The mysterious man...

Chapter 5

A seagull's scream jolted Sophie from a dreamless sleep. She pushed the blinds open. The sea was an navy blur an the tide was going out. The grass along the cliffs and cemetery was an unreal green.

Sophie jumped out of bed and put her feet on the cold wooden boards. As she did, she looked up at the clock on her wall, it's said 10.05am. Sophie stood still listening to see if anyone was up. The house was slient.

She decided now would be a good idea to have a shower.

20 minutes later, pink-faced from the hot water and her hair wet, Sophie made her way downstairs. She was wearing leggings and a sweatshirt.

There was a pot of coffee, some milk and a carton of orange juice on the kitchen table. Sophie poured herself a cup of coffee and walked around cradling the mug, searching for her uncle. She wondered if he'd taken Lottie for a walk or gone to work. His bedroom door had been open and the bed neatly made. He hadn't mentioned if he had a job. Maybe he was rich and did nothing at all.

Sophie heard a noise coming from her uncle's study. Sophie goes over to open the door.

A women with black hair and a squashed button nose looks up from whatever she was doing.

'I'm cleaning' said Mrs Webb, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

'Oh sorry.' said Sophie.

She closed the door and returned to the kitchen. She was washing her coffee mug when she noticed a note addressed to her. When she opened it a twenty pound note fluttered out of it. Sophie picked it up and put it in her pocket before turning her attention to the other contents of the note: a mobile phone and a key. The note said:

Dear Sophie,

Sorry for not being here when you woke. Mrs Webb will sort you out with meals. I've attached a spare key, a mobile phone with a small amount of credit on it (your number is on the back) and some pocket money. I wont always be that generous but i figure that you might need some stuff after being stuck in Sylvan Meadows all those years. Enjoy your first day here.

Harry x

Sensing she was being watched, Sophie shoved the letter in the back pocket of her leggings. Mrs Webb was leaning against the door, arms folded and lips pursed.

'You'll be Mr Styles niece?' Her flat nose and the way she bared her bottom teeth in a smile reminded her of a snarling pug.

'That's right,' she responded warmly, 'I'm Sophie. And you must be Mrs Webb.'

Her flat brown eyes shifted to the clock on the wall and she said: 'I supposed you'll be wanted breakfast even though its nearly lunchtime.'

Sophie didn't consider 10:30 to be 'nearly lunchtime'.

'Thanks, but i won't have anything this morning.' She said with a smile. 'I'm just on my way out.'

Sophie edged past the housekeeper into the hallway and unlocks the front door.

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Hey guys this is just a short chappie I'll try to upload soon but have no wifi ATM as I am using my mates thanks love yous and comment and tell me what you think xxxxxxxx