by Aria Sparke
The floral woman smiled at me. ‘Is she a patient here?’
‘No,’ I said as I stepped forward. ‘She was ... she died here. Her name was Elise Winter.’
The receptionist flinched. ‘I’m so sorry, um ...’
‘My name’s Lily Winter.’
‘Just let me check our director’s appointments,’ she said before speaking on the phone. ‘You can talk to him, Lily. He’ll be free in about ten minutes, if you don’t mind waiting.’ She waved at the couch beside the sliding doors at the front entrance.
‘Thank you, I will,’ I said.
‘It’ll be okay, Lily,’ said Kate, who sat on the couch and patted it to encourage me to sit down.
But I felt restless and chose instead to inspect the framed certificates and the assortment of staff photos adorning the reception walls.
Kate peered down the corridor. ‘Nice decor although the place has that off-hospital smell.’
‘Ms. Winter,’ a middle-aged man with a gray beard called from an open door near the reception desk.
I didn’t care when Kate insisted on coming with me.
We sat in the director, Dr. Eric Manson’s office with its cream-colored walls and carpet.
‘I’m sorry about your mother, Lily, but she was very ill, you know.’ The doctor’s expression mirrored his bland surrounds.
‘Thank you.’ I couldn’t think of anything else to say, so I waited for him to speak.
‘What can I do for you?’
A stirring of tears prickled my eyes. ‘I want to know what happened, about the details, I mean.’
‘I thought you already knew.’ He cleared his throat and neatened a pile of papers on his desk.
I had been told this was the official reason for her death, but I needed to hear it from his mouth.
‘I’m afraid she overdosed.’
I flinched. ‘Again?’
He sighed. ‘Yes.’
‘But how is that possible? How did she get the drugs here?’
‘Actually it perplexed us too because the drugs weren’t issued to her in hospital. It was a very tightly regulated substance although vets sometimes carry it.’
We reported it to the police here in Wicklow and they’re still investigating. I’m truly sorry for your loss, Lily especially as your mother was so young and obviously had much to live for. All the staff at Piermont were deeply saddened.’
Shocked, I wondered why no one had told me about the vet drugs before. ‘The police are investigating?’
‘I believe so.’
‘Why haven’t they spoken to me?’
Dr. Manson leaned back in his chair. ‘I’m sure they will contact you soon. You could call them.’ He rummaged in his drawer and pulled out a card. ‘Ring this officer directly and tell him I told you to call.’
I took the card and stared at it blankly. I wasn’t ready to go but Kate and the doctor were already standing as though to hurry me up.
‘Thanks, Dr. Manson, for your time. You’ve been very helpful,’ Kate said as she gathered her handbag.
‘Wait!’ Startled by the loudness of my voice, I could see they were too. ‘Can you tell me where you found my mother?’ This was my last chance to ask the questions that had plagued me as there was no way I’d return here.
Dr. Manson gazed at the desk and fiddled with his pen. ‘We found her in the grounds around 2 am. I’m sorry, but we don’t know how she evaded staff to leave the building that night.’ He nodded at the card. ‘Like I said, you’re welcome to speak with the police although I don’t believe they’ll be able to give you any more information.’
The tears bubbled up and began a life of their own as I realized she had died in the grounds alone like a wild animal. I stood and turned toward the door. ‘I want to go, thanks, Kate.’
Kate steered me from Dr. Manson’s office to the reception area and planted me on the couch. ‘Wait here and I’ll bring the car to the door.’
Too shell-shocked to respond, I perched on the couch and shivered. The receptionist had gone for lunch and the foyer was empty, so I let my tears fall freely.
A young nurse in a cobalt uniform poked her head around the corner. ‘Are you okay?’
I shook my head.
She grabbed a handful of tissues from the front desk and handed them to me. ‘I’m Chrissie and I knew your mother. I’m so sorry,’ she whispered nervously before poking a note into my hand. ‘My number. Call me as soon as you’re able because you need to know the truth. Whatever you do, please don’t tell anyone I spoke to you.’
‘Thanks, I won’t.’ After I poked the note in my pocket, she scuttled back down the darkened corridor. Moments later Kate appeared at the door to drive me back to her Wicklow home.
* * *
‘I feel fine, Kate. I just need to run,’ I said the next morning after getting up early and dressing in my running gear. ‘It’s what I always do.’
Kate pulled her bathrobe around her and blinked at me wearily. ‘Okay. When you get back, we’re going to a great cafe I know for coffee and pancakes. So don’t be too long.’
‘Sure, sounds like fun.’
I set off down the road and ran until I’d found a park with a grove of trees. Sitting on the grass out of view, I pulled my cell phone from under the waistband of my tights.
‘Hello, Chrissie? This is Lily. You gave me your number yesterday at Piermont House.’
The phone crackled and I could hear her breathing.
‘Sorry, I know it’s a bit early.’
‘No, that’s okay, Lily. What did they tell you about your mother?’
I sighed. ‘Dr. Mason said she took an overdose of restricted veterinary drugs. He didn’t know where she got them from though.’
‘Dr. Manson has only been director a short while. You should go to the coroner ... not the police.’ Chrissie’s voice cracked.
‘He gave me a police officer’s number to ring.’
‘Don’t bother.’
‘What is it? Do you know more?’
‘They found her body ... I saw it. She’d been attacked.’ I could hear the tremor in Chrissie’s voice.
Even though I didn’t want to hear anymore, I pressed her further. ‘Please tell me what you know.’
‘No animal would do that.’ She gasped. ‘Do you understand? Go to the coroner. You must. Ask to see her records. They’ll have photos. You’ll see. There should be an enquiry. Remember, don’t trust the police.’
I felt dizzy. ‘Why?’
‘They’ve been out to Piermont before.’ I could hear her swallow. ‘They only cover things up.’
Our connection failed, so I rang her back with my fingers fumbling over the keypad, but this time she didn’t pick up.
In turmoil, I walked slowly back to Kate’s house.
‘Oh good, you’re back,’ Kate said. ‘As soon as you’ve showered, we can go for breakfast.’
‘Look, would you mind if I took a rain check? I’ve something important I need to do.’
‘Sure, are you okay? You look pale. Did you run too hard?’
Not wanting her to fuss, I shook my head. ‘I’ve decided to see the coroner and check their records.’ I flicked through web pages on my phone until I found their number.
After making an appointment for 11 am and showering, I found Kate waiting patiently in the kitchen where she’d made breakfast.
‘You’re so good to me. Thanks.’
‘Okay, once you’re done with the coroner, we’re meeting for lunch at The Nook cafe. Here I’ll write the address and my number.’ She handed me the slip of paper.
‘I’m going to head off early and do some shopping before the appointment.’
‘I can drive you.’
‘Honestly, I need the walk.’
Kate studied my face with a worried expression. ‘You’ve already been running today.’
‘I’m fine; I just need to clear my head.’
After breakfast, I ventured down the tree-lined street and passed neat b
ungalows with green-hued gardens and pretty redbrick paths. As I approached the inner city, the houses morphed into crowded apartments, shops and traffic. The noisy blare of cars and people merged with grimy odors making me scuttle for the sanctuary of a bookshop. I’d forgotten how the city often gave me sensory overload and a headache. Cocooned in the shop, I breathed the new book smell and felt tempted to take off my shoes to walk barefoot over the soft gray carpet.
I had an hour and a half to kill before the appointment and was just sampling the smell and words of a physiology textbook when my cell phone buzzed. I noticed Flynn’s number on caller id, so I switched the sound off and ignored it. But he was persistent, so eventually I left the shop and sat on the steps to answer him.
‘Hi, Flynn.’
‘Where are you?’
‘The Bookworm.’
‘Surprise, surprise. Want to meet for coffee?’
‘What are you doing in Wicklow?’
‘I had a few errands.’
‘Okay, but I’ve an appointment at eleven.’
‘Is there a coffee shop nearby?’
‘Hmm, yes. Do you know Heavenly Beans?’
‘Opposite the emergency services center?’
‘Yes, I’ll meet you there in ten minutes.’
‘Great, can’t wait, see you then.’
Although I’d sworn off the Coopers for the long weekend, I had to admit I was glad to hear Flynn’s voice. I set out for the coffee shop, which was only a couple of blocks away. After arriving a few minutes early, I ordered coffee and blueberry pastries and sat by the window to watch humanity going by. I could see the main entrance to the coroner’s office and knew it would only take a couple of minutes to get there. My stomach flipped at the thought of the appointment.
A waitress brought our coffee to the table, and I checked my watch before nibbling at the pastry. Flynn was a few minutes late. Too bad, if he didn’t make it, I’d devour his share too. As I sipped my coffee, I glanced across the street and noticed a familiar car pull into the drive, which was reserved for staff vehicles.
What was Kate doing there? She opened her door and waited as Dr. Manson from Piermont House climbed from the front seat. Puzzled, I held my breath and watched the pair walk together through the front door of the coroner’s office.
‘Hi, Lily, started without me, I see.’
I looked up to see Flynn’s smiling face. Even though it had only been a couple of days, I’d missed the sight and sound of him.
‘Hi, Flynn. Quick, sit down.’ Although I sounded rude, I had to keep my eye on Kate and the doctor.
‘What’s going on?’
‘Shh, my appointment was with the coroner over the road. Kate and the director of Piermont House just went in there together.’
Flynn frowned and peered out the window.
I quickly explained why I had the appointment.
‘That’s curious. Did Kate say she’d be there?’
‘No, in any case the appointment isn’t for another hour.’
After ten minutes or so, the pair emerged together. Dr. Manson was carrying a file of notes, which he placed in the car. They stood talking for a few moments until Kate checked her watch. Manson watched as Kate climbed back into the car and drove onto the street before parking it further up the road in a space that had just been vacated. After she rejoined Manson, they crossed the road together and walked purposefully arm in arm toward the coffee shop.
‘What the ...? Something’s fishy,’ I said.
‘I agree. They seem to know each other rather too well. Love at first sight?’
‘Highly unlikely. My guess is that those records are my mother’s and Kate and her boyfriend are involved in something smelly.’
‘Oh no, they’re coming to the coffee shop. I don’t want her to know I’ve seen them. We have to get out of here.’
‘There’s only one door,’ Flynn said after glancing around the cafe. ‘Hurry, come with me.’
Someone grabbed our table as soon as we vacated it leaving no spare tables in that part of the cafe. I followed Flynn around the corner of the L-shaped shop into an area hidden from view of the doorway.
‘These are the only empty tables in the cafe now. Kate and Manson will come here once they’ve ordered their coffee.’
I followed Flynn down the passage leading to the bathrooms.
‘Tell me if anyone’s coming,’ he said as he peered at a smoke alarm in the ceiling. ‘Could I borrow your sweater—it has nylon in it, doesn’t it?’
‘Yes, but ....’ I took my jacket off and peeled my sweater off while relieved I had a t-shirt on underneath.
‘Hurry and keep checking.’ He began to rub the jumper on itself.
‘What are you doing?’ Stunned, I watched his hands move back and forward at an impossible speed. Bewildered, I stepped back just as the fabric started to smoke and with a few more blurred movements from Flynn, my sweater burst into flame. Within seconds the smoke alarm blared and customers rushed for the door. We lagged to check where Kate was and soon saw her planted with Manson on the pavement outside. They looked like they were going nowhere.
‘Okay, we have to leave through the staff entrance at the back,’ said Flynn rushing behind the counter and out through the kitchen.
A young woman in a black Heavenly Beans t-shirt and apron looked at us uncertainly. ‘Not this way, you need to go out the front. Someone’s probably burned something out the back and set off the fire alarm.’ She tried to usher us to the front door.
After reading her name badge, Flynn fixed her with a strange expression and talked to her in an odd tone. ‘Hi. Lexi—that’s a lovely name.’
I thought he was joking.
She grinned goofily at him.
‘Can you do us a favor, Lexi sweet? Take us the back way would you, darling?’
‘Of course, I’d love to,’ she said as though in a dream.
I raised an eyebrow at Flynn before we hurried after Lexi, but he just shrugged. After she let us into the back parking lot, I shivered as I pulled my jacket on. Flynn grabbed my hand, and we ran from the parking lot up several blocks until we reached the street where he had parked his car.
We sat in the car in silence for several minutes while I recovered my breath and wits.
‘Okay, I’m going to need a big explanation and a new sweater,’ I finally said.
Flynn cleared his throat. ‘I don’t know how to begin.’
‘Mmm, at the beginning, darling.’
‘First you need to cancel that appointment with the coroner and we need to get back to Anubis as soon as possible. Then I’ll answer your questions, I promise.’
* * *
CHAPTER 16
Flynn: Keeping Secrets
After using the key under the violet pot to enter Kate’s house, Lily collected her gear while I kept watch in the car. She also left an apology note explaining she needed to go back to college because I had come to town and we had a few issues to work through. Lily thanked her in the note and got out of there as quickly as she could.
As Lily climbed back in the car, I could almost see her mind exploding with what she’d witnessed in the cafe. Perhaps it was a good thing because now I was forced to explain.
Since discovering the connection between Kate and Dr. Manson, I realized we needed to get back to Anubis as quickly as possible. I had a few essential errands to run in Wicklow, so I asked Lily to wait in the car at each stop with the doors locked. She had bought a book at the bookstore but seemed too distracted to read it. I knew her mind was churning over what she’d seen this morning.
Before heading back to Anubis at the last stop, I decided to ring Alexis for advice. He had the older and wiser head that always seemed to make a difference, or perhaps he was simply smarter than us.
Before making the call I stood at the rear of the car and checked no one was in sight and the car windows were rolled up. First, I needed to tell him about Kate to warn him about what had happened.
‘Hi,
Alexis, I need your help.’
I could hear a sigh.
I explained what had happened at Piermont House with Kate and Dr. Manson and my evasive action in the cafe.
‘Bring her back as quickly as you can and definitely before sunset,’ Alexis said. ‘Make sure you’re not followed.’
‘I’m planning to tell her everything on the drive back to college.’
There was a pause.
‘Well?’
‘I’m thinking.’
‘Is it okay if I tell her?’
‘No, I think you should wait. Invite her to the mansion for lunch tomorrow instead and tell her there.’
‘What difference does it make?’
‘You’re going to need all the backup you can muster. Besides, there’s someone else she needs to meet.’
I didn’t ask Alexis who the mystery guest was for fear I’d have to keep another secret from Lily and eventually have to explain why.
‘So that’s settled,’ Alexis said. ‘I’ll call Mirela.’
Great, now I had to explain to Lily that I couldn’t tell her immediately while still persuading her to come to lunch at the family mansion tomorrow. She was going to be thrilled. I would have to disguise the lunch as a date. It was the only way I was going to get her to come with me unless I dragged her by the hair. I longed to tell her. Keeping secrets from someone I cared so deeply for was becoming more difficult by the day. I had been down that road before many years ago and I knew how badly it could end. Although my greatest fear was that it might drive Lily away forever and I couldn’t imagine life without her.
* * *
CHAPTER 17
Old Truths
As we headed back to Anubis College, I felt like we were driving into the center of a sticky web. I wanted to jump on the nearest bus and head south until I could see the sun again and maybe think clearly.
‘Are you okay?’ Flynn asked in a quiet voice.
‘Yes.’ Although I wasn’t sure.
‘I have a small favor to ask.’ He sounded desperate.
‘Go on.’
‘Will you come with me on a date tomorrow and hold off on your questions until then?’
I sighed. This was getting ridiculous. ‘Okay, but you have to promise to answer anything I ask.’