Free The Fallen Parler: Part One (A supernatural mystery thriller) by B.C Safari Page B

father was worth breaking and entering Williamson’s office. He hoped, though doubted, that the file would produce some concrete evidence. Strong evidence was what he needed to shape his theory that Allan Roterbee and Arthur Mannox were related. The news of Percy Williamson’s death had blurred his theory in some small, inexplicable way.
    ‘Up to your room then,’ said Dr. Willow, disrupting Junior’s trail of thoughts. The doctor appeared to usher the twins up a steep flight of stairs.
    ‘Doctor!’ cried Junior, astounded, ‘are you not going to ask me anything about what happened today?’
    Dr. Willow creased his thick, dark brows, ‘do you want me to?’
    ‘Well, no but ... I thought’
    ‘Let me tell you what I think boy,’ said the doctor, ‘I think that you need to stay out of trouble. From the moment you stepped into Shorebridge, you’ve done nothing but–’
    ‘Doctor Willow!’ exclaimed Luchia, ‘do not tell me zat you really think ze boy knows anything about Mizter Williamson’s death!’
    This was the first time the Roterbee twins had ever heard the housekeeper raise her voice to Dr. Willow. Their astonished expressions told that they were also impressed. Dr. Willow was briefly dumbfounded, but a second was all it took for him to recompose himself.
    The doctor inhaled deeply and replied, ‘then how on earth did the boy find himself in Williamson’s secret chamber?’
    ‘Secret chamber?’ muttered Junior, his eyebrows creasing together dubiously. ‘Mrs. Quabble said nothing about a secret chamber… how did you know that?’
    ‘I’m sure she must’ve mentioned it,’ replied Dr. Willow, ‘yes…she said you and Miss Fling found the headmaster in his secret dorm.’
    ‘I’m pretty sure that’s not what she said,’ snapped Charlotte, puzzled by the doctor’s distortion of Mrs. Quabble’s words. ‘I remember what she said exactly "If Miss Fling and Mr. Roterbee had not found Percy in his office, I would’ve thought he was still overseas" - that’s what Quabble said.’
    ‘Yez, if I remember correctly, she said nothing of a secret dorm,’ Luchia concurred.
    Reddening to a luminous hue, Dr. Willow barked, ‘to your rooms, ALL OF YOU!’
    Directly at Luchia, the doctor spewed, ‘including you!’
    If one had not known better, it would’ve been the general assumption that the Willow Lodge was not inhabited by two temperamental teenagers but three, for the manner with which Luchia forcefully slammed the kitchen door demonstrated that she no longer amassed any fear of the doctor. The twin’s, impressed by Luchia’s feistiness, mimicked her. When they reached the second floor, Dr. Willow was affronted with two more boisterous, slamming doors.
    ‘Need to establish order in this house,’ the doctor mumbled, before disappearing into his study.
     

Chapter eight
     
    ‘The Oath of secrecy’
     
    ‘Strange.’
    ‘What’s strange?’
    ‘I had a feeling that this would happen,’ muttered Charlotte.
    Junior creased his eyebrows incredulously, ‘Charley, I know you can somehow predict the weather, but no one is that good,’ he replied.
    ‘I could swear on it!’ exclaimed Charlotte. ‘Just like when dad died, I had a feeling that something bad was bound to happen today…poor Mr. Williamson.’
    Shuddering as an image of the headmaster’s decrepit corpse reappeared in his thoughts, Junior muttered, ‘with all these strange disappearances, you’re not the only one feeling strange …even Luchia is on edge.’
    ‘I’ve never seen her so feisty before,’ sniggered Charlotte, ‘even Dr. Willow was stunned to silence.’
    The mention of Dr. Willow’s name triggered an instant alteration in Junior’s countenance. If the doctor knew that Mr. Williamson had a secret dorm beneath his office, the two men must’ve been more than acquaintances. Why had Willow denied knowing the headmaster at all? From his reaction alone, Junior was certain that the doctor knew more about Percy