The Haunted Traveler Vol 1 Issue 2

“Hello Jane, it’s Iris here dear. Yes fine thank
you, bearing up. Now look Jane, I’d like to make an
appointment for a friend of mine...Evelyn. Yes my
neighbour. Yes as soon as possible please. Marvellous,
oh yes I can vouch for her. I’m sure she can keep a
secret. Thank you Jane, see you soon.” The receiver
was replaced.
“There you go, all sorted. We can pop round as
soon as you’re ready.”
“Secret? You said I can keep a secret.” Evelyn
asked with a furrowed brow.
“As I said dear, Mr Hedges is semi-retired. He
likes to keep his business dealings quiet. We usually
work on a barter system but if you have any money
handy I’m sure that will be fine. Is that a problem?”
Mrs Briggs asked, staring sternly over the silvered rim
of her bifocals.
“No not at all. Thank you, thank you so…”
A blast of pain shot through Evelyn’s head and ricocheted
all the way down to her feet. “Jesus!”
“Have you taken anything for it?” Mrs Briggs
asked peering into her handbag.
Evelyn nodded; she had in fact tried a wide
and varied range of analgesics and alcohol, all to no
effect.
“Well never mind, soon be over, it’s just round
the corner. I’ll walk you there myself.” Mrs Briggs
stood to go.
“I’m so sorry for being so stupid it’s just…” A
fresh torrent of shame and tears welled up inside her.
“…I’m so scared.”
Mrs Briggs calmly placed a hand on her arm
63