The Haunting Of Holland House: Chapter Twenty Two
THE GHOST HUNTERS APPRENTICE - BOOK ONE
Todd sank into the worn leather chair across from Detectives Whannel and Landon, the wood creaking under his weight. He avoided making eye contact, instead staring at the tatty grey carpet of Headmaster Collins' office.
"So, Todd," Detective Whannel began, fixing Todd with his sharp grey eyes, "when was the last time you saw your friends Chris Stine and Amy Hannigan?"
Todd shifted in his seat. "Um, I guess a few days ago. At school."
Detective Landon leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "Can you be more specific? What day exactly?"
"Last Friday, I think." Todd racked his brain. "Yeah, Friday during English class. That was the last time I saw either of them in school."
The two detectives exchanged a glance. "And you haven't seen or spoken with them since?" Detective Whannel asked.
Todd shook his head. "No. I mean, Chris came up to me after school asking to talk, but I blew him off." Regret stabbed at Todd. If only he'd listened.
"Their parents reported them missing this morning when they didn't come home last night," Detective Landon said gently. "We're trying to establish a timeline of their whereabouts leading up to their disappearance."
Todd's stomach dropped. He thought of the abandoned Holland House and the terrifying apparition he'd seen there. Had that thing taken them?
Detective Whannel leaned forward, eyes narrowing behind his glasses. "Chris's father seems to think Chris was staying over at your house the last few nights. Any truth to that?"
"What? No!" Todd exclaimed. "Chris hasn't been to my house in ages."
"Then why would his old man think that?" Whannel pressed.
Todd shifted again under the detective's scrutiny.
Maybe this was his chance to test the water with all the spooky shit. "I don't know. I guess maybe Chris lied to him. Said he was staying with me to cover when he was actually going to the old Holland House to look for ghosts or whatever."
The detectives shared another pointed glance. "Ghosts?" Landon asked.
"Yeah, Chris is really into all that paranormal stuff. He has this whole ghost hunting web series he does." Todd felt his face grow warm.
Just as he thought.
They weren't interested in ghosts.
They weren't interested in the truth.
"I see," Detective Whannel muttered. "So you haven't actually seen Chris since last Friday at school? That's your story?"
"That's the truth," Todd said defensively.
Detective Landon pulled out a notepad, scribbling something down. "What about his bedroom? Why did you go to Chris' house, lie to his dad about his whereabouts, and go into his bedroom?"
"Oh yeah, that. I was just looking for a videotape Chris had borrowed. I didn't take anything though, I swear."
"Why would we think you'd taken anything?" Landon asked.
"I don't… I don't know…" Todd stuttered, lost.
The two detectives shared another loaded glance. Todd could feel their suspicion of him growing.
"Don't leave town, Todd," Detective Whannel said gruffly as he stood up. "We'll be in touch if we have any more questions."
Todd stood hurriedly as the detectives made their way to the door.
"Wait," Todd blurted out. "You don't really think I had something to do with this, right? I would never hurt Chris or Amy. They're my friends."
"You think they're hurt?" Landon asked.
"Why would you think that?" Whannel chimed in.
Todd became a deer in headlights, tangled in his own web.
Detective Landon gave Todd a pitying look. "We're just trying to get all the facts, son. You understand."
With that, the two detectives exited Headmaster Collins’ office, leaving Todd standing there alone, his heart pounding.
What if the police thought he was somehow involved in his friends' disappearance?
Todd had to find them and fast, before things got any worse.
But where to start?
NEXT CHAPTER…
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