Page 39 of Hoodoo House
“Yes sir. A complimentary breakfast buffet is included with your stay. Feel free to help yourself.”
“Great,” Declan said. “And I’ll take care of the bill now.”
As Declan paid, Charlie enquired, “Did Mrs Carlyle’s son get back into town? We still need the car fixed.”
Fergus-William smiled. “Yup. I contacted Jeb this morning. He’ll swing by when you’re ready and take you out to it. I’ll let him know when you’re done breakfast.”
“Thank you…Fergus,” Declan said.
They ate a quick breakfast, then had Fergus-William call Jeb Carlyle. He arrived in a tow truck that appeared to be from another era. It had a battered cable winch on the back attached to a swinging hook. The vehicle was covered in patches of rust, and didn’t look suitable to tow anything. Charlie and Declan squeezed into the front seat and headed down the road to where they had abandoned the Beast.
Jeb got out first and swaggered up to the car.
“Beautiful piece of workmanship, these cars are,” he said. “A 1970?”
“Yeah,” said Charlie.
“Thought so. No better car came out of the US that year. Let’s see if we can fix the problem.”
He popped open the hood and in no time, had the broken fan belt replaced, then topped up the radiator with water for good measure.
“See if it’ll start.”
Declan got into the driver’s seat. He turned the key in the ignition and the engine roared to life.
“Thank you for rescuing us, Mr Carlyle,” Declan said. “How much do we owe you?”
“Let’s see…twenty-seven bucks for the belt…Let’s make it thirty-five. Cash, mind you. I can’t take credit out here.”
Declan smiled and gave him the cash.
Jeb took the money in hand, then got back into his tow truck and waved as he headed up the road towards Rosebud.
Charlie was just about to get into the car when his cell phone rang. He dug in his bag, fished out the phone and answered the call, “Charlie Watts speaking.”
“Hey, Charlie, it’s Henry.”
“Hey, Henry, is everything okay?”
There was a slight pause before Henry continued. “Oh, we’re good, but something strange happened last night. Do you think you could come back to Hoodoo House? I need to see the pictures you took of the writing room yesterday.”
“As a matter of fact, Henry, we’re just outside Rosebud right now. We can be there in a few minutes.”
“Great,” Henry said. “See you soon.”
Declan gave Charlie a puzzled look.
Charlie hung up and sat in the passenger seat of the car. “That was Henry. He wants us to come back to Hoodoo House. Something about the pictures on my phone of the writing room.”
“Well, no harm in going back since we’re already here. Wanna drive?” Declan asked.
Charlie smiled. “I’m fine. I’m beginning to like the idea of being chauffeured around.”
* * * *
Declan and Charlie pulled up to the house twenty minutes later. Before they could close the car door, Henry was running out to greet them.
“Hey, Declan. Charlie. Did you really stay in Rosebud? I heard that the breakfast at the hotel is all you can eat. Is that true?”
