So they hatched an audacious plan, firstly they would get rid of the Murphy's; a double murder would attract too much attention - from the police and the press. Far better if the couple simply vanished and were never seen or heard of again. Then the 'next-of-kin' shows up. The Murphy's had no family or close friends that knew they had no other family. So Joseph O'Connell [Sean Murphy] turns up and having worked with John Murphy for so many years, knows the man well. He easily passes himself off at Murphy's cousin with some good, false documents. There was no-one to say otherwise - the Murphy's were gone. But they didn't count on us turning up and retrieving Anne Murphy - it was an excellent plan and probably would have worked." Jericho concluded and smiled.
The van headed for the village. Detective Sharon Smith sat and watched the white van behind them, in the side mirror and then opened her large handbag. She pulled the scruffy notebook, still held by the big elastic band and tapped it gently with her fingers. Apparently Tom had dropped his precious book as he fled from the scene with the digger. She turned to the uniform officer [who always said nothing] and smiled - maybe it was becoming a habit for her - she chuckled; "God works in bloody mysterious ways, don't he?"
Her colleague didn't answer - but did smile. He appeared really interested in the little notebook and watched, as Sharon pushed it into her bag.
9. THE END.
Jericho told Wilson to stop the van outside 'McKay's Fish & Chip shop' in the village - everyone was practically starving. He pulled the brown envelope from his pocket, that contained the money that supplies had given then for this mission; "Who fancies a fish supper?" Everybody said 'YES!' and Jericho, with Alex, disappeared into the busy shop.
Owen rubbed his hands together; "I could eat a fucking horse - dead or alive." he said to Wilson, who just chuckled; "Your always fucking hungry. I would swear that you had hollow legs or large worms." Wilson glanced into the side mirror; a police car had pulled in behind them and the uniform constable stepped out and headed for the chip shop. "Isn't that old misery guts' driver?" He asked Owen, who nodded.
Wilson grunted; "Pull up his details for me."
Jericho and Alex returned carrying several packages, wrapped in white paper - the smell was gorgeous, as they climbed into the van. Owen and Wilson sat grinning. Alex handed out the packages and tins of juice to her colleagues who were smiling broadly - again. "What's up with you two?" She asked, examining her two battered sausages and chips, with loads of ketchup on. Jericho opened his Cod and chips, then also saw the look on Owen and Wilson's faces. "What have you found out?" He asked and opened his tin of Coke.
Owen had already stuffed half his steak pie down his throat - he also had a battered sausage to content with after that. "That young policeman is called William O'Connell and his brother is called Leon - their father is a certain Joseph O'Connell - aka Sean Murphy. Now that's a real cracker isn't it?"
Jericho sipped his coke before attacking his limp fish. "I see." was all he said and started eating his fish with a small wooden fork. Owen finished his pie; "The number Mr. Sean Murphy called on his mobile was the extension in...." He didn't finish because Jericho said quietly; "The extension in old Tom's room - am I right?" Owen nodded - he wasn't surprised - very little about Jericho surprised him these days.
They all watched as the constable returned to his car - carrying three packets.
"Unless he's like our Owen - an empty vessel waiting to fill up with food - he's bought dinner for three people; I wonder who?" Wilson lowered his steak pie and smiled at Jericho. Alex suddenly yelped - that made Owen jump - and said quietly; "That bloody face. His face Jericho, where have we seen it before? Who does he remind you of?"
Jericho dropped his wooden fork back into the chip paper; "Sweet bugger! He's a dead ringer for old Tom O'Connell!" Everyone watched the police car pull away and Jericho yelled at Owen; "Get control to trace his destination and I will bet that its not the bloody police station." Wilson dumped his supper on the floor and started the van. Owen groaned about his dinner but operated his mirror; "I have him." he said quietly and the van pulled away.
They found the police car parked outside the derelict church - empty and silent. "I can see torch light inside." Wilson said, as the team quietly left the van and made their way to the church. They crouched in the overgrown church yard and Jericho operated his mirror; "Three people inside - eating fish & chips." He whispered. "Who's with him?" Owen asked, still thinking - with some regret - about abandoning his dinner to a waste bin in the village high street. Jericho scratched his chin; "Constable O'Connell, his brother and Old Tom O'Connell."
Alex crouched down and leaned against an old tombstone; "I don't expect its a happy family meal." She muttered and adjusted her jacket - the night was oddly cold for an summer evening. Jericho sighed; "I should have noticed the similarity between Constable O'Connell and old Tom before this. They definably are his descendants - there were more O'Connell's involved in this than you could poke a bloody stick at." Wilson nodded; "He must have a time controller - the time portal in the pit was locked only to one location and the pit had been filled in for centuries."
"Well, lets get the damn thing and put a end to Tom's travels. I'LL offer him the opportunity to return to 1753, be collected and move on." Jericho reasoned and the team headed for the church and a large opening in the North Wall - covered with a tarpaulin. "I still don't think Anne will ever be safe, whilst this mob are around." Alex commented and Wilson agreed with her; "There's so much money and property at stake, they're bound to try again to get their hands on it."
They stood outside the new 'doorway' and Jericho pulled out his mirror and almost grinned; "I have an idea." was all he said and stopped time. They wandered into the church and found the three conspirators sitting around a small folding table on camping chairs. A fish supper lay before each man, Owen immediately started to pinch chips from each until Alex gently slapped his hand.
Wilson pulled the little, scruffy red note book from William O'Connell's fingers - it appeared he was about to hand it back to his ancestor; Tom. Wilson grinned; "My mirror informs me that I'm a holding a time portal calling device." Jericho nodded; "Just don't recite anything written on page 7, otherwise you'll be some where else - and at some other time." Wilson very carefully placed it in his jacket pocket.
"What have we here." Alex picked the map up from the table and smiled; "They deliberately flooded the crypt. This is a schematic showing the water values and drain points of the church's water system. It's Edwardian; old Tom must have picked it up from that time."
Jericho grunted; "They flooded the crypt after dragging the Murphy's thru the tunnel - to stop anyone finding it at the excavations. They also hid the tunnels exit at the dig with undergrowth. To give old Fielding his due, he kept worrying about the builders photo's of the site - they had gone too - because the big pile of bushes and branches were not on those original pictures. But were on the one's the archaeologists had taken. That would have a been a dead giveaway that something was hidden there."
Jericho grinned and operated his mirror; time started again. Owen suddenly looked up; "There are cars pulling up outside - police cars." Jericho said quietly; "I think our miserable police colleague has finally realised there are too many O'Connell's in this story and its not just a co-incidence."
The three at the table suddenly jumped up in unison and shouted at each other, they pushed past the temporal detectives and rushed to the tarpaulin covered hole; straight into the arms of living detectives.
Detective Sharon Smith smiled broadly at Jericho - it was certainly becoming a habit for the young woman - the temporal detectives stood to one side as the three were lead away by uniform officers. Detective Smith adjusted her glasses; "Now my happy little ghost busters, you are definitely going down the police station to help us with our enquiries and that actually makes me very happy. I have already thought of several charges I can press against you."
Jericho shrugged his shoulders and yelled; "The crypt!" The detective just sighed as they ran to the opening in floor and dived into the dirty black water. Wilson did actually fit quite easily down the stairs - that wouldn't make Owen or Alex too happy. But they would argue - sorry, discuss - that later; over dinner.
The uniform officer standing next to Sharon grunted; "There's only one exit out and our boys are waiting there - they can't go anywhere." But Sharon just grinned and whispered to herself; "I wouldn't count on it."
The team walked back to the lighthouse - drenched from head to foot. They passed a very bemused Mr. Harris standing in the doorway. Jericho just looked at him; "Don't even ask Mr. Harris - please don't." was all he said.
"With the recovery of Anne Murphy's soul, but the loss of John Kent Murphy's soul; the mission was not considered a total success. But Team 74 managed to close a dangerous 'Time Portal'."
W.A.S.
CHARACTERS:
Professor Fielding Larbert bailed his assistant Ray from the police station and the pair returned to their University. They continued to work together for some years until the professors unexpected death in 2011 - he chocked to death whilst drunk. His soul was collected and processed.
Ray Chapel was soon dismissed from the University after the professors death; a little incident in the female student accommodation sealed his fate. Wilson must possess the gift of prophecy; for Ray ended up working in an electronics' shop in Cardiff high street - selling white goods; badly. He died in 2024 from cancer and his soul was collected and processed.
John Kent Murphy's body was never found, since he was buried some 1400 years before he was born! As a human who died out of his ordained time, his soul remains missing to this day.
Anne Murphy stayed loyal to her late husband's wishes and the ruins at the rear of her hotel became quite a tourist attraction: Gallows Tree Hotel prospered. She mourned the loss of her husband for the remainder of her life and never remarried. She died in 2009 whilst on a rare holiday in Turkey; she apparently walked in her sleep and fell from the hotel balcony. Prior to her death, many times, over the subsequent years, she had strange dreams about her and her husband living in savage times, in a mud hut - she never divulged those dreams to anyone. Her soul was collected and processed.
The police could not prove murder against the O'Connell's, but secured an abduction and kidnapping charge against them over the disappearance of Mrs. Anne Murphy. Joseph O'Connell - aka Sean Murphy - received a sentence of 17 years in prison; he served 12 and was released in 2011. He did various jobs over the years in Ireland and England. He died in a hospice at the grand old age of 97, surrounded by his grandchildren and great grandchildren. His soul was collected and processed.
Ex Police Officer William O'Connell was dismissed from the force in 2000, he escaped any prison sentence due to lack of evidence and returned to Ireland, where he worked on a farm for several years. He was killed in a ploughing accident in 2009. His soul was collected and processed.
The police could not prove murder against the O'Connell's, but secured an abduction and kidnapping charge against them over the disappearance of Mrs. Anne Murphy. Joseph O'Connell - aka Sean Murphy - received a sentence of 17 years in prison; he served 12 and was released in 2011. He did various jobs over the years in Ireland and England. He died in a hospice at the grand old age of 97, surrounded by his grandchildren and great grandchildren. His soul was collected and processed.
Ex Police Officer William O'Connell was dismissed from the force in 2000, he escaped any prison sentence due to lack of evidence and returned to Ireland, where he worked on a farm for several years. He was killed in a ploughing accident in 2009. His soul was collected and processed.
Leon O'Connell served several years in prison and was never released; he died in 2006, in Wentworth prison, from a drugs overdose. How he obtained the lethal dose was investigated by authorities, but no charges were made against any inmates or prison officers. His soul was collected and processed.
Thomas Edward O'Connell was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his conspiracy to kidnap and murder the Murphy's. He was considered quite strange by social services and prison authorities because they could find no records concerning him - anywhere. He died in Brixton prison in 2013 and because he was a human out of his time; no soul was collected and it remains missing to this day.
Detective Constable Sharon Smith was promoted to Detective Sergeant over her successful conclusion to the Gallows Tree Hotel Mystery. But she left the police in 2004 and started her own company; investigating paranormal activity! It was highly successful and was actually a TV series at one point. She married a TV presenter and had three children. She died in 2025 from complications following surgery for haemorrhoids. [She had suffered with them for years - maybe that's why she never smiled.....] No soul was collected and the case was investigated by Temporal Detective Inspector Wilson Franklyn and team 22. The case awaits resolution.
Ted English, the local Historian who attended the site for the Murphy's, wrote a book about the 'Gallows Tree Hotel Mystery' and actually mentioned the team of 'Ghost Busters' who helped solve the case. The fact. that he could find no trace of them - anywhere, added to the mystery. Luckily, the book didn't sell too well. Old Ted died in 2020 during the flu-like epidemic that swept the world that year. His soul was collected and processed.
Gallows Tree Hotel changed hands several times over the years following Anne Murphy's death. Unfortunately it suffered a disastrous fire in 2014 and lay in ruins for some years until it was finally demolished in 2021. There is now a car park and small visitors centre at its location, which services the Anglo-Saxon ruins, they have become quite a tourist attraction. There are many stories about the ruins; of paranormal activity, ghostly sightings and apparitions. The site has become a regular stop for paranormal detectives over the years.
The derelict church was completely demolished in 2001; after the major subsidence it couldn't be saved. Contractors working on site reported strange sights and sounds, when filling in the old crypt and it remains buried beneath the grassy mound that now stands there.
The Anglo-Saxon pagan temple, which lay below the crypt was never found and the great Chieftain Offa remains undisturbed with all his gold and treasure to this day. He was buried with his beautiful young wife; Essa. She was much loved and respected and was often seen around the villages in her long flowing white dress, administering to the sick and poor. Her early death was greatly mourned and Offa soon died after his wife and she was interned with him. Legend says she still visits the area today in that white flowing dress - a strapping young woman with a 'Venus' like figure....
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