The Secrets of Black Dean Lighthouse

by Jack Dey

  Once they’d finished in the diner, Tess and Katrina made their way back to their room, with Katrina appearing to have recovered some of her good spirits after the meal and seemed quite jovial. Tess, however, felt a gnawing in her stomach and it was making her feel ill with the stress and after the two women retired to bed for the night, Tess remained awake into the early hours, tossing and turning while Katrina enjoyed a deep sleep punctuated by her slow, deliberate breaths.

  Colliding with the morning after a sleep-deprived night, Tess was feeling numb, packing Katrina’s belongings into her case and then attended to her own.

  “Aren’t we having breakfast before we move out, Tess? Where, by the way, will we be going?” Katrina brightly chattered.

  “We only have enough money to pay our hotel expenses and not enough money for breakfast. Where we go from here, Lady Katrina... I have no idea!” Tess sounded a little teary and defeated; and at her downcast features, the gravity of their circumstances struck Katrina, who was only now starting to understand her folly.

  “I’m so sorry, Tess. If I hadn’t been so immature, we wouldn’t be in this predicament.”

  Tess smiled a defeated smile. If nothing else, Katrina had learned a hard lesson.

  Carrying their belongings down to the foyer and preparing to pay Gustav the account, Tess engaged the hotelier with a defeated frown.

  “Are you going somewhere, madam?” Gustav enquired.

  “Yes, Gustav, we can no longer afford to stay in your comfortable hotel and I must now try and find work and a place for me and my sister to stay.”

  Gustav pretended to glance at his books and then peered at the young woman. “It does appear, madam, that your account has, in fact, already been paid and I do believe that it is to be taken care of into the future,” Gustav’s grin gave away his foreknowledge of their new situation.

  Tess couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I’m sorry, Gustav, did you say the account has already been paid and will be paid into the future?”

  Gustav nodded and grinned at the same time, looking like a sideshow clown. Tess, however, wobbled on her feet, feeling giddy and faint before heading for the security of a nearby chair and then slumped down, holding her head in her hands in shock.

  “Deary me, are you all right, madam?!” Gustav’s concerned voice drifted over Tess.

  When Tess glanced up at Gustav, her eyes were flowing over with relieved but thankful tears. “How is this possible?!” Blowing her nose on her handkerchief and wiping away the streams of emotion, Tess tried to compose herself .

  “Well, I have spoken with a gentleman on your behalf regarding employment. He has a large project to be undertaken in the township of Lightning Harbour and wishes to engage both you ladies in his employ.”

  Tess pulled in a breath as if she’d been winded. “Which gentleman, Gustav? And what employment are we to undertake?” Tess sounded even more incredulous.

  “The gentleman will be in town in a couple of days and will meet with you then. He has offered to take care of your room and board costs while you are in his employ as well as wages, starting from today.”

  Tess awkwardly raised herself from her chair and placed a watery kiss on Gustav’s cheek. “Thank you, Gustav,” she again wiped at her tears with her handkerchief.

  Gustav’s grin widened till his face almost split in two. “Think nothing of it, madam,” he replied, taking the credit.

  *~*~*~*

  Chapter 27

  Smiley collected a stack of dirty dishes from the table of his second floor apartment and while balancing the handful, he searched for a place on the sink to amass the aging pile. Finding nothing but more dirty dishes, he stooped to the floor and placed the collection carefully on the vinyl. He then returned to the table and pushed several empty takeaway pizza boxes over the edge and as they clattered to the floor, small uneaten morsels spilled around the legs of the chairs. Stepping over the boxes and heading for a short, overloaded bookshelf positioned against the wall, he searched for a particular book. Locating the book by the colourful spine, he pulled hard to release it from the confined environment from which it lived and as the tome dislodged from its fellow literary works, a substantial avalanche occurred, leaving a mess of bound papery confusion in a random pile on the congested carpet. Smiley sighed and gazed at the unruly literature taking up residence on his floor, shrugged and mouthed to himself, “Mañana!”

  Turning from his new paperback mountain, he stepped back over the pizza boxes, wiped the table with a swipe of his hand and placed the book down. Pulling out a chair and confronted with a pile of unopened letters, a look of surprise ambled lazily across Smiley’s features. “I wondered what happened to them!”

  Throwing the letters onto a space next to the pizza boxes, he lowered his skinny frame into the chair and skipped it along the floor, shifting his weight with each skip until the chair was pulled comfortably up to the table. Opening the book, he concentrated on the first page, a large map, and then carefully traced the freeways and highways across two states until he found what he was looking for... the township of Landon. Mentally calculating the distance and then the intended time of departure, a plan began to form. With a finger following the map as he schemed, the plan took shape.

  If I leave the city limits at... say, 10:00 am and travel east at sixty miles an hour, by sundown I would be in some pretty remote country, he mused, studying the topography of the map. The seaside town of Tripoli Waters is about halfway to Landon and there isn’t much in between. I’d have to refuel in Tripoli Waters, anyway. Smiley’s brow furrowed in concentration. Hmm... I’ll have to keep a close eye on the fuel station, too. If I miss my opportunity, all this will be for nothing, he thought, rubbing the tension from the back of his head.

  Checking the index, Smiley turned the road atlas to Tripoli Waters and studied the small seaside town. It had one motel right on the water’s edge and as he searched the page for the motel's phone number, he hoped it hadn’t changed over the years. Holding his finger against the suspected number, Smiley dragged his mobile phone from his pocket and punched the digits in with the thumb of his free hand. After an extended time, Smiley sighed and was just about to hang up when a young female voice abruptly answered.

  “Tripoli Waters Motel.”

  “Oh... hi, my name is Smiley Williams. I was wondering if you had two rooms available for tomorrow night?”

  “MUM! SOMEONE WANTS TWO ROOMS FOR TOMORROW NIGHT!”

  Smiley sharply pulled the phone away from his ear, fearing a burst eardrum.

  “Give that to me...!” an antagonised woman hissed. “Hello, Tripoli Waters Motel, how may I help you?”

  “Yeah, as I said, I want to know if you have two rooms for tomorrow night?”

  “What name, please?”

  “Arr, Williams... Smiley Williams.”

  “And how many people?”

  “Two... please.”

  “Yes, Mr Williams, that will be two hundred dollars, thank you.”

  After Smiley settled the account with his credit card, he pushed the quit button and his phone went blank. Okay, that’s settled. Now to get into position. Smiley grabbed his coat, felt in his pocket for his wallet and did a final glance around his apartment. Whoa, I’d better clean up before Jacqui comes over again.

  But then his own thoughts convicted him.

  Jacqui!

  He would have a hard time trying to explain this latest harebrained scheme to her. If she knew he was staying in a motel halfway across the country with another woman... he could see his own premature death come up before him, no matter how innocent it was. He sighed, feeling trapped, but he’d just have to try and explain when he saw her next.

  A new idea scrambled across his mind, but when he checked his watch, he noted it was well past office hours and too late to ring the administrative department of Landon County Hospital now. He would do that tomorrow.

  Smiley switched off the lights and pulled the front door closed to
his apartment and locked the deadlock. He ran down the dimly lit stairs to his small car parked in a dark undercover parking space, nervously unlocked the door and climbed in. Locking the driver door again, he cranked the engine and after a few tense seconds in the cold night air, it eventually spluttered to life. The car lights lit up the parking space, taking the fear out the unknown darkness and as Smiley let the small engine warm up, he again checked his watch. Peak hour traffic should have died down by now, he calculated, and it would be about 4:00 to 4:30 am when he arrived in Tripoli Waters. As he pulled the car up onto the side street, he pondered gravely.

  This could be my greatest single act or my biggest ever blunder.

  *~*~*~*

  Brett lay next to Becky, watching her sleep, but then a stab of fear entered his heart wanting to protect her from today’s inevitable pain. Cuddling up to her peaceful form, he hadn’t slept much all night and had watched the numbers of the digital clock change hour after hour. He wanted to be there with her today for support, but Emma and Jacob had asked to see Becky alone. He was about to object, but then conceded maybe this way was right. The alarm clock suddenly burst into his thoughts and it was time to get up and face the day.

  Becky stirred from her sleep. “Ermm, is it that time already?” she moaned.

  “Yep, come on sleepyhead, time to greet the day,” Brett wrapped his arms around her, drew her over and held her, then kissed her for a long moment. “I want you to know that I am crazy about you, Rebecca Redden. Do you know how much you mean to me?”

  She used her forefinger and thumb to make a one inch gauge. He covered her gesture with his hand, shook his head and spread his arms wide apart.

  “That much, Mr Redden?”

  “That much, Mrs Redden.”

  She wriggled contentedly back into his embrace and stayed there a long time. “I feel safe and warm in your love, Brett,” Becky confessed.

  “It will always be there for you, Becky.”

  Brett’s sincerity caught Becky off guard, as if he was making out his will. She peered deeply into his eyes and saw a troubled storm brewing behind his loving gaze.

  “I know, Brett, and my love is only for you, too,” she offered sincerely, as if she was trying to reassure him.

  *~*~*~*

  By the time Brett opened his office door, Jacqui was already at her desk with her usual black coffee, steaming hot next to her computer keyboard.

  “Morning, Brett,” she welcomed.

  “Huh...? Oh, good morning, Jacqui,” Brett returned her greeting without stopping to talk and closed the office door behind him. He peered up at the clock on his wall and his nerves made his stomach feel like it was on a rollercoaster ride. Becky would be meeting with Emma and Jacob in just a few moments. Brett’s first appointment arrived and before he knew it, it was well after 10:00 am. Glancing at the clock as the appointment left, Brett was just about to reach for the phone when Jacqui buzzed him.

  “Yes, Jacqui.”

  “I have your father-in-law on line four.”

  Brett’s heart raced. “Thanks, Jacqui. Hold all my calls for now, please.” Brett heard Jacqui hang up her receiver and then he stabbed the number four on his phone pad. “Brett Redden.”

  There was a gasp as he heard Jacob’s voice stretched with emotion. Brett could tell things hadn’t gone well.

  “Brett, it’s Jacob. Becky took it really badly and I don’t think she heard anything we said after she took the document you handed to us. She had an awful expression on her face and wouldn’t let us come near her. She was hysterical, Brett! I’ve never seen our loving Becky act this way toward us before and her eyes were so angry and accusing as if we had betrayed her... Emma’s a mess.”

  “Is Becky still there?”

  “No. She took the document you gave us and sped away in your car. I..I feel sick with worry, Brett,” Jacob revealed.

  Brett’s stomach churned as he hung up the phone. He immediately dialled Becky’s mobile but she had turned it off, so then turned his attention to their home phone but it just rang off. Throwing the phone back in its cradle and bent over in his chair, Brett’s elbows rested on his knees while his face rested in his hands and stared at the floor.

  “Dear God, please keep her safe.”

  *~*~*~*

  Chapter 28

  The Earl of Kempsy was unaccustomed to waiting for servants to answer his knock and when the duke’s butler drew the large wooden door ajar, he was met with the earl's foul temper.

  “What kept you, Carsons? Just because the duke’s ship has gone missing, doesn’t mean you can have a paid holiday!”

  “No, my lord,” the stone-faced Carsons answered politely, used to the earl and his bad temper. From a young boy, the earl had been raised as a carbon copy of his father and both he and Lady Katrina were gentry at its rudest and spoilt beyond belief.

  “I have come to make sure my father’s estate is still intact and that you and your fellow subordinates have not taken to stealing the silver.”

  “It would be difficult, sir, as the constabulary are here most days looking for evidence,” Carsons remarked with a plum-in-cheek response.

  “Evidence? What evidence are they likely to find here at the estate?” the earl’s face took on a concerned demeanour.

  “I am unaware, sir, of what the constabulary search for. It is enough to say they are thorough in their searching and I am to report anyone who comes to the estate and enquires after the duke's affairs,” Carsons warned, taking the perfect official opportunity to give the young brat a disguised and figurative kick in the pants.

  “You are to keep your mouth shut, Carsons, about my appearance here! Once the will is read and I am the rightful owner of everything that belongs to the duke, you, sir, will be dismissed.”

  “Very good, sir,” Carsons replied dryly.

  The earl took a cursive glance around the large foyer and then turned to leave, astutely aware and completely certain Carsons would inform the constabulary of his visit.

  *~*~*~*

  Standing by a large window overlooking his sprawling gardens, the earl anxiously watched a lone figure walking up his meandering drive and as the figure approached the front porch, the earl called for his servant. “Show Mr Bellaruse into the library and call me when he is seated,” the earl instructed.

  “Yes, my lord.”

  The servant disappeared out into the foyer to greet the approaching man and just barely five minutes later he returned. “Mr Bellaruse is waiting for you in the library, sir.”

  The earl nodded and dismissed his servant. ”See that we are not disturbed,” he added as the servant left.

  As the earl entered the library, the pocked-faced Bellaruse stood to greet him. “Ah, the good son of the recently departed duke. I hope you are not too overcome with grief at the demise of your father.”

  The hideous marks on the face of Bellaruse reminded the earl of a mouldy cheese and he shuddered, trying to force himself to look away, concentrating instead on the business he’d planned to discuss. “Your attention to detail, Bellaruse, has caused suspicion to fall too close to home... my home!”

  “I am at a loss to understand your meaning, my lord,” Bellaruse teased.

  “You made the Riviera disappear all too cleverly. There is an investigation now centred on my father’s estate looking for clues of any sort,” the earl complained. “Maybe you can make some of my sister's possessions that you... acquired wash up on a beach where the authorities can find them, thus shifting the suspicion and the search somewhere else.”

  “Your sister's possessions?! I have no recollection of anyone claiming to be the duke's daughter when we... obtained his property.”

  The earl swung around to catch the eye of Bellaruse. “You didn’t identify my sister?! The long black hair and attractive features should have been a dead giveaway.” This was a new worry the earl hadn’t planned on and as he described Katrina and her beauty, Bellaruse’s cold eyes turned to slits.

 
“If she was that extremely handsome, my lord, my men would have... remembered her. I assure you she was not there.”

  The earl heaved a deep sigh. Bellaruse’s scheme was quickly becoming a nightmare and if Katrina was still alive, he was in deep trouble and his claim to the family fortune was in jeopardy. “You had better get back to wherever this happened and search for her. If she is still alive, you can forget your cut.”

  *~*~*~*

  With her gaze fixed and staring out the window to the street below, Katrina had been loitering in the room waiting for Tess to pay the bill and then return upstairs to collect her. Soon she would be on the other side of that glass, homeless and destitute, so Katrina stayed confined within the luxury for as long as she could, holding onto the last remaining moments of her former privileged life before they came to evict her and cast her into the unknown.

  The sounds of someone dropping something on the floor at the door startled her. “Your bags, madam,” the hotel porter explained.

  “Oh... no, they should be taken downstairs,” Katrina explained, thinking a mistake had been made.

  Tess appeared at the door, her face aglow. “There is no mistake, Lady Katrina! A strange and wonderful thing has happened and we are no longer to be cast out into the street,” Tess danced excitedly around the room.

  “What thing, Tess?!” Katrina couldn’t believe her ears as she watched Tess twirl around the room.

  “It seems that Gustav has spoken to a gentleman on our behalf and he has agreed to employ us both AND pay our expenses.”

  Katrina didn’t know what to do. “Employ us? But what work are we expected to perform? You know I have no knowledge of menial labour.”

  Tess shrugged. ”He will be in town in a couple of days to meet with us. I am sure you can ask about his plan then. Apparently he has a big project starting up in Lightning Harbour and we are to be part of it. Our board and accommodation are already paid and will be into the future and we will earn a wage, too,” Tess responded excitedly.