Helen Speaks

Olive Framley Entry 14, 23rd June.

From: Olive Framley
The Green Dragon Inn
St Bernice’s Field

Dear Talia,

I’m sure you must know by now that everything went wrong in our attempts to solve the Green Dragon haunting. We all went looking for the mystery presence that night and at some point, Lucy vanished. And not long after that, Teddy – who I thought would surely be able to help, as our friendly ghost – started mumbling some nonsense about a job and vanished too.

The Weybridges – the couple who own the pub – were so kind. They were horrified at the thought that their haunting might have hurt Lucy… Or worse… And they eventually decided to call the police.

The police took my phone, for evidence. Which is just as well. When I heard about the news stories, and the fact that The Magical Reporter had shared my full name, all I could imagine was how furious Daddy will be.

The police are keeping the reporters back, but they’re not being much help otherwise, Talia. They have some rudimentary magic sensitive equipment, and they are warning me not to meddle. It’s infuriating, Talia!

I wish Teddy would talk to me. I wish I could call Aunty Ermingarde – she would be sympathetic at least. And she’d want to know if something happened to Lucy. I know Lucy’s only her lodger, but she’s like another niece to Aunty E, really.

I wish I knew what to do. I’m so worried that Lucy is hurt. Or that she won’t come back.

I’ll stay here until she’s found, Talia. I’ll clean up this mess. Then Daddy can cut the allowance if he wants, publicly disown me, whatever! What’s a family name to me if I can’t wear it with pride?

Yours sincerely,

Olive.