Murder At Zero Hour

by Paul Westwood

  Chapter 15

  Ellen’s Story

  The man who headed the hospital's motor pool was an old curmudgeon, unfit for front line duty, but with the use of my womanly charm, I managed to procure a car. A few gracious smiles, a good story, and he gave me the keys to some old claptrap. Prentice wound the starter and looked up in surprise when he saw me get behind the wheel.

  His mouth was agape. “You know how to drive?” he asked.

  “Father had a Rolls that I used to bandy about in. I've driven plenty.”

  “Perhaps it would be better if I drove,” he said as he looked nervously about. “I don’t know what the soldiers would think if a woman drove up to the town with me as the passenger. I’m not sure I could ever live it down.”

  “You men are so stuffy,” I said with a pout.

  He looked quite uncomfortable. I got some odd satisfaction out of this. He soon gave in and said, “Alright, but please drive carefully.”

  With a smile, he jumped in. I shifted into gear and soon we were off. It felt good to have the sun on my face and fly down that dirt road away from the stench of the hospital. Everywhere there were soldiers marching haphazardly down the sides of the road, staying out of the line of traffic. A supply lorry would pass the other way and kick up a cloud of dust. A few of the soldiers would see me in the car and began to wave and cheer. I laughed and gave them a wave back.

  Prentice snarled, “We're not on a parade.”

  “You are rather a stuffed shirt,” I shouted over the sound of the wind whistling past my ears.

  “You're not like any other girl I've ever met before - you're so headstrong. Tell me, does it run in the family?”

  I let out a little laugh. “I should think not. But there is no reason you should act so shocked.”

  “I'll try not to,” he said and shot me a momentary smile before I returned my concentration back to the road. We drove on a few more minutes, winding our way past a slow-moving lorry. Prentice then said hesitantly, “I hate to ask this, but I have to know – is there anything serious between you and Grant?”

  “Why do you ask?” I said as I felt my cheeks grow hot with embarrassment.

  “I would just like to know where I stand if I decided to pursue you.”

  “I don't know where Lieutenant Grant and I stand. We have never talked about our relationship at length.”

  “But you do love him, don't you? I heard you say so in the hospital.”

  “Those words were not meant for your ears,” I said. I turned my attention back to the road, trying to evade his eyes.

  He lapsed into silence. In the meanwhile, I wondered to myself did I really love William, or was I taken with the adventure of it all? For now, those were questions to be answered for another day. Right now we had to prove the poor man’s innocence.

  Taking a side road, I drove us over a rickety bridge and then into the town of Tremont. At first sight, I wasn't too impressed. Grant was right, it was a mean-looking place, and the inhabitants only stared unpleasantly at us as we drove by. I saw a slow-moving water wheel in the distance that creaked with a terrible groan. The streets were laid out with well-worn bricks that needed a good sweeping. In the distance, a dog repeatedly barked at no one in particular. Some British soldiers could also be seen, and they looked rather bored to be in such a place. I couldn't blame them.

  I pulled the car over. Prentice hopped out and went around to open the door for me.

  He said, “I hate to say that I haven't been here long. I'm still learning my way around. I do believe Childs's old company is billeted somewhere over there.”

  He took me by the hand and led me down a path that led to the outside of the village. We opened a creaky gate into a field where a big barn sat. It was sagging on one side, and the wood was weathered gray with age. Two soldiers smoking cigarettes dawdled near the wide-open door. When they saw me, they broke into grins, but when they saw Prentice they quickly stiffened up with a quick, formal salute.

  “Where is Sergeant Dobson?” Prentice drawled easily.

  “He's inside, sir,” a sallow faced soldier answered back. I couldn't help notice that his eyes lingered on me for quite some time.

  “This way, nurse,” the lieutenant said and gently took me by the arm to lead me inside.

  The interior of the barn smelled of sweat and urine. Men were sitting on the stacks of hay, smoking and talking amongst themselves. They all looked sickly and undernourished. A rough voice bellowed out, “Officer present. Everyone at attention!”

  The talking stopped, and the soldiers all rose to turn their glance at the lieutenant. He cleared his throat and said, “The nurse here has come for a medical visit to make sure you’re all fit.” Someone let out a chuckle, reeking of familiarity. That was cut off quickly once Prentice gave a cold stare in that direction. “Men are to proceed outside and remove their shirts. You will then get in line. You will then be examined by the nurse inside here.”

  “You heard the officer,” the sergeant shouted. “So off with them shirts and move outside on the double!” The soldiers quickly had their braces off and were removing their shirts. A few men grinned shyly in my direction while the whole group had moved outside like a herd of cattle.

  While I set up the medical apparatus on a bale of hay, Prentice said, “I know a few of Corporal Childs's cronies. When one of them comes in, I’ll tip you the wink.”

  The sergeant came up and asked, “What is this all about, sir? I haven't heard of any visits by a nurse. This isn't going to be a short-arm inspection is it? The boys won't like a nurse doing that job.”

  Prentice took him by the arm and said, “Special case, Dobson. I was told that the colonel was worried by a breakout of a particularly nasty strain of influenza. He asked the local hospital to help out due to the amount of potential patients. We want to nip this in the bud before we are swamped with sickness.”

  “I see, sir,” the sergeant said seriously. He saluted and then said, “I'll get the lads through to see the missus here as fast as I can.”

  “Very good, Sergeant, carry on.” He winked at me, and we watched as Dobson went outside. We could hear his voice shouting for the men to line up.

  The first soldier came in. He was a thin, young-looking man who seemed afraid for being the first inside.

  “Name?” Prentice barked.

  “Timson,” he whimpered.

  “Very well, Timson, take a seat in front of the nurse and follow her directions.”

  He looked rather healthy if a bit undernourished. I went through the motions of listening to his breathing with my stethoscope. After a minute of questioning him about flu symptoms, I sent him on his way. The boy looked rather relieved since he nearly ran out the barn door.

  One after another they came in. Some were worse than others, and I was rather taken aback by their poor health that would have hospitalized a normal man. These were tough soldiers, fighting in the worst conditions, but still facing their misery with stalwart hearts.

  Finally an older man with graying hair came in. Prentice winked in my direction and said, “Name?”

  “Peterson, sir,” he said sulkily. He looked around the barn suspiciously as if expecting the worst.

  “Go listen to the lady there and answer any questions she may have for you. It is important, mind you.”

  “Yes, sir,” he answered. Peterson then sat down in front of me. His gut bulged over his belt. He looked particularly well-fed compared to the other men. I listened to his chest and heard his heart thumping hard against his chest. This one was ready for the knackers, and I wondered at his age. He looked old, but he could have been anywhere between fifty and sixty.

  “You seem to be healthy enough,” I lied.

  “Thank you, miss,” he beamed pleasantly at me.

  “Tell me, do you know a Corporal Childs?”

  “Why do you ask?” he asked, his tone suddenly suspicious.

>   “It's a matter of his health,” I answered innocently.

  “I'm afraid I don't follow you, miss,” he said as he shot a glance back at the lieutenant. Prentice was standing off to the side, pretending to take little interest in the proceedings.

  “Well, there has been a nasty case of influenza going about. I'm afraid one of the patients at the hospital said he may have gotten it from Corporal Childs.”

  Peterson's face turned white as a ghost. Not that he was all that tan to begin with, but I definitely saw him pale with the news.

  “Are you sure, miss?”

  “I can only tell you what I've heard,” I said. “The patient in question died before we could learn anything more. It is important that we find Childs before he infects anyone else.”

  “Well, miss, I'm not sure why you're asking me,” he said defensively. “I hardly know the man.”

  Prentice stepped in and said, “He is in your company. I know for a fact that you chum around with him. Do you want more of your friends here to die because of you?”

  “No, sir,” he said, his voice quavering.

  “It will mean a court martial if you don't come clean.” Prentice’s voice was now thick with anger. I could only stare at the sudden change of the man. He was a fine actor.

  With a nervous twitch, Peterson's eyes darted between the two of us. He was about to stand up when the lieutenant's hand clamped on his shoulder and pushed him back down again.

  The man cautiously said, “I saw him, sir. He told me that he is hiding out near the regimental headquarters. He wouldn't tell me why, but it must be because he's sick.”

  “When did you see him last?” Prentice snapped.

  “It was just two days ago. I saw him sneaking through the village. He told me not to tell anyone. He told me he wasn't supposed to be about, but he was only out to get some liquor and tobacco.”

  “You did the right thing telling me this, soldier,” Prentice beamed at him. “Now it will be best if you don't tell anyone else about this. It is important that we don't have the whole town in a panic.”

  “Is there any chance I could be infected?” he asked, his eyes wide with fear.

  “The nurse here has checked you out. He's healthy enough isn't he?”

  I nodded. “There is no sign that he is infected. I don't think he has anything to worry about.”

  “Thank you, miss,” he said gratefully and shook my hand fervently. With a quick salute, he darted out of the barn as quick as he could.

  Prentice laughed and said, “That was a very convincing lie you fed that man. You had him eating right out of your hand.”

  “Thank you,” I said. “You did a rather good job at playing the bully.”

  “I’m rather good at that when I want to be. It comes with the rank. We had better look at the rest of the men, but make it quick. I want to go and see if we can find Corporal Childs.”

  I gave the rest of the company only a cursory glance, asking quick questions and making brief examinations. It only took another half an hour, and we were done. I packed up my bag, and then the lieutenant took me by the arm to guide me through the men waiting outside. They watched me walk out across the field and a few whistles and hoots followed me as I went. I felt my ears burning red in embarrassment.

  “Don't mind them,” Prentice said, “They're just appreciating the ravishing looks of a beautiful woman.”

  I giggled and said, “Oh, I don't mind. I suppose I should feel flattered.” I gave the men a wave and got a ragged cheer back.

  We got back to the village, where the lieutenant led me down the road towards the regimental headquarters. It was a quiet place. The summer wind brushed gently against the top of the trees. A few cicadas buzzed noisily and the bees were working busily in the fallow fields. My heart began to thump hard with the realization that I was now alone with Prentice. I had just met the man, and I wondered how far he could be trusted. William certainly did, but how well did he really know him? It was too late to run away, so I continued to plod along next to him.

  “The manor is just around the corner,” he said. “We had best hit the trail going into the woods here. We have to make sure that we are not seen by the guards. They would certainly wonder what we are doing here. I'm not sure if I could come up with a reasonable enough explanation.”

  “Very well,” I agreed and followed him off into the woods that surrounded the manor. It must have been the hunting grounds of the aristocratic family that had loaned their house to the colonel, for the woods were dotted with well-kept trails. It felt more like a park than anything else. We walked in silence, listening to the birds singing to each other and keeping an eye out for a patrolling guard. Soon enough, we could see the walls surrounding the manor. Over the wall, I could see the second story of the great house tucked within.

  “I'm thinking they must have stashed Childs at the groundskeeper's house or something like that.”

  I pointed to an iron-sided gate built into the brick wall. “That must be used by someone.”

  “Good eye, Ellen,” he said, and we started to work our way in that direction.

  There was a well-worn trail leading away from the door, and it snaked off into the woods. Prentice put his finger on his lips to make sure I was quiet, and then we went cautiously down the dark pathway. It was very quiet in that part of the forest. I felt nothing but dread with each step we took. Eventually we came to a small clearing where a little hut sat. We hung back in the woods to take a look. It was a dilapidated hut with only two windows and a single door in front. A stack of firewood sat on the side, and a wisp of smoke curled up from the chimney. I couldn't think of why anyone would have a fire going this time of year unless they were cooking something.

  “I think we found him,” Prentice whispered to me.

  “Now what?” I asked. “Do we go get the police now?”

  “If we do that, then Childs could be gone by the time we get back. I will have to stay here while you go get help.”

  “But I don't even know where to go,” I whispered back.

  He thought for a moment and said, “Go get Lyons instead. He has to be back at Tremont in our billet. He can come here and help me out.” He gave me some hurried instructions on how to get to the billet.

  “Are you sure you will be alright?” I asked doubtfully.

  “What can Childs do to me?” he said bravely. “I just want some help disarming him in case he has a gun in there.”

  “Don't do anything foolish,” I warned him.

  He just smiled and gave my hand a squeeze.

  I turned and ran back towards the Manor, going as quickly as I could. Making it past the brooding house undetected, I ran back to the road in haste. I was afraid that Prentice was going to be discovered, and who knows what could happen to him. Ahead, I saw a figure walking down the road towards the manor. My heart skipped a beat with joy when I saw it was Lyons. I waved my hand towards him, and he ran up.

  “Why in the devil are you here?” he asked in surprise.

  “Thank god you're here,” I gasped out.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “It is Corporal Childs – Lieutenant Prentice and I discovered where he is.”

  “I see,” he said quietly. “Show me the way and I'll see what I can do.”