The Travelling Detective: Boxed Set

by Joan Donaldson-Yarmey

  Christine’s breath caught. This was her opportunity. But she didn’t want the resulting outburst, the anger, the possible fight between him and Ben. Her leaving him was one thing she thought he could handle. Knowing that she had been having an affair with one of his friends was something she didn’t think he could. “No, I didn’t. I left because I wanted to.”

  Chapter 24

  “You know,” Jared began softly, as they drove away. “The man I’ve called father all these years is rapidly becoming a stranger to me.”

  Elizabeth didn’t know how Jared was managing to hold up under everything that he was learning. She wished she could do something to ease the pain that he must be feeling.

  “I wanted to follow him and demand to know what those things were he was hinting at, but the way he said it, so quiet and cold, sent a shiver through me. For the first time I’m afraid, afraid of the past, afraid of what I’m going to find out during my search.”

  He looked at her. “I know you warned me that I might not like what I learned. But for some reason I was the one chosen to discover what really happened to my mother.”

  “Well, we certainly did learn some more about your mom,” Elizabeth said.

  “Yes, with Mom being almost four months pregnant with me that could explain my grandfather’s reaction to her and to me.”

  “It sure sounds like your grandfather was capable of holding a grudge. I wonder why your parents waited so long to get married. Surely, she’d have known earlier that she was pregnant.”

  “I never thought to ask. There are so many things I didn’t get to ask about.”

  “Well, we’ll just have to keep going back until you get all your answers.”

  “Providing Dad lets us,” Jared said ruefully. “Where do we go from here?”

  “Let’s head to the Munter-Thompson farm,” Elizabeth said. “Sarah seems quite willing to talk with us.”

  “Well, I thought you’d be back,” Sarah said, coming out of the house and looking down at them. “I’ll get some juice if you want to go to the gazebo.”

  “You’re right,” Jared said, as he pushed himself around to the back yard. “She seems happy to see us.

  They had just settled in the gazebo when Sarah arrived with the glasses on a tray. “I hope you like orange juice,” she said. “That’s all we have right now.”

  “It’s fine with me,” Elizabeth said, taking the glass offered her.

  “Nick has gone into town,” Sarah said, passing the juice to Jared. “I don’t go much anymore. It’s too hard on my legs to stand for very long.”

  “Do you two still farm?” Elizabeth asked, taking a sip.

  “No. We rent out most of our land now. Nick’s not feeling that good these days so he’s had to slow down. But he keeps active by doing the gardening and mowing the lawn.”

  Sarah sat down on the bench. “Word has been circulating about you two,” she said, changing the subject. “You’re both creating quite a stir.”

  “What are people saying?”

  “That you are trying to show a link between Ben’s and Anna’s deaths, that you are asking all sorts of questions about Anna’s life. Christine even phoned Wayne and gave him shit for giving you her address.”

  Elizabeth wondered why. Christine had monopolized the conversation telling her about that night. The only bad part had been at the end when she’d asked about Graham.

  “Seems that you implied that Graham had something to do with killing Ben,” Sarah said, as if reading her thoughts.

  “Well, he was there that evening,” Elizabeth said. “And so was Meredith.”

  “Oh, yes. There was a lot of speculation about that when it came out at the trial, especially once Christine’s lawyer claimed that she had been hit on the head after she had stabbed Ben only once.”

  “Did the police look into that?”

  “They did but they concluded that she had killed Ben then passed out hitting her head.”

  “When the jury found her not guilty, did the police try looking for someone else?”

  “Not that I heard of. I think they figured they had the right person, just not enough evidence.”

  “We’ve been reading Meredith’s books,” Jared said. “She definitely loved Ben.”

  “That I wouldn’t know, seeing as how he was killed the winter before I moved here.” She grinned. “I can tell you about some of the stories I heard, though.”

  “Okay,” Elizabeth said.

  “Apparently, she and Wayne were having their own little affair.”

  “They were?” both Jared and Elizabeth asked at the same time.

  “Yes,” Sarah nodded. “They were spotted coming out of a hotel room one night and were seen having a good time at the auction market one day.”

  “Auction market?” Elizabeth asked.

  “That’s where some farmers take animals to sell and others go to buy. Auction day is the highlight of the week. Every farmer who can find the time attends the auction market. Some go because they’re checking the price of cattle. Others want some piglets to raise or just one full-sized pig to butcher. In the fall those who have enough hay put up go to buy calves that were born in the spring. They feed them over the winter and then sell them as yearlings the next spring. In the spring those who have extra pasture go to buy the yearlings to put on the grass and fatten up for selling in the fall.” Sarah paused for a breath. “But most farmers just go to see who is buying or selling and to visit.”

  “Doesn’t sound like an exciting place to go on a date,” Elizabeth said.

  “It’s not but it is a good excuse to get together with someone without raising much suspicion.”

  “Except in this case it made people suspicious. And yet, according to Christine, Wayne wanted her back,” Elizabeth said.

  “Well, Ben didn’t want to break up with either Christine or Meredith,” Sarah pointed out. “It’s too bad people don’t stay with their marriages like Nick and I have. Sure we’ve had our differences and we’ve learned a lot about each other that we didn’t know before we were married but you have to get past that. You have to decide what is important in your life. To me, my marriage is the most important thing in my life. I’ve worked hard at getting it the way I want it.”

  * * * *

  Christine’s Story

  Christine awakened late Christmas morning and it felt good. She had spent too many years baking apple and pumpkin pies the day before then getting up early Christmas morning to make the dressing and put the turkey in the oven. A quick breakfast and present opening and then it was time to peel and cook the potatoes and carrots, make the salad and set the table for hers and Wayne’s families. She had never been able to enjoy Christmas Day like everyone else.

  She’d been out to visit her parents and had explained what was happening between her and Wayne to them. Although they didn’t give their outright approval, they did state that she had the right to do what she wanted with her life. So this season she’d hadn’t extended any invitations, nor had she accepted any sent her way.

  Christine got up and started a pot of coffee. After her shower she sat at the table with a mug. She hadn’t bothered to decorate a tree for Christmas although she had put a string of lights around her window and garland around her doorway. This was her first Christmas alone. She did have some presents for Graham and he was coming over later that day to pick them up and have Christmas supper with her. She had bought a ham instead of a turkey because she didn’t want to have leftovers. Wayne had offered her one of the turkey’s they’d raised during the summer, but she refused. It would have meant going out to the farm, killing it, plucking it, and cleaning it, all with Wayne beside her.

  She wasn’t going to do anything that would bring them together under any circumstances. She hadn’t even bought him a gift.

  After a light lunch, she began preparations for the evening meal. There wasn’t much to do and for that she was thankful. For the meal she peeled four potatoes and made a small salad to go wit
h the peas and carrots. To celebrate being able to totally relax today she’d bought a pumpkin pie at the store instead of baking one. She then curled up in her chair to read the newest best seller she had given herself as a Christmas present.

  The phone beside her rang. She hesitated and it rang again. She grinned and grabbed it. He wouldn’t call today. It was Graham letting her know he was on his way.

  “Hello?”

  No answer.

  Christine’s stomach did a flip. It was him again. This was the third time.

  “Why don’t you leave me alone.” she demanded, angrily.

  “How is your Christmas?” a voice rasped.

  It was the first time she had heard it and she didn’t recognize it. Maybe it was disguised.

  “Was Santa good to you?” the voice asked.

  “Leave me alone!” she yelled, slamming the receiver down on the hook. She leaned against the back of the chair. “What have I gotten myself into?”

  Christine jumped at the sound of a knock at the door then realized it would be Graham. She hurried over to answer it, forcing a smile when she saw her son standing on her porch.

  Chapter 25

  Elizabeth worked on her article for the rest of the afternoon, while Jared had a nap. When she grew tired of transcribing from her tape recorder she went to her Anna Jones crime file and added what she’d learned the past few days. She also opened a new file on Ben’s death. It would be something if there was a link between them.

  That evening after supper with Jared she again picked up Meredith’s book of poems.

  “Why don’t you lie beside me while you are reading,” Jared said, patting the bed.

  “Okay,” she said. She went to the closet, brought out two pillows for herself and snuggled up against his side.

  After reading a while she found one poem that she read out to Jared. “She even admits that there was something between her and Wayne,” Elizabeth said. “But nothing like the affair between Ben and Christine. Of course, history can be changed by the use of words.”

  “Yes, that’s true.”

  “I’m doing my last tour tomorrow,” Elizabeth said, putting the book down. “Do you want to come with me?”

  “We’d have to take my van,” Jared said.

  “That’s fine. Actually, it would be more than fine.” Elizabeth smiled. “I’d like to have a handsome chauffeur drive me about. It will free me up for recording.”

  * * * *

  Anna’s Story

  Paul returned from his trip into town and threw the mail on the table. Anna saw the family allowance envelope amongst the flyers. It was addressed to her but if Paul planned on going to the bar on the day it arrived he made her sign it so he could cash it at the hotel. She held her breath as he clomped around the kitchen, getting a drink of water and looking for his work gloves.

  Anna found herself staring at the envelope which held the means for her escape. She pulled her eyes away afraid he would be able to read her mind, afraid he would guess what she was planning. She turned her back to the table and picked up Jared. She didn’t want him to get in Paul’s way.

  “I’m going out to work the west field,” Paul said.

  “Okay.” Anna didn’t say more. She didn’t want her tension to come through in her voice and give her away.

  She heard the tractor start and then chug out of the yard. Even then she didn’t pick up the envelope. He could have forgotten something and come back. She paced for ten minutes and when he didn’t return, tore the envelope open and stuffed the cheque into her purse. Then, while Jared watched television she went into her bedroom and pulled the suitcase out from under the bed. She’d been afraid to pack before in case Jared accidentally said something to Paul about it.

  Anna threw some of hers and Jared’s clothes into the suitcase. Fear clung to her like a wet sweater. She expected Paul to walk in the door at any moment and every noise made her jump. When the suitcase was full she pushed it back under the bed. She found the bit of money she’d been able to stash away over the past year. It wasn’t much but it would help. She made some sandwiches for them to eat.

  Anna picked up the phone and dialled a number. Her mother answered.

  No time to waste on preliminaries. “Mom, I can’t take living with Paul any more. He beats me and I’m afraid he’ll start hitting Jared so I’m coming to the city on today’s bus. Could you meet me at the bus depot?”

  “Anna? Oh, Anna, I don’t think your father....”

  “Mom, I’m coming. Can you meet me or not?”

  “Your father is out right now. I’ll ask him when he gets home.”

  Well, it wasn’t a flat no. “I’m not sure what time the bus gets in so you’ll have to phone the depot.”

  “Maybe you should wait until you can talk to your father.”

  Anna looked out the window. He could come back at any time. “I have to leave now.”

  Anna got the suitcase from under the bed and grabbed the sandwiches. “Come on, Jared,” she said. “We’re going for a ride.”

  “Where?” Jared asked. He obediently followed her out of the house, leaving the television on.

  “To Redwater.”

  “Are we going shopping?”

  “Yes.”

  Anna continually watched for Paul as they left the yard. She knew he couldn’t see their house from where he was in the field but she couldn’t shake her fear.

  Her first stop was the bank. She hated to leave Jared in the truck but it would be faster. She hurried into the bank and cashed her family allowance.

  Anna had phoned the bus depot weeks ago to find out the schedule and then spent the time in between thinking about what could go wrong with her plans. On family allowance day Paul might spend too much time having coffee in Redwater and arrive home too late for her to get into town for the bus. It might rain so he couldn’t go to the fields. He could have equipment break down and spend the day in the yard fixing it. There had been so many things that could go wrong that she had spent the past weeks with a knot in her stomach and a headache.

  She climbed out of the vehicle. For the first time she thought about the second set of truck keys she was supposed to have brought with her.

  “Oh, no,” she said aloud.

  “What’s wrong, Mommy?” Jared asked, still sitting on the seat.

  “Nothing, honey.” She wiped the sweat from her upper lip. She’d planned to bring both sets so that even if Paul found the truck he wouldn’t be able to follow her, for she had no illusions that he wouldn’t find out where she was headed.

  Anna pocketed the keys she had and helped Jared out of the truck. She grabbed her suitcase and holding Jared’s hand walked into the depot. They were early and would have an hour’s wait. An hour in which Paul could get a neighbour to drive him here. That, in itself would make him angrier. It wouldn’t take long for word to get around that she’d left. She wondered if she would have the strength to fight him and get on the bus if he did show up.

  “I thought we were going shopping,” Jared said.

  “I’ve decided to go see Grandma and Grandpa in Edmonton.” She knew it would mean little to Jared since he hardly ever heard their names mentioned.

  She bought their tickets and sat on a bench. The hour passed so very slowly. She handed Jared a sandwich. She didn’t have enough money to buy anything for the trip. She had to save the little left over from the tickets for the city bus in case no one met her in Edmonton. As the time for departure got closer, the depot filled.

  When the bus pulled in she hurried over to it with the others going to the city. But they had to wait for the few passengers to get off and for the bus driver to give out the pieces of luggage from the compartment. Then he stood at the door and accepted the tickets. Anna set her suitcase near the compartment and waited in line. Her stomach churned. She had no doubt that Paul would find some way of getting into town and she listened for the screeching of tires. She kept waiting for his hand to clamp on her shoulder.

&nbs
p; As each person got on the bus, the rest in line shuffled forward. Finally she held out their tickets. The driver tore off the one side and handed the rest back to her. She helped Jared climb the three steps and they walked down the aisle looking for two seats together. She found them near the back.

  Jared took the one near the window and immediately knelt on the seat to look out. Anna sat down and leaned back with a sigh. She had made it this far.

  The bus pulled out. Jared was mesmerized by the passing scenery. Anna felt so very weary. She pushed the back of the seat as far as she could and closed her eyes. Her mind began to work on what would happen once she got to the city and she willed it to stop. She didn’t want to brood on whether her mother would be at the depot. She didn’t want to wonder if her parents would take her in. She didn’t want to think about what she would do if they didn’t.

  Anna could feel the bus slow down. She opened her eyes. Were they in Edmonton? No, just stopping to pick up someone waiting along the highway. The minutes used up for the stop meant minutes that Paul was making up. Her only hope was that she would have enough time to convince her parents to take her and Jared in, to protect them from him.

  * * * *

  Christine’s Story

  Christine looked around then headed over to where a uniformed man stood behind a counter. He glanced up when she approached.

  She smiled uncomfortably. She had never been inside a police station before and she hated being here now.

  “May I help you?” the man asked.

  Christine hesitated. “I’ve been getting these phone calls,” she began.

  “From whom?”

  “I don’t know. He never gives his name.”

  “I’m Constable Perry.” He took a piece of paper from behind the counter and began filling it out. “May I have your name?”

  “Christine Dearden.”

  He wrote that down. “Now tell me about these calls. When did they start, what does he say, when does he call, everything about them.”

  Christine couldn’t remember when she’d received the first call. “They began before Christmas. He usually doesn’t say anything. When he called me on Christmas Day he asked if Santa had been good to me. He calls in the evening and sometimes during the night.”