The Ghost Village Murders by Rachel McLean, book 9 in the Dorset Crime series - Chapter 1

“Where’s she gone?”

Faye Reed tugged on her boyfriend’s hand as she surveyed the abandoned village. He turned to her.

“Who, Daisy?” he asked.

She nodded.

Kyle looked at her. “She went to look at the schoolhouse, didn’t she?”

Faye shook her head. “It’s locked, this time of night.”

“Huh?”

Faye gave him a look. “You heard me. She went to have a look, knocked on the door, then went off that way.” She pointed past the church, the only fully intact building in the place.

Kyle shrugged. “She’s probably scouting the place out, finding somewhere for a party.”

Faye flashed her eyes. “Reckon we’ll get some time to ourselves?” She leaned her head on his arm.

Kyle’s gaze was over her shoulder. She turned to see his mate Didier’s red Fiesta pass them, making for the car park. The window opened and Sid, sitting in the back seat, leaned out. “Alright, you two? No snogging in the ghost village!”

Kyle winced. “Sorry,” he muttered.

Faye pursed her lips. “I knew it was a bad idea.”

“You’re not the only girl. Daisy’s here.”

“Yeah, and I don’t know where the bloody hell she is.”

“Right.”

“Yeah.” She tapped her thigh with her fingertips. Daisy did this: she should be used to it by now.

“Why don’t you go find her?” he suggested. “I’ll follow on.”

She sighed. “You’ll just stay with your mates.”

“I won’t. Find Daisy. I’ll be right there.”

She looked into his eyes. “Only if you give me a kiss first.”

She watched a smile break across Kyle’s face. He had the cutest smile.

He leaned down and kissed her. “See ya in a minute, gorgeous.”

“See ya.”

She blew him a playful kiss as she walked away.

They were in Tyneham village in South Dorset. The place had been abandoned in the Second World War, but now it was open to the public, at the weekend and in the holidays, and at dusk it made the best place for a party.

No one within miles to hear them. No one to tell them what to do.

Except – she shuddered – she’d thought she was getting Kyle to herself, but his bloody mates had tagged along.

She strolled away from him, past the schoolhouse. The door was locked. She walked over to the church. Locked too.

“Daisy!” she called. “Where are you?”

She’d better not have gone off with one of Kyle’s mates…

Faye rounded a bend to find two boys standing in front of a ruined house, passing something between them. At the sight of her, their hands dropped.

“Lou Watson and Chris Daniels,” she said. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing,” said Chris. Lou was stuffing something in his pocket.

She shook her head. “Got any beer?”

The boys looked at each other. “Er… no,” said Lou. “Too young.”

She laughed, pointing at his pockets. “Not for that, though?” She shook her head. “You seen Daisy?”

“She went that way,” Chris said. He pointed past them, towards the trees.

Faye frowned. Daisy, what the hell?

She was getting sick of losing her friend. Maybe next year, when they were in Year 13, she might stop doing this.

Maybe not.

“Daisy!” she called.

Nothing. She walked round the ruined house, passing into another clearing. “Daisy!”

“Over here!”

Faye stopped. “Where are you?”

“Over here!”

That doesn’t help me. “Look, I’m by a ruined house. You must have passed it. You come back.”

“I… I can’t.”

What?

“Just come back.” Faye walked on, passing another house. She turned to look back where she’d come from. She couldn’t see Kyle.

He’d be with Didier and Sid. Bloody Didier.

“Daisy, you’re making me worried. Just come back.”

“I told you, I can’t.” Daisy’s voice was louder now.

Faye tramped on through the undergrowth, cursing her friend. She was missing valuable snogging time.

“Daisy!” she snapped. “Get back here right now or I’ll—”

“Who are you, my mum?”

Daisy was right in front of her, standing on the other side of a fence.

On the fence was a sign: Keep Out. Dangerous Building.

“Can’t you read?” Faye asked.

“Oh, don’t be a wuss.”

“Who says wuss?”

“I do.”

“So why can’t you come back?” Faye leaned on the fence.

Daisy was facing away from her, towards the house. Her legs seemed to have been planted in the grass.

“Daisy?” She was acting weird.

But then, for Daisy, that wasn’t unusual.

“Daisy, what’s going on?”

Daisy glanced back at Faye. Her face was pale.

“Daisy?” Faye felt her skin turn cold. “Why don’t you get back over here?” She scanned the ground. There were mines around here. And the sign…

She backed away from the gate.

“Daisy, come back over the gate. It’s not safe.”

Daisy shook her head. “It’s not me I’m worried about.” She pointed towards the house. “It’s her.”

“Her?”

There were no other girls in their group. Once Faye had found out Didier was tagging along, she’d talked Daisy into it too.

So who was Daisy talking about?

She followed Daisy’s outstretched arm. She was pointing towards the abandoned rectory. Faye couldn’t see any woman, or girl.

“Who? Daisy, come back. I want to find Kyle.”

Daisy shook her head. She swallowed. “Her. The woman.”

“There is no woman. Are you winding me up?”

Daisy took a step towards the building.

“Daisy,” Faye said. “It’s not safe. Please—”

Daisy looked at her. “For God’s sake, Faye. Why aren’t you listening? There’s a woman in there, and I think she’s dead.”