The Mysteries of Brambly Hollow

to ask if it was Elsa, but the thought was just too horrible to contemplate.
    Cal sank down onto the chair, and lifting tepid blue eyes regarded the anxious faces. “You’ll never believe me.”
    “Of course we will,” Meli proclaimed, clasping his hand and patting it reassuringly as she sank down beside him.
    “Well, promise you won’t laugh?”
    Meli’s brow puckered. “Why on earth would we laugh? I can’t see anything even remotely amusing about this.” Her eyes swept over him.
    “Someone get me a whisky.” The plea was accompanied by an injured, pathetic look as he collapsed against the back of the seat. Roger rushed off and returned within seconds with a large glass. Taking a big mouthful he swirled it around, washing away the lingering and acrid taste of his own fear, before swallowing it. When he sat forward and stretched out to place it on the table, Meli took it from him.
    “I was grabbed, by the throat.” Meli’s startled gasp echoed through the room like a chill blast of air, and with trembling fingers she downed the remains of the whisky before handing the empty glass to Myra, who placed it on the coffee table. Nobody spoke. With slightly steadier hands, Meli gently slid Cal’s jacket off and then pulled open the collar of his polo shirt.
    “Oh Cal,” she eyed the vivid, inflamed, red band that formed a circle around his neck, and the deep and bleeding scratches. Her complexion turned a sickly shade of green as though she was on the verge of throwing up. “Whoever did this to you?”
    Dramatically, Cal allowed his eyes to sweep the faces of his wife and friends before replying. “It was that bloody squirrel assault course.”
    Meli’s smooth brow puckered again, this time with bewilderment.
    “The washing line the boys stretched across the garden.”
    Meli’s expression remained stupefied for a moment, before realisation spread over her face. “You walked into the line?” Cal nodded. Meli raised back her hand and clipped him on the side of the head, although not unkindly.
    “Attacked indeed, you fool,” she was grinning broadly now, as much from relief as humour. Lurching to her feet, she moved to perch on the arm of Cal’s chair, and quickly explained to the others what the boys had been up to. Cal found himself the butt of some rather cruel and unkind jokes; although everyone agreed that it could have been quite serious. Cal could have been hurt.
    Cal was going to have strong words with the twins, but not until the morning. The boys were already bunked down in the studio for the night so Roger and Myra could sleep in their room. Cassie and Suzie were sleeping in the living room, so Adam and Paula could sleep in Cassie’s room.
    It was the early hours of the morning before the adults clambered, in various states of drunkenness, into bed after the eventful evening. “I had a great time tonight,” Meli purred contentedly, her brandy scented breath mingling with the smell of disinfectant on Cal’s neck, as she snuggled down beside him. “How’re you feeling? Does your neck hurt?”
    “Only when I laugh,” he whispered the immortal words as he pulled her towards him and suckered his lips onto hers.

    “Mum, mum,” David spluttered breathlessly as he raced into the kitchen, uncombed blond locks protruding like stalks of hay from his scalp.
    “Shush,” she buzzed, feebly flapping a hand in his direction. “Keep the noise down.” Meli’s head was splitting as though cleaved by an axe, the blade still embedded in the top of her scalp.
    “But someone’s been in the garden. You’ve got to come and look,” his voice was urgent. “They destroyed part of our assault course.” When his mum didn’t move, he frantically grabbed her by the arm and began tugging at it like an agitated fox cub.
    “Yes, we know all about that,” gingerly she turned her fragile head to look at him, and instantly wished that she hadn’t when the blade rooted itself deeper into her skull.
    “You do?” Taken by surprise, his hand fell away and his eyes held a pained look as though to say ‘why didn’t you tell me then?’
    Pleased to have the full use of both hands restored, Meli carried on with her vital mission, and picking up the paracetemol bottle, she shook two tablets into her palm. Inching back her head to a suitable position, she washed them down with a mouthful of water. “You almost strangled your dad last night when he got caught up in the line. What were you thinking,