Cherringham--Scared to Death

by Matthew Costello

  Good idea. With Billy suddenly barrelling on, good to capture as much as they could.

  “Yeah. The Mummy’s Return. Three months in Cairo, we did. Bloody hot it was too. I had to learn a lot about the ancient world for that, I can tell you. How to kill people, you know?” A laugh. “That, and how to revive the dead.”

  Jack saw Sarah look from the photos back to Billy.

  “So … Hill House, in Cherringham. The effects. Did someone ask you to do them? Set up those effects to scare Basil?”

  And at that, Billy laughed, actually slapped his thigh.

  “Someone ask me? Hah — bloody right, they did. Oh yes, they asked me all right!”

  Jack waited while Billy leaned forward, took a gulp from his pint. Then he nodded towards the wall behind Jack.

  “See that photo? The one in the centre?”

  Jack turned to look. There, in a framed ten by eight, in faded Kodak tones, was Basil, in full vampire gear. For a moment he didn’t know who the other two people in the photo were.

  A man holding a silver cross. And a woman with black hair and matching flashing, dark eyes.

  Alyssia.

  And was she ever something …?

  “Who asked me?” said Billy. “You wanna know who asked me? Ha!”

  He killed the last of his pint and put the glass down with a sharp crack of glass on wood that had been dotted with beer over a hundred years.

  “Was Basil himself who asked me.”

  14. Scared … to Death?

  Sarah felt confused.

  She looked at Jack. They had so many suspects, but now it turned out the culprit was Basil himself?

  But when she turned back to Billy, his eyes so alive as if he was enjoying this little game, a hint of a half-smile, she felt …

  There was more to come.

  Then, a voice from behind her.

  “All right, Dad?”

  And Tommy pulled a stool across and joined the three of them, slotting another brimming pint in front of his father, and putting a bottle of Corona onto the table in front of himself.

  “Cheers, son,” said Billy, picking up the pint.

  “Dad,” said Tommy, holding up his bottle to his father and putting it to his lips.

  Sarah watched them both take a gulp, then: “Your dad here has been telling us how Basil asked him to set up the effects up at Hill House.”

  “But I’m guessing it was you that did the dirty work,” said Jack.

  “Dirty work?” said Tommy. “Hey — come on. It was a job, like any other.”

  “Paid?”

  “Ask Dad,” said Tommy, with a shrug.

  “Was a favour for my old pal Basil,” said Billy. “And a chance for me to pass on some of the tricks of the trade to my boy here.”

  “So, you didn’t go out to Cherringham yourself then?” said Sarah.

  “You kidding?” said Tommy. “Home to here and back again — that’s the sum total of Dad’s walkabouts these days.”

  “The noose — the blood in the bath — the wicker man — that was all your work, Tommy?”

  Tommy nodded: “Yeah. Wasn’t easy, some of it. Especially as — couple of times — I had to get in and out of the house without being seen.”

  Sarah saw Billy lean across and whack him on the arm:

  “Not easy? Not easy! No need to be so shy about it — that was class that was, Tommy. I’m proud of you!”

  “You were at the house the night before last then?” said Jack. Sarah watched him lean forward, eyes on Tommy. “The night Basil died?”

  “Yeah, I drove up straight from here, with the wicker devil in the back of the van. Met up with old Basil — all quiet like, dead of night — told him what he had to do — then scarpered.”

  “And did Basil say why he was doing it?” said Sarah. “All this effort?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” said Billy, putting down his beer and leaning forward. Sarah could see the beers were having an effect — the old man’s voice slurring. “How better to get the bloomin’ public interested in all his old films? His old career. Think about it!”

  Sarah looked at Jack, then turned back to Tommy. “So you set up the effects? Left instructions?”

  “That’s right.”

  “There’s one thing I don’t get, though.”

  “Go on,” said Tommy.

  “Basil was way too frail to go round lining up skulls, putting up nooses. He must have had help — from someone.”

  “You’re right,” said Jack, then to Tommy: “You must have talked to other people there — not just Basil.”

  Sarah watched Tommy carefully. He took another swig of lager, not speaking.

  “Old Basil could do it, no problem,” said Billy. “Fit as a whippet he was. That’s what he said to me on the blower. Didn’t need no help. Isn’t that right son?”

  Tommy looked around the table slowly, suddenly uncomfortable. Then: “Not exactly,” he said. “He did have some help.”

  “Someone you talked to?”

  Sarah could hardly wait. Who was it? Alyssia? Gordon? Karina …?

  “That old actor,” said Tommy. “You know? From the horror films, just like Basil. Rayment — that’s his name, I think. Val Rayment.”

  Sarah — surprised — looked over at Jack, who raised his eyebrows and seemed about to speak, but Billy got in first.

  “What? Rayment? You’re kidding me!”

  “It’s true, Dad. He and Basil — every time I went up there, they were like kids together, all laughing, giggling. Plotting.”

  “But hang on. That’s not possible, son. Basil Coates — and Val Rayment … Together? Laughing?!”

  “Swear to God,” said Tommy. “He helped out right from the beginning. But, you know, he asked me not to tell you. Said you and he had a bit of a falling out, long time ago, said he didn’t want to spoil Basil’s fun.”

  “I’ll be …” said Billy, shaking his head. “Val Rayment — and Basil Coates.”

  “Why so surprised, Billy?” said Sarah, reaching across the table and touching the man’s arm.

  Billy took another swig of beer, then wiped his mouth with his sleeve and pointed up to the poster of The Mummy’s Return.

  “Okay. You see, on that film right there, Basil and Val met Alyssia for the first time. Imagine you all know that tale, hmm? Who doesn’t? How Basil and Alyssia fell in love in the desert sands?”

  Another swig. And Sarah thought … it’s like the past coming to life with the old man’s memories …

  “But here’s the thing, the way they tell it, it’s not the whole story, is it? You see, the very minute they met Alyssia, both of them was totally besotted with her. I mean — cor — who wouldn’t be? Alyssia played the two of them — but it was Val she fell for first. And all the way through rehearsals, over the road there, well, it was Val and Alyssia that was the big romantic story. They was the golden couple. Basil wasn’t cutting it. All of us on the crew — we could see that. And boy, was he pissed off about that.”

  “So what happened?” said Jack. “What turned things around?”

  Billy took another sip of beer. Sarah could see he was enjoying this, the centre of attention, the teller of tales.

  “Cairo, that’s what happened. The pyramids. The curse of the mummy’s tomb!”

  Nobody spoke. Billy looked around the table, then laughed.

  “Two days into the location shoot, all going well, then — bingo — Val collapses on set. Pretty dramatic, it was. All doubled up, clutching his stomach, in agony. Screaming, crying out in pain. So they cart him off to hospital. And that’s where he stays — for near on a month.”

  “What happened to the film?” said Sarah.

  “Shot around him, didn’t we? They rewrote the script. Val’s part turned into not much more than a walk-on. Basil became the big star. And with that, the rest is movie history. Basil won fair lady. Basil got all the big roles from then on.”

  “So, Val Rayment never got the big parts again,” said
Jack.

  “Too right! He was left out in the cold, he was. Studio lost interest in him, now that they had Alyssia and the great Basil as a pair.”

  He took a breath.

  “Doubt he ever got over it. Bad blood, you know.”

  “Why?” said Sarah.

  “Here’s the thing … Doctors never did find out what laid Rayment low. Back in England he blamed everyone. Producer. Director. Crew. Caterers. Even me and my lads! And, of course, the bloke what took away his beautiful Alyssia … Basil Coates.”

  “Okay. So that’s why you’re so surprised the two of them are now best pals,” said Jack.

  Billy snorted. “Best pals? Don’t you believe it.”

  *

  Her head spinning, Sarah raced with Jack to her car.

  Lady Repton’s big Halloween party — something they really shouldn’t miss — only hours away.

  Armed with everything they had learned, they agreed one thing …

  They needed to talk to Val Rayment again.

  Starting the ride back to Cherringham, through endless traffic, Sarah considered everything that Billy had said.

  As was Jack’s pattern, he had grown quiet after they dashed away from Ealing — leaving Billy and his memories and revelations behind — while he thought through things.

  Sarah waited until she was settled on the motorway out of town, then: “Funny,” she said. “We know a hell of a lot more. But we don’t have anything, really. Do we?”

  “Nope. We know that Val lied about being involved in the stunts. But we don’t know why. Could be an entirely innocent reason.”

  “You think Alyssia could be involved too?”

  “Do you?” said Jack.

  “Breakfast yesterday … the way she and Val were together. I don’t know … something.”

  “Yeah, saw that too. But nothing to hang a case on.”

  “Jack — maybe there’s no case at all now?”

  “How so?”

  “We thought somebody set up the stunts to scare Basil — give him a heart attack …”

  “But turns out it was just Val helping Basil get some publicity for his book.”

  “Exactly — no crime there,” said Sarah. “But then — why do I still feel we haven’t got to the bottom of this?”

  Jack laughed. “Because you’ve got good instincts,” said Jack. “And I happen to agree with you.”

  Sarah checked the time on the dash. “Think we’ve run out of time to talk to Val tonight.”

  “Yeah, looks that way. We got a party to go to.”

  “When we get in, I’ll call him — fix something for tomorrow.”

  She changed lanes to take the Oxford turning off the motorway. “Should be home in an hour, if the ring-road’s not busy.”

  They sat together in silence for a while. Then — a thought: “Jack — you know how all the stunts came out of Basil’s movies?”

  “Sure — the blood, the skulls …”

  “Well, what if his own death is somehow … I don’t know … what if that’s in one of the movies too?”

  “You mean — the whole thing is some kinda message?”

  “Yes. No. I’m not sure. Oh, I don’t know, it’s probably nonsense.”

  “No — keep going.”

  “Everything that happens — and everyone we talk to — it keeps coming back to that one movie …”

  “The Mummy’s Return?”

  “Yeah. And, you know, I haven’t even seen it! But maybe the movie has some kind of … meaning …? In fact, maybe we should watch it?”

  “Good idea,” said Jack. “Must be forty years since I last saw it. All I remember is the vampire having his way with the beautiful tomb-raider.”

  “Selective memory, Jack,” said Sarah, laughing.

  “Teenage memory, more like …”

  “Ha, talking of which, why don’t we call Daniel? He’ll still be at home getting ready for his party. These days he’s the horror buff — maybe he can line it up for us to watch.”

  “Kids and Halloween parties. Almost more popular than Christmas.”

  “I also think … you know that girl I saw him with? I imagine she might be at his party as well.”

  “That stuff going strong, hmm? Poor Mom.”

  “I know. When they’re little you think they’ll never grow up, then boom! There they are.”

  Sarah hit the phone button on her car.

  “Daniel Edwards.”

  And she heard the synthetic beeps of the number being called.

  *

  “Hi, Mum! Where are you? Your party’s like in two hours, isn’t it?”

  “Hey Daniel, Jack here.”

  “Oh, you guys investigating something?”

  Jack laughed. Daniel got so much pleasure out of what his mum and he did.

  Sure made Sarah not your typical single mom.

  “Could say that. Look, Daniel, you’ve been watching those films that Basil made, yes?”

  “I have, yeah. Why?”

  “There’s one in particular … wonder if you could dig it out for us?”

  He paused, not wanting it to sound too dramatic.

  “We need to see it.”

  “You guys are investigating! You got it, Jack. What’s the movie? I’ve pretty much got them all!”

  “Okay.”

  Sarah saw him smile.

  Jack never had a son, and sometimes it seemed like Daniel was doing a great job standing in for that role.

  *

  As they neared Cherringham, Sarah had one eye on the clock in the car, and the other on the road.

  “You okay dropping me at the Goose?”

  Sarah nodded. “Sure. Think you’d better make your own way to the party — I’ve a feeling I might be a bit late, sorting Daniel.”

  “No problem. Should be a fun event.”

  “Think so. Though, have you looked up there?”

  She pointed to the Rav-4’s moon roof.

  What had been a crisp autumn day had turned dark. Dusk arriving earlier every day. But it was now even darker, the sky filled with thick, black clouds.

  “Hmm, looks like a storm coming in. Guess we should have listened to the forecast.”

  And now Sarah laughed. “Oh, don’t you think it just adds to the mood?”

  Jack grinned, shook his head. “Sometimes … I think you are just enjoying this all too much!”

  “And you’re not? Come on — we’re both just big kids at heart!”

  And with the turn-off for Cherringham just ahead, and the riverside road that led to Jack’s boat close, they laughed.

  She had to admit.

  It was fun.

  15. The Killer in the Crypt

  After dropping Jack off, Sarah whizzed to her house.

  Daniel sat at the kitchen table in front of Sarah’s make-up mirror, applying red gore to his face.

  Looking like one of the walking dead waiting for its next tasty victim to stroll by.

  “Daniel — I’ve got to dash and get dressed. You find the movie?”

  “Yep — I downloaded it onto the DVR. Means we can watch it in here if you’ve got time.”

  “Good. I’ll go get dressed. Then take a look.”

  “Yup,” he said, drawing a jagged scar across his forehead.

  Would the movie tell them the missing piece?

  She’d know soon enough.

  *

  Jack saw Riley on the deck of The Grey Goose, tail wagging wildly as he ran up.

  “Hungry, boy? Sorry. Took a bit longer than we thought.”

  He grabbed a bag of dog food, and loaded Riley’s bowl.

  Jack would have loved to fix a martini — somehow the icy drink seemed to fit the night that lay ahead.

  But best he get dressed.

  He went to his small wardrobe which held his paltry array of clothes. Just the essentials to get him through the seasons, as well as the one dress outfit when the occasion demanded.

  But for tonight, also containing th
e costume he’d rescued from Sarah’s trunk.

  Might be a tight fit, he thought as he pulled it out; the cape all satiny, the tux style from another century, with a crisp albeit yellowed shirt with ruffles.

  All he had to do was slick back his hair, pop in the teeth that Daniel gave him — and he’d be all set.

  And Jack thought: Never been a vampire before …

  First time for everything!

  *

  Sarah looked in the mirror. Perhaps she hadn’t examined her last-minute change of outfit carefully enough before deciding to wear it.

  Now looking in the full-length mirror, the black dress with red trim was all rather more than she imagined.

  Or more accurately, less.

  Low cut, shoulders visible, and now with her hair down and rendered as vampire curly as she could, it gave her more than a pause.

  More like a full stop.

  Still, she didn’t have time to switch, so she grabbed the matching pair of teeth that Daniel had found — ones dotted with red to simulate blood.

  And she hurried downstairs just as her zombie son shouted, “Got it ready to play.”

  She came into the kitchen as Daniel stood up.

  “Mum — wow.”

  And Sarah had to think: Too over the top?

  Was that a good “wow” … or the other kind?

  “Too much? I could get a shawl.”

  “No — with those teeth, you look like real lady vampire! It’s brilliant.”

  “You sure know how to compliment a ghoul,” she said, smiling.

  “Ouch,” said Daniel, grinning. “Right then — you got time to watch some of this now?”

  “Sure,” said Sarah, checking her watch and taking a seat. “Hit play.”

  And, sitting in the kitchen, she the alluring vampire, her son in fake blood-stained rags and tatters, the really scary thing was this movie they were about to watch.

  Because hidden in there — just like all the other things that happened to Basil — could be the key to his death.

  The one thing that maybe explained everything.

  *

  Jack pulled up in the gravel car park of Repton Hall, turned off the engine of his Austin Healy Sprite, and climbed out.

  He took in the place. Lines of flares illuminated the drive, their flames bending in the rising winds. Not raining yet — but there sure was a storm on its way.