Although still worried Tara heads back into the city centre with Jeremy feeling a little more comfortable that Sophie has perhaps not fallen foul of any wrong doing.
Chapter 3
The day had been long and Jeremy was concerned about Tara who was still deeply concerned about her friend’s younger sister Sophie Burgess. Jeremy is committed to getting answers and decides that he will meet with the current owners. He is aware that they are still overseas but nonetheless concentrates, he focusses on owners Jan and Rodney Wiltshire. No sooner has Jeremy focused and he is walking down a cobbled street in York in the UK. He looks around almost in disbelief before facing a door in Chamberlain Lane. The door is answered before he knocks and a smiling face introduces himself, ‘Hello Jeremy, I am Rodney. Rodney Wiltshire.’ And…..turning around with his arm gesturing, this is my lovely wife, Jan. ‘Jan smiles broadly extends her hand and shakes Jeremy’s hand and then plants a big kiss on his cheek to boot, which surprises Jeremy.
‘Thank you for meeting me,’ Jeremy politely adds. ‘A pleasure! Real pleasure, Jeremy.’ Jan and Rodney reply almost in unison. ‘I am sure you are both concerned at what has unfolded
in Chicago?’ Jeremy asserts. ‘That would be an understatement! We have worked hard to ensure that Highland Manor’s reputation is without question. An establishment that people will want to visit and will look back upon with fond memories.’ Rodney blurts out as Jan nods in the background in support. ‘We have owned the Manor since February 2002 and during our time there has never been an incident like this. We are horrified and plan to head back to Chicago the day after tomorrow. It’s the first available flight and breaks our holiday in half, so yes we are deeply concerned. We have been visiting our daughter, and were keen to get a break but now have little choice but to head home.’ The look of concern is evident on Rodney’s face and again Jan nods and shakes her head all in one movement.
‘So, I suppose you wouldn’t be able to shed any light at all on what has happened? Have the Police been in touch Rodney? Jeremy enquires. ‘Well certainly we cannot shed any light when we are half way around the world, and yes the Police have been in touch and we intend meeting with them as soon as we get back .’ If there is any way we can remove any scandal, I mean any bad publicity on the good name we have worked so hard to develop, you can bet that’s what Jan and I will do. I also want to meet with the Relieving Manager we put in. Terry Stone, I mean he seemed nice enough when we hired him but I don’t know anything about him. The Police are talking to him too you know and I just hope, I pray that we haven’t exercised any bad judgement there.’ Jeremy can see that Rodney is beside himself and has as many questions as Jeremy and the Police have.
Jeremy bids farewell to Jan and Rodney and wishes them a good flight back home. As Jeremy walks the cobble street of York he tries to put the pieces together but is no closer to solving the mystery. He wants to meet with the Relieving Manor Manager Terry Stone. He saw him briefly at the Manor earlier today with Tara and the Manager was clearly intent on avoiding the pair. Jeremy focusses his attention on Terry Stone and is soon walking up the familiar trek that he walked earlier in the day with Tara. As he closes the small wooden gate leading towards the Managers Reception, Terry Stone is waiting for him with the door ajar and is smiling towards Jeremy, ‘Hello, thank you for visiting me,’ Terry offers with a broad smile. Jeremy’s experiences have been that individuals he meets or summons after dark are normally warm, welcoming and importantly honest. Terry is all of the above and Jeremy shakes his hand as he is led into a small room directly behind reception.
He wastes no time questioning Terry and starts, ‘Terry this must be an unsettling introduction for you with this horrible crime?’ ‘Yes, it is. I have been a relieving Manager in B&B’s, hotels and motels for over twenty years now and this is the first time I have ever had anything like this occur under my watch. It is quite well…..unsettling to use your terminology.’ ‘Do you have any idea who may be responsible?’ Jeremy asks. Terry laughs and then sighs, ‘Well, the Police have asked me the same question obviously, but NO I have absolutely no idea who would do this. Nor would I know where to start looking? I suppose that is why the Police are baffled to.’ He goes on, ‘The Wiltshire’s are due back in a day or so and I am not looking forward to seeing them to be honest. They really pride themselves on their reputation and they haven’t really said a lot, but I just sense that they will want it to go away, but of course will be full of their own questions.’ Jeremy can see that Terry is upset by the matter and notices him trembling as he stares almost through him.
There seems little more to be gained from Terry and Jeremy decides that before he calls it a night there is one more person he would like to meet. He says good night to Terry who sees him to the door and waves then watches Jeremy walk down the hill. Sophie Burgess disappearance has caused considerable concern and if only for Tara’s sake he is keen to summon Sophie in the hope that she is okay. Jeremy knows from experience that if he attempts to summon an individual and nothing happens that would likely mean that she is dead, and he hopes that Sophie is still alive. He focusses as he has done so many times before, funneling all his energy on Sophie Burgess. He is soon wandering down a narrow lane that leads to a Hostel in Philadelphia and enters the reception area before following his instinct and walking down a passage way. There he notices a smiling young girl with dreadlocks and scruffy jeans waving to him from the end of the passageway.
‘Hello, I am Jeremy,’ he announces. The young girl laughs before adding ‘I know who you are and I am Sophie. It’s nice to meet you.’ Jeremy like he did earlier in the evening wastes no time and immediately questions the young girl. ‘Sophie, I hear that your mother is quite worried about you. She heard about the murder in Chicago and having learned that you stayed at the Highland Manor is anxious to hear that you are alright.’ Somewhat carefree Sophie smiles and adds, ‘Oh Elaine the worrier, geez.’ She rolls her eyes as she stares at Jeremy, ‘I am only saving myself a lecture. Once she hears that I am with Michael,’ Sophie turns and gestures her arm and for the first time Jeremy realises that Michael is asleep underneath a pile of blankets in the corner of the messy dorm. ‘I mean Elaine will have a coronary! She doesn’t think Michael is a good influence,’ she laughs as she again rolls her eyes. ‘Elaine will be well…she won’t be bloody happy, so I have avoided the lecture, I don’t need it.’ Jeremy stares at Sophie as he watches the young girl go through her animations as she tells her tale. ‘I gather that Elaine is your mother?’ he asks. ‘Yeah Elaine is my mother! But I haven’t called her Mum in years.’ She laughs. ‘Sophie I don’t want to be seen to be lecturing you about whether Michael is good or bad, but I do know your mother is worried. So I think it would be nice to just give her a call so she knows you are alright. The young girl who was murdered stayed at Highland Manor so naturally she would be worried.’ Jeremy suggests.
‘That place freaked me anyway. The guy over the road used to sit and stare for hours on end and that unnerved me enough to want to move on,’ Sophie’s body shakes as she emphasises her unease. ‘A guy over the road? Do you know who he was?’ Jeremy asks. ‘Nah.’ Then she excitedly blurts out, ‘Roland something. Yes Roland was his first name. Creeeepy!’ She adds.
Jeremy pulls out of his pocket a small note book and pen and as he looks at Sophie he writes a reminder and leaves the note on the table. Sophie laughs and adds, ‘Okay I get the message I will phone Elaine in the morning ….first thing.’ She laughs as she smiles at Jeremy and thanks him for calling. Jeremy waves good bye and wanders the passageway on his way out. He knows that historically if he leaves a gift, a card, anything the individual will recollect their meeting and he was confident that Sophie would do as she said and call her mother.
Chapter 4
Tara bursts into the Old Coffee Stop and her face can’t hide her excitement. ‘Good morning, ‘she excitedly bleats out to Jeremy. ‘I have great news. Sophie has telephoned her mother and is now in Philadelphia. Her mothe
r phoned me just after I got out of the shower and she is so relieved. I can’t tell you what good news that is, I was so worried for her.’ She excitedly goes on barely allowing time for Jeremy to open his mouth. ‘Sophie was concerned that her mother would not approve of her new boyfriend whom her mother knows from their home town and apparently the two have met up and are travelling together. So anyway it’s all been cleared up and at least she has contacted her mother.’ Sophie’s telephone call to her mother was made earlier than Jeremy expected and he is pleased to share Tara’s excitement. ‘Well that is good news! I am pleased that Elaine’s mind is now a little more at ease,’ he adds. ‘Boyfriends often don’t always meet with parents’ approval and I suppose Elaine sees Michael as just a bad influence. Don’t worry it will work itself out and I am really pleased that you are at ease now Tara.’ Jeremy explains.
Tara is taken back and stares at Jeremy as she weighs up what he has just said. She thinks to herself, HOW on earth does Jeremy know that Sophie’s mother’s name is Elaine? And how does he know that Sophie’s boyfriend is Michael? She says nothing but ponders how Jeremy could possibly know as she was sure she hadn’t shared the Christian name and wouldn’t as she would never refer to Sophie or her friend Julie’s mother as Elaine….never! And as for Michael, she only heard his name mentioned for the first time this morning. So how does Jeremy know these things? She is stunned and cannot fathom it out.
‘Are you okay?’ Jeremy asks Tara. ‘Yes.’ She smiles and then politely adds, ‘I am just relieved for Sophie and her mother.’ Tara decides to say nothing but her mind works overtime trying to explain how Jeremy could know such intimate facts about Sophie and her mother. Jeremy picks up the Daily Herald for what is his first real opportunity to read today’s headlines and reads…..Police still looking for clues in Manor murder. He reads on with interest noting …..Recently released criminal cleared of any wrong doing! Jeremy concludes that the Police are clearly no closer to solving the murder and this only makes him more committed towards making his own investigations. He decides to plan more after dark meetings to help investigate the mystery.
Jeremy says good bye to Tara and with a shared kiss on the cheek the pair both head to work in their separate directions. At work Jeremy is distracted and cannot get out of his mind the discussion he had with Sophie the night before. He wonders who Roland is and decides to again travel to Highland Manor and make his own enquiries. He hails a taxi and is soon walking up the familiar path to the Manager’s Reception. Terry Stone greets him and unaware that they had met after dark the night before asks, ‘Can I help you?’ Jeremy replies, ‘Yes. I was actually here yesterday looking for a friend who stayed here and we have now located her in Philadelphia. So I am very grateful to Lily’s help when I called yesterday with my girlfriend.’ ‘That’s nice,’ Terry offers in a relatively disinterested tone before turning to move on. Jeremy interrupts and seeking Terry’s attention he raises the tone of his voice and yells, ‘Can you tell me who Roland is? Sophie said she knew a man by the name of Roland who often sat over the road?’ Terry turns back towards Jeremy and politely replies, ‘Sorry, I don’t know anyone by that name. I am only the Relieving Manager and have only been here two weeks.’ He mumbles, ‘Worse bloody two weeks of my life actually.’ Then adds, ‘Lily will probably know. I will get her. Wait here.’ Jeremy senses that Terry is trying to be more helpful and thanks him, smiles and nods.
Lily soon appears smiles and quickly adds, ‘You are looking for Roland? Roland Biggs?’ ‘Yes, yes if that is his name. Where can I find him?’ Lily looks at Jeremy enquiringly before adding, ‘Roland is a neighbor and lives over the road at No. 13. He is a little slow and lives with his aged parents. He regularly sits outside his parent’s house and watches on, but he is not a danger and he has over the years befriended some of the guests that have stayed here. He really is a lovely soul and wouldn’t hurt a fly.’ Lily impresses as being protective and quick to play down any wrong doing or suggestion that Roland is in anyway a villain. ‘You can chat with him if he is over the road, he enjoys a chat and will welcome you,’ she smiles supportively.
Jeremy thanks Lily and wanders down the path and decides to meander his way over to No.13. He spots a middle aged balding man who has just walked out of the house and is about to sit on a garden bench that is strategically positioned outside the house fence and facing the Manor. ‘Hello.’ Jeremy is greeted by a very warm and welcoming man who is quick to introduce himself. ‘I am Roland. Who are you?’ ‘I am Jeremy, Roland it’s nice to meet you.’ ‘It’s nice to meet you to. Are you a guest at the Manor?’ Jeremy notices that Roland’s speech is a little impaired, a little slow but also notices that Roland is very polite and very friendly. ‘I gather you sit here a lot Roland and watch the going’s on at the Manor?’ he adds. ‘Oh yes, I like the Manor, it’s a lovely big place and lots of nice people stay here. I really like it,’ Roland explains.
‘How long have you and your family lived here Roland?’ Jeremy asks. ‘A long time! Over twenty five years.’ Roland volunteers proudly. ‘I dare say you have seen a lot of people come and go. Have you ever seen anything that is odd or out of place, Roland?’ Jeremy asks. Roland is still smiling and looking at Jeremy, shakes his head and adds, ‘No. Like what sort of thing?’ The pair sit and talk about the Manor and Jeremy resigns himself largely to the belief that Roland is little more than a happy soul who simply likes to spend his time sitting to pass the time of day. He doesn’t consider that Roland is a threat and can’t really understand how Sophie could have felt uncomfortable by his friendly outgoing nature. Jeremy tells himself to maintain an open mind but likes Roland and doesn’t rush off, prepared to spend some time sitting and chatting.
Jeremy eventually decides it is time to head back to the office and farewells Roland. He hails a taxi for the trip back into the city and is soon back at work. In between attending to his daily work load Jeremy is distracted and can’t help but focus on who he will visit this coming evening. Although the Police have seemingly cleared the recently released convicted criminal of any wrong doing Jeremy considers that he is worthy of summoning. His experiences dealing with even those on the wrong side of the law is that after dark they are obliging, willing and honest so he is not daunted at the prospect of meeting with Lionel Walsh despite his long list of convictions.
The day seems to drag longer than normal and Jeremy is keen to see darkness and it is well into the night before he summons Lionel Walsh. He is soon walking a hill and knows that he is within only a short distance from Highland Manor. The full moon creates an eerie feeling as he enters the cobbled path in Richland Street where he faces an untidy front entry to Lionel Walsh’s rented small cottage. He knocks and the door is quickly answered. ‘Hi! Jeremy? I am Lionel. How are ya?’ Jeremy can’t help but notice the rough tone of the ex-con and his dress and appearance too seems to match. ‘Thanks for meeting with me,’ Jeremy starts.
‘Lionel, how long have you been out of prison?’ ‘Couple of months now!’ Comes the quick reply. Jeremy decides to be direct and blunt. ‘Lionel your record could easily place you as a suspect in the recent murder? I am sure the Police haven’t finished their investigation nor completely cleared you of any suspicion given your background?’ Lionel snorts as he stares down Jeremy and replies, ‘The Police will never finish their investigation when you are an ex-con. You are never ever an ex-con! You are always deemed a crim no matter what your alibi is or what your arguments are. I have learnt that over the years and no longer care, to be perfectly honest.’ Jeremy can see that Lionel is unapologetic.
‘The thing is Jeremy, the way I see the world is that I do the time and that cleans the slate.’ He laughs loudly and then adds, ‘But society has a weird way of looking at pricks like me and don’t see that you ever get a clean slate!’ He again laughs and adds, ‘Mind you I have been out, do something and get slammed back in the clink, so hey maybe there is something to it.’ Lionel adds as he stares down Jeremy. ‘Lionel how long did you recen
tly spend in jail? And what were you in for?’ Lionel has a both an evil stare and devious laugh. The latter seems to come out every time he speaks. ‘About fifteen years. Armed robbery, aggravated assault, armed robbery, break and enter……Mmmm I think that was about the lot! If I was out in between it wasn’t for long I guess. Yeah I could be a suspect but like I told the cops, I wasn’t around here that week.’ Jeremy looks into Lionel’s eyes and asks, ‘So… where were you Lionel and who can confirm that you weren’t here?’ Lionel pauses and a more serious demeanor comes over his face as he quietly answers, ‘No-one, no-one can confirm that I wasn’t around. I don’t have anyone, but I wasn’t here….okay!’ He more firmly attests.
Jeremy stares back at Lionel and can see a nervous man who is clearly on edge. He is far from convinced and unsure why the Police would make a statement via the media that they have cleared an ex-crim ….Lionel, of any wrong doing. Is it a smoke screen he thinks to himself? His line of questioning is leading nowhere. He thanks Lionel before heading out the door and walks down the hill deciding to retire for the evening.
Chapter 5
Jeremy’s morning routine starts like any other. He grabs his morning paper from the Corner Store and heads to the Old Coffee Stop where he sits and waits patiently for Tara to join him. He uses the time to read the newspaper and looks for any progress that may have been made on the recent murder. The front page of the Daily Herald features news about interest rates and a new development that has been approved in the CBD. The paper is somewhat silent with respect to the backpacker murder until Jeremy spots a small column on page 3 suggesting that Police are continuing investigations. Continuing investigations he mumbles to himself……….continuing investigations? Wow is that it, he thinks?
After Dark: The Mystery of Highland Manor (Science Fiction Anthalogies Book 3) Page 2