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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

‘Why didn’t you tell us then – or at least before we exchanged contracts?’

‘None of these terrible accidents relate to their houses or the development,’ Jordan replied. ‘I didn’t tell you because, firstly, I didn’t think it was relevant and secondly, frankly, I didn’t want to spoil your enjoyment of your new home in any way.’ He paused then went on. ‘Look, let me make a suggestion to you and your wife. I’ve been in this business a long time. Moving house is much less easy than people imagine. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen couples move into their dream home, only to divorce within a few years. It can be a very disruptive period, during which all that you’ve known and built together is suddenly gone and you have a whole new set of challenges. Please work through it together. You have a truly beautiful new home – for most people it would be a dream. I remember at your first viewing, the expression on your face when you walked into the loft – how you said you knew you could work there. Are you finding it inspirational?’

Hesitantly, Jason said, ‘Yes.’

‘Well then,’ Jordan said. ‘There you are! And within a few months, there won’t be an empty house on the estate, that I can assure you.’

Jason thanked him, meekly, apologized for taking up his time, and ended the call.

Instantly he wished he had quizzed him more. But at the same time, he knew, he would probably have sounded ridiculous.

He would take the agent’s advice, he decided.

Work through it.

He walked over and peered across the street at number thirty-four. There was a people carrier parked in front; a young couple were helping two small children out of the rear seats. They all walked up to the front door, the father thumbing through a set of keys, one of the children skipping along, excitedly. The father unlocked the front door and went in.

Who were they? Jason wondered, feeling a little relieved. It didn’t look like an estate-agency viewing – and besides, it would be too soon after the owners had died for probate to have been granted and the property put on the market, surely? Relatives of the deceased seemed the most likely.

Could they be the couple with the two small children he’d seen in the house before?

He liked that as an explanation.

39

Monday 17 December

Jason turned back to the painting of the two labradoodles. But as he tried to focus, he was distracted by the noise from the construction site to the west. His tiredness from his disturbed night seemingly accentuating every sound.

As he worked, he could not shut out the endless roaring and grinding, the jangling clatter of metal chains and tumbling rubble. He hadn’t really noticed the noise from the site when they’d originally viewed the house – probably because they were focused on the house and excited. Nor had he really been aware of it on Friday, distracted by the task of moving in.