The ride was the best ever; scary and magical. Zax held hands tightly all the way. The buggies set off through dimly lit corridors, then the seats suddenly turned around and stopped. The kids thought the ride was broken but then heard the voice saying the spirits had taken over the ride.

From then on they were taken through not only a haunted house, but the haunted town outside the house. Robyn felt so sorry for the poor bride whose husband to be was murdered by the nasty Phantom. Jeff and Max liked the way the phantom kept appearing and how the poor bride stayed in the house, getting older and older, waiting for her groom to come to her. Robyn loved the haunted ballroom with ghostly dancers whirling around. Cal's favourite was the haunted town. Especially when the mayor took off his hat and his head to greet visitors. Lofty enjoyed the ride and the changing scenes but had learned that demons could appear in daylight and look just like men. The ghosts didn't scare him as they would have a year ago.

And Ethan? He didn't see a thing because as soon as the first ghost appeared, he buried his head in Ms Chao's lap and stayed there till it was time to get off the ride.

Mr Keogh knew full well that there'd been far more interesting things happening behind him with Mrs Beauchamp and her frisky girlfriend, but was more concerned with watching Lofty.

And, finally, they were all walking out of the park for the last time, looking back at Sleeping Beauty's Castle, and waving bye bye to Disney.

After Bag Retrieval at the station, they boarded the train and the kids were thrilled at finding they were going to sit in First Class and have Train Food!

"You'll not get home till well after ten, so we thought you'd want to eat on board, then you'll be able to get straight off to bed."

As they waited for their meal, Mr Keogh read the local paper he'd picked up. He suddenly went racing down to Mrs Beauchamp and Miss Freeman, who fortunately hadn't yet begun their Train Fun.

"Connie!"

Mrs Beauchamp took the paper and read the page in front of her. Serge Gaston, 44, who had been arrested for the attempted abduction of Benjamin Chiltern, aged six and a half, had been found hanged in his cell while awaiting trial.

"Bloody coward", Miss Freeman muttered. Mr Keogh shook his head.

"Don't kid yourself it was suicide, Rita. Hardened crooks will find ways to break into cells, and even hardened crooks love their own little ones. I think he had a little surprise visit…"

"I don't get how he managed to get into Disney with all the security", Ms Chao said.

"This was his first offence, no criminal record before. The bastard must have been walking through the parks, taking his chance…"

But Connie Beauchamp was crying in relief. Now there wouldn't be a trial, Ben never needed to come back here, and the worst of his nightmare was over.

The Train Food was delicious and the ride was soon over. The procedures at St Pancras was swift, and the mini bus was waiting to pick them all up. Most of the kids dozed off on the ride.

Lofty was walking through a pitch dark Disneyland. He'd lost the Gang and had five minutes before he had to catch the train back. Then he felt somebody grab his arm and heard that hated voice. He jerked awake, his face a sickly yellow colour.

"Can you stop please, one of the boys needs to be ill." Ms Chao requested sharply.

Without a word of protest, the mini bus driver stopped and Lofty hurried to the front.

Mr Keogh helped him to a quiet patch of grass. The small boy just made it in time and was violently ill.

"Come on Ben, I've got a bottle of water for you back on the bus. Fit to get moving?"

Lofty nodded wearily.

The first thing he saw when he climbed back on the bus was Ethan holding Snap out to him.

"Thanks Ethan, I need a cuddle."

Lofty settled down with Snap close to his chest, and managed to sleep until the bus pulled up outside his home. He handed the precious crocodile over to Ethan again as he walked uncertainly down the steps. Mr Keogh saw him to the door where his mum and dad were waiting, whispered "See you on Monday, hero" and then boarded the bus again.

Lofty's sleep was dreamless for the rest of the night.

But Mr Keogh, even though he had Dervla to soothe him, couldn't help remembering what the little boy's parents had said to him:

"Hello, darling, I hope you've not been clumsy for your teachers."