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came upon was alarming to say the least. The three typists and Sir Victor’s PA – it was she who was screaming – were huddled together in a corner of the room, while the general manager Andrew Derriman was sprawled on the floor, blood spilling from a wound to his head. He was trying to rise but every time he was on one knee, a heavy piece of furniture skimmed across the room as though purposely aimed at him. He was knocked down again and again. Furthermore there were some black orbs flying around the room. Where they came from we’re not sure. They’re not part of the office furniture.’
    Kate and Ash glanced at each other.
    ‘Paintings and photographs were dropping from the walls as if caused by a seismic shock. A computer on another desk kept switching itself on and off, even though its plug had been yanked from the wall socket. The fax machine was spewing out plain paper and, even when emptied, the mechanical process continued. It was the same with the copier, light constantly flashing on and off.’
    ‘Poltergeists?’ Ash aimed the suggestion at Kate, who shook her head.
    ‘There’s more to tell,’ she said quietly.
    Maseby took his cue. ‘I stayed on at Comraich for a further week, just to be around should there be any more incidents. There weren’t. Everything became normal again, so I left, only to be called back the very next week. The lights had begun dimming again, but this time it was different.’
    ‘In what way?’ Ash enquired.
    ‘This time the lights, having almost faded to darkness, suddenly grew bright, then brighter, until it was impossible to look at them for more than a split second. In less than a minute the lights radiated so much power that the bulbs began to pop, showering the people below with fragments of hot glass.’
    Ash frowned. ‘Anyone badly hurt?’
    ‘Some of the clients and a couple of maids suffered minor cuts to their faces, but no one was seriously injured. It was a miracle no one was blinded; they had instinctively closed their eyes when the bulbs exploded.’
    ‘I’ve already suggested to Simon,’ said Kate, ‘that it might be a paranormal storm, with so many bizarre episodes happening one after the other.’
    ‘Possibly. But what instigated it if that were the case?’ Ash looked to Maseby for an answer.
    ‘I have no idea, and I’m surprised you’d think I would know. Nothing’s changed at Comraich Castle recently, and there haven’t been any new guests for quite some time.’ He avoided Ash’s eyes. ‘Except for one,’ he finished quietly.
    ‘Has anyone – residents or staff – witnessed manifestations of any kind, aside from those that you’ve mentioned?’
    ‘Ghosts, you mean.’
    ‘Not necessarily. It could be anything from a floating mist inside the building to noises, banging, knocking, tapping, voices. Hazy, or even solid, figures that suddenly appear and then disappear, or pass through walls, or float up or down rooms or corridors. Shouts, screams. Disembodied hands, heads, and torsos. There can be any manner of anomalous disturbances created by other-worldly influences. But what I really want to know is, has anybody at Comraich Castle actually encountered the spirit of someone supposedly dead?’
    Maseby considered the question for a few moments. ‘It seems not,’ he said at last. ‘But I myself have definitely felt cold spots, especially in the rooms and passageways beneath the castle.’
    ‘Old dungeons?’
    ‘As I told you before, old dungeons converted into comfortable quarters for some of our guests. We also have medical facilities down there.’
    Ash regarded him curiously.
    Maseby explained. ‘Several of our guests are not quite sound of mind, and we tend to keep them apart from our other residents. But getting back to the point: yes, I have experienced so-called cold spots in areas below ground and that doesn’t surprise me, because the castle is built on top of a promontory over the sea, and there is supposed to be a