Lost Souls

38

As they approached the Lodge, Jimmy tapped Mr. Rusk on the shoulder.

​"If you pull over here, Christopher and I can hide in the trees opposite the house. It's where I waited last time."

​Everybody turned to look at Jimmy. "What? I was nervous. Besides, if you lot get into trouble, we can run across the road and climb the wall easier from back there."

​"What about the dogs?" Katie asked as her dad stopped the car, and switched off the headlights plunging them into darkness.

​"I'm hoping they'll be inside with you," Jimmy teased.

​"Great," MacBlaine muttered. "I have a fear of large dogs."

​"Doesn't everyone?" Mr. Rusk said, trying to ease the tension he could feel building inside the vehicle.

​"Only when they're attached to my leg," Jimmy joked, joining in the half hearted banter.

​No one spoke for a while after the exchange.

Each occupant was lost in his or her own thoughts, wondering what was going to happen inside the Lodge, and hoping that maybe they'd find some answers to everything that had been going on.

​It was the old vicar who finally cut through the silence. "It's time we went inside Michael."

​Mr Rusk nodded. He reached over and squeezed Katie's knee. "You okay honey?" he asked worriedly.

​Katie tried to smile, but her mouth and jaw felt tight. All she managed was a twisted grin.

​"Okay. Let's leave the boys here, and then the rest of us will drive around the corner to the Lodge. You be ready just in case lads."

​Jimmy took out his mobile and attached some earphones to it. He then plugged one into his right ear. From his jacket pocket he pulled out a small torch, and a handful of metal nuts.

Before anyone could ask what they were for, he confidently shook them in his fist.  "If we get involved in a fight, I read that if you hold something hard in your fist, it increases your punching power. The goons in there are big brutes. It might help us stay alive."

​"Surely you're not expecting a fight Jimmy?" MacBlaine asked in a panic.

​Jimmy shrugged. "Well they did try to shoot me the last time vicar."

​MacBlaine turned ghostly white. He half expected the car to fill with illumination he was so scared now. "Perhaps we should forget the whole idea," he whispered with a slight tremble in his voice.

​"It's not going to come to that vicar," Mr. Rusk pointed out. "Let's just keep it nice and calm. We can see what Galbraith wants to tell us, before we ask him anything too important."

​"If we play dumb, maybe he'll slip up dad," Katie added excitedly. She was really fired up, and looking forward to what she believed was all part of the adventure she'd found herself cloaked in.

​"He might, but I doubt it," Jimmy moaned, as he opened his door and climbed out into the cold night air. Looking back inside the car he added,  "He's a crook Katie, and his type hardly ever make mistakes."

​Katie, her father and the vicar watched Jimmy and Christopher disappear into the tree line, and then Mr. Rusk drove them around to the iron gates guarding the entrance to Galbraith Lodge. Before Mr. Rusk had a chance to lean out and press the enquiry button on the huge concrete pillar holding the gates up, they swung slowly open and allowed them access to he long gravel driveway leading to the house.

​"Looks like someone was waiting for us to arrive then," MacBlaine said, trying to sound a little less terrified.

​Mr. Rusk drove to the front of the building and then stopped. All three climbed out and walked slowly up the small flight of stairs that led to the gigantic wooden front door.