Till Sudden Death Do Us Part

by Simon R. Green

  ‘That’s sad,’ said Ian.

  ‘That’s news,’ said Linda. ‘If this murder scene was any more popular, someone would be selling tickets.’

  ‘It’s not like there’s anything here to see,’ said Ian. ‘I mean; if they’d left the vicar on the rope I could have got a dynamite photo …’ He broke off as we all looked at him. ‘Except, of course, that would be wrong. And insensitive. I never thought that even for a moment.’

  Linda shrugged. ‘Give the public what it wants and they’ll line up just to get a glimpse of it. As long as it’s daylight. The moment it started getting dark they were fighting each other to get out of here and run off home.’

  ‘You know this town,’ I said. ‘Were there any scandals, or rumours, attached to the Reverend Allen?’

  ‘Nothing you could point an investigative stick at,’ said Linda. ‘Everyone I spoke to said pretty much the same thing; well-meaning, but dull. Getting murdered was the most exciting thing he ever did.’

  ‘Do you believe in the Bergin family curse?’ said Penny.

  ‘I’m ready to believe in anything that will sell papers,’ said Linda. ‘If the curse is what people want to read about, then that’s what I’ll write.’

  ‘Why are you working for a newspaper?’ I said. ‘I thought it was all blogs these days?’

  Linda shook her head firmly. ‘Everyone and their pet dog is writing a blog, so if you want to stand out, if you want people to pay attention, you need a platform. And newspapers are still the best way to back up your stories with the appearance of authority. Print has impact, and permanence if you get it right. Blogs are amateur night; and I’ve never been one to settle for second best.’

  ‘But do you believe in the curse?’ I said. ‘Do you think that’s what’s happening here?’

  ‘Well …’ said Linda.

  ‘The original murders were real enough,’ said Ian. ‘You can read all about them in the Echo’s archives. Two dead at wedding, and summary justice straight afterwards. Everyone who grows up here gets force-fed the story with their mother’s milk. So it’s hardly surprising that …’

  He broke off as he realized Linda was glaring at him.

  ‘Aren’t we the Chatty Cathy all of a sudden?’ she said loudly. ‘I do the words, Danny; you stand back and point your camera.’ She turned her glare on me. ‘What about you? Do you believe some ancient demon hung the vicar with his own bell rope, just to send a message?’

  ‘I don’t see any evidence of a demonic presence,’ I said carefully. ‘What evidence there is points to a human killer.’

  ‘Finally!’ said Linda. ‘Another sane person!’ She looked at Ian. ‘And no, you don’t count because you still read your horoscope in the Echo; even after I told you I write them, and it all depends on what mood I’m in.’

  ‘Typical Sagittarius,’ said Ian.

  ‘I will slap you and it will hurt,’ said Linda.

  ‘Try not to leave a visible bruise this time,’ said Ian.

  Linda dismissed him with a loud sniff, and turned her full attention on me. ‘Who exactly are you working for?’

  ‘Even if I told you, you wouldn’t be allowed to publish it,’ I said. ‘And no you can’t quote me on that, or anything else. Because officially, I’m not here.’

  ‘Oh …’ said Linda. ‘One of those.’

  ‘What?’ said Ian.

  ‘He’s hinting, with all the subtlety of a flying half brick, that he’s something to do with security,’ said Linda. ‘See if you can get a photo of him, before he disappears back into the shadows.’

  Ian started to raise his camera, and then stopped as he took in the look on my face. He lowered the camera and shrugged apologetically at Linda.

  ‘I don’t think he wants his photo taken.’

  ‘Who’s in charge here?’ said Linda.

  ‘As long as he’s looking at me like that, he is,’ said Ian.

  Linda decided it was time to change tactics, and gave me what she probably thought was her best beguiling look. ‘Come on. Mister Jones; I won’t name you, or say what you’re doing here. You can be just … an interested observer. Most people love to have their photo in the paper.’

  ‘I’m not most people,’ I said.

  ‘That’s true,’ Penny said smoothly. ‘He really isn’t. You can take a photo of me if you want. I’m not anyone important.’

  Linda looked at her. ‘Yes … You’re young and pretty. Mystery woman investigates family curse. That’s a good headline; for an inside page. Do it, Ian.’

  Ian looked at me, to make sure I was OK with that, and once I’d moved carefully out of range he took several quick photos of Penny as she smiled and posed obligingly. The flashes from Ian’s camera lit the church bright as day, and for a moment it seemed like just another building. I had to wait till everyone else had stopped blinking, before I could ask more questions.

  ‘Do you know where the vicar’s body was taken?’ I said.

  ‘The ambulance men said they’d been told to take him to the mortuary at Upper Torley,’ said Ian. ‘That’s the neighbouring town. They’re big enough to have a proper hospital.’

  ‘Why are you interested in the body?’ said Linda. ‘Do you want to check it for demonic traces? Perform an exorcism?’

  ‘I’m more interested in exactly how the vicar’s neck was broken, before he was strung up,’ I said. ‘You did know about that?’

  ‘I did,’ said Linda. ‘I didn’t know you did.’

  ‘Ambulance men love to talk,’ said Ian.

  ‘Some person killed the Reverend Allen,’ I said. ‘Not vengeance from beyond the grave. You know of any strangers in town?’

  ‘Like you?’ said Linda.

  I smiled. ‘Stranger than me.’

  Linda shrugged. ‘There’s a few staying at The Swan, here for the wedding. I’ve spoken to them. Apparently the rest of the guests aren’t expected until tomorrow. But that’s about it, for new faces.’

  ‘Did you know the wedding is still going ahead tomorrow?’ said Penny. ‘Right here, despite everything?’

  ‘That’s what they told me!’ said Linda. ‘I couldn’t believe it. Actually the bride to be told me, and the groom just nodded. Easy to see who wears the trousers in that relationship.’ She looked at Ian. ‘Did you say something?’

  ‘Who, me?’ Ian said innocently. ‘I wouldn’t dare.’

  ‘Getting married here, after everything that’s happened, struck me as more than a bit creepy,’ said Linda. ‘I mean, taking your vows just yards from where the man who was to marry you went to meet his maker way ahead of schedule?’

  ‘Love is blind,’ said Ian. ‘Or in this case, perhaps a little short-sighted.’

  ‘Will you be covering the wedding?’ said Penny.

  ‘Oh yes,’ Linda said airily. ‘Tom Stone may not be a star, or even a celebrity as such, but he’s appeared on television; and that’s enough to put him on the front page of the Echo. Under the fold, of course; the murder still takes precedence.’ She turned to Ian, ‘The editor will probably want a full centre spread as well, so be sure to get plenty of photos. And if the bride gives you a hard time, feel free to shoot her from the most unflattering angles you can find.’

  ‘I can do that,’ said Ian.

  ‘Normally the Echo is just a weekly,’ Linda said to me and Penny. ‘But we’re putting out daily editions for as long as the excitement lasts. Small town papers live for moments like this. People will lose interest in the curse once the wedding is over and no one else has died; but until then we make money while the sun shines.’

  ‘Unless there are more deaths,’ I said.

  ‘Oh, that would be amazing!’ said Linda. ‘If this should turn out to be a serial killer, this story would run and run! We’re talking book contracts, movie deals …’

  ‘She’s not actually heartless,’ said Ian. ‘Just very focused on her job.’

  And then we all looked round sharply, as someone else entered the church through the front door. Not
even trying to make a secret of it. We all drew together instinctively, at the prospect of a common enemy.

  ‘For a deserted church, this place is getting a lot of traffic tonight,’ I said.

  ‘Stay where you are!’ said a loud voice from the other end of the church. ‘This is Detective Inspector Godwin! I know you’re here, I saw your lights. This is a restricted area; show yourselves.’

  Penny looked at me. ‘What do you want to do?’

  ‘Talk to the man,’ I said. ‘See what he knows that we don’t.’

  ‘We’re not official,’ said Penny.

  ‘He doesn’t know that.’

  ‘You’re not official?’ said Linda.

  ‘There’s official, and then there’s official,’ I said.

  ‘Is there a back door to this place?’ said Ian. ‘I think I hear my mother calling me.’

  ‘Stop panicking!’ said Linda. ‘We have every right to be here.’

  ‘No, we don’t!’ said Ian. ‘He told us specifically not to come back, after he caught us sneaking in with the last bunch of murder groupies.’

  ‘The public has a right to know!’

  ‘He didn’t seem to believe that.’

  ‘Are you more afraid of him, or me?’ said Linda.

  Ian looked at the dark figure striding down the aisle toward us, flashing a torch ahead of him.

  ‘Well?’ said Linda.

  ‘Don’t rush me,’ said Ian. ‘I’m thinking.’

  ‘I can hear you talking!’ said Inspector Godwin. ‘Stay right where you are!’

  ‘He sounds just a bit angry,’ said Penny.

  ‘He always does,’ said Ian. ‘Probably came out of the womb accusing the midwife of wasting police time.’

  ‘You can always hide behind me,’ said Linda. ‘Peter knows better than to pull that crap with me.’

  Godwin finally slammed to a halt before us, shining his torch right into our faces. I didn’t flinch at the bright light, but the others had to turn their faces away. Godwin was just a dark figure behind the light, an imposing and authoritative presence; which was almost certainly the point. I raised my voice before he could raise his.

  ‘Get that light out of my face.’

  ‘I’m in charge here,’ said Godwin.

  ‘I wouldn’t put money on it,’ I said. ‘It’s up to you; lose the torch or wave goodbye to your career prospects.’

  Godwin reacted instinctively to the casual authority in my voice, and turned off his torch. I was finally able to get a good look at him. Detective Inspector Godwin was a lot younger than he sounded; only in his mid-twenties. Medium height, in good shape, and good-looking in a rough and ready kind of way. His plain clothes looked like he’d slept in them, and had a really restless night. He scowled at me.

  ‘Who are you? Identify yourself!’

  ‘I am Ishmael Jones, and this is Penny Belcourt. Here for the wedding of Robert Bergin’s daughter. He and I used to work for the same people. I’m told you’re the only police presence in this town. Where is everyone?’

  ‘There’s been a major industrial accident, two towns over,’ said Godwin. ‘All the fire, police and ambulance services from across the county have been called to attend. Until that’s dealt with everything else takes a back seat. I’m all they could spare to keep an eye on things here.’

  ‘Why you?’ said Penny.

  ‘Because I grew up in the town,’ said Godwin. ‘I’m supposed to have local insight into the community.’

  ‘You know about the Bergin curse?’ I said.

  He shrugged uncomfortably. ‘It’s just a story, something the town can use to sell tatt to tourists.’ He broke off, to glare at Linda and Ian. ‘I told you to stay out of here! This is a crime scene!’

  ‘Technically, the bell tower is the crime scene,’ I said.

  ‘I don’t take kindly to being corrected,’ said Godwin.

  ‘Then your life must be full of disappointments,’ I said.

  He didn’t quite know how to take that. ‘What authority do you have to be here? Who are you working for, exactly? I think it’s time I saw some ID.’

  ‘Not going to happen,’ I said easily. ‘People like us don’t carry ID.’

  ‘I knew it,’ Godwin said bitterly. ‘You’re one of Bergin’s mob. Licensed to get in everyone’s way.’

  ‘You know who Robert worked for?’ I said, not quite raising an eyebrow.

  ‘I made some enquiries,’ said Godwin. ‘And given from how far up the order came to stop doing that, I drew my own conclusions.’

  Linda was fascinated by all of this, looking from Godwin to me and back again. Though she had enough sense not to interrupt and draw attention to herself.

  ‘What’s your interest in this case?’ said Godwin.

  ‘We’re just here for the wedding,’ I said. ‘And to help out an old friend.’

  ‘That old man has serious connections,’ said Godwin. ‘I wasn’t even allowed to talk to him. But remember; this is still a police operation! We don’t need or want any help from outsiders.’

  ‘Perish the thought,’ I said.

  I nodded to Penny, and we strode past Godwin without even looking at him. Linda and Ian hurried after us, giving Godwin plenty of room. We’d almost made it to the front door when Godwin suddenly yelled after us.

  ‘How did you get in here? That door was locked!’

  ‘It isn’t now,’ I said, not looking back.

  Once we were all out in the street, Linda and Ian exchanged relieved glances and took a moment to get their breath back.

  ‘We were really lucky to get away with that,’ said Linda. ‘Peter takes his job very seriously.’

  ‘You mean he likes to throw his authority around,’ said Ian.

  ‘You know him?’ said Penny.

  ‘Oh sure,’ said Ian. ‘We went to school together.’

  ‘Peter always wanted to be a cop,’ said Linda. ‘Though I think he’s finding the reality a bit different from what he expected.’

  ‘He was a bully at school too,’ said Ian.

  ‘You have to remember what his father was like,’ said Linda.

  Ian nodded, reluctantly. ‘Hardly a day when Peter didn’t turn up at school without a fresh set of cuts and bruises. They had to take him to the hospital twice.’

  ‘I think that’s why he worked so hard to become a policeman,’ said Linda. ‘So he could stop people like his father from doing the kind of things his father did.’

  ‘And then the old bastard died of a heart attack, before Peter could put him away,’ said Ian. ‘Life isn’t fair.’

  ‘No, it isn’t,’ said Linda. ‘That’s why we need police. And good investigative reporters. You have to make allowances for Peter.’

  ‘No I bloody don’t,’ said Ian. ‘I had bruises of my own, because of him.’

  Linda looked at me thoughtfully. ‘What was Peter talking about, when he said Mr Bergin had connections?’

  ‘Best not to ask,’ I said briskly.

  ‘Are we talking real Security here?’ said Linda.

  ‘You might be,’ I said. ‘I’m not.’

  ‘You’re some kind of spy?’ said Ian, finally catching up with the rest of us.

  ‘Certainly not,’ I said. ‘And don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise. They’re only guessing.’

  ‘I will find out,’ said Linda. ‘That’s what I do.’

  ‘We’re just here for the wedding,’ Penny said sweetly. ‘Nice to meet you both. Come along, Ishmael.’

  We walked away. Behind us, I could hear Linda and Ian arguing quietly. She was trying to get him to sneak a photo of me, and he was having none of it. She might wear the trousers but he had more survival instincts.

  ‘Well,’ said Penny, linking her arm through mine as we strolled along. ‘I think we muddied the waters there nicely, but I don’t know how much more bluffing we can get away with.’

  ‘Enough to keep them running around in circles, while we get on with the investigation,’ I said.
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  ‘You don’t think Godwin will go and bother Robert now his superiors aren’t here to stop him, do you?’ said Penny. ‘He seemed very determined.’

  ‘He’ll get short shrift from Robert if he does,’ I said. ‘Robert really does have connections. More than enough to put a muzzle on Godwin.’

  ‘I liked the way you implied you were here representing Black Heir, without actually confirming it,’ said Penny.

  ‘If Godwin tries to follow up on that, he’ll end up even more confused,’ I said.

  ‘But I’m not sure we learned anything useful,’ said Penny.

  ‘We now know why the streets are so deserted,’ I said. ‘And why there isn’t a proper police presence.’

  ‘But we’re no nearer working out who killed the Reverend Allen, or whether Gillian and Tom are in any real danger.’

  ‘No,’ I said. ‘We’re not. I think we need to talk to Gillian and Tom again. When you want to catch a predator, bait a trap and watch the bait.’

  ‘You mean you want to use Gillian and Tom? That’s a bit cold-blooded, isn’t it?’ said Penny.

  ‘Not if I’m really angry with the predator when it turns up,’ I said.

  Penny stirred uncomfortably. ‘We need to be a bit careful here, Ishmael. We don’t have the Organization’s backing on this case.’

  ‘You never cared about that before.’

  ‘This feels different.’

  I didn’t have anything to say to that. Because she was right; it did.

  FIVE

  Nothing Stays Secret Forever

  ‘So,’ said Penny, as we made our way down the deserted street. ‘Where are we going now?’