Ghost of a Chance Read Online Free Page A

treasure,’ the man said, his eyes sparkling. ‘Lots of stories in here to read.’ He waved his hand towards a glass-topped cabinet. ‘Lots of things to look at.’
    Hannah and Ling gazed at a collection of seashells before making their way to the cabinet. Inside was a yellowing newspaper article.
The gruesome discovery of the decomposed body of a young boy was made early yesterday morning on the shore of the Isle of Many, a remote island just off the coast of Intrepid Point.
    Locals believe he was one of the victims of the tragic accident that occurred on the night of 22 December 1974, when two children drowned in wild seas returning from the island.
    The man responsible for three children being out in such a terrible storm, described by some locals as the worst they’d ever known, was Ronald William Jamison, the owner of Care ‘n’ Comfort Cottage. He and the three children were purportedly returning from the island where he often made day trips with the youngsters from the orphanage.
    He is currently in custody undergoing questions about the tragedy.
    A local person, who did not want to be named, has suggested that the boy’s body will be buried on the island, where there are a number of other graves of shipwreck victims.
    Local legend has it that a stash of gold was hidden on the island by an unknown bushranger during the gold rush period of the early 1850s. A number of fatalities have occurred in the area over the years, laying the foundations for the repeated claims that treasure is buried somewhere in the vicinity of the island, though the tragedies have also given rise to the legends linking bad luck to fortune hunters seeking the gold’s whereabouts.
    ‘Wow,’ Hannah breathed. ‘You don’t think…’
    She looked up quickly, suddenly realising that Ling was no longer standing next to her. ‘Ling?’ she called, and nodded briefly at the old man before heading out into the sunlight. Ling was standing alone, a few metres down the path, staring out at the water. ‘Ling, what is it?’ Hannah asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.
    ‘That poor boy,’ Ling said, shuddering.
    ‘Come on,’ Hannah said, trying to sound cheerful. ‘Let’s go see what the others are up to.’ Ling stared a moment longer out beyond the lighthouse and slowly shook her head.
    ‘No,’ she said, finally. ‘And I know what you’re going to ask, but the ghost I saw was definitely a girl.’
    Hannah stopped dead. Ling was so certain that the girl she had seen was a ghost. Hannah felt a chill travel along her back. In the time they had been at Intrepid Point, they’d discovered one ghost girl and one dead boy. What sort of holiday was this going to turn out to be?

Chapter 4
    Saturday, 18 December, evening
    The rain came teeming down again during dinner. Gabby stared out the window at the dark sky. ‘Well, I guess there go our plans for a night hike.’
    Hannah nodded. ‘Too wet to do anything out there.’
    Angus looked at E.D. ‘We’ve got raincoats.’
    ‘No thanks,’ said Gabby firmly.
    ‘For someone who swims in state championships and trains a lot in the wet water, you sure don’t like rain.’ E.D. took the last bread roll from a basket in the middle of the table and chewed it noisily.
    Gabby looked at him then stood up. ‘We’ll see you later. After you get back. Are you coming, Ling?’
    Ling hesitated. A walk in the rain sounded okay to her but she didn’t feel well enough. Her whole body was aching as if she was getting the flu. ‘Yeah, I’m coming.’
    ‘Me too.’ Hannah joined the others and they walked back to their rooms.
    E.D. shrugged. ‘I’ll just get some dessert. Then we could go and play pool.’
    ‘So you don’t want to go for a walk, either?’ Angus started to laugh.
    ‘No, mate. Hate getting wet.’
    After E.D. had eaten three bowls of chocolate mousse, the boys headed towards the rear of the guesthouse.
    ‘Someone’s already playing,’ Angus said as they got close to the games