MAGDALENA'S GHOST: THE HAUNTING OF THE HOUSE IN GALLOWS LANE Read Online Free PDF Page B

time of year.”
    “I can see that,” he moaned again. “So what about these keys then?”
    “You’ll have to try again after seven.”
    “I know you’ve just told me that. So can I leave them with you?” Anton asked impatiently.
    “Nope!” And with that the barman proceeded to lock up as he manoeuvred Anton and Lucy towards the door. Anton didn’t offer any objection, after all he hardly wanted them both to be locked in that place for the rest of the day. And Lucy’s face was a picture of annoyance, so he knew he was going to be in big trouble.
    They hurried back to the camper van and jumped inside. The rain had come down quite hard and the skies were threatening a storm.
    Anton drove back round the way they’d come in at the outset, and headed towards the pull-in which he’d seen earlier.  He jumped out and went in search of a friendly face, but couldn’t find anyone. Everything was closed up – everything except the toilet and shower block. He got back in the van and drove over to a space which he decided was suitable to park up in. He avoided looking at Lucy as he could see her face was competing with the stormy skies above. He knew it wouldn’t be long before he had to face both storms – the latter of which he was not too keen on.
    “And what are we doing here?” Lucy glared at him.
    He was behaving sheepishly and he couldn’t bring himself to look into her face. His mind was working overtime, as he searched for ways to make amends. It wasn’t going to be easy. So better to just get on with it and face the music.
    “We’ll have to stay here for the night love. I’ll have to give that old chap these keys back, but by the time the pub opens and he comes back in we’ll be too late to go anywhere.” There, that wasn’t too bad was it? He thought to himself.
    But her response came like thunder.
    “It’s that house isn’t it? You want to stay so you can quiz him again. I know what your intention is – you only care about that stupid old house. I might as well not be here for all I seem to matter in this master plan of yours.” There – she’d said it, and she felt much better for getting it off her chest .
    Anton felt too guilty to argue because he knew she was right. He couldn’t explain it, but the house was getting under his skin; he felt as if he belonged there – like coming home from a long voyage. He couldn’t give it up, he just couldn’t. He had to have it, no matter what it would take. He had no intention of backing down, because he had to do this for the two of them – it was destiny. He thought about it for a moment; could he really say in all honesty that he wouldn’t bother about it anymore if Lucy said no? He shrugged that thought off, as he didn’t want to face the truth.
    “At least the toilet and shower block is open love.”
    “Don’t you love me,” she exploded. “I don’t want to spend the rest of the day here and I certainly don’t want to spend a night in this dead dump.”
    They both sat in silence for the next five minutes, each one waiting for the other to speak first. He knew Lucy would be in a real sulk for the rest of the week-end if he didn’t do anything about it.
    “We could check if they have rooms at the inn?” he tried to jest.
    “I don’t find that in the least bit funny,” she fumed. “And I had to hide my sandwiches behind a cushion.”
    He hadn’t known that! He thought she’d eaten them quickly come to think of it. And what had happened to his sandwiches? He’d got so wrapped up in viewing the house that he’d forgotten all about them.
    “Did you hide mine too?” he asked, looking straight into her face.
    Lucy took one look at him and burst into fits of laughter. He looked so forlorn when he said it that she couldn’t stay mad at him any longer. They both cracked up together.
    Anton wrapped his arms around her and gave her a big hug and a kiss.
    “I’m sorry Luce. You’re right of course, you always are. I’ve been a