by Rachel Ennis
Silver Linings
A Polvellan Mystery
Rachel Ennis
Chapter One
‘Well, that was some lovely send-off for Percy,’ Gill said, taking the cup and saucer Jess handed her. ‘Pity it was so soon after the wedding.’ She eased off her court shoes and rubbed a red mark on her nylon-covered instep with her other foot.
‘I’m just glad he lived to see Ben and Mor married,’ Jess said.
Viv helped herself to a slice of chocolate cake from the plate on the coffee table then took the cup Jess offered.
‘Getting weaker by the day he was. But she told him he promised to walk her down the aisle so they couldn’t have the wedding without him. That gave him the spark to keep going. Thought the world of her he did.’
‘She couldn’t have looked after him better if he’d been her own father,’ Gill said. ‘We were lucky with the weather too. Been a lovely dry autumn. Long may it last.’
‘You’re some quiet, Annie.’ Viv frowned. ‘I hope you haven’t picked up that ‘flu bug.’
‘I’m all right.’ Annie took a cup, nodding her thanks. The moment of eye contact and subdued response told Jess she was not all right. But Annie would talk when she was ready and until then was best left alone.
‘I rang Claire yesterday to see how she’s going on,’ said Jess. Carrying her own cup, she sat down next to Gill. ‘She really wanted to come to the funeral to support Ben and Mor. But though her cold is better it’s left her with an awful cough.’
‘When you got something like that you’re better off staying home, not spreading it around,’ Gill said. ‘I tell you who come in the shop yesterday – Captain Carveth. Sounding rough he was. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s got it now.’
‘How’s it going with him, Jess?’ Viv asked.
‘It isn’t.’
‘Why not?’ Viv demanded.
Jess gave a small shrug. ‘I’ve only seen him twice since Mor’s wedding. He invited me up to Chywoon, his mother’s house. What a place!’
‘Spooky is it?’ Viv shivered.
‘No, but it’s huge. I can’t imagine living there alone. He did say he’s had another offer for it.’
‘So what happened?’ Viv pressed.
‘Nothing. That’s the point. I think he likes me –’
‘What d’you mean, think? ’Course he likes you.’ Viv clicked her tongue. ‘He wouldn’t have asked you out else.’
‘Yes, all right, he likes me. But apart from a very brief kiss goodnight – nothing.’
‘Maybe he was starting this cold and didn’t feel well,’ Gill suggested.
Jess nodded. ‘You could be right.’
‘Feeling rejected, are you, bird?’ Viv was sympathetic.
‘A bit. I mean, at our age it’s nice when a man finds you attractive. But to be honest, I’m not sorry he isn’t as keen as I thought.’
‘What do you know about him?’ Annie asked.
‘He was in the army for twenty-five years, Royal Engineers. His last posting was in Iraq, Bomb Disposal. Three of his men died and he was injured when an IED exploded under their vehicle. He was evacuated back to the UK. He’d already told me when I was researching the portrait that he left the army when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. So I’m guessing both events happened in the same year.’
‘Guessing?’ Gill said.
Jess nodded. ‘He made it clear he didn’t want to talk about the past.’
‘D’you think maybe there’s something wrong with him and that’s why he’s holding back?’ Gill asked.
Jess shrugged again. ‘I don’t know. I did wonder. What happened in Iraq – seeing his men killed - you can’t forget a thing like that.’
‘Maybe he’ve got that post-stress thing,’ Viv suggested. ‘You know, flashbacks and stuff like that. Dear life, Jess, what if you was in bed and he had a nightmare thinking he was still there? That’d be some scary.’
‘Surely if it was that bad he’d on tablets?’ Gill suggested.
‘Maybe he is. We’re doing a lot of guessing.’
‘Still,’ Gill persisted. ‘just say we’re right, would you want to take that on?’
Jess didn’t hesitate. ‘No. He’s attractive, good company, and I like him. But even if he was looking for a serious relationship – and I don’t think he is - I know he’s not for me.’
‘Just as well he didn’t jump on you then,’ Viv grinned.
‘You said he asked you out twice,’ Annie reminded. ‘I don’t call showing you around his mother’s place much of a date. So what was it like the second time?’
Jess felt her mouth twist in a wry smile. ‘He took me for a meal at The Chain Locker. He said he’d heard they had a new chef. I’d rather have gone somewhere else.’
‘Why?’ Viv said then answered her own question. ‘Oh, you used to go there with Tom.’
‘Yes. But Harry was keen and I’m a grown woman with no business being a wimp, so I said that would be lovely. If you get the chance you should go, by the way. The food is fantastic.’
‘But?’ Annie’s narrowed gaze was shrewd.
‘But ... Tom was in there having a drink with Natasha Terrell, Alan and Kate’s daughter from out along Back Row.’
‘I don’t b’lieve it.’ Gill shook her head. ‘Of all the pubs on the waterfront –’
‘Tom had no business taking her in there.’ Viv sniffed.
Jess smiled at her. ‘Don’t be daft, Viv.’ She shared most things with her friends, but they didn’t need to know what a jolt she had felt seeing him sitting at the bar with someone else. ‘I’d just arrived with another man, hadn’t I?’
‘Isn’t she a translator or something?’ Gill asked, deflecting Viv. ‘I know Kate’s some proud of her. They miss her, mind. Kate told me Natasha go all over Europe. That’s how she don’t get home all that often.’
‘I wonder what she’s doing back here now,’ Viv said then turned to Jess. ‘What did you do?’
‘I smiled and said good evening then carried on walking. Harry had booked a table by the window looking out over the harbour.’
‘How did he look?’ Viv wanted details. ‘Tom, I mean.’
Jess remembered his expression as vividly as if she were looking at him now. Shocked, hurt, both swiftly concealed by a blank mask. But Jess knew him. Cornishmen were sensitive and emotional, revealing this side of their nature only to those they trusted. Though he had been the one to walk away from their relationship, she could see their separation had hit him hard.
Good. But her brief fierce pleasure had evaporated as she realised it hadn’t stopped him asking someone else out: someone fifteen years younger than her, with a cloud of dark wavy hair that gleamed under the lamplight, someone whose emerald cashmere sweater and black trousers hugged an enviable figure.
If it stung him to see her with another man: tough. If he was free to see anyone he wanted, so was she. But the pang she had suppressed then taunted her now.
‘Hello? Anyone home?’ Viv waved a hand in front of Jess, jolting her back to the present.
‘Sorry. He looked all right. A bit tired.’
‘So he should!’ Viv snorted. ‘I hope he’s lying awake nights thinking what a fool he’ve been and wondering what he got to do to win you back.’ She raised a hand to forestall Jess. ‘I know. Mind my own business. But you’re my friend and right now he isn’t. I’ll shut up now.’
‘Promise?’ said Annie. ‘Here, have you noticed the change in Mor?’
Gill paused with a piece of cake halfway to her mouth. ‘What change?’
‘Confidence,’ Jess said, glancing at Annie who nodded. ‘I was watching them during the funeral service and afterwards at the pub. She holds Ben’s hand or slips her arm through his. He does
the same with her. It’s like they draw strength from each other.’ Her breath caught at the memory of lying warm and safe in Tom’s arms, on the sofa or in her bed. She shoved the thought away and cleared her throat. ‘While Ben was talking to Stan Hooper someone called Mor away. When Stan left, I could see Ben looking around for her. He must’ve known she hadn’t gone far, but there was sheer panic on his face.’
‘Oh, the dear of him,’ said Viv.
‘Then Mor came back in and his smile could have lit the room.’
Viv sighed. ‘I remember when Jimmy and me was first married. At it like rabbits we was.’
‘We’ve just come from a funeral, Viv,’ Gill reminded, trying unsuccessfully to hide a smile.
Viv flipped a hand. ‘Percy would understand. Mor and Ben been married just over three weeks. Holding hands every chance they get, always looking for each other, that’s good signs. It means they’re doing all right in bed.’
‘Viv!’ Gill sighed.
‘What? No use pretending it don’t matter, because it do, to women just as much as men. Dear life, what with men farting and scratching and only able to think of one thing at a time, a woman got to have something to look forward to. So if Ben and Mor’s having fun, I’m glad for them. What?’ she demanded as Gill suppressed a giggle and Annie rolled her eyes, a smile twitching one corner of her mouth.
‘You are such an old romantic,’ Jess spluttered, shaking with laughter.
***
At nearly six the following evening Sandra popped her head into the office at the back of the shop. ‘You all right there, bird? Want another cup of tea do you?’
Jess looked up from the VAT forms. ‘No, I’m fine, thanks.’
‘It was good of you coming so quick.’
‘It’s no trouble, Sandra, honestly. As I said, I’m between jobs at the moment.’
‘Gerry was going to do it last week but he never got round to it. Tonight he’ve gone to this Chamber of Commerce meeting over Truro so he won’t be back before eleven. We’re always busy in the shop Saturdays and we’re s’posed to be going over to see his mother Sunday, so that’ll be another week gone. That’s how I called you.’
‘I’m glad you did.’ I’d have ended up turning out cupboards or doing more baking to put in the freezer, keeping busy so I don’t have to think.
Sandra paused in the doorway. ‘I heard about you and Tom.’ Jess flinched and tried to disguise it by flexing her shoulders. ‘I didn’t b’lieve it then and I still don’t. Whatever the trouble is, you’ll get past it. I never seen two people more right for each other.’
Irritation flared then died in Jess. How could she be angry at such well-intentioned sincerity? Hadn’t she felt the same? That she and Tom were meant to be together, and that meeting him again after the years of her marriage to Alex and its shocking end had brought them full circle? ‘Except Mor and Ben,’ she said, smiling to show Sandra she wasn’t offended.
Sandra’s concern dissolved into a fond smile. ‘Except Mor and Ben,’ she agreed. ‘If you’re sure you’re all right I’m taking a trolley down to the lock-up for more stock.’
‘Couldn’t you send Brianna?’ Jess suggested.
Sandra sighed. ‘She offered. But trouble is she’d be gone an hour, spend most of it yapping on her phone, and come back with only half the list. I wish now we never took her on. But Rena over the pub said she had a good memory for orders and the customers like her. Joe and Rena only want her part-time. That’s how she wanted to come here, to make up her hours. She do what she’s told, but it’s like she’s doing you a favour. And she’s always late, only five minutes, but it all add up. Dear life, ‘tidn like she got to come far. If I had my way she’d be out. But we can’t just sack her, don’t matter that she’s in the wrong. Gerry says we got to do it by the book else she could sue. Can you believe it? Anyhow, she’ve had a second warning.’ She pulled herself up, flapping a hand in frustration. ‘Sorry, bird. ‘Tidn your problem. She’s restocking the shelves by the door. I haven’t told her you’re here else she’d be in wanting to chat. Gill’s cashing up the post office and can keep an eye on her. Right, I’m gone. See you dreckly.’
‘OK, Sandra.’ Sympathetic, and glad not to be an employer, Jess went back to the figures. She had just entered the last total on the form when a vehicle drew up outside, engine revving. She heard the bell ping as the shop door opened then slammed shut, making her jump. Then she heard Gill shout, ‘Hey!’ and a male voice muffled and growling. A scream she guessed was Brianna was followed by a thud, and the same hoarse voice, louder now.
‘Put the cash in the bag.’
Tiptoeing to the open doorway, screened from the shop by a wall rack of DVDs, Jess was about to peer round but stopped herself in time. He didn’t know she was here. But any movement at eye level could catch his attention. Getting down on the floor, she inched forward. Risking a quick look she saw a thin youth in black jeans and a black hoodie, a scarf across his nose and mouth. Jess stopped breathing as she saw the knife he held against Brianna’s throat.
‘Don’t be so silly –’ Gill began.
‘Shut up and do what I said! Cash in the bag! Now!’ He pressed the point of the knife into the flesh of Brianna’s neck. She squealed.
Slithering back into the office Jess grabbed her mobile. Sitting on the floor she brought up her phone’s keypad and pressed 999 with trembling fingers. ‘Police,’ she whispered. ‘No, I can’t speak louder.’ As soon as someone answered she hissed, ‘I’m in the back room at Polvellan store and post office. A man with a knife has a hostage. He’s demanding money. Please hurry.’ She lowered the phone as the officer was telling her to stay out of sight and scrambled to her feet. Ending the call, she pressed the camera icon and chose Video. Sucking in a shaky breath, her heart pounding, she walked out into the shop, holding the phone up.
‘Let her go.’ Her throat was bone dry and her voice cracked. ‘The police are coming and I’m filming you.’
With a stream of curses, the man shoved Brianna away. As she collided with the shelves and sprawled on the floor, he yanked open the door and ran out pulling it behind him. Pushing past the girl, Jess wrenched the shop door open and saw him jump into the passenger seat of a dirty white van. It accelerated away down the road with the door still swinging.
Frustrated and furious, Jess saw it swerve to avoid a large tractor coming over the narrow bridge. The van mounted the pavement, hit the wall, and bounced back. As the tractor stopped, both front doors of the van opened and two dark clad figures sprinted away over the bridge and out of sight.
Jess saw Sandra coming up the road pushing a trolley piled high with boxes. The tractor driver pulled over to the side of the road and climbed down from the cab. Jess recognised Terry Stevens’ son, Matt. In his early twenties, clad in green overalls and Wellingtons, he looked shaken.
‘Bleddy hellfire, what’s on there?’
‘They tried to hold up the post office,’ Jess told him, her voice unsteady, heart still thudding.
‘Jess?’ Sandra quickened her pace, the trolley rattling and clanking.
The shop door crashed open and Brianna ran out.
‘Brianna, wait!’ Jess called.
Without slowing the girl yelled over her shoulder, ‘I feel sick. I’m going home.’
As Sandra reached the door, Jess held it open for her to push the trolley in then turned to Gill as Matt followed. ‘Are you all right?’
On her stool behind the toughened glass, her face ash-pale, Gill nodded, still trying to catch her breath, one hand pressed to her chest. ‘I’m – It’s – a shock. You don’t expect – not here.’
‘What happened?’ Sandra demanded.
‘A hold-up,’ Jess said. ‘Failed. He didn’t get anything.’
‘Jess come out of the office waving her phone,’ Gill said. ‘Scared him off.’
‘Bleddy brave, that was,’ Matt, grinned at her.
‘I didn’t feel brave. I was shaking like a jelly.’
�
�All in black he was,’ Gill said, colour gradually creeping back into her face. ‘Wearing one of they hoodies and a scarf over his face. All I could see was his eyes. He threw this shopping bag over the screen. Told me to put the money in.’ She reached out.
‘Don’t touch it!’ Jess yelled. ‘Sorry, Gill. I didn’t mean to shout.’
‘That’s all right, bird. I should have thought. But there won’t be fingerprints. He was wearing gloves. He had a knife to Brianna’s throat,’ Gill told Sandra, shuddering. ‘Then Jess come out of the office saying she’d called the police and was filming him.’
‘The alarm –’ Sandra began.
‘I pressed the button but the light didn’t come on.’
‘Bleddy Gerry!’ Sandra exploded. ‘I told him we should update, but he kept putting it off. Another expense he said. Anyhow why did we need it when we live in a village where everyone know everyone else? Wait ‘til he get home. I’ll give ‘n what for.’ She turned to Gill. ‘I’m some sorry, my bird. You just catch your breath a minute. I’m going to put the kettle on. Brianna had no business running off home. The police will want to talk to her.’ She shook her head. ‘Just like her, never where she should be. Oh well, I’ll give them her address. They can see her there.’
Matt cocked his head, opened the shop door, and they heard a two-tone siren growing louder. ‘That’s quick. They was probably already on the main road.’
Sandra brought out tea for everyone while the police took them through what had happened. They all gave statements, then Gill finished cashing up and put everything in the safe. The police took charge of the canvas bag and, telling Jess and Gill they could leave, followed Matt down to the bridge where the van was being winched onto Jimmy’s flatbed truck.
‘You sure you’re all right?’ Jess said outside Gill’s door. ‘I can stay –’
‘No, my lover. You get on home. I’m going to have a bowl of soup and a hot bath. That’ll see off the shakes. Then I’ll put the telly on and do some more to that quilt I promised Major Carveth for his grandchild.’
‘That sounds like a plan. I think I’ll do the same. Night, Gill.’
‘Night, Jess. I’m some glad you was there.’