The Strange Tale of Slippery Jake Final published Doc Watt Pad

A Strange Ghostly Tale Of Slippery Jake The Regency Rake

Prologue: A Strange Ghostly Tale Of Slippery Jake The Regency Rake

This is a story based in a fictional public house, a pub, The Bull. The Bull Public House can be found at a crossroads leading into S W London. As the tale unfolds, it is discovered that there has been a drinking establishment on this site for centuries. It remains a popular pub. Plus it has a first-class reputation for serving excellent 'real ale', draught beer, along with a range of superb food. There is also a variety of good musical entertainment. It was also a haunted public house. There is a poltergeist!

Much of the story takes place in the Bull Public House, if not totally in the Lounge Bar.

I will start by introducing the principal character, Slippery Jake. The most important character will be the 'resident ghost', 'The Right Hon Jake Horatio, Higginbottom', or 'Slippery Jake' as he was often called. He was a notorious highwayman. Slippery Jake lived in the Regency period of British history. That is 1790 to 1820.

His character may appear to be pretty 'bipolar'. Some accounts relate to how ruthless he was in life. He would hold up stagecoaches and spare no one. Dispatching everyone with a rapier sword, or a brace of pistols. On the other hand, he had a reputation for being very gallant. He was especially courteous to young ladies. Everybody was spared after he attacked a stagecoach. He also frequented the Bull Inn, as it was called then. It was known to be a bit of a 'bawdy house', a place of 'ill repute'. Old Slippery would generously spend his 'ill-gotten gains' on the ladies that frequented the Bull. Of course, having run out of money, he would be out again holding up stagecoaches.

He was a Rake. They are usually associated with the Restoration in the 17th century. However, it could readily be applied to Slippery Jake. He was very much into womanizing along with some gambling and general debauchery. He was a libertine and a hedonist.

There is a transformation throughout the story, as the ghost seems to mellow and come to grips with the new realities of the 21st century.

Two 'ghost recorders', Kevin and Sandra, record his many appearances at the Bull, using their special equipment. The ramifications of these recordings are to have some pretty profound consequences.

Several other characters are central to this story. I am Paul Smith the narrator. I work part-time in a girl's high school as an art and art history teacher, along with some technology. I also have an interest in house restoration and property development. My wife, Isabella, originally from the Philippines, is a gynecologist in a local hospital. Sid and Beryl are the landlord and landlady of the Bull. There are two Eastern European barmaids, Lina from Estonia, Magda from Poland, along with Sven from Sweden. Regulars in the pub include two retired servicemen, Humphrey and Percy. Both were Majors and had seen service in Afghanistan. Agatha, and Margaret, were their respective wives. Detective Chief Inspector John Higgins is also a regular along with his two 'trainee' detectives, John Franks and William Russel. There will be several other characters that will make their appearance as the story unfolds.

Let us not forget the two 'pub' cats; Marigold and Percival. They would spend all day searching out the most comfortable spot in the pub. As the days grew colder they would seek out a radiator, or a spot. closer to the open log fire, a central feature of the Lounge Bar. There is also Beryl's beloved all-white 'Wee Jock'. This is her beloved White Highland Terrier. He was a snappy little dog. Beryl keeps him mainly upstairs away from the two cats.

Chapter One: Introduction

It was one of those cold Autumn afternoons with an accompanying persistent drizzle that was oh so typical of South West London in mid-October. I had just finished school and drove my old car into the Bull Public House car park. Yes, my old car was on its last legs. I called it Samantha. It had something like 70,000 miles around 126,000 kilometers, on the clock. A 'bog standard' Ford Escort, but none the less, it had been very reliable over the years. Gerump. bang shudder, the engine noises had grown louder of late. I was lining up a 'nice' housing deal, which should give me enough for a new motor. I would be sad to see the 'old lady' go though to that great recycling heaven, maybe in the sky, but really to the car dump just down the road.

I generally visited the Bull on a Friday afternoon after school. My school was a girl's high school, an academy. Overall the girls were excellent and there were few 'issues' of the kind you might find in other inner London schools. However, I did get a kind of 'class from hell', Year 9, Third Year girls, bursting with 'full-on' adolescent emotions. I adopted a 'Geoffrey Boycott' defense. That very dour Yorkshire cricketer who was famous for his defensive play. It was tiring though. Yes, a pint and a half of the Bull's real ale would do nicely. This is just below the limit for drink driving. My 'binge drinking' days had long gone. That English 'tradition' of drinking as much as possible as quickly as possible. It would be just enough to calm me down. Exercise would be better of course. Then a hot bath when I came home and get a meal ready for Isabella my wife.

I went through the back door of the Bull. Beryl the landlady was behind the bar. Sid was downstairs changing over a beer barrel. Lina was there too, serving drinks. The cats were happily sitting under a radiator.

Percy and Humphrey were also there. Their good wives, respectively Agatha, and Margaret, were at some 'Women's Institute' do. They kept alive their marriages by keeping a degree of discreet distance. Both these gentlemen had married children who were doing very well and were both now grandfathers. They spoilt their grandchildren rotten. They both wore casual but smart clothes. This could include a good pair of dark trousers, sometimes a blazer or jacket. More often than not they loved a full woolen pullover plus sensible shoes. Both were non-smokers, but they enjoyed the fine real ales that the Bull offered.

"Ah young Paul, come and join us", Percy called out. Beryl had already poured out a pint. I paid for this and sat down on one of those full leather-bound chairs, that was a feature of the Lounge Bar. The furniture in the Lounge was better than you would find in most homes. All bound in a deep red leather. All the chairs and sofas were made from hardwood. There was oak paneling around the walls and on the floor. Beryl kept her staff busily polishing all this up when the pub was closed.

"So, how were the young ladies?" Percy asked. "The usual," I replied, with a slight laugh. "They had a drawing exercise to do. Of course, everything ended up being coloured in pink. I didn't have the energy to argue with them. They all seemed happy."

"Ah, a fine Geoffrey Boycott defense!" Percy added.

"Exactly, Percy, I know all their tricks. Been in this teaching game long enough."

"So no surprise spin bowling, or a googly?!", came Humphrey's reply.

"Nothing. It is the Autumn term, it's wet. I want to go home and they want to go home. Well, I want to come here first."

I made a slight chuckle with this.

The Lounge Bar had only us present at this time. The pub would fill up quickly from 6 onwards. A popular DJ was booked for the Entertainment Bar. The Public Bar in the middle was being made ready. The pub would be 'heaving' by 9 pm. I would be long gone by then.

Beryl got her girls busy by polishing up and cleaning all the paneling and tables etc. Lina, nearby, was working hard polishing a table. She had to bend right over to do this. This had not escaped the notice of Humphrey and Percy.

"Ah, this is the real reason you like coming along now gentlemen?"

I asked both the two retired Majors. "A chance to inspect the new barmaids?"

Lina had a tight pair of jeans on. Both of the 'senior' gentlemen seemed to be admiring her rump, in a typically discreet upper-class English manner.

"There are certainly some very fine new fillies now at the Bull."

"Maybe it is better that we stayed in the EU?", commented Percy.

They both knew that their two good wives were very keen members of a local gym. One of the instructors was a very fine, 'well buff and well fit', hunky South African, as the schoolgirls would say with an amazing 'six-pack'. The ladies seemed to do nothing but spend all day talking about him. So, all in all, everything balanced out very nicely.

Chapter Two: Old Slippery Returns

There was something of real interest, situated on the right outside the wall. That was a Regency Chair. This was made using mahogany with rosewood veneers, along with a very rich dark brown leather upholstery The chair was roped off with a red chord. These were attached by two large rings to a stately pair of bronze stands. The chair was further up from the old open fire, close to the bar, and directly opposite our comfy chairs in the Lounge Bar.

Why the fuss? This fuss is because this chair was used by 'The Right Hon Jake Horatio Higginbottom', or 'Slippery Jake'. The resident ghost of the Bull Public House.

He had been 'dormant' for several years. People were now noticing slight rattles and a cold breeze every time anyone approached his chair. The poltergeist was active again! Old Slippery had been a renowned highwayman during the early 19th century. He eventually ended up being hung on the crossroads opposite the Bull Inn as it was then. There was a pub called the Old Hangman, across the road from the Bull which had closed down several years ago. A hanging at the crossroads had been a spectacle in many cultures. You only have to think of the classic blues by Robert Johnson, Cross Road Blues, as an example of this. The crossroads was the ideal place. Many people had to pass through it.

An example had to be made of Old Slippery. There had been too many killings. After the order "Stand and deliver", the highwayman would often let rip with his brace of pistols. He would quite often finish everyone else off with his rapier. No quarter was given. This often applied to ladies as well who were sometimes violently assaulted.

Old Slippery's preferred sword was the rapier. This was a stabbing sword used in duels with a long thin blade. However, Old Slippery made sure the blade was as sharp as a cut-throat razor along its whole length. He mostly specialized in a direct thrust to the heart which was highly effective owning to his speed with the sword. He sometimes went in for cutting and slashing. So he wanted maximum versatility which he achieved in his lifetime.

Again, there was this dilemma, who was the real Old Slippery? As I have stated several accounts have survived that directly contradicted these stories of the ruthless highwayman, who at times could be fairly sadistic. The highwayman was very gallant and courteous towards ladies and other passengers. The stagecoach riders were let free after being disarmed. Of course, everyone was robbed of money, gold, jewelry, and any other valuable belongings.

These discrepancies may be down to the advent of the 'Victorian Period' in 1837. There could have been a need for this more salacious account of Old Slippery's life to be downplayed. This did not fit the so-called 'Victorian morality' that was starting to evolve.

Another strong theme in the highway man's life had been his liking of the ladies. The advent of the young Baltic barmaids in the Bull, maybe causing this current 'awakening'?

Yes, the Bull Inn or Tavern as it was then, in the early 19th century, had a reputation as a 'bawdy house', a 'place of ill repute'. All kinds of 'low life', pickpockets, tricksters, thieves, and highwaymen, hung out there. Ladies, of a certain profession, were also present. The Bull Inn had pretty well become Old Slippery's base.

Which brings me back to the present. The presence of these young ladies may have dragged him back from whichever recess of Hell he had been residing. The rattles seem to coincide whenever Lina, Magda, and yes Sven, approached or cleaned and polished his 'chair'.

Beryl and Sid had noticed this. "Aye, Old Slippery is back!" commented Beryl in her distinctive Scottish Glaswegian accent, a specific Scottish brogue. She came from Port Glasgow. This had a reputation for being a very rough area. She was a good Catholic girl, who fell in love with Sid. They were then both 'Rockers'. She wore full skirts and he had full Teddy Boy drapes and a quiff. She was the daughter of a landlord of a Port Glasgow pub, so she would take no-nonsense. Beryl thought that the 'sassenachs', the English, are a pretty soft bunch on the whole. Sid came from a long line of landlords that had run the Bull Public House over many years.

"Aye, it's the lasses that brings him back."

The 'rattles' consisted of the floors and walls being shaken. There had been actual sightings of the ghost over the years. His chair was there for him to sit on. He would be fully decked out in his full Regency regalia. He had appeared from time to time and had roamed around the pub, seemingly aware possibly of what was happening. The haunting was starting again.

Both Sid and Beryl thought that he was about to come back. The barmaids were understandably terrified. They got on with the duties around the chair as quickly as possible. They all felt that there was somebody there. Marigold and Percival knew full well something was up. They had taken to sleeping in 'Old Slippery's' chair. They now both jumped off this pretty quickly. Cats have very developed senses. They were both very worried and slinked off to a safe spot under a radiator.

I sat back and looked at the chair in detail. The craftwork was exceptional, as was the design. This chair was also very valuable. It was Old Slippery's chair and this was how it would remain.

Maybe it was my imagination playing tricks on me, but I thought I saw the outline of Old Slippery starting to appear on the chair. There was a crooked three-cornered hat. It seemed to have rich gold braiding around the edges. Slippery appeared to have quite a thin face and a long thin aquiline nose. There was also an imperious look about him. There were thin pursed sneering lips. There was a jacket with a very high collar. He wore high white and blue striped trousers or britches along with a pair of long riding boots that appeared to be leather. This was set off by a large white lacy cravat. There was no mask. He was not about to 'stand and deliver'. He was quite the 'Regency Dandy', the 'Play Boy' of his age.

Percy and Humphrey saw him and both were pretty aghast.

"So that is him, 'Old Slippery'!", exclaimed Percy.

"It certainly appears to be", Humphrey replied.

Beryl added, "Aye he's back!"

She had an askance look and was far from impressed with his 'reappearance'.

The barmaids and barman were understandably pretty terrified.

"Aye, the lasses have brought him back." Beryl further remarked with a scowl on her face. She didn't seem at all phased by him, treating him just like another irritating customer.

Slippery's eyes seemed to be glancing over the young serving wenches in a fairly lascivious manner.

I tentatively went over and got my half-pint. Sid poured this out and we got into conversation.

"Yes, he has appeared from time to time over the years. It's the 'eye candy' that has done the trick this time. He can be quite active, It all depends."

Sid sighed.

"Sometimes he frightens away trade, sometimes more customers come along."

Sid went on to give a brief history of Right Hon Jake Horatio, Higginbottom'.

"So he could be bipolar?"

"He, he. Kind of Paul..."

"Beryl will only get angry if he drives away customers. He seems strangely alive at times and very aware."

"You mean the way he is looking at the young ladies?"

"Yes, considering how long he has been dead."

I sat down and looked at my watch. I will give it another 20 minutes. The pub ghost seemed to be fading and the rattling was dying down.

For some reason, I started to think about Sandra Smith. She was a 16-year-old schoolgirl, the school 'Goth'. She was always dressed in black. She had black hair and heavy black eye make up. Sandra had a hard time of it at school, Being 'girlie' was the norm. The ubiquitous pink was ever-present, in eyeliner and facial makeup. There was a constant battle between the redoubtable Deputy Head and most girls in fighting this scourge of pink. I found Sandra's black quite a relief. She also had an interest in the paranormal. Sandra had heard of the Bull Public House ghost as well. She had a boyfriend Kevin, a fully paid up nerd and ghost obsessive. He was a first-year student at University studying computing. I.T and the web. This was something they were both good at. Sandra knew of my stopovers at the Bull, well all the girls did. I also knew that they both had some specialized 'ghost detecting and recording' equipment. Maybe bring them along to the Bull with their equipment? I floated this idea in my head as a possibility.

Suitably relaxed I gazed up at the dull gray sky. I was looking forward to cooking Isabella a good meal and let her unwind. As I have stated, she was a senior gynecologist at the local hospital and dedicated, too dedicated at times. We had met at a social event and quickly got married. Isabella was from the Philippines. We got back there as often as we could. She missed her culture. Everyone is very sociable there. The land of karaoke and 'party parties'. Nothing like England in so many ways. The land where the net curtain is moved back and being too sociable is frowned upon. We had a social event lined up for Saturday with friends of hers from the hospital, mainly from the Philippines, nurses, and some doctors. I wanted her to enjoy herself. She would always jump to fill a vacancy if they were short-staffed at her hospital. I told her to stop being so dedicated. They were growing too used to her helping out at the hospital.

I got into Samantha, I turned the ignition. There was a splutter followed by a grinding noise. Much playing with the choke and accelerator brought some kind of life into the engine. The car jumped forward a few times, then the revs settled down. Samantha's windscreen wipers flopped languidly across the windscreen spreading the muck evenly across the glass. It was true, Old Slippery seemed more alive than my old car. She got me home, just!

Chapter Three: Who are you going to call? Ghost Recorders!

It had been a pretty good and relaxing weekend. I had a long chat with Liz about the events and the reappearance of Old Slippery. She had at first joked that I had drunk too much. I mentioned I wanted Sandra and Kevin along to the pub. They could try to get some kind of image or video recording of the ghost. They could both go legally to the pub. Kevin being 18, could have a drink.

I found time on Monday to see Sandra and told her the proposition I had for her and Kevin to record Slippery Jake at the Bull. This would probably be on a Friday afternoon at the end of the school week. She was overjoyed and she sent a text across straight away to Kevin who also agreed. I told her that there was no guarantee that Old Slippery would appear. She said they would both take a chance on that. They would bring their special 'thermal' imaging equipment as well. This was a bit of a misnomer as this equipment was designed to pick up very low temperatures. This included a special video camera. There had been results elsewhere in the world but they had not proved conclusive enough for experts and skeptics to show ghosts existed.

A brief note on optics. The ghost could be caught or videoed on an ordinary, bog-standard, cell/mobile phone. These images were often too fuzzy and lacking in definition. The other oddity of this is that he could see his image reflected in a mirror. This should not be the case with ghosts. There was a large mirror, slightly to the left on the wall opposite his chair. As his appearances became more common, he often looked at this mirror reflection adoringly. To call him vain was a total understatement

So Friday afternoon came round again. The weather was still wet and maybe a touch colder. 'Samantha' got me to the Bull car park, just. I entered the Lounge Bar and saw that both Kevin and Sandra had already arrived. Lina had my pint ready.

"So she is one of your naughty schoolgirls? Does your wife know she is here?". Lina commented mischievously with a huge smirk.

"No Lina!" came my quick reply, "She is here with her boyfriend to 'record' Old Slippery"

"Oh", she retorted.

I smiled at her to calm her down and joined my two 'ghost recorders'.

"Do you see that old chair opposite?"

"Ah, that is Slippery's chair!" Sandra replied.

"From the Regency?"

I then gave them both a brief history of Old Slippery and the chair

"So Old Slippery was and still is a bit of a perv Sir?" Sandra asked.

'Call me Paul, here Sandra!"

"Okay Mr. Smith, Paul Sir."

"No. Simply Paul!"

"Ah, okay".

The barmaids and Beryl were listening in and loving all of this. Humphrey and Percy had just arrived otherwise the Lounge Bar was empty.

"Aye, Sir Paul we have your half waiting for youse!", Beryl shouted out.

Humphrey and Percy had a chortle as well.

"Paul here okay, Paul!"

Old habits die hard. There were years of conditioning to get over. However, Sandra managed in the end.

"To answer your question Sandra, Yes!."

"He liked the ladies back then apparently, and liked them still it seems."

"It could be these new barmaids that have brought him back."

"They are 'hot' Paul!"

Sandra said with a big smile.

"Okay Sandra, calm down. I am here to relax. I have 9C on a Friday afternoon."

"Oh, Candy, Tracey, and Beverly, the three bitches."

"Yes, Sandra, those three delightful young ladies! So I come here to relax. Then go home and get a meal ready for my wife."

"She's a gynecologist at the local hospital?"

"Yes, she is Sandra."

"Now you two get all your equipment ready discreetly. It is about now that the barmaids gives Old Slippery's chair a clean. This quite often wakes him up."

"The perv!" Sandra added!

"Yes, Sandra."

Whilst Sandra and Kevin busied themselves setting everything up, Percy and Humphrey decided to join us.

"Ah, one of your pupil's Paul?"

"Indeed Percy!"

I introduced Percy and Humphrey to Sandra and Kevin. They were both fascinated that they were two retired Majors and had served in Afghanistan.

"So young lady and young gentleman you are here on a recce or do you expect results?" Percy inquired.

"Hopefully Sir" was Kevin's reply.

"Can I ask too Paul. Was this pub once a Tavern of a certain kind?"

"Yes Kevin, many Taverns and Inns then provided a wide range of entertainment shall we say."

"And Old Slippery lived here a bit like Toulouse-Lautrec?", Sandra asked?

"Well done Sandra, yes, kind of, only Toulouse-Lautrec lived in a full-on brothel."

Sandra was one of my Art History students. Like many others, she had a good memory for the more 'interesting' details. However, I had a bit of a go at her.

"Sandra, there was nothing romantic about prostitution then or now, anywhere in fact. Many young women and girls were driven to that through poverty. They often lived very short, sad, brutal lives."

"And STDs?" Sandra exclaimed.

"Syphilis was very common then, and there was no cure."

"There is a theory that the highwayman's behavior was down to him having advanced syphilis."

"I am no expert on this but the 'cures' were things like mercury or lead. This meant you died that much quicker basically."

Humphrey looked across at Kevin and Sandra.

"Be grateful you are alive now, both of you. Life in the past was pretty much a 'rum do'."

"We are Major very much!" was their joint reply.

Chapter Four:

The Detective 'Inspectors' Join Us.

At this point, Detective Chief Inspector John Higgins joined us, along with James and Justin his two trainee detectives.

This was the first trip of the trainees to the Bull. Lina and Magda 'clocked' (noticed) the young detectives immediately. Magda managed to get to their table first. All of this had not escaped the notice of Beryl either. Hot, buff, fit, handsome, and especially young male customers were a rarity in the Lounge Bar at this time.

Time for 'chair cleaning' Beryl thought. Lina was sent to polish up Slippery's chair. Magda was given a job behind the bar. This was only a temporary measure as those girls would be back flirting around our table soon enough.

Meanwhile, I thought this was good news. Lina draped all over the 'chair'. This would soon wake Slippery up. Sure enough, he slowly started to emerge. He had on the three-cornered hat, the high cravat, the rich red jacket, and high britches. He nonchalantly sat back in 'his' chair with his legs crossed. He had that mischievous, lascivious smirk. His image was slightly shimmering. It seemed 'very cold'. He appeared pretty agitated, shifting constantly around on the chair. He was certainly aware of Lina. She jumped off the chair and scurried back to the bar. Both cats hissed and crouched flat under a radiator. Old Slippery was also taking a good look at Sid the barman and the Chief Inspector. There was almost something 'paternal' about his gaze. More on this later.

The Detective Chief Inspector and his two 'apprentices' looked across at the ghost with their mouths wide open. Where are they seeing this? Sandra and Kevin started recording. Old Slippery seemed to be aware of the recording. There was no specialized video recording equipment around in the Regency. Experimentation in cameras and photography only really started to get going properly in the Victorian period. But there he was, looking into the camera lens, from his chair, preening himself, setting up a 'ghostie selfie' it seemed.

This degree of 'self-awareness' was also both shocking and inexplicable. Ghosts were supposed to wear white sheets or screech devilishly, not pose for a camera shot?

Sandra and Kevin played back their recordings. Yes, there he was, Old Slippery sitting on his 'throne'. You can see here clearly looking at Lina, then across to the landlord and the Detective Chief Inspector. He finished this off with his 'preening shot' into the video camera's lens. The image was very slightly fuzzy. The 'thermal' element was picking up the very cold readings that Old Slippery was giving off. There were many cool blues and pastel colours in this recording. However, the definition was good overall.

Both Sandra and Kevin were very pleased with their recordings. The problem now was what to do with them? The Detective Chief Inspector explained that caution, for the time being, was the best policy.

"Don't be in a hurry to plaster these videos and images all over the web of the ghost. In my experience, if the press gets to know about this they will be around here pretty quickly. They will go 'ape', crazy"

"It may be very good for your trade Sid having hordes of thirsty reporters and hacks. TV, newspapers, and all the rest steaming around here but this is not recommended in my experience in the long term."

"I will have to give this some thought and get back to all of you on this. So young Kevin and Sandra sit on this for now. Your day in the spotlight will soon come, but again this has to be managed."

"Hear hear" Percy added. "You don't want all those reporter Johnnies crawling all over this fine Lounge Bar?"

"Exactly Major." The Detective Chief Inspector replied.

I then had a text from Isabella. This was in reply to one I sent earlier explaining what had just happened.

I explained that my good wife would be joining me soon.

"Ah to keep an eye on you, Sir....David?"

"No Sandra she is pretty curious as well. By the way, I have not been given a knighthood yet. My name is David, Sandra!"

Everybody laughed at this.

Old Slippery started to fade now. Maybe he wanted to slip back and have a bit of a rest in his dwellings down below?"

Chapter Five: The Detective Chief Inspector Has Some Contacts.

It was now 4.30 pm. Nobody seemed to be in a hurry to move. Various rounds were ordered. I kept to my 'half-pint' rule for now. Liza my wife, would use a bus to get here. The hospital was pretty close by. She could drive but was none too happy with 'Samantha' the car. So I could not pull that excuse to get in a few more beers in a hurry.

Detective Chief Inspector John then came forward with several important contacts he had, that would have a big impact on this whole story.

He had a sister, the academic member of the family, who was now married and a professor of Victorian History at one of the Oxford Colleges, Dr. Amelia Smith. He knew she was friendly with Professor James Hudson, who was a specialist in the Regency period and took a general interest in history and archeology. Another very important contact was Pamela Parsons. She had a central role at the BBC and was involved in programming. Pamela knew the media world inside out.

Detective Chief Inspector John Higgins told Sandra and Kevin to 'sit' on these recordings until, in particular, he had got in contact with Pamela Parsons. He did not doubt the veracity of these recordings, but he knew once these got put out there on the Wild West Web, the implications could well be explosive.

Meanwhile, Lina and Magda had made use of all these intense conversations. James and Justin were pretty peripheral to the rest of these deliberations, so there were ample opportunities to exchange little glances and the chance of a bit of flirtation. Drink and especially pints of beer were being drunk at quite a rate. Little looks, sideways glances, and the 'accidental' touching of hands was very much the order of the day. It looked like Magda and James along with Lina and Justin were starting something.

Notes with cell/mobile numbers along with Facebook addresses were exchanged. Yes, that '60s classic 'The Look of Love' comes to mind.

Both the Detective Chief Inspector and Beryl the Landlady were aware of these developments.

"Well lads I can't control your private lives but be aware that the 'eye candy ' you have been appraising is a good deal more experienced than you two."

"Yes, Detective Chief Inspector." They both chorused.

"This is technically leisure time, however, there is a certain decorum that you need to project."

This was taken in by the brains of the two young lads but their hearts and 'other organs' were somewhere else. This was met by smirks by everyone else. Yes, young love, I thought.

Beryl too was more than aware of all of this. However, given how she had met Sid in this very pub all those years ago, in many ways in very similar circumstances, when she was doing some bar work in London; she felt she had not a strong case to offer.

Here were two fine lads and two very pretty lasses in the full bloom of their lives. Still, she did add a few thoughts of her own, which did echo those of the Detective Chief Inspector.

"Well lasses, they are braw lads, aye, sure enough, ye ken?."

"Och, but they are like wee baa lambs. Maybe all of youse want just a bit of fun. They seem a lot more serious. So no broken hearts and games please and concentrate on youse work, ye ken?!"

This was delivered in a snarling Glaswegian accent. The bar staff had learned to understand Beryl's Glaswegian. Sven noticed several Nordic words peppered about too in Glaswegian English. A legacy of the Vikings in Scotland?

This. however, had fallen on death ears with these young ladies. Maybe something serious had started. Beryl, deep down, sensed this too, having been there her self once.

It was about then that Isabella arrived. She was an infrequent visitor to the pub, although she was known to everyone.

"Sorry I am late love," she said after kissing me on the check.

"Understaffed yet again. There was an emergency. But we managed to resolve that okay.

"You are not scheduled to work this weekend?"

"No!" Isabella replied. I am not volunteering yet again if they are short. They have to learn to get more people in."

"Great!" I replied.

"So Isabella, you have the same 'cut back' crap we have to put up with?" The Detective Chief Inspector inquired.

"Yes, John, all for our own good?."

"Or those at the City of London?"

The Detective Chief Inspector added.

Both Percy and Humphrey looked uncomfortable. They had been Merchant Bankers in the City of London. I decided on a deft Geoffrey Boycott defense, and neatly changed the subject I knew there was quite a range of different political views around the tables, plus backgrounds. There were other pressing matters I wanted Isabella's opinion on.

"This is Sandra and Kevin."

I introduced Isabella to Sandra and Kevin. They both smiled. Sandra had never properly met my wife. Schools are a parallel universe for kids where teachers live and have no lives outside.

"I had heard some really good things about you, Sandra."

"Really miss. Mrs. Smith, miss?'

"Please Isabella." my wife replied.

Here we going again I thought! Sandra was going onto the 6th form soon. Her secondary school days would soon be behind her.

"Yes, you seem very 'left field' and pretty creative."

"A nutter!" Sandra replied.

"Nothing wrong with that. What is the point of being a conformist, there would be nothing new."

Both Sandra and Kevin looked chuffed. This summed up perfectly what they were trying to do, to think 'outside of the box'. Sandra's 'Gothness' was her rebellion against all those other 'pretty' girls. She wanted to be and was herself.

This what had drawn Isabella to me. She loved my quirkiness, Her work was demanding so she needed me as a whole other world. The same applied to me. I needed her discipline. We complimented each other very well.

"So let us see these videos."

Isabella also ordered a sweet white wine. Lina shot over there first to take the order then flirting with Justin.

Sandra and Kevin duly showed Isabella the recordings.

"Amazing!!" Isabella exclaimed.

"But you know the first thing people will say of course?"

"Yes, love?"

"They are fakes."

It was then that Detective Chief Inspector John jumped in.

"This is where Pamela Parsons will be of use from the BBC. She will have techies to fully verify these recordings. This is another good reason to hold back young Sandra and Kevin. We have to be sure of our ground."

"And hold it, Sir!" Percy added.

"Yes Sir, and hold it." The Detective Chief Inspector added.

The clock was moving towards 6 pm. The Lounge Bar was starting to fill up. We were conscience of 'earwigging' or listening in by others that could be a problem. Detective Chief Inspector John told everyone that he would be in touch with the two professors along with Pamela Parsons to see if they could schedule a meeting here on the next Friday afternoon. It seemed that the 'Slippery Jake Ghost Committee' had already been set up. The Detective Chief Inspector knew that the Oxford College terms had already started. However, he trusted that especially Professor James Hudson. would find any excuse to go to the Bull. The Bull Public House had very good ratings for its real ale. The good professor liked to savour the odd pint.

Adieus were said all around. The young beaus had furtively set up meets after the pub was closed. The Detective Chief Inspector did point out that, although they had the weekend off they would be expected to turn up for an emergency at any time. They both duly acknowledge this in a doleful sort of way.

Isabella followed me over to, Samantha; with a grim look on her face. As we got on she said.

"Look, love, you can easily afford a new car. Your property work is going very well, so why hang onto this old wreck. I nice brand new SUV would do very nicely, especially for the future."

Yes, she had a 'broody look'. More changes to our lives would be coming soon. Exactly on cue the old girl's engine kind of turned over. The engine finally burst into a half-life and we juddered our way home. Isabella was glaring at me all the way. Samantha would soon be going to the great 'old car rest home in the sky.' I better deal with this over the weekend, as I had time, and yes, Isabella, as usual, was 100% right.

Chapter Six: The 'Slippery Jake Committee' Is Formally Set Up, Kind Of.

Detective Chief Inspector John Higgins liked nothing better than relaxing in the Bull Lounge Bar. It had been a busy week. A lot to follow up, prosecutions were being arranged. There was a mountain of paperwork and endless tedious meetings. The endless tedious meetings were also a feature of modern teaching, so I sympathized.

It was Friday afternoon again. It was now early December. London can get very cold, but this dull gray wet damp gloom was more the norm. The Detective Chief Inspector of course found an excuse to go the Bull. Magda and Lina had pretty well now moved in with James and Justin. The two young 'detective apprentices' would also find any excuse to visit the Bull to be with their beloveds. Beryl had accepted this as both girls were still working very hard.

The two professors arrived at the Bull along with Pamela Parsons. She had 'got wind' of these recordings somehow. Sandra and Kevin were there with their equipment and their recordings along with the old Majors, plus me of course.

I just wanted the term to end. The students were getting 'hyped up' because Christmas was coming soon. The Autumn term was long. It could seem pretty interminable.

I was hoping Isabella would turn up. She sent me a text saying she would try. I had very good news for her. I had options on a very good Mitsubishi SUV. We could get that this coming weekend. So this would be the last trip in 'Samantha'.

Dr. Amelia Smith, Professor James Hudson, and Pamela Parsons all came together at around 4.20 pm.

Good Professor James headed straight for the bar and ordered a round for everyone.

"I have heard excellent reports regarding the ale you serve here. Make mine a pint of your finest."

Sid duly and carefully poured out a pint into a pint glass. The professor took a sip and moved the fine liquid around his mouth the same way you would a good Chardonnay.

Excellent!

Drinks were duly served to everyone.

Professor James Hudson, who was a specialist, in the Regency period, spotted Old Slippery's chair immediately.

"Ah, the resident ghost's fine Regency Chair. In very good condition and well looked after I might add. Why is it roped off?"

This was duly explained to the good professor.

"Ah, you don't want to be sitting on the ghost's lap then?"

There was a degree of skepticism there which was to be expected at this stage.

I thought it would be a good idea to get things moving along. I encouraged Sandra and Kevin to show their recording of Old Slippery to the new arrivals. This was greeted with some amazement, understandably. However, the newcomers did have some reservations. Dr. Amelia Smith for one.

"So, how do we know this is just some very clever film work added later?"

"Exactly!" responded Professor Hudson.

It was at this point that Pamela Parsons came up with a very important proposition.

"I feel both you Kevin and you Sandra should come as soon as possible to meet our technical department at the BBC."

They were both flabbergasted and amazed by this.

"Of course we would!!!" They both chorused.

"Here are my office telephone numbers and office emails."

She gave them both her work cards.

Sandra and Kevin were respectively in a school and university. However, they both thought they could 'throw' a judicial 'sickie' each, to cover this.

The BBC had a Research and Development Department in White City London, which they could both easily reach. They both looked at me expecting a negative reaction being a teacher. I just smiled and said "Fine."

"May I see your equipment too?"

They duly opened their camera bag and showed Pamela each item.

"Fascinating, fascinating! How did you both find out all about this 'thermal equipment?"

"The web." was Sandra's reply.

"A lot to discuss and examine. The implications of all of this could be quite wide-reaching,"

Professor Hudson agreed.

"Believe me, I will need a lot of convincing, so young people get all this thoroughly looked over"

Plus I added. "Again wait for the BBC reaction until you put any of this online and keep us all updated."

There was general agreement all around on this.

Lina and Magda were given chair cleaning duties. The Lounge Bar was now part restaurant. More staff were now available. However, Beryl did not let her young barmaids flutter around their beloveds all the time.

Of course, that decision had consequences. This roused Slippery Jake from his 'slumbers'.

His form started to materialize in full Regency regalia. Both professors and Pamela Parsons opened their mouths wide. He was looking straight ahead at these three, carefully appraising them. He somehow knew they were people of learning.

Professor Hudson looked very closely at the ghost's clothes.

"Totally in keeping with the Regency Period, I would say around 1815. This is not a fancy dress either. He is detail perfect. My God, how can this be?"

Dr. Amelia Smith added.

"I totally concur with Professor Hudson, every detail pure Regency. Is that a 'beauty spot' I see on his cheek?"

"Yes, no doubt hiding something else I would guess, the pox, syphilis. A very common trick then."

"When I get back to Oxford I will need to do research on the Right Hon Jake Horatio, Higginbottom. I will need to see how many original sources there are."

Dr Smith also showed interest. "Yes, I will see what I can find out as well. From what I can gather he was somewhat 'airbrushed' out of the historical narrative by the Victorian period." "Can I add, I can detect a consciousness and an awareness in this ghostly spirit. See the way he looks at us now. This is very unnerving. Again, is there a precedent for this, other similar recorded events, or is he and this, unique? Much work to be done here! We do not have a 'classic Hollywood' ghost floating around in a white sheet here."

"Indeed Amelia, much work to be done!" was Professor Hudson's reply.

It was at this point that Isabella turned up. I told her the good news about getting the SUV.

"Ah, at last, shot of that wreck!"

She was duly introduced to everyone. She sat next to me opposite the Old Majors.

"So how are you gentleman?"

"Fine good lady, fine." was Percy's reply.

"We have had an interesting conversation on the clap and our resident ghost!" Humphrey added.

"Ah yes," Isabella added.

She was a little taken aback by his directness, but looking at their table and the number of finished beer glasses there, this was less of a surprise.

"The clap is syphilis, Mr. Humphrey. Very common then I believe"

"Indeed it was Doctor Smith", Professor Hudson interjected

"Please call me Isabella" she replied. Why are the English always so formal? She thought to herself.

"I think it was after the Second World War that antibiotics, especially penicillin emerged. These have proved pretty effective in combating syphilis. Maybe resistance is starting. STDs, sexually transmitted diseases are one of my major problems in gynecology. Pregnancy and birth complications often result when these are present, sometimes fatal for the baby and sometimes even the mother. Just this afternoon we successfully delivered a baby but there were complications due to STDs."

"So we still have problems?" Professor Hudson added.

"Yes we do and probably always will, given human nature and the way diseases always evolve.'

"Things change but stay the same" I added.

Isabella laughed. "One of my husband's favourite quotes."

"Some truth in that." Professor Hudson replied.

There seemed to be an innate English love of committees. It appeared the 'Slippery Jake Committee ' had been formed with its base in the Bull. Meetings were a bit ad hoc, but they would be scheduled regularly most Friday afternoons.

Isabella and I got home, just. I took the old car along to the Mitsubishi dealer. He gave me £50 for it. That would be around $70 US as I write this, mainly out of sympathy. I then test drove the new Mitsubishi SUV. It was like getting into the Star Ship Enterprise. I half expected to see 'Klingons' on the starboard bow.

However, my mind drifted across to the great Japanese Studio Ghibli Anime cartoon 'Spirited Away'.

In particular 'Haku' the river spirit. It was like flying on a carpet. The main problem was realizing there was an engine there at all.

Isabella was more than impressed. This fitted in with other plans she had. More on this later.

Meanwhile back in the Bull Public House, Old Slippery had made quite an impression in the Lounge Bar. Everybody at their tables was looking around at him. Pictures on cell/mobiles were being taken. It looks like the news would be out there very soon. Many people were a bit apprehensive understandably at first. Beryl, Sid, and the serving staff were taking all of this in their stride. This reassured but still puzzled the customers. There he was Old Slipper, nonchalantly sitting back, and smoking away at his ghostly clay pipe, looking around at everyone.

Chapter Seven: Two New 'Food' Bars Are Set Up. 'Slippery Jake Productions' To Be Formed

Beryl and Sid had two daughters they were both very proud of Sarah and Jane. They were married in turn to Carlos and Matteo, respectively from Colombia and Italy. The four of them were running a very successful restaurant further into London. They had been in discussion for a while with Beryl and Sid about expanding the range of food at the Bull.

There were problems with space. The Lounge Bar was where food was being served. The Entertainment Bar at the corner of the pub was proving very popular with the range of music that was offered during the weekend, plus it was hired out from time to time. The Public Bar was in the middle for the heavier drinking, binge crowd. Fights and arguments often resulted plus 'throwing up' outside the pub. Although this 'mob' did bring in a lot of money, this was not the direction that Beryl and Sid wanted to move the pub. The number of 'bingers' seemed to be declining, thank god. During most of the week, the Public Bar was hardly used.

Sid and Beryl had plans to extend the Lounge Bar into the Public Bar. They also both thought the cellar underneath could be cleared out and renovated. The Entertainment Bar at the end would be kept, as this did prove useful.

Beryl and Sid knew I had contacts in the building trade. I brought people in to thoroughly inspect and survey all of the Bull. They thought a Lounge Bar extension plus a conversion of the cellar was also a good idea, as an additional restaurant space. I duly brought in a range of builders, carpenters, painters, and decorators. The conversions were undertaken with the minimum of disruption. There were no problems with regulations. Especial attention was paid to 'Slippery's Chest' in the cellar. He was hovering a lot down there whilst the conversion took place. There was no damp in the cellar. The workmen soon got used to him. Sid warned them not to get too familiar with him and start taking the mickey. News had got around. They knew this ghost had a sensitive ego, and the extreme consequences of upsetting him could be fatal for those concerned. Slippery meanwhile was fascinated by the combination of traditional tools he remembered and all the new electrical equipment that was being used. The ghost was a very fast learner. He could see that a traditional panel saw and a hammer still had their uses. A ventilation system was set up. All of this was expensive. This included new furniture, paneling restoration, and decoration. A fire exit had to be installed plus a new cooking area. The costs would be recovered soon enough with increased profits. The notoriety of the pub caused an ever-increasing footfall. Marigold and Percival, the two pub cats, soon made excellent use of the newly installed radiators downstairs.

The Cellar Bar Restaurant was a 'godsend'. Another antique Regency Chair had been discovered down there. This soon provided Old Slippery with a new 'throne'.

Whilst the conversion was taking place, food continued to be served in the Lounge Bar, where tables were set aside.

Both the downstairs Cellar Bar Restaurant and the upstairs Lounge Bar Restaurant was soon very successful. The bar staff doubled up as waiters and waitresses. This was proving popular. Beryl and Sid were able to serve a very good range of quality food thanks to the help of their daughters and sons-in-law. The kitchen area had been enlarged and a very good overall chef was added. Specific dishes could be sent down from their restaurant in emergencies or if specific cuisine was requested. Better quality wines were introduced along with liquors. This was also the case with spirits.

The Lounge Bar Restaurant and Cellar Bar Restaurant started to fill up during the day. Word got around that good food was available. Office meetings were set up in the Bars. A more discerning clientele meant more profits. Yes, that Public Bar had gone along with the associated 'plebs'. They soon found another nearby pub which they happily went to and wrecked every weekend.

The regulars were not forgotten. The sofas and associated tables and chairs were kept in place around the periphery in the Lounge Bar. The Bull wanted to retain being an excellent 'Real Ale' pub serving draught beers and continue to get good CAMERA (Campaign For Real Ale) ratings. Regulars like the Old Majors were valued. Neither Sid or Beryl wanted to go all the way and set up a 'Bistro Pub'. They wanted to keep the atmosphere and the continuity of the old pub.

So it was Friday afternoon again with three weeks to go before Christmas. I was stuck in school for another two weeks. Luckily for Professor James Hudson and Dr. Amelia Smith, their terms had finished at Oxford. Mine just kept grinding on. End of term events and musical events were all planned for the end of the term. You were supposed to summon enough energy to enthusiastically take part in all of these. I just about managed. Getting to the Bull on a Friday afternoon was not a problem though.

Detective Chief Inspector Higgins seemed to have set up an alternative office at the Bull.

His inter con and three cell/mobiles were laid out in front of him. These devices frequently went off. If anything serious came through, he had to move quickly. He had a pretty smart BMW saloon in the car park. If the 'proverbial hit the fan', he would speed away with all sirens blazing. Luckily for him, this was not very often. He also did a weekend shift, so being at the Bull on a Friday afternoon was some respite. He had his laptop too. Case notes were typed up from the files he brought along.

He could not reproach his two 'trainee Inspectors' either. He used these pub sessions to review their work. All in all, it seemed to be working out very nicely for everyone. Lina and Magda seemed happy with this arrangement as well. Both couples were living together, but they all wanted to be together as much as possible. Very sweet, young love.

This time the pictures from last Friday's manifestations were out there. They were nothing like the same quality as Sandra's and Kevin's, but there was enough there to get a good idea of what the ghost looked like.

Luckily Pamela Parsons had also arrived. She had helped Sandra and Kevin. They had both managed to get a visit to the technical department. The technical staff at the BBC were very impressed with their equipment. They authenticated their recordings and asked them to keep in close contact. The technical staff would also help both these young people on 'ownership' of what they had produced. Once the recordings were out there on the web etc, there was little that could be done. They did get good legal advice on how all this could be managed.

With all this in mind, Pamela Parsons suggested that a company should be set up 'Slippery Jake Productions' to manage all these ramifications. She had prepared papers which were given to all those present. I kept one back for Isabella as I thought she too was part of the group. Pamela agreed to this.

This was not before time. The press had 'got wind' of what had happened in the Bull. Tentative articles had been already been written in the press, both broadsheet and 'red tops'. That is the 'serious' press and the 'popular press'. Reporters were starting to flood in along with the cameramen. Beryl's patience was starting to wear thin. She has very little time for their 'blather'. Yes, trade was up. Both Sid and Beryl wanted to expand the restaurant. Hoards of press leaning over the bar asking the same question over and over again was a lot to put up with. Beer glasses were flying across the bar. They both knew this would not last.

There was also the influx of the 'ghost nerds'. Young men mostly, who had given up on 'having a life.' Personal hygiene was an issue with some. They drank and eat as little as possible, just waiting for the ghost to appear. This was not the clientele that Sid and Beryl wanted.

Pamela Parsons suggested we should all read through the papers she had supplied to everyone and get them signed and back to her by next Friday, back here at the Bull. The influx of the press and the media, in general, was getting too much for the bar staff, as well as Beryl and Sid.'

Chapter Eight: The Bull Public House Becomes Very Popular With Consequences

Despite all the recent 'Slippery' manifestation, the Lounge and Cellar Bar Restaurants were proving very popular. This was down mostly to the quality of the food, drinks, and service. Yes, reporter hacks and 'anorak nerds' were still lurking about, this did not put off customers any more than the Resident Ghost.

Sid and Beryl were overjoyed with all of this. It was now just two weeks before Christmas. I still had half a week to crawl through at school.

Plus the weather was even more gray and cold with a perpetual wet drizzle. I came in. ordered my pint, and slumped into my comfy leather chair. Everybody was there, as usual. We had to wait for Isabella who again was working late. She had started her shift at 5 am. Professor James Hudson quipped.

"You seemed bushed Young David!"

"Yes, unlike you academics we work full terms." I snapped back.

I then said sorry, I did not work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when I did my property work. I wondered how my colleagues coped, working full time and this was in a pretty good school? The pint revived me though. Pamela Parsons got down to business. All the documents were handed back. She duly checked these and said they were all fine. 'Slippery Productions' was formally set up. This way we could try and get some control over the media.

It was about then that Isabella arrived. She seemed flustered and ordered a brandy. She had been working very long hours and had several difficult operations.

"A young girl nearly lost her baby. I thought birth control was very advanced here, but these girls still get into trouble."

I put my arm around her. She signed the form and sat back and had another brandy. Magda came back like a shot.

It was then that it happened. A table had been reserved by the window. A group came in and sat down. The Detective Chief Inspector immediately 'clocked' them.

"Ruskies, or something like that. 'Ivans'. See the overdressed bloke in the middle, those two 'professional' young ladies. The two over flashy heavy geezers. Those two with the big coats could well be 'packing' (having guns). Been aware of that crew for a while. Into 'nose candy' (cocaine), opiates, meths, club drugs, plus trafficking."

He said all this very quietly. He also sent a message via his inter con back to his base, warning them of the situation, but not to take any action in the pub.

The Detective Chief Inspector also knew that the City of London and all those testosterone-fueled City Traders were the big magnet for all of this. Given the 'Majors' background, he felt he should remain 'buttoned up' on this one. Old Slippery was lapping all this up, as of course, he could read the Detective Chief Inspectors' mind. More on this later.

Old Slippery was there. The chair cleaning trick had worked again. Of course Old Slippery knew full well who these people were. They were a considerable threat to the Bull. For now, he was appraising the situation.

There was laudanum around in his day. This was a form of opium and highly addictive. It was used as a pain killer. Laudanum was mostly alcohol, with some opium added. Like many others, such as the great poet Keats, Shelley and Lord Byron, Old Slippery was addicted. There was also snuff, tobacco pushed up the nose and his clay pipe. But this plethora of drugs? This really perplexed the Old Ghost.

"Well lads," The Chief told his apprentices very quietly. "This is big-league sh** now!"

"Those geezers can smell coppers a mile off. Call one of your ladies over for another round. Ask them, lads, if they have noticed anything?"

Magda came over and seemed upset.

"They are bad Russians and those girls are from Ukraine. They open their legs for money!"

James asked her gently what they were talking about.

"Yes baby, they say more bitches will come soon, some virgins, plus a lot more 'goods' from Colombia and China."

"Keep your cool love. They probably guess you are Polish."

"We need a picture but how?" The Detective Chief Inspector asked plaintively.

"Ah, a selfie!!!" was James' reply!

It was then that she got out her cell/mobile, put her arms tightly around James, and started to take a whole range of lovey-dovey pics, a whole number around the Lounge Bar. Beryl was more than a bit puzzled, but many of the regulars knew they were both well into a relationship. Yes, young love again. What she did manage to do was get some very good shots of the 'Russian' crew in the background without them knowing.

"Genius young lady!" The Detective Chief Inspector whispered. "I should give her your job, James" laughing quietly.

James looked kind of pleased and Magda was elated.

The Detective Chief Inspector reminded her again in a whisper "Cool young lady"

Major Humphrey then inquired. "Russian Johnnies?"

"Yes, Major Humphrey" Was the Detective Chief Inspector's reply.

"A very rum crowd what, had my fill of all that in Afghanistan. Schtum Chief Inspector?"

"This could be a very sticky wicket!"

"Yes, schtum Major."

Please note, I do not want to castigate all Russians by any means. Crime is everywhere and that was certainly true in London.

The Russian crew was none the wiser that they had been rumbled, They seemed to be involved in a very heated discussion. Magda reported back that this was all about money.

It was then that something quite astonishing happened. There were definite shakings and rattlings. Slippery was far from happy. He had been reading the mind of the Detective Chief Inspector and knew something had to be done. The Russians had barely noticed him up to that point. This was going to quickly change!

The Russian table was taken by surprise. This allowed the Detective Chief Inspector to discreetly usher people out of the Lounge Bar. His young apprentices helped with this along with the bar staff, Beryl and Sid. It was a good job that they did. When the Lounge Bar customers came outside they were amazed to see a police armed response squad waiting outside, if they went out the front door. Those leaving by the side door to the pub's car park saw police vans parked there.

Slippery had a fixed expression on his face. His eyes had narrowed and were bright red. He was glaring across at the Russian table. The 'committee' had stayed behind. Sandra and Kevin had set up their equipment. There was a look of intent in the ghost's eyes. He seemed to know who they were. They were a threat to the Bull Public House. He knew evil when he saw it, having committed many evil deeds himself.

He moved/glided towards the 'Russian Mafia' table. He looked very critical at the two girls. There was a touch of lasciviousness in his gaze but mostly contempt. He knew full well who they were. Both the girls shrieked and ran to the bar door to escape. They were apprehended of course by the police as soon as they left the building.

The Russians brought out a Glock pistol each and started offloading these into Old Slippery. The bullets flew harmlessly through the ghost. He was dead anyway. The Right Hon Jake Horatio Higginbottom seemed impressed. These pistols did not seem to need reloading. If only he had a pair of these when he was a Highwayman? He grabbed one of the 'heavies' by the throat. The 'heavy' immediately went into cardiac arrest, a heart attack, and slumped to the ground. The other 'heavy' rushed to the door and ran outside to the front. He was ordered to lie flat on the ground and throw his gun forward, towards the armed response group. But the other 'heavy' started pumping bullets out. He was immediately shot and killed. One bullet straight into the forehead.

The third man, the leader, tried to sneak out of the Lounge Bar to no avail. Old Slippery toyed with the idea of thrusting his actual rapier sword through the leader's heart. He thought better of this and simply grabbed the man's throat. He turned a strange blue colour. The robber slumped to the floor, gasping for breath.

Inside, Old Slippery knew what had happened outside. He would soon be administrating eternal torture to this 'heavy' with the help of many others. The ghost went back to his chair and faded away. The rattling and shaking stopped. Isabella went straight over to the other 'heavy' on the floor. She checked for a pulse. It was there but very faint. Liza administered first aid pushing down hard on his chest. This did bring him round. He was quickly taken out on a stretcher under armed guard. Likewise, she brought the 'main man' round. He too was taken out on a stretcher by armed guards. They were at first taken to hospital.

The Detective Chief Inspector and his apprentices had to go straight back to their police station. He wanted to question the two remaining Russians through an interpreter. Once they were fit enough. Magda also later added a statement. All three police officers had a quick stiff malt whiskey courtesy of Sid and Beryl before they left. The rest of us, the professors, Isabella, the Majors, plus Sandra and Kevin had stiff drinks courtesy of the pub.

The Bull was closed for the rest of the night. Police forensic teams had to thoroughly examine the crime scene. Sandra and Kevin's videos fitted in with what had happened, but the police, like everyone else before, were perplexed by what they had seen on these recordings of Old Slippery and how he dispatched the 'Russian Mafia'.

There was another upshot from all these dramatic events. Quite a number of the Russian Mafia's Glock bullets had sprayed into the old and very expensive oak paneling in the Lounge Bar Restaurant. Beryl was understandably livid. Oak panels could cost anything up to £400 a square meter that is around $600 US. Plus these were originals. The Bull had a comprehensive property insurance policy but there were some additional costs to pay. I had words with Sid and Beryl and with my contacts. We were able to get some excellent replacement oak panels at half the cost. I got a few free beers out of this as well. Beryl, especially, was even less enamoured with these Russian gangsters. She fully forgave Old Slippery though. She knew he had operated with the best interests of the Bull Pub. He could read her thoughts. This pleased the Old Ghost a lot.

It was now a week to go before Christmas. Trade should have been really good then. Yes, things were picking up. The pub had been closed down for the weekend to let the police do their forensic work. However. the recent events and expulsion of the 'Russian Mafia' had made a big dent in trade. People were frightened to go back, understandably. The Entertainment Bar had also suffered. There had been widespread coverage in the media. International TV crews had come round. Yes, the Lounge Bar was still full of media 'hacks' and nerds waiting for something to occur. Special parties had booked dinner tables for the same reason. This was better than nothing, Beryl thought. Regulars were starting to drift back in and some office parties had been booked.

Pamela Parsons's proposal was a godsend. She was busy at the BBC. She had set up, along with Kevin and Sandra a 'Slippery Jake' FaceBook page. He had his own Twitter account, @SlipperyJack.com, plus G mail and Yahoo email accounts. Plus of course his own web page. This was the 21st century after all. There was printing back in the 18th Century. However, a lot relied then on just a quill pen.

Kevin and Sandra were kept busy managing all of this. They would refer anything difficult back to Pamela Parsons. The committee would be kept informed. Pamela herself, was up to her neck organizing the Christmas programming schedule, so she could not easily get to the Bull. However, all her online information plus the setting up of a company had made it easy to deflect a lot of the media. Beryl and Sid and the bar staff were telling everyone to refer to the 'Slippery' web site. Lina, along with Justin was going to Estonia for a few days over the Christmas period. James and Magda would be going to Poland. Sven likewise was spending time in Sweden. All would be back for the New Year. Beryl had all these positions covered with temporary staff, again she was very grateful, for her daughters' help.

Christmas was really close but the 'committee' was there as usual, without Pamela Parsons. Both 'professors' were present, Dr. Amelia Smith and Professor James Hudson. I was at last free from school. This was not the case with Isabella. Child births did not respect calendars. She would try and drop round, Needless to say, the police contingent was there along with the 'Majors'. Detective Chief Inspector Higgins was kept busy telling assorted media types to "Fu** off" in the nicest possible way. He knew full well who the people were sitting around the table and were leaning over all the time trying to catch snippets of conversation.

Professor James did have some very interesting information.

"Although there many obstacles to publication during the Regency period, high taxes, censorship, etc, there were a large number of newspapers to start with. This is a good source of general information, and like now you can't believe most of what is written in them."

The Professor looked around the various 'reporters' on various tables nearby, with a surreptitious grin.

"There is enough there to start to get to a picture of our 'resident ghost'.

"Yes, he seemed to be a man of two extremes. One kind and gentle and caring, the other totally ruthless and callous. We have already seen both these sides of his character manifested here by his 'ghost'."

"The historical records are clear on this".

"I have several students who seemed to want to take up doctoral studies, Phds, based on studying 'the Right Hon Jake Horatio Higginbottom'"

Dr. Amelia Smith laughed at this and added. "Yes me too. I would normally discourage students from jumping on a 'popular bandwagon' ".

"Me too!" Professor Hudson added.

"Yes, but given his notoriety and the scattered records that are out there, we could do with all the help we can in pulling this all altogether."

"Unlike other notable highwaymen such as the much earlier Dick Turpin, 'our' highwayman had this 'lascivious' tag very much attached to him. As the so-called highly hypocritical Victoria period advanced along with its' so-called 'Victorian values' that "Slippery's' records were destroyed. These included personal letters and official papers. This Public House had a reputation as a place of 'ill repute' of course."

It was at this point that Isabella turned up. She had a quick summary of what was discussed so far.

She added:

"Ah back to our favourite topic of conversation. syphilis and our resident ghost. I have managed to do some research and talked to specialist colleagues. Mr. Higginbottom may well have had 'neurosyphilis'. This is when syphilis attacks the brain. It may have also been the case that our 'ghost' tended towards schizophrenia. This combined with advancing neurosyphilis could well account for these extreme mood swings. He would count himself lucky that he was eventually hung as the advancing infection would have proved increasingly painful over an extended period."

"Ah, so our ghost was better off being hung?" Percy added.

"You could say that I suppose Major," Liza replied.

We decided to send all the papers across to Sandra and Kevin and copies to Pamela Parsons. Both Dr. Smith and Professor Hudson stated that 'Slippery's' many lady friends had secretly kept love letters and other papers. These had the habit of turning up from time to time. Kept in the attic or in some bottom draw as a bundle of old papers. Everybody thought it was a good idea to give all this some publicity to see if anything else was out there. There was a lot of work to do and it needed doctoral students to undertake a lot of this work.

Since that Friday, Old Slippery had remained very dormant. It was if he knew he was in the 'dog house'. He had not appeared sitting in his chair. There were no rattles. Maybe also he did not want to encourage these reporters.

Sid came over and offered records he had on the ghost. There were a lot of these going back to the highwayman's life. These would be gratefully received. He also noted that Slippery had a habit of appearing and disappearing for some time, years at a time. This time, it was if he knew he had overdone things. We would all have to wait on that.

The meeting broke up and everybody wished everybody else a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Isabella and I drove back in our dream SUV. She could be called at any time at the hospital. The senior staff, at last, recognized the amount of work she had done and promised her this would only be if they were short-staffed and there was an emergency.

Chapter Nine: The New Year

Dueling, Movies And A TV Programme

The New Year came round pretty quickly. The London weather was just as miserable if not quite a bit colder now. There was more than a touch of frost on the ground.

The Bull did have an open fire in the Lounge Bar Restaurant, just down from 'Slippery's Chair'. This was a classic log fire and added a lot of warmth to the room. Both cats took full advantage of this, curled up snugly by the fire. All the festivities had gone well. There were good music events held in the Entertainment Bar. The Lounge Bar Restaurant had filled back up again with a more balanced mix of people. The 'news' circus always wants something 'new'. They need new novelties all the time. Slippery was old news for them now. Having said that there were developments in the offing, more on those later.

Yes, the first Friday came around again. The new Oxford University terms were about to start but both Professor James Hudson and Dr. Amelia Smith were there. Pamela Parsons also found time to be present. The Christmas period had been busy at the BBC, but now there was a slight hiatus before the Spring programming kicked in. Isabella also came along with me. She had a rare evening off. She was also starting to develop a real interest in all these 'Slippery Jake' matters.

Professor James had come with some very interesting new information.

"There is something we have overlooked regarding the life of the Right Hon Jake Horatio Higginbottom. He was a very proficient duelist."

The Professor took a sip of his beer, licked his lips, and carried on.

"Our Highway Man much preferred dueling with a rapier sword. He was very proficient with pistols needless to say, given his occupation. He considered a sword more 'gentlemanly'. Pistols smacked of his 'trade'. Yes, he was a total snob as well."

"He had a ' second' which was recorded as his cousin. Formal duels took place at Putney Heath or Battersea Fields. These were a convenient horse ride away for our resident ghost."

"These were technically illegal during this period. However, the venerable judges quite often indulged in this from time to time. They also accepted this was an 'Honorable thing to do.'"

"Sometimes letters of apology were received and often accepted. In the case of Higginbottom, he never accepted any."

"Informal duels often took place in this very room. Those 'Russian Mafia' may well have sparked a memory in this ghost?"

"Here I go again ascribing consciousness to the specter ."

"This seems to be the case here." Pamela Parsons added.

"Yes Pamela, indeed!"

Then the professor got into the 'meat'.

"All these duels involved honour. The records show this, the letters and newspaper account we have found so far, that these all related to affairs of the heart.

"Ah, the young ladies!" Detective Chief Inspector Higgins exclaimed.

He was there with his two 'apprentices'. They were fully involved in any interaction they could get with their beloveds. Yes, the Bull was now ostensibly an extension of his office back at the Police Station. He had his laptop there and a pile of 'case papers', as did his two 'understudies.' They feverishly typed up reports and discussed ongoing 'cases' in between having the odd pint.

I had picked up on this and had my laptop there too. This was for filling out lesson plans plus bringing along students' folders and books for marking homework. Isabella looked askance at all of this. Typical lazy men, she was thinking to herself, which maybe was fairly close to the truth.

"Yes, Detective Chief Inspector." the professor replied.

"This could be a rival lover, a gentleman who had questioned the honour of any of the ladies. Yes, many were of a certain profession shall we say, but he did not like any inappropriate comments being made against any of them. Plus husbands."

"Husbands?" Percy had just woken up with that comment.

"Yes, Major, husbands!"

"And he got away with this?" Percy continued.

"He certainly did. The law courts then and magistrates always seemed to find mitigating circumstances. Even though he was often caught in flagrante delicto. His 'luck' did run out eventually. This was one of the many reasons for his hanging. So that is where he got the name 'Slippery Jake' from, his ability to escape the law?"

The professor added something critical and very relevant to the present.

"He was very protective of the barmaids and the landlady at the time. There were also many 'love children.'"

"With all of them?" I added.

"Could well be. As Amelia points out, a lot of records were destroyed, but we have enough to go on. Birth certificates are very interesting from that period. This is something for the Ph.D. students to get 'their teeth' into."

"Yes, very much." Dr. Amelia Smith interjected.

Professor Hudson continued. " Our 'ghost' very 'protective' towards the Public House, or Inn as it was then."

"Records show that he often gave out 'summary justice' with his rapier, to any miscreants, groups or individuals causing any excessive disturbances within the Inn. This could be the nonpayment for drinks, mistreating customers, especially, ladies and excessive lewd and drunken behaviour. Reflect on the ghost's recent behaviour here and I think you can see the same pattern repeating itself here recently just as he was in life."

"So he put it about a bit?" The Detective Chief Inspector added cheekily.

"More than just a bit!" Replied the professor laughing.

The second half of the meeting very much concerned with Pamela Parsons. She had some very important information.

"To get to the point. I have been approached by two Hollywood producers who see a potential in a 'Slippery Jake' movie."

We all produced a collective gasp at this.

"Plus, I am toying with the idea of producing a documentary for the BBC on our ghost. 'Slippery Jake Productions' would be involved as part of the production team. Like me, I know you are all very busy people."

Majors Percy and Humphrey looked a bit sheepish at this, as they were both retired.

"Gentlemen, I noticed your responses. Obviously, you too are both now retired, but we would all welcome your worldly wisdom."

"Thank you madam", came a reply for Percy. "We will endeavour to do our best."

"As for Hollywood and other movie outlets, we have no direct 'copyright' over our ghost. However, we do control a lot of the information. Plus coming back to the very pertinent comment regarding the ghost you made previously professor, we need to respect the memory of the Right Hon Jake Horatio Higginbottom, as well as everyone currently working in the pub plus anyone else for that matter."

"I have asked story outlines to be sent to me regarding any movie from HBO, Netflix, etc. There have already been some. Our ghost had been reported quite extensively in the States, Fox, CNN, etc. There seems to be an appetite for 'him' out there. There are hints even of a new 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise. Actors are already being sounded out for the possible role of 'Slippery Jake'. A new Johnny Depp even, I kid you not ladies and gentlemen. I have already had a number of inquiries. Plus, thanks Sandra and Kevin for the web site and FaceBook page. You two quickly update everything."

"Yes, we will get the professor's findings up very quickly and will add all this. Plus the more interesting TV/Movie proposition." Sandra added.

"Skype me later and we will discuss this." Was Pamela's reply.

"So we could have a family-friendly production, a full-on horror flic, or even an old 'Carry On'?"

"The late great Sid James would have made a brilliant Slippery Jake." The Detective Chief Inspector added half-joking.

Pamela laughed a bit. "This is pretty much the range I have been getting already. This is my world, but I will involve all of you. I have a legal team looking at what rights we would have and if we could all get paid."

Smiles all round with this.

"I can't guarantee all of this. 'Slippery Productions' would have to be credited on any movie for starters."

Half laughing again she went on. "Old Slippery would have loved all this notoriety."

Dr. Smith and Professor Hudson nodded at these remarks.

Professor Hudson then added, "The records clearly show he loved publicity. He was pretty vain. Given this apparent consciousness, this ghost has, I wonder how long before he becomes aware of his new notoriety?."

"A very moot point, we will wait and see." Dr. Amelia Smith added.

Isabella then observed. "Pamela is this all going to be too much for you, given all the work you must have at the BBC?"

"Thanks, Isabella for your concern. I can cope and as I said the web site does make things a lot easier. Also, Dr. Smith and Professor Hudson thank you for forwarding any new finds."

They both nodded smiling. "We will both keep you appraised, as and when we have updates'" Came the response from Dr. Smith.

Carrying on Pamela added.

"I will discuss all of this with you first and send you all the information, However, if I feel that any of the Hollywood proposals are inappropriate I will send you all the details. Some already are pretty 'iffy'."

"Our documentary on the BBC will be an altogether different matter. I have outlined some proposals which I will discuss with you all the next time we meet. I thought we had enough to discuss today as it was."

With that, the meeting wound up. The Majors stayed on. They would leave just before their wives' WI meeting finished. The 'detectives' had to move on as all of us did.

Isabella gave me a reassuring look as we left.

"Love this is all starting to sound exciting. Luckily, we have Pamela Parsons."

"Yes love, she certainly has her head screwed on."

Isabella drove back. She really enjoyed driving 'Haku'. The end of another week. Again Isabella had no scheduled shifts, but she could be called in at any time. We did have a pretty pleasant and relaxing weekend though.

A brief note on Slippery's cape, three-cornered hat, and the rapier sword. There was also a small whetstone. The Old Ghost wanted to make sure his rapier blade was as sharp as possible at all times. A shoulder red velvet cape plus the Highwayman's original dueling blade and hat were kept securely locked in an old oak trunk in the pub's basement, directly below 'Slippery's chair' along with the whetstone.

With the cellar restorations, it was felt that this trunk and 'his chair' should not be moved. Any attempt to move it or even examine either item led to Slippery really getting very upset.

What was really strange was both these real objects could somehow appear being used and worn by the ghost? Slippery Jake liked to use his original rapier blade in any violent manifestations. Of course, he had to wear his beloved three-cornered hat. How otherwise would he produce the extravagant twirling of his hat as he bowed? How these objects could be moved from out of the trunk was also a total mystery.

Also the 'real' was seamlessly combined with the ghostly. He had appeared in a pair of 'ghostly' blue and orange striped pantaloons/trousers. Although there could be some variations of these. There was the 'ghostly' pale blue or sometimes red, full-breasted jacket with enormous lapels. Also, the totally over the top, seemingly silk, white cravat. With his reappearances to the Bull, Old Slippery has been puzzled by one thing. Why does everybody dress up like peasants in the 21st century with all those blue jeans?

He really did not like men wearing blue jeans. Well, tight-fitting jeans for young ladies did interest him a lot.