The afternoon lessons went on later than usual and it was less than two hours before dark when, carrying my rowan staff, I finally set off for Adlington.
Andrew made me welcome and his face broke into a smile when I passed on the Spook's apology: he quickly agreed to fix the door within a day or so. Later I spent about fifteen minutes talking to Alice, although she seemed a bit cool. It was probably because she'd been sent to bed the previous night. After saying my goodbyes, I set off back towards the Spook's house, eager to get back before it was quite dark.
I hadn't been walking more than five minutes before I heard a faint noise behind. I turned round and saw someone following me up the hill. It was Alice, so I waited for her to catch up. She was wearing her woollen coat, and as she approached, her pointy shoes made neat footprints in the snow.
'Up to something, you are,' Alice said with a smile. 'What was it that they didn't want me to hear last night? You can tell me, can't you, Tom? We don't have any secrets. Been through too much together, we have.'
The sun had already set and it was starting to get dark. 'It's very complicated,' I said, impatient to be off. T don't have much time.'
Alice leaned forward and gripped my arm. 'Come on, Tom, you can tell me!'
'Mr Gregory doesn't trust you,' I told her. 'He thinks you got too close to Morgan. Mrs Hurst told him that you and Morgan spent lots of time together in his downstairs room ...'
'Ain't nothing new in Old Gregory not trusting me!' Alice exclaimed with a sneer. 'Morgan was planning something big. A ritual, he said, that was going to make him rich and powerful. Wanted my help, he did, and nagged and nagged until I couldn't stand the sight of him. That's all there was to it. So come on, Tom. What's going on. You can tell me . ..'
Finally, realizing that she was never going to let it go, I gave in, and Alice walked by my side while I reluctantly explained what had been happening. I told her about the grimoire and how Morgan had wanted me to steal it and how he was torturing Dad's spirit. Then I told her we'd been burgled and were now searching for Morgan.
Alice wasn't best pleased with what I told her, to say the least.
'You mean we went into Old Gregory's house together with no mention of what you planned? No mention at all! You meant to go up to the attic and you didn't tell me. It ain't right, Tom. Risking my life, I was, and deserved better than that. A lot better!'
'Sorry, Alice. I'm really sorry. But all I could think of was Dad and what Morgan was doing to him. I wasn't thinking straight. I should have trusted you, I know'
'Bit late to say that now. Still, I think I know where you could find Morgan tonight...'
I looked at her in astonishment.
'It's Tuesday,' Alice said, 'and on Tuesday night he always does the same thing. Been doing it since late summer, he has. There's a chapel on the hillside. Set in a graveyard, it is. People come from miles around and he takes their money. I went there with him once. He makes the dead speak. He ain't a priest but he's got a congregation to put lots of churches to shame.'
I remembered the first time I'd met him - when the news came about Dad and I'd been on my way home. That had been a Tuesday too. I'd taken a short cut through the graveyard and he'd been inside the chapel. He must have been waiting for his congregation to arrive. He'd also asked me to bring the grimoire to him on a Tuesday just after sunset. I could have kicked myself. Why hadn't I put two and two together?'
'Don't you believe me?' Alice asked.
'Course I believe you' I said. T know where the chapel is. I've been there before.'
'Then why don't you go that way on your way home?' suggested Alice. 'If I'm right and he is there, you can go and tell Old Gregory. Might just get back in time to catch him! But don't forget to mention that I was the one who told you where he was. Might just make him think better of me. Ain't holding my breath though.'
'Come with me' I suggested. 'You could keep watch while I go for the Spook. That way, if we don't get back in time we'll know where he's headed.'
Alice shook her head. 'No, Tom. Why should I after what's happened? I don't like not being trusted. It ain't nice. Anyway, you've got your job and I've got mine. The shop's been really busy. Worked hard all day, I have, and now I'm going to warm myself by the fire, not spend my time shivering out here in the cold. You do what you have to do and let Old Gregory sort Morgan out. But leave me out of it.'
With that, Alice turned on her heels and set off back down the hill. I was disappointed and a bit sad but I could hardly blame her. If I kept secrets from her, why should she help?
By now it was almost dark and the sky was starting to glitter with stars. So, wasting no time, I chose a route that took me up the moor and circled back to the drystone wall, at the exact place in the copse where I'd climbed over it that Tuesday night, when I was on my way home. I leaned against the low wall and looked towards the chapel. Candlelight flickered against the stained-glass window. Then I noticed something far beyond the graveyard. Scattered points of light were moving up the slope towards me.
Lanterns! The members of Morgan's congregation were approaching. Although I couldn't be sure, he was probably already inside, waiting for them to arrive.
So I turned and set off through the trees, heading directly back towards the Spook's house. I needed to get my master and bring him back in time to catch Morgan. But I hadn't taken more than a dozen paces before somebody stepped out of the shadows ahead of me. A hooded figure in a black cloak. I came to a halt as he strode towards me. It was Morgan.