CANDLESHOE THE CHALLENGE

CANDLESHOE: THE CHALLENGE When Casey Brown opened her phone, she would be surprised to see Cluny's name, on the Caller I.D.. When Casey would ask "Whats up?" and Cluny would ask "Do you, presently, remain awaiting your departure, at the airport?" Casey would switch back, from American English, to the more formal, British, English, of the British Isle, as Casey would say "Presently, my transport remains approximately thirty minutes, from airport arrival. How may I assist you?" Cluny would say "A matter has arisen, which requires our attention. Would it be possible for you to return to Candleshoe?" When Casey would say "If the matter is so urgent, allow me time to secure alternate transportation. If fortune favors my travel, I shall arrive, at Candleshoe, within an hours time. Two hours, at maximum." Fortune must, truly, have been favoring Casey, since her rental car had not even been processed, into inventory, when Casey Approached the reservations desk. When the reservations desk attendant would say "Welcome back, Ms. Brown. How may we be of assistance?" Casey would ask "Has my rental been re-assigned, to another customer, at this time?" The clerk would say "Why, no. We have yet to begin the processing." Casey would say "Excellent. May I extend my rental agreement, at this time?" The clerk would examine her station, saying "There will be no need. As I indicated, neither the motor, nor the contract, has been terminated. Do you wish an extension, of your current, motor, agreement?" Casey would say "Yes, for the present. I will be extending the agreement." Keys, back in hand, Casey would remind herself "When in England, drive on the LEFT side of the road." On her way back, to Candleshoe, Casey wondered what WAS going on. Casey remembered not only packing her belongings, but double-checking this, with Cluney. Since Casey was certain she had all of her travel supplies, in the car, Casey wondered for what REASON that Cluny was requesting Casey's return, to Candleshoe. Still, Casey had to admit that Compton-in-the-Hole remained a beautiful place. No matter how often Casey had seen the landscape, in the time since Harold Bundage, first, brought Casey, to meet Grandmother. As Casey passed through the village, however, she noticed the same, guarded, expressions, on villagers faces, which Casey had observed, when she, first, travelled, here, ith Harold Bundage. It was only after Caseys arrival, and exchanged curtseys, with Cluny, that Casey was surprised to see constables, and not Wilhelm, come, for Caseys bags. When a constable "dented" a bag, upon entering the house, Casey would call out "Hey!", then adding, in American English "If you break it, you bought it." When the constable seemed confused, by Casey's remarks, Casey would remember her British English, saying "Take care, my good man. Personal possessions contained, within." When Cluny, and Casey, entered Candleshoe, and Casey found the constables going through her belongings, Cluny would capture Caseys hand, whispering "The sooner you are OFF, of the suspect list, the sooner we may proceed to learning the true criminal's identity." When Casey would ask "What criminal? Whats going on?" Cluny was about to explain, when a detective inspector would interrupt, asking "Miss Brown? Miss Casey Brown?" When Casey would say "Right here, in front of you. What is going on?" When the detective would begin by asking Casey's business, both in England, and at Candleshoe, followed by questions such as "Were you aware of any observations, which seemed out of the ordinary?" When Casey admitted "When I departed, I wasn't being very observant. Cluny and I processed my belongings, to my motor, then I departed, for the airport." When the detective would ask "At, precisely, what TIME was this departure?" Casey would say "I dont know. Maybe two hours ago. Why?" The detective would say "**I** will pose the inquiries, at this time." Casey would say "Not if you want MY help. Now, tell me. WHATS going on, since I departed?" When the detective would begin listing names, of items, Casey would ask Cluny "WHY is this guy asking about Grandmothers stuff?" The detective would say "Miss, IM in charge of this inquiry, at this time." Just a moment later, a constable would join the group, telling the inspector "NO sign, of the contraband, in the luggage, nor the motor." Casey would say "Now, wait a minute! Are you implying that I would have stolen Grandmothers belongings?" The detective would say "Miss Brown, you DO have a rather extensive, juvenile, incarceration document, in the colonies." When Casey would stand her ground, asking "Why would I steal from my own grandmother? A woman who would have given me anything I wanted?" Cluny would interrupt, saying "Inspector. Your search has failed to locate the missing items..." When Cluny saw Caseys surprise, Cluny would say "Unless you have more substantial evidence, than a decade-old, juvenile incarceration, document, might I suggest your inquiries would be better suited towards locating the missing items?" When the detective would say "Very well, miss", then, as though staring right through Casey, the detective would say "I will be observing your behavior. Count on this." The detective, then departed the room, to join the constables. Once the detective was engaged, with the other officers, Casey would take Cluny, by the arm, to another room, then Casey said "Out with it." When Cluny would say "Out with what?" Casey would correct herself, asking "The thieves. WHAT did they steal, from Grandmother?" Cluny would say "All I know is that Wilhelm noticed some items were missing, during his regular review." When Casey would ask "HOW could you consider ME a suspect?" Cluny would say "Neither Wilhelm, nor I, considered you, as the theif. The police requested your recall simply due to the fact that we informed the police that you had departed, just recently." Casey would say "A recent departure, and a juvenile incarceration record. Talk about flimsy, or rather, transparent, evidence." Cluny would add "Now that you have been cleared, I was hopeful of gaining your cooperation, in locating both the perpetrators, and the missing items." When Casey would ask "Do you know what has been taken? I mean stolen." Cluny would say "Wilhelm is preparing a list, as we speak." When Casey grabbed Clunys hand, and said "Lets go. I want to know what people would steal, from our grandmother." When the ladies found Wilhelm, he was sipping a mug, of ale, then, upon seeing the women enter the room, Wilhelm would ask "Cluny, was it Grandmothers biscuit tin, or her sugar candy tin, which we sent for cleaning, and repair?" When Cluny would say "The biscuit tin", Wilhelm would say "Then, it was the sugar candy tin, which is missing." Casey would ask "You dont mean Grandmothers hand-molded, hand-painted, tin, do you?" Wilhelm would say "That is correct." Casey would snatch the partial list, from Wilhelms hand, and, when Wilhelm would say "Hey!", Cluny would silence him, with an arm touch, as Cluny asked Casey "What are your observations?" Casey would say "I remember most of this junk. Its all hand-made. No way a regular pawn shop would touch it." When Cluny would ask "What conclusions would you draw, from this?" Casey would say "For this kind, of antique stuff, the thief would have a buyer already lined up. No one else would touch this stuff. But, WHO would be in the market, for one-of-a-kind, British, ceramics, silverware, stoneware, and pottery?" The detective would enter the room, saying "My curiousity is, also, aroused, especially with a petty THIEF in residence." When Casey would tell th detective "Dry up." The detective would ask "Dry up? Is that American slang?" Cluny would say "Inspector, Ms. Brown is consulting, with us, on this matter." When the detective would say "A petty THIEF! Consulting, at a crime scene? On whose authority?" Cluny would stand, firm, as she said "As mistress, of Candleshoe, on MY authority. Now, detective, no matter your prejudices, regarding Ms. Brown, I have requested Ms. Browns assistance, in this matter. Have I made that quite clear?" When the detective would mention "If you dont mind her making off, with Candleshoe, in her front pocket." Casey would say "thats BACK pocket, constable. The term is "In the BACK pocket." After the constables departed, Casey, Cluny, and Wilhelm, would sit, in the kitchen, drinking coffee, while Casey would say "I wont bother asking how the crooks entered the house. Even **I** know this place is full of secret passages. The question is "WHY would anyone WANT Grandmothers belongings? I mean. Is it a land feud? Bitter, past, memories?" Cluny would say "Hard to say. England has a very LONG history." While Casey KNEW that the police would be stupid enough to watch the local pawn shops, Casey decided to turn in, early. Casey wanted to be up, EARLY, and to be out, and about, before the village had a chance to make itself alert, to face the day. Casey would be out of bed, coffee made, and a thermos, in her hand, as the sun rose, over the estate. While Casey wanted to make it APPEAR that she was simply out, for a sun rise stroll, Casey spent her earliest, morning, hours, checking as many, of the secret entrances, to Candleshoe, as she could remember. Rather than finger-prints, though, Casey checked for FOOT-prints. (Casey was quick to discount her own, and Wilhelms, from his, earlier, "tour", of the area.) Casey wanted to see if anyone ELSE was using the passages. After finding five, in-conclusive, locations, Casey would borrow a bicycle, from Candleshoe, and begin pedalling, to the "pawn shops", which the police knew nothing about. Of the seven shops Casey visited, that day, Casey found only one, which sought the "merchandise", which Casey was searching for. When Casey inquired, of the shop owner, all that the owner would say was "Yes, miss. There have been inquiries. Shall I add your name, to the list of "interested parties"?" Casey knew better than to say "Yes". Instead, all Casey said was "I will check in, later." After departing the "specialty" pawn shop, Casey contemplated the question of "Who would WANT Grandmothers belongings?" Casey knew, from her time, at Candleshoe, thhat the estate was full of "one of a kind" stuff. Artists signatures were to be found on almost every stick of furniture, book, and painting. Every police man, in the area, would know Candleshoe property, even from a "mmile away". Ofcourse, even the Lady, St. Edmund was as much a "fixture", of the local community, as the local church was. In fact, her ladyship had not only raised her own children, however, once these were adults, and, after Margaret/Casey had been whisked off, to America, by the girls father, then the mother had died, a year later. The Lady St. Edmund had gone into social/community service, and even presided over many primary school students. Her Ladyship not only knew the "back story, of almost everyone, in the community, however, it was, also, true that most of the community had visited Candleshoe, over the years. Caey knew that there was no WAY a thief could "move" Grandmothers stuff since, by day, everyone, in the village, would have recognized the property, on the spot. This left only night time transport. This would mean creeping, slowly, through the village, while locals slept. Wwhen Casey returned to Candleshoe, for dinner, she found Cluny, and Wilhelm, in the kitchen. This is when Casey would ask both of them "WHEN was the last, inventory, review taken, prior to my return?" While Wilhelm would say "A few months", CLuny would add "To be proper, a review is conducted, every three months. The soolicitor insists upon quarterly accounting, due to the value, of the articles, and the legends, of escape tunnels." When Casey would say "So, okay. Prior to my return, WHEN was the previous inventory review taken?" Wilhelm (with head bowed) would say "Six months previous." When Cluny would ask "Six months? You KNOW the solicitor requires quarterly reviews." Wilhelm would say "Apologies, CLuny, but with the spirits being present, I just did not acknowledge the value, of the pottery, when this was compared to the excitement of observing luminous spirits." When Casey would interrupt, saying "So, the preevious review was completed SOME-time BEFORE Cluny asked me to return." Wilhelm would say "Correct." When Casey would ask "Weree there any storms, in this area, BEFORE my return, to Candleshoe?" Wilhelm would say "You were only departed, for four hours." Cluny would correct this, saying "Pardon, several times, incliment weather has been a bother." Wilhelm would add "I think I was compelled to restore the power circuits, atleast eight times." When Cluny would ask Casey "What is the motivation, for this inquiry?" Caey would say "The only, recent, prinnts, which I located, near the secret entrances, were from Wilhelm and myself. I was wondering if the thieves came, and went, prior to my arrival." Cluny would say "If the previous review was six months ago, then WHO knows what might have been stolen, and at what point." Casey would add "Or, where." When Peter stopped by, to ask "What is this non-sense I am hearing, about Casey perpetuating a home burglary, against Grandmother?" Cluny would provide Peter with the short version, while Casey looked the man over. (Boy! had Peter "filled out", as a man) Once the "report" was completed, Peter would say "This is all nonsense. Caey spent almost as much time, at Candleshoe, as any of us did. If Casey wanted anything, she had, practically, a decade, to "pinch" the items." When Cluny would remind Peter, about Casey's, childhood, incarceration, documents, Peter would ask "What relevance does that have, in the present?" Cluny would say "It is my belief that the constables would prefer to place blame on a living, touchable, person. Namely Casey. This, rather than trying to trace "persons unknown", or even "spirits"." When Peter would ask Casey "What have you discovered, during your inquiries?" Casey would say "I knew that there is atleast ONE buyer, out there. A "secure" shop verified this. However, I do not believe that the merchandise has been made available, at this time." When Wilhelm would ask "Upon what evidence do you base this conclusion?" Casey would say "By the way the broker said things like "interested parties", and the fact that the broker declined to show me even a sample, of the merchandise." When Cluny would ask "What conclusion have you drawn, from this evidence?" Casey would say "If this weere Los Angeles, I would have my gang find a safe place, to hide the loot in." To which Cluny would correct, saying "To secure Grandmothers beloongings?" Caseey would go on, saying "We would need to hide the stuff, until the "heat was off". When Wilhelm, Peter, and Cluny, seemed puzzled, as Wilhelm would say "The heating system, in Candleshoe, is not operational, at this time." Casey would say "Pardone. I meeant "Until the constables lose interest, in the matter." When Peter would ask "If YOU were the intruder, WHERE would you hide the pilferred property?" Casey would say "Somelace, where no one would think, to look. I would have to ditch the take, FAST. The longer a theif holds oonto the loot, the more likely the cops will nail them." Then Casey remembered "This is not Los Angeles. This is England." When Peter would say "Your suggestion, while worthy of further inquiry, would leave so very many opportunities, for concealment. Right, Wilhelm?" (The boys knew of hundreds of spaces, on the grounds, of Candleshoe, where people could hide, and this did not even count the number, of spaces, INSIDE Candleshoe, where such items coulld be "stashed") Whiile the SEARCH began more as a treasure hunt, it was not long after Wilhelm returned, from the village, with carpentry supplies, that Wilhelm also brought news. The constabulary had "Information Requested" posters out, on Casey. Suddenly, the SEARCH had become a CHALLENGE! The CHALLENGE, for the family, was to find the stolen items, before Casey was arrested. When Peter brought forth a map, of Candleshoe, suggesting "Let us begin the search with the most spacious locations." When Casey would say "FIne. We start there, but I have to tell you.. NO, good, theif, would store all of their loot, in a single location." Cluny would say "So, let us proceed upon the assumption that we are dealing with a BAD thief." In less than an hour, all of the LARGE spaces, around the property, had beeen searched. Peter had marked off each location, on the map, to prevent repeat searches. It was the smaller spaces which would consume multiple days, of searching. There were just so many of theese spaces, and so many of these spaces had secret entrances. Casey found herself wishing that the spirits, of Candleshoe, would aid in the search, as they had, the previous time. While thesee groups were searching Candleshoe, finding spaces which the young people never knew existed, constables, in the closest, large, city, were busy taking calls, and charting Caseys past. What the constables could not understand, however, was the rationale, behind the detective inspectors desire, to have the American being so thoroughly investigated. Sure, Casey Brown had a substantial, JUVENILE, arrest record, but, as the constables noticed, this information was a decade old. What, possible, bearing could this information have, on the present? It was a known fact that, in the time, since Casey Brown departed both Los Angeles, and the United States, Casey had "fallen off" of the "criminal radar map". Maybe, this was part of the reason why the detective inspector was trying to find CURRENT information, on Casey Brown. Trouble was, all the constables ended up doing was compiling, and verifying, recoerds, from twenty-five years, past. When the detective inspector told the crime scene investigations unit "I want you to take Casey Brown apart. I want to know everything. Her toothpaste, deodorant. Even her bra, and panty, size. Fine me SOME-thing, which I can use, to put her behind bars." While the detective inspector was busy, trying to buiold a case, against Casey, Casey was meeting with some old "chums", from secondary school. (High School, in America), to find out more, about Englands underground, antiquities, market. That is, when Casey was not involved in searching for Grandmothers lost property. While Casey met up, with some ex-cons, her, primary, focus, was on those, currently working the "trade". What Casey was able to llearn was that there were as many as twenty buyers, bidding for the hand-made treasures, wwhich Candleshoe would offer. Items which, once purchased, would NEVER, see the light, of day, ever again. Sure, Casey understood that the actual thieves, who stole the merchandise, were, lucky if they received payment, of about fifteen cents on the dollar, for the objects real value, even from underground pawn brokers. People who would, then, sell the stolen goods, at 85-90 cents, on the dollar. This is the reason why the most successful theieves, whom Casey knew, only stole CASH. Steal money, then "sit on it", for ninety days, then relax. This time, however, Casey Brown was not llooking to score cash. Caseys goal was to retrieve Grandmothers property. When one, pathetic, criminal, arranged a meeting, with Casey, on the claim of "I KNOW where the goods are". The fool did not understand WHO he was dealing with. When the thief saw the dress suit, manicured nails, and comfortable shoes, the thief thought exactly what Casey hoped he would think: "This dames a push-over. I can take her for a fortune." While Casey started off, playing this very role, when the thief cut, directly to the chase, saying "If you want the antiques returned, bring $100,000 pounds, to a pplace which I will call you about, later." No-soonere had Casey said "Wrong answer", when she dragged the startled man into an alley, and began roughing him up. When the man saaid "Stupid little nutter. I will tell you nothing." Casey would, again, say "Wrong answer." When Casey noticed a barrel, of rain water, nearby, and drragged the man over, dunking the man, he cursed her, even as she kept saying "Wrong answer". When the man, finally stopped squirming, Casey dragged him out, of the barrel, dumped him, on the ground and, as the man coughed, and caught his breath, Caey would saay "Just a friendly reminder. No one stealls from my Grandmother. Tell yopur friends." After the theif sacrambled away, Casey returned to Candleshoe, to resume the hunt, for the missing items. Upon returning to the estate, however, Casey would listen as Peter, and Wilhelm, would agree "We wre, never, aware of how MUCH, of Candleshoe, we never saw, before. A person could build a housing development, within these walls." When CLuny would mention "I wish we could use hunting dogs, or even police dogs." Peter would ask "What good would that do? Those dogs are trained to sniff out bodies, or drugs. We are searching for Grandmothers household items." This is when Casey had an idea. "What if we brought in metal detectors?" Wilhelm would say "Nice idea. Not practicale, though". When Casey would ask "How so?" Wilhelm would remind Casey "Most of the doors, and hatches, in Candleshoe, are made of metal. No matter where you pointed such a device, it would sound off." Casey would say "Too bad we dont have a panel-peeking device, to see through walls with." When Cluny would say "If you mean ground penetrating radar, England IS modern enough to have possession, oof such devices." When Casey would ask "How much would one cost?" Wilhelm would say "IF a unit wer available, locally, it would, still, cost thousands of pounds, to survey a property of this size." When Casey would say "We dont have to survey the whol;;e place. Just enough to find Grandmothers stuff." Peter would add "Unless we know WHERE to look, it is entirely, conceivable that we COULD survey the entire property, beforee finding the lost items." Then, Casey had another idea. When Casey laid out her plan, then asked Wilhelm "How long, after you travel, to the village, to order the unit, do you think it would be, before the whole area finds out what we are planning?" Cluny would say "The village will know, by night fall. The entire county would know, by the following evening." Casey would, then, ask Cluny "How long would you need to arrange a large group, of observers? If need be, tell them that we have another active ghost. We will need spotters, to play "Hide and Seek". Cluny would say "Unless you want me to phone the people, I would require atleast a couple of days." When Peter would ask "May I inquire what your next action would happen to be?" Casey would say "Simple. After Cluny contacts the locals, then Wilhelm orders the radar, we watch the grounds, and see who "takes the bait". Once word gets around, of the radar, I believe that the thieves MAY try to recover Grandmothers items. When they return to the property, our spotters will alert us as to WHERE the theives are located. After that, we simply follow them to Grandmothers items." The next day, while Cluny set off, to notify the neighbors, of the "game", Casey agreed to drive into town, for groceries. However, just as Casey enetered the towns main street, she found that her car was stopped, by constables, both front and rear. When Casey would call out "For goodness sake. I am just going to buy groceries." The constables would sya "Sorry, miss. Detectives orders. We are to assume that your real intent is to leave town. As a result, we are to arrest you." At the police station, Casey was thankful that Cluny had attached an answering machine to the homes phone. When Casey got the nachine, she would say "Peter, Cluny, Wilhelm. I am at the village police station. Bring bail money." Two hours later, Cluny, and Peter, wer arguing, with the constable, over what Casey was, actually, doing, in the village. When Cluny insisted that Casey was, in fact, buying groceries, the constable showed Cluny a note, asking "Is this your signature, miss?" When Cluny would say "Ofcourse. THIS is the list I provided, for Casey." Still, the constable would say "You will need to return, tomorrow. The detective was quite clear. The thief goes nowhere, until the detective inspector has a go, at her." When Cluny, and Peter, left the police station, Peter would suggest "As long as we are here, we might as well bring back the groceries." The next day, when Cluny, Peter, and Wilhelm, returned to the police station, all three noticed how the detective was "handling" the investigation. The man was being just cleverly obtuse enough, in his accusations, to make Caseys twenty year old crimes seem like all had just occurred, the day before. The man must hav been going at it, most of the morning, since Casey was looking stressed, and exhausted. The more that Casey tried to say "Yes, twenty years ago, I DID do such things." The more the detective would say "So, you ARE a thief." When Casey would say "WAS". The detective ignored her, saying "Alright, thief. WHERE are the Lady St. Edmunds items?" When Casey would stretch, and say "I, really, dont know." The detective would say "So, you admit that you stole, and sold, the items. You just dont remember who the buyer was." When Casey would say "NO!", the Detective would say "Refusal to cooperate, with an investigation. Well, young thief. American or not. You are about to spend ten YEARS, as a "guest", of their majesties." Casey was being transported, to a womans prison, even as Wilhelm updated his inventory, and reported more items missing. When Peter would ask Cluny "What do we do, now? This was Caseys idea." Cluny would say "We see it through. For her sake. We find Grandmothers items. Turn the REAL criminal over to police, and HOPE that is enough to clear Casey." What no one planned on was for the "game" to take over a week, to be played out. Spotting the property was no real problem. Plenty of people, willing to help out. Still, it would seem that it took the REAL criminal a full week, to learn that the radar was on its way, to Candleshoe. Once spotted, by an observer, Peter, Wilhelm, and Cluny, would follow the trespassers trail, then watch as the theif grabbed some kind of cart, and began loading the stolen items into the cart. When Cluny would whisper, to Peter "Should we detain them, now?" Peter would whisper back "Not yet. Lets find out where they take Grandmothers items. Maybe we can learn more, along the way." By the time the "children", of Candleshoe, found out WHERE Grandmothers items were headed, the three also learned the identities, of atleast two, of the buyers. When the three rushed the court house, for Casey's arraignment, Cluny, Peter, and Wilhelm, no-sooner listenened to the prosecutor listing Caseys PAST crimes, but, then, the three were surprised when the judge brought forth Casey's JUVENILE documents. When the judge began emphasizing the DATES, th prosecutor insisted "The defendant HAS a previous, arrest, record!" The judge, however, would say "The accused HAD a PAST criminal record. A record, from, almost, TWENTY YEARS ago." When the prosecutor would hear the judge say "Unless you have CURRENT information, to charge th accused with." The prosecutor would say "Surveillance has observeed Miss Casey Brown, entering a KNOWN, underworld, pawn broker shop." When the judge would ask "For what reason?" The prosecutor would say "We BELIEVE Miss Browns intentions were to find an establishment, which would fence the items." Aftre the judge, and the prosecutor, would "jockey", back and forth, several times, including over the fact that it is NOT illegal to enter a pawn shop, or to ask questions." The prosecutor would say "She tried to leave the area, with-OUT proper approvals." The judge would ask "How FAR, from th village, beyond Candleshoe, was Miss Brown detained?" The prosecutor would say "I am proud to say that we apprehended the defendant, as she ENTERED town. We never gave her a chance to make her get-a-way." When the judge would say "In that case, just how much contraband DID the accused have, in her motor, at the time of detention?" When the prosecutor would press "Your honor. The defendant is a known, and admitted, THIEF! How can the court question her guilt?" The judge would say "So far, Mr. Prosecutor, ALL you have done is reminded this court of the distant PAST. This court has been provided with NO evidence, of RECENT crimes." When the detective inspector would interrupt the court, saying "Your honor, the defendant IS an acknowledged THIEF! Give me a few hours, and I WILL get a confession out of her." The judge would bang his gavel, saying "Baliff, remove the detective inspector from this court rooom." The judge would, then, turn, to the prosecutor, saying "This is NOT America. The British Empire does NOT torture people, into confession. Now, Mr. Prosecutor, unless you have RELEVANT, current, information, to present to this court, this court is inclined to dismiss the case, against Miss Casey Brown." Looking just like his heart had been ripped, from his chest, the prosecutor would say "No objection, your honor." Later, back at Candleshoe, Cluny, Peter, Wilhelm, and Casey would celebrate both the actions, of recovering Grandmothers items, AND Casey's freedom. Even now, however, Casey was no fool. Casey KNEW that the local constables would be waiting, and watching, for the slightest error, on Caseys part, to provide an excuse, to apprehend the woman on. Desite this and, even with the appearance, of yet another, previously unknown, part, of the estate, Wilhelm and Peter agreed "It should make for a jolly good time, finding out what ELSE lies beneath our feet." Casey would caution "Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it." According to the ground-penetrating radar results, there were stairwells, and passageways, which Peter doubted that even Priory had known about. When Peter found a deep passage, which seemed to lead AWAY from the property, Peter would ask Wilhelm to join him on a walk. This, while asking Cluny "Would you prepare us a days worth of food, just as a precaution." When Casey would say "You dont intend to WALK the whole thing, do you?" When Peter would ask "What not?" Casey would say "You have no idea of where that passage terminnates. You COULD wind up under the ocean." Peter would say "Dont exagerate. It is probably, no-longer than to the county seat. Besides, we will turn back, if there is trouble. Right, Wilhelm?" Wilhelm would say "Right ho!". Since both Casey, and Cluny, were curious about what the passage might look like, the ladies prepared the food, then accompanied Peter, and Wilhelm, down th ancient, spiral, staircase. Before begining the descent, however, Peter would take notice of an ancient-looking block-and-tackle, bolted to the basement ceiling. After this, and for what seemed like half an hour, the four adventurers descended the stairs, until they came to a landing. While none, of them, really knew WHAT to expect, down here, none of the young, were prepared for what they would find. It was a doorway, without a door, yet the frame was decorated in the height of beauty, of ancient, British, carving. What caught the groups attention, though, was what was IN the doorway. The spirit, of Captain Joshua St. Edmund, himself. When Wilhelm would ask "Sir, WHO are you?" (Thinking this person might be another intruder) Captain Joshua would remove his captains hat, then, bow, before his visitors, saying "Captain Joshua St. Edmund, Maquis of Candleshoe." When Peter would say "Sir, you have been dead, for centuries. Why do you remain?" Captain Joshua would say "I know of your plans, to search this passage. I have come to caution you against this endeavor." When Casey would ask "Why? It looks safe enough, to me." Captain Joshua would say "Young lady, I have been around, longer than you can imagine. I have walkeed this passage, both in life, and now, in death. Believe me when I inform you of this. Within the next two centuries, the passage will fail, and this entire level will be flooded." When Peter would ask "Sir, where did this passage lead, in your day?" Captain Joshua would say "This was a transport tunnel. I built it for my crew to use, in order to avoid the prying eyes, of townsfolk. They are good people, but nosy." When Peter would ask Captain Joshua "Sir, what is your desire, that we should accomplish, with this passage way?" Captain Joshua would say "To ensure the survival, of Candleshoe, I recommend a wall, no less than six bricks thick, be built, to close off this opening." When Casey would ask the captain "What else is there, which we are not, yet aware of?" Captain Joshua St. Edmund would smile, and give a wink, as he said "Candleshoe holds many delightful, and some frightening, surprises. Brick up this passageway, and forget about it. Other wonders await thee." When the four adventurers climbed back up the staircase, to the basement, Peter would say "Atleast we can, still use this block-and-tackle, to carry loads of bricks." When Casey would ask "How do we KNOW that tunnel was un-safe? Just because of some, old, ghost?" Cluny, Peter, and Wilhelm, would step back, and watch, as the captain appearred, behind Casey. When Casey saw the looks, on the others faces, she would say "Let me guess. The captain, or atleast his ghost, is standing right in back of me." When the captain would say "Right, young woman." The four left the basement, and had a "final meal", before Casey would say "I have been away, far too long, anyway. Lord knows what my own family has been up to." After two adventures, in one month, Casey was ready to return home. Casey did wonder what her home would look like. After all, America did not have the strict rules, of behavior, which Great Britain was so proud of. This time, Casey made her flight. Casey just wondered what might lie, ahead.