.bmp) |
| Illustration for "ALEXANDRA AND THE OXFORD SPIRIT CHASERS." Created by the author. Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen J. Williams. |
"Britain is basking in an unprecedented heatwave, but a small group of students at Oxford University have other matters on their minds. This group consists of students - who are studying various degrees - that have formed a very special out of study club; 'The Spirit Chasers'. While they do like the 'hard stuff', the spirits they chase don't come in bottles! But it's when they decide to play with an old Ouija board, found in an attic [that was being refurbished] that things start to go wrong. Mr. Tibbs is sent to investigate, and Alex meets a hunky professor and his team..."
Concept date: 11th May 2019
First published: 25th June 2020
Status: COMPLETED & PUBLISHED.
Revisions: 3 [last revised July 2020]
Version: Final.
Published Episode No. 17
Previous episode: "Alexandra encounters the other Napoleon Bonaparte."
Next episode: "Alexandra and the school for scandal."
Angel-in-charge: Margret
Team Assigned: Team 74
Mission: 6 - 300478 - 5 – 1976
This story originally appeared on the author's original website called: 'The amazing adventures of Jericho Tibbs!' and was transferred to the new site: 'The Temporal Detectives' in due course. That 'legacy' site is still available but receives no updates or new material.
.bmp)
THIS EPISODE MAY CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS:SMOKING - ALCOHOL USE - VIOLENCE [INCLUDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE & BDSM] - STRONG LANGUAGE - GRAPHIC HARD SEX REFERENCES INCLUDING PROSTITUTION AND DIVERSE SEXUAL PRACTISES - DRUG REFERENCES - ANTI-RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS AND OPINIONS - HUMAN TRAFFICKING - COMMENTS AND BEHAVIOUR THAT MAY OFFEND SOME PEOPLE BUT WERE CONSIDERED 'NORMAL' IN THE TIME PERIOD. |
IF YOU ARE BELIEVE YOU MAY BE OFFENDED BY ANYTHING CONTAINED IN THIS WRITTEN WORK, THEN DON'T READ IT AND CLOSE THE PAGE! CAUTION: “THIS EPISODE COULD CONTAIN VERY STRONG LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE [including sexual violence] HORROR AND GRAPHIC, STRONG SEXUAL REFERENCES. RECOMMENDED suitable for persons aged 18+ years only.”  |
This episode has a reading time of approximately 75 minutes.
This story can be found in "The adventures of Alexandra" BOOK SERIES 2 - Episode 7 which can be obtained from 'Amazon.com' and all good bookshops!
"ALEXANDRA AND THE OXFORD SPIRIT CHASERS."
by Stephen J. Williams
1. THE OLD PUB: ‘THE DEVIL & THE PIT’, OXFORD, ENGLAND. FRIDAY 13th AUGUST 1976.
“It was last open for
business in 1969 when the owner died, and the place closed and was simply never
re-opened. His heir, a nephew didn’t want it and put it up for sale. It never
sold obviously. Little money has been spent on its upkeep as you can see.” John Morris waved a hand at the derelict
building and wiped his face. This evening was unbelievably warm; the summer of
’77 would go into the history books all right. There were reports on TV about
road tarmac actually melting and a severe drought across the country. Still, he
had persuaded Ellen – his live-in girlfriend – that sharing the bath water was
in the nation’s best interests! He fumbled in the small canvas bag that was
slung over his shoulder and found the key’s that the Estate Agents had handed
him.
The owner was more than happy to co-operate with the team of ‘Paranormal investigators’ from Oxford University; no-one had gone near the pub or made an offer since it fell empty in 1969. It had quite a reputation for strange and almost demonic activity which would not have crowds flooding back into it. Thus, the little group had arrived to investigate and record what was happening in the old building.
Dave Clay slung the heavy camera over his shoulder and stared at the old tavern; “If I owned the boozer, I would certainly change the bloody name!” he said quietly to Maggie who smiled and heaved a couple of bags from the back of the Austin Morris estate car. “I think your right Dave; the ‘Devil and the pit’ won’t attract too many punters in for a good time!” Dave chuckled and cussed the camera again. He was a second-year student in Media Studies and had borrowed the damn thing from the University Film productions Unit. He was becoming quite proficient with it and now believed he could actually get a job as a cameraman on one of the TV stations. He smiled at Maggie bending over the bags in her shorts. He harboured some delicious thoughts about his fellow ‘Ghost Hunter’ and they weren’t all fraternal. But she was under the spell of ‘JP’ Bonaparte – the Professor of African Studies – at the university. Like a lot of young female students.
But John speaking to him snapped his attention away from her delicious backside and he grabbed a bag up. “Come on, let’s get in. I’ve been told we can have the run of the place and there is still electricity and water on. But no beer apparently. It’s been broken into more times than I’ve had a bag of chips.” He waved the keys and they waited until they were joined by William Weaver, who eased himself from the car.
Willy was a big man and played Rugby for the university and a local team. He had already been sought out by several Rugby league teams who would sign him as soon as he finished his degree in Physics. He was intelligent as he was big.
Everyone in the
‘Oxford Spirit Chaser’s Club’ always felt a little safer with the big man
around. He also had some real experience of ghostly activity and had been
involved in the almost infamous ‘Portsmouth Poltergeist’ incident last year. He
became a legend – apparently – when confronted by a chair throwing entity; he
slung the bloody chairs back at it! He and ‘JP’ had dealt with that one. They
were close friends and ‘JP’ also played rugby for the university. Willy was in
his last year – like John – and was quite a character.
John was reading Archaeology and Ancient History. Everyone he met soon formed the same opinion of the quiet man; he was going places. He already possessed the demeanour and personality of a professor, and his knowledge of his subjects could only be matched by the ‘Don’s at the University. Oh yes, he was destined for the top in his chosen profession. He and ‘JP’ were really close and good friends.
“When is the man himself joining us?” Willy asked John who was sorting through the keys as they approached the front door. John grinned; “JP has a little matter of a gorgeous young air hostess to deal with first. He met her when he flew back from Nairobi a couple of weeks ago. They are probably deep in conversation about the early African civilizations as we speak!” Willy laughed out loud and waited for John to open the reluctant door.
Maggie didn’t smile at hearing about the air hostess and Dave noticed that with a small smile. JP was never short of female company that was for sure. The dashing new professor of African studies was big as Willy and was of mixed European and African heritage. His father was a Surgeon in France and his mother a journalist in Kenya. He spent his time between the three countries that he loved: France, Kenya and England. Only in his early thirties he was already a professor. Like John, he had the talent to go far in his profession. He was also very attractive to women; very attractive. JP was handsome, charming and intelligent. He also knew about the supernatural and paranormal, which didn’t surprise anyone; his maternal grandfather had been a very famous Witch Doctor! Well, that was the rumour and JP encouraged it without actually confirming it.
Maggie really missed the other team member tonight, Rose McGovern. They were good friends, but Rose was at a dinner dance at the local police station; she was ‘seeing’ a Detective police sergeant who was divorced and about ten years older than her. But they seemed to get along really well. Maggie suspected that Rose was a lot more taken by the Sergeant than she would ever admit to her friend, at the moment. Rose also had a real sense of humour and could make anyone laugh. She was straight off a Belfast housing estate on a scholarship paid by some big Irish Whisky company. She [Rose] always said that she was just getting back some of the money that her father and Uncles had given the distillery!
They gathered in the old main bar which was dominated by the original pub sign – taken down to avoid theft – that showed the devil standing before a pit filled with flame and screaming souls. Maggie found the kitchens and brewed a huge pot of tea which was welcomed by everyone. They sat at one of the tables by a boarded-up window and John briefed the team.
“Apparently there has been a tavern on this site since the fourteenth century. It was a coaching Inn in the 17th and 18th centuries. It has changed hands many times and been called by several names; but the name ‘The Devil and the Pit’ is the original fourteenth century name; resurrected by the owners in 1866 for some insane reason only known to them!” John sipped his mug of dark tea and turned the page of his notebook.
“There have been all sorts of incidents recorded here over the years, ghostly apparitions and poltergeist activity. The most well-known one was a stag party in 1952 which came to an abrupt end when a demon appeared and attacked the two strippers in the middle of their act! Apparently the two girls ran up the road in just their stockings, followed by the men. That appeared in several papers at the time.” He chuckled to himself and looked about the place adding; “Maybe if Maggie or Rose took off their clothes on the bar, we may get some action.” He grinned at the two fingers stuck up by Maggie. He knew that Rose would have retorted with some humour; but Maggie wasn’t Rose. John actually grinned to himself; Rose probably would have taken off her clothes, if it would conjure up a poltergeist or two!
“So apart from Rose or Maggie stripping what else can we do to attract the spirits that apparently infest this dump?” Dave asked and finished his tea; he could murder a cold beer. John smiled and heaved up his old black satchel that he always carried and slowly pulled the old cardboard box out. Everyone stared at it.
The box was old and
faded and everyone knew what it contained.
A Ouija Board. “It’s late Victorian and was found in the attic’s here when the place was closed down by one of the workmen. I brought it from that little Curiosities shop in the city. Apparently, the storekeeper said that the workman gave it to him and ran out the shop!” He carefully opened the fragile box and removed the wooden board and placed it on the table. “I should have paid about five or six pounds for it, but when I explained that I was from the university and our little club, he gave it to me for a pound. Actually, I think he would have given it to me; he seemed more than happy for me to take it.”
John looked about the table and asked quietly; “I take it everyone has used one of these before?” Willy folded his arms and nodded; “Yeah, a couple of times and nothing bleeding happened.” He smiled as Dave grunted; “Little wonder, the spirit didn’t want a bloody chair broken over its head.” That broke the sombre mood, except for Maggie who kept looking at the old pub sign. She would find something to cover that before they started.
So, it was decided to try the board before the summer evening descended into darkness. Maggie made more tea and handed out the sandwiches she had made and several bags of ‘Chipmunk’ crisps. Everyone ate in relative silence and Maggie found a bright red tablecloth and threw it over the pub sign. As she did, she suddenly realized that her nipples were standing up and she shivered a little. The closed pub was oppressively hot, and the men were openly sweating. But a cold sensation had swept over her. She really wanted to get out the place but stopped herself thinking about that and returned to the table, where John had set up the board and Dave the camera and tape recorder.
Maggie had her large notebook, clock and pencils. She wouldn’t touch the board; just record the session. Only Willy and John would actually use the board. Two battery powered lamps were placed on the table and the lights dimmed. John spoke carefully and quietly as he and Willy placed their hands upon the Planchette. Maggie noted the time 6.46pm and date; Friday August 13th, 1976. She wiped her face, Friday the thirteenth!
John called several times if anyone was there. Nothing.
Willy now took over and called out if anyone was there. The pub lights flickered a couple of times, and everyone looked at each other. Maggie noticed that her hand shook a little as she wrote that down. Willy called out again and the lights dimmed and went out. Dave quickly switched on the two lamps, and everyone sat in silence. Willy called out again and suddenly the Planchette moved slowly to ‘Yes’. Both John and Willy whispered – quite nervously – that they weren’t pushing the bloody thing! John wiped his face and spoke softly; “Who wishes to make contact?” he repeated it and watched as the Planchette moved to each letter in turn.
Maggie – with a real shaking hand – wrote down the reply and noted the time; 6.50pm. She whispered the word to the others; “Norman.” Everyone stared at each other, and Dave almost smiled; “A bloody spirit called Norman?” John drew a deep breath and asked; “What do you want to say Norman?”
The Planchette moved again, and Maggie wrote down the answer. “Get out now my friends. Now. Now. Now.” John wiped his face again and said quietly; “Why Norman, are we in danger?” The Planchette moved quickly around the board with Willy and John shouting that they couldn’t take their fingers off the damn thing! Maggie kept her head and wrote down the words spelled out. “Get out now! Get out now! He’s coming!”
Suddenly the Planchette flew from the board and spun around like a top and fell from the table onto the floor. Willy and John were holding their fingers and cursing; “It feels like my fingers are fucking alight!” John shouted and jumped up. Willy stuck his fingers into his mug of cold tea and cursed soundly. No one noticed the strange smile on his face.
Everyone calmed down a little and Dave slowly lifted the camera and managed to gasp; “For fuck's sake! Look at the pub sign!” The red tablecloth that covered the picture was being consumed by little red and yellow flames; the burning cloth fell to the floor leaving the picture untouched apparently. That’s when everyone stared in utter horror as the Devil raised his pitchfork and gestured to the damned souls in the pit; they were screaming and pleading as the flames consumed them.
The little group went
through the door almost as one.
Everyone sat in the car in absolute silence and took a swig from Dave’s hipflask of whisky. Finally, John whispered; “We best find a phone box and ring JP.” No one argued with that.
2. JEAN-PAUL BONAPARTE; PROFESSOR OF AFRICAN STUDIES.
JP slowly replaced the receiver and sighed. He turned and smiled at the small blond woman asleep next to him. He eased from the bed and headed for the bathroom, showered quickly and dressed in silence, He grabbed up his old ‘Gladstone’ bag and headed for his car; a little convertible Triumph Herald and pulled the top back; the evening was hot and sticky. He headed out the city onto the Marsh Road and towards the old pub.
He didn’t notice the black Bedford J4 Van join him some yards behind. Wilson gripped the wheel and cursed a little; “Is this heap the best Supplies could come up with?” he directed the question to Owen who just shrugged his shoulders and muttered that he wasn’t responsible for the bloody van supplied. Alex leaned over and smiled; “The 1970’s were not the best time for decent vans big man.” Wilson grunted; “You don’t have to drive the bloody thing. It has a mind of its own I swear.”
Jericho looked up from his mirror and gestured to the speeding little car in front; “Keep behind him Wilson, we know where he’s going, so no need to rush.” Wilson nodded and the gear box groaned as he changed up. Alex tapped Jericho’s shoulder and asked quietly; “Has Demon Ingress identified who has appeared?” Jericho shook his head; “As soon as we or they do; they’ll send a Knight or Guardian as appropriate.”
Owen rubbed his face; “The last demon to make an appearance at the old pub was Jessel – a Tier 2 – in 1952. Apparently, he likes females and had a go at a couple of pub strippers at a stag party there. According to Operations, Big Frank the Guardian kicked his arse back to the Dark Prince, but not before he nicked a couple of souls. Apparently, a couple of drunken blokes from the party jumped into their car and drove like nutters until a tree stopped them. He got the dumb pair before the Collector could appear and scoop them up.”
Jericho sighed and lowered his mirror; “Well, it appears some idiots have used an Oujia Board in the old place and didn’t like who appeared from the other side. Apparently, a bloody demon – unknown at the present – and guess who else?” he grinned as they all shook their heads. “Bloody Norman Tanner again!”
Everyone laughed at
that revelation by Jericho.
Alex groaned and sat back; “Bloody Norman again. I thought he had given that nonsense up and decided to stay at that big castle in York?” Jericho smiled; “Well, he’s certainly put in appearance here and give him his due; tried to warn the silly buggers before the demon turned up.” Owen laughed; “I like Norman; he’s really just a naughty poltergeist who doesn’t hurt anyone; just scares the shit out of them!”
“It wasn’t his cold bleeding hands up the back of your panties, wasn’t it? You might change your tune then.” Alex said and settled back in her seat. Owen smiled at her, and the pair laughed. He whispered; “It might have been, if I was Jackie at the time.” Now that did put a smile back on Alex’s face. “Well, that would have certainly surprised the pervert poltergeist.” She said quietly.
Jericho ignored the banter between the two and gestured to the small car turning left ahead. “His grandfather was a real ‘Passer’ who could see and communicate with lost souls. I wonder if Jean-Paul has inherited that skill.” Alex leaned forward and smiled; “Well, his grandson could certainly talk to this lost soul. He’s a very handsome man all round.” Owen chuckled and consulted his mirror again; “Blimey, his grandfather had seven wives and thirty-one children. Where did the find the bloody time to talk with the dead?” He tapped his mirror; “Did you know that the old boy is now a Collector?”
The conversation ceased as the small car pulled up in the pub car park, next to a battered old Austin Morris estate car. Wilson parked the van up at the entrance to the pub drive and sat back. Owen consulted his mirror; “No activity recorded at the moment. I wonder what they will do now?” The team watched JP as he was joined by his relieved looking team. They stood talking in the deserted car park for some minutes before heading back in the pub.
Jericho slapped a hand over his face; “Sweet Lord, what are they doing? They have balls to go back in there.” Wilson was staring at the little group as they disappeared back into the pub. He tapped the steering wheel with his fingers and spoke quietly; “Do you know that the big white fellow seems familiar to me. I think I’ve seen him before, somewhere.” Owen leaned over and checked his mirror; “A certain William Eric Weaver, currently aged 22 in human years and nothing is shown. He’s departure date is given as 2012. Dies of Colon cancer according to Human Records.” Wilson nodded his thanks and sat back; “I’d swear that I’ve dealt with him before.”
Jericho patted Wilson’s arm but spoke to Owen; “You’ve checked Human records, so check Operational Archives. I’ll trust the big man’s memory on this one.” Owen nodded and sat back with his mirror.
Jericho sighed with relief as the little group appeared with their baggage and headed back to the car’s. “They collected their kit and locked the place up. Thank heaven for that.” Wilson moved the van back up the road and the team watched the two cars departed the pub and head for the Oxford Road. “At least he had the sense to call it a day.” Jericho muttered and instructed Wilson to head for the pub car park.
They parked by the side of the pub, where the brewery would normally deliver, and Owen said quietly; “We have company.” They watched as the Ford Cortina pulled into the derelict pub car park. A young couple sat in the car smoking; the smoke pouring out the open windows. The team started to chuckle as the pair threw their cigarettes out and started to kiss. “A bloody courting couple; that’s all we need.” muttered Jericho who went back to consulting his mirror.
Alex leaned between Wilson and Jericho and grinned; “They are not wasting much time, are they?” The seats in the car were down and one of the girl’s legs was hanging out the window; her pink panties hanging around the ankle. The young man was on top and his big, bare hairy arse was clearly seen. Owen chuckled; “Now that might attract our demon, if it’s Jessel. He really loves human females.”
Jericho’s mirror started to buzz – loudly – and flash. He looked up and saw the hooded figure coming through the pub wall; the van turned over with glass smashing and rolled again ending up on its roof. There was no one inside; Jericho had managed to operate the Emergency Travel app despite hanging upside down. He would be grateful that he kept his seat belt on. They brushed themselves down outside the lighthouse and Jericho consulted his mirror. “Demon Ingress reports that a Tier 1 Demon called Sol has appeared at the pub. A knight is on the way. Everyone OK?”
Owen picked glass from his hair and didn’t smile; “Thank the bastards for the early warning.” Alex shook glass from her blouse and short skirt. Then grabbed Jericho by the arm and shouted; “The bloody courting couple! We have to go back now!” Jericho nodded and checked his mirror; “Come on, James is on scene.” He operated his mirror and the team disappeared.
They joined James by the Ford Cortina; he wasn’t alone. Suki the Collector was there, and she and Alex exchanged a kiss. They all could see the body of the young man inside the overturned car. His head had been crushed like a rotten apple and his trousers were still around his ankles. There was no sign of the girl. Jericho slammed his hand down on a spinning tyre and cursed. This had turned bad; really bad. A demon had abducted a living human right under a team’s nose; not that they could have done much about it against a Tier 1 demon.
Suki stated that the young man was due to die tonight and that’s why she was there. But there was no soul to collect. It had been taken. He was Colin Folds from Oxford, and he should have been killed tonight by his lover’s jealous husband who would turn up in his works van and catch the pair. He would have killed Colin with a large spanner from his toolbox. He was a railway engineer.
“I should have called for a Knight earlier.” Jericho said and cursed again. James patted his arm; “Operations would have not sent one until there was a confirmation, you know that my friend.” Alex walked towards the pub front and then stopped; she bent down and picked up the pair of pink panties. “He has her.” Was all she said and sighed. This was now quite serious, and the team knew it. Jericho’s mirror buzzed and he answered it slowly. He nodded and lowered his mirror; “One human has gone missing from the current Human Timeline. A Mrs. Ellen Tate aged twenty-four from Oxford. Her scheduled departure date was 2008. Her boyfriend Colin is now a missing soul as well.”
Jericho folded his arms; “This changes the Human Timeline and not in a good way people. Mrs. Tate would have remarried in 1983 and have three children. One of her grandchildren is important to the Human Timeline due to what she does in 2041. The shit has hit the fan alright. It also means that her husband Jerry doesn’t go to prison and murders three young girls over the next seven years before being caught and finally jailed.”
He continued; “Angel Margret has ordered us to restore the Timeline and do it quickly. The time controller has said that the new Timeline will start to take effect in 72 human hours.”
“He’s a nasty bastard – Sol I mean – I hope that poor woman dies quickly, but her soul now belongs to the dark side. There’s not much we can do about that unless we can undo what happened here. Who called the bloody bastard up in the first place? Tier One’s normally appeared when followers of the Dark Prince call for them.” James spoke with real anger in his voice and stared back at the body of the late Colin Folds.
Owen coughed for attention and held up his mirror; “This place, the pub I mean has seen no less than thirteen missing souls over the centuries and one missing living human before the woman tonight. A certain Jeremiah Cornerstone in 1772 disappeared from the Human Timeline and is still registered as a missing soul. This place has provided rich pickings for the Dark Side.”
Jericho nodded his thanks for update and operated his mirror. They returned to the lighthouse with James following a few minutes later. Everyone gathered in the study and was served drinks by Mr. Harris, who was more than happy to serve Mr. James, a Knight of God. To him it was like serving royalty!
Jericho sipped his most welcome brandy and tapped the glass; “I think we need to go back and find out about the Ouija Board use in that old pub. Check out Mr. Bonaparte and his team and change the bloody outcome of their stupid interference with time and people’s lives.” James sat and smiled at Alex but answered Jericho; “I’ll accompany you Jericho with a Tier 1 on scene. But it’s still your case my friend.” Jericho nodded and finished his drink. “So, it’s back to 1976 with a decent cover story and try and sort this bloody mess out.”
3. SATURDAY 14th AUGUST 1976; OXFORD ENGLAND.
JP lowered his
newspaper and picked up the coffee cup; the paper was full of the story about
the happenings at the old pub; the terrible ‘accident’ with the young man’s
body trapped in the crushed car for almost three hours and the total
disappearance of his lover; Mrs. Ellen Tate. He sighed and sipped his coffee
and wondered if his team would be happy to return to their mission at the place
now. But he knew that something was happening at the old pub; something
supernatural and possibly dangerous. He wondered if the terrible incident with
the lover’s was linked with the pub reputation for paranormal happenings.
Someone had disappeared totally there before. He lowered his coffee cup and
stared at the picture of his grandfather on the wall opposite and smiled.
“Thanks gramps, you would have gone for it regardless and so will I.” He would
call the group together and hit the pub that very night, but first he would
contact the local police to ensure they had no objections to his team appearing
at the site of the tragic ‘accident’. But they [the police] insisted that they
could only allow the students back on site the next afternoon.
With the arrangement made for another visit the following afternoon, JP headed for his car and pulled the top down. This summer of ’77 would go in the history books and not just for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. The weather was creating more headlines that the Queen was! He slipped into the little car and started the engine. He looked back at the old house where he had an apartment and wondered about its history. One of his live-in girlfriends [at the time] swore blind she saw a woman walk through a wall in the upper hallway. The big house was split into six apartments. JP’s rooms would have been the old servant’s quarters in Victorian and Edwardian times. With a smile he pulled away and headed for the university. He had resided there for three years and had seen and heard nothing. Maybe they [his team] should try the old Ouija Board there.
Just after the mini-roundabout and the turning for the city road, JP slowed his car and stared at the little mini parked against the edge of the country road, but it wasn’t the car that caught his eye despite the obvious flat tyre. It was the woman kneeling by the deflated wheel. He came to halt a few yards behind the mini and whistled to himself. She was absolutely stunning, and she rose and smiled at him. He gripped the wheel and actually swallowed hard. He was already getting an erection!
JP took a deep breath and tried to push the picture of her naked from his mind. Now that was difficult, but he jumped from the car and smiling broadly walked up to her and offered his assistance. The closer he got; the more beautiful he realized she was. He thanked his lucky stars and fate for this chance encounter. He introduced himself and was surprised – and really pleased – when he found out that she was a doctor. A woman on his intellectual level: [he did have an ego!] Brains and beauty in one gorgeous package he told himself and immediately offered to change the tyre.
That’s when he saw the other lady sitting in the passenger seat, a dark-haired beauty with a long pair of legs in a short skirt. “That’s my friend Jackie. We just don’t have the strength between us to turn the little nuts!” Alex smiled at him and he gulped; this pair could turn the nuts on any man with just a smile. He watched as ‘Jackie’ eased from the car, giving him a glimpse of pink thighs. He groaned under his breath as he pulled the spare wheel from the boot. The two women stood by the front of the car and watched as JP wrestled with the jack and wheel brace. Alex bent right over him, and he stared down her half open blouse and groaned again. Her breasts matched her legs in magnificence. She asked if they could do anything for him.
He eased the flat tyre off and smiled; he knew bloody well what they could do for him! But he smiled and suggested a drink or a pub lunch. He knew a very nice pub near the university and would buy the lady's lunch. Alex smiled and insisted that she and Jackie would buy him lunch. He nodded and didn’t protest anymore. He had the tyre changed and wiped his hands on a cloth from his glove compartment. The ladies would follow him to the pub, and they did.
JP grinned broadly as they walked into the Kings Arms and every male - and some women – turned to watch the girls enter. They were quickly shown a table and given menus. They enjoyed chicken salad and JP was surprised that both ladies enjoyed a half pint of cask ale with their lunch. He was further surprised to find that both ladies were rugby fans and Jackie was particularly knowledgeable about the game. He grew more and more impressed with the pair as the lunch went on. Finally, he told them about his passion for the paranormal and supernatural.
Jackie squeaked with delight and gripped his hand; telling him that her older brother was a professor of History at Rutland University and that was his all-consuming hobby too! They were in the city to meet him; he was on some case with his associate; an American writer from New York. Now JP was really interested and wondered about the ‘case’ they were working on. He told them about his latest case at the old derelict pub, The Devil and the Pit. Both ladies were really keen to hear all about that.
He explained that he had been asked by the current owner to check out the stories and legends about the pub and hopefully, put the stories to rest. “I think he [the pub owner] hopes that such a report will help sell the damn place.” Alex leaned across the table and smiled; “We would love to help with such a task. Jackie’s bother would be absolutely delighted to assist, especially a fellow colleague in the same endeavours.” She also gave his hand a little squeeze. He simply couldn’t refuse!
Jackie wrote a phone
number on a beer mat and pushed it – with a big smile – into his hand. He took
it quickly and they left the pub, agreeing to meet up that evening at his rooms
in the University. He watched them walk to their car with swinging hips and big
smiles; they waved and drove away. He slumped into his car and thanked God –
which he didn’t do often – and drove to the University with a huge grin. He
knew that Willy and John wouldn’t mind about the girls appearing on the case.
Nor would Dave – especially not Dave – and the only problem might be Maggie;
she was jealous of any woman who came near him and would flip when she saw
these two stunners.
Now that made him smile even more. Rose wouldn’t give a toss; that’s the way she is. He had real respect for her; she certainly didn’t chase him, but then she seemed quite taken by her police sergeant friend these days. He believed that relationship could easy turn quite serious. JP spent the day in anticipation of meeting the girls again. He also looked forward to meeting Jackie’s brother and his friend from New York. This could prove to be a very interesting evening he told himself. That’s when he picked up the evening paper and he’s smile vanished. It was full of the death of Colin Folds and the apparent disappearance of the railway engineer’s wife – all from the very pub car park that he and his team were in earlier – linking the tragic incident to the ghostly tales and history of the pub. He groaned aloud; that’s all he bloody needed; crowds of on-lookers turning up!
But he would be disappointed over the girls visit because the caretaker at his Apartment building called asking – no insisting – that he speak with him tonight at his apartment; he wouldn’t discuss the matter over the phone. It was with some reluctance that JP drove home that afternoon and waited in his rooms. He dozed on the sofa, and he actually jumped a little when his door buzzer sounded. He opened the door slowly; it was Mister Hamish McTabb – the building caretaker – who stood grim faced and looking concerned. “I wonder if I may have a word with your Sir; about what occurred here last night?” JP was now puzzled and asked the old man in. Some twenty minutes later – after some whisky – Mister McTabb left in a far better mood; he could tell the two elderly spinsters in Flat Nine that the professor was on the case.
JP sat on the couch and rolled the whisky glass about in his hands and actually smiled at the story the old caretaker had recounted. The two sisters – both in their sixties – had a close encounter in their sitting room with a ghost! Well, technically it was a poltergeist since it moved two chairs about and pulled up both the ladies nice new summer dresses and slapped their bums. JP chuckled and picked up the phone. He called Rose and she told him that her ‘friend’ Danny had been placed on the team investigating the death and disappearance in the pub car park and he was on his way to meet JP and would also have to speak the others, who were there that night.
JP agreed and told Rose about meeting the two women from Yorkshire and that a fellow professor and his associate would also be in attendance. He told her about the appearance of the naughty poltergeist in Flat Nine and she agreed that they should investigate; immediately. “I can get the caretaker to let us in; the two old ladies have gone to stay with their married brother for tonight and so the place is available.” JP told her and Rose would call the other’s and see who could assist at short notice.
He replaced the receiver and was actually quite happy that Rose and her friend would be there. But he wondered what the two girls [Alex & Jackie] would be doing this evening. He pulled the beer mat from his pocket and smiled; maybe he should give the pair a call and see if they would be interested in a little ghost hunting.
4. THE PROFESSOR LOVES THE UNEXPECTED!
JP climbed from the bath and wrapped a towel around, then picked up the small transistor radio he had been listening to and headed for his bedroom to dress. The news on the radio was all about the Queen’s Silver Jubilee activities; he grunted and switched it off. Then the doorbell went, and he went to the front door and asked who it was. A big smile crept across his face as Alex answered, apologizing if she and Jackie were early. He told them he had just stepped from the bath; both girls said they didn’t mind!
He pulled open the door and the pair wandered in, smiling broadly at the big man standing in just a small towel. Unusually – it was one of the hottest summers on record – they were both wearing long summer coats. He was about to ask when they both pulled their coats off, grinning. JP stared in disbelief as they tossed the coats on the nearby small table and stood – hands on hips – in just their underwear. Both were wearing black stockings and suspenders with little black panties and see-through black lace bodices. Their ‘outfits’ were finished with black high heels.
JP managed to say; “I see you dressed for the weather….and for me!” Both girls laughed and nodded. Alex walked straight up to him and kissed him; “And I see you dressed just for us!” and took hold of his towel and he smiled as she pulled it away and threw it on the floor. Alex ran her hands down his torso and took hold of his stiffening cock which was wonderfully big and erecting at her touch. Without a word she knelt and pushed it into her moist warm mouth and her tongue went to work. Jackie joined the pair and JP grabbed her to him and their tongues explored each other’s mouths with some urgency. He ran his hands over her small perk breasts and down to her bum. “You have a fucking stunning arse my darling.” He whispered and groaned as Alex was now really hitting the spot. “Then you’ll enjoy using it then.” Jackie whispered back and the girls then swapped over; with Jackie now working his shaft with her expert mouth.
Alex took his hands
and placed them around her back, and he skilfully had her flimsy bodice off in a
second or two. His big hands took possession of her magnificent tits and his
mouth found a rock-hard nipple to enjoy. Both his hands slid down her slender
body and slowly eased down her little black panties until they fell around her
ankles. She kicked them away. He sucked her breasts hard, working her nipples
with his tongue and teeth while Jackie did the same with his throbbing cock.
Finally, JP pulled off her tits and gestured to the big sofa; “On your back there and I will fuck you hard. While your friend watches, then it’s her turn.” Alex submissively nodded and he watched in delight and anticipation as she walked to sofa; her gorgeous arse swinging with her hips. She sat on the sofa and slowly pulled open her legs. “Nice and wide for a big man like you.” She said quietly. JP patted Jackie’s head and grabbed her hand; they walked over to Alex and Jackie kissed his cheek; “I’ll get her ready for you.” She knelt between Alex’s legs and really worked her crotch with tongue and fingers. All JP could do was watch – wide-eyed – and jerk his cock in anticipation.
He couldn’t wait any longer and told Jackie to step aside and pushed between Alex’s legs and mounted her with some urgency. He kept his promise and fucked her hard; like a bloody road hammer thought Jackie, a little jealous of the fucking Alex was receiving. Alex was pushed back against the sofa as JP leaned over her; gripping the back of the sofa as he fucked her deep and fast. She groaned and gripped his arse with both hands to encourage the fucking. He stopped fucking suddenly and groaned; Jackie had knelt behind him and was rimming his bum hole with her tongue; she included his big balls hanging between his legs. He groaned out loud and Alex pulled his head down and they 'French' kissed with some real passion. The arse licking did the job and JP managed a few more hard thrusts and exploded inside Alex; moaning and cussing. He staggered back and watched in utter delight as Jackie cleaned up Alex's gaped fanny with her tongue and Alex gestured him over and took hold of his cock and cleaned it with her tongue and mouth.
"I've fucking died and gone to heaven." He whispered and slumped on the sofa with the girls either side of him; sharing his cock with their mouths and skilful tongues. His new erection appeared pretty quickly under such a delicious assault. Jackie bent over in front of him, and he groaned with sheer joy as he slid her panties down and Alex reached around her and pulled open her bum cheeks to reveal a well lubricated delightful anus. JP didn't hesitate and pushed his cock in gently at first and then started thrust. Jackie was on all fours and JP dominated her, fucking her arse with some real pleasure and satisfaction. He and Alex kissed some more; their tongues exploring each other's mouths. He carefully moved Jackie to the sofa, and she knelt on it, head down and arse in the air. He really fucked her now, pushing down hard and fast. Jackie was groaning and gasping with each thrust.
He lifted her around and sat on the sofa with Jackie on his lap and continued to fuck her; thrusting upwards. Alex was rubbing her fanny vigorously at the sight of Jackie getting arse fucked by JP. She joined them and sucked Jackie's cock, but JP thought she was licking and fingering Jackie's fanny and shouted encouragement; not that Alex needed it! Jackie was bouncing up and down with Alex sucking her cock and she came in Alex's mouth, gasping and cussing. That made JP chuckle and he couldn't stop coming himself and filled Jackie's back passage. He lay back gasping and panting. Jackie put her arm around him pulled his head to her mouth and they French kissed for some time. Alex fetched a towel from the bathroom and gave it to JP who was really reluctant to withdrawn from Jackie's bum. Jackie slowly lifted herself off his cock and held her cheeks together and walked slowly to the bathroom. Alex cleaned John's dirty cock with the towel while they kissed.
Alex left JP on the couch and joined Jackie in the bathroom. JP lay quietly on the sofa and smiled; What a fucking pair of incredible tarts he thought. He already wanted them again, especially Alex's big breasts and Jackie's incredible little arse. He could hear the talking and laughing in the bathroom and he breathed deep and lay staring at the ceiling, then glanced at the clock on the mantlepiece. He leapt up - Jesus Christ! - the team would be arriving any minute!
"Girls, sorry Girls, but my paranormal team will arrive in a few minutes, and I really need the bathroom." He shouted, standing naked by the door, which was opened by a smiling Jackie who took hold of his hand and pulled him in.
4. THE OLD SOLDIERS.
The girls sat in the little mini and laughed, their long coats wrapped around their flimsy underwear. "You realise that he has no idea that he just fucked a young man." Alex said to Jackie who gave her hand a little slap; "I'm a lady when I'm my other self; you know that you naughty girl." Alex apologised and the pair laughed some more. They watched JP's team [who could attend] arriving and disappearing into the building. Jackie shifted in her seat and consulted her mirror; "Nothing known about any of them. All belong to this era, and all are clean." Alex started the engine and pulled away, heading for the city road and their hotel. They didn't get far.
They both stood by the car and Jackie sighed; "I have no bloody idea why it's conked out. I'll put a call into Supplies, and they can collect the heap. It will be dark soon and we don't want to be standing around here in just our underwear." Alex chuckled and then saw the headlights as the old van came to a stop; they couldn't see the two men for the glare of the headlamps. Then they appeared; both wearing the same blue jacket and red berets. They were both in their late fifties and looked quite smart. "Can we be of assistance ladies?" The bigger one of the two asked; for his age, Alex reckoned his was in good condition and must have been quite a handsome man in his youth. That also applied to his friend. They all stood and chatted; the two men were heading into Oxford for a Regimental reunion - hence the matching outfits - it turned out that Frederick Case and George Harris had landed on the Normandy beaches as young soldiers and managed to survive that and the rest of the war.
Freddie offered the ladies a lift into Oxford provided they didn't mind the smell of the gym mats in the back of the van. The pair now ran a Gym in the city and Alex realised that the two men were in good shape for their age: very good shape. She glanced at Jackie who smiled at the pair and then at Alex. Both girls smiled and gracefully accepted the offer of a lift.
The old van was rocking as George fucked Jackie on the front seat; he had seen that Jackie was a 'special lady' and didn't care; he made up his mind to fuck her when she pulled off that long raincoat. The sight of stocking and suspenders was enough for him. Then the blow job that made him squeal with pleasure before she knelt - awkwardly - on the front seat and allowed him to fuck her arse. He was fucking her hard and slapping her bum with some force. He looked into the back of the van and saw Freddie fucking Alex in the Missionary position. "You have to try this arse Fred, it's fucking heaven!" Freddie looked up and smiled; "I fucking will, this one is a fucking sex monster, she licked my God damn arse before I fucked her!" George panted, thrusting deep into the soft arse under him and prayed to God that he could get another erection so he could fuck the big titted tart after Fred. Clearly, they had fucked girls together before this.
He couldn't hold it much longer and after fifteen minutes he pulled out his dick and told Jackie to turn quickly, she grabbed his throbbing cock and pushed it into her mouth. He came, groaning and cussing, watching Jackie swallow every drop. "Thank God you do ATM." He whispered and that puzzled Jackie as she wiped her mouth. She thought that was a cash machine and he chuckled as he explained that it meant "Arse To Mouth". They laughed and Jackie's head was in his lap; sucking his cock with some determination; she didn't want Alex disappointed.
Freddie also finished, cumming in Alex with some force and lay back gripping his cock as she edged down to his cock and began to suck; she didn't want to disappoint Jackie. The two men - luckily - responded to the urgent sucking of their cocks and equipped with fresh erections, they swapped over.
George was delighted to fuck a woman like Alex, and he fucked her - also in the missionary position - hard and fast whilst enjoying those big titties with his mouth and hands. Meanwhile in the front seat, Jackie had both hands on the dash, sitting on Fred's cock while watching out the windscreen as she rode him with some skill. He gripped her pert tits and groaned with sheer pleasure; George was right, her arse was heaven itself. The foursome fucked for another twenty minutes, and the men were done. So, Jackie and Alex entertained each other while they rested. It was almost half an hour before the van pulled up outside the Team's hotel and the girls gave the men a cheeky little kiss and said their goodbyes. The men were wise enough not to offer the girls money for their entertainment despite believing they were a pair of high-class hookers! Fred drove to the reunion - somewhat late - and then realised that they didn't even know the girl's name's and worse; they hadn't taken a phone number!
5. STILL SATURDAY 14th AUGUST 1976; APARTMENT NINE, KENNEDY BUILDINGS, OXFORD, ENGLAND.
Danny and Rose were the first to arrive and JP poured them some whisky. Rose wanted to know about the women JP had met and JP just smiled and didn't elaborate much more than he had already divulged about them. Their conversation was interrupted by Maggie arriving with John Morris. Dave Clay and Willy Weaver couldn't make it. John had the old Ouija board in his satchel which he placed on the table. JP gave them a whisky too and briefed everyone on the strange happenings in Apartment number nine.
Suitably fortified with whisky, the team headed for apartment number nine and JP unlocked the door and they wandered in. John pointed to the large Dining table by the big bay window. "That's perfect to set up the board." And walked over, slapping his satchel on it. "Even has bloody candles." He added and was joined by Rose who lit the candles and really wanted a cigarette but wouldn't smoke in the old ladies dining room. John set up the board and explained to Danny how it worked. Maggie would again take notes and sit away from the others. Rose sniffed a couple of times and asked JP if the old ladies had male visitors. JP chuckled; "No they are proper old spinster aunts, why do you ask?" Rose shrugged her shoulders; "I would swear that I could smell traces of aftershave. That stuff Henry Cooper advertises on the google box. Two of my uncles use to bath in the stuff."
JP chuckled again and told everyone to take their places around the table. He wanted to start right away and checked his watch; it was just before nine o'clock.
They settled in around the table, with JP and John placing their fingers on the planchette. JP called out for any spirits to manifest themselves with no reaction. He called a couple of times, and they waited in anticipation and silence, looking about the gloomy room lit only by the flickering candles. Rose had a big torch in her lap and she gripped it tightly.
Maggie sat bolt upright in her chair and whispered to the others, pointing to the fireplace with her trembling felt tip pen. "The bloody mantlepiece clock's second hand is running bloody backwards." Everyone turned to the fireplace and saw that she was right. She composed herself and wrote the time down with a brief description of what was occurring. Danny whispered that the room had gone strangely cold, and JP nodded his agreement and called out once more for the spirt to make contact. The Planchette began to move slowly, and JP called the letters out to Maggie and realised that he was sweating despite the chill in the room. After a few minutes the Planchette stopped moving and everyone turned to Maggie who lifted her note pad and said softly; "He knows. He will come. The Devil is already with you. Beware of the Devil with the mask." she lowered the notebook and coughed; her throat had suddenly become quite dry, and she really needed a Coke or Fanta or anything really.
"What does that mean; 'the Devil with a mask is amongst us'. I don't understand that." Danny said quietly. Everyone glanced at each other, and JP sighed; "Let's ask them to clarify who the Devil is." He called out again asking the spirit to clarify what it meant. He repeated his question twice before the Planchette began to move again. He called the letters out to Maggie who nervously scribbled them down. The Planchette stopped moving and Maggie lifted up her note pad and read out what she had written. "He is. He is. They are here for him. Seek their help." She lowered the pad and asked what it meant. No-one knew. JP wiped sweat from his face with his free hand and asked the spirit its name. The Planchette set off again around the board and JP called the letters out.
"Norman." Maggie said and John groaned; "That's the bugger we made contact with at the old pub and then all hell broke loose. I think he's a poltergeist." JP nodded and decided to shut down the séance and get professional assistance for this case. Old Professor Lightfoot immediately came to mind and JP would call him in the morning. That's when her realised with some horror that he couldn't move his finger from the Planchette and whispered to John, who cussed and said that his finger was stuck too. The Planchette started to move again. His voice now a little hoarse, JP called out the letters to Maggie. It suddenly stopped and Maggie - her voice now trembling a little - read out what was said. "Too late. Too late. He's here. Run. Run. Run."
Everyone rose from the table as one and stood in silence, looking at each other. Danny whispered; "For Christ what have you done?" JP and John jumped back as their fingers were released from the Planchette. The board started to turn slowly, becoming faster and faster. Everyone stepped slowly back from the spinning board. It flew from the table - just missing Maggie - and landed in the fireplace. The little flames appeared, and the board was consumed with fire until it was ashes. That's when Maggie screamed the house down. Her baggy bright coloured shorts had been ripped off her and she stood in her white panties. She screamed hysterically as she appeared to be thrown to the floor. Everyone rushed forward but were thrown back with some force. Maggie's T-shirt was torn from her back and thrown to one side. Her bra followed and despite their attempts they couldn't get near her; some powerful force was keeping them at bay. Rose was now screaming hysterically for someone to do something; anything.
They watched in utter horror as the screaming and struggling Maggie had her panties torn from her and her legs pulled open with such force that bruises started to appear on her thighs. She suddenly lay still; she had fainted with her legs open and standing straight up like invisible hands were holding her ankles. Danny fumbled in jacket pocket and pulled the wooden crucifix out and ran forward, holding it high. He stumbled and fell forward, landing next to the still Maggie. Everyone else rushed forward and Rose grabbed hold of Maggie; "She's still alive thank God!" Danny wrapped his jacket around Maggie and then picked her up and everyone ran to JP apartment. As JP dialled for an ambulance, he noticed the time on his watch; they had started the séance just before nine. His watch was showing eight o'clock. He asked John the time as they watched Rose trying to bring Maggie around with some brandy. John stared at his brand-new LCD watch as said quietly; "It's over an hour out. It's showing eight o'clock and it should be well past nine o'clock."
After contacting the emergency operator on '999' JP asked Danny the time. He tapped his watch; it was over an hour out. It was showing eight o'clock. JP nodded and told the very concerned Rose that the ambulance was on it's way. Rose had made Maggie as comfortable as possible and stood physically shaking and had to compose herself with some real hidden strength. Finally she took a deep breath and confided what she had discovered. Everyone just stared at her until John finally said; "She can't...I mean there was no-one there.... we all saw nobody. Are you fucking sure Rose?" Danny eased himself down on the edge of the sofa on which Maggie lay and asked Rose if she was right. Rose nodded slowly and said quietly; "I think she's been raped." Everyone stood in silence until they heard the sirens growing louder. JP headed to the front door saying he would greet the ambulance and Danny called his station on the phone asking for a WPC trained in sexual assault cases, a specialist female officer.
John grabbed up the whisky bottle off the coffee table and took a long swig, then handed it to Rose saying; "I think we are all going to need this." Rose took the bottle and stared down at Maggie, then took a swig, coughing, she said; "You are bloody right there John. How the fuck do we explain all this without sounding like total nutters?" He shook his head with great sadness and a little fear; he bloody didn't know.
6. STILL SATURDAY 14th AUGUST 1976; THE OXFORD ROYAL INFIRMARY.
They sat in the quiet waiting room and there was very little conversation. Danny was in the corridor speaking to the female detective sergeant from his station with two uniform constables standing by. Rose walked to the glass door and watched for a couple of minutes and returned to John and JP sitting cradling plastic cups of really bad coffee. She sighed; "Boy's, I think we're in deep shit. Who is the hell going to believe that a fucking poltergeist raped our Maggie?" JP shook his head; "I think it was a demon that the spirit 'Norman' was trying to warn us about. 'The Devil who wears a mask' that's the only bloody clue we have." They all manged a smile as Dave Clay appeared in the corridor and spoke to Danny before coming - grim faced - into the room. Rose gave him a hug and asked where Willy was; but Dave didn't know but he seemed to remember that Willy might be at a piss up at the Rugby Club.
They all stopped talking as Danny came in the room and just stood staring at the floor. Rose went to him and gripped his hand. He nodded and took a little breath. "Maggie is in a coma. The doctors say that her brain has closed down due to shock, but she may come round at any time." He took a deep breath this time and continued, speaking slowly; "They, the doctors confirm that she was sexually assaulted. Roughly violated but they can't find any trace of semen in her, but her thighs are badly bruised as is her.... her vagina. She was had quite violently, and they say it has all the signs of a violent rape. Both her ankles have finger marks - bruises - on them." Rose eased into a hard plastic chair and sobbed openly. Danny sat next to Rose and cuddled her, stroking her hair and talking quietly.
John and JP crushed their plastic coffee cups and threw them into the bin by the window. They both stood by the window with their arms folded. John sighed; "No-one is going to believe our story until Maggie pulls out the coma and bloody tells them what happened to her. Until then, I think, we are the number one suspects for this." JP rubbed his face; "I think I'll call Professor Lightfoot...." He stopped in mid-sentence and almost smiled; "But I do know another professor who is actually here right now and is a paranormal investigator of some note. I met some friends of his and they said he would assist us with the old pub job. I have his sister's number and I'll give her a ring. He has a team with him apparently."
John nodded; "What's his name? Have I heard of him?" JP pulled the beer mat from his pocket and said quietly; "Tibbs, Professor Tibbs." The female Police sergeant came through the door - unsmiling - with the two uniform police officers. She gripped her handbag with both hands; "Alright everyone listen up. You are all going down the station to make statements about what happened tonight. You are the only witnesses to what happened to that poor girl so I know I can expect your full co-operation in this matter. Come on, let's go." JP asked if he could make one phone call and got a very unsympathetic look from the sergeant. "I'll tell you when you can call your lawyer." was all she said and gestured for everybody to leave. They filed out in silence and found a police van waiting for them in the hospital carpark. John and JP were placed in the van, whilst Rose and Danny travelled to the station in the back of the sergeant's car. Dave was told to make his own way to the police station - if he wanted - since he wasn't an actual witness or suspect.
Dave watched the little convoy depart and clutched the beer mat. JP had said the mad professor's sister was a stunner. He went back into the hospital and found a public telephone that wasn't occupied by a hospital visitor. The phone rang for a few seconds and was answered by Jackie who thought it was JP until Dave stopped her in mid-sentence and explained who he was and what had happened. Jackie went silent for a second or two and then told him that her brother would be on the way soon with her and the other two members of the team. Her good friends; Alexandra and Mister Wilson. She reassured Dave that Professor Tibbs could certainly help JP in this matter.
7. STILL SATURDAY 14th AUGUST 1976; THE ‘DEVIL & THE PIT’ PUBLIC HOUSE, OXFORD, ENGLAND.
“The police think the car was hit by something like a tractor or Bulldozer, after all, what else could have done that sort of damage? The police had the car lifted and taken away on the back of a lorry. Searched the surrounding woods and found nothing. They think Mrs. Tate ran off in shock and fear; her husband is a very jealous and apparently, violent man. They’re making appeals for her to come forward and offering her protection. She hasn’t appeared yet.” Jackie informed them. “I can sense a minor demon, but the signals are quite strong.” James whispered to Jericho.
Switching on their mirror's lights the team slipped under the police incident tapes and headed into the old pub. Wilson soon had the door open without having any keys, which never ceased to amaze Jackie; "I always said there was something dodgy about you. How many New York detectives know how to burgle?"
Jericho stared at the old pub sign and picked up the undamaged red tablecloth from the floor. It appeared unchanged despite the ‘fire’. Wilson was discretely checking his mirror in a dark corner as James and Jericho discussed what actually could have happened. The girls sat at the table by the window and Jackie went through the notes, that Maggie made on the night they used the Ouija board. Dave had been more than happy to hand over the papers when he had met Alex and Jackie in the Kennedy Building car park earlier. They had managed to talk him out of joining the team and he headed to the hospital.
Wilson and Jericho were now behind the bar, lifting the trap door to the cellar. Wilson shone a small torch down and grunted; “That is one huge beer cellar, come on we’ll take a better look.” He and Jericho descended the stairs and were gone.
James was joined by Jackie who was pushing her mirror back into her handbag. “Norman was definitely here; I’ve picked up his presence almost everywhere, but strangely enough very little traces of a demonic presence. Maybe a Tier 3, but the bastard turned over our van and the lover’s car and would indicate a demon.” She whispered and James heard Wilson calling from the hatchway behind the main bar. He and Jackie walked over, and James smiled at Wilson staring up from the dark cellar hatchway.
“It’s like a rabbit’s warren down here but there’s a very old door - Looks like something you would find in a medieval castle – it was hidden behind some old shelves, but I was drawn straight to it and according to my mirror; it’s a portal.” Wilson said quietly and James smiled, he had already picked up on its presence; Knights of God didn’t need mirrors to discover such things!
James helped the girls down the hatchway with Alex cursing her short skirt. “I’m always showing off my damn bits.” She muttered as James held her quite close and easily lifted her down from the hatchway. He smiled; “You won’t find me complaining.” Then Wilson pulled Jackie down not so gently. “I see you got the real gentleman again.” She moaned to Alex, pulling down her equally short skirt.
The team made their way to the old doorway using their mirrors to light the way and Jericho shone his over the magnificent archway and ancient door. “Anyone recognize the strange writing running about the mantle of the archway?” It was rhetorical; he knew the origin of the writing. Jackie sighed; “Aramaic I believe my mirror can translate it…” she never finished as James read out what it said. [Again, Knights of God really don’t need mirrors].
“It states that the door leads to God’s world of the hereafter, an underworld for the unholy dead who can’t enter heaven or hell.” He shrugged his shoulders adding; “Come on, let’s find out where it really leads.” He simply walked through and vanished. the team had to operate their mirrors and the dark pub cellar was empty.
8. SUNDAY 15th AUGUST 1976; St. ALDATES POLICE STATION, OXFORD ENGLAND.
They sat waiting in the corridor outside the CID offices after their strenuous and lengthy interviews. JP picked up a paper that was a couple of days old from the table by the drinks machine. He had drunk four cups of really shitty coffee from plastic cups and really needed a shower, some breakfast and hopefully Alex and Jackie. He just stared at the print and really didn't actually read; he couldn't stop thinking about poor Maggie and the dreadful scene he had witnessed in the old lady's apartment. He blamed himself for poor Maggie and wondered what he could have done to stop it happening. He sighed loudly and slapped the paper back on the table. Rose - sitting next to him - patted his hand and smiled; "It wasn't your fault JP so don't blame yourself. We all knew the risks and so did Maggie; she would be first to tell you that it wasn't your fault." JP now smiled; Rose was bloody marvellous and how the hell did she know what he was thinking!
John stood and paced the floor - for the tenth time - he folded his arms and yawned. He needed a drink and his bed. "Is there any update from the hospital about Maggie?" he asked no-one in particular. Rose shook her head; "Danny said he would tell us as soon as they know." John nodded, then asked her; "Is he ok with all this? I mean with his bosses?" Rose nodded; "They know he's a good copper and a honest decent man, so he's ok I suppose." JP stood and stretched his legs by pacing the corridor with John. "An hour and a bloody half and the same bloody questions over and over again. That woman sergeant is bloody something else." John moaned to JP who just nodded his agreement. That's when he saw Danny walking towards them.
Rose jumped up and really smiled; "Anything new Danny?" she asked cautiously and tided up her hair. She thought Danny must be thinking how rough she looks after a night of questioning in the CID offices. They gathered around him and he smiled; really smiled. "Just had words with Inspector Dawes and the Hospital just called to say that Maggie came round about an hour ago and told the detective sitting by her bed who attacked her; we are well and truly off the hook and so you three can go." The sense of sheer relief was obvious; the four all hugged and finally Rose, looking well puzzled, asked Danny; "How could she tell the detective who attacked her when there was nobody there, we all witnessed it for ourselves and there was nobody there." Danny's smile disappeared and he looked about and lowered his voice before answering. He took a deep breath and spoke quietly; "Maggie knows - for certain apparently - who her the attacker was. He is known to her, and she has known him for some time." He took another breath and whispered; "She's named big Willy Weaver as the man who raped her."
The three stood in absolute shocked silence at Danny's revelation. Then they all stated to talk at once; loudly. Danny waved his hands in the air for quiet. "I know, I know, but that's what's she saying. She's absolutely convinced that Willy raped her. She said that he laughed as he did it and threatened to kill her if she didn't submit. From what I managed to gleam from the the WDC who took her bedside statement she painted a really convincing picture of what he did to her. It's so convincing that he will be arrested and questioned over the alleged attack. Even though we all stated that there was no-one there and Willy wasn't with us at any time during the night." He looked around again; "They have asked a psychiatrist to examine her."
Rose wiped a tear away and whispered to JP; "Poor bloody Maggie. She's gone off the rails, but why pick on poor Willy. He wasn't even bloody there!" JP shook his head; he certainly didn't know. John nodded his agreement; "Didn't Dave say that Willy was at some rugby piss-up, so there will be loads of witnesses and they will say he was with them, and they go on until one or two in the morning and this all took place at about nine o'clock." JP rubbed his chin; "Except all our watches showed eight o'clock which is also impossible because we all knew the correct time was nine o'clock." Danny held up his wristwatch and didn't smile; "My watch is now showing the correct time....even though I didn't have time to set it correctly. It sort of changed itself which is impossible. I only noticed this morning."
The other three all checked their timepieces and there was silence again for a few seconds then John nodded; "Mine's telling the correct time as well and I never touched it." He gestured to the big clock above the table. JP sighed; his watch was correct too. Rose stared at her delicate little wristwatch and nodded too; "Mine's back to normal and like Danny; I haven't fiddled with it." JP spoke quietly; "I strongly suspect that all our watches losing an hour is important, but I don't have a bloody idea why." The woman detective sergeant stuck her head out of her office door; "You lot can go home, and Thames Police thank you for your co-operation in this matter. Now off you go." The head disappeared back inside, and the door closed. They all trooped from the Police Station and stood on the pavement enjoying the beautiful, warm early morning sunshine and their freedom.
JP gathered them together; "Let's go home and rest up. We'll all meet again this afternoon and go visit Maggie. Bring flowers and chocolates, she'll like that." Rose smiled; "I'll get her some things she will need in hospital; pyjama's and girls' stuff." John chuckled at thank; "Thank heaven you're around. None of us dumb blokes would have thought of that." And stuck his arm up to wave down a city taxi. "Come on JP, the cabbie won't mind two fares. He can drop me off then run out to your place. I take it Danny you'll run Rose home." Danny nodded, smiling with his arm around Rose. The Nissan Bluebird 1800 pulled into the kerb and John and JP jumped in; shouting their goodbyes to Rose and Danny.
They walked to the police parking bays and climbed into Danny's Ford Escort and didn't see the big man entering the police station; it was Willy Weaver, and he was smiling broadly.
9. THE LAIR.
They gathered in front of the magnificent fireplace, but it was the huge portrait that hung above it that caught their unanimous attention. Wilson chuckled; "Well, he certainly posses with some style for his portraits. Mounted on a black horse with a blazing halo around his head." The portrait of the 'Dark Prince' confirmed what James had stated; it was the demon's hidden lair. He looked around the huge room which was furnished in the Gothic style, complete with tapestries and suits of armour. James grunted; "I always suspected that Sol was a medieval nut, he was a Professor of Ancient History at a New England College when still a human. He's a clever bastard and has hidden his lair well."
Alex called everyone over to the big feasting table that dominated the room with thirteen equally impressive chairs set around it. They joined her and Alex picked up the little bundle of women's clothes that had been thrown onto the table. She lifted a blouse up and gestured to the other items; "Basically it's a woman's summer outfit, from the mid 1970's I would guess. It's all here except a pair of panties. I wonder if it's missing these." She rummaged in her big handbag and pulled the little pink panties that Mrs. Tate had dropped whilst being abducted by Sol the demon. Jericho rubbed his face; "I think we should have a careful and thorough look around Sol's little lair. He's known to like female company; particularly when their forced to keep him company."
Jackie was already onto it, tapping away at her mirror when James placed his hand on hers; "Don't bother Owen...Sorry Jackie. I can sense her soul and it's still in her flesh suit. Come on." They followed the Knight back to the fireplace and he climbed over the cold dead fire basket and gestured for them to follow; there was a descending staircase hidden in the dark recess of the fireplaces rear. They followed it down and found a big black door, which was reinforced with steel bands blocking their way. There was a large gold handle and keyhole, which Alex bent down and peered through. That caused the boys to chuckle, and Jericho said without censor in his voice; "For Christ's sake Alex, could you wear a shorter skirt? We've just enjoyed your bum and little white panties thank you." She ignored him and jerked a thumb at the door, but before she could say anything James smiled; "Mrs. Ellen Tate I believe." Alex nodded muttering; "I was going to bloody say that."
James told them to step back a few feet and simply pressed one hand against the mighty door and pushed. Little bits of wood flew about, and the hinges snapped as the door was pushed open, hanging to one side. Wilson rubbed his chin and whispered to Alex; "He did that without any real effort." Alex nodded and smiled; now that was man a girl could feel safe with. They climbed around the shattered door and entered the demon's dungeon. The strange big reptile with a gold collar and chain remained sitting in the corner with his bed and bowl. It may not have been the brightest of creations, but it knew what Knights of God were capable off.
Jackie stared at it and said with real bewilderment in her voice; "The bloody collar says it's called 'Marmaduke' - who calls a scally dinosaur wannabee - bloody Marmaduke!" James chuckled; "I always said Sol had a strange sense of humour for a bloody demon." Alex shouted over to them standing by a wire cage which contained a very distraught and naked Mrs. Ellen Tate. James simply pulled open the thick wire until a reasonable hole appeared and Alex helped the poor woman out. She had bruises on her back and legs with several nasty love bites on her neck and shoulders. Jericho nodded to Alex and Jackie; "Look after her girls." James stared about the place; "At least the bastard keeps his dungeon clean. I've seen some you wouldn't keep a dead rat in." Wilson handed his jacket to Alex, who wrapped Ellen up with it. "Yeah, but where is the bastard now and what's he up too?" Jericho grunted; "That's a very good question big man."
Jackie whispered to Alex as they sat Ellen down and gave her some brandy from Alex's hipflask; "That's a strange scent she's wearing. Smell like something bloody Jericho would wear." Alex took a deep breath; "I've smelt it before when we've visited the seventies or eighties of this century. It must be popular." Wilson stood next to Jackie and asked Alex how the woman was. Alex shook her head; "In some shock I'm afraid." She dropped her voice to a whisper; "She's clearly been raped, probably several times by the bastard." Wilson nodded, then sniffed the air. "Sweet Jesus, why would she be wearing bloody 'Brut', I use to wear that when alive back in the seventies. It's a man deodorant." Jericho folded his arms; "That must be what our demon wears when in human form. It's rubbed off onto her when he...." he didn't finish the sentence because Ellen was coming out of shock. She screamed and cried and became quite hysterical until James simply waved his hand over her, and she slumped into Alex's and Jackie's arms and slept soundly. "I've wiped her memory of all this, and she will sleep until we get her home. Can you manage her Wilson?" who nodded and gently scooped the woman up.
Jericho finished checking his mirror and was satisfied there weren't any other humans around the dismal place. "Let's go people." was all he said, and they vanished back to the pub cellars.
9. STILL SUNDAY 15th AUGUST 1976; OXFORD, ENGLAND - PART 1.
They stood outside the old doorway and James closed the portal; Sol would need to find another home, office and dungeon. Upstairs in the bar they shared their hipflasks whilst Jericho used his mirror to connect with the current telephone system. He smiled as Alex and Jackie dressed Mrs. Ellen Tate in her clothes that they recovered from the demon's lair. They made her comfortable on the bar using several chair cushions that were in a relatively good condition.
Jericho made the anonymous call to the emergency operator who was very surprised that she couldn't trace the number he was calling from! They sat in the van and waited until they could hear the sirens and Wilson pulled from the car park and headed for the crossroads that would take them to Oxford City and their hotel. Jericho dispatched the girls to visit JP and check up on Maggie. They would start the search for the demon 'Sol'.
Alex drove their replacement car - a Vauxhall Viva SL - and quite liked it because it was bigger that the damn Mini. The hospital Receptionist informed them that Miss Margret Sellers had been discharged; her mother and father had taken her home. So they drove to JP's apartment and arrived outside his door. Jackie was about to press the door buzzer when Alex quickly grabbed her hand and without a word held up her mirror to Jackie. There were three people in the apartment: JP Bonaparte, John Morris and William 'Willy' Weaver. But Alex's mirror was flashing a big red warning signal that a Demon was close by; very close by and the girls' mirrors had automatically 'cloaked' them for safety. They backed away from the door and Alex called Jericho immediately
"We've found him; he's either JP, John Morris or Willy Weaver!" she whispered into her mirror. A very concerned Jackie said softly; "I hope to God it's not JP." Alex nodded at that. If discovered that it was JP, that would mean the end of their careers as Temporal Detectives. They waited by the lift at the end of the corridor with real apprehension. They both jumped a little as the lift doors came open and James stepped out with Jericho and Wilson following. He smiled at the girls; "Well done Ladies." That sentiment was echoed by Jericho and Wilson. "It's William Weaver; he's Sol." was all James said and Jericho folded his arms; "We need to separate him from the other two. Alex, I want you to connect with the phone system and ring the flat, get JP and this John fellow to meet you somewhere. Promise them sex or something, just get them out of that apartment." He smiled at Jackie; "And take Jackie with you. So, they'll think it just a friendly get together."
Alex operated her mirror and JP handed another can to John before picking up the receiver; he was most impressed to hear from the girls. He was a little surprised at Alex's forthright offer and really smiled to himself. He replaced the receiver and pulled John to one side; "Do you fancy having a drink with those two ladies I told you about? They want to meet up and apparently the little dark haired one - Jackie - wants to meet you. She's an absolute stunner in her own right. But I'm afraid that whilst four is a happy number; five is not." They both looked at Willy sitting, slurping his beer on the sofa. John slowly smiled; "He won't mind. let's go." The team waited in the cleaner's cupboard until they saw JP and John dive into the lift with big smiles on their face and Willy walked down the stairs; unsmiling. James followed him, transforming into his silver armour with his big sword over his shoulder. They came together in the rear garden with Willy/Sol also transforming into his armour; black of course. James had stopped time for living humans which didn't affect the team running back to their van, past the frozen JP and John. "Sorry boys!" Alex shouted as they pasted them in reception.
They sat in the van in relative silence; a fight between a Knight of God and a powerful Tier 1 demon could last some time or be over quickly, if either one got really lucky. No living humans would have been able to watch the contest because time had stopped for them.
Jericho sat in the front passenger seat, his attention never moving from his mirror. Finally, he sighed loudly with some relief; "James has sent Sol back to his master and his lair below the old pub will vanish with him; leaving just a carved medieval doorway." He sat back; clearly relieved. Wilson slapped the wheel and cussed; "God damn it! The big man – Willy – I know where I’ve met him before. I was the detective Constable on Stella’s team [temporal Detective Stella Longstreet] and we jumped back to 1970 because two souls had gone missing from a boy’s boarding school. He was one on the missing souls and must have been fifteen at the time. I remember him from the photograph we were shown by the headmaster. Then suddenly the mission was over; the two boys had turned up. It was believed that they had stumbled through a rouge time portal somewhere in the old school grounds, then managed to return. That was the end of the matter for temporal detectives."
Jackie leaned over and asked who the other boy was involved; Wilson just shrugged his shoulders; he had long forgotten and now couldn't recall the other boy. Jericho rubbed his chin; "Check with Operations and find out who that other boy was; if one came back as a Demon then the other one probably did too." Jackie was always impressed how Jericho's sharp mind worked and worked her mirror with real interest.
"It's a Terrence John Downes and again like Willy Weaver showed no signs. Nothing is known......" Jackie spoke quietly then stopped in mid-sentence, adding; "He lives and works in the City of Oxford as a minibus driver, which could mean that - if he is another bloody demon - the pair could be working together!" Jericho turned to the girls; "Keep that date with JP and his friend. This case is not over yet. I'll contact the Knight's Council for assistance; we may need another knight."
9. STILL SUNDAY 15th AUGUST 1976; OXFORD, ENGLAND - PART 2.
They met up in 'Wong's' Chinese restaurant in the city centre with Alex and Jackie and enjoyed the lunchtime menu. The men were impressed that the girls ate their meals with chopsticks. John was absolutely taken by Jackie, and it showed which made JP and Alex chuckle. The conversation was all about Maggie and the sudden recovery of Mrs. Ellen Tate who apparently had suffered 'amnesia shock' and couldn't recall anything about the 'accident' or what happened to her afterwards. Police concluded that she must have wandered about and then - for whatever reason - returned to the old pub. Maggie was now convinced that Willy didn't rape her; logic and rationality dictated that it was impossible, and the witnesses were her best friends; so, she had accepted that she had a bad accident during the Ouija board session.
After a very good lunch they separated into their cars and Alex drove the Vauxhall Viva to JP's apartment [with JP] and John Dove JP's car [with Jackie] also returning for further 'drinks'. JP and Alex disappeared into his bedroom and John and Jackie remained on the sofa in the big lounge room. After a few minutes John started to laugh, and Jackie giggled; they could hear clearly what was going on in JP's bedroom. John didn't hang about and soon the pair were kissing and caressing on the sofa. Jackie told him - in no uncertain terms that she was special lady - and to her surprise [and delight] John just smiled and whispered; "Well, no-one's perfect." That was a signal for the relationship to turn serious; sexually.
John was delighted to find Jackie was wearing stockings and was quite aroused by that fact alone. He was further delighted when he received oral sex that he described later to JP as 'the best fucking blow job I've ever had'. He had no qualms or reservations about fucking someone he called a 'tranny' because he was so turned on by her. He didn't hesitate pushing his adequate cock into her welcoming bum hole and fucking her hard. They ended up on the floor, lying next to each other with Jackie's arm around his neck and his tongue buried in her mouth. He fucked her for about fifteen minutes before he groaned loudly and shot his load into her back passage with immense pleasure and satisfaction. They lay kissing and talking quietly together on the rug; both stark naked - except Jackie who still had her stockings and suspenders on at his insistence - until Alex, also stark naked apart from her black stockings and suspender belt - stepped over them to reach the drinks cabinet.
With a broad smile, she handed the pair some bottled beers and returned to the bedroom, stopping in the doorway and gesturing in; "Come on, let's really make this an interesting party." She said provocatively and John whispered to Jackie that he wanted to fuck Alex. Jackie just nodded; not really surprised by that revelation! He slipped from her, and they made their way into the bedroom where Alex was sucking JP's cock as he lay back on the bed and sipped his beer. JP grinned at the pair and waved at the bed; "You can fuck Alex and I'll take little Jackie. They really are a game couple of birds." John nodded at that and was soon fucking Alex 'doggy-style' while she sucked Jackie's cock. JP had mounted her from behind and she was on his lap being fucked in her arse as Alex dealt with her erection. John asked JP if this was an orgy or a foursome? JP, thrusting hard upwards moaned and said quietly; "It's a foursome, I think you need five or more for a bloody orgy!"
John gripped Alex's hips, thrusting hard and deep. He asked out loud if the girls would be interested in an orgy with Danny and Rose. Now that shocked JP a little when John revealed he and Dave had both fucked Rose while Danny watched and took pictures! The boys were delighted when both girls agreed. It was arranged for Monday night after a discrete call to Rose by John. It would be three girls; Alex, Rose and Jackie with four boys; JP, John, Dave and Danny. The little 'foursome' broke up late in the afternoon and the girls left the men sleeping. JP on the bed and John on the sofa.
Both the girls were really looking forward to Monday night. John and JP knew better than to ask Maggie; she was still recovering from her strange 'accident' and wouldn't be interested because she was after JP for herself.
Alex drove the Vauxhall Viva back to the hotel; laughing and chatting with Jackie and the pair were totally disappointed to find the team would be jumping back to the lighthouse immediately to prepare for another assignment. They would return if the circumstances of the case changed and something else occurred in this time and place. The pair reluctantly and with some disappointment said nothing about what had happened - obviously - to Jericho and Wilson.
They would be recalled to Oxford in 1976 within a few days in tragic circumstances.
10. WEDNESDAY 18th AUGUST 1976; A DEMON'S REVENGE.
JP finally convinced his team after several drinks in the University student’s bar. No one had heard from Willy or knew of his whereabouts. But JP had talked them around; they would return to the old pub and continue their investigations; especially about the doorway. JP convinced Rose to bring Danny along; knowing full well that Danny wouldn’t let Rose go back there on her own without him. So, they planned to return that night and try and make contact; again.
“We’re going to have some powerful protection in that I’ve asked old professor Lightfoot to come along. He knows how to handle demons and other nastier spirits.” JP raised his glass and saluted his team. They all knew the reputation of the old professor, but Maggie still needed further assurances and Rose told her that Danny was routinely armed; he was part of a squad that went after armed robbers. Maggie finally agreed and everyone would meet up in the professor’s rooms; he had managed to convince the Dean, to allow them to use one of the Universities minibuses.
They set off just after seven in the evening; with Danny and Rose following the minibus in Danny’s nondescript police car. The two professors sat at the rear discussing the case. The old man nodded several times and scribbled in his notebook. Dave sat by the side door and checked his camera equipment, whilst Maggie and John sat behind the driver and shared a bag of sweets. The young driver adjusted the radio and picked up BBC Radio 1, he grunted and turned into Shakespeare Road which was surrounded by woodland on both sides.
It was Dave that noticed the strange behaviour of the young mini-bus driver first; he seemed quite odd and kept laughing to himself; like he was talking to someone that no-one could see. John leaned over his seat that gestured down the road; there was a car on fire at the side of the road. There appeared no-one standing near it and suddenly Dave shouted; "What the fuck is our driver doing? What the fuck is he doing?” The driver was laughing as he slammed the mini bus into the blazing Estate car which he had soaked in petrol. The two vehicles came together with a evil crunching sound, glass shattering and metal tearing open; then a little spark ignited the inferno.
Terrence John Downes or Lucius the demon ran – almost skipping – with joy back through the woods; the dead schoolboy’s now adult body had, over the years, provided him with no less than fourteen souls and given the 'Light side' a headache of another five unscheduled departures. He laughed and leapt into the cold dark lake and would soon be back with his master. He anticipated promotion to a Tier 2 now. He knew that his friend and mentor 'Sol' would be happy that their revenge was successful.
Danny managed to avoid the vehicle spinning across the road and skidded to a halt some yards down the road; he was shouting into the vehicles radiotelephone for assistance when he watched the small fireball light up the sky. Rose managed to pull open the door and stagger onto the roadway. Danny jumped from the car and held her close. Slowly they walked towards the wreckage and the pair just stared at the burning vehicles. Rose managed to whisper; “No one made it out.” and buried her head against Danny who held her tight.
That’s when Danny shouted; “Look there!” They both started to run towards the rear of the burning wreckage as they watched JP dragging the old professor across the tarmac and then collapsed on the roadway. He stared at Rose and managed to shout; “What the fuck happened?” he repeated himself several times before sprawling on the cold tarmac. Danny wrapped him in his jacket and prayed hard for the ambulances to arrive.
Rose cradled JP in her arms and watched Danny check the old man; he shook his head and looked quite grim. “He’s dead.” Was all he said and turned back to the blaze and hung his head in sorrow and shock. Rose stroked JP’s face and sobbed openly. All her close university friends were now gone.
Heather the Collector – somewhat surprised by so many unscheduled deaths - was shepherding the confused souls to the side of the road and immediately noticed that one body had produced no soul: Terrence John Downes. She called it into Operations and was told that a team of temporal detectives were already at that time and place. Team 74 would be assigned to the missing soul and investigate the unscheduled departures. She thanked the Operations Controller and gathered the souls around her; they followed her into the light.
It took the fire people several hours to recover all the bodies from the wreckage and get the vehicles removed before the road could re-open. The terrible accident made both local and national news, both on the radio and TV. Tributes were paid to the two professors and their students. There was little mention of how the accident actually happened. But Terrence John Downes body was found to contain four times the legal limit for driving. That was good enough for the authorities to close the case. The other vehicles involved belonged to a missing person of police interest; William 'Willy' Weaver. They concluded it was 'co-incidence' that and accepted that Willy had burnt to death in the vehicle before it was hit by the drunk driving the University Minibus. Sol had - of course - abandoned the body after it was no use anymore; well, except to extract some revenge of course.
Both Danny and Rose had not seen the actual accident from behind and they couldn’t argue with the coroner’s verdict of death by a drunken driver and a further tragedy in that Weaver's car has set of fire and killed him. JP sat in his wheelchair and said nothing to the reporters that gathered around him. How he had survived the dreadful accident was still a mystery. Rose and Danny wheeled him to the waiting car and helped him in.
JP gripped both their hands and promised he would be up and about in weeks, certainly in time for the memorial service for the old professor, his students and the driver. He made no comment about big Willy, his good friend who was still missing and was driven back to his rooms in silence. The coroner had attributed his survival to simply being sat in the rear of the minibus. His elderly colleague – Professor Lightfoot – had been an old man and the autopsy proved he hadn’t suffered life threatening injuries; but the shock to his old heart had done the trick.
Convalescing at home for some weeks, Professor Jean-Paul Bonaparte brooded until he received two special visitors.
Alex and Jackie brought him up to date on the paranormal investigations at the old pub and he was really pleased to see them. Alex informed him that the “medieval” doorway was of historical significance and would be preserved [she didn’t mention that James had removed the time portal from it] but the old pub had been scheduled for demolition. Its owner in desperation had sold the place – quite cheaply – to a local property developer who had planning permission to build a luxury block of flats on the site. The doorway would be removed and placed on display in the local museum. Workman removing it would find that it was just for decoration and built against solid rock. It's true purpose would never be known to current living humans.
Alex and Jackie obviously made no mention of the lair that existed on the other side of the portal or the demon's activities. They both could see the difference in the young professor, and he made no attempt to replay their previous sexual encounters, so they left him alone, sitting in his apartment mourning the deaths of his friends.
Rose McGovern left the university with a first class degree in history and taught school for some years. She married a fellow teacher in 1984 and had three children, not returning to the classroom for almost fifteen years. She was a very popular teacher and much respected. Rose retired in 2008 to look after her grandchildren. She died in 2021 of complications from the strange “Influenza virus” that was circulating at the time. Her soul was collected and processed. Like JP she now works as a Collector.
Daniel Arthur McMillan remained in the police service until his retirement in 1995. He never remarried and moved to Spain where he ran a small bar on the beach. He was joined by his oldest son; Frank and they ran the bar together. He died 2001 from bowel cancer and his soul was collected and processed.
Margaret Mary Sellers death was attributed to demonic activity and she had died some thirty-one years before her scheduled departure date. It caused some minor changes to the current Human Time line. She had been her elderly parents only child and her sudden death robbed the pair of every hope and happiness; especially grandchildren. They were to die within a couple of years of her; all their friends knew it was because of grief and broken hearts and dreams. They simply didn’t want to live anymore. Her soul was collected and processed.
John Morris was only twenty-three when he died – unscheduled – in the accident. Again his early departure was accredited to demonic activity. It made only minor changes to the current human time line. His live-in girlfriend Ellen mourned his loss for several years and then married a civil engineer. She insisted upon calling her first born son; John. His soul was collected and processed.
David Gordon Clay’s death was also attributed to demonic activity and his early departure caused little changes to the current human time line. His local photography club – which he was an active member – still holds a competition named after him. His soul was collected and processed.
Professor Caleb Lightfoot would have died the same year from a stroke; he was just some months early. Like the others in the mini bus, his early departure was put down to demonic activity. He had never married, but his nephew Joshua Lightfoot was to become a professor of Ancient History and investigator of the paranormal. He and Jericho Tibbs were to meet. The professor’s soul was collected and processed. He is now a temporal detective trainee assigned to team 44 under Inspector Kate Zaskinsky.
Terrence John Downes/The demon Lucius was indeed promoted to Tier 2 for his endeavors and success in stealing souls for his master; the Dark Prince. He didn’t go after those souls in the mini bus because he thought a Knight of God was hanging around the place. His current whereabouts are unknown. Like William Weaver, Terrence had died when he was 15 at the boarding school and Lucius had used the body. Terrence Downes soul remains missing to this day. It’s shown as LTDA – lost to demonic activity.
Colin Folds soul was never recovered and is still shown as missing due to demonic activity to this day. His early demise changed the time-line very little. The case is currently closed.
Ellen Tate’s [nee Cope] had a lucky escape from the clutches of the Demon Sol thanks to Team 74. Her husband Gerald ‘Jerry’ Tate was arrested and convicted for the murders of three young girls. He was to spend the rest of his life in prison and Ellen divorced him and remarried in 1983 and had three children. When she died in 2020 her soul was collected and processed.
William ‘Willy’ Weaver had actually died when just fifteen at boarding school, killed by the demon Sol who stole his body and soul.. The cheeky and clever demon then used the body to steal other souls until he realized that Temporal Detective’s were on his case. He extracted some revenge for losing such a good cover by getting Lucius to kill those in the mini-bus. William Weavers soul remains missing to this day. It’s shown as LTDA – lost to demonic activity.
Jeremiah Cornerstone vanished from the current Human Time-Line in 1772. He had worked at the pub [which was a coaching Inn then] as a stable groom. His soul has never been recovered as he is still shown as a ‘Missing Soul’. It is not known if he fell to victim to the demons Sol or Lucius or was a time-traveller. His file is currently closed.
Hamish McTabb, the caretaker lived in JP’s apartment block for some years until his retirement in 1985. He moved to South Wales to live with his sister and her family. He died in 1991 in a Cancer Hospice in Cardiff. His soul was collected and processed.
 |
