Phantom Ride
Phantom Ride
A supernatural Thriller with a Twist
Caz Puscat
Copyright © 2021 Caz Puscat
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
For my husband for his patience and encouragment
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
PHANTOM RIDE
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
thank you
About The Author
PHANTOM RIDE
Caz Puscat
Chapter 1
Max quickened his pace as the drizzle turned into a torrential rain. His toes squelched in his trainers as he splashed through the puddles to reach the two adjoining cottages. He pulled Adrienne under the shelter of the first porch and then he wiped his face as a drip trickled down the black curls on his neck.
‘You got the keys?’ he asked her.
‘Yes.’ She fumbled in her bag, her face flushed. As Max watched her, a cold droplet slithered down his neck.
At last, Adrienne held up the jangling keys. ‘Here they are.’
He took them from her hand. ‘You hold the brolly, and I’ll unlock the door.’ He cursed under his breath as he twisted the keys; having only one hand was so damn hard.
Adrienne slipped her arm around his slender waist. ‘We’d better hurry. The van will be here soon.’
Pale bricks now saturated blood red from the downpour framed the flaking paintwork on the walls of the cottage. The door wouldn’t budge until Max leaned his weight against it. It burst open and let out a musty smell of stale tobacco from deeper in.
Inside the living room, the 1960s ivy wallpaper swallowed most of the light. Max turned on the switch, and a glow from a nicotine-stained shade casted a muted light on the bare floorboards.
There was no hallway. The front door opened immediately into the living room with a door leading to the kitchen and bathroom at the back of the house. On the opposite side, on the right, there was a door to the stairs leading to two bedrooms.
Adrienne had been more excited about the house than Max. Thinking about it over the past years had kept her mind off the trial. Neither of them had known what the future held, and they had had to wait before they had been able put in an offer for the cottage. If he’d been found guilty, he could have gone to prison. Luckily, he hadn’t, so for them, this house meant a new life together and happiness after two years of worry and pain.
When they’d viewed the house in Spring, Adrienne had fallen in love with it straight away, and he wanted to buy it for her. He hadn’t considered the amount of work it needed or his capability of being able to do it.
Max scanned the room and wrinkled his still-wet nose. ‘Smells like an old rug the dog’s peed on.’
Adrienne gently squeezed his arm. ‘It’s been empty for a year. It just needs fresh air.’
Adrienne’s long hair, damp from the rain, hung in tangles around her shoulders. Her wispy auburn fringe stuck to her forehead, making the freckles on her nose stand out. He was unable to resist smiling at how cute she looked.
At least they were on their own. Living between Adrienne’s bedsit and his grandparent’s house since the accident had driven him mad. Their dream had been to live in the countryside near Stratford upon Avon, in a small community within walking distance of a grocery store.
Adrienne shrugged off her rain jacket and gathered her hair into a ponytail. ‘I can’t believe we’re finally here.’
Max slipped out of his coat and hung it on the back of the door. He rolled his shoulders to loosen the muscles in his neck as he glanced around the room. It isn’t too bad, he thought to himself.
‘We’ll soon turn this place around,’ he said out loud.
Adrienne’s face lit up. ‘I do love you.’
A thump and a clang outside made them both jerk. The door burst open, and two burly removal men heaved a double pine bed frame through the opening.
Max followed them up the stairs. The wooden steps creaked under their weight, and dust plumed as their shoes unsettled it.
The removal men, Derek and Josh, father and son, carried the bed into the front bedroom, muttering about the football and the weather. Max’s stomach churned. The cloying heaviness of snacking on chocolate biscuits instead of breakfast had left him feeling nauseous. He opened the back bedroom window and put his head out, filled his lungs with the cold damp air.
The hissing downfall thrummed past the window, soaking the lawn below. Green blades on a bed of waterlogged soil, criss-crossing black and green like a river of eels.
Max heard sounds from the kitchen, cupboard doors opening and closing. When he came downstairs, he saw Adrienne making drinks.
Derek wheeled the fridge into the kitchen and pushed it into the gap against the wall then wiped his forehead with his sleeve. Adrienne handed him a cup of coffee.
‘Thank you.’ He looked over her shoulder through the window. ‘You’ve got lovely views of the countryside here.’
‘Yes,’ she said, ‘it’s lovely.’
Max stood in the doorway and moved aside when Josh came in, carrying a box marked ‘Kitchen.’ He put the box down, and Adrienne handed a cup of steaming liquid.
Josh sipped from the cup. ‘It won’t take us long,’ he said, ‘there’s not much more to bring in.’
‘He’s eager to get to the football.’ Derek laughed.
Max looked up. ‘What team do you support?’
‘Aston Villa. They’re playing West Ham this afternoon. I reckon we’ll beat them.’
Max smiled. ‘I don’t know much about football. I’m more into motorbikes. Well, I was.’ He glanced at his shoulder to confirm the reason why he wasn’t into them anymore.
Derek looked at Max’s short sleeve. ‘Did you lose your arm in an accident?’
Max nodded.
Derek shook his head. ‘That’s terrible.’
When they’d finished their drinks, Derek nudged his son’s arm with his elbow. ‘We’d better get a move on if you want to get to the match on time.’
Leaving the kitchen, Derek paused. ‘My other son’s in the building trade if you need any building work doing. Just give me a ring.’
‘That’s useful to know. I’ll bear it in mind,’ Max thanked him. He’d already decided what needed doing in the house, and as much as he’d like to hire a builder, there wasn’t enough money in the budget.
By lunchtime, Derek and Josh had gone. The rain had eased, but the charcoal grey sky blocked most of the light, making it seem much later than it was.
The kitchen looked smaller and more tired than Max remembered. Under the window, th
e sink had a single line of black and white tiles. Next to it, the space for the washing machine had peeling wallpaper and a dusty grey web, like an older man’s beard clutching to the wall.
On the facing wall stood the new cooker beside a shabby pale blue base unit with metal handles, a cupboard above, and a fridge alongside.
Adrienne was on her hands and knees underneath the sink scrubbing the carcass. Track marks made by pots and pans wouldn’t budge, and the chipped wood was cracked where water had seeped. ‘We desperately need new units,’ she said.
Max stared at the grey terracotta tiles, fusty with wear. ‘The whole house needs refurbishing,’ he groaned.
Adrienne stopped what she was doing. ‘But you like the house though, don’t you?’
‘Of course, I do. It just needs more work than I thought.’
‘You don’t regret buying it?’ There was an edge to her voice; he sensed she was worried.
Max pulled her to her feet. ‘Of course, I don’t.’ A sheet of rain lashed against the window and he closed the back door.
‘It’s gone cold.’ He shivered. ‘You finish in here, and I’ll see what needs doing in the lounge.’
The lounge looked bare with their few pieces of furniture, and even the packing boxes didn’t make it look full. Max rubbed his back. The first thing we need is central heating.
Adrienne came into the room and holding up her phone, she chirped. ‘Smile.’
He frowned. ‘No photos.’ He raised his hand and turned away.
Max’s self-image had hit rock bottom since the accident. Losing his arm had changed his appearance, his left side, now eight pounds lighter, had affected his balance and made him lop-sided, not something he wanted to see on camera.
She ignored him and captured his pose. ‘You’re good looking.’ She placed the mobile on the mantelpiece.
‘Even with one arm,’ he smirked, but she didn’t find it funny. ‘I’ve been told I look like Kit Harington from Game of Thrones,’ he added, trying to bring the happy mood back.
‘Jon Snow without the beard.’ She fluttered her eyelashes at him and smiled. ‘Do I look like anybody famous?’
‘That’s a tough one. Probably Nicole Kidman,’ he said, flattening his black curls with his hand.
‘Because of the red hair.’ She pushed the loose strands from her face. ‘I look nothing like Nicole Kidman.’
‘You have similar features. But your boobs are bigger.’ He laughed.
‘Trust you. So, what’s next?’ She put her hands on her hips and surveyed the room.
Max slumped on the sofa and patted the seat next to him. ‘Sit for a minute.’
She frowned. ‘You’re not upset with me for taking your photo, are you?’
‘No, but you know I don’t like seeing myself like this.’
Adrienne settled next to him. ‘I love you the way you are.’ She rolled up his short sleeve to reveal the stump of his amputated arm and kissed its puckered seam. ‘You’re very sexy, and I can’t wait to make love in our new home.’
Max’s eyes sprung open wide. ‘What about now? Shall we christen the bedroom?’
A knock on the front door startled them. Max got up and opened it.
A grey-haired lady stood on the doorstep. ‘Hello, I’m Margaret. I live next door. I just popped round to introduce myself.’ She handed Max a white envelope. ‘Just a card to welcome you in your new home.’
As Max took the card, he felt a pang of emotion and gulped. It had been a while since he’d met anybody outside his immediate family and her sincerity touched him.
‘Thank you, that’s very kind. I’m Max, and this is Adrienne,’ he said as she sidled up to him.
Margaret smiled and tilted her head towards Adrienne. ‘I hope you’ll be happy as we have been. It’s a lovely place to live, and everybody’s friendly.’
‘Have you lived here long?’ Max asked.
‘Fifty years. It’s been ten years since my husband died. Of course, my children have grown up and moved away. My daughter wants me to move to Yorkshire, but I’m still thinking about it.’
Max smiled. ‘It must be a nice place to stay for so long.’
‘It is. It will be nice to have neighbours again. The house has been empty for such a long time.’
‘Hope there isn’t anything wrong with it, it’s not going to fall down or anything?’ Max joked.
‘Oh, goodness no. These two farm cottages have been here for years. They couldn’t sell the house because they couldn’t find Albert’s family. Eventually, his niece came over from America and emptied the house, she chucked photographs and everything away.’
‘Oh, dear. No love lost there then.’ Max slid his arm around Adrienne’s waist.
Margaret gave a brief look at Max’s short sleeve then swiftly looked away.
‘Albert’s wife left him years ago, but he always thought she’d come back. He left the downstairs light on every night, you know, just in case. That’s how we knew something was wrong when the lights were on for several days, and the newspapers were still in the letterbox. Very sad.’
‘I didn’t know he’d died here?’ Max looked at Adrienne.
‘I’m sorry.’ The tone of her voice dropped. ‘I thought the estate agent would have told you.’
‘No,’ Max said, ‘but it doesn’t bother us, people die in houses every day.’
Margaret shivered. ‘I’d better let you get on. You must be busy.‘ She wrapped her arms around herself. ‘I’m going to my daughter’s for a few days. She’ll be here soon. If you need anything, just ask.’
As they watched the old lady leave, Max pulled Adrienne closer to him. ‘So, where did we get to?’
‘Do you think he died in the bedroom?’ she asked.
‘You’re not bothered by it, are you?’
Her eyes drifted to the stairs. ‘No. I just wondered, that’s all.’
‘I’ll tell you what,’ Max’s lips brushed her cheek. ‘I’ll go upstairs first and check for any ghosts.’
‘I don’t believe in ghosts any more than you do.’ Adrienne laughed. ‘But you can go ahead and find the bedsheets while I freshen up.’
Max grinned.
When she came upstairs, she paused at the top of the landing, watching him through the crack of the door trying to open the bedding box.
‘You gonna help me, or keep staring at my butt?’ he called.
‘Checking your butt.’ She playfully smacked his buttocks and threw the duvet on the bed. She told him to sit down. She gently lifted his shirt over his shoulders.
He slipped his hand underneath her jumper, and within moments unhooked her bra. ‘I’m getting quicker at this,’ he whispered.
After lovemaking, they kissed and spooned and slept through the rest of the afternoon.
It was Max who woke first. He opened his eyes at the sound of a car engine and watched its lights dance across the ceiling.
Adrienne stirred. ‘How long have we been asleep?’ She tried to see the time on her watch. ‘It’s nearly eight o’clock. We’ve been asleep for about three hours.’
Max yawned. ‘I’m starving. We haven’t eaten since breakfast.’
‘We haven’t got any food.’ Adrienne jumped out of bed. ‘I’ll get us a pizza from Maybird,’ she said, stepping into her joggers. ‘It’s not far from here.’ She pulled on her top. ‘I shan’t take long, if you put the kettle on and make us a drink?’
He yawned. ‘Yes, alright.’ She left quickly.
Max got out of bed and dressed. Since the accident, he had to do things one-handed, and simple things like this took him longer. He’d struggled to come to terms with his amputation, and some days were worse than others, mostly when he was in pain.
In the kitchen, the four dirty cups from earlier stood on the draining board. With Adrienne being so meticulous he was surprised she hadn’t washed them up.
As he filled the kettle, a slight movement through the window caught his eye. He stared at his reflection, staring back. Maybe th
at’s what I saw. But he unlocked the door to check.
The sweet smell of woodsmoke combined with the crisp chill was a reminder of the season change and brought memories of bonfire night. He strained his eyes to see through the darkness.
In the far corner, something moved... or was he imagining it? No something had shifted, Max was sure of it. He wished he knew where the torch was.
A rabbit. There it was, dashing across the lawn. Max laughed out loud.
He turned to go inside when a voice behind called him. “Max.” Twisting on his heels, he stared into the darkness. ‘Who’s there?’
Heart hammering, he tried to see, but it was too dark. Giving up he went in and locked the door.
Above the sound of the kettle boiling, a thud came from the lounge. ‘That was quick,’ he called to Adrienne.
When Adrienne didn’t answer, he stepped into the lobby. It was empty.
The front door burst open.
‘I’m back.’ Adrienne shouted.
‘Christ almighty.’ Max’s heart leapt so high he nearly choked.
She ruffled his hair and laughed. ‘Your hair is standing up on end. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’
He followed her into the kitchen.
Adrienne smiled. ‘You look sexy with scruffy hair. Let’s take the pizza upstairs.’
‘Back to bed?’ Max grinned, forgetting the voice he’d heard earlier outside. Moving in together had been an excellent idea.
She tapped his nose with her finger as if he was an excited puppy. ‘To eat pizza and go to sleep. I’m tired.’
After they’d eaten their food upstairs, Max snuggled up to Adrienne in bed, wrapping the duvet tightly around them.
The floorboards gently groaned as the temperature dropped.
A figure stood in the doorway, watching them.
Chapter 2
An acrid smell of burning flesh filled Max’s nostrils, and he screamed as scorching metal dragged him across the biting grit. Max grappled for the handlebars, but it was too late. The bike reared, catapulting Ellie to the other side of the road and him in mid-air.