Altar Page #3

on another call.

When you're done,

all I need to do

is get the executors

to check over your work.

Then they'll officially

sign over the deed.

What will you do with it?

Sell it. Oh, and

keep up the good work.

Hello?

Hello?

I believe you've found some

artwork of historical interest

in the house.

I'm sorry. You are...

Charles Kendrick Walker.

I've always wondered

about this place.

You've been

talking to Donnelly?

I'd love to take a peek.

I'm sorry, we're not

open to the public.

You misunderstand, Mrs.

Hamilton.

I'm somewhat of an

expert on the era.

I may be able to help.

I don't need any

help, thank you.

Word spreads pretty

fast round Malton,

good as well as bad.

If we can dispel superstition,

encourage people

to regard Radcliffe with

fascination rather than fear,

you may be able to restore

it to the status it deserves.

I'm a historian, Mrs. Hamilton.

Believe me, you

need my expertise.

Good heavens.

The glass is 1860,

but I think the design

is a lot earlier.

It goes back to the ancients.

You know what it is?

A map of the human soul.

Rosicrucians call it the

Emerald Tablet of Hermes.

Radcliffe was an alchemist?

Oh, yes. A very good one.

What happened here?

I guess somebody didn't

like the mermaid's face.

The glass was

completely shattered.

It must have been hit

with something very hard.

Will you be able

to restore it?

If I can find out what

she looked like, yes.

There's a painting at the

Victorian Museum of Art

in Leeds.

Radcliffe was a landscape

artist but he left one portrait

of his wife, Isabella.

This amazing illumati

features in the background.

Great. I'll check it out.

There would have been an

effigy of the Hermetic ray

hanging over the tablet.

The altar.

Will you be restoring the

house to its original state?

Yeah, that's the plan. I'm

not really sure what to do

with this room, though.

Do? I thought you said you

were going to restore it.

Oh, well, my employer

doesn't really have a use

for a Rosicrucian altar.

And then there are the

rumors around town.

Well, these are simple folk, Mrs.

Hamilton.

The miracle of metempsychosis

is not something they would

ever understand.

But Radcliffe

did kill his wife.

It was an accident.

He loved her more

than life itself.

Why don't you come

and meet my husband?

I'm afraid I'm a

little pushed for time.

But you will put in a

good word for us in town?

I'll do my best.

Uhh!

I'd say that was a tie.

Ha ha! Just leave that here.

Uh, hi. Is there

anything to eat?

Ah, yep, there are coldcuts

in the fridge and there's that

bread you like. Can

you grab something?

"Oh, hi, Pen. How

was your bike ride?"

Internet's working.

- Oh, my God, that's her!

- Oh, God, you scared me!

The woman in my room.

That's her!

What... it's just some

stupid picture, Pen.

Why were you looking at that?

What are you doing?

It just came up randomly

when I was researching!

Mum, that is definitely her!

Listen, Penny, calm down!

Look, it's very common,

it's like a deja vu.

When you're tired and stressed,

and you feel like you've seen

someone in a dream

and you haven't.

Oh, my God! Bullshit, Mum.

It wasn't a dream.

That is her. I promise you!

That is the woman with

the cuts up her arm!

I thought you told me she was

looking out of the window.

Yeah.

Well, then, how

can you be sure?

Because I'm sure. She looked at me.

I saw her face.

Please, we've got to leave now!

Please!

What's going on?

Harper, can you just go?

I'll be up in a minute, OK?

What have I done wrong now?

Just go upstairs now, please!

Listen, Penny, I

know you're upset.

If you're really not happy here,

I can try and

organize for you to go

and live with Grandpa in London.

Would you like to do that,

just for a couple of months?

Is that what you want?

No, Mum, please.

We have to all leave right now.

I can't leave.

I have to finish this job.

We need the money.

Try and understand, OK?

I fixed the hot water. I'm

gonna run you a nice hot bath,

and we'll all snuggle

down in the bed together

and watch a movie

on the iPad, yeah?

Something, you know,

like a comedy...

Was it the Reverend Green

in the cellar with

the lead pipe?

Who's that?

May I help you?

Nigel Lean at your service.

This the old spooky pile?

Oh, God. You're the ghost

whisperer, aren't you?

This is Bessie.

Look, I'm terribly sorry.

There's been a misunderstanding.

I know you've come a long...

Mum?

Well, come on, at least

show him round, OK?

So, you're a plumber

as well, are you?

Yeah, a man's got

to make a living.

I'd have thought exorcism...

I don't charge for

me cleansing work.

There's rules about

that sort of thing.

But I will take a cup of coffee.

Don't tell me.

Milk and two sugars.

Oh, you're psychic, Mrs. H.

It kind of looked like a smudge,

but then definitely, there was

definitely a figure there.

And then the other night,

I was going to bed.

Well, my mum says

it was a dream,

but I saw this woman.

Here we are.

Now, I should just explain

my husband and I don't

believe in ghosts or spirits, Mr.

Lean.

Ah, no one does, Mrs. H, until

they experience one firsthand.

Are you feeling one right now?

The house has a

very strong aura.

No doubt about it.

Can I take a look around?

As long as you

don't break anything.

Been cooking, have we?

Hmm.

Yep.

Metempsychotic Pharisee.

What?

It's a nasty red potion,

takes a while to kick in.

Word of caution, be very

careful what you drink.

Understood?

OK, that's it.

Upstairs both of you!

- Mum!

- I've heard enough!

- No, Mum, no, no!

- I said upstairs!

Mum, he said we could watch!

I will be leaving Mr. Lean

to find his own way out.

I want to watch!

Mum, Mum, please, please,

let him do the cleansing.

He's not helping Penny. He's

just spooking us, that's all.

I'm sorry, Mr. Lean.

I can't have you scaring

the kids like that.

Is something wrong?

He's still here.

Who?

It's not safe.

He wants to take

over, take control.

Mr. Lean, you're

not making any sense.

He was a painter.

He died on that

fountain from the fall.

Oh, my God. Radcliffe.

Penny, go upstairs, please.

No, not Radcliffe.

His name was different.

Walker, I think.

Yeah. I'll leave you this in

case of anything untoward.

Basically, it's holy

water with a few add-ons.

It's pukka.

- OK, good-bye, Mr. Lean.

There's something else.

The feeling I picked up...

I've never quite... you

have to be careful.

What do you mean careful?

He loved her. That's

the problem you see?

He loved her too much.

And now... he wants

to take control.

Control of what? The house?

No, no, not the house, of you.

- Good-bye, Mr. Lean.

Penny, back in the

house, please.

He said a painter lived here

and Radcliffe was a painter.

All that information is

available on the Internet

for anyone who wants to see, OK?

These guys always

do their research.

Go and hang with your brother.

I'll be up in a minute.

OK. Wait, where

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