Chapter One
It was a hot day in the little town of Ravens Hollow. Swelteringly so, and as the sun beat down mercilessly on the townspeople many of them scrambled for the sanctuary of the air-conditioned mall on Baker Street. Today was the last day of term before the commencement of the annual school holidays.
Dexta Perrin, tall and athletic strode out through the gates of St. Peters Co-Ed intermediate. He was looking forward to the upcoming kung-fu tournament, which was still a couple of weeks away. He excelled at the sport and had the trophies to prove it.
As he headed towards the tree-lined street, which ran alongside the river leading to his house, he looked up, squinting from the sun, and noticed the No. 54 bus go by. He threw his head back in frustration wishing he’d been patient enough to wait for it – the heat was relentless.
’Hey Dex, wait for me.’ That was his friend, Ed. Dexta and Ed had known each other since they were five. One morning, not long after Dexta had started at St. Peters, a young boy had walked into the classroom. He looked nervously around at everyone, and then the teacher announced that the newcomers name was Ed, and to make him feel welcome. Dexta had been assigned to look after him for the day, and they’d been friends ever since.
Dexta turned to acknowledge his tall lanky friend. ‘Hi, where were you when the bell rang? I’d been hoping we could leave together.’
Ed looked hot and exasperated. His cap was crooked, his usually smart blue and white uniform looked as if he’d slept in it, and his beloved soccer ball was tucked protectively under his arm. ‘Would you believe it Dex, that Dillon Jensen was there again looking for you, putting on his usual tough guy act; he drives me nuts.’
’You’re joking,’ said Dexta. ‘I wish he’d buzz off, he doesn’t even go to our school.’ Dillon Jensen had challenged Dexta to a bout a few weeks before, and lost! Now he was hell bent on getting even with him.
’And another thing,’ Ed continued, ‘old gargoyle face went off at me for about five minutes – his face getting redder by the second. I’d supposedly kicked my ball into his precious garden.’
Old gargoyle face was Ed’s pet name for the school’s sports master, a short squatty little man by the name of Henry Borgia, with a face not unlike the gargoyles which adorned the school building.
’Imagine my glee,’ said a smiling Ed, folding his arms very theatrically across his chest, ‘when I was able to prove that it wasn’t my soccer ball.’
’Don’t worry,’ Dexta reassured him as they continued on down the hot dusty road, ‘it’s the holidays, you’ll be Borgia free for six weeks.’
Dexta and Ed wrote for the Zone, the school newspaper, the results of which had seen them win many writing awards. Dexta’s father was the slightly eccentric Allen Perrin, a research scientist who worked at the Northern Laboratory just out of Ravens Hollow. His mum was a school teacher.
Ed was the adopted son of Laura and Ken Dacey. They were very loving parents and gave him all that he needed, but they couldn’t or wouldn’t give Ed the one thing he really wanted. To know the identity of his real father! He’d been told some story about his mother dying when he was a baby, but when it came to the mention of his father, the mood would change and Mr. and Mrs. Dacey would busy themselves doing something else, trying to ignore the question. Dexta had told him that he might not like what he found out. ‘I don’t care,’ Ed would say, ‘I just have to know who he is!’
Dexta glanced back over his shoulder at the huge sandstone archway, which stood majestically at the entrance to the school. His mind returned to the kung-fu tournament. He wasn’t quite sure when he’d first become interested in the martial arts. But his mum had told him a story about one day when he was eight months old, she had been nursing him near a shelf full of ornaments when his hand had shot out like lightening and he’d grabbed a Royal Albert miniature teacup. Mrs. Perrin said it was the fastest thing she had ever seen. It wasn’t very long after this; at about age three that he had started to train in Kung-Fu.
Dexta stopped momentarily to fossick in his bag having just remembered there was a frozen drink in there from this morning. As he glanced up he could see Anne, a girl from his class. Not just any girl but someone he thought was pretty special. She was making her way along the street, seemingly lost in a world of her own. She was undoubtedly, in his opinion, the prettiest girl in the class. ‘ Hey Anne, come over here and walk with us,’ he called. As Anne approached it was clear she was not happy. Her usually pale complexion had reddened from the sun, giving her a very flustered look, and her flaming red hair, which normally flowed over her slender shoulders, had been tied in a defiant little knot at the top of her head.
’What’s up with you?’ asked Dexta. ‘You look like you’re hassled about something.’
Anne’s intense brown eyes darted from Ed to Dexta. ‘Well actually, I……,’ her voice trailed off. ‘What? Tell us,’ urged Dexta, ‘maybe Ed and I can help.’ ‘I……, well I think someone is trying to break into my house, I heard them last night. Well not just last night, but for several nights now.’ Anne looked really worried and shaken. Dexta had never seen her like this before. He tried to make light of it. ’Who on earth would be chasing after you? he enquired, his bright blue eyes sparkling with mischief. ‘You watch it Dexta Perrin,’ she replied, playfully slapping him on the arm. She even aged a giggle. ’Have you told anyone else? he asked. ‘No: Dad’s away. It’s just Mrs. Saunders the housekeeper and me, and I don’t want to frighten her.’ Anne started to fidget nervously with the fine gold chain which hung around her neck. One of many gifts from her doting father.
Strong willed and feisty, Anne had always had a mind of her own and could stand up to anyone who got in her way! ‘This is not like me,’ she lamented, with a look of despair clouding her fine features, ‘but for some reason I’m really frightened! I dread going home!’ ‘Ed and I will come around tonight if you like. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.’ Dexta had developed a keen interest in detective work when he was younger, an interest which at one stage had become an obsession. Although the day was hot, a chill went through him as he remembered back to when he was about seven and his Aunty Doreen, Allen Perrin’s sister, had disappeared without a trace. His father had been devastated. Aunty Doreen was last seen standing at a bus stop and then nothing. All investigations by the police had been fruitless. Dexta had been haunted by it ever since. Not that he thought that there was anything for Anne to worry about. He figured there would probably be some logical explanation and then the whole thing would be forgotten. This was after all a small town, nothing much out of place ever happened here……….
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It was dark as both boys waited on the enormous veranda that surrounded the beautiful old weatherboard house. The heat which greeted them as they left the school gates earlier on, had given way to a cool wind that whistled through the tall trees, surrounding the house, causing them to cast ghostly shadows against the veranda posts. During its lifetime this house had seen many changes of resident. It started out years before as a mansion, which had belonged to one of the early settlers in the area. Unfortunately over time, it had deteriorated into a broken down slum, which was rented out to all sorts of people seeking cheap accommodation. Then suddenly one summer, it went up for sale! It was in this condition that Colonel Martin Conway, whilst traveling through the town with his two- year-old daughter Anne, had found it. After the tragic death of his wife he had been lured by the peace and tranquility of Ravens Hollow. He saw the house and liked it. It was only a matter of time till it was restored to its former glory. The magnificent fig tree out the front completed the picture. ‘I guess this place could be pretty spooky at night,’ said Ed looking around. His enormous brown eyes staring into the darkness. ‘Well it doesn’t scare me,’ replied Dexta trying to convince himself as well as Ed.
Their conversation was interrupted by the door opening. It was Anne. What a dream she looked in a delightful pair of bright pink jeans, and pink top. Her long red hair was brushed out, and she looked more relaxed than earlier on. ‘Hi you two, I’m really glad to see you guys,’ she said, standing aside to let them through the enormous oak door. ‘The wind is really freaking Scruffy out, she’s running all over the place.’ Scruffy was Anne’s pet poodle, which she’d been given on her birthday three years before. She’d awoken on the morning of her birthday to find the tiny creature sitting on her bed – she thought it was a dream at first. It had the cutest pink bow tied in its hair. Little as she was, Scruffy had turned out to be good company for Anne when her father was away.
Dexta and Ed entered the huge hallway with its polished floor and ancient looking Persian rugs. They took in the magnificent paintings, which adorned the walls. The grandeur and richness of the house always made Dexta feel as if he’d gone back intothe past. It suddenly struck him that maybe someone was trying to steal thesevaluable paintings. He made a note to himself to ask Anne if she had dead locks on the doors. He’d been here before of course, but he never ceased to be amazed at the splendor of this magnificent place. He couldn’t imagine that it could ever have been a slum. It was certainly different from his or Ed’s house. At best his house could be described as friendly and would probably fit into one of the rooms of this mansion.
Anne showed them into a very smart looking room with a bay window, which looked out towards the front of the house. This was her very own room to relax in. It was full of bright new looking furniture including a desk with a computer, a bright blue lounge, several chairs of various colors and of course a TV. Some of the children at school were often heard referring to Anne as ‘spoiled’, but Dexta didn’t think so. He liked her and felt sorry for her growing up without her mother.
’Would you like to see my butterfly collection?’ Her gloom from earlier in the day, seemed to have lifted, and she appeared to be quite happy. ‘I have over 40 of them you know,’ she announced with pride in her voice. She carefully lifted the wooden box with the glass top onto the table and stood back so her friends could observe the results of many hours of butterfly collecting. It was a magnificent square shaped silk framed shadow-box, which contained a myriad of brilliant coloured butterflies - including white ones with tan tipped wings, orange, brown with yellow spots, and green with black stripes. ‘What do you think guys,’ she asked, her eyes shining with delight. She then lifted another oblong shaped box out from under the bench. It had the same again only this time with a huge brown moth taking pride of place in the centre. She pointed her delicate white finger at the names, which were printed neatly under each butterfly.
Both boys expressed how impressed they were. ‘Wow,’ they’re really something,’ said Ed, standing there with his hands in his pockets, his tall frame leaning over the display case. ‘How long did it take to collect all these?’ ‘Quite a long time actually,’ she replied, folding her arms and looking very pleased with herself. ‘I do it whenever there isn’t much homework to do.’
Outside, the wind had grown steadily stronger and had worked itself up into a frenzy and the noise of objects banging around the yard could be heard from the front room. Scruffy was yelping and jumping on and off the chairs – obviously frightened.
Dexta sat down on the lounge, sinking into its soft cushion, and beckoned to her, trying desperately to calm her down. Anne and Ed chatted quite happily as they perused the butterfly collection, seemingly oblivious to Scruffy’s plight! ‘Come on girl,’ said Dexta. He patted the space beside him on the lounge, trying to entice her over. ‘It’s OK, just the wind, nothing to be scared of.’
A grandfather clock could be heard from the hallway chiming out that it was eight o’clock. Its sound reminding Dexta of the times when he would sneak up to watch scary movies long after his parents had gone to bed. Scruffy was frantically wagging her tail by now. She jumped down on to the floor, and her whimpering had turned to a low growl, as she stood staring out of the window. She clearly didn’t see eye to eye with Dexta’s suggestion that there was ‘nothing to be scared of.’
’That’s really an amazing collection you have there,’ Dexta called to Anne, ‘I’ll come over and have another look when I’ve calmed this dog of yours down.’
Anne glanced back over her shoulder and gave a knowing look to Scruffy. “It’s very strange,’ she said frowning, ‘she doesn’t normally get that worked up. It’s Ok Scruffs she said gently, I’ll fetch one of your toys in a moment, be a good girl’.
Dexta continued to try and settle Scruffy down, whilst he was concentrating on the mayhem around him. He noticed her growl had grown deeper down in her throat. She seemed to be focusing on the window – something outside the house had captured her attention. And then, with her tail wagging wildly from side to side, and her body quivering, she raced right up to the window. Ed turned around with an alarmed look on his face – the noise had become deafening, and it was then that Dexta jumped to his feet and sprinted towards the door. He knew it wasn’t the wind he’d heard this time!
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Ed looked stunned as Dexta raced into the hallway. ‘There’s someone out there,’ he called. As he swung open the huge door, Dexta was horrified to see a sinister caped figure making for the gate. He set off in hot pursuit, after him - his heart pounding. He could hear Ed running up behind. The shadowy caped figure wasn’t far in front as Dexta continued to give chase. The phantom jumped the gate and ran onto the road. Dexta was close behind. The cape was blowing frantically around in the strong wind. Dexta made a grab for it. Not quite! He tried again. He could feel the cape flick against his fingers. Dexta was gaining – he was fast, very fast but the caped figure was still eluding him – streaking through the night like a demon. The cape was hooded so the identity of the intruder was well and truly hidden. A light drizzle was starting up, making the road slippery, and the pursuit more difficult. He could hear the pad pad sound of Ed’s runners coming up behind him. Dexta was gaining. Closer, closer he could see victory in his sights. One final lunge should do it. Dexta’s hand shot out again in his quest for victory over the mysterious interloper but just as he thought he could grab the cape, the dark figure dashed quickly up a side street and with the agility of an Olympian, scaled a huge corrugated iron fence, and was swallowed up out of sight by the darkness. Dexta sat at the side of the road breathless – his T Shirt clinging to his body from the rain, which by now was at a steady drizzle. He could see Ed coming towards him.
A few days before at school, Anne had been having her usual whinge about being an only child. Dexta had been quick to point out that so was he and Ed. ‘But you and Ed are such good friends,’ she’d said, you’re just like brothers.’ Anne was right! Ed was a good friend – the best! ‘You nearly had him Dex.’ Ed’s shoulders were slumped as he dropped down on the road next to him. ‘Don’t feel bad, after all he did have quite a start on you.’ Whilst Dexta appreciated Ed’s words of encouragement they were little comfort to him. He felt defeated – a feeling he was not used to!
Dexta looked over at his friend. ‘I don’t believe it,’ he said, shaking his head in disbelief, ’there really was someone hanging around Anne’s place. What sort of weirdo sneaks around people’s houses dressed in a cape? Dexta stood up, pushing his rain splattered hair out of his eyes. ‘This is one guy we really have to catch, one way or another, before he does something dreadful!’
