“Why would Olivia have a double match? She dumped Broadhouse and sought another? But Elise said Olivia blamed her for his departure,” Berdie barely whispered. Save as. She didn’t have time to sort all the peculiarities right this minute.
Berdie went to another folder. Confidential Agreement. Once opened, she could see it was a legal document of confidentiality with a three thousand pound starter fee. “That would eliminate the casual client,” she mouthed. Berdie was anxious to read the fine print on this pseudo-legal trap.
Without warning, Goodnight spun around on his heel.
Berdie thought she heard a car engine, and it sounded as if it was just outside the house. By the look of Goodnight’s wide eyes and sudden intake of air, he heard it also. It couldn’t yet be half four.
The constable moved toward the window and drew back a corner of the curtain, skewing his head sideways to see the road. “Know anyone with an expensive silver BMW?”
“Olivia Mikalos,” Berdie answered.
“Well, that’s no woman in that car.”
Berdie leaped from the computer and joined Goodnight at the window. “Call the Timsley police?”
“I shouldn’t.” Goodnight was hesitant.
“Then take the offensive,” Berdie urged. “You’re the law. If they approach, just wave your warrant about.”
“Warrant?”
“Your search warrant from the Timsley magistrates.”
Berdie watched Goodnight run a finger across his moustache, lift his brows, and turn off his torch as he lowered the curtain.
Berdie could feel her eyes narrow as she realized what his behavior told her. “Albert?”
The car and its owner sat motionless, but Goodnight was on the move.
“You do have a warrant, yes?”
“Pull up the ladder, we’re done.”
Berdie realized that though her unlikely cohort was a policeman, he was as illegally in the home as she was. She raced back to the computer, saved the agreement document, and removed the flash drive.
“Come on, you dozy mare,” bounced through the rooms as Goodnight, by the sound of it, was already in the hallway headed for the kitchen and the back door.
“Only that wally could turn an investigative clincher into a complete dog’s dinner.” Berdie grabbed her torch, pushed the precious flash drive into her sock, and moved swiftly through the sitting room and into the hall in pursuit of the fast departing lawman. “Remember Albert Goodnight,” she called to the fleeing policeman, “this never happened.”
14
“Boats.” The word slipped from Berdie’s mouth. During her fretful sleep, it was the primary question that swam in her head. What did Lillie hope to achieve by hiring a boat?
Berdie became aware of dazzling light on her closed eyelids and fluttered them open. A few blinks and she pulled herself up on her elbows, suddenly conscious of the fact that the sun poured through the bedroom window. The space next to her in bed was empty. She pushed stray hair out of her way to glare at the alarm clock that proclaimed it was nearly 10 AM.
“Lord have mercy.” Berdie leapt from the bed and wrapped herself in the robe that was draped near the bottom edge. Why hadn’t Hugh awakened her? Did she sleep through the alarm? Nearly stumbling on the stairs, she flew to the kitchen, where Hugh, despite the fact that he wore his clerical collar with great dignity, had his hands in a sink full of suds.
“Hugh, where’s the closest large body of water?”
“The Atlantic? And good morning to you, too.”
“Good morning to you, too. I think.”
Hugh sighed. “You’ve had a busy week.”
“Busy, yes. But there’s so much more to be done today.”
“You’re all go this morning.” Hugh released the plug and water coursed from the sink. He dried the bubbles that clung to his hands with a cheerful looking tea towel.
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
Hugh pointed toward an awaiting cup and saucer sitting next to a teapot clothed in a daffodil decorated cozy. “I did try.”
Berdie sank into a chair at the small table for two by the kitchen window.
Hugh removed the cozy from the teapot, put milk from the creamer into the cup, and pulled a teaspoon of sugar from the petite bowl. “I’ve gotten some information, Berdie,” Hugh’s voice lost some of its morning luster. “I’m sure you’ll want to know.”
“What is it, Hugh?”
Hugh dumped the sugar into the cup while at the same time pouring tea. “I asked Busby to do some nosing around for me.” He handed the cup to Berdie.
She nearly dropped it. “Busby?”
Hugh didn’t lightly ask his former right hand man from military service, Warrant Officer Andrew Busby, to gather facts for him. This could be something significant.
She steadied the cup and raised it to her lips. “Go on.”
“I asked him to find out what he could about Gavin Broadhouse.”
Berdie nearly slammed the cup into the saucer.
“Now calm yourself and drink your tea, love.”
“He’s up to no good, I can tell you that much.” Berdie daren’t say more. She took another sip.
“Gavin Broadhouse, from Leeds, married with four children, died five years ago of natural causes.”
Berdie swallowed and gaped.
“His medical records bore it out, and his grave marker is in All Souls Church cemetery near Leeds.”
“So who’s our so-called Mr. Broadhouse?”
“Busby’s still sorting it.”
“What put you on to looking into this?”
“I’ve heard not a bean from him or of him. He’s all but disappeared.” Hugh put his hand on Berdie’s arm. “And I do listen to you, Berdie.”
Berdie smiled, although she didn’t want to be overly cheerful for Hugh’s sake.
“You must admit, he’s a poser, Hugh.”
“But he’s a tormented poser, love. People who seek to deceive don’t wrestle with telling lies. Falsehood falls off their tongues like warm butter. Our fellow struggles.”
“True. Or perhaps he’s dangerously clever.”
“I felt something genuine about the man. Still, I have to say you’re most often right when you twig someone.”
She wanted to tell Hugh about the fellow’s list of duped ladies. Instead, she leaned over and placed a peck on his cheek. “He’s only one of many deceitful characters in this mess. And I’m almost certain where our exploration needs next to go.”
“Our?”
“Hugh, we need to find Lillie. And right away. The police will eventually get there, but let me remind you that I was an investigative reporter, so technically, I am a professional, too. I think I have a very-reasoned-out place where Lillie may be.”
Hugh was attentive.
“Now, I made a list from my last conversation with Lillie, along with my other conversations I had with her this week. I dug in my brain to put things together.” She paused. “Where’s the closest marina?”
“The closest marina?” Hugh sat back in his chair and shook his head. “Odd.”
“Not at all.”.
“No, not you, Berdie.” He stared at her momentarily and knit his brow. “We got a prank call this morning. He said the answers to all your questions were at the marina.”
Berdie squeezed her lips.
Hugh tipped his head. “Berdie, is there something you haven’t told me?”
If only he knew the half of it. This could confirm that she was going in the right direction in her own thoughts. “Was that the exact message? Hugh, think. This could be critical.”
He leaned forward, clasped his hands together and formed a church spire with his index fingers. He poked it into his chin as if to prod the memory loose.
Berdie scanned Hugh’s intense eyes. “Was it a particular marina?”
Hugh sat up and snapped his now loosened fingers. “Seabrook, that’s what he said, Seabrook Marina.”
“Did you ask him particulars?�
��
“Berdie, I told him to get off the phone.” Hugh squinted. “But he did say something else.”
“Yes?” Berdie patted Hugh’s knee. “Think.”
“It didn’t make much sense. He said something about the more you know.”
“The more you know what?”
“That was it, ‘the more you know.’”
Berdie tumbled the words in her brain. The more you know facts? The more you know people? “People. The more you know,” she nearly shouted. “God bless that caller.” Berdie jumped from her chair. “And I shouldn’t wonder! Hugh, we’ve got to go to Seabrook Marina, and we’ve got to go now.”
Hugh simply stared at her. “The more you know people?”
“Come along, we’ve not a moment to spare.”
Hugh stood. “First, we inform the police.”
“Yes, good thought. We’ll stop at Goodnight’s Police House on our way out, and I’ll also ring Dave Exton at the newspaper office.”
“I’ll ring Loren at the lab. He’ll want to come with us.” Hugh paused. “You’re agreeable to involve Goodnight?”
Berdie tried to be nonchalant. “He is the law.”
“Just like that?”
Berdie could see a slight niggle in Hugh’s eying of her.
“Come along; we must move quickly.”
Berdie and Hugh left the vicarage drive within minutes and were on their way to the marina with two critical stops in between.
“Seabrook Marina is this direction.” Hugh pointed toward the front windscreen, his phone on his lap. “I still have to work out details.”
“And it’s that way,” Berdie pointed to the back windscreen, “to get to Queens Gardens.
“For just a bit, yes, and then that way.” Hugh pointed toward his driver-side window.
“Snap. So Hero was going to his real home. There it is, another six-letter word completed in the crossword. Sweet Duncan.”
“Duncan?”
“Goodnight, yes, the authority. That’s best.” Berdie took a quick breath. “Flight. But of course,” she declared.
“Berdie, you’re not making sense. I’m not following.”
“Oh, but I am making the best sense, yet, Hugh, just stay with me.”
Hugh shook his head and turned onto the street where the constable was located. He stopped in front of Goodnight’s home that also served as Aidan Kirkwood police headquarters.
Berdie was surprised to see Albert standing in the front garden, looking a bit of a sleepwalker, if it wasn’t for an open map in one hand and a beaker of something steamy in the other.
Hugh peered at the man. “I say, did he sleep in his uniform last night?”
Berdie simply pulled her chin down and exited the car as quickly as possible.
She moved in Goodnight’s direction. “He’s called you again, as well. Seabrook Marina?”
He glared at her with his red eyes, scratched his head, and returned to his map. “Good morning. Again.”
“Shh,” Berdie cautioned, glanced toward the car where Hugh sat, then back at Goodnight. “You can put the map away. Hugh’s locating the most direct route to Seabrook on his GPS right now.”
“There’s a treat.” Albert collapsed the map into a mass, dropped it on the ground, and yawned. “Not my patch, Seabrook Marina.”
“But it is your case, Constable, Lillie lives on your patch.”
“I’m fully aware,” the man grunted. “Didn’t say I wasn’t going out there.” He sniffed, making his nose go askew. “Gotta alert the CID of that county.”
“Good. Now, do you know the way to Queen’s Gardens Board and Cat Rescue?”
Goodnight took a sip of the hot liquid he held and scratched the side of his stomach. He gave a lazy nod.
“Very good”. You’ve got to go get a cat. It is critical to this whole situation.”
The constable squinted and glanced at his leg. “Pull the other one.”
“No, truth be told. His name is Hero, and he’s in the Board of the Rescue. You’ve got to get him and meet us at the marina. Trust me.”
“Trust you?” He half chuckled. “The one I found breaking and entering last night?”
“Keep your voice down.”
“This cat’s so important, you get the little beast.”
Berdie took a deep breath. This could take some convincing, and she was losing time. “Goodnight, I’m just a vicar’s wife.”
He looked askance. “Oh, yes?”
“You’re the one with the policeman’s uniform. You’re the one with real legal power. Show your credentials, and demand they give you that cat.”
He ran his tongue across his upper teeth. “Why’s this animal so important?”
“I haven’t time to explain it all. He is the crux of solving the whole dilemma. For Lillie’s sake.”
Goodnight sniffed.
“And don’t forget that feather we talked about earlier.”
“Feather?”
Berdie raised her brow, slowly nodded and shot an arrow of prayer heavenward.
“Oh, in the hat, that one, no, I’ve not forgotten.” He ran a finger over his mustache. “Well”--he said with compliance in his tone--”I don’t want cat hair all over my vehicle.”
“You won’t regret this. Meet us at the main entrance of the marina.” Berdie turned and waved at Hugh. “Can you give Constable Goodnight directions to Seabrook?” she called.
“Isn’t it the police who are supposed to be giving me the directions?” he asked Berdie.
“Well, it is Albert Goodnight, after all. Just help him, Hugh.” Berdie spoke just loud enough for Hugh to hear.
Hugh obliged. Pointing and displaying his phone GPS was followed by Albert’s assured nods. More quickly than a waggle of sheep’s tail, Hugh was once again behind the wheel and on the road to Seabrook Marina.
As countryside zoomed past, Berdie’s thoughts congealed. “The dots are connecting. All but one. The family at the sports club café, with the full plate, doesn’t fit. Yet it’s a key. What am I missing?”
“Love, if I could help you I would. I don’t even know where the dots are. But I trust you, Berdie.”
“Snap. Hugh, that’s it.” Berdie shook her head. “Why couldn’t I see it before? I was so busy looking at the crisps, I didn’t see the smoothies. And that explains the tablets.” Berdie gasped. “Hugh, I believe we’ll find Olivia alive.”
“That’s good, but what about Lillie?”
“I believe Olivia and Lillie are together.” Berdie felt her tongue just barely able to form the words. “Every moment counts, Hugh. Every single moment.”
****
The porter, dressed in medical scrubs, was very stern as he stood in front of the morgue doorway. “I’m sorry, but you can’t go in the lab.”
“We’re here to see Dr. Meredith,” Hugh informed.
“Dr. Meredith is scheduled to begin an autopsy.”
“It’s urgent. We’re here by his request.” Hugh was doing his best to be civil.
Berdie could feel her temperature rise as she fumbled her mobile nestled in her trouser pocket. “We haven’t time for this.”
The fellow folded his arms. “I’m sure it’s important. It always is, but you mustn’t disturb.”
“I’ll tell you what not to disturb.” Berdie found the words flying from her mouth. “The Lord’s work.” She grabbed Hugh’s arm. “You certainly don’t want to be guilty of disturbing that, do you?”
The man drew back.
“With all due respect, we’re going to speak to Dr. Meredith,” Hugh decreed, pushed the lab door open, and then entered, Berdie with him.
Loren stood near a human-sized drawer pulled from its casement in the lab wall, a corpse in repose upon it. He chatted, by the look of his garb, with an apparent colleague next him as they viewed the lifeless body.
“Loren,” Hugh beckoned.
The doctor raised his gaze to Hugh, concern etched into the deep brown of his eyes.
Berdi
e avoided looking at the cadaver. “Loren, I’m almost certain I know where she’s at.”
The chap with Dr. Meredith frowned.
“Where?” Loren froze.
“Seabrook Marina,” Hugh said.
“She’s in grave danger.” Berdie took Hugh’s hand. “Loren, she needs you there, now.”
“Dr. Meredith, who are these people?” The colleague frowned. “This is highly irregular.”
Spatters of blood dotted the surgical gown the objector wore. “You’ve got an autopsy scheduled, Meredith, you can’t just walk out.”
Loren lowered his chin. “Or you could be a chum and take it.”
“I’ve got one of my own, and you know we’re short staffed.”
“Loren,” Hugh countered, “as a friend and pastor, I have to say, you don’t want regrets.”
Berdie nodded toward the corpse. “Regret is one thing, but that could be Lillie lying there.”
Loren took a quick breath. “Kenrick, I’ve got to go.”
The man jutted his chin. “I’ll go straight to the supervisor. You’ll get the sack.”
Loren shoved the cold body back into the wall casement with a bang. “Good. That will save me going to his desk myself. This isn’t about my work. It’s about the woman I love.”
Berdie released a long breath.
Loren all but ripped his protective work garb from his form: scrubs, hair protector, shoe covering, rubber gloves. “That’s it, then. Why are we standing here?” Loren started for the door.
Berdie and Hugh followed.
“I hope she’s worth it because you can kiss your job goodbye,” Kenrick shouted.
****
Much to Berdie’s delight, Albert Goodnight was at the main entrance to the marina, cat carrier perched on the bonnet of his car.
“Well done, Albert.” Berdie recognized Hero’s scarred ear immediately.
“Yes, well, leave it to the CID to dawdle.” Albert still grasped the beaker in hand, but there was no steam arising. “I notified them to meet us here.”
“We’ll just have to proceed without them,” Loren clipped.
“Without them? No. They can be touchy about their patch.”
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