“Where?” Neil asked confused, looking all around.
“The dog…Its Anna. She did it before, she’s here. The dog can lead us to her” Neil still didn’t get it. He looked at Morley as if he was crazy.
“It’s a dog, not Lassie from the TV, it can’t take us anywhere.
“No you don’t understand, Anna can talk to the dog and it can hear her and obey her. I’ve seen her do it before. Isn’t that right Boozy.” He bent down and the dog sat still and gave a single bark. “Watch” Gary spoke to the dog again. “Are you here Anna?” Boozy barked an acknowledgement. “Can you tell us where you are?” The dog barked again. “See!” Morley said.
“Okay” Neil said still not quiet believing. “If you really are here Anna get the dog to show me where the house-warming present I gave you is.” Boozy calmly walked to the back garden and stopped in front of a set of three garden gnomes, he whined softly and looked at Neil. “Jesus, that’s amazing!” Neil said finally believing. “Can you show us where you are?”
Boozy went to the back door and scratched on it. Neil opened it and followed by Morley they both entered. The dog then went to Anna’s office and pulled open the top drawer of the desk and pulled out a map of Ireland.
“Morley took the map from the dog’s mouth and opened it up, spreading it out on the floor, they poured over it.
“Where are you Anna?” Boozy obediently put his paw on the map, covering part of Cork County.
“Jesus!” Neil said “That’s still a big area to cover. Let’s try to break it down.” To Anna or Boozy, he wasn’t sure which, he said. “Bark when I say the closest village or town.” He began naming out towns and villages, the dog was silent cocking his head slightly as he waited from instructions from his mistress. Then Neil named it…the dog barked loudly. Gary said it again just to be sure and the dog barked again.
“Do you know where that is?” Gary quizzed Neil
“Yep, it’s about forty five minutes from here. Come on, if he’s there, he’ll stick out like a sore thumb. It’s a small community and they’re bound to notice strangers.
They jumped into the car, leaving O Malley to deal with the local Gardaí. Boozy was put in the back and he lay on the seat quietly, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth.
“Google the area, something might jump out at you.” Neil said. Morley took out his phone and googled the area, for fifteen minutes there was silence as he searched the internet, then Morley gave a gasp.
“I think I have it, Stonehurst Manor, it belongs to Lord Cavendish.”
“Who’s he?” Neil asked
“He’s the brother, of Sylvia Cavendish. One of the woman Kingston murdered. It says here that most of the estate was sold but the family still own the manor and about two hundred acres around it.”
“I think I know where it is.” Neil said excited. “My mother used to take us to all the big country houses when we were young. It sounds familiar.”
They came to the gates of the old manor house, they were rusty and barely hanging in place, a lock and chain were holding them shut. Morley noticed that the chain had been cut and that there were fresh tyre tracks leading up the overgrown laneway.
“Looks like someone was here recently.” He observed
“Let’s leave the car here and go the rest of the way on foot.” Neil suggested. They locked the car and after putting Boozy on the lead they crept up the lane. The house came into view. Neil told Gary to creep around the back and check the out-buildings while he tried the main house.
Around the back of the house, Morley found the vehicle, it was new obviously a rental. This looks like the place alright, he muttered to himself. He began to systematically examine the out buildings one by one. He opened one stall door and must have disturbed some pigeons roosting, they flew out and startled him, he jumped back dropping the dogs lead. Boozy discovering he was free bounded off and Morley was left with no choice but to follow.
Neil meanwhile was looking through the downstairs windows, it was difficult to see through the dirt and grime, but the house looked deserted. He continued around the side of the house, still looking, until he heard a noise that caught his attention. It was the sound of voices and it was coming from what look like an old hay shed or barn. He crept up to the wooden door and peeped in. He couldn’t hear anything at first, then he heard her. It sounded like someone trying to scream but muffled. He pushed open the door and slowly entered. He didn’t see the figure hiding in the shadows until it was too late. He was focused on Anna, she was standing against the back wall arms tied behind her back and she was struggling to free herself. The shadow moved quickly, out of the corner of his eye he caught the movement, but he was too late. Something heavy was smashed against his head and he saw stars. He fell to his knees groaning. The shadow struck again, bringing the wok down on his head with a wallop. He lost consciousness.
Kingston emerged from the shadows laughing. “Where did he come from, I didn’t hear a car. Did you think it was your knight in shining armour coming to rescue you?” he mocked moving quickly towards Anna. She cowered away from him, praying that Morley would be more careful. She recognised her cousin as he came through the door and tried to warn him, but he hadn’t understood and Kingston had spotted him first. A noise overhead halted him again, he looked up and was just in time to see Boozy leap from the hay loft. He tried to protect himself but the dog was quicker. Boozy had caught Anna’s scent and he had bounded up the concrete steps on the outside of the barn. He jumped through the small opening that had once been a door, his mistress’s smell was getting stronger, but there was a stronger smell. He recognised it as the stranger who had hit him earlier. It was a bad smell. He let out a fierce growl and seeing his mistress in danger he leapt on the man. He could smell the blood coming from the wound on his hand and when he jumped at the man, he landed between him and Anna. Growling and barking viciously he dared the bad man to attack. Kingston swiped at the dog with the wok, but the Boozy dodged it easily. He wasn’t about to be caught off guard a second time. He leapt at Kingston and caught the wounded hand in his mouth. The man let out a howl of agony as the dogs teeth tore into his flesh. He tried to fend the dog off but it kept coming. A man suddenly jumped from the loft. He shouted something to the dog and it backed off slightly. Morley had followed Boozy and was just in time to see his tail disappear through the opening. He followed as quickly as he could and was just in time to see the dog attack Kingston. He quickly handcuffed his quarry and ignoring the man’s pleas he left Boozy to stand guard. He saw Anna by the wall, she was desperately trying to free herself. He took the gag off her mouth and kissed her tenderly on the lips.
“The keys, they’re in his pocket.” She gasped. Morley retrieved the keys and freed Anna. She sent him to check on Neil, who was still slumped by the door and she went to Jamsie. He too was unconscious.
The ambulance arrived and both men were hauled off to hospital. Kingston was taken into custody, still protesting his innocence and shouting abuse at them all.
“I can’t leave you alone for a moment.” Morley whispered to Anna. “You get kidnapped and stabbed all in one day.” Anna smiled
“It’s all in a day’s work.” She said examining the cut on her stomach. “It’s just a scratch”
“I’m taking you to the hospital anyway. Gods knows what you might catch from that psycho.” Morley said firmly.
Andrea arrived in the A&E later and laughed when she saw the three of them sitting in the waiting room looking sorry for themselves.
“You look like the three stooges.” She said as she hugged them each in turn. “Come on the car’s outside. You’re all staying at ours tonight she said as she took her husband’s arm. They followed her obediently Boozy behind wagging his tail.
“How is Jamsie? Andrea asked and not receiving an answer she nudged Neil as they looked back to see where Anna and Gary were. The two were kissing, oblivious to the murderous clouds that had just broken their seal and were now spilling their guts
with gusto on the courting couple.
“Come on you two, you’ve plenty of time for that later. We’re getting soaked here.
Spiritwalker Page 26
