MAGDALENA'S GHOST: THE HAUNTING OF THE HOUSE IN GALLOWS LANE (19 page)

The police, meanwhile, had their own theory. They believed that when Magdalena and Beryl went off to London, the men who had been witnessed by the residents of Judge Fields had seized the opportunity and taken the boy out to their car whilst they killed the father. They no doubt discovered that Sinclair did not have the money to pay what he owed. They will have taken the boy away before returning to clean up and conceal the body behind the fireplace, knowing it was unlikely to ever be discovered. They had, from all reported facts, disappeared without trace and it was therefore presumed they had gone abroad with the boy. They thought it unlikely that the boy had been murdered, if, as it was rumoured, they had taken him in payment of the debt.

Apparently it was also rumoured that Magdalena had ordered workmen to seal up the door in order to protect her valuable works of art. Because she continually left the door unlocked for her son to return, she became the victim of many break-ins, whereby most of her contents were removed. Later investigations had revealed that Magdalena had made a will in favour of Billy, in case he returned after her death. He was to have the house and its contents, and the sculptures would have given him security for the remaining years of his life.

But Beryl had cheated Billy out of his inheritance and had committed the cruellest of crimes against her vulnerable mother; and when she’d abandoned her at a time when she needed support, surely she must have known in her warped mind that she had disinherited herself from the estate. Magdalena, however, when she’d had the door sealed up, might well have known, or guessed that Beryl would return one day. Perhaps she wasn’t as mad as everyone thought. By hiding away the valuables, she had succeeded in tricking Beryl to believing that everything of value, including the amazing antique musical clock, had been stolen. At least she didn’t reap the benefit of her mother’s incredible talents and hard work, and therefore Magdalena had outwitted her in the end.

Magdalena would have had no idea that her husband’s body had been sealed up behind the fireplace, and her deteriorating frame of mind, over the years, would allow her memory only to be penetrated by the loss of Billy. Living there alone she would have gradually been forgotten, and curiosity from the villagers would eventually die with them. When the daughter returned all those years later, no doubt prompted by the rumours that the old lady had
lost it
, she seized the opportunity to take what she believed was rightfully hers. There was no-one to question her actions, therefore the crimes all went unpunished and unsolved. Poor Magdalena, Lucy thought, she didn’t deserve what she went through – what a tragic story of events.

Anton and Lucy had one more night to stay at Juniper, and the following morning they would move all of their belongings back to the flat. They decided to have an early night in readiness for an early start the next day.

Anton checked that everything was secure before joining Lucy who had already settled down in bed for a good night’s sleep. They cuddled up together, happy in the knowledge that soon they would be back where they belonged. It took no time at all for them both to nod off.

During the course of the early hours, the sound of music could be heard in the distance and Lucy was the first one to wake up to it. She sat up in bed and concentrated to make sure she wasn’t hearing imaginary sounds. But she knew without doubt that she could hear the piano playing a beautiful but melancholy tune; she recognised it as the same tune as on the musical clock.

“Anton, wake up,” she whispered, as she rocked him and shook him until he opened his eyes.

“Huh? What’s wrong?” his words were slurred as he tried to wake up.

“Listen, can’t you hear it, it’s that music again.”

Anton sat up and listened until the musical notes eventually reached his ears.

“Where’s it coming from?” he asked, still groggy from having been forced awake.

“Someone’s playing the piano downstairs.”

At that moment Anton seemed to wake up with a start. He jumped out of bed, and Lucy followed as he stopped at the door. He took a deep breath and stealthily opened it. He walked out onto the landing and listened. Lucy joined him.

“It sounds like it’s from downstairs,” he whispered. “You wait here and I’ll go down and take a look. I’ll get the hammer out of my tool box. ”

“What for?” exclaimed Lucy looking at him, and wondering if perhaps he wasn’t really awake after all.

“In case it’s a burglar, that’s what for,” he answered, puzzled as to why she should question his actions.

“You don’t need a hammer to protect you from ghosts. They won’t do you any harm.”

He looked at her questioningly, and after grabbing his dressing gown he proceeded to go downstairs with Lucy following close behind. He made sure he retrieved the hammer from his tool box in the hall on the way through. The music was coming from the sitting room and he felt a cold shiver run down his spine. But Lucy was unfazed. She was no longer afraid.

Anton stopped dead in his tracks as he recognised the old man sitting at the piano playing like a master of music. Lucy stood beside Anton and grabbed his arm to stop him going any further. She held onto him tightly, as they both watched and listened. The music was mesmerising, and the silence of the house in the dead of night further enhanced the beautiful sounds. Neither of them had ever heard, or experienced, anything so beautiful before and they didn’t want it to end. The only distraction a few minutes later was the old woman coming from the scullery and entering the room. She walked slowly towards the piano as if in a trance, but the most amazing and incomprehensible thing of all was what followed. As she approached the piano, the old man began to change into a small and delicate child of around six-years-old. He had blonde hair and small features, and he continued to play the masterpiece uninterrupted. The old lady began to change too, and they witnessed her transition from the old ragged person she had become, to a beautiful, elegant and sophisticated young woman. Holding a violin at her side, she moved towards the piano as if floating on air. Her smile was radiant and her loveliness captivating. Anton and Lucy became awestruck with her beauty and the accomplishments of them both, as she began to play to the magnificent sounds being produced by the hands of the genius child.

They both listened in silence as if rooted to the spot, unwilling and unable to move, knowing that they were privileged to share those rare and precious moments between mother and son.

Anton slid his hand into Lucy’s, his body trembling with emotion at what they were seeing. Lucy didn’t feel any fear at all, in fact the emotions from Magdalena seemed to flood her mind and the happiness spread throughout her whole being.

When the music ended, it was followed by the most unimaginable experience they could ever have thought possible. The child slipped his hand into his mother’s, and together they walked from the room and disappeared through the closed door of the entrance hall and out of the house altogether. It was as if Anton and Lucy did not exist in their world and never could have.

For a while, neither of them could speak. It was as if the story had reached its climax and all had been revealed to them in those few precious moments. Magdalena had found her child. He had returned, who knows when, or how, but they were clearly together in spirit. Their visit was intended to show the young couple how their story had ended, and to let them know that they would have no need to return again to the memories of the past. The house was finally rid of its ghosts, its presences, its mysteries and there was nothing more to be feared. Although the jigsaw was incomplete as far as Anton and Lucy were concerned, the last page of the story had been turned and read. And as far as any missing pages were concerned they would have to invent their own version.

Everything was packed up and stacked into the Transit van which they’d hired. Lucy jumped in beside Anton, and as they drove out of the grounds Lucy glanced back for a few seconds, just sufficient time for her to whisper: “Goodbye Magdalena.”

She had to admit to a brief moment of sadness as they disappeared out of Judge Fields and onto the main road which took them back to their former home. Anton had showed no emotion whatsoever, he seemed relieved as if a burden had been taken from his shoulders, but Lucy felt that she would be leaving a little piece of fondness behind in Juniper, primarily because she had experienced some very strong emotional tugs during their time there, and particularly when the boy had appeared before her. That final visit from Magdalena, as she would have been when the boy disappeared, and the vision of her as she declined into old age and despair, would stay with Lucy for a long time, possibly the rest of her life. She felt enormously privileged to have witnessed the traumatic life of such a talented and amazing woman, which had been cut short by a tragedy which had turned her into an aged and mentally-unstable recluse. She took away with her a strong piece of emotion which she felt would be hard to shake off for many years to come, or perhaps even never.

Lucy had grown up during their time at Judge Fields, she had learned that life was not meant to be a bed of roses and that nothing could remain perfect forever; and she intended to learn from that experience to help make her a better and more unselfish person. Before Juniper, she had doted on Anton without feeling that she should make more effort, convinced that what they shared could not be tested, or dented in any way, and she had taken it all for granted. But she was wrong, Juniper had proven that. Her love for Anton was much stronger and deeper than before, because it had grown into something more meaningful, and she knew that Anton felt the same. She’d heard many times that love would either deepen, or fall apart, during the test of time, and it was important to shake off the fantasies of youth and to accept those changes if they wanted it to survive. She now understood that in its true context. They had both moved into Juniper House as a naïve pair of romantics – just a boy and a girl. But they moved out as man and woman, both of them much wiser and stronger and their relationship much more stable.

Over the next month or two, Anton worked hard on getting the house ready for selling. The estate agents had suggested they put it up for sale immediately, whilst he carried out the necessary work. Much to his surprise the house sold quickly, so he had to put extra hours in to get the work done. As expected, the new purchasers wanted to install their own kitchen and bathrooms, and that cut out a lot of work for Anton as he put the finishing touches to what he’d already done.

Anton continually passed through Judge Fields as he went back and forth to the house, and on one occasion he noticed a large banner had been draped across the front of the old pub, which read:
Opening soon - under new management
. He didn’t think too much about it apart from his mind drifting back to the old man – the one he saw reappear in the house. None of it made sense to him, and he just couldn’t understand the connection to the boy or the woman. He’d always presumed the old man was dead after he failed to appear again in the pub, and he’d presumed the pub had just closed for the winter months, not for good. But he didn’t allow himself to dwell on it for long, as it was too complicated as far as he was concerned. In his view Lucy was too emotional about such things. She had a habit of allowing them to take over her mind, which then became over-imaginative. He thought it better to forget the whole thing and that’s what he’d done.

The closure of the sale came soon enough. Anton had completed the necessary work which he’d promised to do before exchange of contracts, and the purchasers, a couple with three children, were delighted.

On the week of completion, he’d suggested to the agents and solicitors that he would leave the keys behind the bar of the old pub, which he’d noticed when passing had re-opened. He hadn’t been inside it since they had moved into Juniper, and it felt somewhat strange, although familiar, when he walked into the bar area. The new landlord was standing behind the bar drying some pint glasses. He greeted him on entry with a beaming smile.

“Hello son, what can I do for you?”

“I’m from Juniper up the road. I’ve just sold it and I wonder if I can leave the keys here for the new owners. It’ll give them a chance to get to know somebody at least, before they move in.”

“Aye, you’re right there lad. Yon house is a bit hidden up there behind all those trees, in fact hardly anyone passing would know it’s there if they’re not from the village.”

“Well we came across it accidentally I must admit.”

“Spent some time doing it up, have you?” he asked, whilst he continually dried a pint glass to a shine.

“Yes, it’s been hard work but worth it.”

“As long as you make a profit, that’s all that matters. Property developer are you?” he quizzed.

“I’ll have a glass of lager please.”

The barman served him with the drink and walked over to the till to deposit the money. Anton looked wistfully across the bar to where the old man used to stand.

“No, I’m not a developer,” he finally answered as he sipped his drink. “What happened to the last landlord, I didn’t realise he’d left?”

The man looked at him curiously. “A bit before your time I would have thought young man. This place hasn’t been occupied for tens of years.”

Anton looked at him, presuming he didn’t know about the last landlord.

“I came in a few months ago and …”

“The only people who could have been here would be surveying the place,” he interrupted. “They would either be from the brewery, or maybe their workmen. But I can tell you, on authority, that it’s been closed for years.”

Anton was convinced that the barman didn’t know what he was talking about, especially if he didn’t come from the area.

“I know it was pretty dead when we came, so it’s no surprise that it closed down, I never saw any customers.”

The barman peered back at him.

“I was born and bred in Judge Fields, son. I left the area a long time ago to work away, but I knew Old Jim Thorney. He was the last landlord to run this place and it was years ago. I used to pop in for a pint whenever I visited my old mother, during her decline. He was much older than me, been dead for years. In fact he went to school with a lad from Juniper House, come to think of it. Only primary school, mind you, because the lad was only young when he went missing. I wasn’t even born then. But my old mum told me all about it – she knew all what went on around here you know. It was a bit of a scandal at the time from what she used to tell me.”

Anton was confused. He knew he was not mistaken, because even though the pub had evidently been refurbished, the layout and the bar were the same. He let the barman continue without interrupting him.

“He came back you know.”

“Who came back?”

“Billy – yes, that’s what they called the boy … it was Billy. He was an old man when he returned, not in years but in stature and appearance. He’d had a hard life you see.”

“What happened to him?” Anton was now keenly curious, although somewhat bemused.

“He was only six years old when he was taken away by some men. He never really knew why though, he was too young to understand back then. Something to do with his father owing them money is what he said. He was taken abroad, but he managed to get away in his teens and he went to sea. He’d clearly suffered from his life as a seafaring- man, it showed in his face and his stature. Pity when you knew what his background was and where he’d come from.”

Anton had nothing to say. He didn’t understand really, and was still of a mind to believe the landlord had got his facts wrong about the closure of the pub. He let him continue.

“By the time I was old enough to hear about the scandal, his mother – Magdalena I think she was called – had gone into decline. I was only a boy and didn’t really understand what it was all about. But the villagers who’d known her before the incident, had said she used to be a beautiful woman and very highly regarded, but her husband was a cad.”

“What happened to Billy when he came back?”

“He stayed here, in this pub. Old Jim let him stay because the daughter – I guess that was Billy’s sister Beryl – had taken over Juniper. It was common knowledge that Magdalena had left the house to Billy in case he ever returned – apparently she always knew he would one day. It was written into her will. She evidently wasn’t too mad to do that! But then I guess she probably did it soon after he’d disappeared, maybe before her mind was gone. She probably wanted to make sure her husband didn’t get anything, knowing his reputation. It was a sad affair really. She was a wrong ‘un you know – the daughter, that is. They reckon she took after the father. She robbed Magdalena blind, took everything she owned including the house which she fraudulently possessed. And she managed to get Magdalena sectioned, after transferring the house into her own name. Sad thing was that Magdalena never knew that Billy had come back, and it was all she’d ever waited for. But she was in the madhouse by then, and Beryl was well and truly ensconced in Juniper.”

They were both silent for a while, the barman deep in thought as Anton sipped at his drink waiting to hear more, although unable to digest the facts in an intelligible way.

“Nobody knew he was back apart from the landlord,” he continued. “And me of course, although I sure didn’t tell anyone. No point feeding a village full of gossipers with idle talk, and besides, he didn’t want anyone to know, including his sister. He used to stand over there.” He pointed across the bar. “Over in yon corner, with his half-empty glass on the counter top. Long white hair, unshaven and unkempt but for the shoes he wore. He always had a shine on his shoes did Billy.”

Anton felt a cold shiver run down his spine.

“Oh yes, and he had manicured nails as well, I remember that. And long elegant fingers, even though they were riddled with arthritis. Pianist hands you might say, because that’s what he did as a boy. And I know something else too.” The landlord grinned at Anton mischievously.

“And what’s that?” asked Anton, all ears listening.

“He had a set of keys to Juniper. Apparently the daughter came in here a few times like a raving lunatic. He walked her back to the house a couple of times, so I heard, and he picked up a set which he’d seen hanging in the hall. It must have been a difficult experience for him, although he’d hardly remember it I suppose. But he must have had
some
memories of his childhood there. Imagine going back after all those years and finding it in that condition. From all accounts, it had deteriorated beyond recognition. The keys were possibly his last hope of holding onto something of his past, for what it was worth. The authorities seized the house you see, they took it to pay for the asylum fees. So Billy never got anything. I understand the piano was still in the house?” he asked Anton.

“Yes it was, and still is. The new owners have a family and their son wants to learn to play. They were thrilled about it being left there for them. I cleaned and polished it all up, and tuned it in readiness for when they move in. It looks like new now.”

“Was that old rocker still in there? I heard the old woman never left it, sat in it all the time whilst she waited for Billy.”

“Yes, it’s there alright. I left that too, and the new owners seem intent on keeping it. The husband’s going to refurbish it because he’s in the manufacturing upholstery business.”

“Ah well, at least it’s finally got a good home.” He carried on with his story: “Billy passed away you know, not long before Old Jim. He’s buried in the church graveyard – at least he got that if nothing else. The plot was reserved for Magdalena, but because she was sent to the madhouse by Beryl she didn’t get a proper burial and wasn’t laid to rest where she was meant to be. I heard she was cremated. Anyway, she’d be happy to know Billy was there and long may they both rest in peace now.”

“Is the grave marked?”

“There’s no fancy headstone, just a small round stone, very smooth just like a pebble. No-one knows who put it there it just turned up one day. It has nothing on it except a small inscription which reads
Billy.
There wasn’t anyone to care about him really, and I doubt if anyone knew he was there. No-one knew him you see cos he’d been gone too long – gone and forgotten. You’ll find it down the side of the church, facing the direction of Juniper. It’s easy to find anyway because it’s the only one with a stone.”

The barman finished shining the last of the pint glasses and Anton finished his drink. He put the empty glass on the bar.

“What happened to Beryl?” asked Anton quietly, as an afterthought.

“She went mad and ended up in the same madhouse as her mother. She used to say that her mother was haunting her at Juniper, and had used the cat as a medium to get to her. She got her comeuppance in the end. It wouldn’t surprise me if Magdalena met her there, at the madhouse, and carried on haunting her to her death. Serves her right whatever she got.”

“I’ll be off then and if I can leave these keys here, the couple will be in later this week.” Anton slid the keys across to the barman who picked them up and placed them on a hook behind the bar.

Anton made a move to leave but couldn’t resist glancing across the bar to the corner where he’d first seen Billy. A great sadness clung heavily to his shoulders, as he reflected on the tragic story the landlord had relayed to him. But as he was about to walk away, he was taken by surprise as he saw the old man looking across at him from his usual corner. Anton instinctively lifted his hand to wave, and then stopped dead in his tracks. He didn’t know if it was a figment of his imagination, or whether he was truly seeing him. The old man lifted his half-empty glass of beer and smiled across to Anton, nodding to him at the same time. Anton made a move to walk round to him but the old man disappeared within seconds, leaving Anton to wonder if it had really happened.