‘Why didn’t you say something?’ asked Liv.
‘Sorry? Battery in my hearing aid has gone. Anyway, thanks for coming to my rescue. Have you seen Donald? He’s meant to be taking me home.’ Winnie slowly shuffled out.
‘Winnie, can you hear me if I shout?’ tried Liv.
‘Ooh did you say something?’ she replied as she stopped to fiddle with her hearing aid.
‘Yes. Why were you in there?’
‘I was being nosy. I noticed the panel had a seam in it and when I looked closer I could see it was a hidden door. But when I got inside it was pitch-black. I felt around for a light and thought I’d found a pull chord but that must have been connected to the door, because it clicked shut behind me. I’ve lived to tell the tale and wait when the folks at Little Loch Tearooms hear this one.’
‘I’m glad you’re okay,’ said Liv loudly.
‘Oh, I’m fine. Nothing a daily dose of David Tennant in a kilt can’t solve.’ She cackled a laugh as she made her way slowly up the hall. She paused. ‘Thanks for coming to my rescue, Liv. What exactly is Liv short for?’
‘It’s Olivia,’ said Liv.
‘No, can’t hear a thing,’ said Winnie. ‘Cheerio.’
Liv let out the longest sigh. Her pulse was racing. It’s okay, she told herself. It wasn’t a ghost; there was a perfectly rational explanation. Although an old lady trapped behind a secret door hadn’t been the straightforward explanation she’d been expecting. Liv switched on her torch and opened the door fully, revealing a bigger space than she’d been expecting and definitely a lot more cobwebs than she was comfortable with. She stepped inside.
‘Just an empty cupboard. That’s all it is,’ she whispered to herself. That was when a hand gripped her shoulder. ‘Arghhhhhh!’ screamed Liv, spinning around ready to defend herself.
Effie wrapped her in a tight hug. ‘You came back!’
‘Bloody hell, Effie. You scared the life out of me.’ Her pulse was off the scale.
‘Why?’ said Effie letting her go.
‘Because…’ Liv pointed into the darkness. ‘I was concentrating on what is in here.’
‘It’s just an old cupboard. I used to play in here when I was little until I got stuck in there for five hours and peed my pants,’ she whispered the last part and grimaced. ‘I wasn’t allowed in here after that.’
That put paid to any romantic notion Liv had of finding treasure. Liv scanned the space with her torch. It was empty apart from dust, cobwebs and an old box of papers.
Liv picked up a dusty document off the top of the box. It was addressed to Effie.
‘Ooh this looks interesting,’ she said.
‘Hey, what are you doing in there? That box is private,’ said Fraser, irritation heavy on his words.
‘Don’t start on me. I was only looking,’ said Liv, although she was aware it was a bit snoopy but the owner of the letter was standing next to her.
Fraser stomped over, snatched the letter from her and stepped inside the cupboard to return it to the box.
‘I hate you fighting with each other. Will you two just sort things out already?!’ said Effie, her voice strident.
‘But he was the one having a go at me,’ said Liv, but at the same time Fraser was speaking over her saying something about wild accusations. They kept talking, their voices rising and becoming more and more heated until Effie gave Liv a shove, making her lurch towards Fraser and drop her phone.
‘Hey!’ he complained.
‘It wasn’t me!’ Liv bent down to get her phone and was about to ask Effie what she was playing at when she pushed her again but harder. Liv toppled forward and had no option but to push Fraser backwards or she was going to end up in his arms. They were falling inside the cupboard. One more big push and Liv was up against Fraser’s chest as the door panel closed behind them, plunging them into darkness.
‘What the hell!’ Liv was hopping mad. But she was also disorientated thanks to the dark. ‘Effie!’ she yelled.
Fraser cleared his throat. ‘Do you think you could stop yelling in my face?’
‘Oh sorry.’ She realised she also had her hands pressed against his chest. She tried to step away but the door was right behind her. ‘Can you back up? Because I’ve got nowhere to go.’
