Parcels of Doom (Chapel End Mysteries, #1)

by Lown, Anne

  Behind her, the door swung open, and a voice called out her name. She spun back around. The man she’d once loved stood in his boxer shorts, a concerned look upon his face.

  Jenny blurted out her words. “I need to ask a question.”

  Scott stood back to let her enter. The hallway led through to the living room where the sofa was still its main feature. Jenny sat in the place she used to; it felt so familiar she wanted to cry.

  “What do you want to know?”

  The sour taste was back. She averted her gaze. “When you were at my door the other night, were you waiting for me or did you follow me home?”

  Scott’s eyes lit up, the calmness gone. “You’re telling me someone followed you?”

  Jenny cringed. She felt guilty for his concern, something she hadn’t expected. “I’m not sure. Were you waiting for me at the house?” She forced herself to watch him, to see if his body language matched his words.

  “You weren’t home, so I waited. Is that why you were acting funny? You thought I’d stalked you?”

  “I don’t know, but someone was following me, and I had to run. I wasn’t sure if it was you.”

  Scott leant against the wall, his foot flat on the damaged paint. Taking his time to mull over what she’d told him, he looked around the room before coming back to her. “So, what about this bloke, Jason. Where the hell was he?”

  She knew the conversation would go this way, but she couldn’t blame him. Jason had left her alone in the house, not a thought for her safety. She closed her eyes.

  Maybe Scott saved me.

  She didn’t want to admit it, but a stalker was unlikely to ambush her in front of another man. He’d been a blessing in disguise. “He went out, so I walked home.”

  “Ran, you mean. I saw the state you were in. I’m going to give him a hiding for doing that to you.”

  “Please, Scott, just leave it. I can take care of myself.”

  “Sure you can.”

  The sarcastic tone was not lost on her. He’d invested five years in their relationship and thought they’d get married. She could understand him feeling angry.

  He must be hurting like hell.

  Silence brewed between them. Jenny let her gaze wander; memories were everywhere. She sat with her shoulders hunched. The good times were over, but it’d be a shame if they couldn’t stay friends.

  Scott broke through her thoughts. “What do you want me to do?”

  “I don’t want you to do anything,” she said.

  “Yeah, you do, or you wouldn’t have come around here.”

  It was hard to admit it, but he was right, she did want him to do something. She wanted him to protect her, to help make the threat go away.

  “I need you to ask questions. Find out what happened to that girl Annalise who died years ago and who was around at the time. Some of the posties lived in the area back then and might know things.”

  Scott slowly shook his head. “Is that it? You want me to find out if lover boy could’ve been involved, don’t you?”

  Jenny faltered over her words. “No. Yes. I mean, I want to know why it’s all started up again. It can’t just be about Jason moving back to the village. Someone hired Paul to investigate, and now he’s dead. Does that sound like nothing to you?”

  “That’s exactly why you shouldn’t get involved.”

  “But I am involved,” she said. “Someone else involved me, and I don’t know why.”

  Scott pushed himself away from the wall and went to leave the room. At the last moment, he turned around to face her. “Come home, Jenny.”

  That was exactly what she didn’t want to hear. She knew he’d ask, but it wasn’t what she wanted. “I can’t,” she said.

  The look on her face must have matched her words because Scott nodded to himself, resignation carved into his brow. “Okay. I’ll help you, but only for you, not him. Got it?”

  Jenny got up, clasping her hands together as she approached him. “Thank you.”

  In a blink of an eye, Scott’s demeanour changed. He grabbed at the security pass hanging around her neck, breaking the snap at the back. “What the hell is that?” He held the pass up to his eyes so he could read it clearly. Anger contorted his expression when he turned it to face her. “So, who the hell’s Ben Vickers? Another one of your boyfriends?”

  Jenny’s mind went blank. She couldn’t think who he was. She was sure she’d never seen the face before, but something itched in her mind. The pass didn’t belong to her, and she had no idea what she was doing with it. “I...I...what the hell?” Her confusion must have been convincing because Scott let her take the pass from him.

  “You’re telling me you don’t know this person or how you got their security pass?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  Scott sighed. He walked out of the room and went upstairs. She could hear him moving about, and a few minutes later he came back dressed.

  “Right,” he said, “we’ll go back to yours and start working out what’s going on.”

  Jenny nodded. At last, she’d get some help. At least with him, she could mention Annalise without him getting upset. Scott locked the door behind them and followed her to the car. She thought he might make a quip about her not parking on the driveway, but he didn’t say a word.

  The journey back to Chapel End was quiet. A feeling of calm swept over her. It was the first time she’d felt truly safe since she’d moved to the village, something she dearly needed. She just hoped it stayed that way.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The end of school traffic made the lanes busy. A police car in front slowed the journey more with the cars behind it driving slower than they usually would. Jenny kept a check on it, wondering where it was going while Scott stared out of the window. Upon entering the village, it headed for the high street. She would’ve turned off when they got to her road, but her enquiring mind got the better of her.

  Scott’s attention snapped back when she passed her street. “Where’re we going?”

  “I’m following that car,” she said. “I think something’s about to happen.”

  The police car carried on into the other side of the village, a direction that was now all too familiar. As it stopped outside Jason’s house, her breath caught in her throat. Jenny pulled up against the curb a few spaces away. She didn’t want to jump the gun and get upset over nothing—it was better to wait and see how things played out. She flicked her gaze to Scott, unsure if he knew what was going on.

  The police walked into his garden. The front door was opened after the first knock. Jason was home. He’d been waiting for her; they’d arranged it earlier when she’d delivered his post. The policeman spoke a few words, and Jason nodded. He disappeared inside for a few moments before reappearing with his jacket and closing the door behind him. She didn’t think he’d noticed her as he got into the back seat of the police car. Slowly, they moved off and drove into the distance. Jenny sat there, her mind racing.

  She turned to face Scott, who was staring at her. Finally, he broke the silence. “Let’s go back to your place. He’s going to be gone for a while.”

  Jenny drove the short distance home in a blur. They left the car parked on the road outside and entered the house. It was still a mess from the break-in—she hadn’t been home long enough to clean up. She went through to the kitchen to put the kettle on. A hot coffee would see her right, and she knew he’d want one, too.

  “What the hell does that mean?” Scott’s voice echoed through the hall. He was in the living room and must’ve seen the writing on the wall.

  Picking up a cup in each hand, she took them through and gave him one.

  “I’ve no idea, but it might be about the diary that turned up at the charity shop.” It occurred to her Scott might know nothing of what was going on in the village. “It belonged to Annalise Jessop. She lived here and died a couple of decades ago. It was ruled a suicide, but then the diary turned up after Paul did. He was investigating her death and died the
other day at the pub where he was staying.”

  Scott spun round, spilling his coffee, incredulity on his face. “Say what?”

  Jenny realised he hadn’t taken her seriously when she’d mentioned Paul’s death at his house; he’d been more concerned with Jason and her moving back in.

  “I know, it’s shocking. First, the diary turns up, then a voodoo doll with Paul’s name on it. He dies, the charity shop’s broken into, the diary goes missing, and someone breaks in here and does that.” Jenny nodded at the wall.

  “So, you’re telling me, someone thinks there’re more diaries and broke in here to find them?”

  “Yes, exactly that.”

  He put his cup on the coffee table. “Then we’d better look for them. Where’d you get that security pass?”

  Jenny led the way to her bedroom. She pointed under the bed, showing him the exact spot it’d lain. “I was late for work so didn’t even look at it.”

  Scott surveyed the room. Her things were everywhere. Furniture had been moved and cupboards emptied onto the floor. “Do you think it was put there on purpose or dropped by accident?”

  Jenny shook her head. She hadn’t a clue.

  “The only way to know is to go and see this Ben Vickers. Maybe he’s got your one.”

  “We could show it to Carmie, she might know where he lives.”

  THEY DECIDED TO WALK to the high street. The time was approaching five p.m., and the pub would soon be serving food. Jenny hadn’t had a proper meal in ages, let alone a proper meal out. The overcast sky promised rain, but it was warmer than it had been of late. Carmie stood outside the charity shop with Emma. They were pulling down the metal grill and locking up for the night.

  “Hey, Carmie,” she called out, trying to get her attention.

  Carmie turned her head, a smile on her face. In contrast, Emma pulled a grimace and strutted off down the road.

  When they got near enough, Jenny asked, “Can we have a chat?”

  “Why of course,” Carmie replied, looking Scott up and down. “And who’s this handsome young man?”

  Scott smiled; he liked having his ego stroked. “Scott Harris, at your service, ma’am.” He tipped his hat. He was wearing his trilby, a favourite because no one else he knew wore them. It gave a dashing air to his thick curling hair and rugged beard.

  “I’m sorry, the shop’s closed, so we’ll have to go somewhere else.”

  Scott came to the rescue. “Let’s go to the pub. I’ll buy you ladies a drink.”

  Carmie’s smile spread. “I’ve not had a drink in years. Don’t tell my husband.”

  He escorted them across the road and held the pub door open for them to enter. The room was empty of customers except for Martin who was propping up the bar.

  “What’re you doing here, mate?” were Scott’s first words when he saw him. “Long time no see.”

  The two men shook hands while Jenny guided her friend to a table. She watched them exchange sarcastic comments while waiting for their drinks. She was surprised Martin followed Scott across the room. It seemed like he’d be sitting with them.

  Carmie giggled. “Just wait until my husband hears about this, he’ll be so jealous.”

  When the pleasantries stopped, Jenny pulled the security pass from her pocket. She slid it across the table towards Carmie. “Do you know who this is?”

  “Why, yes. That’s Ben Vickers, but I must say, he appears young in that photo.”

  “Do you know where he is, where I might find him?”

  “He works up at Manor House now, for Sarah and Giles as their gardener-cum-handyman. What are you doing with his pass?”

  “I’ve no idea, it was in my bedroom under the bed. I thought it was mine until Scott spotted it wasn’t.”

  Carmie put her hand to her neck, her eyes widening. “Do you think it was him who broke in?”

  Jenny shrugged. “Maybe. I can’t see any other reason it’d be in my room. It does seem a bit obvious, though, and I don’t remember seeing him at work.”

  Scott had been watching the exchange between Jenny and Carmie. “Is there something you’re not telling us?”

  Carmie shifted in her seat. Her gaze darted around the room before she leaned forward and whispered, “I went to a witch doctor to bless the shop. The police took the voodoo doll away, but evil remains. He refused to do the ceremony, said there were bad things going on and someone else would die.”

  Martin snorted. Everyone turned to stare at him. He pulled a face as if he didn’t understand why.

  Carmie carried on. “I’m scared. I didn’t know what to do. The police don’t believe me, they think I’m mad, but I know it’s not over yet.”

  Jenny and Scott glanced at each other. Jenny was grateful he had an open mind and would wait to ask questions later. He wouldn’t belittle Carmie in front of Martin.

  Jenny was concerned Carmie would’ve received the doll, if someone was playing to her strengths, and that she could be the next victim. “Did he say anything about protecting yourself?”

  “He said I should leave. Not come back until it’s over.” Carmie looked pale, her olive skin now sallow in the electric light, and Jenny didn’t doubt the witch doctor was right.

  “What are you going to do?”

  Tears sparkled in the woman’s eyes. “I don’t know. Emma won’t give me any time off. She laughed in my face. Maybe I’ll just leave and go see my sister, stay there for a while.”

  Jenny nodded. As far as she could tell, that’d be a good thing. At least she’d be safe from whoever was using her beliefs to prop up what they were up to.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Carmie left the pub after one drink. Her husband was waiting at home and would report her missing if she was too late. Without her there, the three of them discussed what they knew so far. Martin hadn’t been privy to all Jenny knew, but he’d been there when Jason had challenged George and Paul. With Scott talking openly in front of him, Jenny felt she could, too.

  Martin emptied his pint and put the glass on the table. He leaned on his forearms just like he did at the bar. “So, someone broke in and didn’t take anything?”

  “Not that I can make out,” Jenny said. She’d been trying to think if she’d missed anything, but nothing came to mind.

  “And you’re going to chat with this bloke, see why he was in your bedroom?”

  Jenny nodded. “That’s the plan.”

  It seemed Scott didn’t want to be left out. “I can’t get over the voodoo doll. Who the hell sends one of those?”

  “And I can’t work out who’d want to kill Paul,” Jenny countered. “He seemed nice when I spoke to him.”

  Scott stood and stretched his back. “Well, we’d better go and see Ben, hear what he’s got to say for himself.”

  Jenny looked at her watch. She hadn’t realised time was moving on. “What about something to eat?”

  Scott conceded and said he was hungry, too. Jenny ordered from the bar and returned to hear him declaring how he’d solve the crime and no one was going to stop him. Now he’d had a few drinks, his tongue was wagging, giving away too many personal details. If she knew him of old, she’d missed her window to remove him from the pub. When settled, Scott could prop up a bar to rival Martin.

  Once the meal was done, Jenny stood. “I’m going to Manor House to find Ben. You can either come with me or stay here drinking with Martin.”

  She needn’t have bothered asking. Scott had found a drinking buddy for the evening, and nothing short of a bomb was going to shift him. She grabbed her coat from the back of the chair and walked out into the night. She hadn’t a clue how to approach the man, but sitting there drinking herself stupid wasn’t going to make it happen.

  Jenny strode down the street with more confidence that she felt inside. She’d been thinking about what she’d say when a police car drove past her.

  Damn it!

  She hadn’t been savvy enough to see who was in the car, but it was going in the direction of Ja
son’s place. That was enough for her to turn around and walk the other way instead. She had to know why they’d taken him in.

  Outside Jason’s house, the police car was moving away.

  So it was him.

  She knocked on the door and waited for an answer. It was pulled ajar, and Jenny gasped. The sight before her was a shadow of the man she’d thought she knew. Jason didn’t speak. Tears stained his face, his eyes raw from crying. She stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind her. His head hung down into his humped shoulders. She stepped closer and slid her arms around his torso, drawing him into her. As he lay his head in the crook of her neck, his chest heaved heavy sobs. She held him while he cried. No talking was needed, body language said it all.

  Eventually, they made it to the living room. Some words of explanation came to the surface. The interview had been brutal, and any defence he’d put up was broken a million ways. Jason was dragged back to the past to make connections with the present, and every nightmare he’d lived through had been shoved in his face. Jenny rocked gently back and forth, cradling his upper body like he was a child. Right then he might as well be for all the effects of their treatment. The night would be a long one, but she was prepared to stay with Jason no matter the consequences, and that was saying something.

  Chapter Twenty

  The door clicked, a subtle sound, but even that travelled in the depths of night. One small push was enough to know it’d locked. No one was getting in undetected.

  All around, the streets were in darkness, a shroud fallen to block out the view. Hands outstretched would guide the way, feeling along walls and the tips of bushes. Feet moved slowly, inching along the pavement, the journey mapped out from memory.

  Stars twinkled across a moonless sky. A soft glow in a window, light venturing forth with curious abandon, washed the area around it. A hiss, high-pitched and squalling, cats on the prowl defending their patch. Not a soul could be found. They were tucked up tight, the residents asleep in their beds.