Page 22 of Hell's Claim

Callie

“Okay. Polly, you’re with Phil. He always goes in a day before the rest of us and sets the cameras up. He is in charge, not you. Phil is fully aware of health and safety and also knows what he’s doing. Please don’t disrespect that and listen to what he has to say,” I said, addressing Polly.

I was amused. She didn’t seem to know how to act, and her public persona was severely lacking right now.

“And Phil does…?”

“Cameras—and he monitors them. He’ll tell you everything you need to know about them,” I informed her.

Polly nodded.

“Also, get some comfortable clothes. We may end up pulling some twenty-four-hour shifts.”

“Seriously?” Polly sounded doubtful.

“What do you think happens during an investigation? Don’t bother answering that. Whatever you believed, throw it out of the window. Go on, you need to help him set up,” I said.

I walked back towards the car and hid a smirk. Polly was going to get an education.

???

Nine hours later, Polly joined us for dinner with Phil. I looked up at the smug look on Phil’s face and the exhausted expression on Polly’s.

“All okay?” I asked.

“Yes. Everything is ready, and the cameras are recording,” Phil replied.

“Nice. Polly?” I inquired, turning to her.

“I didn’t realise you used so many cameras and miles of cable,” Polly said.

“The Erutte Mansion is notorious for its haunting. They have around ten different ghosts reported, all haunting their own areas. In instances like that, we prefer to cover all the rooms they haunt.”

“Those cameras must be worth a fortune,” Polly replied as she settled in her chair.

“Yup. That’s the reason we have the van. Can’t haul twenty-odd cameras in an SUV. Did you set up the infrared ones, too?” I asked Phil.

He nodded. “Yeah, especially in the cellar where reports of cold spots are.”

“Good. Okay, let’s eat and then get some rest. We’ve a long day tomorrow. We’ll be meeting at seven for breakfast before driving out to the mansion,” I informed them.

“Seven in the morning?” Polly exclaimed.

“Aren’t you usually up at that time?” I inquired.

“Yes, but why are you guys getting up so early?”

“You’ll find out,” I said with a grin and picked up my menu.

???

“We’re doing what?” Polly asked.

“This is called an EMF reader. It takes readings of fluctuations in the electromagnet field. If it picks up a reading, we need to investigate to ensure it’s not a man-made source such as wiring or something. This other piece of equipment measures temperatures. If we get an EMF reading, then we check this to see if they match. A haunting often causes the temperature to drop rapidly,” I explained.

Polly seemed dubious but nodded. “You can hold the EMF reader. Freddie will film us, and Harry is going to look for man-made sources. Jack has the infrared. And Phil has the SLS camera, which picks up any figures in our vicinity.”

Polly looked at me. “Do you usually all go together?”

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