The Dark Fear Read Free Page A

a drive down the coast.’
     
    *
     
    It was late August. There had been a brief resurgence in the warm weather. The sun hung low behind them as they drove parallel to the Longniddry Bents, the North Sea lying far out into the distance and barely a wisp of a cloud interrupting the large expanse of pale blue sky.
                  The long stretches of beach here were popular with water sport enthusiasts and walkers. But Dani had the copper’s perspective. She knew that the roadside car-parks, secluded by sand dunes and overgrown vegetation, were a popular location at night for the practice of all types of nefarious activity.
                  A tall boundary wall ran beside them to the west. Dani thought the brickwork looked ancient and crumbly.
                  James gestured in the general direction of the woodland beyond. ‘The Langford Estate covers over 5,000 acres. Some of the beaches here belong to the family too. The house is the seat of the Earls of Westloch. The current earl is David March.’
                  ‘They can’t still own it all, surely?’
                  ‘Part of it was given over to Scottish Heritage after the war. Plenty of the parkland and buildings remain within the March family, though.’
                  ‘How do you know all this?’ Dani glanced across at her companion suspiciously. His face was partially obscured by a pair of Ray Bans.
                  ‘Because it’s one of the park lodges that we’ve come to see.’
                  Dani said nothing. She sat back and enjoyed the ride, having to admit that she was certainly intrigued.
                  After a couple of miles, James spotted a gravelled driveway ahead. It was barred by two enormous wrought iron gates. He parked his little Audi sports car in front of them, jumping out to press on an intercom system cleverly set into a recess in the stone wall. The gates began to judder open a few moments later.
                  As James led the car slowly along the narrow lane, Dani caught sight of what must have been one of the lodges. It was an impressive stone building set back slightly from the track. An overgrown garden provided a barrier between this house and the road. It was difficult to make out the full extent of the property, as it was positioned in the shadow of several large oak trees.
                  ‘Is that it?’
                  James nodded, saying nothing. He swung the car suddenly to the right and they bumped along an even smaller track, which led to a line of brick built garages. A battered old Land Rover was already waiting there. James stopped beside it. They both got out.
                  A man in his early forties was leaning against the Land Rover’s mud splattered boot. He stood up straight as they approached him. ‘Good to see you again, Mr Irving. Beautiful afternoon.’
                  ‘Aye, it certainly is. This is my girlfriend, Dani. I wanted her here for my second viewing.’
                  He shook her hand. ‘Pleased to meet you. I’m Aiden Newton, the Estate Manager at Langford Park.’
                  ‘Dani Bevan,’ she replied, knowing that announcing her rank wouldn’t be appropriate.
                  Newton wasted no time in leading them towards the rear entrance. Dani was taking in the disintegrating stonework and rotten gutters as they passed. They entered through a door which took them into a boot room and then the kitchen.
                  It was quaintly old fashioned, with a range cooker and several free-standing dressers bookending a cream porcelain butler sink.
                  ‘I’m not sure how much Mr Irving has told you about Oak Lodge?’
                  ‘Call me James, please,’ he interrupted.
                  ‘The place is