Shadows in the Valley

by Elizabeth Haran

  “I will certainly do that.”

  “The marriage will come out if Miss Scottsdale inherits everything, however.”

  “That’s not going to happen while I still have breath in my body,” Heath stated vehemently. “I’m going to see Vernon Mead right now, to see if he’ll perform an autopsy on my father before he’s buried. If there is anything suspicious about his death, the police will be notified, and Miss Scottsdale will have what’s coming to her, and it won’t be the fortune she might be expecting. Jack Hawker won’t be able to protect her then.”

  ***

  Heath travelled to Burra immediately. By the time he got there, it was dark. Vernon Mead lived alone behind his surgery. He was making himself dinner when Heath knocked on the door. The aroma of sizzling lamb chops drifted throughout the house. Vernon paled when he recognised Heath through the fly screen door. He suspected he knew the reason the young man had come. Winston had confided to Vernon that a young lady had been in bed with Ebenezer Mason after Vernon had commented about the indentation in the pillow beside the man’s body.

  Vernon hadn’t been surprised that there’d been a girl in bed with Ebenezer. He knew why the man had wanted the virility potion. As for the opiate, he couldn’t quite bring himself to believe that Ebenezer had drugged any of his companions, but the thought had crossed his mind. He’d even bravely broached the subject once with Ebenezer, who’d appeared mortified. He claimed the opiate was to calm his own nerves with all the worry of the mine, but his explanation had not completely assuaged Vernon’s suspicions. He‘d made up his mind when Ebenezer Mason had strolled into his offices without an appointment and demanded the opiate and virility potion that it would be the last time. He hadn’t an inkling that it would turn out this way, and he worried that he could lose his licence to practice medicine over it.

  “Good evening, sir. I’m very sorry about your father,” Vernon said when he opened the door to him.

  “Good evening, Dr. Mead. I’m sorry to disturb your evening meal, and I won’t keep you but a few minutes. My father is the reason I’m here.”

  “Oh,” Vernon said, going back to the kitchen, with Heath following. Vernon was afraid that the man had learned about the potion and opiate he’d given his father. “What about him?” he asked as calmly as he could.

  “I would like an autopsy performed,” Heath said.

  Vernon was alarmed, but tried not to show it.

  “I know you may not want to do it,” Heath said. “After all, you and my father had known each other for many years.” They couldn’t truthfully be described as friends. His father was a man who rarely opened himself up to close friendships. “But perhaps you can suggest a colleague from a town nearby.”

  Vernon stiffened. “Why do you want an autopsy? You know your father had a bad heart.”

  “I know, but I think his death may be suspicious. Did you know he was in bed with a young woman when he died?”

  “Yes, Winston told me. Again, I stress that his heart was weak. I believe he may have been overdoing things and thus suffered a heart attack.” Vernon panicked at the thought of an independent doctor performing an autopsy.

  “Were there any suspicious marks on his body?”

  “No, nothing,” Vernon said. “I checked him thoroughly. He had no wounds at all. In fact, he appeared to have died peacefully.” Vernon had been worried for some time that the increased rush of blood through the man’s heart would do him harm, and it seemed as though his worst fears may have come true. If only the man had listened to his concerns.

  “If he’d been poisoned, would you have noticed any signs?”

  “Poisoned? Yes, of course.”

  “What indications would you have seen?”

  Vernon busied himself with his dinner preparations as he spoke, despite his appetite having vanished. “If he’d ingested a poisonous substance, his lips would have been blue, or he would have had a strange odor coming from his mouth. His skin would have been flushed or yellow, and his eyes weepy. A rash would have been present somewhere on his body, but I saw nothing like that or any other suspicious symptoms. As I say, he seemed to have died peacefully.” Vernon prayed his explanation would put the young man’s mind at ease.

  “I believe the woman with him may have done him harm, Dr. Mead,” Heath said. “But I need to prove it.”

  “I saw no evidence of that.” Vernon suspected that if Ebenezer had taken too much of the virility potion before retiring, it could have killed him quite quickly. “If you wish me to perform an autopsy, to put your mind at ease, I will do so.” It might also put his own mind at ease, but he doubted it.

  “I would appreciate it. As I said, if you don’t want to do it, I’d be just as happy for someone else to do it.”

  “No,” Vernon rushed to say. “If anyone is to do it, it should be me. That’s what your father would have wanted.” Vernon would usually do such procedures at the local hospital, where there were better facilities, but he couldn’t risk someone discovering his findings. He would have to do it in his own office.

  “Very well,” Heath said, satisfied. “Please do it as soon as you can, and contact me immediately with the results.”

  “I’ll do it first thing in the morning and bring you the results myself,” Vernon said, but he planned to do it that evening when there was no chance of being disturbed.

  “I’ll make the necessary funeral arrangements as soon as I have the report from you.” With that, Heath left, contented that if an act of treachery had been conducted against his father, it would be uncovered.

  ***

  When Abbey entered the house after talking to Jack, she met Elsa and Marie in the hallway. They told her they had finished their work for the day and were about to retire to their rooms.

  “Do you play cards?” Abbey asked them spontaneously.

  The girls looked surprised. “Not really,” Elsa said. “Why do you ask?”

  “Mrs. Hawker wants to play after her walk, and it’s more fun if there are several players.”

  Marie was startled that they’d be considered, but found the idea more appealing than doing nothing for the evening. “I’d like to play if you’ll teach me,” she said.

  “Me, too,” said Elsa. “But would Mrs. Hawker mind us joining in?”

  “Oh, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind. If she wants to play with me, she won’t object to you playing, too. Let’s get the table set up. Do you know where Mrs. Hawker keeps the cards?”

  “Yes, in the sideboard drawer,” Elsa said. “I’ll fetch them.”

  The three girls were in the kitchen, getting ready for the card game, when Sabu came in. He appeared displeased to see them.

  Abbey glanced at him warily. She felt they had to make peace sometime if they were all going to be residing under the same roof and saw an opportunity to do it. “Do you play cards, Sabu?” she said.

  Sabu glared at her. “Cards?” He wondered if she was being facetious.

  “Yes, we’re all going to play. Would you like to join us?”

  Marie and Elsa waited tensely for his reply. They were sure playing cards would be against his religion, since most everything else seemed to be.

  “What game will you be playing?” Sabu asked, mildly interested when he could see she was serious.

  “Perhaps a version of poker. It’s called Liar’s Poker. I have to warn you that I used to play it with my father and his friends, so I’m quite good.”

  Sabu was intrigued. Her words sounded like a challenge. “Will there be stakes?”

  “Do you mean a pot?” Abbey asked. Her father and his friends had always put money on the table and referred to it as ‘the pot’.”

  “Of course, I mean a pot. You can’t play poker without a wager.”

  Just then Jack walked in the door. He glanced at the deck of cards on the table. “Are you going to play cards?” he
asked, happy to see Abbey getting along with the rest of the staff. Sabu wasn’t shouting, either, which was a pleasant surprise.

  “Yes, it was your mother’s idea,” Abbey said. “We were discussing playing poker, and Sabu suggested a pot, but” She felt embarrassed to admit that she didn’t have any money.

  Jack understood immediately. “I can give you an advance on your salary if you’d like to make a little wager,” he said. “But only on one condition,” he added.

  “What’s that?” Abbey dared to ask.

  “That I can join in,” Jack said, pulling some notes and coins from his pocket.

  Abbey was delighted. “There just happens to be a seat here with your name on it,” she said happily.

  Jack looked at the cook. “Are you in, too, Sabu?”

  “If there’s a pot, I’m in,” the cook said, taking a seat. He was still resentful that he would not be paid for the days that he was fasting and didn’t cook, so the thought of winning money from Abbey was very appealing.

  A few moments later they heard Jack’s mother calling Abbey from the living room.

  “I’m in the kitchen, Mrs. Hawker,” Abbey called back.

  Sybil walked in and stared at them all incredulously. She couldn’t believe that Jack and Abbey were seated at the kitchen table with the servants. Then she saw the cards.

  “What a great idea, organising a poker game, Mother,” Jack said, picking up the cards to shuffle them.

  “Poker?!” Sybil gasped. She looked at Abbey. “I thought we’d play whist, cribbage, or Old Maid,” she said.

  “I don’t know how to play those games, Mrs. Hawker, but I used to play Liar’s Poker with my father.”

  “Liar’s Poker!” Sybil said, aghast. It sounded like the type of game the Irish would play in the back alleys of Dublin.

  Jack stood up and pulled out a chair for his mother. “I hope you have some money for the pot, Mother,” he said, excitedly.

  Sybil was incredulous, but noticed his enthusiasm. “Surely you aren’t going to gamble,” she said, sitting down at the table. It was the first time she’d ever been seated beside the servants, and it felt strange.

  “It’s more fun that way,” Jack said, grinning widely. “Are you afraid I’ll win your money, Mother?” he teased.

  Sybil had a reputation with her sons for being prudent with her money. It was something they often teased her about, but not something she could change. Her father had been a doctor in a country town, and had been doing quite well for himself until, at one point in her childhood, he had become very ill. It was two years before he could work enough to support the family again. In that time, her mother had struggled to keep the family fed and clothed. As the eldest of five children, Sybil had taken it upon herself to help out by cleaning and doing laundry for the local shopkeepers. She had learned the true value of every penny, and she had never forgotten that lesson.

  Sybil also recalled all the times she’d asked Jack to play cards with her, and he’d claimed he was too busy. “I’ll wager you can’t,” she said, standing up to fetch some coins from her purse. Although Jack teased her, he hadn’t let her spend a penny since she’d come to live with him, so she didn’t mind placing a small wager. She thought she could even win; she was often lucky in card games.

  Jack laughed. “You better not be sour if I do,” he said.

  “Likewise,” Sybil said, getting into the spirit.

  Abbey explained how to play Liar’s Poker, telling those at the table that it was a bar game and that money from the till was usually used.

  Sybil was not surprised to hear this.

  Abbey simplified the game, explaining that it was just a numbers game that combined reasoning and bluffing, and she offered an example.

  “Once the cards have been dealt, I could place a bid that there are three sixes amongst all of us. One of you can then bid a higher number, like three sevens or four fives, or challenge my bid. If my bid is successful, I win threepence, sixpence, or a shilling from each of you, depending on what we decide the stakes are. But if my bid is unsuccessful, I must pay each of you what we are wagering.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Jack said. “Shall I deal?”

  Soon they all were absorbed in the game. After many hands, in which they all had some luck, Jack showed the women how to play straight poker. He also brought out a bottle of wine, and Sabu made some snacks to share. Jack offered Sabu a glass of wine, which he accepted, but Abbey refused the wine, becoming a little emotional. Jack realised that it reminded her of her visit to Martindale Hall.

  “I’m sorry, Abbey,” he whispered to her when he noted her discomfort. “I didn’t mean to be thoughtless.”

  “That’s all right. You and Mrs. Hawker have a glass, and don’t worry about me.”

  “We don’t have to,” Jack said, trying belatedly to be considerate.

  “No, I insist. I’ll have a glass of milk with Elsa and Marie.”

  They played another four hands, and Jack and Abbey won two apiece. The servant girls sat the rest of the rounds out, and Sybil won three straight hands after that, thrilled with her success. Before they knew it, it was eleven o’clock.

  “We’d better go to bed,” Marie said to Elsa, stifling a yawn. “We have to be up early in the morning to do our chores.”

  Elsa was getting tired, and she and Marie had won enough hands initially to break even overall.

  “Thank you for allowing us to play,” Marie said to the Hawkers. “We’ve had fun.”

  “So did we,” Jack said, glancing at his mother. He was pleased that she had so obviously enjoyed herself, too.

  Sabu stood up and took away the plates that he’d served snacks on. “You had beginner’s luck,” he said to Abbey. “Next time I will win my money back.” He bid everybody good night and left the kitchen.

  Abbey smiled, secretly pleased with herself for getting the better of him. She was also relieved that he didn’t look too angry about it.

  “I’m going to retire, Mother,” Jack said. “I have to be up very early to check on the new lambs.” He stood and bent down to his mother.

  “Good night,” Sybil said, as he kissed her cheek.

  “Good night, Abbey,” Jack said. “I enjoyed learning how to play Liar’s Poker.”

  She was pleased, and it showed in her smile. “Good night, Jack.”

  He headed for the stairs.

  “I’d love to learn how to play whist. Would you show me? Or, are you tired?” Abbey asked Sybil. The rush of such a successful evening was swirling about in her mind. She knew it would be a while before she could fall asleep.

  Pleased with Abbey’s interest, Sybil shook her head. “No, not at all. I’ll gladly show you,” she replied.

  ***

  The two women played cards for another hour before packing everything away.

  “I hope you don’t mind me asking Sabu, Elsa, and Marie to join us tonight,” Abbey said, as they headed upstairs to bed.

  “No, it was nice to play in a group.” Sybil would never have thought of asking them. “We should do it again sometime,” she said. It was the first evening since arriving at Bungaree that she’d really enjoyed herself, and she knew Abbey was the reason. “It was nice playing cards with Jack.”

  “He asked to be included,” Abbey told her.

  “Did he? I’ve asked him to play cards with me quite a few times, and he’s always claimed to be too busy.”

  “I learned from my father that if there’s gambling involved, you can’t keep men away. It’s in their nature to be competitive, but even more so when there are stakes.”

  “You are probably right,” Sybil said, thinking that Abbey was wise for her age.

  “Maybe we should have a weekly card night,” Abbey suggested.

  “That’s a good idea,” Sybil agreed.

  As they started climb
ing the stairs, Abbey became sombre.

  “What’s wrong?” Sybil asked when she noticed.

  Abbey stopped and looked at her. “I almost feel guilty for having fun,” she whispered.

  “Because of your father?”

  Abbey nodded, her eyes filling with tears.

  “He wouldn’t want that,” Sybil said.

  “No, he wouldn’t,” she said. “I know he’d be happy that I was safe and living here with such a nice family.” She began climbing again.

  Sybil thought that was a lovely thing to say. She knew it was a sincere remark, and not something said to win favour, but she didn’t comment as she continued up the stairs after the girl.

  “What shall we do tomorrow?” Abbey asked when they reached the top landing.

  “I believe Clementine Feeble is coming to lunch,” Sybil said.

  “Is she a friend of yours?” Abbey asked her.

  “She’s Jack’s lady friend,” Sybil said in a hushed tone because his room was nearby.

  Abbey was surprised. “His sweetheart?”

  “I suppose you’d call her that,” Sybil said. “They started seeing each other just after I came to live here, although I believe they have known each other for quite some time.”

  “What’s she like, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  Sybil thought about Clementine. “She’s difficult to describe, but you can judge for yourself when you meet her tomorrow.”

  Abbey hoped she was nice. She believed Jack deserved to be with someone nice. Thinking of him having a sweetheart was strange. Perhaps because I am no longer part of a couple, she thought sadly.

  CHAPTER 10

  Setting his lamb chops aside because he had lost his appetite, Vernon went to see Samuel McDougal. As he approached the funeral parlor, Samuel was just pulling up with the hearse, carrying a body.

  “Who’ve you got there?” Vernon asked. “Not a patient of mine, I hope.” He didn’t want to be distracted, although he sincerely hoped it wasn’t another child from Creek Street.