Chapter 14
NOW
Jake had a guidebook open on the little table inside his van. He’d been to Chesters Roman Fort and was enjoying reading about Chesters Museum over a toasted sandwich and a Cup-a-Soup, before he headed off somewhere else.
He wasn’t sure where he fancied heading.
But beside his book was his phone.
And if Violet contacted him and said where she fancied going, he could be persuaded to go there, he supposed…
He glanced at the phone, his attention transferred momentarily from a photograph of part of a skull in the guidebook.
They’d found it in Coventina’s Well. Jake was weirdly fascinated by it.
He’d seen it in the display case along with a load of things they’d found in the Well: jewellery, coins, altars – all the things he’d read about before coming here.
He’d stood in the quiet museum for ages, reading every display case, every notice board.
It had been a bloody good morning, actually.
It would only be a better day if—
To his surprise, his phone started ringing.
‘Violet?’ he said to himself, surprised when her name flashed up.
Jake grabbed the phone and swiped to answer the call. ‘Violet! Hey, how’s things?’ He spoke confidently, so she knew what a bloody good time he was having not stalking her and sticking to his own itinerary.
‘Jake. Hey! Good, good. Things are good…’ Her voice tailed off. ‘So, just wondering where you are? How’s the itinerary looking?’
‘I’m at Chesters. The itinerary is – good. It’s looking good. Very flexible.’
‘Marvellous. I went to Newbrough this morning. It’s a nice little village.’
‘Isn’t that where your witch was from? Old Meg?’
‘She wasn’t old. Seriously, I wish people would stop saying she was.’
Jake stared at the phone, taken aback by the vehemence of Violet’s response. ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘I’ll just call her Meg, shall I?’
‘That would be better.’
‘Great. So, let’s start again. You’ve been at Newbrough, where Meg the witch lived.’
‘Yes. Yes, I have. I think I found her cottage.’
‘Wow! That’s great. Can anyone visit?’
‘No. It’s on private land. I may have done a little breaking and entering.’
Jake grinned. ‘Worth doing it?’
‘Yeah.’ Violet didn’t seem entirely sure, but Jake knew better than to push her.
‘Anyway.’ She cleared her throat, and when she spoke again, she was, in Jake’s opinion, falsely bright.
‘I’m not too far from Chesters. Why don’t we do some stuff together today?
I mean if you’re not busy, of course. It would be good to see you. ’
‘And you.’ Jake smiled into the phone. ‘What were you thinking of?’
‘I was thinking of going into Hexham. Just wondered if your itinerary would allow that?’
‘I think I can move a few things around.’
‘Great. So, shall I come and meet you? I know where Chesters is.’
‘Yeah – that’s great. I’m in the car park. I’m hard to miss.’
‘I bet. Okay. Can you leave the van there and I’ll drive us?’
‘Sure.’
‘Great. See you soon.’
‘See you soon.’
They disconnected the call and Jake raised his eyebrows. There was something going on. She was definitely rattled.
But he wasn’t going to pry. Prying was a guaranteed way of ensuring Violet shut down. She’d tell him when she was ready, he was sure.