Bad Machinery by John Allison for January 20, 2023

Ha. We just called back to the beginning of the story which was the “end” of The Case of the Rock Bottom and coincidentally where Jack’s role was to hold a ladder with Linton.

So this, as you may recall from the beginning of the storyline, is Todd Baxter, who was a super-emo rock star before his drummer murdered him and stole credit for his songs, and who is now doomed to haunt Cheviot Hall forever. Apparently filling Phyllis with bricks from Cheviot Hall was sufficient to allow him to haunt her boot instead.

Jack’s plan is pure genius. That singer is so sad and hopeless that the big talking walnut will poison himself if he tries to absorb him.

So Todd’s ghost doesn’t just haunt Cheviot Hall but also the very bricks of the building itself? That’s some serious haunting!

This gas bags’ motive is unclear.