by Rebecca King
‘Let me see them.’ Roger snatched the papers out of Finley’s hand and dropped them onto the counter.
Daniel edged closer and studied them over his friend’s shoulder. The sketch was, unsurprisingly, of the watch Samantha had placed in the work bench drawer. When Roger looked at him, Daniel nodded slowly, but didn’t remove the incriminating watch from his pocket.
‘Where are the details of the solicitor?’ Roger asked.
‘They are here.’ Finley handed a business card to Roger but the address on it was a private address.
‘Where is his place of business?’
‘He is retired now,’ Finley replied.
‘Who will have the paperwork relating to his work?’ Roger asked.
‘I don’t know,’ Finley snapped. ‘Go and speak with him.’
‘Oh, I shall,’ Roger murmured. ‘Meantime, I take it that this sketch is a copy?’
‘Of course,’ Finley replied.
‘And you have the original?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you have sketched this when?’ Roger looked at Finley when the man didn’t immediately answer. ‘And why would you sketch your own watch? I mean, if it were yours to own, why would you draw it? It is an odd thing to do, isn’t it?’
‘The sketch looks new to me,’ Daniel murmured. ‘It hasn’t been folded as it would have been had it been drawn a while ago and stored somewhere. Further, the paper hasn’t yellowed with age. I would say this has been sketched recently.’
‘Now why would you sketch a watch that you already own?’ Roger pressed.
‘I didn’t,’ Finley announced with a shrug. ‘My daughter did. You know how women are. She enjoys sketching and wanted to draw something different, so I allowed her to draw my watch.’
‘And you have been in this village for how long?’
‘About three months now,’ Finley replied amiably. ‘It’s a wonderful place to be. While there are some rather disreputable sorts here, you get them everywhere. The villagers have the mark of the questionable people they call neighbours, though, don’t you worry.’
Roger nodded. ‘And you consider Thomas Tynesdale a questionable sort the villagers know everything about, do you?’
‘I should think the state of this shop should tell you everything about his credibility in this village now,’ Finley snorted with cold contempt.
‘But Morton, Thomas Tynesdale has been running a very profitable business in this village for years now. It all started to go wrong about three months ago,’ Roger mused, sliding a knowing look at Morton. ‘The timing is a little – questionable – don’t you think? I mean, I have been at liberty to be in this shop when I have seen the customers collect their watches, and there were a lot of customers. All of them obviously trusted Thomas Tynesdale with their valuables enough to leave their property in his possession while he serviced and repaired their goods. It is only over the last few weeks when their opinions and attitudes toward him changed unexpectedly and without reason. About three months ago as a matter of fact. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?’
Finley stared at Roger. ‘Who are you?’
‘I am the lead investigator with the Star Elite,’ Roger announced. ‘We have reason to believe that there are serious crimes being committed in this village. We are here to investigate the culprits we believe are behind the heinous attempts on Thomas Tynesdale’s life, and that of his daughter. What do you know of it, eh? I mean, your daughter has friends in the village. In a place like this, people thrive on gossip. I am sure you, or your daughter know what people are saying about the Tynesdales.’
‘Well, I have heard rumours, of course, but I don’t hold them in much stead,’ Finley replied looking uncomfortable.
‘But you have just said that the villagers are aware of the more questionable sort living amongst them. How would you know who the questionable sorts are if the villagers haven’t gossiped to you about them?’ Roger murmured slyly.
‘Look, what is this? Why are you asking me all of this? Just because we are new to the area doesn’t mean that we are guilty of whatever crimes are being committed against the Tynesdales. I have no problem with Mr Tynesdale. I just want my fob watch back,’ Finley reasoned.
‘But you have barged in here late at night demanding to know details about the people who live here when it clearly is none of your business. This is hardly the time to expect a business to be open either, is it?’ Daniel snorted. ‘It is not normal to choose this time of night to call upon any shop keeper, especially when you know the shop is closed.’
‘You want the return of the fob watch you cannot prove was left with him,’ Roger countered. ‘Why did you not call by the shop earlier, when it was open?’
Finley blinked at him. ‘Well, I was busy.’
‘You are quite clearly annoyed about your missing watch but have managed to get through the day without raising the matter with Mr Tynesdale, but decide to do it late at night when nobody else is about, eh?’ Luke snorted.
Roger looked down at the card in his hand. ‘This solicitor died six months ago. I know because I was working on a case in Moresdale when I received word that he passed away. He was helping us with one of our investigations. However, I do know who holds his paperwork, and will arrange for one of my men to trawl through it and find evidence of this so-called will you claim you inherited this watch through.’ Roger stepped closer to Finley and put his lips to the man’s ear. ‘I warn you now, Morton, that if I find out that you have lied to me about inheriting that watch, or the watch in that sketch isn’t the one you inherited, I shall have you put behind bars for fraud. Do I make myself clear?’
Finley stared at him but didn’t reply. It was clear that he was flummoxed by what Roger had just said.
‘Now, before you go, you can tell me what you know about the gossip going around about the Tynesdales,’ Roger growled.
‘I have told you that I don’t listen to scurrilous gossip,’ Finley snapped.
‘I know you are lying,’ Roger insisted coldly.
‘I just heard that there are a few people who have claimed that Tynesdale hasn’t done a proper job when he has repaired their watches. The work he has done has been substandard, but he has charged a premium for his work.’
Roger tipped his head as if doubting that. ‘Yet they left their watches with him anyway?’
‘There is more to it than that,’ Luke interrupted.
‘And you would know, would you?’ Finley sneered.
‘Yes, I do,’ Luke assured him.
‘What has been happening to Thomas Tynesdale is now an official Star Elite investigation,’ Roger informed an angry Morton. He didn’t doubt that the man before him was a criminal and heavily involved in what the Tynesdales had faced. What he and his men had to find out next was what Morton had done, and what he had paid others to do for him, and if he was prepared to commit murder.
‘Well?’ Daniel demanded when Morton didn’t speak.
‘I have just heard that the man is thieving off his customers. I don’t want any involvement in what he has been up to. I don’t really care. All I want is my watch back,’ Finley announced. ‘If you are investigating Tynesdale, you should investigate him for the theft of my fob watch.’
‘Seeing as you cannot provide us with any solid evidence that you actually owned this watch or left it here, we will have to investigate your honesty too. Before we do, is there anything you wish to tell us about yourself?’ Roger asked.
Finley stared at him. ‘Where is Tynesdale? Behind bars, I hope.’
‘For what? We don’t arrest people on a commoner’s say-so. We must have facts before we put someone behind bars,’ Roger announced. ‘It is what we do. We gather facts and evidence and put them before a judge. Because it comes from us, the Star Elite, we aren’t likely to lie like – most people.’ The you hung in the air between him and Finley. Roger watched the man’s facial expressions carefully. Outwardly, Finley Morton’s face didn’t change, but
a hardened flash of anger lit his eyes, which narrowed imperceptibly as he struggled to contain his fury. It was clear that Morton was now worrying about who had taken on when he had decided to target Tynesdale.
‘I know what this is all about,’ Finley hissed, glaring at Luke.
‘Before you cast about any aspersions about her conduct, you should know that Rosemary Tynesdale is my fiancé,’ Luke warned.
‘As the future wife of one of our investigators, Rosemary and her father remain under our protection,’ Roger said.
‘She isn’t your fiancé,’ Finley snorted.
‘Are you being presumptuous enough to tell me if I am to be engaged to be married or not? How do you think I came to know her?’ Luke challenged. ‘I didn’t know you were privy to the intimate details of her private life. Why are you so interested in my fiancé’s private life anyway?’
‘Well, I-I just hear rumours,’ Finley said. ‘Nobody told me that she was to be married, to one of the Star Elite no less.’
‘Well, she is, and I don’t take kindly to people either trying to kill her or ruin her reputation,’ Luke announced flatly.
‘Personal connections aside, this is an attempted murder investigation because of the attempt to set fire to this property the other night while Thomas and Rosemary Tynesdale were inside. So, because you clearly have an issue with Thomas Tynesdale, and have no qualms about coming here late at night, you can consider yourself under investigation for arson. What I want to know from you is what gossip you have heard because you quite clearly know what you haven’t heard. Tell me what you know.’
Finley stared at him. ‘I have already told you.’
‘But that doesn’t warrant someone suddenly wanting their goods back so late at night. If the locals really suspect that Thomas is stealing from them, they wouldn’t risk damaging their goods in his possession by trying to raze his building to the ground,’ Luke countered.
Finley didn’t reply. He didn’t even look at Luke. Instead, he levelled a hard glare on Roger and refused to look away. Roger squinted suspiciously at Finley but nodded to the door.
‘You can go, for now. I would advise you not to travel too far. We will be in touch,’ Roger warned.
A heavy silence fell over the room as the men from the Star Elite waited for Finley to leave. He didn’t waste any time hurrying out of the door. When he had gone, Roger sauntered across the shop and slammed the bolt closed but nobody spoke until they were safely tucked away in the work room.
‘He is as guilty as Hell,’ Luke warned.
‘But of what?’ Daniel sighed.
‘Care for an ale or two?’ Roger asked. ‘I think it is time we started to ask the locals a few pertinent questions, don’t you?’
With everyone’s agreement, the shop was locked, and the men made their way to the tavern.
What struck them all when they arrived in the Horse and Hound was the heavy silence that fell upon everyone who turned to watch them enter. There was an unwelcoming sense of hostility in the air that was almost palpable. Nevertheless, Roger led the way to the bar.
‘Three ales, please,’ he ordered.
Without any of the usual greetings, the inn keeper poured three ales and slid the coins off the counter. When he had served them, he retreated to a safe distance and began to polish the freshly washed tankards, making it impossible for Roger to ask him any questions.
‘Where do you want to sit?’ Roger murmured, glaring at several men who were openly staring at them.
‘Over by the window should do it.’ Daniel picked up his ale and led the way to an empty table across the road.
‘They are a hostile bunch, aren’t they?’ Luke mused.
‘Because they have a lot to hide, and are probably worried about what they have done,’ Roger grunted.
‘If they are this hostile with us because we are the Star Elite and they are wary, I hate to think what Rosemary and Thomas have had to endure,’ Daniel sighed. ‘No wonder they wanted to leave.’
‘I don’t doubt that her father is the reason why Samantha Morton felt able to be so physically aggressive the other day in town,’ Luke warned. ‘The apple hasn’t fallen too far from the tree.’
‘What are they up to their necks in?’ Roger muttered.
‘Rosemary?’ Luke scowled heavily at Roger.
‘No, the Mortons,’ Roger corrected. ‘I don’t doubt that if any of the locals really felt that Rosemary and Thomas were guilty of something, they would be more than happy to tell us all about it. Because none of them have, we know they are the gossips responsible for spreading lies about the Tynesdales.’
‘How in the Hell are we going to find out who it is if we can’t even get the tavern owner to talk to us?’ Daniel hissed.
‘We have to start with Thomas’s old friend, Walter Crabtree. His relationship with Thomas has been tarnished by what has happened, but Walter might still be amenable to telling us what he has heard,’ Luke suggested.
‘At least we don’t have to worry about ruining any friendships with our questions,’ Daniel murmured.
‘There is nothing here for them, is there?’ Roger sighed. ‘It is a shame because a craftsman doesn’t build up the kind of reputation Thomas has by stealing anybody’s property. The villagers should know that.’
‘Why would the entire village do something like this?’ Luke whispered. ‘Rosemary has known these people all her life.’
‘We will try to find out from Walter Crabtree. If he doesn’t tell us what we want to know, we will kick a few doors down and arrest a few people for interrogation.’
‘How do we go about restoring Rosemary and Thomas’s reputation?’
‘By arresting those responsible and making sure that Thomas and Rosemary are deemed innocent publicly by a judge. If the news of this gets into the newspaper they should be exonerated from all accusations, and the village will be shamed into silence. Of course, there will always be that handful of people who will never believe the truth. But if the worst of the gossips are behind bars for spreading their lies, it should be enough to force the doubters to keep their opinions to themselves.’ Roger sighed.
‘I think that we have to keep a closer eye on not just Thomas but Rosemary as well,’ Daniel warned. ‘If Finley’s daughter is bold enough to venture as far as your house just to watch you, there is to be no doubt that someone else who poses a physical risk to them will venture that far as well.’
Luke nodded.
‘Of course, we might have just prevented them from trying to kill either Rosemary or Thomas by announcing that Rosemary is to be your bride, but the truth will come out when we have moved on to another investigation and no wedding is forthcoming,’ Roger warned.
Luke remained silent and shared a knowing look with Daniel, who grinned and slid Roger a smile.
‘God, don’t tell me,’ Roger grinned when he saw that look. ‘Another one?’
Luke coughed but made no attempt to hide his delight. ‘You make it sound like some sort of contagious disease.’
‘I just didn’t expect you to work this fast, Luke,’ Roger snorted. ‘God, you don’t waste any time, do you?’
‘I haven’t asked her yet, but it is only a matter of time,’ Luke warned.
‘Good. Congratulations,’ Roger announced firmly, patting his friend heartily on the back.
‘You don’t have any words of warning about rushing into things, or are doubtful about her honesty?’ Luke prompted.
‘God, no. I have never met two more respectable or honest people as the Tynesdales. Thomas is a master craftsman who is addicted to the work he does. Rosemary is a wonderful, kind, generous woman. She is a home maker not a home wrecker. Look at what she has done with that house in just a few short days. I am pleased for you, Luke. I think that Rosemary will be good for you and will bring you everything you have been looking for.’
‘I know she will.’ And for once, Luke didn’t doubt it.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
When the men left the
tavern an hour or so later, dusk had already turned into an obsidian night. They went straight round to Walter Crabtree’s house, but it was so dark they struggled to find it. A thick mist had also descended which encased the quiet village in an eeriness that set even the Star Elite on edge.
‘It really is not the kind of place where a person can feel safe walking around after dark, is it? It’s odd because it looks wonderful in the daytime; an ordinary quintessential village,’ Roger murmured.
Daniel scowled into the shadows. ‘Your wariness might have something to do with the hostility of the locals.’
‘It’s watchful even out here, isn’t it?’ Joshua squinted at the swirling mist cupping the base of a tree which rose out of the gloom like a Phoenix rising out of the ashes. The only noise to break the heavy silence of the village was the rustling of its elongated branches which pointed this way and that and hissed a warning.
‘Something’s wrong.’ The words had barely left Joshua’s lips when the shadows suddenly began to move all about them.
Daniel glanced over his shoulder and saw not one but two human outlines just a few feet behind him seconds before they pounced. A heavy fist slammed ruthlessly into his back. Pain lanced up his spine, driving Daniel to his knees. He cursed fluidly but didn’t even have the time to stand up before a heavy boot slammed into his ribs. He heard the cracking of the bones beneath his shirt and struggled to suck in a breath through pain so sharp that he felt sick. When the same boot appeared out of the darkness once more, Daniel grabbed it. Shoving it upward, he followed it and kicked the leg the man was standing on out from under him. The heavy thud of the man hitting the floor was not reward enough for the pain that seared Daniel’s side. Cursing again, Daniel kicked the man in the groin with all the fury he could muster. When he heard the man yelp, Daniel kicked again. Before the man could struggle too much, Daniel slammed a heavy fist into the middle of the man’s face, rendering him unconscious. He paused long enough to ensure that his opponent wasn’t going to get up again before turning his attention to Luke, who was in a fist fight with a burly looking rotund man with a mean squint and a scar running down the length of his cheek.
