by Leona Fox
As she walked past the tables she heard some of the wilder theories, and the popular one was still that George was a spy.
“He didn't live here all his life, and I was at a party once where he was talking to someone on the phone in a foreign language. I'm telling you, there was more to that man that met the eye. I wouldn't be surprised if the government got involved sooner or later. You mark my words, eventually you'll see strange things happening,” one of the customers said.
Ellen tried not to argue with him because it wasn't good for business, but she didn't think such wild theories were doing anyone any good. She hoped Andy would get to the bottom of it sooner rather than later so everyone could have peace of mind.
George's death made her think about the time when her own parents passed away. They had been ill for a long time, and although their deaths had been expected it was still a shock to Ellen when they died within days of each other. At the time Ellen didn't know how life was going to go on without them, and she felt guilty for ever having left them for college. Indeed, had they not fallen ill it was very likely she never would have returned to East Pender on a permanent basis, but now that she was back she never wanted to leave again. She wondered what it had been like for George after he lost his wife. She wasn't aware if he had any children living elsewhere, but so far it seemed like the only people who missed him were the ones in the town.
The bell above the door tinkled and Andy entered, looking a little weary, and Ellen imagined he hadn't slept much. He walked up to the counter and noticed the dog.
“Still got your little friend then,” he said with a smile.
“Tried to palm him off on the Hamiltons but it didn't take, so I guess we're stuck with each other,” Ellen said, trying to keep her heart under control. Andy also noticed the picture of George on the counter.
“It's a good picture of him, isn't it?” he said.
Ellen turned the picture so she could see it and agreed. It showed him smiling at a garden party they had attended the previous summer. The sky was blue behind him and in the background, of course, Scampy was visible.
“I imagine that's the way he would want to be remembered.”
“It makes you think doesn't it? How we're going to be remembered when our time comes?”
“That's why I decided to stay here. After my parents died I could have gone back to the city but there was something about being here that felt so...comforting, like I was smothered in a warm blanket. I liked living in the city but it was easy to get lost, like you could walk through the city every day for a year and never see the same face twice. Even though there were more people I felt more alone there, and I'd much prefer to have people miss me when I'm gone.”
“I completely agree, and I believe I speak for all of East Pender when I say I'm glad you stayed,” Andy said.
There was a warm glow in his eyes and that same glow spread to Ellen. She smiled with delight and as their eyes locked she felt a crackle of electricity shoot through her, an exciting thrill she hadn't felt for the longest time.
“I'm sure we all can say the same for you. I can't imagine this town without you,” he said, and the two of them smiled sweetly at each other. Ellen served him his usual drink but he continued to lean against the counter and chat with her.
“How are you doing after yesterday? Are you over the shock of finding the body?”
“Oh yes. It's a strange thing, to see him lying there, the same old George that I saw every day walking Scampy but with no life in him. It's strange to think we're all going to end up like that.”
“Look at us, talking about all these cheery things,” Andy said, trying to force a laugh, but the only laugh they had was weak.
“Well, we could talk about happier things, like the character in your brother's book that's based on you,” she said teasingly. Andy drew in his head and narrowed his eyes.
“You know Ellen, you'd better watch yourself. You're getting on pretty thin ice, might be heading for trouble.”
“Are you going to arrest me officer?” she asked, the pitch of her voice growing higher, the beat of her heart increasing.
The back and forth between them had been threatening to get more intense and more flirtatious for a while, yet both had seemed reticent. Ellen didn't know about Andy's history but, speaking for herself, it had been a long time since she had been with anyone. Romance was a foreign concept to her, but she did enjoy the thought of experiencing it again. Yet, since she had been out of the game for so long she was unsure of how to proceed. So often she found herself wishing she had said or done something differently shortly after the two of them had encountered one another. Sometimes she thought she should be the one to make the first move and actually ask him out. She was about to, but she was anxiously waiting for Kelly. Since she didn't want Andy to know about their plan she wanted him to hurry up and leave before Kelly got there. There weren't many secrets around Kelly, for even if she promised to keep something quiet it often got blurted out at some point.
She glanced toward the door furtively but Andy didn’t notice. It seemed as though he had something else on his mind. He stirred his coffee, took a long sip, then smacked his lips together afterward in satisfaction.
“How's the investigation coming along?” she asked idly as she grabbed Scampy's leash and attached it to his collar.
“About as well as you'd expect. I have a meeting with Ricky Acts soon though, and I see you're in a rush.”
“He does need his walk. I'm sorry for having to leave you so abruptly.”
“No worries, it's a shame I have this meeting because I would have liked to join you. My parents used to own a dog and we always used to take it for walks. That one was much larger than Scampy though, he'd always jump into puddles and get us wet.”
He smiled fondly as he remembered. Ellen enjoyed these moments where she got to know a little bit more about where he had come from and his life before he knew her.
“Well, I hope your meeting is successful. Who is this Ricky...?”
“Acts,” Andy said, reminding her.
“It's just something to do with the estate. More of a formality than anything really. Thanks for the coffee, I'll try and pop by later, and maybe we can try and take each other’s mind off this horrible thing.”
“That would be lovely, it seems like it's all anyone can talk about.”
Andy saluted her with his coffee cup and left the cafe. As he was leaving Kelly came in. She gave him a cheeky smile, which made Ellen instantly roll her eyes. Kelly breezed into the cafe and walked behind the counter.
“Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?” Kelly asked.
“No, I need someone to watch the store.”
“I wish I could help you walk him, like take it in shifts, but I don't think he'd move if I told him to.”
“It's fine. I can use the exercise anyway, and I'd like to see if this plan does work,” Ellen said, tugging on the collar. The two women were talking in close quarters so no one else in the cafe could hear them.
“Ellen, just one thing,” Kelly said. Ellen pricked up her ears.
“What are you going to do if Scampy does identify the murderer?” Ellen pressed her lips together and blew out her cheeks.
“I suppose I shall point at them and scream 'Murderer!' at the top of my lungs. Hopefully since we'll be in public they won't do anything foolish, but I think that's something I shall consider when the situation presents itself.”
“Just be careful,” Kelly said, and there was genuine worry in her tone and her manner.
Ellen paused for a moment and squeezed Kelly's hand, reassuring her that everything was going to be okay. With that she turned and left, with Scampy by her side. For all of Kelly's faults, Ellen always had considered her one of her best friends. She was scatty and sometimes she had to remind Kelly ten times of plans they had made, but when it came to the important matters she always had been there for her. As she walked along with Scampy, taking note of how everyone react
ed to seeing the dog out and about, she thought about when she had first met Kelly. It was when she had been taking care of her parents. Most of the other people in the town were quick to offer their sympathies but it became the only topic of conversation between them. Kelly was the only person with whom Ellen could have a normal conversation about things unrelated to her parents, and she appreciated the outlet. Ever since then they had been close friends.
The day was fresh and bright, the song of spring was vibrant in the air. People stopped her often to discuss George and how good of her it was to look after Scampy. Many of them made a joke about how it was the only animal that seemed at ease around her, which became tiresome after a while. But the people of East Pender were so well-meaning that Ellen didn't like to be impolite. People walked in and out of the stores, and some other people walked their dogs, but there was no visible reaction from Scampy to any of them. Part of her was glad of this because, since Kelly had brought it up, she didn't know what she was going to do if she did indeed come face to face with the murderer.
She and Scampy walked idly along, trying some of the side streets since there weren't many people in the square. Before she realized it she was walking down George's road. When they came to the front door Scampy whined and pressed his nose against the door, trying to scratch his way in. Ellen's heart was filled with sorrow for the little creature. She imagined there must still have been familiar scents in the house that may have tricked him into thinking his master was home.
“I'm sorry Scampy, I should have been more careful to look where we were going. I wish he was coming back but you're going to have to try finding a way to go on without him,” she said, and then laughed at herself for talking to a dog. She let Scampy mosey around for a few moments longer and then led him back to the cafe.
Chapter 5
“So who did you leave in charge of the cafe?” Kelly asked.
“I just let Sarah handle it. She made the same joke she always does about giving people free coffee. What can you do but smile?” Ellen replied.
The two of them decided to go to the other side of town and escape things for a little bit to relax. They were sitting in a parlor drinking coffee. The wide bay windows let the sunlight stream through and the setting was much like that of an old English manor. Small cakes were served, and the two women plucked them from the plate and enjoyed the crumbling sensation. Ellen was gazing out of the window at the large garden. There was a maze at the other end, but before that the lush green grass was smooth. At the edge were rows of flowers, mostly purple and red, but a few blue and yellow ones, and then a large hedge that ran around the garden. There were a few people milling about outside, most of whom were heading for the maze. Ellen had done it a while ago. In the middle was a wondrous fountain, which was worth the effort of twisting around the puzzling maze, but all she was in the mood for today was relaxing.
Kelly was prattling on about something that Ellen knew she should have been listening to, but she couldn't shake the memory of the previous day where Scampy basically had been crying at his master's door. The whole thing filled her with sadness and it was all she could do to stop herself from crying. Late last night, when she had been in bed, the memory wouldn't leave her. It was as though all the sadness in the world had enveloped her, seeped through her, and made her drown in a sea of tears. She thought about her life and all her regrets, and then of her parents and others who had passed on to another realm, and soon enough the pillow had been soaked with her tears. It was a deep melancholy that had taken hold of her, and not even Kelly’s energy had been able to shake her from her stupor.
“What is wrong with you today? You've barely said two words.”
“I'm sorry,” Ellen sighed. “I guess I've just got a lot on my mind, and I didn't get much sleep last night.”
“Your moping is not going to help you, George, Scampy, or anyone else for that matter. We need to come up with a new plan because the other one didn't work. Oh...look, here's something that will cheer you up,” Kelly said as she saw Andy approach the door.
Ellen looked around and frantically tugged at her hair, trying to make sure she looked her best, for she hadn't been prepared for seeing him today.
“And you told me you weren't interested in him,” Kelly said in a teasing tone, then called over and waved to Andy. Ellen almost cringed.
Andy approached them after he'd ordered his drink and pulled out a chair. He wasn't in his uniform this time. Instead, he wore beige pants and a cream-colored shirt. He looked more rested and relaxed than the previous day, and Ellen shared a secret smile with him. When he pulled up his chair their legs brushed against each other under the table, and fire sparked within her. Tingles spread across her body and her heartbeat quickened. The moment was only fleeting though, as their legs soon parted, but the warmth that had been exuded from his body electrified her. Neither of them could get a word in though, as Kelly was in the full flow of conversation and barely anything could stop her once she got going. Andy glanced at Kelly and then shot Ellen a look, and the two of them smiled with amusement at Kelly's staccato way of speaking. But Andy sensed the smile was pained, and when he looked at Ellen he realized there was something not quite right with her.
He leaned over and spoke in a low voice. “I learned something about the case,” he said. The instant he mentioned the last word Kelly clamped up.
Although Kelly had a reputation for being self-obsessed she was sometimes quite aware of what was going on around her and, on occasions like this, she was listening for certain words. Now that she sensed a secret was coming she leaned forward and listened intently. Andy noticed and paused, but it didn't stop him from speaking for long. He moved back, away from Ellen, to speak to them both. Before he did so, however, he laughed at how quickly Kelly had stopped talking.
“I didn't think there was anything that could have stopped you once you were in full flow. You're usually like a juggernaut. I'll have to remember this for next time,” he said.
“Never mind all that, get on with what you were saying,” Kelly said impatiently.
“Okay, I was just going to tell you about my meeting with Ricky Acts yesterday.”
“Who is Ricky Acts?” Kelly asked.
“If you let me finish I will tell you,” Andy said, and Kelly pouted. Once Andy was sure that she wasn't going to interrupt again he continued.
“Ricky Acts came down to discuss George's estate. He'd been notified on the day of George's death, and wasted no time in coming to see what happened. It just so happens that Ricky is George's brother-in-law, and since George doesn't have any other living relatives he's the only family George has left. He seems like a nice fellow, very helpful, and wanted to know if there was anything he could do to help the investigation.”
“They couldn’t have been very close. I don't remember George ever mentioning he had a brother-in-law, and I haven't seen anyone visiting him,” Ellen said.
“Ah, yes, well, I asked him about that and he simply said he found it difficult to come back to the place where his sister died. I get the feeling they were close when they were younger but they drifted apart as the years went by, which is something I can understand.”
“Speaking of that, I've just finished 'The Obsidian Knight' and you really must bring your brother down here one day. He's an amazing writer and I just couldn't put the book down! Of course, it was a little strange to read about all this crime when there's a real one happening on our doorstep, but he has such a way with words that I felt like I was in the story,” Kelly said excitedly.
“I very much doubt you're the only one with that feeling,” Ellen said, suddenly perking up with a wicked smile as she glanced at Andy. Andy groaned and gave her a warning look.
“Well, I imagine there must be a number of people who feel the same way...Wait!...Why are you two looking at each other like that?” Kelly's head turned between the two of them.
Ellen and Andy smiled at each other in the way two people do when they share a private
joke, but if there was one thing Kelly hated it was having something kept from her. She persistently nagged at the two of them.
“Do you mind if I tell her?” Ellen asked Andy. The police chief sighed heavily.
“I suppose not, although I guess this means the whole town will know before too long.”
“I'm not that bad!” Kelly said, looking offended.
Andy and Ellen looked at each other, then at Kelly, and the woman with the short blonde bob cut accepted their stares of disbelief.
“Apparently our good constable here is actually the inspiration for a character in the books,” Ellen said.
Kelly drew back, impressed, and then started reeling off the names of the characters in the hopes of getting Andy to tell her which one was based on him. He shook his head and told her he wasn't going to say anything further.
“Well, it can't be the hero, then otherwise you wouldn't be so ashamed about it all.”
“Or perhaps I'm simply modest,” he said, and neither woman had any response to that.
But Andy took the whole thing in good humor and Ellen looked at him with adoration. Even when not dressed in his uniform he exuded confidence and control. He sat with good posture and his eyes never darted about in the furtive way that Kelly's did. He seemed calm, and being around him made Ellen feel calm as well. It was as though no matter what happened everything would be alright with the world. That was a feeling she needed at the moment since she didn't want East Pender to be shrouded in the darkness of murder.
“Well, at least George has some family in the world. We all thought he was alone. Maybe this Ricky will even adopt Scampy,” Ellen said, changing the conversation back, both because she was interested in the developments of the case and because she knew Andy wanted to get off the subject of his brother's books.