The Winter Visitor: A completely gripping and totally unputdownable crime thriller by B P Walter

Author:B P Walter [Walter, B P]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2025-09-23T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY

GEORGE

CHRISTMAS EVE 2025

George stands in front of the fireplace, feeling the backs of his legs growing rather warm. But he doesn’t care. He could burn to death right here on the hearth rug and it still wouldn’t be enough to shock him out of the dizzying spiral he is in. He looks at Tommy, sitting there blinking. In spite of his ruffled hair, he looks strangely perfect. A handsome young man. Angelic, almost. Like the innocent college heartthrob in a trashy romance movie. Looking at him, George wonders if he can see the ghost of Ken within his good looks. Both have similar sandy-blonde hair and strong jawline. Or is he just imagining it? He looks over at his older brother. Ken’s eyes aren’t on him or Tommy. They’re on the floor. He says, ‘I can’t get my head around this.’

Claire stands up. ‘I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to work out.’ She steps forward and puts her hand on Ken’s shoulder. ‘Take Kite up to his bedroom.’ He does as she instructs. Kite follows his father without complaint.

Then she looks over at George and says, ‘Do as your grandmother says. Find Alexandra and ask her to sort out a guest room for our visitor. Or perhaps you could show him to a room.’

George stares at her for a few seconds. Her tone is more resigned than calm, as though she too has grown weary and just wants the evening to be over.

‘Fine.’ He goes over to Tommy and says, ‘Come on, up you get.’

Tommy, looking a little bewildered, gets to his feet.

‘Politely, George,’ his mother cautions. He doesn’t respond. Just starts walking out of the lounge. He can see Tommy in his peripheral vision, following him.

This is so insane, he thinks to himself. Mad. Impossible. Terrifying.

Out in the saloon hall, Alexandra is up a stepladder, fiddling with the garlands along the outer bannisters.

‘Alexandra,’ George begins. She turns around as they come into the hall. At that moment a loud crack of thunder can be heard, followed by a flash visible from the stained-glass window on the far wall. Then there is a shriek. Alexandra has fallen off the ladder and thudded onto the floor.

George instinctively rushes forward to her, but Tommy gets there first. ‘Woah, you OK?’

She seems shaken more than hurt and manages to get herself to her feet, though she doesn’t speak.

‘Alexandra, are you hurt?’ George asks. She looks shocked and dazed and still she doesn’t respond. She raises a hand to her temple, staring at them both. ‘Alexandra, you’re worrying me. Did you hit your head?’

If she’s hit her head on the stone floor, that could be disastrous, George thinks. It’s unlikely any emergency services would be able to get within half a mile of Lemire Castle for some time, with the storm worsening by the second. Just as he thinks this, the lights on the hall Christmas tree to their right start to flicker and then go out. Then the chandelier cuts off too, plunging them all into darkness.

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