Journeyman

by Heather Atkinson

  Damon’s red eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Yeah, me too,” he said, shaking his hand.

  “There, you can play nice,” smiled Raven, pleased.

  Both men wondered for how long as they gave each other a hard look before returning their attention to the windows.

  CHAPTER 18

  Connell turned up at the B&B the next morning with DI Campbell. As One Eye - who they wished to speak with - was having breakfast, Cherie invited them both into the dining room to partake of some bacon, eggs, sausage slice and black pudding. They tucked in with gusto, Alan’s excellent cooking and Cherie’s cheerful chatter going a long way to improving the grumpy detective’s mood.

  When One Eye had finished eating he followed the two police officers into the lounge for a private chat. Although his ankle was feeling better he still used the crutches. From experience he knew it was vital your enemies thought you were weaker than you actually were.

  Campbell did the talking, running through all the questions Connell had already asked him. Connell was annoyed when his answers didn’t change.

  “Who do you think killed Bess?” Campbell asked One Eye when he’d completed his interrogation.

  “My guess is Duncan,” he replied. “A typical, tragic tale of unrequited love and jealousy.”

  “In my experience Sir nothing is typical in crime.”

  “And what do you think my motive is?” One Eye asked them.

  Both officers were surprised by this direct question but Campbell wasn’t one to be outdone. “You were seen getting close to the victim shortly before her death, clearly you were sexually interested in each other.”

  “I’ve been sexually interested in a lot of women Detective, all of whom are alive and well.”

  “Granted that’s not enough on its own,” said Campbell. “But the only other witness who can tell us how intimate that relationship got is dead.”

  “We didn’t get intimate at all, there wasn’t time. I’d only just met the woman.”

  “Your own behaviour has put you in the frame Nik,” said Campbell. “You were found mysteriously injured in the village, your memory gone, meaning you can’t tell us anything about yourself and Helen Wilson invited you to stay here free of charge. If you add it all up it becomes very murky.”

  “To be fair, I am paying for my stay here,” said One Eye. “Thanks to PC Connell recovering my money.”

  “Yes but why did she invite you in the first place?”

  “Because she’s a kind-hearted girl.”

  Campbell’s look was sceptical. “I have to ask Nik, are you having a sexual relationship with Helen Wilson?”

  “I most certainly am not,” he retorted. “There has never been anything like that between us. She’s young enough to be my daughter,” he said, trying not to think about the twenty one year old in Ullapool. “And she’s with that blond brick, Simon.”

  “Jealous are we?”

  “Of Helen? Blond bricks aren’t my type.”

  “I meant are you jealous of the blond brick?”

  “No. Why on earth would I be?”

  “Because he’s young and handsome.”

  One Eye thought of Luke’s words and smiled. “That’s a matter of perspective.”

  At that moment his hands were seized by another attack of tremor. He screwed them up into fists but it was too late, the two officers had already spotted it.

  “Nervous Nik?” said Campbell.

  “No, not at all.”

  “Then why are your hands shaking?”

  “I don’t know, I think something’s wrong with me. They keep doing it.” Inwardly he sighed with relief when the tremor eased. “See, it’s stopped now,” he said, holding up his hands triumphantly.

  Campbell’s eyes narrowed with annoyance. “That’ll be all for now Nik. Don’t go leaving the village.”

  “How can I? I’ve no idea where I should go.”

  Campbell’s look was doubtful as he got to his feet and left, Connell at his heels like an obedient dog.

  One Eye leaned back in the armchair and sighed but that pair were the least of his worries. Luke’s words had been bothering him. Why hadn’t Silas struck yet? Despite what he’d said, it worried him. Silas must know he’d call in reinforcements. Surely he’d want to hit him when he was alone and at his weakest?

  Luke’s head popped around the door. “Have the Keystone Cops gone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh good,” he said, opening the door wider and stepping into the room. “Did they have anything interesting to say?”

  “No.”

  “Can’t say I’m surprised. I’m just off for a stroll through the village.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  “Oh no you won’t, you’ll stay here. I’m going to get the full story on what everyone thinks of you. They’re much more likely to tell me the truth if you’re not around.”

  “You do have a gift for getting people to open up. Alright, go on and let me know what you find out.”

  Luke’s green eyes glimmered. “You might have been in charge of our little band once One Eye but not anymore. I’m here because I choose to be. Remember that.”

  One Eye bit his tongue as Luke stalked out like a particularly graceful cat. Sadly he needed him.

  As Luke left, Frederick entered the room laden down with more photo albums. “Great, Cherie told me you were in here Nik. I’ve found my photos of the pipistrelles.”

  “Oh, how wonderful,” he sighed. Perhaps he shoudn’t worry about Silas killing him. Frederick would probably do the job for him, only his weapon was boredom.

  One Eye extricated himself from Frederick an hour later and wearily hobbled into his room, gratefully shutting the door behind him. He never wanted to look at a photo of a bat again.

  “Oh what now?” he said when there was a knock at his door barely five minutes later. He sighed with relief when the door opened. “Thank goodness it’s you.”

  “I bet you’re pleased to see me,” smiled Luke, stepping inside and closing the door. “I’ve been gathering all the local gossip about you. Seventy percent of the villagers believe you killed plump and pretty Bess and would love nothing more than to see your carcass rotting away in a prison cell for it.”

  “And the remaining thirty percent?”

  “Believe everything in the entire universe revolves around you, that unicorns bask in your glory and rainbows shine in your honour. The one thing this group all have in common is they’re female, apart from Frederick but that’s only because you’re willing to sit there and listen to his nonsense.”

  “I did come close to beating him to death with my crutch earlier.”

  “I wouldn’t go saying things like that too loudly if I were you. You don’t want to cement your reputation as a dangerous lunatic.”

  “So, to what conclusion did your inquiries lead you?”

  “That you’re in as much danger from the local male population as you are from Silas,” said Luke, folding his arms across his chest and leaning back against the wall.

  “Any idea who did it?”

  “Not yet. I’m not even sure it is Duncan anymore. A single stab wound through the heart is too cold for a crime of passion. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Frederick. Bess could have called one of his photos crap and he went berserk.”

  “That would be a good theory but Cherie told me she cut her finger once and he fainted at the sight of her blood. Had he been responsible they would have found him unconscious beside the body.”

  Luke snorted with laughter. “So that’s one ruled out then.”

  “It’s a start.”

  “Bit of a poor one but I’m here now and we’ll soon get to the bottom of the mystery.”

  They went silent when there was a knock at the door and a soft feminine voice whispered, “Nik?”

  “Come in,” he called.

  One Eye had to hide a smile when Cherie crept into the room with the demeanour of a predator stalking its prey. When she reali
sed Luke was standing behind the door she literally jumped, making his green eyes sparkle with amusement.

  “Oh hello. I err, was just making sure you had enough towels Nik.”

  “Yes, plenty thank you.”

  “I have plenty too, thank you for asking,” smiled Luke.

  “Oh yes, that’s very good,” she replied. “You were next on my list to ask.”

  His lips twitched. “I bet I was.”

  “Well, I see you’re both getting acquainted,” she continued, completely oblivious to the fact that she wasn’t wanted. “I hope you’re getting on?”

  “We are,” said Luke. “Nik has some very interesting stories, especially about the recent murder here.”

  One Eye sighed and shook his head but Cherie’s eyes widened, obviously delighted about having something to gossip about. “Oh yes, that was such a terrible shock.”

  “Apparently everyone in the village thinks Nik is responsible,” continued Luke, undaunted. One Eye let him go on, his forthright way was known for getting results.

  “Not everyone,” said Cherie proudly. “I don’t. Bess was known for her affairs, she usually had a secret relationship on the go. My guess is it was him, whoever he was. Nik has too much sense to sleep with that tart.”

  “I’m glad you think I’m sensible,” said One Eye, his eye twinkling.

  “Oh I do,” she purred. “So very sensible.” She gazed at him before shaking herself out of it. “Sorry, what was I saying?”

  “You were insulting the recently deceased,” said Luke.

  Cherie blushed. “I was not.”

  “Leave her be Luke,” said One Eye. He looked to Cherie. “He does enjoy mischief.”

  “I confess I do,” he said, grin broadening. “It’s one of my main pleasures in life.”

  “Oh you,” she giggled, tapping him playfully on the arm. “You’re forgiven.”

  “How wonderful.”

  “So, do you think Duncan could have done it?” One Eye asked her, curious as to her reply.

  “Well, he is a nasty piece of work. Very short fuse. I remember him getting into an argument in the pub with Danny Tomlinson and smacking him one. Broke his nose too. Danny didn’t press charges only because he’s married to Duncan’s sister.”

  “If a fight in a pub was an indicator of a murderer,” said One Eye. “A quarter of the male population would be out there killing.”

  “Oh yes, of course. I’m not saying he definitely did it, I’m only saying he’s certainly capable. He’s one of the few people in this village to display any violence.”

  “People who commit crimes on this scale are usually more than Saturday night brawlers. They’re cold and calculating.”

  Cherie was becoming uncomfortable with the conversation and it was clear she wasn’t going to get Nik alone. “I’m afraid I really have no idea. Let me know if you need any more towels,” she said before leaving the room.

  “That woman is fixated with towels,” commented Luke. “Maybe it was her? Folded one towel too many, baked one too many muffins and snapped. Mind you, she’s more likely to try and shag the victim rather than kill them, she reeks of disappointment and desperation.”

  “It’s not her,” said One Eye. “She was right when she said the killer was cold and calculating and sadly that’s not her or Duncan.”

  “What on earth is that?” said Luke when a growl filled the air. “Is it that animal Silas?”

  “No, it’s something even more ferocious,” said One Eye, walking to the window, leaving his crutch resting against the armchair.

  “You seem to be much better,” said Luke.

  “I feel it,” he smiled.

  They looked back at the window as the black Trans Am screeched to a halt outside, sending up a spray of mud. The sight of the snarling white wolf face painted on the bonnet caused Luke to pale. “You didn’t say you’d invited her.”

  “Because I knew you’d turn tail and run.”

  The driver’s door was flung open and out climbed a tall blond woman who surveyed the front of the building with sharp blue eyes. She wore a white ankle length woollen coat and tight white trousers, her calves encased in white knee-high boots with incredibly high heels.

  “Does she know I’m here?” said Luke.

  “What’s wrong?” smiled One Eye. “You sound panicked.”

  “She hates me. She blames me for her father’s death, which was not my fault. I was saving a damsel in distress from the brute. What happened after that was an accident.”

  “That was years ago. I’m sure she’s forgiven you.”

  “That woman never forgives. She collects grudges like other people collect stamps.”

  They watched the woman yank a large white leather holdall out of the boot, which she aggressively slammed shut. She stalked up the path to the door, the click of her heels making Luke twitch.

  “I’m out of here,” he said, making for the door.

  One Eye grabbed his arm with a strength that surprised him. “You are going nowhere. We’re going to finish Silas once and for all.”

  “You don’t need me for that, not with Xena the Warrior Princess out there.”

  “We need your cunning Luke. Now you are staying put. Don’t be such a coward.”

  “I’m not a coward.”

  “Right now it’s not looking that way.”

  Luke tilted his nose in the air. “I am not a coward,” he repeated.

  “Then prove it.”

  Through the closed door they heard an imperious heavy-accented voice demand to know where the proprietor was. It was Alan who answered.

  “The poor berk’s in for a shock,” said Luke.

  “Let’s watch the show,” said One Eye.

  They opened the door a crack to watch Alan come to a surprised halt in the hallway, staring at the newcomer as though she’d dropped from the sky. She towered over him, staring down at him with her icy blue eyes, which looked startling with her pale skin. Her hair was so blond it was almost white.

  “I want room,” she demanded in a thick Norwegian accent.

  “Right, okay,” said Alan, awe shining from his eyes. “For how long?”

  “For as long as I like.”

  “I see. Well that shouldn’t be a problem. I have a lovely room free at the back of the house, overlooking the gardens.”

  “And forest too? I like to see trees.”

  “Yes, them too. No shortage of trees around here,” said Alan in a surprisingly playful voice.

  “He’s flirting with her,” Luke whispered to One Eye. “By God that man’s got balls.”

  “I will see room,” she told Alan. “Is it clean?”

  “Yes of course.”

  “Good. I can’t stand dirty room. I stay in hotel in Sweden. Had cockroaches. Owner try to charge me.” Her lips curled into a cruel smile. “I make him regret that.”

  Alan swallowed nervously. “Well, I can certainly promise we don’t have any cockroaches. This establishment is spotless.”

  “Good.” She dumped her case in his arms, Alan’s thin legs trembling beneath the weight. “Show me room then we talk price.”

  Alan didn’t dare mention the fact that their rates were non-negotiable. “Okay Miss err…”

  “Saskia. You call me Saskia.”

  “Yes, I certainly will,” he said, gazing up at her adoringly.

  “Well,” she barked, making him jump. “Where is room?”

  “Oh yes. This way please Saskia.”

  She followed him upstairs. “There is dust there,” she said, pointing to a spot on the stairs.

  “I’ll have it removed immediately,” replied Alan.

  Luke closed the door to One Eye’s room, fighting the temptation to lock it. “She’s as terrifying as ever. I had hoped the years would have mellowed her but she’s still the scary snow queen I remember.”

  “And what an ally she is,” said One Eye. “Don’t tell me you think her skills won’t come in useful?”

  “I just
hope she doesn’t use those formidable skills on me. I could be taking an innocent walk and get an arrow up the arse.”

  “Just don’t do anything to annoy her and you’ll be fine.”

  “So no breathing then.” His eyes widened. “She’s coming back.”

  “Room will do,” they could hear Saskia saying. “But I want reduced rate for the scuffed wall.”

  “Of course Saskia,” came Alan’s voice. “I will knock off three pounds per night.”

  “Make it four and we have deal.”

  “Four then Saskia.” Alan’s tone told them he would have given Saskia his daughter had she asked.

  “When is dinner served? I am hungry.”

  “In one hour. I’ll be cooking it myself,” said Alan proudly.

  “Shall I go and shoot rabbit for pot?”

  “Oh how wonderful,” sighed Luke. “She’s brought her bow and arrows.”

  “She never goes anywhere without them,” replied One Eye.

  “Err, thank you for the offer Saskia,” they heard Alan say. “But no need to go to any trouble. I have some lovely steak for tonight.”

  “Will do I suppose. I hope is fresh?”

  “Of course, all our ingredients are fresh. The meat is the best Aberdeen Angus, straight from the butcher. None of your frozen rubbish here.”

  “Is good. Now I would like drink. Have you any akevitt?”

  “Err, akevitt? I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with that one.”

  “Potatoes and spices. Will put hairs on your chest.”

  “No, sorry Saskia. We don’t have any. I might be able to order some in though.”

  “No, don’t bother. I will have vodka. With ice.”

  “Yes I can manage that.”

  “Good. I will change before dinner. Have my drink ready on table.”

  “I will Saskia.”

  Luke breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of her determined stride heading back upstairs. “Thank God for that. For a moment there I thought she was going to come in here.”

  “You’ll have to confront her at some point,” said One Eye.

  “You never did answer my question. Does she know I’m here?”

  “No. I wasn’t sure how she’d react, Saskia is very unpredictable.”