had seen had truly frightened her, damaged her even. Something had definitely spooked her.
âI saw him,â she whispered, her eyes still locked firmly on the porridge. âI saw him. Heâs really out there.â
Someone had to find this lookalike.
âDonât mess with it,â wouldâve been Rickyâs advice, he knew. âLet someone else solve the puzzle. You donât know what youâre up against here.â
But could he really just sit by and watch as the hysteria spread? Curiosity nagged at him. Something was afoot and he yearned to get to the bottom of it.
âAre you sure sheâs all right?â Greg asked.
Freddie watched as Greg cocked his head, inspecting the traumatised girl.
âJust a bit of a shock, thatâs all,â Joe said.
A shock? thought Freddie with disbelief. Her dad believed in the stories too? No wonder sheâd been affected so badly. This place is unreal! Shouldnât he be dismissing the talk of ghosts as a farce, if only for the sake of his daughter? Someone had to make a stand, put things right. Heâd tell her himself, thatâd show them!
His Samsung burst into song. He shook his head. He had to learn to control his rash thoughts.
âSorry,â he said, scooting out into the hallway. âIâll take it out here.â
He pulled the door shut behind him, sliding his mobile from his jeans pocket. As he glanced down at the caller ID, his mind blurred.
Tiffany .
What? Why on earth is she calling me? wondered Freddie. She has no right, no right at all! Think⦠Think⦠He needed time to think. But he had no time. The blasted device wouldnât go on ringing forever.
This is Tiffany Angle, boyo, his ego roared. Total babe! She wanted you once! And maybe she wants you again! Take the call, hear her out! His thumb hovered over the mobile. Should he? Shouldnât he?
No! He knew he had to muster some self-control. Sheâd cheated on him, for Godâs sake! He rejected the call.
âMmm,â said Freddie, planting his half-pint of Coke on the table, feigning interest. Just how many issues did these old-timers have with wind turbines? What was there problem? It wasnât as if the local council were drawing up plans for a nuclear power station. âWould you be happier if they made them look like the windmills of old?â
âWeâre not that old,â said the retired farmer sitting across the table from Freddie.
Freddie glanced over to the bar. Jess, arms-folded, red-faced, was frantically discussing something with Lucas. It certainly wasnât a debate about wind turbines.
An almighty yawn forced Freddieâs mouth wide open. Whatever it was they were discussing, he wished theyâd hurry up! The other guys and girls had long gone, leaving him with the not-so happy couple and a trio of grumbling regulars. Hurry up Jess! Heâd still to fully adjust to the world of work.
âDo as you like,â he heard Jess say.
âOh, donât worry, Jessica,â said Lucas, rising from the barstool. âI will.â
Freddie gazed at the ageing regulars seated at his table. Bushy eyebrows raised, forehead crinkled, one of the old-timersâ knowing expression said it all â Jess and Lucas were as good as finished.
âTrouble in paradise,â someone muttered.
âIâm going home, Lucas. Iâm tired,â Jess said, âIâll speak to you tomorrow.â
âThank God,â said Freddie, hauling himself up, Lucas storming from the pub, âFinally!â
Jess tiptoed over to the table heâd just vacated, oblivious to the attention her quarrel had earned. Her face, which Freddie still found pretty despite being all hitched up and straight-lined, fell into a smile.
âSorry,â she said. âYou must be shattered.â
âCome on. Letâs get out of here before we get kicked out.â
He felt Jessâ arm link his, and
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