by Evelyn James
She thought the Germans would chase her, and she was certain they would come after her eventually. Back home, she persuaded her mother that Ramon had been working for the Germans, that she had witnessed him in the woods. He had threatened to kill her. Elena had to leave the town, but she could not go alone. Madame Devereaux, whether she believed the story or not, sided with her daughter and they left town that night, going to a place they thought no one would ever find them. They cut ties with their past, except for when Madame Devereaux needed the family medical records. Maybe she had guessed what her daughter her done. Even in Lugrule they had heard about the body in the woods. In any case, she had asked for Ramon’s records as a precaution. To avoid people imagining he was not with the rest of the family.
And that was that.
Elena took a full hour to tell her story and when she was done she looked exhausted. There was no hint, however, of regret; not for Father Lound, not for Ramon and not for the betrayal of her country. She had done everything because it was necessary for herself, for bringing in the money she loved. Even the naming of her son had been the work of her mother. Elena could not care less about the boy’s name.
When the interview was finished, Peeters agreed to hand Elena over to Captain Mercier. She had three crimes to answer for, and each carried a death sentence, but the betrayal of her people had come first and it was decided it would be the crime she would pay for. It would do more for Father Lound and Ramon, by clearing their names, than trying her for their murders.
Clara was glad to leave the matter in Mercier’s hands. She had her answer at last, as did he, and she could go back to England knowing Lound’s family would now have the truth. Emily had been right about her brother. He was not a traitor. Perhaps he had been too kind when he had attempted to protect Elena, he had certainly paid for it.
Back at the hotel, Clara outlined the whole story for the others. No one knew quite what to say. They had a solution to the mystery, that was it. It was rare to feel happy about the outcome of a case, as generally there was a sadness to the conclusion of such a story. The sadness in this instance was that two men had been murdered and their names sullied for trying to do the right thing. Ramon had hidden Lound’s body, and that was both morally and legally wrong, but he was not a murderer or a traitor. That they had discovered who really was behind the crimes did not bring gladness, just understanding. Now they knew.
~~~*~~~
It was good to return to Brighton, to their house. Tommy seemed truly at peace with himself as they stepped through the front door. For the first time in years, a dark veil had lifted from him. Clara had never realised he was carrying a burden, until she now saw that it was gone. Annie strode straight into the kitchen and began making tea, insisting that Colonel Brandt stay for dinner. Clara excused herself. She had one last duty to perform.
Clara had sent a telegram to Emily to let her know they were heading home. They met at Clara’s office in the early evening. Emily looked anxious.
“Well?”
Clara presented Emily with a letter from Captain Mercier. It outlined the entire case and explained that the real traitor had been discovered. It would take some time, but the Lound family would receive an official apology for the aspersions cast on Father Lound’s name. He had been cleared of all wrongdoing.
Emily read the letter through twice and then clutched it to her chest.
“You did it,” she said, tears softly falling down her cheeks. “I feared you would not be able to, but you did it.”
“Your brother can now be remembered for all the good he did,” Clara smiled gently, it was a bittersweet moment. “Captain Mercier has agreed to arrange for Christian’s remains to be shipped to England. You can give him a proper burial.”
“Thank you,” Emily gulped, hardly able to speak through the tears. “I cannot thank you enough.”
“Your brother was a good man. He deserves to be commemorated along with all the others who fell in the war. His kindness touched so many.”
Emily could speak no more, her tears fell freely. Clara put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her gently.
“You never doubted him, all these years, you were loyal,” Clara said, her own voice a little choked. “He could not have asked more from you.”
“I… I have to get… home… and tell… my father,” Emily managed to stutter out the words.
She gave Clara a firm hug, whispering further thanks in her ear and then hurried away.
Clara walked home, some of the sorrow she had felt on the ferry coming home lifting as she thought of the relief and gladness she had brought to Emily. She could not resurrect Christian Lound, but she had given him back to his family. They could now mourn him like everyone else mourned their lost loved ones. That was something.
As she walked into her house, she could hear Annie telling Colonel Brandt about a Belgium cake she had taken a shine to at the hotel. Janssen had given her the recipe and she was going to try it out soon. Clara stood in the hallway, listening to the sound, feeling so glad that her family and friends were all around her. Tommy emerged from the front parlour.
“All right, old girl?” He asked her, a slightly concerned look in his eye.
Clara smiled at him, her eyes bright with tears. She quickly went forward and hugged him tight. Tommy was momentarily startled, then he wrapped his arms around her. Clara started to cry.
“Don’t ever scare me like you did that night on the bridge.”
Tommy stiffened.
“It was you? How…?” He stopped talking and relaxed. “Never again.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Tommy pulled back from Clara and looked her in the face.
“Where did you get the wildflower from?”
“What flower?” Clara frowned.
Tommy paused and a smile crept onto his face.
“Never mind,” he said. “I think I know where it came from.”
He hugged Clara again, tightly this time.
“I’m going nowhere,” he swore. “I vow to that.”
