“No!”
The quiet little man that was Old Mad Cole had got the nickname from constantly chasing chickens around his yard and shouting at anyone who dared to trespass on his land. He had a toothless grin and was often seen carrying a bottle of spirits. Along with string holding up his trousers and the threadbare brown jacket he always wore (we all guessed that it had never been washed) he had suited the name though no one could remember who had invented it. But he had been decent to us and was not inclined to bother or harm anyone, he kept to himself.
“The police didn’t find any evidence or anything?”
“Nothing,” Hannah added. “They searched for days and weeks but no one came forward with any information, and the house was so dirty and falling apart inside and out, it was difficult to glean any clues. The police gave up. I still think someone somewhere knows something but they’re not going to come forward now.”
Mira continued. “And he wasn’t the first. There were more disappearances, but never any information that the Police could find. The authorities are baffled. We all have to be careful around here. I’m surprised Daisy hadn’t told you.”
So there were more disappearances than just Daisy’s friend. That’s what she had been discussing when I overheard them.
“In the meantime, you’ve just got here!” Hannah threw a warning glance at Mira. “How do you fancy going into town now? Do you have any plans? There’s a cool coffee shop that we all hang out at, called The Catchers Call. Well, it’s not great but at least we can sit and chat for as long as we want without being hassled to vacate the table. We can give you the low down on everyone in town!”
“Great idea, I so need to get out of this house,” I said jumping up quickly. “I’ll just get my jacket, and put some earrings in.”
“Do you still get the headaches, Rose?” Mira asked quietly.
“How on earth did you remember that?” I questioned. I had forgotten that they would know about my one ailment. I must have suffered when I was smaller but I couldn’t remember.
“You would sometimes be out for days with those headaches,” Hannah added. “I never knew anyone so young with them; we must have been eight or nine. They were like the modern day migraine for you. We’d visit but your mum would tell us to come back another day.”
“I still remember your dad finding that metal stuff in…..where was it? South America somewhere?” Mira said.
“Peru,” I answered shell shocked that they had even remembered all of this.
“That’s it,” Mira continued. “And he made you earrings and hair bands and they seemed to cure your headaches instantly. It was so strange that it had no effect on anyone else when they tried it out.”
I stared at them both, smiling happily.
“What?” Hannah said surprised.
“I am so glad you’re here, and I’m here! And we have the whole summer together!” I grabbed them both into a bear hug and we all fell to the floor laughing.
I had to sit on the back of Hannah’s moped all the way into Warminster town. The spare helmet she always kept with her felt heavy on my head, and for a moment I was mildly claustrophobic.
Once we got into town we made for the main car park, where Daisy and I had parked. Hannah held the bike steady as I got off. The ride had not been comfortable and she laughed as I shook my dead legs and jumped around trying to get circulation back into my bottom. The three of us walked along a small alleyway which led to the centre of town.
Five minutes later we were gathered around a central table in the Café ordering coffees and orange juices. The Catchers Call was a small coffee shop in a quieter area of town, along one of the side-streets. Due to the school holidays the place was almost full, teenagers mostly, and every pair of eyes had been staring at me as we had walked in, followed by low whispers. This would start the rumour mills whirring, I thought.
Soon everyone else in the café seemed to be getting on with their own conversations, leaving us to get to know one another.
“Is your brother still around, Mira?” I asked. I knew that they had been close. Jason was the same age as Amy and we had hung out together when we were little.
“Yes, he’s not at home any more, he lives with some guys that hang around with Aiden Deverill. He still works in town so I see him a lot,” Mira answered.
“Oh, you guys were close; did you miss him when he left home?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe. But I actually see more of him now, he always pops back to bring his washing!” Mira joked. “Plus, Mum is always cooking him food parcels. I think she’s worried that he’ll starve living with a bunch of boys.”
“So, do you know most people in here?” I whispered to them both.
“They’re mostly from our school, some go to the private school on the other side of town but we get to meet them at the club. You’ll get to know people soon, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Hannah whispered back.
Mira had lived in Warminster for most of her life, so it had not been surprising the number of people she had greeted on our entrance. It was a small town after all. Hannah appeared to be popular too, and I was pleased that throughout her unhappy childhood she had gained confidence in herself.
Above all this, I was still unnerved by our conversation earlier regarding the disappearance of Old Mad Cole and the others. Daisy’s friend Maggie had a missing husband too, though it didn’t feel right to discuss it with the girls yet. I had no idea why but while I found the happenings eerie I was interested to find out more of the story.
“Hannah, earlier you were talking about the disappearances,” I asked quietly, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention. “Were there any links to the missing people? What do the Police say?”
Hannah looked awkward for a minute, and then slowly leaned forward.
“Firstly, be careful what you say, you don’t know who could be listening.”
I ducked my head, even more intrigued now, and after glancing around the coffee shop, we all leaned forward so she could continue.
“This is only my side, but my dad talks sometimes. He brings news back from the base. It’s just men working in the engineering department, they’re all civilians, but they all talk about it there. They’re worse than old women!” she smiled then carried on. “It must have been about three years ago when the first weird happening occurred.
Agatha Millard was elderly and lived on her own quietly. No one really knew that much about her because she kept to herself. Daisy knew her well, but Daisy keeps her own counsel as you know. Aidan Deverill’s grandfather used to look after the garden and do odd jobs around the house; he didn’t see anything strange either.”
“Who’s Aidan Deverill?” I had heard the name somewhere before.
“Look behind you, two tables to the left, but don’t make it look like you’re staring at him,” said Mira nervously whispering.
I turned and looked at the coffee counter, and then twisted slightly to look at the table of people. I turned back; I hadn’t picked out which one she had meant.
“He has black hair, blue eyes with a black shirt. He’s the one I mean,” Mira asked.
I turned back for a proper look this time.
Four older boys were occupying the table next to the window, and in the corner the dark haired one stared at me. The eyes were familiar somehow and his face was pleasant, good looking even. I was sure I’d seen him somewhere before but I couldn’t place him. His thick dark hair was long, just above his shoulders. We locked eyes for a second, I blushed, and turned back quickly in my chair, and I wasn’t quick enough to miss a smile from him.
The hairs on my arms stood up as I flushed, with faint embarrassment. My heart began to gallop like a pack of gazelles. Was it me or was it suddenly hot in here?
Hannah elbowed Mira who whispered “Are you all right? You’ve gone pink!”
“Shut up!” I quickly mouthed back to them both. I shut my eyes feeling mildly stupid but I could still see his gaze when I closed th
em.
“So, do you like him?” Hannah said quietly, not letting Mira continue.
“What’s not to like?” I said calmly. “I’m a girl and he’s gorgeous. But he wouldn’t be interested in me.”
“Are you kidding?” Mira sharply whispered. “Have you looked in the mirror lately? You’re the prettiest girl in the room.”
“No, I’m not, you are!” I threw back at her. “Get on with the story before I get really embarrassed!” I whispered, hoping the conversation would help my redness go away.
“Okay, well it was Aidan Deverill that found the body,” returned Mira, obligingly.
- Chapter FOUR -
“Body?” I gulped.
“Yes, Miss Millard’s body was on the top of Arn Hill, the one next to yours near the Golf course. But get this. The lady could barely walk, she used a frame around the house,” said Mira, unconsciously waving her hands around our small area. “And there she was, in her nightdress, lying down perfectly straight on the top of Arn Hill, with her arms crossed over her chest. It was Aidan that found her at about six o’clock that morning. She hadn’t been harmed in any way. She was just lying there, dead.”
“Well, do they know how she got there? Did his grandfather know anything?”
“There were no footprints, and that hill can get pretty muddy, especially after the rain. It’s almost as if she flew, or was very carefully placed. Whoever it was knew what they were doing. The Police didn’t have any evidence, couldn’t even find a footprint, and so there was no case. It just got filed as a cold case. Big Ben Deverill was so distressed by the whole thing. He had done odd jobs for Agatha for, must be, twenty or thirty years in his spare time. It took him a long time to get over it. My dad thinks Ben secretly thought the house would go to him in Agatha’s will, because she had no relatives. The house was willed to Daisy in the end.”
“Okay, I feel spooked, so that’s Agatha Millard and Old Mad Cole,” I said abruptly, as a shiver went down my spine. “What did Daisy do with the Millard house, did she sell it?”
“Yes,” Hannah took up the conversation. “But here’s what’s weird. No one knew who bought it from Daisy. Not even Daisy. It was all completed through solicitors and the name of the new owner was withheld. Unless you want to break into the Solicitors to find out, we’ll never know.”
“That’s really weird,” I uttered. “What do the newspapers say? There must be a theory.”
“My dad reads the newspaper every week and not a word has been printed,” Mira whispered thoughtfully. “He’s checked and checked. It’s as though there’s a media blackout on the subject.”
“Or maybe they just don’t want to alarm anybody,” Hannah added. “You know what people are like around here. One sniff of bad news and everyone knows about it. That’s what you get for living in a small town.”
“But we’re not just a small town though are we,” Mira said. “We’re a small town in the middle of nowhere, on the edge of Salisbury Plain which is massive, by the way. With an army base adjoining us and lord knows what they keep in those hangers and warehouses. We’re just a bunch of ‘Hicks’ living in ‘Hicksville!’ And as they say ‘What happens in Warminster stays in Warminster’.”
I shuddered as Mira said the last part. But everyone had the internet now. It wasn’t like the 1940’s where we would have been cut off from all civilisations.
I suddenly had a thought.
“You said Aidan found the old lady?”
“Yes.”
“What was he doing on Arn Hill at six in the morning, in the first place?” I knew as soon as I spoke that I should have stayed quiet but I couldn’t stop myself. My forwardness won over with some nagging thought that abruptly irritated my brain, but I couldn’t get what the nagging thought was.
“Apparently, he was out walking his neighbour’s dog. But, Rose. Keep it to yourself. Aiden gets very touchy about the subject, and you don’t want to get on his bad side.”
“Who am I going to tell? You two are the only people I know, apart from Daisy!” I laughed with them, and the serious moment was gone.
The conversation quickly changed onto other topics. I was keen to learn about whom else would be in my year at school. Soon Mira was pointing out others from school; Debbie from the farm nearest to Daisy’s house, and Sean who ran a Film club at school and a few came over to say hello. They seemed nice but I didn’t even try to remember all the names of the others I met. My memory was good but not that good and I was sure that they would remember mine anyway. Aiden Deverill didn’t come over to introduce himself.
I stole another look at him quickly. He was in a deep discussion with his three friends, and he didn’t notice this time.
“So, does Aiden Deverill know who I am?” I whispered.
“Oh yeah,” said Hannah nodding.
“Ben Deverill and Daisy are old friends. He’s Governor of the Town Council and Daisy advises him occasionally on local matters. Aiden will, very much, know who you are.”
“It’s so annoying,” I muttered, unexpectedly feeling irritated
“What is?” Mira asked.
“Well, it’s all part of it. I’ve done this a dozen times. Moving to a new town, and gradually getting to know everyone,” I said matter-of-factly. “If I’m known already, where’s the fun?”
“Rose, don’t be upset,” Hannah reached across and squeezed my hand. “They don’t know who you are. They just know that your Daisy’s granddaughter.”
“I suppose,” I said but I wasn’t convinced. “And everyone seems to know Daisy.”
“So?” Mira chirped.
“Well, she’s my grandmother, and I know so little about her, yet the whole town knows Daisy Frost, probably better than I do. It makes me feel a little intimidated, that’s all.”
“Cheer up, Rose,” said Mira brightly. “Since when were you worried about what other people think?”
I knew she was right. Why was I so bothered? I shouldn’t let it get to me.
“So, what do you have planned for our mad summer then?” I said changing the subject.
“Well, after this I suggest we go and have a meal somewhere. I don’t need to be home yet. But tomorrow night if you’re free we’re going to an Annual Watch on Cradle Hill. And we have a picnic planned near Shearwater. A few others will be joining us too. It’s beautiful there. You’ll love it.” Mira said happily.
“Oh my god, you’re going to have to remind me about all of this. I hadn’t thought I’d be so busy!” I blurted. “What else?”
“After that, there’s a party near Cley Hill I told you about earlier, then we have a cinema trip, another party at Debbie’s house, and then in two weeks time, just before we start school, we have a Masked Ball at Longleat House. The School has arranged for buses from the town centre to get there, it’s going to be brilliant! Have you got a ball gown or long dress? Everyone has to be glamorous and wear masks so you don’t know who is who. It’s so exciting!”
“That sounds really nice but I don’t have a ball gown or dress to wear. Is there a dress shop in town?”
“There’s a new one near the courtyard, you can buy or rent a dress but you have to get in there quick because they’re selling out fast, I’ll take you if you like,” Hannah replied.
“Thanks,” I said cheering up. “Maybe we can pop by later? And here, I thought I would be sitting at Daisy’s all summer, bored solid. This is really going to be great.”
“So tomorrow night we’re all meeting up on Cradle Hill. It’s near yours, so you won’t have to travel far.”
“What’s a Watch?”
“It’s the Annual Freak Show,” Mira laughed and it resounded around the coffee shop. “Oops,” she whispered and laughed again.
“Hundreds of people descend on Warminster once a year to watch for alien encounters on top of the hill. It’s apparently the anniversary of where the first sightings were,” Hannah clarified, throwing a sharp look at Mira’s joke. “It will be crowded up there but we all go a
long for the laugh mostly.”
“We count the signs saying ‘Take me with you’, and ‘We mean you no harm’ and such. It’s mostly just geeks who have watched too many Roswell films or ET. They all want a spaceship to land and take them away from their sad lives. I think it’s funny,” Mira said cheerfully.
“So what time are we meeting?”
“About eleven. They have a candlelight ceremony, followed by lots of chanting,” Mira said. “Then everyone just stares at the sky. Last year it rained all night, everyone got soaked.”
We all chuckled at the imagery.
“Okay, and the picnic - do you want me to bring anything? Daisy has a stocked kitchen; I could easily throw something together.”
“No, it’s all taken care of. Debbie’s arranged it all. We three just need to turn up.” Hannah added. “It’s just a shame Lucinda will be there.”
“Who’s Lucinda?” I asked. Hannah hung her head when the name was mentioned and I didn’t like it.
“Oh, don’t mind Lucie, she’s just miserable all the time. Just ignore her,” Mira said cheerily.
“You don’t like her?” I said with a concerned glance at Hannah.
“She’s nasty, spiteful. I don’t even know why she’s going. She’ll only whinge about everything,” Hannah said in a huff.
“Debbie and Lucie’s mother’s are friends, so Debbie has to invite her. Besides she wants to meet Rose as much as the rest of them,” Mira replied.
“And she fancies Morgan like nothing else. You need to watch out for her, Rose. If she thinks you’re playing on her patch, she can be vicious,” Hannah added.
“Sounds like a lovely girl. I’ll try and remember to be polite,” I said sarcastically and they both laughed.
I frowned. I didn’t even know this girl and she was already a trouble maker in my eyes. If no one was going to stand up to her she would meet her match with me around.
A few people had left while we had been chatting, and others came in. Initially I noticed the looks from others, the stares and under the breath comments but I found it easy to ignore them, I was enjoying myself too much. What they had to say was the usual, “That’s Rose Frost,” or “Who’s that with Mira Butler?” and I overheard a couple of complimentary comments about my appearance. I didn’t try to listen to most of the room but I did try to overhear Aiden with his friends.
Elemental: The First Page 8
