Deadline
Monday 9.52am
Harris
Are you still looking for a bit of local content for the Wednesday edition?
Eddy
Sure. Paper's not going to bed until tomorrow night. What you got?
Harris
Had a call transferred from reception. Gene's passed up a weird one.
Eddy
What is it?
Harris
A ghost story no less.
Eddy
Who's the source?
Harris
Local property developer. He owns Harrow Hall.
Eddy
That wouldn't be John Dix would it?
Harris
That's right. You know him?
Eddy
Hell yes. Think back about six months.
Harris
The Ludlow scandal?
Eddy
That's it. Dix got indicted for trying to bribe that councillor.
Harris
But he got away with it. Right?
Eddy
Yeah. I'm surprised he's put his head up again.
Harris
The story's weird but he did seem honestly scared.
Eddy
What did he say?
Harris
The short version is that he says he bought the estate at Harrow House. Idea was to subdivide and sell it off as new housing blocks.
Eddy
That sounds like Dix.
Harris
Problem was the Development Application was disallowed.
Eddy
That doesn't surprise me.
Harris
Anyway. He decided to renovate and instead turned the property into a wedding and events venue.
Eddy
Where does this lead to a ghost story?
Harris
According to Dix he put in a couple to act as Caretakers. First family lasted about a fortnight then left.
Eddy
And?
Harris
Got in another family to take over and they left within days.
Eddy
Why did they leave?
Harris
Reason was the same for both families. Something had harassed them until they had no choice but to go.
Eddy
OK. Why did they leave?
Harris
Weird shit mostly. All centred around the caretakers' cottage. Objects moving. Dark figures on the stairs. Chanting from the basement. That sort of thing.
Eddy
Could be someone with a gripe against Dix.
Harris
That's what I thought but that wasn't the end of his story.
Harris
He put in a third couple. An old guy and his wife. They disappeared.
Eddy
What?
Harris
Just disappeared. Left all their belongings and went. Dix hasn't been able to find any trace of them.
Eddy
What did the police say?
Harris
Dix reported them as missing. Cops are still investigating but haven't found anything at all.
Eddy
So what's the angle for us that would make this a story worth going after?
Harris
For a start its Harrow House.
Eddy
Now that's a familiar name.
Harris
You remember the murders that took place there?
Eddy
Its a piece of local history nobody forgets. Didn't the last of those killings take place back in the fifties?
Harris
Sixties I think. But they were preceded by a number of unsolved disappearances.
Eddy
Do you have anything that verifies Dix's story?
Harris
I checked with Records. He is the current owner of the property and there has been a missing persons case filed with the County Sherrif's Office.
Eddy
A bonafide mystery then?
Harris
Could be worth a front page if it pans out.
Eddy
Who have we got free to look into it?
Harris
Both Jenkins and Worth are working on the Lewitt story so they're out.
Eddy
Is Halloway back from leave?
Harris
Not until the 16th.
Eddy
Who do we have?
Harris
Frank Kerr is on sports and Leslie's doing obits at the moment. We could get Leslie to dig a bit. See if Dix's story pans.
Eddy
OK. Tell her to look into it. See if she can make something of it.
Harris
Consider it done.
Monday 12.18pm
Harris
Leslie. Where are you?
Leslie
Down in archives. Trying to find some extra info for an obit.
Harris
Boss wants you to drop that lot and look into something else.
Leslie
What should I do with this?
Harris
Give it over to Gene. She'll finish it up before deadline.
Leslie
OK. What do you need?
Harris
We've had a call from John Dix.
Leslie
The property guy?
Harris
Yeah. Do you know Harrow House?
Leslie
Sure. Long history and not all of it kosher.
Leslie
Wasn't Harrow House connected with bootleggers back in the 20's?
Harris
That's the one. I need you to look into the disappearance of two caretakers.
Leslie
From Harrow House?
Harris
That's right. I've put an info pack on your desk. Get up to speed then have a look at the property.
Leslie
What's the deadline?
Harris
Wednesday's paper.
Leslie
That doesn't leave much time.
Harris
Then you'd better move quickly. The Boss wants copy by 2.00pm Wednesday.
Leslie
Then he shall have it.
Wednesday 1.16pm
Leslie
Hey Justine. You still at the apartment?
Justine
No. Got a new client over in Walling County. I'll be back around 5.
Leslie
You'll never guess what.
Justine
You're probably right. What's up?
Leslie
They've given me a story.
Justine
No shit. What is it?
Leslie
Disappearance of some caretakers from Harrow House.
Justine
Jesus. Not THE Harrow House?
Leslie
None other. Read through the background info and with the right spin this could be a front-pager.
Justine
Hold your horses for a second there Bernstein. What's it about?
Leslie
You know that creep Dix?
Justine
Yeah. Didn't he go to prison?
Leslie
No. But that's not the point. He says the caretakers' cottage is haunted. Been scaring away all his staff.
Justine
Sounds like another scam.
Leslie
That's what I thought but I've been looking into the history of the estate and its prime territory for a haunting.
Justine
Why?
Leslie
You're a local girl. You must have heard of the murders back in the sixties?
Justine
I just remember its a scary looking old pile.
Leslie
Well its much more than that. Mob used it as a base for smuggling booze in the 20's.
Leslie
House was the scene of a major fire in the forties and six people were murdered there in the late sixties.
Justine
God. You're not going out there are you?
Leslie
Only to have a look at what's been left behind. Dix says that the last caretakers left everything.
Justine
No way. Tell me you're not going out there alone.
Leslie
No-one else available. Should only be an hour or so.
Justine
But what if there is something out there?
Leslie
I'm thinking its a hoax pulled by Dix to advertise his wedding venue.
Justine
Seems a stupid way to do it.
Leslie
Yeah. But people will remember the name even if they don't remember why.
Justine
When are you going?
Leslie
I was thinking about going now.
Justine
Can you delay it until after 4?
Leslie
Why?
Justine
I'll be finished with this client. I won't have time to get there but we can keep a line open so you can tell me what you find.
Leslie
I don't think there's anything to worry about but if it'll make you feel better.
Justine
Great. Don't go into that place until I'm online with you.
Leslie
Sure. See you then.
Monday 4.11pm
Leslie
You available?
Justine
Thanks for not going in there yet.
Leslie
No problem. Where are you?
Justine
Still on the road. I've stopped at that diner off Route 16. You tell me everything that happens.
Leslie
OK. Just parked out the front. Dix has spent a lot of money on the driveway and entrance. Actually quite nice.
Justine
Is it as creepy as the old photos make it look?
Leslie
Not at all. Had a lick of paint and new windows I think.
Leslie
Its damn big though. More a mansion than a home.
Leslie
Strange. Doesn't look like anyone is here. Whole place is open.
Justine
Are you going inside?
Leslie
Yeah.
Leslie
Hold on.
Justine
What is it?
Leslie
There's a note taped to the door.
Justine
What does it say?
Leslie
Its a note from Dix. Says he's sorry he can't be here. Says the Caretaker's cottage is at the back of the estate.
Justine
How do you get there?
Leslie
Follow the path apparently.
Justine
How did Dix know you're there?
Leslie
Either Eddy or Harris must have phoned him.
Justine
Do you see a path?
Leslie
Kind of. Leads around the side of the mansion.
Justine
Is it raining there?
Leslie
Just lightly.
Leslie
OK. From the side of the house I can see the path. Leads into the trees.
Justine
That sounds a bit sketchy. You sure you want to follow it.
Leslie
Makes sense actually. If the Caretaker's have disappeared then their home would be the first place to have a look.
Justine
Just be careful.
Leslie
I'll let you know when I'm at the cottage.
Monday 4.31pm
Leslie
It was a fair way into the woods but I've found it.
Justine
What's it like?
Leslie
Damn nice actually. Much larger than I thought. Two storeys and set within a clearing in the trees.
Leslie
Its starting to rain a bit harder. I'm going inside.
Justine
Is it open?
Leslie
Unlocked at least. Nice solid old cottage.
Justine
I don't like this Les. Why don't you just go home, do the normal research and leave it alone.
Leslie
I can't. This could be the story I've been waiting for. At the very least I need to get some pictures.
Justine
Just be careful.
Leslie
Door's open. Ground floor of the cottage is all open plan. Quite nice actually. I wonder if the Caretakers get the residence for free?
Leslie
That's odd.
Justine
What?
Leslie
Looks like the missing tenants were big fans of the Redham Chronicle. Got heaps of old papers stacked in piles.
Justine
Are they old?
Leslie
I'll have a look.
Leslie
Most of them go back to the seventies. Found one with a byline by Eddy. This is interesting.
Justine
What is it?
Leslie
Looks like the caretakers were researching something. Clippings on a coffee table about Harrow House.
Justine
What clippings?
Leslie
Something about strange lights in the mansion. Apparently at the time it was abandoned.
Leslie
Police think it was vagrants sleeping rough.
Justine
You said most of their personal stuff was still there?
Leslie
Looks like almost everything. Even the ironing is still in a basket.
Justine
That's creepy.
Leslie
Yeah. Just going to have a quick look around this level then go upstairs.
Leslie
This is completely strange. Food's still in the fridge, clothes in the laundry.
Leslie
Its like they were about to make a meal then just walked out.
Leslie
Not much to see actually. Looks so mundane.
Leslie
There are some scratches along one of the kitchen walls but I couldn't say what caused them.
Leslie
Hello. Found a locked door.
Justine
Where does it lead?
Leslie
Dunno. Its locked. I think it must go down to a basement.
Justine
Maybe there's a key?
Leslie
Can't see anything.
Leslie
I can hear something though.
Justine
What is it?
Leslie
Rain eased up a bit and I heard something. Like a low murmur of voices.
Justine
Jesus Les. You should get out of there.
Leslie
Its gone now. Could have been the gutters running water.
Justine
You hope.
Leslie
Now I've found something interesting.
Justine
What now?
Leslie
Its a scrap of paper resting on the freezer. Looks like a symbol of some kind scratched on it. Almost Egyptian.
Justine
What does it look like?
Leslie
A circle with two lines running through it. I'm sure I've seen something like this before just can't place it.
Leslie
I'll just get a few photos then I'll check the back of the cottage.
Justine
See any ghosts? :)
Leslie
No. Don't expect to either.
Leslie
Back door's broken.
Justine
What?
Leslie
Back door screen. Its all twisted and pushed outwards.
Leslie
Its like someone forced their way out into the backyard.
Justine
Or someone was thrown through it?
Justine
I think you should go.
Leslie
Not yet. Stop worrying will you. No matter what I find there will be a logical explanation.
Justine
Yeah. And that explanation will be blood-thirsty ghosts on a killing rampage.
Leslie
I think you might be overstating a bit.
Justine
You really should leave.
Leslie
I'll have a quick look around upstairs then I'll go.
Justine
Good. Do it quick. I'm freaking out.
Leslie
Nice stairs. Carved from an old twisted tree trunk. Pretty neat.
Justine
I don't need an architectural review Les.
Leslie
Well you wanted to know what I was doing.
Leslie
OK. Upstairs is quite different. One long hallway and rooms coming off either side.
Leslie
Crap.
Justine
What?
Leslie
Power's just gone. Rains coming down harder. Is it raining over your way?
Justine
Just starting.
Justine
You see anything?
Leslie
Luckily I brought a torch. First few rooms are bedrooms.
Justine
Same as downstairs?
Leslie
Yes. Everything you'd expect is still here. Main bedroom is made up like people just got up and made the bed.
Justine
That's gotta be creepy.
Leslie
It is actually. There are keys lined up on a series of hooks in the hallway.
Justine
Any for the basement?
Leslie
Yeah. A big one.
Justine
Leave it there.
Leslie
It'll bother me if I don't have a look.
Justine
You're going to be the death of me. You should leave.
Leslie
Not yet.
Justine
Anything of interest upstairs?
Leslie
One of the bedrooms is strange.
Justine
Why?
Leslie
It looks like its been nailed shut from the inside. Then smashed inwards.
Justine
That's weird. Can I say again that you should leave. Like right now.
Leslie
Hold on. I can hear something.
Justine
Les?
Justine
Les. You there?
Leslie
Still here. Jesus. I saw something.
Justine
What?
Leslie
A shadow standing in the hallway. Walked out of one of the bedrooms and it was standing there.
Justine
Get out Les.
Leslie
No way. I've got that key and I'm going to have a look in the basement.
Justine
But there's something there.
Leslie
Maybe. There may be more here than meets the eye.
Justine
What do you mean?
Leslie
Come on Justine. Dix knows I'm coming out this way. He directed me to the cottage. What if he set this all up?
Justine
But why?
Leslie
To get Harrow House in the news.
Leslie
Think about it. Generate a story centered on the Caretaker's Cottage. Gets in the news and everyone's talking about Harrow House again.
Leslie
Everyone remembers Harrow House and don't mind using the venue because all the bad shit happened in the cottage.
Leslie
Good marketing if nothing else.
Justine
But what if its actually a ghost?
Leslie
Either way its a front page story. Either way it'll have my name on it.
Justine
Sometimes you can be downright pig-headed.
Leslie
There are noises coming from downstairs.
Leslie
I'll get back to you in a second.
Monday 5.44pm
Justine
Les.
Leslie
Right here.
Justine
What do you see?
Leslie
Used that key on the door and it worked.
Leslie
Found stairs into the basement. The voices are definitely coming from down here.
Justine
Can you see anything?
Leslie
All I can see is a flickering light somewhere below. From a fire I think. I can smell tar.
Justine
How far do the stairs go?
Leslie
A fair way. I don't think its a basement. It seems too deep.
Justine
God. If there are voices then that means there are people. Get out while you can.
Leslie
Are you kidding? This is great. Dix has obviously set something up. Don't you want to see the show?
Justine
But what if its not?
Leslie
Not what. Surely you don't think there are ghosts here?
Justine
Have a look if you must but don't make any noise.
Leslie
Will do.
Leslie
These steps are steep. The voices are getting louder. Sounds like a chant.
Justine
What do you see?
Leslie
There's a room down here. About as big as our lounge room.
Leslie
I can see shadows, six of them.
Justine
What are they doing?
Leslie
Chanting around a large wooden chest.
Justine
A what?
Leslie
A chest. Strapped with metal.
Justine
You said you can see shadows.
Leslie
Yeah. Some kind of illusion. Just dark shapes surrounding the chest.
Justine
Les. Get out. This is too much.
Leslie
Hold on. There's a light switch.
Justine
What are you going to do?
Leslie
Expose this fraud for what it is.
Justine
Les. Be careful.
Leslie
Just give me a minute.
Monday 6.33pm
Leslie
Jesus Christ.
Justine
What?
Leslie
I turned on the lights and the shadows just disappeared.
Justine
Don't turn those lights off.
Leslie
I won't. I'm going to have a look around. See if there are any hidden projectors here.
Justine
Maybe this whole story is real. What if you're in danger.
Leslie
I can't see any danger. The room is almost empty. Only thing left is the box and a torch burning on the wall.
Justine
What's in the box?
Leslie
Don't know. It seems to be locked.
Justine
Maybe you should just leave it.
Leslie
No way. There gotta be something inside.
Justine
Maybe it should stay there.
Leslie
Looks like its not locked, only latched shut. Give me a moment.
Justine
What are you doing?
Leslie
Opening it.
Leslie
Now that I didn't expect.
Justine
What is it?
Leslie
Its filled with bones.
Justine
Human bones?
Leslie
I can't tell.
Leslie
Certainly look big enough. There's even a skull but it isn't human.
Justine
What does it look like?
Leslie
There's a big iron nail driven through it. Can't lift the skull out without pulling out the nail first.
Justine
Just step back for a moment, Les.
Leslie
And do what?
Justine
Think about what you're doing.
Justine
You have no idea what that thing is. You could be in danger.
Leslie
What I see here is an elaborate hoax. I'm going to expose it for what it is.
Justine
Jesus, Les. Just leave it alone.
Leslie
I'm pulling the nail.
Justine
Don't do it Les. Leave it alone.
Justine
Les?
Monday 7.51pm
Eddy
Justine. Are you at the cottage?
Justine
Yes. Looking for remains.
Eddy
Anything left?
Justine
Nothing. No sign of Leslie or the ritual.
Eddy
Great. That was an impressive sacrifice. How did you know she'd do it?
Justine
I've known Les for years. You tell her to do something and she always does the opposite.
Justine
Any word from the Low Council?
Eddy
All the signs are that the Harbinger has been successfully released.
Justine
Where will it strike first?
Eddy
They're saying Central Asia but that can only be a guess. It'll probably go anywhere it wants to.
Justine
How long do we have until the Fall.
Eddy
666 days. Should spread from the first strike and then engulf everything.
Justine
Sweet. Can't wait.
Justine
What will you do about the police?
Eddy
Nothing. I'll make a missing persons report tomorrow and they can try and figure it out.
Eddy
I have the feeling that the legend of Harrow House is about to get larger.
Eddy
I was going to ask. Did you find her phone?
Justine
It was on the floor near the chest. Smashed the sim card. I'll get rid of the phone while I'm on the ferry this evening.
Justine
Will you be at the meeting tomorrow?
Eddy
Wouldn't miss it.
Justine
Are we going full robes or skin?
Eddy
Full robes. A member of the Low Council will be presiding.
Justine
That will be inspirational. Demons always put on a great show.
Justine
Do you know if Dix will be coming?
Eddy
Not sure. I think he's got a PTA meeting. School's talking about putting in extra heaters.
Justine
Poor little munchkins. So much potential, so little time.
Eddy
You're a cold-hearted bitch but I've always liked that about you.
Eddy
Finish up then get on home. Good job Justine. You will be rewarded.
Eddy
May your world end in fire and blood.
Justine
May the New World be born in pain and betrayal.
Eddy
Fancy a coffee later?
THE END
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