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Contents ( 89)
  1. The Secret of Cold Hill
  2. Table of Contents
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. 58
  61. 59
  62. 60
  63. 61
  64. 62
  65. 63
  66. 64
  67. 65
  68. 66
  69. 67
  70. 68
  71. 69
  72. 70
  73. 71
  74. 72
  75. 73
  76. 74
  77. 75
  78. 76
  79. 77
  80. 78
  81. 79
  82. 80
  83. 81
  84. 82
  85. 83
  86. 84
  87. Acknowledgments
  88. About the Author
  89. The Cold Hill Ghost Stories

‘I’d be enormously grateful. Any idea what time?’

‘I’ll see what commitments he has. Shall we say four o’clock, unless I let you know otherwise?’

Jason glanced at his watch. It was just coming up to 11.30 a.m. ‘Perfect.’

‘His name is Jim Skeet, he’s a good chap. Can you let me have your address?’

Jason gave it to him and he wrote it down. When he finished, he said, ‘Shall we pray together?’

The request startled Jason. He could not remember the last time he had prayed. Way back in his childhood. Blushing with embarrassment he mumbled assent, closing his eyes as Bishop Parnassus recited the Lord’s Prayer, and finished with a loud, clear, ‘Amen.’

‘Amen,’ Jason echoed.

Parnassus smiled beatifically at him, and for the first time, Jason saw more clergyman than laid-back biker in the bishop. ‘If you need me again, Jason, I am always here, or around. Everything will be fine, don’t worry. I’ll be here to make sure you and your wife have spiritual protection. And you look a pretty healthy chap to me – I think you’re going to live a few years beyond forty, whatever that old farmer who doesn’t like newbies in his village might tell you!’

Jason thanked him and left. As he headed home, he replayed the strange meeting in his mind. Did Parnassus really believe what he had told him, or was he just humouring him? Either way, the Bishop was sending a clergyman to their house. Jim Skeet. Maybe they could convince him.

Turning into the entrance of Cold Hill Park, he threaded his way along Lakeview Drive. Emily’s van wasn’t there. He’d give her a call in a minute, to make sure she was back well before Skeet was due to arrive. There was more activity at the Penze-Weedells’ house. An electrician’s van was parked outside, and there was a man in a parka and jeans halfway up a ladder propped against the wall, with both Mr and Mrs Penze-Weedell standing below, looking up anxiously. None of the lights were on and half of them seemed to have come away from the wall again and were strewn over the front lawn and plants. Jason couldn’t help smirking.

As he climbed out of his car, rays of sunshine broke from behind a cloud, and he felt filled with a sudden burst of optimism. Help was coming this afternoon. He liked the aura of calm around the Bishop. Perhaps the visit this afternoon would bring this same calm to the house. Everything was going to be fine, really it would be.

58

Wednesday 19 December

Jason let himself into the house, and smiled as he saw the large note Emily had left on the hall table.

Gone to pay Santa a visit to see what he might have brought for my gorgeous husband! XX

He made himself a large coffee then hurried up to his studio and sat at his desk, then he sent a text to Emily.

Babes, please be back by 4. The Bishop sending his top Ghostbuster over. Love you. XX