1. Introducing Freddy

Basil Whistlethwaite parked his ancient Volvo Estate in the staff car park of The Bell Hotel, and turned off the engine.

Slowly he released his seat belt: the drive from York had taken him longer than he'd expected and his back ached.

He leaned forward and tilted the driving mirror so he could check his beard and moustache. He looked at his reflection in the fading light.

I'm getting too old for this, he thought.

There were dark circles under his eyes, and his skin looked lined and grey.

But the show must go on, he thought, tweaking the ends of his handlebar moustache until they were just . perfect.

Can't let the customers down.

In truth, he rather wished he'd been able to cancel tonight's little soirée. He felt tired and out of sorts. And these autumn nights were beginning to take their toll on his chest again: it took all of his willpower not to break out coughing.

And that wouldn't do, oh no!

Can't have the master of ceremonies breaking the spell with a sneeze and a cough!

He climbed out of the car, picked up his old leather suitcase from the back seat, straightened his tweed suit and headed across the gravel towards the main entrance of the hotel.

At the front door, he paused and took in the place. It was almost exactly a year since he'd last been here and nothing seemed to have changed.

Nothing ever changed at The Bell Hotel.

In the misty early evening light, the building looked almost romantic.

Or . what was the word .?

Gothic. Yes, that was it. Perfect for a haunting.

Surrounded by dense, old-fashioned gardens, the grand Victorian house - Cherringham's finest, they used to say - still spoke of the lost wealth of Empire.

But Basil knew that the dear old Bell was putting a brave face on things. Anyone could see that the paint on the windows was peeling, the gutters hung at unlikely angles and the roof tiles were crumbling.

The carpets and upholstery grew more frayed with each passing year.

Happens to us all in the end, thought Basil. But I bet The Bell will still be here long after I've gone.

He felt that tickle rising in his lungs and fought back the instinct to cough.

Then he headed on up the faded marble steps, pushed at the brown, varnished doors, and entered.

*

"Basil, Basil my dear old chap, how are you?"

Basil got up from the hard-backed sofa where he'd been waiting, and watched as Lawrence Myrtle, the owner of The Bell, shuffled towards him across the tiled reception area.

He held out his hand for Lawrence to shake, but instead the old man reached around him and gave him an unexpected - and shaky - embrace.

"I'm well," said Basil, slightly embarrassed. "Soldiering on, you know."

"Can't believe it's Halloween again," said Lawrence, still clinging to his arm. "Where does the time go, eh?"

"Where indeed?" said Basil, waiting for the man to move on. In the dimly lit reception area, Basil could see that Lawrence looked even frailer than the last time he saw him.

But that wasn't surprising: Lawrence must surely now be in his eighties. Basil could see that the old man's jacket was threadbare at the cuffs, and though his tie was smartly tucked into his collar . was that a smidgen of egg as it widened? Ketchup too?

The Bell's owner was well beyond retirement age. How could he possibly still be running this place?

"How are the children?" said Basil. "Are they around?"

"Oh, Mandy's in London," said Lawrence. "Don't see much of her. Too busy, apparently."

"And your eldest .?"

Basil struggled to remember the name.

"Crispin," said Lawrence. "Yes, he's off at some conference. Back tomorrow. That's why I'm in charge tonight! Tout seul, as our friends across the Channel say!"

"Aha! You'll always be the real boss here, Lawrence."

That made the owner smile.

"They'll have to carry me out in a box," said Lawrence with a hooting laugh that echoed in the tiled hallway.

Basil laughed.

Then he made a mental note to catch up with Crispin tomorrow after breakfast and book himself in to next year's diary.

I know who's really running things these days, Basil thought. Crispin keeps the books - and signs the cheques.

"We looking after you properly?" asked Lawrence, waving a hand vaguely in the direction of the reception desk, as if he'd been privy to Basil's thoughts.

Basil looked over at the young female receptionist who sat peering at her mobile phone.

"Treating me like royalty," said Basil smoothly. "Haven't been up to my room yet, of course. Thought I'd get cracking on preparations first."

He picked up his suitcase.

"Aha!" said Lawrence. "The old ghostly bag of tricks, eh?"

"No tricks required," said Basil, winking. "We can always rely on Freddy to make an appearance."

"Ha, well that's your line and you stick to it," said Lawrence, walloping Basil on the back. "But I've been here fifty years you know, and I still haven't seen the ghostly fella!"

"Have to open your mind, Lawrence. Then you'll see him."

Lawrence grinned and shook his head. "Only ghost I'm likely to see is the bloomin' tax man - over my dead body too!"

"Still up against it, are you?"

"We survive, somehow," said Lawrence. "Event like yours - damned useful you know. Bit of extra cash. Couldn't do without it."

"Happy to be here, as ever," said Basil. "What sort of numbers we got tonight?"

"Sold out old boy! Tickets went like hot cakes."

"Excellent," said Basil. "Same room as last year?"

"Looks a treat," said Lawrence. "I'll show you."

Basil followed as Lawrence turned and shuffled away at surprising speed towards the dining room.

*

The main dining room was empty and Basil saw that only a handful of the twenty or so tables were set for dinner. There was a faint aroma of boiled cabbage in the air and Basil was reminded of school meals.

The famed Bell Hotel "cuisine"!

"This way," said Lawrence.

And Basil walked behind him into the private dining room at the back of the hotel.

This was more like it.

The room was dominated by a portrait of the original owners of the house which he'd always admired. They made a fine couple: he in dress uniform, she at his side in silk.

A fire was already lit in the grand fireplace, and candles had been set in every alcove around the walls.

Above the fireplace an imposing gilt mirror, big enough for a ballroom.

Basil took in the long table in the centre of the room, with its places already set, serried ranks of heavy Victorian cutlery, a line of candelabra and bowls of lilies.

A massive crystal chandelier hung above the table: even now its drops sparkled in the electric light. Basil could see it had been filled with candles to be lit before dinner commenced: as usual, it would provide the perfect historical touch!

"Done me proud again," said Basil. "It's like travelling in time ."

"The 31st of October, 1900, to be precise," said Lawrence.

"The night dear Freddy died. Or should I say . was murdered ."

"Sends a shiver through the bones, eh?"

"That's the idea," said Basil. "And wait till I get 'em properly spooked - they'll be necking that wine like there's no tomorrow!"

"Can't wait, Basil, old boy. Let the tills ring out with joyous coins!"

Basil walked around the room, inspecting the fireplace, looking under the table, working out his sightlines.

Some of his ghostly apparitions were fiendishly difficult to set up .

"Anything I can get you?" said Lawrence who stood with his back to the fire.

"Brought everything I need with me," said Basil. "Just make sure I have the room to myself for the hour before dinner, if you can Lawrence. Tell Mr. Stover not to disturb me?"

Basil was no fan of Lawrence's long-serving 'number two'.

Uncouth? Lout? Basil wasn't sure how to describe Stover.

"And no serving staff, no interruptions, usual thing."

"Trade secrets, eh?"

"Something like that," said Basil. "You joining us for the show this year?"

"Love to, old chap," said Lawrence. "But with Crispin away I'm back in charge until the night porter gets here. Got to stay off the old sauce, know what I mean?"

"Shame," said Basil, joining him by the fireplace. "Perhaps we can grab a crafty snifter together when they've all gone to bed?"

"Why not?" said Lawrence. "Be just like old times,...