The Hangman's Lair by Simon Cheshire Page A

through her teeth. She sounded like a paddling pool deflating. ‘Uncle Raphael is the reason I’m here. He’s always been gullible. He’ll believe whatever people tell him. He once got suckered by a crook who was pretending to be from the gas company. The man got away with the entire contents of the pub’s till.’
    ‘And he believes that Godfrey Frye really can talk to the dead and see into the future?’
    ‘Incredible as it sounds, yes,’ said Izzy. ‘And from what I hear, Godfrey Frye does nothing to contradict that impression. He claims he’s totally genuine. Well, he would, wouldn’t he? I’m getting worried. You see, normally, Aunt Mina’s around to give my uncle a kick up the backside and point out when he’s being a complete idiot. But she’s away at the moment. Her sister’s been ill and she’s looking after her.’
    ‘When’s she coming back?’
    ‘Nobody’s sure. She’s in New Zealand.’
    ‘Oh, I see. Can’t she give your Uncle Raphael a kick up the backside over the phone?’
    ‘My cousins haven’t told her. They don’t want her to worry, what with her sister’s illness and everything.’
    ‘Cousins?’ I said.
    ‘Yes, there are six of them,’ said Izzy. ‘They and Aunt Mina and Uncle Raphael all live on the top floor, above the hotel. The eldest two work in the restaurant.’
    ‘What do they think about Godfrey Frye?’
    ‘Half of them agree with me,’ said Izzy, ‘but he won’t listen to them.’
    ‘What about the other half?’ I said.
    ‘Hah! The other half are equally convinced Frye is a genuine psychic!’
    ‘Couldn’t you get someone else to deliver this kick up the backside? Your parents; someone like that?’
    ‘You don’t know Uncle Raphael,’ said Izzy. ‘The only person he’ll ever take advice from is my Aunt Mina. He’s almost as stubborn as he is gullible.’
    ‘But what exactly do you think Godfrey Frye will do?’ I said. ‘Steal from the till too?’
    ‘It’s not a question of what he will do,’ said Izzy sadly ‘It’s Uncle Raphael. Any other time, I might leave the whole situation well alone and let Raphael believe whatever he likes. But just recently, he’s been talking about the Big Holiday Fund. Apparently, it’s almost complete.’
    ‘What’s the Big Holiday Fund?’ I asked.
    ‘The family have been planning a trip to Florida, for all eight of them. Three weeks, all the theme parks, the lot. They’ve been saving up for years. Literally, years. This holiday is going to cost a small fortune.’
    ‘And now this small fortune is nearly ready to spend?’
    ‘Right. Any other time, if Uncle Raphael wanted to believe in some fortune-telling mystic, I’d say let him. If he wants to make himself look a twerp, fine. But right now, with a small fortune in his pocket . . .’
    ‘Yes,’ I said, chewing at my lip. ‘Looks like a recipe for trouble, doesn’t it?’
    ‘He’s been dropping hints about some sort of huge payoff, some get-rich-quick scheme he’s thought up, and how they’ll soon be able to afford a holiday in Florida every year. I have no idea what this scheme might be, but I don’t like the sound of it one little bit. And I just know my uncle’s going to get Godfrey Frye involved in it.’
    I pondered for a moment or two, narrowing my eyes detective-style. ‘What sort of get-rich-quick scheme would somebody think up that needed a clairvoyant? One that involves knowing the outcome of something in advance, right?’
    ‘Yes, that’s logical,’ said Izzy
    ‘Does your uncle go in for gambling?’
    ‘What, you mean horses, cards, that sort of thing? Good grief, no. He thinks gambling is for total losers. He won’t even do the National Lottery. Aunt Mina says it’s the only sensible opinion he’s got!’
    ‘Perhaps it’s to do with stocks and shares, or changes in different world currencies?’ I said. ‘People chance money on unknown outcomes there, don’t they?’
    ‘I think it’s highly unlikely,’ said Izzy.