The Fatal Fury (An East Pender Cozy Mystery Book 6)

by Leona Fox

  “I'm sorry Matthew, I can't tell you anything other than what I've already said. This is something that has to be between the two of you. All I can tell you is that sometimes Kelly has periods where she detaches herself from the world. I think it's her artistic side. I don't know if that's what this is or if it's something else, but that's all I really can think of to help you. I do think the two of you are good for each other and I haven't seen her this happy in a long time. She's spoken often about how much she feels for you, so I wouldn't be too worried. I think it's just a matter of being gentle. It has been a long time since she's been in a serious relationship, so it might just be that she's trying to process it all.”

  Matthew thanked her and he seemed a little reassured. “I did think about telling her I loved her once, but I looked in her eyes and I just froze. I didn't want to scare her or make things weird between us. But I don't want to have to be scared of my feelings, I just want to be happy.”

  “I know, just trust in yourself and trust in her and it'll all work out for the best,” she said.

  The two of them remained on the bench for a little while and then, when Scampy got restless, Ellen excused herself as she went to take the dog around the park again. Just before she was about to leave Matthew asked her why she did it.

  “Did what?”

  “Help all those people. You don't get paid for it, you put yourself in danger, and you have to put up with all these crimes and dark situations. Why?”

  Ellen took a moment to consider her situation. It wasn't often people asked her why she did what she did. She had been doing it for so long now she didn't even question it herself. It was such a part of her it seemed natural, like it was her destiny, but to actually put into words why she was called to this existential purpose was a difficult task. So she searched her mind until words trickled through her lips.

  “I suppose it started off because I saw someone in need and I wanted to help. Then it turned out that I was good at it and I had a skill that I hadn't tapped into before. I guess the same is true of Kelly, really. We managed to help catch a criminal. I'm not so arrogant to think that if we hadn't helped then they wouldn't have been caught but I do think we have made a difference and we've helped people. It's a pretty powerful drug and I know that if I didn't do something, if I didn't put my talents to use, then there would be people out there who would be in danger and would suffer. So I don't know how I could live with myself if I didn't. And trust me, I know about the danger and I don't take it lightly but...it's hard to explain. I just feel like this is something I have to do.”

  Matthew had a thoughtful look on his face. “I asked Kelly about it as well. I was worried about her, you know. I didn't want her getting in over her head and when she was going out...I was so worried. It was alright when we were just looking for an heir but a murderer? That's different. But she told me she had to do it because it felt like she was having an immediate effect on the world, that she loved it when she caught someone and knew that she had done something good. I get the feeling that sometimes she finds it hard being an artist, and that she paints all those pictures but she doesn't get to see people appreciate them after they've bought them. She doesn't get to interact with the world through them. It's always pulling things out of her own soul and setting them free.”

  “She doesn't give herself enough credit, though. I couldn't do this without her. She sometimes sees things that others can't and she has a way of looking at things that I never could. We're a good team and, hey, we have to do something with our free time, right?” she said with a smile.

  “Listen, I know you're confused right now but just talk to her and this will work for you. You two work together and you're good together. You both care about each other and that's the most important thing. You'll be alright.”

  Matthew smiled at this and thanked her before she walked away, but as she did so she thought about Kelly and whether her friend actually would return Matthew's feelings or not. Ellen deliberately had not mentioned the doubts Kelly had expressed, but secretly she was rooting for Matthew because she could see how being with him had made Kelly happy. However, she only hoped Matthew would not push too hard and she did fear marriage was perhaps too great a step. It's funny, Ellen thought. When she was younger marriage seemed to be the endgame for life and yet the older she had become the less important it had seemed.

  Chapter 6

  With no clear suspects or motive Ellen was being driven to her wits’ end. The list of patients was seeming endless. There were so many names she didn't know where to begin, and the secret she had to keep from Kelly was tearing her apart. In some ways she found it annoying that Matthew came to her with this because it was unfair to ask someone to keep something from their best friend, especially when it was something as big as this. Not that Ellen blamed him entirely, since he didn't have anyone else to turn to about this. She also knew he needed some reassurance as well.

  The whole thing would have been easier had the two of them simply spoken to each other, for Ellen didn't want to get caught in the middle. The secret made it difficult spending time with Kelly because Ellen always had tried being as open as possible with her. Deliberately hiding something so important was the very antithesis of what she thought a friend should be. Yet she desperately needed Kelly's help in going through the list, and in not going mad.

  While the two of them spent time together they slipped into idle conversation. Ellen was glad for the distraction, but on many occasions she was forced to bite her tongue to not let the secret slip. However, Kelly noticed this, and the fact that Ellen continued trying to change the subject and bring the focus back to the case and started to tease her about it.

  “Are you finally keeping a secret from me?” she said lightly.

  “No, I just want to get this case solved so we all can move on with our lives and bring the killer to justice,” Ellen said sharply, hoping Kelly didn't see the burning red on her face.

  Usually, Ellen had a good poker face but when it came to Kelly she found it impossible to hide anything, especially when it was something as big as this. Part of her, a big part, wanted to tell her everything, to help in her relationship and see it flourish. She knew Matthew was good for Kelly and only hoped Kelly saw that herself. But Ellen knew that interfering only would bring about more conflict and chaos, and did not want to make things worse. Anytime she felt she was about to blurt out something she remembered the pained look in Matthew's eyes and knew it was not her place to say anything. He had bestowed the secret upon her and now it was her duty to hold it close.

  Eventually, Kelly gave up trying to figure out whatever it was that Ellen was hiding, and indulged Ellen in talking about the case.

  “Well,” she sighed, “you've told me before that most murders are done for either love or money.”

  “So you think we should start by going back to basics?”

  “Yeah, we should go back to the first two. Henry for money and Diana for love.”

  “I really don't think Henry did it. He didn't even know he was in the will, and if Gary did know I don't think he would have been capable of trying to murder Henry. There's too many leaps in logic I have to make for that situation to make sense.”

  “Then I guess you have to go and talk to Diana again,” Kelly suggested.

  It was the logical thing to do although Ellen didn't envy it because Diana had been through a lot, and the last time they had spoken she made it clear she didn't have much time for them. But for the sake of the case Ellen had to go and bother her again. When she arrived at the shop she waited for Diana to finish with a customer. As soon as Diana saw Ellen enter, her face darkened and a scowl appeared. While she waited, Ellen had a look at a few products and decided to buy a sewing kit to try appeasing Diana a little.

  “Somehow I thought I'd see you again,” Diana said. She looked tired and weary, and Ellen felt sorry for her.

  “I just have a few follow-up questions. We still need some more information about him.”
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br />   “In all honesty I'd prefer just to put the whole thing behind me. It was a mistake and I never should have let myself be taken in by him. You coming around here only reminds me of how stupid I was,” she said, sounding as though she was on the verge of tears. But Ellen's ears pricked up.

  “What do you mean?” Ellen asked. “Look, I know this must be hard for you but you obviously cared for him a great deal. If there's anything else you can tell me, then it may help bring his killer to justice, and surely that's something you want?”

  Diana closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. For a moment she seemed to be lost in her own world, then slowly she returned to the present. She walked past Ellen and turned the sign on the door to 'closed'.

  “Come with me,” she said, walking toward the back of the shop.

  Ellen followed her through a curtain to a small kitchen. Diana reached into a cupboard and pulled out a bottle of whiskey.

  “You want one?” she asked. Ellen shook her head.

  “I'm going to need it to get through this,” Diana added, then poured herself a shot and slammed it back into her throat, gasping as she let the burn travel through her.

  “That's better,” she said, and pulled out a seat around the small table, gesturing for Ellen to do the same.

  “Now, this could take a while, but you want the whole story, yes?” Ellen nodded, and Diana launched into her tale.

  “Did he tell you about the burns when you met? No, of course not, he never liked talking about them. He always talked of getting a skin graft and ridding himself of them but he never could go through with it. I suppose they had become a part of him. There was a fire you see, when he was younger. The house burned down. His father managed to get Gary out but he went back in to rescue Gary's mom and never came out again. Gary's life was changed that day. His aunt took him in but, from what I understand, Gary was like a ghost.

  For a long time, he had to wear bandages around his face and couldn't be outside for risk of infection. So he spent his time reading and watching the world out of his window. Then he went out, finally, only to find people were cruel. Other kids mocked him, and all he could do was endure it. It takes its toll, you know? Gary wasn't...he wasn't the nicest man but I don't blame him for it. I blame everyone else when he was growing up. They should have been nicer to him.

  As soon as he could leave this town he did but he came back to visit his aunt. One day we met. I remembered seeing him around. It was a vague memory but it always had remained with me. I'd never been lucky in love. He caught me staring and must have assumed it was because of his burns. He glared at me and I felt so ashamed. I went up to him and bought him a drink. Don't think he was used to kindness. He kept to himself but when we started talking he opened up to me and I saw all of his pain and heartache and I pitied him.

  Nobody should go through this life alone and I wanted to be there for him, to show him he was still desirable and wanted, and worthwhile. So we started dating. We took it slowly at first, only really speaking when he came into town every other weekend. Then we started talking on the phone. I never really thought a long distance relationship could work but it was good for a long time. I really thought we had a future together. Even considered moving over there to be with him but then...” she said, and Ellen heard the heaviness in Diana's voice.

  “What happened?” Ellen probed.

  “I found out he was seeing another woman. How could he do that to me? I'd given him so much, loved him when nobody else would or could. He told me nobody ever had treated him the way I had. I thought we had something special, unique. I'd put my life on hold for him, hoping that one day we would be able to get married and build a life. Then I found out he was seeing someone else in West Callow and I just...I felt like a fool. I loved him with everything I had and it turned out I was just his bit on the side. Or maybe she was the bit on the side? Either way, he was the one who made me feel as though everything I had felt for him was wasted. He took everything I had and just...turned it into this horrible thing.”

  She paused for a few moments, reliving the emotional anguish, then seemed to remember who she was talking to, “But I didn't kill him because of it, if that's what you're thinking. Stupidly, I still have feelings for the man. That's the problem with these things. They keep sticking around.”

  Ellen felt sorry for the woman sitting in front of her but she finally had another lead, and although she didn't want Diana to have to relive the pain she needed more information.

  “What was this other woman's name?” Ellen asked.

  “Susan Martin,” Diana replied, and her face turned ashen.

  In contrast, Ellen's eyes lit up for she knew she recognized that name from somewhere. She wracked her brain in an effort to remember where, and then it all came back to her. The surname was the name of one of Gary's patients! Suddenly the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle began fitting together. Ellen thanked Diana, who merely shrugged in response. She had brought up the specter of the past and now she had to deal with it.

  Ellen left her alone with her bottle, wondering how many more shots it would take for Diana to forget about Gary and the past. Love had left its scars, but it had given Ellen a vital clue she needed. She made haste back to Kelly and the list of patients for a new lead had been found, and suddenly the prospects of solving the case didn't seem as bleak as before. When she found Kelly she barely wasted any breath and simply told her they had to get to West Callow. Immediately Kelly jumped into the car and they drove as fast as possible to West Callow, for it was very likely the murderer was, in fact, in that town.

  “So your chat with Diana was profitable?” Kelly asked.

  “You could say that,” Ellen replied, and looked over at her friend.

  She had seen what a secret had done to Diana and hoped the same fate wouldn't befall her own friend. On the way to West Callow, Ellen called Andy, told him about the latest developments, and was able to get Susan Martin’s address from him. Ellen wondered how Susan would react when she heard the news. Did she even know that Gary was dead, or that he had been seeing Diana?

  Chapter 7

  “Why are marriages always so fragile?” Kelly wondered aloud.

  The two of them were speeding along in Ellen's red car, wasting no time in getting to West Callow. Upon the mention of marriage Ellen's throat tightened but she saw no way to avoid the subject since it pertained to the case. However, it was verging on dangerous territory and she had to be careful with what she said.

  “I don't think all of them are.”

  “Are you sure about that? Even when you get married anything could rock it and break it apart. Take Diana, for example. She probably thought she was being patient with Gary and giving him everything he wanted. I doubt it ever occurred to her he was cheating on her and when she did find out that was it...their relationship was over. It couldn't handle the strain. Even Matthew, you know, his marriage fell apart. It's like everything always is destined to end,” she said with a pensive look on her face.

  “Even if that were the case the only logical thing to do would be to shut yourself away from any kind of relationship and that's no way to live. I've tried that, and it doesn't work.”

  “You might be better off. You save people from the heartache, and yourself. Did I ever tell you about my first boyfriend?” Ellen shook her head.

  “I was only fifteen. He was seventeen. It was a brief thing and it was never very serious. We only kissed a few times and held hands, but even that felt like a big deal at the time. He was a man, though, all muscles and tall, and he even shaved. And for some reason he wanted me. I mean, granted, I did develop early but he could have had any girl in his senior class yet he doted on me. And he was kind with it as well, he genuinely cared about me. But I didn't feel the same way as him. I knew after a few months I would have to end it but I didn't know how to go about doing that. So it went on longer than it probably should have. He kept telling me I was the most beautiful girl in the world and he always would love me, no matter
what, but that struck me as odd even then. One time I asked him how he possibly could know how he'd feel in the future and he looked at me as though I was mad.

  Anyway, I thought long and hard about it but I broke up with him. I told him I thought whatever we had had run its course and that I didn't think we should see each other anymore. I was afraid because I didn't know what was going to happen next. I never expected to see him cry, though. He wept openly, like I'd just destroyed his world. I didn't know what to do. Should I go over and comfort him? But that would have been no good since I was trying to get away from all that. So I sat there and watched him, counting off the seconds. I just couldn't believe I had made someone feel like that, little old me had brought someone to those depths of sorrow. I didn't want that power. I never asked for it, and I never wanted to make someone feel like that again. I suppose that's why I've avoided getting serious about anything because the more serious it gets the harder it is when it ends.”

  “I think you're too focused on the fact that relationships do end. That doesn't mean they're worthless or a waste of time. With each relationship you discover something new about yourself. You grow as a person and, to be honest, you're wonderful and you shouldn't feel you have to shut yourself off from other people. Being with you is good for other people as well.”

  “I'm scared to hurt Matthew. I care about him a lot but...I think he wants to get married.”

  “What makes you say that?” Ellen asked, trying her hardest to not let her voice betray her.

  “Just a feeling, I guess, but there's definitely something bothering him. When we started going out I asked him if being divorced put him off the idea of marriage again and he said no. But how can you ever know when you're ready to marry someone?”