Chapter 8

They stayed outside for about an hour until Jack caught Sue trying to supress yawn after yawn. He gave their apologies and said that they were going to turn in for the night. Sue tried to persuade Jack to stay but he admitted that he felt tired too and they headed back to the house.

Sue was less than impressed to be woken three hours later by Levi jumping on her. "What is it Levi?" she asked, sleepily and only slightly grumpily. She put on the bedside light so that she could see better. "Are you alright?" He got off of the bed and moved across the room. "Is it Jack?" queried Sue, but to her surprise instead of going towards the room door he padded to the double doors which led to the practically useless cupboard. Puzzled Sue got out of bed and followed him, as she approached the doors her nerves began to take over and she quickly grabbed a heavy book from the side table. Yanking one of the doors open she peered inside the cupboard the book raised in readiness and saw … nothing! Levi padded inside and began to sniff around until Sue, a tad cross, called him away. Levi, sensing that he was in disgrace, sidled back to his sleeping spot and curled up giving her his best puppy eyes. Strangely, that reminded Sue of Jack and she began to giggle, she climbed back into bed, snuggled down under the bedclothes and was soon fast asleep. Nothing else disturbed her slumber until a dash of sunlight gently warmed her face.

Sue quickly got dressed, took Levi out then came back to shower and get ready for breakfast. She was standing outside Jack's room deciding whether to knock or let him sleep when the door opened and he came out.
"Good you are up. But then you are a morning person," he said with a grin.

"I must say that I am a little surprised to see you up and about and so…" she tried to think of a word to describe him. "…energetic looking!" Remembering from a previous undercover assignment how he was not a morning person.

"Ah, it must have been the excellent nights sleep," replied Jack. "I slept like the proverbial log."

"What in the fireplace?" laughed Sue. "You ought to try the bed, I found mine very comfortable. Levi, however, decided that my sleep wasn't going to be as good as yours." And she proceeded to tell him about the incident with the cupboard. Jack, rather foolishly, suggested that Levi had heard a mouse before remembering that that was the one thing Sue really had a phobia about. The look of horror on her face said it all. Before he could reassure her, however, they had arrived at the dining room and were being greeted by Alex, Ana and Will. When asked by Alex, they both said that they had slept well and Sue avoided the subject of the cupboard and its possible rodent inhabitant thinking that it wouldn't be polite to accuse her host of having a vermin problem. She would let Levi sort it out or borrow the kitchen cat if there was one.

On the large side table was a varied selection of hot and cold food. Sue helped herself to cereals whilst Jack piled his plate with the components of a full English, Cornish style; both chose coffee from the pot. Levi had already eaten but that didn't stop him from sitting by Jack and staring at every mouthful he ate. He was well rewarded as various bits of sausage and hog's pudding headed his way when Sue wasn't looking; or so Jack thought.

"I think Levi has had enough now Jack," she admonished, smiling as he turned pink at being caught. Levi huffed and lay down on the floor. When everyone had finished eating Jason sauntered in and helped himself to a large plate of food. Alex glared at him, "Bring it with you," he ordered. "We aren't waiting for you to eat that lot, you should have been here earlier."

"Yes master, "answered Jason sarcastically picking up his plate and cutlery. "Pardon me for sleeping in, I was only up most of the night on your behalf."

"Not here," responded Alex quickly. "Come through to the study." He stood up and pushed his chair under the table and everyone else followed suit. Leading them through the music room and down a narrow corridor they soon found themselves in his comfortable study. Jason immediately sat down at a small table and began to shovel the delicious food into his mouth.