The Curse of the Ripped Hat

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Whilst investigating the death of a local computer programmer, a grateful fishmonger called Ocean Jones uncovers a legend about a supernaturally-cursed, ripped hat circulating throughout Scotland. As soon as anyone uses the hat, he or she has exactly 70 days left to live.

The doomed few appear to be ordinary people during day to day life, but when photographed, they look distorted. A marked person feels like a backward dog to touch.

Ocean gets hold of the hat, refusing to believe the superstition. A collage of images flash into her mind: a giant badger balancing on a wicked computer programmer, an old newspaper headline about a flying accident, a hooded mouse ranting about fingernails and a drinking well located in a wild place.

When Ocean notices her eyebrows have dog-like properties, she realises that the curse of the ripped hat is true and calls in her husband, a housekeeper called Brad Connor, to help.

Brad examines the hat and willingly submits himself to the curse. He finds that the same visions flash before his eyes. He finds the giant badger balancing on a wicked computer programmer particularly chilling. He joins the queue for a supernatural death.

Ocean and Brad pursue a quest to uncover the meaning of the visions, starting with a search for the hooded mouse.