‘Would you like a sandwich; I was just making myself one for lunch.’
‘Oh, no, thank you. I couldn’t impose like that.’
‘What, you couldn’t possibly take two slices of bread and some cheese, sliced tomatoes off an old woman who isn’t really that old and would take her last breaths defending those kids on that TV show in the Upside Down if I had to.’
‘Well, if you put it that way. I would die for a cheese and tomato sandwich and appreciate it more than you know. I’m so hungry.’
The woman nodded. ‘You look hungry, and I don’t mean that to be rude so forgive me. Let’s sit in the kitchen and you can talk to me while I make our lunch.’
Morgan felt her cheeks burn, she sometimes forgot how kind some people were. The nature of her job meant that she dealt with the cruellest, most horrible people that walked the earth, so when she came across one who was the complete opposite it took her by surprise. She sat down at the circular table and smiled again as she realised she didn’t even know the woman’s name and here she was waiting for her to make her lunch.
‘I’m so sorry, I forgot to ask your name.’
‘Joyce Black, imagine if it had been Byers. You’d have thought I’d lost the plot.’
‘Cool that you have the same initials though and rather fitting for a big fan of the show.’
The kettle was whistling, and Joyce was spooning coffee into a Stranger Things mug; she held it up and waved it at Morgan.‘My grandson, again. He is a bit of a buff, so he sends me all sorts of stuff. He makes me smile though, so I don’t complain about it. At least he’s thinking of me. I’m blessed more than I ever thought was possible at my age.’
‘That’s so sweet, your grandson sounds like my kind of guy.’
‘Oh, he’s a good one but I’m afraid he’s not a ladies man, he’s a man’s man.’
Morgan grinned. ‘All the best guys are.’
‘True.’
Morgan watched Joyce making the sandwiches and was transported to the last lunch that her mum Sylvia ever made her before she took her own life. Sylvia would have lovedStranger Things, she’d have loved Joyce too.
The bread was thick and slathered in butter, cheese, mayo and thinly sliced tomatoes that Joyce had lightly salted. Morgan’s mouth was watering, she had never felt so hungry in a long time. Joyce put the plate on the table in front of her, and she picked one up, taking a huge bite. She let out a sigh.
‘Joyce, this is heaven.’
‘You can’t beat simplicity.’
Joyce sat down opposite her and they both tucked into their sandwiches. Morgan felt as if she’d known the woman for years and not just met her fifteen minutes ago. When both plates were empty, Joyce scooped them up and put them in the sink before sitting back down.
‘Right then, I suppose you better get down to business and tell me what you need to know.’
‘Have you heard anything at all today about what’s going on at the old summer camp?’
It was Joyce’s turn to sigh. ‘That place is a nightmare, isn’t it? No, I have been in my own little bubble, as you can see. I don’t drive any more. I rely on my Tesco shopping getting delivered and my grandson, who I love to bits, only visits at Christmas andfor my birthday. He sends me stuff all the time, bless him, but I don’t see him as much as I’d like to, which makes my heart sad, but he has his own life and I don’t want to ever be a burden to him. What’s happened now, is Amos okay?’
‘Amos is fine, well as fine as he could be after the nightmare time he had last night. He found a teenage girl half frozen to death, and her friend died. Her other friend is still missing, as far as I know.’
Joyce was shaking her head. ‘Oh, for goodness’ sakes, that is horrible. I live some distance from Amos, so I’m sorry to say I heard none of this and this is the first I’ve heard about it. Those poor kids, when are they going to learn that it’s not an adventure playground, it’s a dangerous place to be? I suppose they were out ghost hunting or something stupid. I’ve told Amos the only way to stop it is to clear all the remaining buildings and raze them to the ground. Hell, burning them to the ground isn’t a bad idea. They linger on and with that lingering, bring bad luck and misfortune.’
‘It’s a challenge, isn’t it, they do it to scare themselves. I heard the ghost stories when I was at school, but back then none of us had cars so we didn’t ever go there. Kids now, they’re a lot more mobile than we ever were.’
‘How did they die?’
Morgan shrugged. ‘We don’t know for sure yet, but I pulled his body out of the lake.’
Joyce plucked a tissue out of a box on the table and dabbed at her eyes. ‘That’s so sad, his poor parents and family are going to be beside themselves. This is why you’ve had such a terrible night, you poor thing. I am so glad I could make you a sandwich.’
‘It’s what I do, and I appreciate it more than you know, Joyce. It is terribly sad. Do you know of anyone else who lives out here, or would have cause to be out last night in that awful weather?’
‘No, I don’t. As far as I know, Morgan, it’s literally me and Amos on this side of the fell. We have the only two properties that are habitable.’
