Page 67 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

Bert flung open the door and rushed in. Jack quickly followed him inside and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dark gloom of the large shed. Thankfully, the low sun was shining through the small window, enabling him to see.

It was hot and stuffy inside, but where Jack had been expecting tools and all the equipment required for tending the vegetable patch, he saw some kind of chemical experiment instead.

Three large metal containers were lined up in a row. One looked like a hot water tank with a pipe leading into a wide copper vat. On a nearby table were lots of potato peelings and what looked like mash. The whole air smelt of vegetables and alcohol.

‘What is all this?’ asked Jack, stepping forward.

Then they heard the sniffing of someone upset nearby.

Jack quickly ran around the back of the table and there was Lily, tear-stained and curled up in a ball on the floor of the shed.

‘Hey,’ said Jack, crouching down in front of her. ‘Are you OK?’

She looked up at him with red eyes, wiping her wet cheeks with her hand. Staying silent, she glanced over his shoulder and up at her grandfather.

‘There’s my girl,’ said Bert, looking relieved. ‘You alright, love?’

She gave her grandad a teary smile. But as she reached out for him an empty bottle rolled out from her hand.

Bert suddenly looked horrified. ‘You drank some of it?’

Lily gave an unexpected giggle at which point Jack realised she was actually quite drunk. ‘Little bit,’ she slurred, with another giggle.

‘What is this stuff?’ asked Jack, taking the empty bottle and sniffing it. It was strong alcohol. Or it had been.

‘Was it a full bottle?’ asked Bert, leaning forward to stare in horror at his granddaughter.

Lily looked cross-eyed as she shook her head. ‘Just a couple of swigs, Grandad,’ she told him.

Bert sighed with what Jack guessed was relief. ‘Thank God,’ he murmured. ‘It’s too strong for you.’ He looked across at Jack. ‘Her mother can’t find out about this.’

‘About what?’ Jack straightened up and walked over to where some wine bottles and jam jars were lined up in the sun on a table. He took a sniff at the cloudy liquid inside. ‘What is all this?’

Finally Bert muttered something that Jack couldn’t catch.

‘Say that again?’ said Jack.

‘It’s moonshine.’

Quickly, Jack glanced around the shed and it all began to make sense. The bag of potatoes. The large vat of liquid. The refilled wine bottles.

‘How strong is it?’ he asked.

Jack had read up about moonshine and how it could be almost 100 per cent proof in some cases.

‘Very,’ said Bert, looking downcast. ‘You don’t need to drink much of the stuff to get into trouble.’

Jack glanced across at Lily in horror. She watched him with wide eyes, wrapping her arms around her, as if to protect herself from more hurtful comments from Jack.

‘I can’t believe you left this stuff around for anyone to find,’ said Jack.

‘We didn’t,’ Bert told him. ‘We were very careful. The door is always locked.’

‘We?’ repeated Jack. ‘Who’s we?’

Bert pressed his lips together. ‘Me and Arthur.’

It all began to make sense. Arthur disappearing in the afternoon and then returning somewhat hazy. If he had drunk some of the stuff, then it could be lethal.