The Travelling Detective: Boxed Set

by Joan Donaldson-Yarmey

  Dick reached for her hand. “I’m sorry to hear about another phone call, Peg. I thought all that would be over when the sale was done.”

  Elizabeth liked his use of a pet name for her. It suggested there was something serious between them. He must be the friend Peggy had planned her holiday with.

  “Yes, I did, too.”

  He turned to her. “Did he threaten you in any way?”

  “No, just made those same noises as before.”

  “Do you think it’s the same person?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, let me know if they continue. I had a talk with Arnie and I told him to tell the person who is doing it to quit.”

  “Do you think he knows who it is?”

  “For all I know he could be the culprit.” He put his arm around her. “Besides that, how are you doing? Do you need help with anything?”

  Elizabeth was touched by his solicitude and felt uncomfortable that she was listening to it. If there was a way she could sneak away without them hearing her, she would. Luckily, Chevy was tired and had settled into her arms. He was getting heavy, though.

  “Thanks, Dick, but Al and Shirley are taking care of me just fine.”

  “Yes, they would. What about your house in town? Is someone looking after it?”

  “Al has driven by twice but he doesn’t want to stop for fear of being seen by a reporter.”

  “If you give me a key to the garage so I can get the mower out, I’ll mow your lawn and weed your flowers and garden.”

  Elizabeth doubted Peggy was very concerned about her garden, but people try to help out in odd ways sometimes.

  “Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Peggy protested.

  “I’d like to,” Dick said, quietly.

  “Okay. There’s a key to my house hidden in a plastic bag in the large flower pot by the back door, and the key to the garage is hanging just inside the door on the left.”

  They sat in silence for a while. Elizabeth wished they’d hurry and end this conversation. Her arms were getting tired and the mystery man with the familiar voice would be arriving soon. She wanted to be inside so she could meet him.

  Finally Dick stood and said he had to go. Peggy rose also. Elizabeth turned away when they wrapped their arms around each other and kissed. She was convinced now that this was definitely something serious.

  When Dick had gone and Peggy was inside, Elizabeth set Chevy down. He immediately headed for the door. She grabbed him again. She didn’t want to enter too soon and have Peggy realize she’d been within listening distance of their conversation.

  Just then her cell phone rang. She balanced Chevy with one hand while pulling her phone out of its case. She quickly flipped it open to stop the noise. Chevy squirmed to get down and she almost dropped him as she bent over to let him go.

  “Hello?”

  “What took you so long to answer?” her dad asked.

  “I was holding Chevy and I had to set him down.”

  “How is that little mutt? I miss looking after him while you’re at work.”

  “He’s doing great. We just had our walk and are going to bed.”

  “Did you find another place to stay?”

  She was afraid he would ask that. “No.”

  “Did you look?”

  How did he know? “I didn’t have time. I was on the road all day.”

  “I’m serious about you coming home. I read the papers and watch the news. I don’t like you being there.”

  Boy, was he overreacting. Then she felt a pang of remorse. He had recently lost his wife and he was probably afraid something would happen to her. He was just being a parent. “If things go as well tomorrow as they did today I’ll be out of here in the next couple of days.” She hoped he would settle for that.

  “I’ll call again tomorrow night.”

  “What did you do today?”

  “I looked through our marriage pictures,” he said, a catch in his voice. She wished she hadn’t asked the question. “Your mother was so beautiful in her wedding dress.”

  Elizabeth had seen them and had to agree with him. As a child she’d spent many hours looking at photographs of her mother. Then she would stand in front of a mirror and compare. She knew at an early age that she hadn’t inherited her mother’s looks.

  “I miss her so much,” he said.

  “I do, too, Dad. I do, too.”

  Elizabeth put her phone away and she and Chevy climbed the steps to the verandah. She paused when she heard a vehicle approaching. Was it ‘familiar voice’? She wasn’t sure whether to go back and hide, let him walk past her, or go in and wait in the dining room for someone to introduce her.

  The vehicle turned in and she quickly opted for the last, leaving the inside door open. That way she could see the meeting first-hand but wouldn’t be in the way. She sat at the table nearest the kitchen door.

  Elizabeth heard the footsteps on the verandah and then could see the outline of a man standing in the light. The doorbell rang. In a few moments Shirley pushed open the kitchen door and froze. She knew him.

  “Hello, Shirley. It’s been a long time but I see that you recognize me.” He opened the door and stepped in. In the better light, Elizabeth could see that he was an older man, about Peggy’s age. His hair was white and his long face wrinkled. He was dressed in a black suit and white shirt. He looked tired, not as if it had been a long day but as if it had been a long life.

  “You haven’t changed much since I last saw you Shirley,” he said. “Maybe a little older, but then it’s been about sixteen years since you graduated and moved away, hasn’t it.”

  Peggy came from the kitchen and she, too, hesitated when she saw him. This had to be Harry, Elizabeth thought.

  “Hello, Peggy, you haven’t changed either.”

  He seemed too polite to be the Harry she’d heard about.

  “Hello, Raymond.”

  Well, that settled it. This was Raymond Clarke, Julia’s husband. The man who had threatened to kill Harry.

  “What are you doing here?” Peggy asked, moving to stand beside Shirley.

  “Like everyone else who has heard about the skeleton, I am wondering who it is,” he said, with a smile.

  “I don’t think you should be staying here,” Peggy’s voice was quiet.

  Elizabeth agreed that it didn’t seem appropriate that the man who had threatened to kill her husband should be staying at her daughter’s place.

  Raymond held up his hands. “Every other place I tried is full. Could I at least stay until I find something else?” He glanced from one to the other.

  Shirley looked at Peggy. “It’s up to you,” Peggy said.

  “I’ll show you to your room,” Shirley said, grudgingly. When she turned she saw Elizabeth sitting at the table. “Oh. I didn’t know you were there.”

  “I had an extra long walk and wanted to rest before climbing the stairs,” Elizabeth said, knowing how feeble it sounded.

  She waited for introductions. With an effort, Shirley made them. “Raymond, this is Elizabeth Oliver, another of our guests.”

  He smiled and nodded at her before following Shirley up the stairs.

  Peggy walked past Elizabeth and into the kitchen. She could hear murmuring as Peggy talked to Al, probably telling him who had arrived. She knew she would have to wait until tomorrow to find out more about Raymond, Julia’s husband.

  In her room, Elizabeth took out the newspapers. Actually, the account in the Lethbridge Southern was old news. It reported the finding of the skeleton and the sending of it to a lab. The reporter wrote that according to people he had talked to, Harry Wilson, the previous owner, had disappeared under mysterious circumstances nine years ago leaving his wife Peggy Wilson with all the property. The story, at the time, had been that he’d run off with another woman, Julia Clarke, and no one had questioned it. The police were now looking for Harry and Julia, and Raymond Clarke, who had left town shortly after the pair. Well, they wouldn’t have to loo
k for Raymond any more.

  The special edition of the Gazette was more up-to-date. It said that Mike Altman had been dating Shirley and had gotten her pregnant. Harry threatened Mike and told him to leave Shirley alone. He then had sent Shirley to Vancouver to have the baby. When she came back there was no sign of Mike.

  It also reported that Peggy Wilson, who was now staying at her daughter’s, had received an obscene phone call from a member of CRAP. How did they know he was from CRAP? Elizabeth wondered. Maybe he was just someone who liked scaring people. But it explained how Dick knew about it.

  It was too late to watch the news on television and she doubted that she would learn anything new anyway, so she got ready for bed and snuggled gratefully under the covers.

  * * * *

  Elizabeth had decided to spend the day researching Fort Macleod so there was no hurry for her to leave the next morning. She could stay and have breakfast and maybe find out more about Raymond. When she and Chevy entered the kitchen she found everyone busy. Shirley was frying bacon and eggs, Al was making toast, and Peggy was putting coffee grounds in the pot. Stormie must be sleeping late.

  “Hi,” she said. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “Thanks, we’re fine,” Shirley said.

  Peggy picked up two plates and some cutlery and carried them into the dining room. When she returned Elizabeth asked her.

  “Are Raymond and I going to eat in there?” How lucky. A perfect opportunity to pump him for information.

  “Yes.”

  They were a different family this morning. No one said a word as they worked. It was clear that they didn’t like Raymond being there. “Who is Raymond?” She knew the answer to that already, but at least it was conversation.

  They looked at each other. “He used to be the minister of our church,” Peggy said. “And he is Julia’s husband.”

  The door opened and the man himself entered. He was dressed in the same outfit as last night. “Good morning, everyone.”

  “Good morning,” Peggy said, taking some napkins from a drawer.

  He looked around the room. “Are you going to introduce me to your husband, Shirley?”

  Shirley glanced at Al. “Al, this is Raymond. Raymond, my husband Al.”

  Raymond held out his hand. Al looked at it for a second and then extended his.

  “I see the table’s set in the dining room,” Raymond said. “Are Elizabeth and I eating in there?” He didn’t sound particularly happy with the idea.

  “Yes, that is where our guests eat.” It was Shirley who answered.

  “You don’t need to go through the bother. We can eat in here. I’m sure Elizabeth doesn’t want to be stuck trying to make conversation with me in there.”

  Shirley looked at Elizabeth. “Fine with me,” she said. Damn, there went her perfect chance to be alone with him but maybe she’d learn something this way, too.

  Peggy began setting the kitchen table for two.

  “You three might as well join us,” Reverend Raymond said. His voice was soft and calming like most ministers.

  Peggy opened her mouth but before she could say anything he added.

  “After all, we are old friends, and I think we need to talk.”

  Peggy nodded, and went to the cupboard for more plates. Al put more bread in the toaster. Shirley added more eggs to the pan.

  Elizabeth felt a twinge of excitement. What did he want to talk about? Did it have something to do with Harry and Julia? With the skeleton?

  When the table was set and the food placed on it, Raymond stood waiting to be told where to sit. Elizabeth remained standing, too, until Al indicated their chairs.

  The platters of food were passed in silence. Raymond took generous servings and Elizabeth too helped herself to a plateful, but the others only took small amounts.

  “Is there some coffee?” Raymond asked.

  Peggy started to get up.

  “I’ll get it,” Raymond said. He went to the counter and brought back the pot. He served everyone. Elizabeth held her hand over the cup that was set in front of her.

  “Where do you live now, Peggy?” he asked, as he stirred cream and sugar into his coffee.

  “In Fort Macleod,” she said, her voice strained.

  “In that house you and Harry owned before you moved out to the acreage?”

  “Yes.”

  “I drove through the town last night before coming here. I thought it would have changed more than it has. I expected to see more new houses, more businesses.” He seemed like a nice, polite person, Elizabeth noted.

  The phone rang. When the machine was finished its spiel, the caller said. “Oink! Oink! Oink! Look at all the trouble selling that land for a hog barn has caused you!”

  Peggy gasped and put her face in her hands. “When are they going to stop this?” she cried.

  Shirley bit her lip as she reached out and touched Peggy’s shoulder. “Just ignore it, Mom,” she said quietly.

  Al got up angrily and deleted the message. “Shirley’s right,” he said. “You can’t let them get to you. That’s what they want.”

  Peggy lifted her head and attempted a smile. “I know,” she said, “But sometimes it is hard pretending it’s not happening.”

  “I read about the problems you had with people protesting the sale,” Raymond said, adding more eggs to his plate. “Do you think they may have put the skeleton in the tank like the papers said?”

  When no one answered, Raymond continued. “Finding that skeleton must have been quite a shock.”

  “You said you wanted to talk,” Peggy suddenly put in.

  “I do,” Raymond answered.

  “What about?”

  “I’m thinking we should discuss who the person was in the tank,” he said, looking around the table.

  “Why?” Al demanded. “Do you know something?”

  “Well, we all know that it could be Harry or, and I have a hard time even thinking this, Julia. Someone could have killed either of them and disposed of them in there.”

  “Or it could be someone else,” Peggy said. “Someone we don’t know.”

  “True.”

  They were silent.

  “If you think the bones might belong to Julia, then do you think Harry murdered her instead of running off with her?” Elizabeth blurted out, though she didn’t know what good all this conjecture did.

  “Or you could have,” Raymond said, looking directly at Peggy.

  “Me?” Peggy voice rose. “You think I killed her?”

  “Why not? She was having an affair with your husband.”

  “I didn’t threaten her like you did Harry.” She glared at him “Maybe you killed them both.”

  “That is enough!” Al held up his hands. “Raymond, I want you to leave.”

  “But I’m not finished breakfast, yet.”

  “I mean, check out. Leave our house.”

  “There is no other place with an opening and last night Shirley said I could stay here until I find another place.”

  “I didn’t say that!” Shirley jumped in.

  “You basically agreed to it by letting me stay when I asked.”

  “The police are looking for you,” Elizabeth said. She had been listening to the conversation with mixed feelings. At first she had felt sorry for Raymond trying to be polite, but now she wasn’t sure. He may be soft spoken but he stood his ground. She didn’t know, though, if she herself could ever stay at a place where the people didn’t want her.

  “Yes, I know. I’m going to the police station after breakfast.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin.

  He rose. The others remained seated.

  “Thank you for breakfast. It was delicious.”

  No one replied, but Raymond wasn’t finished. “I think I’m going to mention to the police that they should look for another body on that acreage.”

  “Why?” Peggy demanded, getting to her feet.

  “Well, if someone killed one of them, maybe that person kill
ed the other and buried the body. Plus,” he added in a softer tone. “I want to find out where my wife is.”

  He nodded and left, while Peggy sank back in her seat.

  Elizabeth stood. No one paid any attention to her. So she and Chevy quietly left the room. As she reached the stairs, she saw out the front door that Reverend Raymond was sitting in his vehicle talking to the news people. It wouldn’t be long before the whole town knew he was back.

  * * * *

  Once Elizabeth had gathered her things together, she drove into town and stopped at the tourist information centre.

  “Could you tell me how to get to the cemetery?” she asked, after telling the woman behind the desk that she had already signed the guest book a few days ago.

  The woman pulled out a map of the town. “You are here,” she said, putting an X over the centre. She drew a line on the streets as she explained the route to the cemetery.

  “Where in it is the North West Mounted Police section and Jerry Potts’ grave?”

  “As you face the gates they are in the far left corner.”

  Elizabeth looked on the map for other places she wanted to visit: the replica of the fort, the Empress Theatre and the historic downtown. She thanked the woman and left. The directions she had been given were easy to follow and soon Elizabeth was parking beside another vehicle in front of the cemetery gates.

  A young girl sat in the car with a headset on. She didn’t even look up when Elizabeth slammed her door and entered the cemetery with Chevy. A slightly overweight man with a moustache and beard was standing in front of one of the graves reading the inscription on the headstone. He moved to the next one. Elizabeth guessed he was either looking for a particular one or he liked reading the names of people who had been here in the past.

  In the far left corner she found a white picket fence surrounding a number of headstones. In the centre was a tall, white spire. She recorded what was written on the spire. “Erected in memory of their deceased comrades by the NWMP Fort Macleod.”

  Elizabeth walked through the gate, mentally kicking herself for not asking exactly where Potts’ marker could be found. Chevy frolicked off on his own while she walked along the rows reading the names, and the birth and death dates. Finally she found Jerry Potts, who was born in 1840.