Lost Souls

37

Exhausted, and covered in dust, the digging team emerged from the secret rooms looking like an army of ghouls.

Mrs. Rusk had prepared a large buffet dinner for them all, consisting of various cold meats, cheeses, crisps and dips. She'd even managed to grill two dozen chicken legs, and a heap of sausages that threatened to roll off the silver tray they were stacked on any moment.  Two large jugs of ice cold orange squash and another with lemonade stood guard on the food.

​It was to the drinks that the crew dived on first.

"My goodness Grace, this is a lovely surprise. My throat feels like its been baked in the oven and then left in the sun for a day or two to top up a tan," MacBlaine joked, as he downed a pint of orange squash in seconds.

​"I knew you'd all be hungry when you came back out. Now tuck in. I don't want to see anything wasted." Mrs Rusk beamed.

​"Oh I doubt there will be darling," Mr. Rusk said happily, as he tucked into a chicken drumstick.

​"Did you find anything?" Katie asked, excitedly, as she too started to pile a plate high with food.

​"Not a damn thing. The rooms are empty. I'm afraid it's a dead end."

​"Good choice of words Michael," Grace teased her husband.

​"Sorry, but it's just so frustrating. I was certain we'd find some more pieces of bone that would enable us to get the police back again."

​"If the first two are anything to go on, maybe we shouldn't bother anyway," Katie said, as she slipped a slice of ham into her mouth.

​Before anyone could reply, Amber burst into the kitchen holding a golden envelope. "Look look. I've found a clue," she screamed loudly, before she spotted the food, threw the envelope onto the table, and dived into a tray of cheese and pineapple

​Mr. Rusk picked up the envelope and immediately noted the embossed lettering. "It's from Galbraith Lodge!" he whispered in shock. "Why has anyone sent something to us from there?"

​"Open it dad," Katie ordered.

​"Yes madam," her father replied, as he tore open the mysterious finding.

​The room fell silent, apart from Alex and Amber chewing loudly as they tried to fill their stomachs in record time.  MacBlaine, Mrs. Rusk, Katie, Jimmy and Christopher had stopped eating and were waiting anxiously as Mr. Rusk read the contents of the envelope quietly to himself.

​Finally, just as everyone felt their nerves about to break, Mr. Rusk handed the letter to Katie, and said, "It's an invite to Galbraith Lodge. He wants to meet us."

​"What!" came back as a loud chorus from everyone.

​"Apparently, Douglas Galbraith would like to have a chat with his new tenants."

​"I don't believe it Michael. Something's not right here," MacBlaine stated as he returned to his food. "Douglas Galbraith would rather have his teeth pulled then entertain visitors."

​Mr. Rusk turned to Jimmy. "You must have scared him into action son. Did you find anything or hear something that would frighten him into this move?"

​Jimmy shook his head. "I didn't get a chance. He'd set a trap and I walked straight into it."

​"Well, something's rattled his cage that's for certain." Katie offered happily.

​"Does he want to meet all of us honey?" Mrs. Rusk wondered.

​"That's even stranger," Mr. Rusk replied. "He only asks for Katie, myself, and the vicar."