Faraway Eyes_A fast-paced romantic murder mystery

by Evelyn Harrison

  “Because,” Alex released Sam’s hands, “she and I got chatting near the end of the party and went outside to get some air and one thing led to another … the bottom line is we made a date for the following day – we’ve been seeing each other on a regular basis ever since.”

  It was one of those moments when you are aware of someone talking, they are moving their mouth, but the words being spoken are not what you expected to hear. Somehow, ‘Sam, my darling, I love you’, now sounded to Sam like, ‘Sam, I’ve got a girlfriend and she’s not you!’

  “Sam, are you listening?”

  “Yes, yes of course I’m listening. You’ve got a girlfriend. What’s her name again?”

  “Ulyana Dalton, but she likes to be called Ana.”

  I bet she does!

  “Doesn’t she have a Russian mother or something?” she posed, her voice quivering slightly as she tried hard not to sound heartbroken, whilst alarm bells sounded in her head.

  “Yes, Russian mother, English father she left them both back in Russia … Ana’s quite something.”

  Sam’s mind was in turmoil. He bloody loves her! She thought, as she wrestled with his news. How could he love her? It’s too soon. What did they do when they went outside on the night of the party? Did they have their tongues down each other’s throats? Was there touching? Were his hands all over her body? Stop it Sam, you’re only torturing yourself, you’ve had your chance of happiness and you blew it. What does he know about her anyway, apart from the fact she’s beautiful enough to be a model? If she’s Russian, I bet she’s some kind of spy.

  “What does she do for a living?”

  “She’s a language teacher at the Felix Grammar School for Girls.”

  “Oh, interesting,” said Sam remembering, “the same school as my neighbour Josie.” Sam lowered her eyes. “So, you’re keen on her? Otherwise I don’t think you’d be mentioning her.”

  Alex got to his feet. “I like her, I like her a lot. I mean you and me, we’re just friends … right?”

  No, we’re not just bloody friends! I love you; you idiot and I always thought you loved me! Now I’m ready to take things further you tell me you’ve another woman in your life! This can’t be happening; she had every word of her speech prepared word perfect. Finally, after all this time, she’d been ready to unmask her true feelings towards him, but it was too late, her moment had passed.

  Sam swallowed and began her reply as her insides were doing all sorts of somersaults. “Best friends, you and I, Alex, I would like to think we’re best friends.”

  “Right.” Turning his head, she noticed his knuckles were turning white, as he clenched his hands. “That’s why what I’m about to tell you is so difficult.” He walked over to the mantelpiece, reached up, and for some reason known only to himself, straightened the tiny brass ornament of a bulldog Sam had purchased from a charity shop, before twisting round and facing her. “Ana has had to move out of her flat.”

  “Surely not, she only recently moved in!”

  “Yes, you’re right she’s only been living there a month. The thing is, her landlord suddenly decided he wanted to sell up, so she’s had to move out. I couldn’t let her be out on the streets in the middle of winter, could I?”

  Sam stared at him. This all sounded a bit dubious; ‘out on the streets in the middle of winter!’ Wouldn’t she have had to be given notice?

  “So, I said she could move in with me, until she finds alternative accommodation,” he added quickly.

  “I see.”

  “Anyway, there’s more,” he said, as he began to pace the room, his eyes focusing on the far wall rather than Sam’s face, “she and I got talking this evening and she feels if we’re going to make our relationship work, then I need to cut off ties with you, at least not see you in a one-to-one situation anymore. I hope you can understand?”

  Sam’s eyes widened as she leapt to her feet and stood in front of him.

  “Are you telling me she’s jealous of our relationship? Alex, you’ve been the rock in my life for so long.”

  “Ana saw us kissing at the New Year’s Eve party and yes, perhaps she’s a bit jealous. We had a row about it before I got here. The bottom line is she thinks there is more to our relationship than just friendship, she thinks … and these are her words not mine, that you love me. Crazy, I know.”

  This was her cue, to scream out, ‘Yes, I love you Alex!’ before falling into his arms, but something held her back. Instead, an uncontrollable laugh erupted from deep within her, just as her heart shattered into millions of pieces.

  “Absolutely crazy.”

  “I thought that was the case,” he said, bowing his head and turning away. “I did try to tell her, but she wouldn’t listen. I’d better go.”

  “But the pizzas will be here any minute!”

  He took out £20 from his wallet. “I’m sure one of them will keep until tomorrow.” Walking out of the sitting room he picked up his coat from the bannister. “I’m sorry Sam, but I have to try and make this work.”

  Closing the front door behind him, he walked out of her life. Sam stood staring at the void he’d left. She felt empty, not the crushing emptiness she’d felt when Michael died, but a painful emptiness nonetheless. Leaving the hall, she made her way to the kitchen and opened a bottle of wine, just as the tears began to fall relentlessly down her cheeks.

  Chapter 3 – Finding Grandma

  How was she going to cope without him? There was a strong possibility he wouldn’t be in her life ever again, at least not in the way he had been. She slept badly that night; her dreams were of Alex, erotic dreams, which had been haunting her for weeks now. In them he arrived at her cottage, dripping wet from the rain. Slipping his hand in hers he led her into the sitting room where they lay down on the rug in front of the fire. Removing their clothes, he rolled on top of her, his hands and fingers touching her innermost parts, causing her to writhe longingly beneath him.

  Crying out his name, she woke in a sweat. Throwing off her bed covers, her eyes filled with tears. Of course, Beth would say, ‘I told you so’ and she’d be right, it was her fault, she should have told him how she felt. Alex was moving on, making a life for himself, with another woman. She felt sick. This other woman had Alex in her bed and unlike Sam, knew what it was like to have him make love to her. All Sam had left was the memory of that kiss and her dreams of what could have been.

  A week later, she had a call from Kate Robinson; another friend and Beth’s sister-in-law.

  “Where have you been hiding Sam? Beth says she’s not seen you all week.”

  “I’ve been a bit busy.”

  “I see. How about Beth and I pop round for a chat, it’s been a while since you and I’ve seen each other and I would love the chance to give Harry a cuddle.”

  “I’m free tomorrow afternoon, if that’s any good?”

  “Fine, tomorrow around two?”

  Since that upsetting evening with Alex, Sam had decided to keep a low profile, not wanting to discuss him with anyone. She understood full well that not being able to talk about her feelings was a major part of her problem. In the past she’d had therapy to help her cope with Michael’s death and on the whole, it had been a success. However, she had to keep reminding herself that she needed to communicate with others and not keep her emotions bottled up. Beth and Kate were good sounding boards, she was glad they were coming around.

  ***

  Kate’s four by four, closely followed by Beth’s Range Rover, pulled up outside the gate of Honeysuckle Cottage right on time. Opening the front door, Sam ushered them into the warmth of her sitting room where a log fire was burning furiously behind a metal fireguard.

  “Let me take your coats, you both look frozen. Tea or coffee?”

  “Tea, please,” they chorused.

  “I’m guessing Harrys asleep?” asked Kate, releasing her long black wavy hair from her woollen hat.

  “Yes, he went down for his afternoon nap half an hour ago, he usually
wakes after about two hours.”

  “Oh, good, I might just get to have that cuddle then.”

  “So, where have you been hiding Sam?” inquired Beth a few minutes later, before taking a mouthful of the hot brown liquid from her mug. “I was expecting you to come into the cafe to give me the low down on your evening with Alex.”

  Beth could always be relied upon to get straight to the point. Sam sighed and without any hesitation proceeded to inform her friends of the outcome of her evening.

  “Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” cried Kate, leaving the warmth of the fire to fill the space beside Sam on the sofa, her dark brown eyes showing genuine concern. “It’s early days, perhaps it won’t work out with this Ulyana and she’ll return to Russia or wherever she comes from and then he’ll be back in your life.”

  “Always the optimist, Kate,” said Beth. “Sorry Sam, but you have to face facts, you had your chance so many times to tell him how you feel and you didn’t. What stopped you telling him that night?”

  “I don’t know. I really wanted to, but for some reason I couldn’t.”

  “I think I’ll ask my mum if she can find out anything about this bloody woman,” Beth continued, “she’s always full of the gossip from the teachers’ staffroom, much to my father’s horror. I was going to pop next door anyway after our chat.”

  “I don’t want Josie to think I’m obsessed over this. I just can’t believe he could have fallen for her so damn quickly …”

  “Don’t worry, if there is dirt to be found, mum will find it. She’s very fond of you and Harry you know, she told me just the other day.”

  “I’m very fond of her too, she’s a good friend and neighbour. Look, can we change the subject, there’s something I want to show you both.”

  Reaching below the coffee table, Sam lifted up the box of Michael’s ‘things’.

  “Soon after I moved here, I came across this container, which arrived from Michael’s place of work before I left London.” Pulling out the newspaper clippings, the little bear and the blue baby-grow, Sam passed them to her friends. “I know both of you know Michael was adopted, but I don’t think I ever told you his story. The fact is, he never knew who his real parents were because he was left in a box on the steps of the Royal Free Hospital in 1977, dressed in this baby-grow and tucked in beside him was this little bear.”

  “Oh wow,” breathed Beth, lifting up the brown furry toy, “what an awful start in life to be abandoned like that. Poor Michael.”

  “I can only imagine the agony of giving him up his mother must have gone through,” said Kate. “She must have been so desperate.”

  “I know, it beggars belief how any mother could do that to her child, but it happened, and thankfully he survived to become the wonderful man I knew and loved.” Sam brushed a tear from her amber eyes. “Look, these are the newspaper cuttings from that time, as you can see they are a bit faded. From a diary I read of Michaels, it seems he’d started looking for his birth mother, but died before he got very far. The thing is, I made a promise when Harry was born that I would try to carry on looking for her. I’ve been staring at these for weeks now and there’s nothing jumping out at me. I thought with fresh eyes you might notice something I’m missing.”

  Beth and Kate looked at each article closely.

  “So, what have you deduced so far, detective?” asked Kate, looking carefully at the newspaper cuttings.

  “OK, definitely not a detective anymore and I think my inability to get anywhere with this, proves I made the right choice to leave the force,” Sam grinned. “Anyway, I can see from the baby-grow that it was purchased from a Woolworth store, the ladybird on the faded label is an obvious clue. The bear has nothing on it to indicate where it was purchased or who it belonged to, so it’s really just the newspaper cuttings.”

  Kate ran the baby-grow through her fingers. “I’m sure this holds a lot of secrets. Of course, you don’t see Woolworth stores on the high street anymore, but you could have a look in Dunwell Library, they’ve got an excellent archive section, which has recently been brought into the twenty-first century. I bet at least, you could find out if there was a store in the vicinity of the hospital. It could be a starting point.”

  “It’s an idea, but if the store no longer exists, then unfortunately there won’t be any records to look through, and I’m pretty sure after all this time they wouldn’t have kept them anyway. I suppose you’re not feeling anything spiritual from it? I was hoping you might.”

  Kate beamed, “I’m thrilled these days you have faith in my ability as a medium. I would love to be able to say I’m feeling something, but nothing’s coming through.”

  “Have you got a magnifying glass?” asked Beth suddenly, “only there seems to be some writing on the box in the picture, it’s very faint but there’s definitely something there.”

  “How the hell did I miss that!” exclaimed Sam, rising from her chair, she left the room, returning soon after with a large magnifying glass. “I found this in the garden shed, of all places, I’m guessing it belonged to Pat Woods.”

  “Funny, I was only thinking of Pat the other day, remembering how she used to look after me and Emma when we were children. She was quite a character.” Beth looked intently at the picture. “It’s definitely writing looks like … A-p-p-l-e.”

  “An obvious thought: perhaps the box contained apples before Michael was placed in it?” pointed out Kate.

  “Yes, possibly, but there are other rather more faded letters afterwards. You have a look Sam see if you can make them out?”

  Sam took the magnifying glass from Beth’s grasp.

  “Could be l or b, yes, ‘b’ I think, followed by ‘u or y’.”

  “Could it be Appleby?” cried Kate.

  “It could well be,” replied Sam, smiling inwardly at her friends’ attempt at playing detective. “At least it’s a start. I’ll go to the Dunwell Library to see if there are any more articles from that time to read. I could also look at the 1971 census for London. It’s a long shot, but I’ll give it a go … I think I can hear Harry stirring, you just might get your cuddle, Kate.”

  ***

  Josie Forrester was busy cooking a batch of cakes for the Willow Green Women’s Institute, when Beth rang her doorbell.

  “Hi Mum, can’t stop long, I’ve got to pick up Chris from school. Kate and I’ve just been visiting Sam.”

  “Yes, I saw your car outside.”

  Beth followed her auburn-haired mother down the hall of Brook Cottage and into her large country kitchen, which dominated the rear of the building.

  “The thing is Mum, I hear you’ve a new language teacher at your school, Ulyana something or other. Have you met her? Do you know anything about her? Only apparently she’s Alex’s new girlfriend.”

  Josie stopped wiping down the work surface. “Oh no, what a shame, I was really hoping he and Sam would eventually become a couple.”

  “Yes, well, that’ll probably never happen if Sam doesn’t speak up. Anyway, do you know anything about this woman? I need to find dirt on her.”

  Josie walked towards the sink and ran the taps to wash her hands.

  “You’re sounding a bit sinister Beth, Ulyana only started this term. Sorry to disappoint you darling, but she actually seems a lovely person from the few times I’ve spoken to her. She’s a very good-looking woman.”

  “Looks aren’t everything as you’re always telling me. If you do hear anything Mum, let me know, OK? Between you and me, Sam was actually ready for a relationship with Alex, but this woman has appeared on the scene, just at the moment she was going to tell him, now everything’s been messed up. Sam hasn’t said too much, but I think she’s pretty cut up about it.”

  “Oh dear, that poor girl, another broken heart. I don’t know what you think I might uncover, but I will keep my ears and eyes open, I promise. Here,” she said, handing Beth a plate with an iced chocolate muffin, “they won’t be as good as yours, but please try one, I’d like your expert opi
nion.”

  ***

  It was early evening; Sally Montague-Brown, whose white hair looked immaculate as always, glanced through the heavy green curtains of her sitting room window on hearing the sound of an approaching car. She’d been running the family home, The Old Rectory, as a bed and breakfast for over a year and a half now, so she was getting used to multitudes of vehicles driving up and down the stony driveway. Seeing the headlights of her daughter’s car slowly manoeuvring towards the house caused her face to break out into a broad smile.

  “Polly, would you bring a pot of tea through to the sitting room please, Sam and Harry have just arrived.”

  Polly Brennan, who had been the housekeeper for the Montague-Browns for nine years, rushed into the kitchen and switched on the kettle.

  Moments later, Sally opened the large wooden door; the entrance to the stone-built building and greeted her daughter and sleeping grandson warmly.

  “This is an unexpected pleasure. Come through into the sitting room, Polly is making tea.”

  Carrying Harry in her arms, Sam followed her mother into the antique-filled room.

  “Oh, thank you Polly, I could really do with this,” whispered Sam, as Polly placed a silver tray onto the coffee table. Laying Harry on the settee, Sam removed her coat and draped it over the back of the green floral chair, before sinking down into its cushioned seat. Reaching over towards the coffee table, she picked up the delicate china cup and put it to her lips and took a sip.

  “You know I think Harry’s grown since the last time I saw him,” said Sally, bending down to adjust the blanket around her sleeping grandson.

  “Mum, you only saw him two days ago,” grinned Sam.

  “You’ll be surprised how babies can change in a short time. Anyway, Samantha dear, what’s brought you out at such a late hour?”

  Sam had decided not to mention Alex and Ana to her mother just yet; it would only upset her, knowing how she felt about Alex, and she would blame herself for introducing them in the first place. She returned her cup to its saucer.