Page 90 of Murder Most Haunted
He was silent for a moment before saying, ‘Yes. Sort of. But it was all a misunderstanding, really. I was going to get things back, though, with this White Lady series.’
A series with two real murders in it. Murders that appeared to be carried out by a ghost. A ghost story that had been carefully narrated by Noah, and his findings in the doctor’s journal.
What better way to guarantee being picked up again.
Midge put her hand out to touch the handle of the pantry door.
‘Stay where you are.’ Noah spoke quietly, his back still to her.
‘What do you mean?’ she asked, trying the door handle. It wouldn’t twist.
‘It’s locked, Midge.’ Noah turned round slowly, holding up the pantry key. ‘You know I can’t let you leave, not now.’
Chapter58
Midge’s free hand slipped into her pocket, her fingers folding around the spare embroidery hook she always kept there.
‘Let me out, Noah,’ she said, her voice wavering.
He shook his head, moving towards her.
With a sudden shout, Midge leaped forward, brandishing the hook in front of her. ‘Get back!’
‘Jesus Christ, what are you doing!’ hissed Noah, dropping the key on the ground. ‘Put that bloody thing down – you nearly had my eye out.’
‘Harold!’ cried Midge, frantically waving her weapon and wishing she hadn’t ignored the reminders for the annual self-defence refresher courses. What was it the instructors had said to do when in a corner?A two-finger punch to the throat, just above the laryngeal prominence of the thyroid cartilage.Except it was dark and even in the daylight Noah seemed to be all Adam’s apple.
‘I’m coming!’ She could hear Harold on the other side of the door, yanking on the handle.
‘Stop yelling!’ shouted Noah, fumbling on the ground. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Stay down!’ Midge barked, abandoning the embroidery hook and hitting at him with her cane.
‘Get off, you lunatic!’ cried Noah, shielding his head. ‘You can’t go anywhere, Midge. I’m trying to get the key.’
‘He’s locked me in!’ shouted Midge.
‘Let her go!’ roared Harold, banging against the wood. ‘I told you I know Krav Maga! Use your knee, Midge, your knee!’
‘I haven’t locked you in,’ protested Noah, on his knees. ‘I haven’t locked her in, Harold! I’ve locked you all out! I was trying to tell her she couldn’t open the door until the negatives were covered. It would overexpose them. And I didn’t want anyone opening the door unexpectedly!’
Midge stopped thrashing out at him with her cane and caught her breath.
Noah scrambled up, the key in his hand, passing it over to Midge before rubbing his head. ‘That bloody hurt. What on earth got into you?’
Midge stood panting as she leaned against the counter.
‘Wait a minute,’ he said, his eyes wide. ‘Did you think I was going to... do something?’
Midge snatched the key from him and unlocked the door. ‘I don’t like small spaces,’ she said, twisting the handle.
Harold pulled open the door, flooding the room with light and allowing Midge to take in some big gulps of air. ‘What’s going on?’ he asked.
‘Nothing,’ said Midge, stepping out.
‘Midge has got a phobia of small spaces,’ said Noah, checking the coverings on the film and wincing slightly.
‘That’s quite some phobia,’ said Harold, breathing heavily before starting to laugh at Noah. ‘Seriously, son, did you just get your arse whipped by an old lady?’
