Cherringham--The Curse of Mabb's Farm by Matthew Costello Page B

court set within the stone circle that had not been convened for thousands of years — but nevertheless still had powers of justice.

18. Loose Ends
    “That is just awesome,” said Daniel, somehow managing to walk backwards up the steep track without falling over or bumping into Riley who was threading circles around their feet.
    “The power of forensic science,” said Jack without breaking step.
    He’d made a promise to himself not to stop until they reached the summit — no matter how much his legs complained.
    If Sarah and the kids can do it, I’m damned if I can’t, he thought.
    And as if to prove a point Chloe made a break for the top.
    “Last one there’s a—”
    “Hey!” said Daniel. “Not fair!”
    Jack watched Daniel turn and race after her.
    “He’ll be lucky,” said Sarah, next to him. “She won the four hundred metres this summer and he’s been skipping football training.”
    “Just don’t you try it on me,” said Jack.
    “You kidding?” said Sarah. “I thought I was the one lagging behind.”
    “I’m just a better actor,” said Jack.
    Head down, Jack carried on up the track, matching Sarah’s confident stride. After all, it had been his idea to come up here on this clear, sunny afternoon.
    And Sarah’s idea to bring a hot lunch with them in a backpack as a reward.
    The flat-topped escarpment with its Neolithic ditches was about six miles east of Cherringham and Jack had been promising himself the climb since he’d moved to England.
    Recent events had given it extra meaning, he had realised.
    “You think it’s pretty certain that the three bodies the police found are the witches?” said Sarah, interrupting his thoughts.
    “From what I hear,” said Jack. “The clothing, the marking on the necks. The way they were laid out — a ritual burial from hundreds of years ago.”
    “So, all along they were up there in the woods, by the stones,” said Sarah. “No wonder we all felt spooky going through there. Then with Ray too …”
    “Woods are cold. Woods are dark. People shiver.”
    “Oh yeah,” said Sarah, grinning. “I know you were spooked just like me, Jack.”
    Jack had to laugh.
    “Maybe. If I was — you better keep that to yourself.”
    They reached the top. Ahead the grass levelled out. Riley was chasing Daniel round and round in circles, barking madly. Chloe was leaning back on a bench, eyes shut in the weak autumn sun.
    Jack turned — and there was the view he’d been looking forward to.
    Below them in the valley the Thames looped and turned gently, bright against the sunlight. Jack could see his barge on its mooring. And across the river, he could see Cherringham slumbering through another Sunday afternoon, shops shut, pubs quiet.
    “See the stones?” said Sarah next to him.
    He shaded his eyes. On a wooded hill beyond Cherringham the stone circle above Mabb’s Farm stood out, the sunlight catching the grey slabs.
    “You believe Charlie’s story?” she said.
    “Sure, why not?” Jack answered. “I can believe he and his brother had a fight. Ray tells him he’s selling up — Charlie, always passed over, loses control. And we’ve both seen Charlie lose control. Ray goes down — wallop — hits his head on the fireplace. The pathologist can confirm that part. Then — with his brother dead — Charlie panics.”
    “But why not just go to the police, own up? If it was an accident,”
    “You see — that’s it . He’d never get the farm, that way,” said Jack. “No, Charlie had wanted that place since he was a lad, ever since his dad preferred his brother over him. Lucky Ray — Unlucky Charlie. Imagine living with that? It had been an accident — but it was also a chance for him.”
    “And he just digs a hole in the woods, dumps his brother in and forgets all about him?” said Sarah.
    “That’s the trouble,” said Jack. “He couldn’t forget. Could you? Whole thing was eating him up.”
    “So the Curse … became