Charity Shop Haunted Mysteries by Katherine Hayton

Author:Katherine Hayton [Hayton, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-16T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Even Crystal was silent as they put distance between themselves and Stoneybrook Acres. Her normal cheer could withstand a lot but not the multitude of blows delivered by their visit.

When Emily said she’d walk her to the door, Crystal waved away the offer. “Don’t be silly, then you’d be alone on the way back. If an opportunistic criminal is passing by, he’s just as likely to target you as me.

Halfway home, Emily veered a few streets off target and parked outside the police station. Although her earlier words were true, and she didn’t trust Sergeant Winchester to solve the case anytime soon, she also wasn’t about to withhold information.

Even if that information made the policeman look at her askance.

She only got as far as saying, “I’ve got some—” before a raised hand stopped her going any further.

The Sergeant and PC Mitchell had been bent over a computer on the desk and Emily now heard a small crackle and whispered voice come out of the speakers. Tilting her head, she picked up a few phrases amongst the static.

“—want to report a missing—”

“—left a few hours ago—”

“—from Stoneybrook Acres—”

“—gone for hours!”

“We need to get it louder,” Sergeant Winchester said, throwing the task over to Officer Mitchell and turning his attention toward Emily. “Now, what can we help you with?”

She pulled out the sheaf of papers taken from the printer at Stoneybrook the night before. “Here’s the printout Erik prepared for you last night.” Emily tried a small smile on for size, but tiredness soon thwarted the effort.

When the sergeant continued to gaze at her, confused, she added, “When you asked about the information on file. This is what he printed out from their computer system. I picked it up and popped it into my handbag when Margaret came in.”

Winchester nodded. “About Frederick Wilmott,” he said. “The resident who turned out not to be missing.”

Emily’s face grew warm, but she persevered. Once this task was over, she could go home and straight to bed. The sherry might have given her a glow, but it was transforming into a headache. “I’ve also got a school roll from Oakhaven, the place Stoneybrook Acres was before they turned it into a home. Gladys Angel and Frederick Wilmott attended at the same time, and she circled some other names.”

He pulled the page closer, reading down the list, then raised his eyebrows. “I don’t understand. What’s this got to do with the case?”

“I don’t know.” Emily was suddenly close to tears. “They’re just names. They might mean something or nothing. I just don’t know.”

The sergeant’s expression changed to one of alarm as a tear slipped down Emily’s cheek. She brushed it away, fighting to keep more from falling.

PC Mitchell cleared his throat and nodded to his superior. “I think I’ve got it worked out if you want me to play it again. I still don’t know how we’re meant to identify the anonymous caller though. If the responder couldn’t do it at the time…”

“It didn’t mean anything to the department six months ago,” the sergeant said.

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