Loud rumblings of ‘answer her’ echo around the hall.
Then I see Terry stand out beside Dan. He raises both hands in the air, brings them down slowly by his sides.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, come on, we’re better than this. Let the lord speak to you all. Let Dan talk. Given all he does for every one of you, has done over the years, have some respect.’ Terry’s calming accent seems to work. Dan throws him a look of relieved thanks. I notice his free hand and the clenched fist.
‘As you all know Castlemoon is struggling. This is not breaking news, people. The hotel is losing money hand over fist. I can’t stop it, no matter how hard I try. And believe you me, I have tried. So, that’s why I’ve called this meeting. Yes, the rumours are somewhat true. You all know I was in New York last week and, yes, there has been an offer to buy Castlemoon .?.?.’Dan goes on about no deal being signed just yet but his hands seem to be tied. As I listen, my heart in my mouth, Terry leaves the stage.
The villagers gasp and voices are raised even louder, people stand and everyone talks over one another, hands are waved in the air. It’s loud and chaotic.
‘Knew it!’
‘Told you!’
‘This is our castle!’ someone shouts from the back beside me. It’s deafening in my ear.
‘Calm, calm down, people, please. If – and it’s still anif– Castlemoon is sold, we are assured the new owners will keep it exactly as it is. I’ve made that abundantly clear. We shook on it. There will be no changes at all, except ones for the best. No one will even notice it has changed hands. Nothing will change, you have to trust me. I would never lie to you all. But they can fix the roof, repair the cracks, fix the windows, and make it more affordable for all of you to celebrate weddings, christenings and twenty-first birthdays in your castle. They can save Castlemoon. That’s what you all want, right? Isn’t that what matters most?’ Dan says in that heavy voice I have come to know and my heart aches for him up there.
‘There has to be another way!’ Another angry voice.
‘Excuse me.’ There’s a light tap on my shoulder. I spin around. ‘What are you doing here?’ Terry bends over and speaks slowly in my ear.
‘Oh, Terry, hi, I—’ I whisper as Dan continues to talk from the stage.
‘This is private Heartwell village business.’ Terry’s voice is completely different. Unfriendly. Stern. Scary.
‘Oh.’ I look at him, more than a little bewildered.
‘You are not a part of this village. Kindly leave. Now.’ Terry’s eyes are blazing and I keep looking at him in utter confusion.
‘Terry? It’s me Maggie?’ My hand flies to my chest as though I’m pointing out who I am.
‘Oh, I know exactly who you are, madam, we both do!’ Terry raises his booming voice now. ‘Taking notes, are you?’
‘W-what?’ My head spins as Dan stops talking and everyone turns to look at me.
‘Get. Out,’ Terry repeats, slowly but with force.
‘I-I’m sorry, I didn’t realise.’ I scramble to my feet.
‘You are not welcome here.’ Terry throws his arm out wide to the exit door, his index finger pointing straight at it like a compass needle.
I stumble out the door, trying to catch my breath, feeling humiliated and utterly confused at Terry’s behaviour. Is it to do with Frederick? How could it be? He can’t know that I’ve been asked to file a report, can he?
* * *
Back at Castlemoon, I slam my bedroom door with a bang and with my eyes shut tight I lean my back against it, trying to catch my heaving breath. My chest burns from running up the hill. Hot tears of embarrassment run down my wet cheeks.
I collapse onto the bed and my head hits something hard. ‘Ow!’ It’s my MacBook, Dictaphone and the Canon camera. All of them are propped up on my pillow, my satchel beside them. ‘What the?’ I flip open the laptop with haste and the screen has been mysteriously fixed. It’s perfect. ‘How in the—?’ Even though relief floods through me for my recovered work, I grab for the room phone and dial reception. There’s no answer. I ring again. And again. Eventually someone answers.
‘Who had access to my room?’ I spit. I’m furious and upset.
‘Whaddya mean?’ the male voice asks lazily.
‘I’m in room nine. Someone took my stuff from downstairs, they got the screen fixed on my MacBook and put it back in my room! That’s just creepy! And illegal!’ I’m really raging now.
‘Oh.’ They say quietly.
‘I want to speak to someone in charge!’ I spit. ‘Now!’
