‘We have proof,’ Endora said.
There was a long pause.
‘Proof?’
Endora proceeded carefully. ‘We have video footage of a young girl in the dorm room of the old boarding school that we believe is a ghost.’
‘You do?’
‘Yes, and we’d be very happy to show it to you.’
A few nervous moments passed as they waited for her response.
‘Who filmed this?’
‘One of your students.’
‘I’m not sure I need to see any footage, Professor Spright. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I am very much aware how easy it is in today’s world, with all its technology, to manipulate an image so it looks like something it simply is not.’
Endora tried again. ‘We believe this image has not been tampered with and does indeed offer us genuine proof, and that the ghost may even have been one of the school’s former students.’
Principal Primm spoke softly. ‘You do?’
‘Yes. Has this happened before?’
‘No, of course not, and I don’t really see what I can do for you.’
‘We were hoping to gain access to the school’s records from around the time of the closure of the boarding facilities to see if this is the case.’
‘I’m afraid we don’t do that.’ Principal Primm’s cheeriness dissolved. ‘As you can understand, a valuable historical resource such as those files has to be protected in case –’
‘We know about the murder,’ Endora said.
‘Well, I . . . you must . . .’ Principal Primm tried her best to regain her composure. ‘That was a terribly tragic episode in an otherwise unblemished history of a very fine school that –’
‘Oh, but you’re being modest.’ Endora could feel her chance at obtaining the boarding school records slip away. ‘Yours is not simply a “fine” school but one of the most outstanding in this country. And I believe, in recent years, it has been your expert guidance and wisdom that has elevated it so that it’s even more highly regarded than ever before, as evidenced by the mature and upstanding students Gravesend produces.’ Endora snuck a quick smile at Angeline and Edgar.
‘Yes, well, it does have a very good name,’ Principal Primm’s voice softened, ‘which is why the boarding school files have been locked away. The school’s board at the time decided that no good could come from dredging up such a sad past, so they had the files firmly locked away.’
‘Files you have access to?’
‘Why, yes, of course, but not in this instance.’
‘I’m not sure if you know much about the Ghost Club, Principal Primm, but we are the oldest paranormal investigation society in the world. We have trained experts armed with the latest in ghost-catching equipment who are well-versed in finding and tracking down unwanted supernatural disturbances.’
‘Yes, but I don’t think we’ll be needing –’
‘The Ghost Club can find out the cause of last night’s disturbance and make sure it never happens again.’
‘I’m sorry, but I have to agree with the board that some things are best left in the past.’
‘But with the unfortunate incident from the past,’ Endora said delicately, ‘I can only imagine how desperately you and the board want to protect your school from another episode that may tarnish its reputation.’
‘Most definitely.’
‘And that the parents would applaud you for safeguarding the students from any more upsetting incidents.’ Endora crossed her gloved fingers.
‘They were very upset.’ Principal Primm seemed to be coming round. ‘I suppose we could make the files available – but only for a very short time and only on the condition that a very limited number of people see them.’
Angeline and Edgar’s faces lit up.
‘And you are sure this will help deal with last night’s . . . problem?’
‘Undoubtedly.’
‘Well, if you are convinced, Professor Spright, you can have them. When would you like to come in?’
Endora’s beaming face crash-landed in a frightened scowl. ‘Come in?’ she wheezed.
‘Yes, certainly. Those files are very valuable to us and have never left the grounds for any reason. If anything was to happen to them, our only records of the school from that time would be lost. I’m sure you understand. I could even have Ms Gently whip up a lovely batch of scones with cream and tea – she makes a lovely scone.’
What Miss Primm didn’t realise from the other end of the phone was that Endora Spright had heard very little of her offer of scones and tea. She was caught in the throes of terror at the idea of the very possibility of the merest thought of having to leave the Ghost Club’s grounds. It had been many years since Endora had ventured outside. Not only was it the fear of billions of rampaging germs and bacteria just waiting for the chance to smother her with their diseases, but the outside world – its uncertainty and danger and delivery men – was an altogether, far too terrifying place for her to even think of entering.
Her face went pale, her mouth dried up, and she gulped back a huge glass of water before trying to gain her composure.
‘In our line of work,’ Endora began a little unsteadily, ‘we have handled many sensitive and delicate documents, which are sometimes hundreds of years old. You have my absolute guarantee that no harm will come to those records in any way.’
‘I’m sorry, but I really must –’
‘While your offer is very kind,’ Endora pulled a fan from her desk drawer and began waving it furiously, as if she was burning up, ‘we have technology here at the club that enables us to analyse records in minute detail, allowing a more thorough investigation than would otherwise be possible.’
‘I’m going to have to insist that –’
‘And of course it would probably be best at this fraught time to be as discreet as possible.’ Endora continued to wave her fan, desperately searching for a reason not to leave the mansion. ‘It may only cause further turmoil if Ghost Club members were discovered visiting the school.’
‘Oh, dear me, I hadn’t thought of that.’
Endora sighed and relaxed a little.
But what Principal Primm said next brought all manner of worldly horrors screaming into her mind. ‘I’ll gather them together when I return to the school and have them sent over by courier.’
That was it. Endora’s heart beat frantically, her breathing became strangled, and her face lost the last bit of colour it had.
‘Professor Spright?’ Principal Primm only heard silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a thud. A rather heavy thud, as if someone had fallen to the floor – which is precisely what had happened.
‘Hello? Is something wrong?’
The ghost-catchers stared at the Head of Spectral Research lying on the floor, knowing they had to say something.
‘Endora has fainted,’ Angeline answered into the speaker.
‘Fainted? Is she okay?’
‘She’ll be fine. You see, she hasn’t left the Ghost Club grounds for many years. She’s not very fond of the outside world – and is deathly afraid of delivery men.’
‘Delivery men?’
‘Yes. Her family disappeared while on holiday in Trinidad and Tobago, and the message was delivered to her by a delivery man. She’s hasn’t been able to face one ever since.’
‘Delivery men? Disappearances? Why I . . . Who I am speaking to?
‘This is Angeline Usher.’
There was a brief pause. ‘Angeline Usher? Is this a crossed line? I’m sorry, but I am going to have to go – I’ve no time to speak to students. I was in the middle of a very important –’
‘I know,’ Angeline said delicately. ‘I’ve been listening.’
‘Listening? To my private conve
rsation? Knowing it has nothing to do with you?’
‘Actually, it does.’
‘How exactly does it have anything to do with you?’
‘I’m here at the Ghost Club with Endora Spright.’
Principal Primm had so many questions stampeding through her head that she stumbled over all of them at once. ‘Why are you . . . What are you . . . How is it that . . . Is Endora okay?’
‘Endora’s fine,’ Edgar said. ‘She’s incredibly agoraphobic, which means she has a terrible anxiety about being in places or situations –’
‘I know what agoraphobia is! What I don’t know is who you are.’
‘Edgar Usher.’
‘Edgar Usher? Angeline’s brother? You’re both at this Ghost Club? Does your family know that you –’
‘Yes, they do, and I have to say they are both very proud of us.’
‘Are they?’ Principal Primm’s voice hardened. ‘I think you both need to meet me in my office at eight o’clock Monday morning so we can discuss what it is exactly you are doing there. And bring your parents.’
The click of the phone marked a very definite end to the conversation.
‘That didn’t go quite as we’d hoped,’ Dylan said.
Edgar pulled some smelling salts from his pocket and held them under Endora’s nose. ‘Do you think Principal Primm will still give us the scones?’
Angeline slumped into her chair. ‘I think she’s going to give us a lot more than that.’
The Usher family stared at Principal Primm from the other side of her oversized desk. Beside her stood Ms Gently, listening attentively to every word she was saying. The principal had been speaking for quite some time, and it didn’t seem as if she was finished just yet.
‘As Principal of this school, I must ensure that all of our students act in a way that upholds the dignity of this institution and do nothing to bring disrepute to our fine name.’
‘Of course,’ Arthur Usher began. ‘And we would never do that, you see, we –’
‘And it is the parents’ responsibility to ensure their children’s safety and bright futures by raising them in a way that encourages them to excel and be the very best people they can be.’
Arthur Usher shifted in his seat and tugged at his tie. ‘Yes, Principal Primm, we very firmly believe that too and hope each day we are doing just that.’
‘Yes, well, I am deeply concerned about their association with . . .’ She paused, as if even saying the name would ruin the school’s reputation. ‘The Ghost Club.’
Lily Usher leant forward. ‘Oh, but I’m not sure you are aware, Principal Primm, that the Ghost Club is the oldest paranormal investigation society in the world and –’
‘Yes, Mrs Usher, I do know all that. Professor Spright informed me and I have been doing some of my own investigation as well. Stories of haunted castles, clearing out ghosts in churches and trying to quell the damaging antics of . . . poltergeists?’
‘They can be messy.’ It was out of Angeline’s mouth before she could stop it.
‘What is also very messy, young lady, is your first-hand knowledge of such things.’ Principal Primm’s look could have frozen an ocean. Which would be impossible, as Edgar would have told her, because of all the salt, but it was still very frightening to witness. ‘There is only one solution I can see.’
‘Yes?’ Arthur Usher reached for his wife’s hand.
‘If Edgar and Angeline are to continue as students at Gravesend College, they will cease and desist all association with the Ghost Club, effective immediately.’
‘Sorry?’ Angeline sprang forward on her chair.
‘We cannot, under any circumstances, have you involved in anything that will in the slightest way injure our good name. This school has worked very hard to be in the position it’s in now, and I will not have you altering that in any way.’
‘But, Principal Primm,’ Arthur began, ‘if we can promise –’
‘I’m afraid that is my only and final offer.’ She turned to Angeline. ‘I know you are upset, but you will see – when you’re older you will thank me.’ She stood up and held out her hand. ‘Thank you for coming to see me, and I trust this will be the last we shall hear of the matter. Ms Gently, please see them out.’
Ms Gently silently escorted the Ushers outside, where they stood in the car park in a combined state of shock.
‘She can’t make us leave the Ghost Club, can she?’ Angeline asked.
‘I think she just did,’ Edgar answered.
‘We do come up against this from time to time,’ Arthur Usher said with more than a sad lilt in his voice. ‘It’s hard for most people to understand what we do.’
‘But it’s for their own good,’ Angeline protested. ‘To keep the world safe.’
‘It’s true,’ Edgar said. ‘Without the Ghost Club the world would be swarming with unwanted, pesky paranormals.’
Lily Usher put her hands around her children’s shoulders. ‘When people are confronted by the unusual and the unknown, often their first reaction is fear. Your dad and I happen to think being a ghost-catcher is a very important and noble profession.’
Arthur Usher sighed. ‘But for now your education is also important and, if we have to choose between the two, school will always come first.’
‘But I can’t leave the Ghost Club – it’s the only thing I’m really good at!’
‘That’s not true,’ Edgar said. ‘You’re good at lots of things.’
‘Okay, the only thing I’m good at and really love.’
Arthur wore a worried frown. ‘Grandmaster Fleischmann will be very upset to discover he’s losing two of his finest catchers.’
‘He won’t be happy,’ Angeline said. ‘At least his life isn’t over.’
‘Your life’s not over.’ Arthur kissed his daughter on the head. ‘You’ll be graduating from high school sooner than you know, and the Club will welcome you back with open arms.’
‘Until then,’ Lily said, ‘we need to be patient and accept Principal Primm’s decision . . . unless we can think of something to change her mind.’
She gave her children a hug before she and Arthur got in the car and drove out of the school gates.
‘Be patient?’ Angeline watched them leave. ‘Graduation is years away, and in the meantime there are weeping ghosts and frightened people who need our help and we won’t be able to do anything about it! It can’t be over just like that.’
‘What’s “over just like that”?’
Angeline’s skin prickled. She knew that voice. She’d heard it many times before, mostly attached to an insult. She turned to see Travis and his ever-present disconcerting smile.
‘The morning,’ Edgar said. ‘I really enjoy mornings with my parents, and now it’s all over.’ He snapped his fingers. ‘Just like that.’
A crowd of kids nearby looked over nervously. Travis had the ability to instil fear, even for those who weren’t in his sights.
‘No one really likes being with their parents.’ Travis frowned. ‘Don’t you even care that that’s not normal?’
Edgar moved closer to Travis’s beefy chest and smiled. ‘Not one bit.’
Travis wasn’t used to other kids not being scared of him, and his smile slipped momentarily. ‘I heard everything, you know.’
‘Everything what?’ Angeline felt her cheeks burn.
‘Your little meeting with the principal.’
‘Oh that.’ Angeline laughed. ‘It was nothing. Principal Primm just wanted to –’
‘Talk to you about being ghost-catchers? I knew it! I was in sick bay next door with a sudden upset tummy . . . and a glass against the wall so I could hear everything.’
‘No . . . she . . . errr . . .’ Angeline’s palms began to sweat.
More
kids edged closer, trying to hear what was going on.
‘And she told you you’re not allowed to catch them anymore if you want to go to this school, and that Mummy and Daddy aren’t looking after you properly and –’
‘That’s it!’ Angeline gave a quick nod to Edgar before they sprang at Travis, grabbing him by the arms and dragging him behind the toilet block.
‘Hey!’
The twins each held Travis’s arms against the wall.
‘I know we may be the school freaks,’ Angeline said, ‘and not even that strong, and for years you’ve been saying whatever you’ve liked about us, but the second you start picking on our mum and dad, you’re dealing with a whole different Angeline and Edgar.’
Travis stared wide-eyed but said nothing.
A small group of kids poked their heads around the corner.
‘Well?’ Angeline tried desperately to look menacing as her thundering heartbeat shook her to her toes.
‘That’s the most I’ve ever heard you say in one go.’
‘Well, I’ve got a lot more to say if you decide to pick on my parents again.’ Angeline blew her hair out of her eyes.
‘Yeah, but the principal said –’
‘Does your family have rubbish that needs to be collected?’
‘What?’ Travis sneered.
‘Do they put rubbish out on bin nights?’
‘Yes.’ He frowned.
‘Do your sinks or toilet ever get blocked and they call a plumber to sort it out?’
Travis looked unconvinced. ‘What does that have to do with –’
‘Just answer the questions!’ Edgar did a good impersonation of a tough cop he’d learnt from TV.
‘Yes, they do all those things.’ Travis shrugged.
‘That’s not so different from what we do. You can pick on me all you like and tell everyone you know that I’m weird, but what my family does is no more surprising than someone’s mum who’s an accountant or dad who’s a fireman. One fixes numbers, the other fixes fires . . . Our family fixes problems with ghosts.’
Angeline gave her brother a pointed look and they both let go of Travis’s arms and stepped away, ready for the abuse to start flowing.
Ghost Club 2 Page 9
