Beyond the Gravy by Mandy Morton

Author:Mandy Morton [Morton, Mandy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1788421000
Amazon: B07NV1CYCQ
Goodreads: 45844742
Publisher: Farrago
Published: 2019-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Tilly woke first and was relieved that the night was over; although she’d slept deeply, her dreams had taken her to some very dark places. The events of the last few days had stitched themselves together in one horrendous patchwork of ghosts, dead bikers and cats hanging from scaffolds. The continuous nightmare had exhausted her and waking up in a strange room, without the comfort of her own things around her, was very unsettling. She got down from the bed and padded to the window, casting an eye across the vast expanse of moorland in front of her. Although stark, it was rather beautiful, and a far cry from the night before, when the fog had engulfed them.

She opened the window to breathe in the air and noticed that their room was immediately above the beer garden. There was a collection of bench seats and tables to one side, but in the middle of the area stood a wooden structure; there were steps leading up to a platform, with a wooden post in the centre and a lever to one side, and she could hardly believe what she was seeing. At first, she thought it might be an elaborate climbing frame for kittens, but her worst fears were confirmed when she noticed that the platform had a trapdoor in the centre, by the post. She turned away, realising that she was staring at a gallows.

Hettie was awake and rubbing her eyes with her paws, oblivious to Tilly’s distress. She stretched and sniffed the air, hoping for bacon. ‘I wonder what sort of breakfast we can expect?’ she said. ‘Let’s just hope the landlord doesn’t come with it.’

Tilly attempted a giggle but cried out instead. ‘I think we should forget about breakfast and have some of our treats in Miss Scarlet. This is a nasty place and I’m sorry I brought us here. I don’t want to stay another night. I’d rather sleep by the road than come back here.’

It was unlike Tilly to be so upset, and Hettie shot out of bed to comfort her. ‘Whatever’s the matter? Has something happened while I was asleep?’

Tilly shook her head and pointed to the window. ‘Just take a look at the beer garden.’

Hettie moved to the window and looked out onto the moor, before allowing her gaze to fall on the wooden structure. ‘I don’t believe it!’ she said. ‘Where the hell did he get that from? I wonder if that’s what Dolly Scollop was talking about when she mentioned an accident? I can only imagine what that might have been. You’re right. Let’s get out of here before we’re treated to a demonstration.’

Hettie dressed in her best clothes, ready for their meeting with Miss Crispy, and left Tilly to pack the rest of their things while she informed Bruiser of the change of plan. He was already up and dressed, and Hettie decided to send him down to reception to cancel their booking for later and pay up, while she and Tilly took their luggage out to Miss Scarlet.

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