Read Ghost Song for Free Online

don’t know how relevant it is,’ said Hilary. Reaching in her bag she handed him two sheets of paper.
    â€˜What’s this?’
    â€˜It’s from some old actor’s memoirs. I found it on the internet. It’s 1930-ish, I should think. It’s a bit melodramatic in places, but very interesting. I don’t know who the actor was, although I’m hoping I can find out.’
    Robert read it carefully, pausing occasionally to go back to an earlier passage to check a detail. When he reached the end, he said, thoughtfully, ‘He’s saying something happened and there was a cover-up and the Tarleton was closed because of it.’
    â€˜Yes.’ Hilary read out the quoted words. ‘ “A conspiracy of silence, and certain people had taken a solemn vow never to talk.” ’
    â€˜It’s probably nothing more than an ageing actor trying to spice up his memoirs,’ said Robert. ‘In any case it’s so far back it can’t possibly matter now.’ But he went on studying the printout. ‘You’re right about it being intriguing,’ he said at last. ‘But don’t let’s get carried away. There’s a strange underground wall and it’s true Miss Seymour wouldn’t give permission for me to look behind it. I couldn’t overrule that. In any case, there were no indications of any ominous damage having occurred to the structure. And people do get jittery if you suggest knocking out sections of brickwork—they visualize roofs caving in and all kinds of disasters, so her attitude isn’t all that extraordinary. It just means I’ve had to put a carefully worded disclaimer in my report, explaining that part of the foundations wasn’t accessible.’
    â€˜How old is the wall?’
    â€˜The bricks were machine-made, so it’s certainly after about 1870. Until then building bricks were hand-made. I don’t like making guesses, but if I had to, I’d say it was built in the early 1900s.’
    â€˜Playing devil’s advocate for a moment, don’t people build walls simply for relaxation?’ said Hilary. ‘I remember reading Winston Churchill used to do that.’
    â€˜Yes, but I don’t think Winston Churchill built a wall in the foundations of a Southwark music hall,’ said Robert drily. ‘But I would have liked to check what was on the other side.’
    â€˜The mummified remains of some old actor?’
    â€˜Sewer spillage and sluice gates,’ said Robert repressively. ‘That could be potentially disastrous to the foundations. But what I did find odd was that the wall looked as if it had been constructed by somebody who didn’t know much about building. Or,’ he said, remembering his earlier impression, ‘by somebody working in a great hurry.’
    â€˜Was there any other means of getting behind that wall?’
    â€˜No. At least…’
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜There’s one of those old trap arrangements in the stage,’ said Robert a bit reluctantly. ‘At least, I think that’s what it is. For ghosts and things to suddenly appear or vanish. It would have to lead straight down to the under-stage area.’
    â€˜Yes, it would. Couldn’t you open it and put down a ladder? Or even shine a torch?’
    â€˜It’s got a length of wood nailed over it.’
    Hilary looked at him. ‘Really?’
    â€˜Yes. A very thorough, but very amateurish nailing down. I’ve been trying to think it was done as a safety measure when the theatre was closed.’
    Hilary said carefully, ‘Could it be removed? Or levered open?’
    â€˜It could probably be levered open,’ said Robert. ‘But it might result in damage to the stage itself. I can’t risk that, not without the owner’s permission. If you can’t get at certain areas in a survey, you just point that out and make appropriate