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  • Alice J. Black

FACING THE TORMENT Release Week: Under the Big Top


Peyton had always seen the funfair on Old Road Field but when she finally gets to visit in her early

twenties it’s run down, barren and haunted. In order to allow the demolition crew in to tear the

place down she needs to rid the place of spirits. This is the first official case she conducts with Olivia

in the comms unit in the office so she’s going most of it alone. It doesn’t bother her, not really, as

she knows it’s her job but when Jake turns up unannounced, she realises how much better off she is.

Terry was the council worker who contacted Peyton and belittled her when asking for her help and

now we go back to him and look at his thoughts of Peyton and what he truly thinks of her.

Join Peyton at the circus as she tries to unravel the mystery of the funfair:

mybook.to/UndertheBigTop

“Peyton Blaine!” The voice drawled. There was shuffling and a few taps on a keyboard.

Rob heard Terry’s voice and the name, which immediately struck a chord, and stuck his head around

the wall. Terry was shaking his head, an ugly grimace set on his face as he stared at the computer

screen staring at something intently.

“What are you complaining about now?” Rob bypassed the counter, sidling up to the desk where

Terry was working. The man barely gave him a glance before pointing at the computer screen.

“Look at this email. She’s the one that’s been commissioned to work at Halfingdon Asylum. I can’t

believe this.” Terry crossed his arms over his chest and spun on the chair. “I mean, would you ever

work with that woman again, Rob?”

“Actually, I would.” Rob stood his ground, squaring his shoulders. “And just so you know I happen to

see her regularly.”

“You… you do?” Terry’s mouth turned down.

“I’ve just started dating her best friend.”

“Oh how delightful.” The smile was fake.

“What’s the email about?” Rob nodded towards the screen.

“Well we’re looking at office space and Halfingdon Asylum came top of the list only, the delegates

reckoned we needed someone to check it out and perhaps complete a cleansing.”

“I can’t imagine anyone better for the job.” Rob beamed, crossing his arms.

Terry rolled his eyes. “I know you might like the girl but I think she has an attitude.”

“No, Terry, she just knows what she’s talking about and you don’t like that.”

“That’s rubbish.”

“It’s true.” Rob stepped forward and patted Terry’s shoulder.

“I don’t know why you’re so confident. If it all goes ahead it’ll be you and your team who go in there

for renovations.”

Rob lapsed for a moment but quickly recovered. “I have no worries about that. If Peyton goes in

there to do a job, she’ll do it. I wonder if Jake knows about this.”

Terry pushed his hand to hip lips. “Not a word. This is a confidential work process and nobody else

needs to know. The less people that know we are procuring the asylum the better.”

“I think you’re going to have trouble getting people settled in a building with a history like that.”

“It’s okay.” Terry cast a bitter smile. “We’ve still got George on side. He may have retired but he’s

good at drawing people in.”

“Well isn’t that lovely.”

“Anyway, I’m very busy. Goodbye.” Terry turned away from Rob who, stuck up his middle finger

before turning away and shoving the whole thing out of his mind. He trusted Peyton with his life but

the longer it took for them to get into an old creepy building like that, the better.


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