“Oh, I’m sorry. Jase, it is.”
“Your boss said on the phone that you had some questions you wanted to ask me.”
“I do, yes and I’m sorry about her. She’s always been an insensitive bitch.”
“Yeah, if it wasn’t for the money she offered, I’d have told her to go and fuck herself – snotty cow.”
“I would have, too.”
They both laughed.
“You want to know what happened to Ashley that night, don’t you?” He looked at her. Tears filled his eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Jase. It’s not my intention to upset you any more than you already are, but a long time ago I lost somebody very close to me in that place, and I’m trying to find out what’s going on there. I want the public to know the truth before another paper writes whatever they like.”
“I know what you mean. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing since that night, and if it wasn’t for your boss catching me off guard, I wouldn’t be sat here talking to you.”
“I know how hard this is and I appreciate it,” Sandra empathised.
“I’ll tell you if you swear that you won’t slag Ashley off. I’ve heard what you reporters are like. I won’t let you use anything I say unless you promise me.”
“I promise. I’m only here to get the truth. I want your brother’s killer to be found before anybody else is harmed.”
“That’s all I want,” he said, wiping the tears from his eyes.
Sandra took the digital recorder out of her bag and placed it on the table between them. “Do you mind if I record this?”
“Whatever.” He took a cigarette out of the packet from the table and lit it.
“So, can you talk me through what happened that night? Take as much time as you need and if you want to stop, just say.”
Jason spoke quietly, telling her why he and his brothers had gone to the Lane. She was spellbound listening to his story and could picture exactly where he was talking about. She could remember that night like it was yesterday.
“Me and Adam were messing about in the garden and recording it on our phones. Ash was on his own at the other end of the garden. It all happened so fast, you know, and he just seemed to appear out of thin air,” he said, trailing off.
“Who appeared out of thin air?”
“Some guy. I don’t know who he was, but he was in the garden. He appeared from nowhere and then a load of cats surrounded us.”
“Cats?” Her ears suddenly pricked up at the mention of cats- she had a vivid memory of her own.
“Yeah. I noticed them on the walls around the garden as soon as we got to the place. Ash was scared of them and wanted to go home. I should have listened to him. If I had, Ash would be alive today.” Jason bowed his head.
“Could you tell me about the man please?”
“I already told you I don’t know who he was. He was just there. I heard him speak, but I couldn’t see where the voice was coming from. Ash said he could see him, but it was pitch-black so he must have been standing closer to him than us. We were using the torches on our mobile phones so we could see where we were going. Adam and I were near the bottom of the garden and then we heard his voice. I told Ash to stay where he was.” Jason sounded angry as he relayed the story.
“What happened then?”
“Ashley told us he was there, but we couldn’t see him. He walked towards Ash and talked to him. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but then walked towards us. The cats were hissing and had surrounded us. I could see their eyes shining and it freaked me out, to be honest. Then the strangest thing happened.”
“With the cats, or the man?”
“Both,” he replied. “When he approached, the cats opened their circle and let him in. It was like he had some control over them.”
“How would he be able to control the cats?”
“I don’t know,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “If you’d been there, you would know what I meant.”
“Did he say anything to you?” Sandra was sitting on the edge of the sofa. His story was too familiar to her.
“He told us not to move and that he could only protect us.” Jason took a final drag on his cigarette and crushed it out in the ashtray.
“You mean he could only protect you and Adam?”
“I didn’t know who he meant at first so I told Ash to run. But someone else was in the garden. I couldn’t see who it was, but I knew someone had passed us. I could see the shadows move. I thought I might have been seeing things, but then I heard a sniffing sound as they went past.”
“Sniffing sound. What do you mean? Did whoever it was have a cold or something?”
“No,” he said abruptly. ”Whoever it was, sniffed the air as they went past us.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t an animal you heard?”
“All I can tell you is the shadow of it went past us. Both Adam and I saw it. It can’t have been bigger than a child as it was smaller than Ash. That’s all I could see as the torch on my phone isn’t that good. I knew Ash was on his own, but he wouldn’t run. He was probably too scared. I tried to get to him, but the man held me back.”
“Then what happened?”
“Ashley started to scream, and after a minute everything went silent.” The tears began to run down his face, and Sandra reached over and put her hand on top of his.
“I’m so sorry, Jase.”
“The police say they have no idea who could have done it. They don’t even know who ‘the man’ is. It’s been two weeks since he died, and they’ve found nothing. I just don’t understand it.”
He reached for another cigarette.
“I read the medical report on your brother. He was such a gorgeous little boy. The report said the cause of death was a heart attack.”
“Yeah, I know. They told me and my mum the same thing.”
“It stated he went into shock due to the injuries inflicted upon him.”
“How do you think you’d feel if somebody ripped the eyes out of your head?” he snapped.
Sandra didn’t want to be sitting opposite Jason and forcing him to relive the worst night of his life, but she had no choice.
“I’m sorry.” Sandra heard her voice break.
“Don’t apologise. It’s not your fault. I just don’t understand how somebody would be cruel enough to do that to another person, especially somebody like Ash. He wouldn’t harm a fly.”
“I don’t know either, Jason. I wish I could give you the answers you’re looking for.”
“They never found them, you know.”
“Never found what?” Sandra asked.
“His eyes. Whoever did that to him ripped his eyes out and took them. We’re going to have to bury him with no eyes.” A sob escaped from this throat.
Sandra’s stomach lurched. She had seen the pictures taken at the scene and would never forget his little face with the bloody cavities.
“I wish I could make things better for you, but I promise I’ll do all that I can to find out what is going on in that place. You have my word on that.”
“There’s something not right about that place, Sandra. That man and all those cats. You shouldn’t go anywhere near there. It’s too dangerous.”
“I’ll be careful,” she said, standing up. “Listen, Jase, thank you for talking to me today. I’ll get going now.”
“Okay, but before you go, there is one more thing I want to tell you, but you can’t tell anyone else. Promise me?”
She sat back down.
“I’ll only report what you ask me to, Jase, I promise.”
“I didn’t even tell the police as I was worried they’d think I was mad.”
“Why would they think you’re mad?”
He stood up, rummaging in his rucksack and pulled out a mobile phone. Searching for something, he quickly found what he was looking for.
“Press play.” He handed her the phone.
“What is it?”
“I had my phone on record that night to prove t
o some dick head in school that I’d been there.” Jason’s eyes filled with tears. “If only I hadn’t taken Ash there that night, he wouldn’t be lying dead in the morgue.”
Sandra pressed play and stared at the screen, but couldn’t see anything. “What am I looking at?”
“You’re not looking at anything, you’re listening.”
She put the phone to her ear and listened carefully. She could hear Jason talking to whom she assumed was Adam, then the distinct sound of a man talking, a familiar voice. Her heart began to thump in her chest as she continued to listen She heard the sniffing sound clearly, and her blood ran cold as the screams of Ashley Lee followed and could be heard echoing down the phone.
She looked over at Jason who had closed his eyes. “Keep listening,” he whispered.
Sandra pressed the phone to her ear again, but heard nothing. Wondering what she was supposed to be listening for, she froze at the unmistakable giggling sound in the background.
“Did you hear it?” he asked.
“I don’t know what I heard,” she lied.
“You know damn well what it was. Don’t treat me like a stupid fucking kid. I could tell by your face.”
“I thought I heard a little girl giggle in the background?” Sandra replied, looking for confirmation.
“You did, and that’s why I didn’t tell the police.”
***
Sandra sat staring at her computer screen – the finished story made her look like a fantasist.
There was no way she could present this to Rachel as she would be laughed out of the building.
Interviewing Jason Lee hadn’t helped at all and had made what was already considered an urban legend look like a far-fetched Hollywood storyline. There was no doubt in her mind that people would read it, but the paper would never be taken seriously again, and her career as a serious journalist would be over.
She picked up her phone and dialled her boss.
“Yes,” Rachel said, in her usual snooty voice.
“It’s Sandra.”
“I’m aware of that, lovely – caller ID you know,” she replied.
“Sorry to bother you, but I’ve got nothing for you in regards to Promised Land Lane,” Sandra said nervously.
“I do hope this is some sort of joke?”
“No, I’m not joking. There’s nothing worth printing. We don’t have anything. Jason Lee was no help. He didn’t see anything that hasn’t already been reported on the news – there’s nothing to go on.”
“I must say, I expected better from you, but I’m keeping you on this story – something will turn up, I have a good feeling about it.”
“But,” Sandra protested.
“You have your orders. Goodbye, Sandra.” Rachel hung up the phone.
Chapter 7
Ten years earlier
Dianne had made the decision to return to her childhood home and left County Cork shortly after Christmas. The snow had fallen heavy that week, and the Lane looked picturesque.
Her husband, Patrick, had died nine months earlier and the memories made it too painful to remain in the same place where they had spent forty blissful years. Packing up the memories, she cast her mind back to the tall, blond-haired man she met as they queued to see Jaws at the local cinema. It had been love at first sight and they had been inseparable, spending only two nights apart during their entire marriage.
At just four feet eleven inches tall, she fit perfectly under his arm. She had a tiny waist and generous chest, red wavy hair and milky white skin, but Patrick always said her vivid green eyes were her best feature. She had aged well and always took pride in her appearance, not leaving the house unless her hair and make-up were done to perfection.
Dianne’s friends and family begged her not to go, but nothing would dissuade her. She made numerous trips across the Irish Sea before finding the most beautiful old house she had ever seen.
Packing up her home in County Cork was heartbreaking, and she constantly questioned her decision, but knew she had to leave her old life behind if she hoped to move forward. Patrick’s voice echoed from the grave. “Go on you daft eejit, just do it and stop dithering.”
The house was a grand double-fronted property with enormous bay windows on either side of the solid wooden front door. The door’s red paint had deeply faded, but she could see everything restored to its former glory in her mind’s eye and smiled. She had always wanted a red door and made a mental note for the builders to paint it a pillar box red.
The back of the property had beautiful French doors that led to the expansive garden, and she’d been delighted when she found a beautiful old well hidden in the over grown shrubbery.
The property itself had two massive rooms at the front of the house, a huge hallway and central sweeping staircase with wings leading off to the east and west. The hallway reminded her of the one used in The Sound of Music, and in her head she played her favourite scene from the movie where the children sang ‘So Long Farewell’. She fell instantly in love with the property and knew it would need a lot of work in order to restore it to its former glory, but her husband had left her very well provided for and money would never be an issue for as long as she lived.
It was extremely cold the day she stepped off the ferry. The estate agent had been waiting to hand over the keys and stood on the doorstep shivering.
“I’m so sorry I’m late, Jenny. We were late docking in Liverpool,” Dianne explained.
“Don’t worry at all. I haven’t been waiting long,” the agent said.
Taking the keys from Jenny, she stepped into her new home smiling as she surveyed her surroundings.
The house had been refurbished and modernised in the months since Dianne had purchased it after lying empty for over ninety years. One of the front rooms still needed to be finished as did the library, but she had asked the contractors to stop work until after Christmas so she could get settled in.
“It’s lovely and warm. Did you come in earlier to turn the heating on?” Dianne asked.
“Yes. I hope you don’t mind?”
“Not at all. I’m glad you did. It’s freezing out there.”
“Well, I’ll say my goodbyes now, Dianne. I hope you’ll be happy here.”
“I’m sure I will be,” she said embracing, and kissing her on the cheek. But she got the distinct impression the woman couldn’t get out of the place fast enough.
***
Over the next few months, Dianne made some new friends and gradually began to feel like her old self.
The house became her pride and joy, but she longed for the warmer weather so she could get out into the garden. She had always loved gardening. It allowed her to gather her thoughts and, throughout her husband’s illness, had been the sanctuary she needed. She itched to get started, but a section of the garden was being used as a storage yard for the various materials her builders had used. She could live with it for the moment, but knew that as soon as spring arrived she would be out there weeding and mowing the overgrown grass. By summertime the garden would be beautiful, and she couldn’t wait to see it come to life.
***
Spring arrived slightly late that year.
Dianne got out of bed and opened the curtains smiling as the sun shone through the windows. She was thrilled. The house was now finished and more beautiful than she could have imagined and she would be able to turn her attention to the garden. Now the contractors had finished and removed their rubbish, it was like a blank canvas. She had called a landscaper to come and help her restore the garden. He would be here in a few days, but it wouldn’t stop her from making a start.
Throwing open the French doors, she noticed a light chill, but not enough to put her off. She smiled as she descended the steps that led down to the overgrown jungle. She walked the length and breadth of the garden, making mental notes, but she needed to make a list for the garden center. Heading back indoors, she found her notebook and pen on the kitchen table.
Dianne grabbed a bottle
of water out of the fridge before making her way back outside and towards the old well. She thought it looked beautiful and couldn’t wait to restore it and make it a centrepiece of the garden.
She pulled a handful of coins from her pocket and threw them down the well. Thinking herself a daft old woman, she made a wish. The coins clattered down the sides and instead of the splash she expected, they hit the solid ground. Jenny had told her the well was in working order. Never mind, she thought, it wasn’t as if she was going to walk down the garden to fill a bucket, not with the amount of money she’d spent on the plumbing.
Leaning against the well, she noticed several cats along the top of the walls that surrounded the garden. Cats made her uneasy, but at least they would keep the mice away.
She couldn’t stop smiling, feeling content for the first time in over a year.
Wasting more time than she should on daydreams, she made her way back towards the house. Her late husband occupied her thoughts, but she knew Patrick would tell her to pull her head out of the clouds and get on with it – it didn’t stop her wishing he was there to share her joy. Something at the corner of the house covered in blue plastic sheeting caught her eye and she cursed the contractors for leaving materials behind.
She pulled off the sheeting and was greeted by an old doll’s house. She gasped. How had she not noticed it before now? Although the paint had flaked and faded, she could see it would have been beautiful once upon a time. It was split off into eight sections and displayed intricate carving inside and out. Miniature furniture filled each section, and no detail had been spared.
She bent down to inspect the house and its contents more closely, wondering why such a beautiful piece had been abandoned, and noticed a child’s doll occupied one of the spaces. Thinking it unusual to have a doll inside, she reached for it to take a closer look. Suddenly, one of the cats shrieked causing her to jump up and scream. Scolding herself for being stupid, she pulled the doll out of the house, but something about it unnerved her as she tilted it back and forth. The doll’s eyes flew open and for a moment they looked so real and seemed to look directly at her. Mesmerized by the doll, she held it up to her face and could have sworn the eyes moved and focused on her. Silly old woman, she thought, and told herself it was a trick of the light before shuddering and placing it back where she found it. She covered the house back up with the plastic and decided she would call the contractor and ask them to remove it. Maybe they could donate it to a children’s home after they had thrown the creepy doll away?
Promised Land Lane Page 5
