Enigma of Fire

by Marilyn Leach

  “Indeed we are, Hugh, and not by half, but—”

  “Now, although we have joy in the camp, Avril is still struggling. It’s Kabil.”

  “Yes, I know, I heard.”

  “Raise her spirits, Berdie. You’re good at that.”

  “Am I?”

  “I think she should come stay with us at the vicarage for a while.”

  “I agree. But—”

  “Good.”

  Dave cleared his throat.

  Hugh planted a kiss on Berdie’s cheek. “Who’s a lucky boy then? See you tonight.”

  With that he released her hands and, happy as a sand boy, strode off, Dave beside him.

  “But, Hugh.” Berdie could see his determined steps and realized it was useless to try and dissuade him. She sighed. Well, Lord, she directed heavenward while watching her man vanish down the corridor, You’ve faithfully kept watch over him these fifty-something years, and in some frightening circumstances at that. Please circle him with Your protection in the minutes and hours to come.

  She glanced back through the window at Avril, Sparks, and Cedric.

  A nurse entered the room. Avril nodded her head and started for the door while the nurse closed the blind on the window.

  Avril entered the hall and looked at Berdie.

  “Oh, Mrs. Elliott. Good news.” She barely managed the words. “It seems Daddy is going to pull through.”

  Daddy, Berdie thought. “Amazing.”

  Avril’s eyes were red. Her drooping eyelids spoke of little sleep and deep heartache. She had no headscarf. With her tousled hair and messy clothes, standing alone, she looked to be twelve years old: a sheep looking for its shepherd.

  “Avril.” Berdie put her hand on the young woman’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

  Tears welled up as Avril spoke. “Thank you for calling me, Mrs.—”

  “Berdie, call me Berdie.”

  “Seeing my father again…” A tear fell on a now-pink cheek and the words stopped.

  Berdie could see a dam about to burst. She moved her arm around Avril’s shoulder and hugged her. The young woman covered her face with her hands, and her shoulders commenced heaving up and down as the pain of the last difficult hours rolled down her face.

  “The wet salt of healing,” Berdie breathed. “It stings but washes clean.”

  Avril clung on until finally able to calm and regain her composure. Berdie pulled a tissue from her pocket and placed it in the trembling woman’s hand.

  “You’re so kind, Berdie,” she choked, dabbing her face. “You must think horribly of me.”

  “Nonsense. Now, you must come and stay with Hugh and me at the vicarage.”

  She lifted her watery eyes. “Do you mean it? You’d do that for me?” She sniffed.

  “Yes. And when your father’s ready, he’ll come home with us to recover. What say?”

  Avril nodded her head.

  “Good as done then.”

  Avril fingered the tissue. “You’ve heard about Kabil?”

  “Yes.”

  “He said nothing—he didn’t even leave a note. I tried ringing his mobile and the service has been discontinued.”

  Berdie could see the writing on the wall. Was this just an impulsive decision, or did Kabil plan this in advance? Was there more to this than met the eye? “And your flight was a one-way.”

  Avril swallowed.

  “I should imagine you’ve little money to spare.” Berdie tried to frame it gently.

  “I’ve learned a very hard lesson through all this.” She brought the tissue to her red nose. “Well, bittersweet, really.” Avril looked at Berdie straight on. “The only person on this earth who truly loves me”—she fumbled her words—“truly loves me, is my father. And I’ve made such a hash of things.”

  “Avril, hear this clearly.” Berdie kept the eye contact steady. “Your presence here has brought strength to your father and uplifted his will to survive.”

  “Do you really think so?”

  “The bond that exists between a father and his daughter, since the dawn of time, defies all that’s worst in this world. It’s forever.”

  Avril wiped her eyes and straightened her shoulders.

  The nurse opened the door to the room and put her head out. “You can come back now.”

  “Good.” Berdie smiled at the nurse and then addressed Avril. “Now, you go wash your face and we’ll return to the room much more refreshed.”

  Avril worked at a smile. “I won’t be a minute.”

  Avril made way to the water closet and Berdie sighed. “Whoever said there are no more miracles in today’s world needs to spend twenty-four hours in Aidan Kirkwood.”

  ****

  Hugh took a sip of his sherry, an apéritif before dinner. The moment he arrived home from rowing practice, showered, and got into his comfortable night robe, Berdie prepared his favorite chair in the library. And now they were in the midst of the discussion.

  “You’re sure?” he asked. “The call was legitimate then?”

  “Yes, Hugh, it was.” Berdie sat forward on the leather couch opposite him.

  “Blow me down.” He stared out the large library window. “They needed my help. And it was right of them to ring up. But I had no idea how to get to them.” Hugh ran a finger up and down the glass stem. “If the main entrance to their cottage is on Littlewoods Lane, why tell me to enter from Old Barn Road where you can’t see the place, and with an overgrown track at that?”

  “The family is trying to live under the radar. They don’t use the main entry because it draws too much attention to them.”

  “Sad, isn’t it? Someone fights for their country; then they’re secreted away simply because they’re making a difficult life adjustment.”

  “Mrs. Limb actually seemed embarrassed about it all.”

  “Hopefully, I can help change that.”

  Berdie put her hand on Hugh’s knee. “Yes. But, Hugh, there’s a bigger issue in the whole affair.” She braced herself. “You were the target for the blast.”

  Hugh downed the rest of his apéritif in one mouthful and plunked the empty glass on the side table next him. “As much as I hate the thought, it seems things point in that direction now.”

  “It’s difficult to take it all in.”

  “I survived a war,” he flared, “and someone wants to do me in at my small country vicarage?”

  “Can you think of anyone who would want to hurt you?”

  “It’s absolute nonsense.” Hugh ran a finger cross his lips. “Madness.”

  “I have to ask, Hugh. Is there something, someone, who may want to do you harm from your military past?”

  “Do you mean revenge for something that happened when I was in the forces?” He frowned. “It’s a bit late for that.”

  “No, I don’t mean the enemy.” Berdie framed her words carefully. “Isn’t it notable that it happens when your old military chums are gathered here together?”

  Hugh stared at her, taking in her meaning. “Rubbish, absolute rubbish.” Hugh’s voice blazed along with his cheeks. His left eyebrow arched dramatically. “You have no idea, Berdie. You weren’t there. You wouldn’t ask such a thing if you understood.”

  “Understood what?”

  “We were—are—a brotherhood, family. We were ready to die for one another. That forges an irreversible bond.”

  “There had to be trouble, obstacles, disagreements, arguments of some sort.”

  “Fighting a war’s hardly going to be all sweetness and light.” Hugh rubbed his hand over the bathrobe that draped his leg. His irresistible blue eyes took on a distant stare. “We all had our crosses to bear.”

  “Hugh?” She could see memories of a faraway time steal cross his vision and tighten his shoulders. “And what was your cross to bear?”

  “We needn’t talk about this.”

  “Hugh, there’s something that’s getting to you. I see it. Tell me, please.”

  He dropped his chin, as though
letting memories tumble forward. “We had an operation involving surveillance of insurgents. We prepared for a strike ambush.” Hugh rubbed his hands together, as if trying to wash the event away. “I can only speak in broad strokes, Berdie. You understand that.”

  “Of course, Hugh.”

  Berdie felt the need to be closer. She positioned herself on the arm of the chair Hugh sat in.

  “Using surveillance to determine what’s going to happen is often simply making your best guess.” Hugh took a deep breath. “Cedric was involved with another situation, and I was the officer in charge. I made the call to go in. I went with my men.” Hugh’s voice was strained. He paused.

  “I’m listening, Hugh,” Berdie whispered.

  “I can still feel the desperately hot air, sweat trickling into my eyes. Somehow…” He shook his head. “They were waiting for us.” Hugh leaned forward, pressed his fingertips together, and dug them into his chin. “We walked into a trap.” His eyes squeezed shut, and then popped open. A deep furrow plowed his brow. “I can’t describe the horror, nor do I want to. It’s not for your ears.”

  Berdie put her arm around Hugh’s shoulder. “No.” She rubbed the back of his neck. “You survived, and I’m ever so grateful.”

  Hugh leaned back into the chair. “A miracle from God, we all did, but one. Rollie was the first one wounded. Even so, he tried to help when Doug went down. Dave took a heroic stand against sustained enemy fire, and Chad with him. I don’t know if we’d be here today if it wasn’t for their shooting skills and gut fortitude.” Hugh’s upper lip moistened. “By the time backup and medics arrived, Doug’s leg had to go to save his life. Ennis was captured. He was found dead several months later in an enemy camp.” He sighed. “There was some talk of a mole after that disaster, an informant. Cedric put a stop to that in a hurry.” Hugh tapped a finger on his knee. “What a dog’s breakfast it was, and all down to me.”

  Berdie grasped Hugh’s chin and turned his gaze to meet her eyes. “I know you, Hugh Elliott. You did what you thought was right, your very best. No one can fault you for that, and most of all, you.” She released his chin.

  He looked away and stared at a shelf of books, lined up like soldiers on parade. “If anyone, of all the men, had a right to find fault with me, it was Doug. All of our lives were forever changed, but his especially.” Hugh let go a puff of air. “That’s why, when I knew I was called to the ministry, I had to see Doug.”

  “I don’t remember this.”

  “I asked if things were all right between us. He was gracious to a fault. He said he never once blamed me for what happened. We were all just doing our duty. I made the best decision I could with the information I had at the time. He said that it didn’t matter who made the decision, the result would have been no different. And I’ve had a special appreciation for him since.”

  “But you never said.”

  “No. It was between Doug and I, and our Maker. But that’s enough of the past.” Hugh put his hand on Berdie’s thigh and gave a squeeze. “I could go another apéritif, love.”

  Berdie stood and took Hugh’s glass. While pouring, she considered what Hugh had just unburdened. She almost deplored herself for thinking it, but she couldn’t help it. Doug, Dave, Chad, Rollie, all of them wore wounds of one kind or another that were inflicted on Hugh’s watch. Suddenly, Berdie saw Hugh’s friends as possible threats. She shuddered. Had Doug truly never blamed Hugh? Was he that generous? “Yes,” she whispered to herself. “Hugh believes he was. I want to believe it too.” Just the thought of wrongful revenge made the back of Berdie’s neck prickle. And she sensed something frightful lay ahead. If ever urgency pushed her to expose evil that lurked nearby, it was now. “My dear Hugh.”

  14

  Lillie’s voice croaked over the mobile Berdie held to her ear. “Why are you ringing me so early? I haven’t even had my morning cup of tea. Is the sun up yet?”

  “Just. I’m in the church back garden, Lillie.” Berdie found herself competing with some squabbling greenfinches. She raised her voice just slightly while buttoning the cardigan she wore to keep the morning chill at bay. “I don’t want Hugh to hear me.” She paced before the memorial bench near the edge of the small pool that added such a sense of peace to the back garden. “All last night, I kept thinking about who may want to harm Hugh. I didn’t sleep well at all.”

  “I should think not, but what can I do?”

  “Help me.” Berdie took a deep breath. “I don’t want to believe it, but I think one of Hugh’s chums may want to do him in.”

  “Why?” Lillie sounded more matter-of-fact than alarmed.

  “I can’t explain it all, but Chad, Dave, Doug, Rollie, and that fellow, Ennis, were all involved in a disastrous battle with Hugh in command. Each one suffered unimaginably. Ennis died. I don’t know, but somehow, I think there could be someone who blames Hugh for it all and wants retribution, perhaps a settling of an old score.”

  “Have you talked to Hugh about it?” was accompanied by the sound of an early-morning yawn.

  “He thinks I’m off my chump.”

  “Well, calling me at this hour, I’m inclined to agree.”

  Berdie sighed. “What do you think, Lillie? Is it a reasonable assumption? Could someone be trying to get their own back on Hugh?”

  “I don’t know.” Lillie exuded another yawn.

  The greenfinch noise was becoming annoying. Berdie spied the offending birds. By the look of it, baby was squawking for breakfast from mummy bird and she was having none of it. The baby looked ready for flight, weaning age, yes, that was it, weaning. What a commotion.

  “This horrible incident,” Lillie offered, “the surviving fellows were all there, and they’re all alive and breathing now. Right? Why then revenge?”

  Berdie felt a sizzle in her brain. “They weren’t there,” she said to herself aloud.

  “No, that’s not what I said, Berdie. I said they were all there and they—”

  “Oh, how could I have been so blind?”

  “What?” Lillie sounded suddenly awake. “Blind?”

  Berdie glanced toward the now-divested crime scene. “How absolutely diabolical.”

  “Berdie, what’s going on?”

  Berdie’s thoughts were firing like so many lightning bolts, and along with it, scorching rage. Her knuckles went white from her tightening grip on the mobile. “Wretched, utterly wretched.” She worked to collect herself and think with a clear focus. “I’ve got to ring up Matthew Reese,” Berdie blurted.

  “What’s he got to do with this conversation?”

  “How, how?” Berdie repeated.

  “How what?”

  Berdie snapped her fingers. “Just like the lock on Sundeep’s door of the shipping container. How daring.”

  “Sundeep’s lock?”

  “The DIY lock he created for his door, in Slough, remember?”

  “No.”

  “And where did he get the information? The library, of course. Why didn’t I see it before?”

  “Berdie, you’re not making any sense.”

  “On the contrary, Lillie, I’m in full flow.” Berdie glanced again at the greenfinches. “Bless those little darlings.” Another thought struck her. “Little darlings.” Berdie gasped. “Max and Emmy. Keep them safe. It’s becoming clearer.”

  “OK, Berdie, you’ve completely lost me. Go eat breakfast and ring back later when you make some kind of sense.”

  “Right, I must call Rollie. And Chief Inspector Kent.” Berdie became aware of Lillie’s words. “Yes, breakfast. Go have your tea, Lillie. You’ve been wonderful.”

  “Have I?” Lillie rang off.

  Berdie was beginning to see the puzzle pieces fit together. If she gathered the information she expected from the people she now needed to contact, a whole scheme of how to catch out the guilty party could be put into place immediately. She entered Chief Inspector Kent’s number into her mobile. It felt hours before he answered.

  “Kent” came in a
raspy voice.

  “Good morning, Chief Inspector.”

  “Is it?”

  “Indeed. Listen closely, please. I believe I know who tried to murder Hugh. I have a few things to work out yet, but I haven’t any doubt they’ll try again, and I fear it could be soon.”

  “Who?”

  “I can’t say until I dig a bit deeper, and I know tomorrow is Sunday, but even so, what we need is a confession, and we’ll need reliable honey, a substantial lure. Yes, and the sooner the better. Now, if you’d be so gracious, I believe, in an hour’s time, I’ll be able to give you ‘the who’ and a plan.”

  ****

  Berdie glanced about at Chief Inspector Kent and Hugh as they stood in the vicarage hall. The plan had emerged from Hugh’s minor accident during rowing practice. The gravity of the moment hit her as they launched the daring scheme Berdie had developed. And now they were actually igniting the touch paper.

  Berdie held the vicarage phone to her lips. “I’m so glad you’re in.” She labored to keep her voice even. “I was hoping I could ask a favor.”

  “Yes, what is it?”

  “You see, Hugh’s ankle began to hurt after rowing practice this afternoon following church. Quite sore—he’s taking prescription medication for pain relief.”

  Berdie looked at Chief Inspector Kent, who glanced at Hugh. Hugh nodded.

  “It’s just that I’ve a commitment to speak at the women’s guild over at Upper Winston this evening.” That part was quite true, but Lillie had stepped in for her. “It will run quite late. I have someone who’s staying with Hugh, but they must be home by nine this evening.” Berdie swallowed. Another truth—CI Kent had called in Peter Brice, who would be at the house until nine, but still, she worked to maintain her composure. “I was wondering if you may see your way clear to look after him through the night.”

  “As a matter of fact, I am available.”

  “Wonderful.” Berdie shuddered. “It shouldn’t require a great deal of effort. It’s just that I’d feel better if Hugh had someone with him. I’d be ever so grateful.” Berdie’s stomach churned.

  “Don’t worry. I’m glad to do it.”

  “Thank you so much.” Berdie nearly choked on the words. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning then, when I get back. Ta.”