Faraway Eyes_A fast-paced romantic murder mystery

by Evelyn Harrison

  “Between seven-thirty and nine o’clock, no later. I like to keep a tight ship.”

  ***

  Their room was very basic with twin beds. There was an en-suite shower, that had seen better days, but it was all clean and functional. Still struggling with the time difference, they stretched out on their divans and rested their eyes, exhausted now after the day’s activities.

  “What did you think of Mrs. Manning’s reaction when I showed her the photo?” asked Sam.

  “She definitely recognised Daniel, but why was she warning us about the Baxters, it was almost as if she was afraid to even mention their name.”

  “I thought the same thing, I wonder what she’s hiding?”

  “I don’t think she’s a fan of Nancy’s either from the way she spoke.”

  “That’s for sure. Well, whatever she says, we’re here to find Daniel, so, we’ll carry on as we planned and tomorrow we talk to Lorraine. Agreed?”

  “Agreed. As long as I don’t actually have to have my hair cut, only Josie’s friend Linda, cut it for me before I left.”

  “No, of course not. We’ll just tell her we need to talk to her and we’ll pay her for her time.”

  Both of them had a restless sleep; for one thing the beds weren’t the most comfortable. Kate was worrying about Mrs. Manning’s warning, and as for Sam, well, it goes without saying, Alex played a big part in her dream.

  Chapter 13 – A Disquieting Chat

  New Zealand, Saturday 27th May

  Their daily morning call to the UK was brief. Both Polly and Sally sounded excited to hear they’d arrived in Jacob’s Rest and had found somewhere to stay, which also meant they had an emergency contact if the need arose, giving them even more comfort. Sam and Kate had very little other news to relate apart from the fact Julie Arnold had moved away and they’d made arrangements to speak to Lorraine Clark. They definitely did not want to worry them unduly, so they didn’t mention Mrs. Manning’s warning about the Baxters. Promising to be careful, they ended their conversation.

  A couple of hours later, they parked up in the high street waiting for nine-thirty. They thought it best not to park directly outside the salon for the half-hour they had to wait, because their vigil might have seemed a bit odd to the clients inside. They certainly didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to themselves.

  Relaxing back in her seat Kate turned to Sam.

  “Who can you see around the street?”

  “Is this a game like I spy?” asked Sam.

  “Not exactly. Go on, tell me.”

  “OK,” began Sam, peering out in front of her. “On the far side there are two elderly men sitting outside the convenience store, one of them is smoking a pipe. On our side of the road, there’s a woman holding the hand of a little girl, they’ve stopped outside the ice-cream shop. A bit further on, a biker has just got off his machine and removed his helmet. How did I do?”

  “Not bad, do you want me to tell you what I can see?” posed Kate, “only I don’t want to freak you out.”

  “You won’t freak me out, just amaze me.”

  “Fine, you asked for it. There are actually three men sitting outside on the bench, the third is their friend who passed away recently. The little girls other hand is being held by an elderly woman and there’s someone riding pillion on the bike. I would love to tell them all that their loved ones are there with them, but I don’t think it would go down very well.

  “OK, not freaking,” insisted Sam, “but my god, do you see ghosts all the time? It must be very weird.”

  “Not all the time,” replied Kate, “and anyway I’m used to it, after all I’ve been aware I can see people others can’t since I was a young girl. In my experience, spirits don’t have evil intentions, they simply want to contact the living, to give comfort or in some cases, they died suddenly and have unfinished business. I’m guessing that’s why Polly wanted me to join you. If Daniel is dead, she’s hoping I’ll be able to talk to him?”

  “I think you could be right,” returned Sam, looking down at her watch. “Anyway, we’d better get going, it’s time to get your haircut.”

  ***

  Lorraine Clark was a woman in her early thirties. Her pale complexion looked drawn, as if she had all the worries of the world.

  “Good morning, which of you ladies wanted a cut and blow dry?” she asked, holding up a fuchsia coloured overall.

  “Actually,” Kate whispered, “we wanted a chat, if that’s alright. We’ll pay for your time naturally.”

  “You’re not from the government or anything are you?”

  “No, no, nothing like that, we just wanted to ask you some questions about a man called Daniel Brennan.”

  The smile dropped from Lorraine’s face. “Not in here, it’s best we step outside,” she said softly. “I’ll just tell the manageress I’m leaving the salon … So, how can I help you?” she asked a few minutes later, as they crossed the road to the small empty park on the opposite side.

  “Do you remember speaking to a private investigator called Stanley Drummond a few years ago about Daniel?” asked Sam.

  “Yes, yes, I do, it was a very strange conversation.”

  “I’m guessing it was over the phone, he didn’t come here in person?”

  “Yes, over the phone. I told him I’d met Daniel, but I hadn’t seen him for several years. Why are you asking?”

  “Because a relative of his is still trying to find him. Can you tell us what you told Stanley Drummond about Daniel and what you know about Nancy Baxter?”

  Lorraine folded her arms. “I can tell you a lot about Nancy bloody Baxter … Danny, I first met when he arrived with her from England. He seemed nice enough, always very polite. I’ve known Nancy all my life, unfortunately, she’s the town’s ball breaker, so when she turned up with an old man in tow, it was quite a shock for everyone including her father, apparently. They stayed around here for about six months and then one day Nancy told me they were moving to Christchurch for work, I never saw Danny again after that.”

  “What about Nancy?”

  “She came back about a month later, said something about them breaking up and that Danny was staying in Christchurch.”

  “Do you know where Nancy’s living now?”

  “She got married about four years ago to an Irishman, Flynn Callaghan and moved to Kaikoura. He’s a doctor at a clinic there; she does come back from time to time. Her father, Big Jim Baxter, still runs the town and the garage.”

  Sam raised her eyebrows. “When you say ‘runs the town’ …”

  “He owns most of it, his great-grandfather was first to settle here. I’m sorry, I really should be getting back in, I can see her royal highness glaring at me through the salon’s window.”

  “Yes, of course, thanks for your time. We’ll come in and pay, I’ll give you a big tip, that’ll cheer her up. We’re in town for a few days; perhaps we could treat you to a coffee later or tomorrow if that would suit you better? Only I’d like to hear a bit more from you about the Baxters.”

  “Tomorrow would be better. Here’s my card, ring me in the morning. Look, before we go back in, I must tell you, be careful who you talk to, walls have big ears around here.”

  ***

  Driving away from the salon, Sam took a sharp left.

  “Another warning and another female who’s not a fan of Nancy’s – interesting. I think we need to find this garage of her father’s so we can talk to him,” said Sam. “I didn’t notice a garage when we came in so it must be on this stretch of road.”

  “Do you really think it’s wise for us to talk to Jim Baxter?”

  Seeing the concern on Kate’s face, Sam pulled over. “I understand you’re feeling a bit wary Kate, but we knew this wasn’t going to be easy. Blimey, for someone who sees ghosts, I’m surprised these warnings have got to you.”

  “Ghosts, I can deal with, after all they’re not going to hurt me, but the living are quite a different matter.”

  “H
ow about this then. We talk to Baxter, hopefully he’ll be able to confirm that Daniel’s alive and well and living in Christchurch, then we leave here. Deal?”

  “OK, deal.”

  Sam eased her foot down on the accelerator and re-joined the road.

  “I must admit Sam, I found it a bit cringeworthy when Lorraine referred to Daniel as ‘Danny’, as if he was a young guy, not a mature man in his fifties.”

  “I did, too.”

  A few streets further on they reached Baxter’s Garage. Stopping by the first pump, Sam leapt out and began filling the car with diesel. With the tank full, they both made their way into the small shop. Standing behind the counter was a skinny, spotty youth in his late teens. He was definitely not Big Jim Baxter.

  “Pump one please,” said Sam. “Is Jim around?”

  “Jim?” the young man repeated, “No Big Jim and the rest of the family have gone to Queenstown to celebrate his birthday, they won’t be back till Monday. If you’ve got a problem with your car, I can sort it.”

  “No, that’s fine, thanks.”

  Damn, they would have to wait around at least until Monday! This was frustrating, mainly because they realised now that Daniel was no longer living in Jacob’s Rest, which meant they would have to start searching elsewhere, probably back in Christchurch. As much as Kate hated the idea of talking to Jim Baxter, it now seemed to be their only hope of finding Daniel. The young man had said, ‘He and the rest of the family’ – did that mean there was a chance they might get to meet the infamous Nancy?

  Chapter 14 – Caught by a Spider

  New Zealand 2004

  The townsfolk of Jacob’s Rest, had no idea of the storm that was about to engulf their community, the minute Nancy Baxter took her first breath. Born into the most powerful dynasty in the area, she instantly became the apple of her father Jim’s eye.

  By the time she started school it was evident she was bright and by the time she hit puberty, boys became her focus. She didn’t care if they already had a girlfriend – if she fancied them, it didn’t take her long to prise them away and then, when she was bored, and she certainly got bored very quickly, she would discard them, breaking their hearts before moving on to her next victim.

  The day she received her acceptance into a British university, brought both her parents immense pride, so much so they decided to throw a party for the whole town and woe betide anyone who didn’t attend.

  “What do you think Lorraine, red or pink lipstick?”

  Lorraine wasn’t listening; she was gazing starry-eyed out of Nancy’s bedroom window, dreaming about her new boyfriend, Mason.

  “Lorraine! Red or pink?”

  “Sorry … pink, yes definitely pink.”

  Sliding her feet into her high heels, Nancy took a long admiring look at herself in the mirror.

  “Right, I’m ready, let’s go.”

  There was a chauffeur-driven limousine, her father had hired for the evening, waiting outside to drive them the half mile to Arnolds Café. Arriving to forced cheers from the guests, Nancy beamed on entering the darkened room, decorated from floor to ceiling in balloons and banners. It was an agreeable enough occasion and most people wished her well. At least those who had managed to evade any unpleasantness with her over the years did.

  It was towards the end of the night when a situation occurred that brought an abrupt end to the proceedings. Lorraine had gone to the ladies and on her return, realised Mason had already sneaked out into the café’s garden, where they had arranged to meet up for a romantic rendezvous. Stepping through the French doors, she snaked her way towards the raised decking area, from where she was surprised to hear voices. Climbing the wide wooden steps, she perceived in the far corner, hidden slightly by an arch of blue flowering clematis, her boyfriend, and her so-called best friend. Nancy had her skirt hoisted up above her waist and was pressing hard against Mason, who didn’t seem to be putting up much of an objection.

  “Slut!” screamed Lorraine, as black tears from her mascara spilled down her reddening cheeks. Turning on her heels, she ran back through the hall, startling those around her and kept on running until she got home.

  ***

  Nancy’s parents were the only ones to see her off from Christchurch International airport a week later. Waving from the departure lounge as she disappeared from view, her mother Margie turned to her husband.

  “God help the British. Jim, I think we gave life to a monster.”

  She had never spoken with such venom about her daughter out loud before and as far as Jim was concerned, she would never speak in such a way again.

  ***

  England 2004 – 2007

  Standing on English soil for the first time Nancy couldn’t contain her excitement. She had dreamed of coming to the country where her great-great-grandfather Jacob was born, ever since she was a small child bouncing on her father’s knee. Jim would tell her the tale of how Jacob had survived the long voyage over rough seas to New Zealand, when others had perished. Purchasing a horse and cart on his arrival in Christchurch, he’d managed over several months, to reach the area he named Jacob’s Rest, where he immediately put down his roots. That all happened more than a century ago, the Baxter family now owned most of the buildings in the town and the people who lived in them.

  After Nancy’s first year of study, she received a call from her father, which upset her so much she went on a drinking binge. Jim told her he was having money troubles, and she would have to return home because he couldn’t afford to pay her fees and living costs for the foreseeable future. Screaming down the phone that he was ruining her life, Nancy finally managed to pull herself together, deciding she didn’t actually need her father anymore, because if she put her mind to it, she was more than capable of paying her own way.

  Arriving at the Cross Keys pub, already worse for wear due to a bottle of vodka, Nancy scrutinised the room. Frequented by both students and professors, the place was humming with life. Spotting her history tutor, Professor Philip Emerton, propping up the bar, she edged her way towards him.

  He was young, single and reasonably good-looking; his dark rimmed glasses gave him a sort of Clark Kent look. Nancy guessed he’d not had much experience with women, however that was all about to change. Sidling up to him Nancy inadvertently knocked his arm, spilling his drink down the front of his trousers.

  “Oh Professor, how careless of me, let me dry you off.”

  “Don’t worry it’ll dry soon enough,” he stuttered, red faced as Nancy started dabbing at his trousers with tissues. “It’s Nancy isn’t it? Please, please, stop, honestly it’s not the first time I’ve been covered in drink.”

  “I feel terrible, let me buy you another one then Professor, beer?”

  “Yes, thanks, if it means you stop touching me, Nancy.”

  Moving closer towards him, she purred, “I thought you were enjoying it, I certainly was.”

  “I don’t think you should be talking to me like this.”

  “No? Am I embarrassing you? Has a woman never touched you there before? How about we step outside then?”

  He glanced around him; none of his colleagues seemed to be about, which was a relief, because having any sort of relationship with a student was frowned upon in his circle of friends.

  “Perhaps the night air will help dry my trousers.”

  Once outside, Nancy suggested they went for a walk towards the woods. A full moon shone brightly in the cloudless sky as Nancy sat down with her back against an ash tree.

  “Join me Professor,” she said, holding up her arms towards him.

  Lowering himself down beside her, Nancy leaned over him. “Your trousers feel quite dry now,” she said, rubbing the material between her fingers. A glazed look came into his eyes as his breathing intensified. “Do you like me Professor? Because I like you, a lot.”

  She lay back on the leaf-covered ground and pulled up her skirt, revealing a pink lacy thong. Pouting her lips, she reached up and stroked his arm. He tr
ied to resist the lust that was rising in him that was the moral thing to do, but in the end, he succumbed and rolled on top of her kissing and touching in a frenzy of passion.

  He was now at her mercy, completely hooked. He thought about her night and day, the more time they spent together the more he hungered for her.

  “Phil,” she began, following an afternoon of lovemaking, “I’ve had some bad news. I’ve been summoned home. My father’s having money problems and can’t pay my fees.”

  He stared down at her and moved his fingers slowly over her soft naked body, before pushing aside the strands of hair blocking his view of her beautiful face.

  “I’ll pay, whatever you need, I’ll pay.”

  So, it was; Professor Emerton paid for her second year at university.

  ***

  Nancy didn’t go home the following summer, much to her father’s annoyance. Instead she and a girlfriend decided to spend their time working in a bar in a holiday resort in Spain, where they managed to save quite a bit of money from their wages and tips from the punters, who it seemed were only too eager to spend their money on the two attractive and willing girls. By the end of September 2006, it was time to return to university – the start of Nancy’s third and final year.

  It came as an enormous shock, when she found out Professor Emerton, hadn’t returned to his post after the holidays. He hadn’t even left her a message. Therefore, she had no choice but to look around for another vulnerable male, to lure into her web. In the end, she didn’t have to look very far.

  The indiscretions of Professor Brennan were well known on campus, and when she was fortunate enough to become a student in one of his classes, well, it was obvious he would be her next prey. Yes, he was much older than her and had a wife, but that didn’t worry her in the beginning, in fact it actually added spice to the hunt. She couldn’t believe how easy it was to manipulate him into paying her fees and for anything else she asked him for, simply by sleeping with him. So, he didn’t have a perfect body, after all he was in his forties and if she closed her eyes and used her imagination she could get over the disgust she felt as he fumbled around before mounting her. She took a macabre delight in making him feel like a king. As if she could actually find him desirable.