Lucinda hurriedly led the way outside
Round the side of the house
And into another door to her office

'It was locked, it was all locked
I walked across to the stable to find Ender
To make sure preparation for the arrival of the new Marwari is in hand'

'Marwari?' Eve and Sam spoke in tandem

'Horse, a breed of horse' Lucinda replied,
a slight tone of annoyance in her voice

'I come back five minutes later,
Unlock the door...
No bloody computer,
Gone
stolen
vanished'

'Was it plugged in, charging?' Sam asked

'Well yes it was,
What's that got to do with it? Chided Lucinda

'Only your ghost or thief has turned the mains switch off'

Eve watched the wheels in Sams mind grind round
He seemed haphazard
But there was a strange logic
That sometimes surfaced
Like a cork in a bucket of water

'Do you mind if  we take a look at the stables
And the out buildings?' Sam asked Lucinda

'Do what you have to
But this is severely getting me down now'

'Have you personally had any other troubling instances' Sam continued

'You mean like my car keys, left in the great hall,
Turning up on a hook in the stable
The series of bangs and running footsteps in the night
It's unnerving
Mother is so worried
I can't sleep
Richard is well out of it'

A dog barked

'Wretched dog', snapped Lucinda
It belonged to Ed Pearson
He clears off and leaves the dog behind....
I'll let you go about your business Mr. Walton'

Eve and Sam walked towards the stables

'Do you think she was lying' Eve whispered
'Honesty, I don't trust anyone round here' Sam replied

Walking into the stable
The strong horsy smell bit their noses

They saw Ender treating the leather of a saddle

'Oh Hi, I know who you are
Lady Dulitch said anything you need assistance with
Then I'm to help'

'Thank you, How big is the estate?' Sam asked

'Oh it's big', let me show you '...

They walked back outside again

Ender pointed
'The folly is a mile away
The boundary is another mile beyond
It roughly circles the estate with a red brick wall
The best way to explore
Is on horseback
Do you ride?'

'Yes, I do' said Sam looking towards Eve

'Well me too' beamed Eve
'My aunt has a farm
And she keeps a horse or two
I learnt on summer holidays growing up'

Ender made two horses ready
Eve and Sam set off

The dog barked

'Ender', Eve said, 'The dog can come with us
If you like?
For a run'

'Ok' Ender said, walking over to the pen
Letting the collie out
After all he can't escape out of the estate
The dogs called Jock'

Jock ran around In circles
Sniffing and doing dog things

'Come on Jock' Eve called
But Jock was off
Sprints and running
Sometimes going back on himself
But generally in the direction of the folly

Eve set her horse to canter after
Sam put his foot too hard on the gas
His horse,
Silver,
Reared up and set off
Arching to the left
Sam wupping up and down in the saddle
It leapt
Cleared a fallen tree
Turning away, towards the woodlands
Galloping along the tree line

Presently Sam was bouncing
In syncopated rhythm
Pulling back carefully on the reins
Gradually slowing
And once again pointing towards the folly

Sam tried to remember
What he had read in his book
"The Beginners Guide to Riding" 

His horse was now content to keep pace with Eve's

The folly soared up into the air
An ornate urn on its top
Housed in a solid square box of a plinth

Both Sam and Eve dismounted
Tethered their horses to an iron ring
Set in the plinth for that purpose

Jock was barking again
They walked around the folly
and found a small door at its back

Sounds from inside
Barking outside
Eve and Sam momentarily looked at each other

Sam tried the lock
Shook it
Sam rammed his shoulder against it
Took a few steps run up
Tried again

The frame splintered
as the door burst in

Candle light
A ghostly figure
Moving awkwardly towards them

Eve grabbed Sams arm
Not in fear
More in disbelief

As a battered looking Ed Pearson stumbled into the daylight
Jock nearly knocking him over with excitement
Ed's hand trying to stave the dog off and
Pat him with joy and relief at the same time