The next morning Jackson woke feeling refreshed.

  After a breakfast of cereal and toast, he came to a decision. Instead of selling the house he would move into it. His job as a computer software developer could be done from his new home via the internet, with a drive down to his London employer’s office for a couple of days every month or so.

  His uncle’s bank accounts had left him about twenty thousand pounds. That would be enough to get tradesmen in to do repairs to the exterior of the house including removing the mould from the bricks, painting the woodwork, repairing the windows, and he could get a gardening service in to restore the gardens. This would increase the value of the building, and he could sell it at some stage in the future.

  Soon he was driving back to his flat in London. The landlord owned the meagre furniture in the flat, so all he had to do was move his personal possessions. He could do it all in one trip in his car.

  He smiled as he drove on thinking about his future in the countryside, although one thing bothered him. Why was the second floor of the house so securely locked? Was there something of value stored up there? When he returned to Oakhaven in a couple of weeks he would get a locksmith to open the door and he would find out.

  The only hurdle now was trying to talk his girlfriend into moving to Oakhaven with him. She had an office job with an insurance company. Maybe she could work from home, their new home in the country.

  “What?” Sandra gave Jackson an astonished look, “Leave my job and my friends? Leave London and move to the middle of nowhere? You can’t be serious! Tell me you’re joking.”

  “You wouldn’t have to leave your job. You could work from up at Oakhaven. There’s a good internet service there.”

  “Maybe I could, but I’m not going to. I’m not leaving London, I like living in the city. My friends and family are here. No, you can move out to the charming countryside, but I’m staying right here.”

  “Does this mean we’re breaking up?”

  “That’s up to you. What’s more important to you? Me or some dusty old house with mice and cockroaches out in some tiny little village which probably doesn’t even have shopping mall?”

  Jackson was shocked. He hadn’t expected such a reaction from Sandra. They had been dating for six months, he was in love with her and didn’t want to lose her.

  He tried again, “Sandra, I have to go and live at Oakhaven for at least a few months while the repairs are being done to the house so I can sell it. Please come with me. I don’t particularly want to live in the house by myself.”

  “Well you’re going to have to, because I’m staying right here.”

  So two weeks later Jackson found himself returning alone to the old house at the end of the lane surrounded by oak trees. He hated breaking up with Sandra, but he felt he owed to his uncle, who had been so generous to him in his will, to live in the house at least for a while, and return it to its original condition. Then he could sell it and move back to London. Who knows, maybe he and Sandra could start over again when he returned in a few months.

  He pulled his car up in front of the house and started unloading boxes. His computer, clothes, bedwear and a few other small personal possessions. He had sold off his kitchen appliances and cutlery and crockery before he left London. All these things had been left in the house for him. He wouldn’t need two sets.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  It was four thirty in the afternoon and the shadows were getting longer as the sun dropped slowly towards the horizon. It was too late now, but tomorrow he would go into the town and find a furniture shop to buy a work desk. His London employers were happy with him to work remotely as long as he came into the office for two days once a month. And while he was in the town he would find a locksmith to come out to the house and open that door at the top of the stairs.

  He organised his belongings, then cooked some lasagne for dinner. After starting the dishwasher he sat down in front of the television, signed up for Netflix, then relaxed with a glass of wine while watching the first few episodes of a series called “Untamed”.

  Something brought him back to the world of the television series. The girl ranger had just fallen down a mineshaft and was calling for help, but there was another sound which aroused him from the sleep he had drifted off into. Was that a thumping or knocking sound? He looked around the room, then up at the ceiling. The sound seemed to be coming from there. He paused the television and listened. Nothing but silence.

  Jackson walked to the entry foyer and up the stairs to the door at the top. It was still locked. He listened carefully but heard nothing. No sounds from the other side of the door. He must have been dreaming. He went back to the television and turned it off. He had slept through episodes two and three. He would watch them again another night. He turned off the lights and climbed into bed, but as an after thought he got back up and locked the bedroom door.

  “No sense in taking any chances,” he mumbled to himself.

  The next morning after breakfast Jackson drove into the town and found a furniture shop. After finding a suitable do-it-yourself assembly computer desk which just fitted into the back of his SUV, he wandered down the main street to a locksmith shop.

  “Oakhaven?” the man said, “Oh you mean that old house at the end of Mulligan’s Lane. No worries, I can come around this afternoon. I’ll see you at around two.”

  After returning to the house Jackson set about assembling the desk. The instructions said it would take half an hour. Two hours later he had finally managed to get all the parts screwed together, and he set up his computer in the corner of the bedroom ready to start work for his employer the following day.

  He had just finished having a sandwich for lunch when he heard a van pull up outside.

  The locksmith, George, was early. Jackson showed the man up the stairs to the locked door.

  “Strange place to put a door,” George remarked, “And look at this, it’s a relatively new door. Nowhere near the same age as the rest of the house, and this is a modern lock. But no problem. I’ll have it off in two minutes.”

  Five minutes later he had the lock removed from the door and he released the latch.

  “There you go, Mr Turner,” he said, “Now you can find out what what’s hidden in here.” He chuckled as he walked down the stairs to the front door. I’ll email you the invoice,” he called, “Have a nice afternoon.”

  “The moment of truth,” Jackson muttered to himself.

  He slowly pushed the door open and looked inside.