by Paul Kelly
“Well I was trying to, Sweetheart, but you lifted the receiver on the second ring. Is there anything wrong? Are you alright?”
“Yes . . I’m fine, Love. I thought it was one of those calls again. I’m getting paranoid about this thing. Sorry. How did you get on at the warehouse? Was there much damage?”
“We’ve cleared up now but the fire brigade are still working on the building . .There’s no more we can do at the moment, so I should be home shortly.”
“I’ll get something to eat. Is there anything you fancy?”
“Nothing really Darling . . well, perhaps a nice cup of tea and a stiff whisky, eh?”
“Darling, you sound . . you sound a little low. Hurry home. Can’t wait to see you.”
***
Wills car drove up to the house around 2.15 am and Evie rushed to meet him, throwing her arms around him and talking to him as she would have done if they were alone, when she suddenly saw Mark McLean coming from the car. He looked grubby and his blonde hair fell down over his forehead, showing more strikingly against the soot marks on his face.
They came into the house and Wills rushed up to the bathroom as Evie invited Mark to a comfortable seat in the lounge.
“Is it very bad, Mark? I mean . . they will be able to go back to work in the morning, won’t they?”
Mark swept the hair back from his forehead and closed his eyes.
“I don’t know Evie. I hope so. . There are men in that warehouse who need the work and who can’t afford to be out even for a day, but we’ll have to wait and see. I think Wills has left instructions with the chief firemen to phone him here if there is any further difficulty.”
At that moment, Wills came into the lounge.
“The place is free now Mark . . if you want to freshen up. I know you could do with it.”
Mark grinned and looked at Evie under his eyelashes.
“Sorry Evie. I didn’t realize . . . I must look like a tramp.”
“No . . No, not at all. I’ll get you some fresh towels . . You can have a shower if you want. The meal will keep.”
Mark turned to Wills as if to ask his permission, but Wills grinned and bowed as he pointed towards the stairs. “Very welcome old boy. I’ll scrub your back if you holler hard enough.”
Evie watched Mark as he left the room and felt there was something other than the fire that was upsetting him, but she knew what to expect if she asked Wills and she refrained.
“Was the fire very bad, Darling?” she asked as she poured Wills the whisky he had been hoping for and handed him the glass with his cup of tea.”
“Thanks Love. I could just do with this and I think Mark would appreciate one when he comes down too. We’ve had a rotten evening and although the fire doesn’t look too bad, it had reached places that were very important . . filing cabinets etc., and I am more than a little concerned.”
“Do you think it was started deliberately then, Darling?”
Wills sipped his tea and poured the whisky from the glass into the cup.
“It’s hard to say, Sweetheart. . . But some things look very fishy. Maybe I’m just suspicious minded because of what I have been sent here to do . . and investigate, you understand. I’d like to have a good natter with Mark about the whole thing when he comes down and I hope you won’t mind if it seems as though we are talking shop all the time, but I must get this matter clear in my head.
Evie smiled
“You know I don’t mind, Love. I’ll be as quiet as a mouse and I’ll keep the whisky coming . . but not too much, or you’ll drop off to sleep. The pair of you. Oh! Here’s Mark now.
“I didn’t have a shower Evie, thanks all the same, but I had a good wash and I feel a lot fresher.”
They all sat down to a light dinner of cold meat, with French fried potatoes and cauliflower-au-gratin, just lightly tanned on the surface under the grill. It bubbled as Evie served and Wills sniffed wildly.
“ I love cheese,” he announced as he stretched his arms in the air, “By the way, I think I left a few sandwiches in the glove compartment of the car. Remind me to look tomorrow, will you Mark? I don’t fancy going out again tonight. Too bloody cold out there. Are all the Scottish nights like this?”
“Fresh, we call it . . but you’ll get used to it. I have, but then I’ve been here a little longer than you . .”
Evie served the sweet and checked that Mark would be spending the rest of the night with them, although she rather guessed he would as it would be morning before they got the thing settled in their minds and none of them were anticipating any sleep that night anyway.
“You will be staying for breakfast . . won’t you Mark?” she asked, feeling that her enquiry covered everything, but Wills answered for his friend.
“Not much else we can do Darling. I told the fire brigade that I would be here and available if they found anything that I should know about and of course, Mark will be in on that information too . .”
Evie brought some extra cushions to the settee and rekindled the fire.
“I’ve got the percolator on all the time Mark, so if you want a drink . . either just shout or help yourself. There’s doughnuts and some other kind of biscuits in the tin.”
“Thanks Evie. You think of everything.”
“Well . . That’s what a wife if for . . isn’t it Mark?”
Mark McLean did not answer, but stared into the embers of the fireplace as the flames licked themselves back into life and Wills glared warningly at Evie.
“I suppose your wondering about Angela and me,” Mark said after a few moments of silence, but Wills put out his hand as if to stem any curiosity that Evie would have wished to satisfy.
“Mark . . There is no need to explain anything. Your private life is your own . . I just wish you happiness . . wherever or however, you can find it. Isn’t that right Evie . . .?”
Wills stared at Evie to ensure that she would agree . . . and she did. . . although she was dying to know why happiness had eluded Mark McLean up until the present time.. . Mark shrugged his shoulders and sighed deeply.
“Funny . . You always think it’ll be for life, don’t you . .” he said slowly and his voice was sad, “Even if you hear of all sorts of people around you getting a divorce . . somehow it doesn’t seem to include you in that crowd . . and then one day . . one bright, scalding hot, blazing day. . . you find that you are one of that unhappy throng, whether you like it or not. You never think your fire will ever go out, do you?” He looked at Evie and then at Wills as he spoke. “But then . . I don’t think my fire ever went out . . not really. I feel just the same for Angela now as I did when I first met her . . and that was nearly eight years ago. No . . No, I don’t think my fire will ever go out . . . I still fancy Angela like mad. It was her flame that flickered. . if she ever had one. . .”
“Did she know the other guy for long, Mark?” Evie asked, trying to appear matter-of-fact, although she was wildly enthusiastic now that Mark had opened the subject, but Wills glowered at her and coughed. “And didn’t you know anything about it in all that time?” Evie went on, ignoring her husband’s silent admonition and Wills raised his eyes to the ceiling. Mark was about to answer when the telephone rang and Wills rushed to lift the receiver and wait for someone to speak, leaving Evie diverted from her curiosity for a few seconds but her eyes were worried.
“Mr. Slade?” The voice that spoke to Wills was young and fresh and very deeply Scottish.
“Yes, I’m Slade. . Who is this?” he asked
“Fire Officer McKenzie here Sir. You asked me to ring you when we would be leaving the Site.”
Wills rubbed his forehead and frowned.
“Oh! Yes, of course McKenzie. Good of you to ring. You all finished there now?”
“Yes Sir. Last engine just leaving now . . . but . . . Mr. Slade
?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“I’d like to see you sometime tomorrow, if I could please. there are some facts about this fire that I don’t understand and as you know, I have to write a full report on our findings.”
Evie was impatient to hear what was going on and was about to speak, but Wills put his hand in the air.
“Do you think? Do you think it might be arson?” he asked and his tone was serious.
“I’d rather not say anything at the moment Sir, as I am sure you will appreciate, but if I could see you at your office in the morning . . this morning . . say about 10.30 . . would that be O.K.?”
“Sure. Sure that’s fine. I look forward to what you have to say, but of course, I hope it isn’t bad news. Goodnight McKenzie . . or should I say Good morning . . and McKenzie?”
“Yes Sir?”
“We must have a drink sometime, eh?”
“Very kind of you Sir. See you later”
Evie was relieved, of course, that it wasn’t the mysterious voice on the phone again and she swept her hair back from her forehead before she shot her next question at Mark McLean, now that the fire business was under control.
“What was your wife . ..”
Wills glared at her and she shut up. Wonder what the new man in Angela’s life looks like, she pondered as she poked out her tongue at Wills and smiled at Mark. Probably fat and forty, I shouldn’t wonder and with no hair . . Serves her jolly well right.
“Evie . . Evie?”
“Yes Wills?”
“I’ve been trying to tell you about the fire for the past five minutes and I’m sure you haven’t heard a word I’ve said . . Have you?”
Mark giggled and Evie raised her eyebrows with a look of total unconcern.
“Well of course I’ve been listening Darling, but I was thinking. This is not the usual coffee we get, is it?” Wills raised his eyes to the ceiling again and Mark grinned as Evie went on. “Not as full bodied as the last lot, I would say.”
Mark apologised for overstaying his welcome, thinking that Evie was dropping him a hint that it was getting late and she was feeling rather tired, but he couldn’t have been more wrong. Evie could have stayed up all night, if Mark would just sit there and answer any questions she might put to him . . regardless of her boring old husband, who never asked any questions and minded his own business so carefully. . . Gosh, how could people live like that ?
“I think it’s delicious Evie and now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d better be making a move. Wills, I’m sorry to ask you but would you mind if I cadge a lift back to my place?”
Mark ignored the invitation to stay the night, or what was left of it, as courteously as he could, but Wills jumped to his feet.
“Be happy to drive you Mark . . but,” he looked at Evie as he spoke, “You could stay here, you know. We have plenty of room, haven’t we Evie?”
“Yes, yes, of course you can stay her Mark. There’s no sense in going to your place at this time in the morning.” She glanced at her wrist watch as she spoke, “Why you’ll just get home when it will be time to get back to work again and you live at the other side of the village don’t you?”
“Seven miles out, actually,” he answered and Evie nodded in confirmation of her suggestion. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll have the spare room ready. Wills, get Mark another drink, will you? Won’t be long.” As she went upstairs, she turned to address the two men who were huddled together over the brandy decanter. “The last person to grace our spare room was the wonderful Miss Foxworthy. She stayed here last week . . only for a night, of course. It was too late for her to drive home when we had finished talking that evening . . . Hope Mark doesn’t get too drunk . . .” she said aloud as she made the bed up in the spare room. and downstairs, Mark raised his brandy glass.
“Very kind of you both to let me stay . . So you have already met Miss Foxworthy then, Evie?
“Why yes Mark. She came to tea the other night and it got too late for her to drive home alone. She stayed here the night you and Wills went to Dundee.”
Evie disappeared for a second and returned with a pair of Wills’ pyjamas in her hands.
“They may not fit exactly, but they should be O.K. for one night . . alright, Mark?”
Mark grinned . . but he didn’t tell Evie that he never wore any pyjamas in bed.
“O.K. If you two guys have got the world straightened out by now, everything’s ready. I’m off to bed myself now, but if you want to stay and talk some more with Mark, Darling, I’ll see you when you come up.”
“O.K. Sweetheart . . We have a few things we should clear up now, but I won’t be long.”
“Goodnight Mark. Hope you sleep alright. There are more blankets in the cupboard near the bed, if you get cold in the night.” Evie said as she yawned and closed the bedroom door noisily behind her. . . . and opened it again quietly.
“That chap’s a rotter, Mark. That’s all I can say and Angela has made a big mistake,” Wills continued to discuss his friend’s marital problems, feeling safe to do so now that his other half was out of ear’s reach.
“Wills . . . Lots of people get divorced. It’s no big thing . . Really it isn’t.” Mark McLean hesitated for a moment and ran his tongue round his lower lip.
“How long have you been married Mark?”
“Nearly seven years now.”
“They say the seven year itch, don’t they? Look here, old chap, I don’t want to sound like Evie, but if you ever want to talk about it . . I mean, if it helps, I’m always here, you know that.”
“Thanks Wills . . but I think the time for talking is gone now. Angela has done what she wanted to do. She’s made her choice and there’s nothing more I can do about it, even if she has caused a lot of embarrassment all round.”
“She was . . she is school teacher, isn’t she Mark?”
“Yes. Teaches in the Secondary school in Barnain.”
Wills sipped his brandy unaware that the bedroom door upstairs was ajar.
“Was it . . Was it one of the teachers Mark?”
Mark flinched and sighed deeply.
“Wouldn’t be so bad if it was, Wills. No, It wasn’t a teacher . . “
“Good God . . Not a . . . .”
“Yes, you have it in one. A pupil no less . . . and he’ll be fourteen next January.”
The bedroom door opened another few inches when Mark had said that and as the two men came upstairs to retire, Evie held her breath as Mark passed the door. Somehow, it was as if she had never met Mark McLean before and this was the first time she had ever set eyes on him. His life was renewed in her estimation as it was teeming with interest . .She felt as if he was some sort of dramatic figure . . an actor of sorts and she couldn’t understand why . . perhaps it was the pity that she felt . . or even the disgust for the way he had been treated, she wasn’t sure, but she was sure that she was glad she had asked him to stay the night . . . and hoped the telephone wouldn’t ring. She had heard enough to excite her for one night and as Wills came into the bedroom, she pretended to be asleep. He took his time preparing for bed, taking longer than usual to clean his teeth in the en-suite bathroom.
“Goodnight Darling,” he whispered into Evie’s ear, as he squeezed into bed beside her, feeling sure that she must be asleep as he waited for her reply . . . .and heard nothing but her heavy breathing. She didn’t move beside him.
“Wasn’t that sad about Mark,” he whispered gently as he rolled away from her and Evie sat up with alarm.
“What was that, Wills? What was that about Mark?” she enquired as bright as a lark.
“I thought the bedroom door was ajar when I came up Darling, “ he groaned, “Goodnight Sweetheart. Sleep well.”
Chapter Fourteen
EVIE MET DANNY IN THE VILLAGE on the following Fri
day as she was driving down the High Street and she coaxed her into the car so that they could do some shopping together, in particular into the sweetie shop so that she could buy her some chocolate for her journey home, and watch her reaction when she came face to face with Cynthia. Would she know who Cynthia was? Would there be any facial resemblance? Evie was anxious to find out but Danny was reluctant to leave the car.
“Danny . . You can’t hide away all your life,” Evie spoke to the young girl with exaggerated lip movements and tenderly, playfully slapped her wrist before she cupped the little girl’s head in her hands and looked into her sorrowful, soulful eyes, “And anyway, you can leave all the talking to me,” she grinned.
Danny glanced quickly at a little list she held in her hand before she dutifully followed Evie into Miss Foxworthy’s sweetie shop, where the bell pinged its usual welcome to all and anyone who opened her door. Cynthia stared at them with blank, unseeing eyes as they approached her.
“We’d like some chocolate please,” Evie said as she glanced over the many bars that lay on the counter, all neatly stacked so that anyone could have the best possible view of what was for sale. She selected the bars she required and glanced at Danny for her approval and the little girl nodded shyly, but enthusiastically as Cynthia counted the chocolate bars, nodding her head in deliberation of her arithmetic. She showed no sign of recognition to Danny, nor did Danny to her. It was all too confusing for Evie as she had hoped there might have been something where the two girls would realize how closely connected they were . . .but the results of the sweetie shop rendezvous was anything but exciting.
“That’ll be two pounds, forty five pence . . I think . . No, I tell a lie. Just a minute . . that will be two pounds and fifty five pence,” she added without a please to her demands.
Evie counted out the money in small change, giving the shop assistant that exact amount she asked for, to avoid taxing her brain any more than was necessary.