The Case of the Haunted Horrors Read Online Free Page A

The Case of the Haunted Horrors
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that?”
    “We found your ghost. Only it ain’t his ghost, it’s his twin.”
    “What you talking about?”
    “Let us in, quick, and I’ll tell you.”
    Sarge stood back and watched suspiciously as the dark-haired man followed the two Boys into the lodge. And although he had been warned, he still caught his breath as the light fell on Selwyn Murray’s face.
    “It’s him!” he exclaimed. “He’s the one I saw.”
    “That’s right, Sarge,” said Wiggins. “This is Mr Selwyn Murray, twin brother of Mr Alwyn Murray, deceased. He ain’t no ghost.”
    “So you wasn’t drunk,” added Beaver.
    “Not at first, anyway,” Wiggins said with a grin.
    “Well, I’m blowed.” Sarge puffed out his cheeks and collapsed into a chair.
    “I believe I owe you an apology, Sergeant.” Murray bowed his head to him. “I am very sorry to have caused you so much trouble.”
    “
Trouble
? You scared me half out of my mind last night!”
    “I really didn’t mean to. And I shall do everything in my power to make things right again.”
    “Hmph,” Sarge snorted. “That’s somethin’, I suppose. What was you doin’ in there anyhow?”
    “Visiting my brother – and looking for clues to his death.”
    “Couldn’t you have done that durin’ openin’ hours, like any normal person, ’stead of creepin’ about in the middle of the night pretendin’ to be a ghost? All you had to do was come and ask.”
    Murray shook his head. “I might have been seen.”
    “You
was
– by me. And a real nasty turn you give me, I can tell you!”
    “There are people who want me dead. At the moment they cannot be sure that I am back in London, but I know they will be watching for me, waiting to kill me as they killed my brother.”
    “But your brother done hisself in,” Sarge said. “After he’d killed his missus and their poor little girl.”
    “No, he didn’t,” Wiggins said.
    “How d’you know that?”
    “’Cos he was a mirror twin,” Beaver explained. “So everythin’ was the other way round, only they didn’t know that, so they put the gun in his wrong hand, and Madame Dupont didn’t know that either, so she copied the photos and…”
    “Steady on!” Sarge cried, utterly confused. “Hold your horses. You’ve lost me.”
    “Perhaps it would be better if I were to explain,” said Murray.
    “I wish you would.”
    “My brother did not kill himself, or his wife and child. They were all brutally murdered.”
    “Whatever would anybody want to do that for?” Sarge asked, shocked.
    “Because they thought he was me.”
    “You mean whoever it was wanted to kill
you
? Why?”
    “Because I know too much.”
    Sarge shook his head in bewilderment. “I’d better put the kettle on,” he said. “I think I’m goin’ to need a strong cup of tea.”

D ANGLING THE B AIT
    Sarge filled his kettle with water and put it on his little gas ring to heat up. While they waited for it to boil, Murray began his story.
    “First,” he said to Sarge, “I must swear you to secrecy. Unless anything happens to me, you must tell no one about this – or about me. These boys have already agreed. I am only telling you because I have caused you so much trouble already and I want you to know why. I will do all I can to put things right, but you will have to be patient.”
    “I suppose I can wait till Lord Holdhurst gets back next week,” Sarge replied grudgingly. “That’s when I’ll get the sack.”
    “I won’t let that happen, I promise.”
    “All right, then. Your secret’s safe with me – till next week.”
    “Good. Because it is not just my life that is in danger, but the security of our country.”
    When he heard that, Sarge stood to attention and raised his hand in a smart salute. “I’m an old soldier, sir,” he said. “You can rely on me to do my patriotic duty.”
    “And us,” said Beaver, copying him.
    “Hang on,” Wiggins interrupted. “Your brother was killed months ago. If it’s that important, how come
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