Murder At Zero Hour

by Paul Westwood

  Chapter 3

  The Present - Ellen’s Story

  Lieutenant Grant was beginning to look exhausted from telling his tale. I thought it was in his best interest if he took a rest. I interrupted by saying, “It is getting rather late.”

  With a nod, he looked out the window and looked surprised when he saw that the sun had set a long time ago. Glancing at the clock on his nightstand, he said, “You're right, Ellen, I'm afraid I've kept you up for most of the night. It is nearly one in the morning.”

  “Don't worry,” I said graciously, “I'm used to long hours working here.”

  “I bet you are. Please feel free to leave me for the night. I'm sure the guards outside will see that I'm well-taken care of. They wouldn't want their prize to go and disappear on them.” He said the words with little humor.

  “I'm afraid you won't be going anywhere on that leg of yours,” I said.

  “This is just a scratch,” he said bravely.

  I had cleaned the wound as best as I could, but I was still afraid for his health. A bad infection could lead then to gangrene which meant the leg would have to be removed. I’ve seen enough wounds to know that this was a real possibility. Well, I wasn't about to mention this to him right now. He had enough worries. So instead I said, “I'm sure you'll be up on your feet soon enough, William. But for now, you'll have to let me take care of you. Don’t put any undue pressure on your bad leg.”

  He gave me a flippant salute and said, “Very well, Nurse Pennington, I'll be entirely at your disposal.”

  I got up and leaned over to adjust the pillows at his back. He seemed to enjoy the attention and gave me a knowing look. I said carefully, “Now, Lieutenant, you're hardly in shape for such activities.”

  “I'm sorry, Ellen. I wasn't trying to shock your sensibilities by being so forward. It's just living in the trenches makes you lonely for female companionship. A great beauty like you is too much for a man of my temperament.”

  “I've heard all the excuses before,” I said with a laugh. “You aren't the first and you won't be the last officer to make an advance on me.”

  He actually blushed and said, “I'm sorry, Ellen. I'm none too familiar with the fair sex.”

  “You never even had a girlfriend back home?” I asked, not believing a word of it.

  “Oh, I've gone on a few dates, but nothing serious ever came of it.”

  For some reason I felt an unexpected flash of jealousy. I covered the emotion by shaking my head and saying, “Now you're having me on, William. A good-looking bloke like you must have had loads of girlfriends. I bet you really came over here because you got some girl in trouble.”

  He looked at me queerly and then let out a laugh, “Now you're having me on.”

  I smiled. “Really, I think it is best that you get some rest now,” I said. I adjusted his blankets and went to draw the curtains shut. I walked over to the light switch by the door and turned it off.

  “Good night, Ellen,” his voice came from the darkness. “I hope you will stop by to hear the rest of my story.”

  “Good night, William,” I said in turn. “I will be seeing you in the morning.”

  I quietly shut the door quiet and passed by the two sleepy-looking guards. I was about to turn down the hall towards my quarters when I saw Major Radford leaning lazily against the corridor wall. He had an impatient expression as if he had been expecting me to come by a long time ago. He motioned me over.

  He looked haggard and rundown as if this war was taking a personal toll on his health. Professionally speaking, he looked as if he needed a month of bed rest. But behind his slovenliness there was a bright twinkle in his eyes. As I walked towards him, he seemed to look right through me as if he knew everything about me. It was a rather chilling sensation that I unsuccessfully tried to shake off.

  “What is it?” I asked inquisitively as I tried to meet his steadfast gaze.

  He looked about to see if anyone was nearby. “Shh,” he hushed me in a low voice. “I wish to have a few words with you. Is there anywhere quiet we can talk?”

  I led him to a nearby wardroom that was unoccupied. I turned on the overhead light and after the door was shut, he passed by me to prowl about the room. “What do you wish to discuss?” I asked shortly. I was feeling tired and just wanted to go and sleep in my little cot at the nurse’s quarters.

  He turned to face me and said, “This Lieutenant Grant – you seem to be getting on with him rather well.”

  “I suppose so,” I admitted.

  He nodded slowly. “It seems that he is telling you his side of the story with rather more detail than he would give us.”

  “Have you been eavesdropping?” I asked and remembered that the door to Grant’s room had been open a crack. This detective must have had keen ears if he could overhear our conversation.

  “I'm afraid I was,” he admitted.

  I was disgusted at learning of this breach of privacy.

  He went on, “I must apologize for the ruse, but my curiosity got the better of me. I knew he would tell you things that he would never admit to me. The lieutenant seems to be telling you his whole life story from the beginning. What he had to say was rather interesting, but it still doesn't prove anything yet.”

  I sighed. “You'll find that many of the boys who come here have to talk. They have all of those memories and emotions from the front lines tied up inside. They want to talk to someone, and with a shortage of good vicars, who has a better ear than a nurse?”

  “And a pretty one at that,” he said blandly as if it was an obvious thing to say.

  “I wouldn't quite say that.”

  “I can tell that Lieutenant Grant would agree with me. He seems to have taken quite the interest in you. I want you to keep on getting his story out of him since I'm very interested in what he has to say.”

  “You mean he may be innocent?” I asked hopefully.

  “I didn't say anything of the sort,” Radford replied sternly. He puckered his lips and blew through his mustache. “As I said, I'm just curious. The story he told us seemed so fantastic, I could scarcely believe my ears. Does Lieutenant Grant seem like a liar to you?”

  “No,” I said truthfully.

  He started pacing back and forth along the room and suddenly stopped in front of the curtains. With a quick sweep of his hand he yanked them open and looked to the grounds below like he expected we were being observed. I said nothing, but instead just watched him with amazement. I couldn't decide if the man was crazy or just seized with unbridled energy.

  “Well, I don't think he is a liar either,” he finally said. “I've met a few con men in my time, and Grant just doesn’t seem the type. I want to see justice done and hope that you will help me.”

  I said, “I'll do as you ask.”

  “Good. I'll try to stay out of the way as much as I can. It would be good if we can meet here every night, so you can pass his story on to me as you remember it. I will be doing some further investigation and will not always be available to personally listen to his words. Do you think you could remember clearly what he has told you?”

  “I will try.”

  “Good.”

  I stifled a sudden yawn and said, “If you don't need me anymore, sir, I think I will retire for the evening.”

  Without replying, he suddenly reached out to grab my shoulder. His grip was surprisingly strong. “Just make sure you don't tell anyone what you are doing on my behalf. For now, this is just between you and me.”

  “Very good, Major,” I said and pulled away from him. As I left the room I could feel his eyes on my back. This had been an interesting day.