The Honest and The Brave

by Rebecca King

  Maybe it is my imagination because I know what has been going on behind closed doors?

  Annalisa sighed and stepped back into the warmth of the house. She quietly closed the door and turned to rest her shoulders against it only to find her aunt standing at the bottom of the stairs. It was evident she had heard what Mr Arthur had to say.

  “It’s got to be Joshua.”

  Annalisa slowly shook her head. “He is Star Elite.”

  “I know you don’t want to think badly of him but don’t you think it is odd that he turns up at the same time that the burglaries happen, and now the deaths of those poor people?” Yvette shook her head and sighed.

  “It isn’t Joshua,” Annalisa insisted. She was adamant and refused to allow her aunt’s determination to move her. “Joshua wouldn’t do something like that. You should have seen him, aunt. He worked to stop that man who tried to snatch my bag in his tracks so swiftly that it was difficult to believe someone could move that quickly. That was no cold-blooded killer. That was someone who knew how to arrest people. I don’t doubt Joshua had done that before and would do it again if he had to.”

  “Let’s hope you are right. Because if you aren’t, we have trouble on our doorstep and neither of us are safe to sleep in our beds at night.”

  “Oh, don’t be so melodramatic,” Annalisa snorted.

  More than a little annoyed with her aunt, Annalisa left the house. She found herself outside, milling around in the garden, ostensibly to cut some flowers for the dinner table. As she studied the fragrant blooms and tried to decide which to pick, she found her gaze straying over the garden fence toward Joshua’s new home.

  “Well, hello there.”

  Annalisa’s stomach dropped to her toes when she heard that sinister voice. She closed her eyes and fought the urge to turn tail and run for the safety of the house. Instead, she squared her shoulders and turned to face the man who had become her nemesis: Billy.

  “What do you want?” she demanded without preamble

  “I hear you have another suitor,” Billy murmured. He stepped away from the shadows but only so she could see him. His sly gaze slid to the house next door, leaving Annalisa in no doubt he had made sure that nobody from the house could see him. Annalisa didn’t doubt that Billy also knew that Joshua now lived next door.

  “What do you know of it?” Annalisa demanded.

  “I know he is not all he appears to be.”

  “Oh?” She sniffed at a bloom. Annalisa hoped it looked like she had dismissed him. Deep inside, though, she was listening intently to everything he was saying.

  “He is a liar.”

  “So are you.”

  “Everyone lies. I bet you do too,” Billy challenged. “Even as stuck up as you are, you are just the same as everyone else.”

  “What do you want, Billy? I am sure you have not ventured this far just to tell me that you think I am stuck up,” Annalisa sighed.

  “Just be careful who you make friends with,” Billy warned. “I have seen his kind around here before. He isn’t to be trusted.”

  “Well, neither are you. Or should we forget that since you have arrived in this village nobody’s possessions are safe? Who is to say that you are not to blame for the burglaries and murders?”

  “Murders?” Billy’s brows rose. “Who says there have been murders?”

  “Mr Julian was murdered. You know, the Church Warden? Mrs Asquith was burgled, and Mrs Dilleray, and then poor Mr Smitherson was also brutally killed in his own home,” Annalisa bit out. She raked Billy with a dour look. “You have a penchant for having the kind of friends who help themselves to other people’s lives and belongings. Don’t try to tell me otherwise. That man who tried to steal my bag is one of your friends. Don’t try to deny it, Billy. I saw you with him.”

  “I have no idea what you mean.” Billy shrugged off-handedly as if he didn’t care what she thought of him, but she knew he did or he wouldn’t have come all this way just to warn her.

  “You and he seem – close.” Billy nodded at Joshua’s house.

  “What does it matter to you?”

  “Well, you will go about making an exhibition of yourself,” Billy challenged. “If you want to behave like a harlot on the street you cannot blame anybody but yourself for giving everyone the impression that you are easy. Why, the man has barely been in the village for a couple of days and you are practically crawling down his throat.”

  “You know nothing about that,” Annalisa sniffed dismissively.

  “So?”

  “So, what?”

  “How long have you known him?”

  “That is nothing to do with you,” Annalisa snapped. “What business is it of yours?”

  “Everything that happens in this village has something to do with me, especially if people are accusing me of crimes I haven’t committed,” Billy bit out.

  For the first time since he had made his presence felt, Billy made no attempt to even try to be amenable. He turned into someone who was cold and callous within a heartbeat and made Annalisa warier because of it.

  “You steal things, Billy. People are going to connect you to other thefts in the area.”

  “I am not a murderer.”

  “Prove it.”

  “How?”

  “Well, you have no way of proving your innocence, nor does Joshua,” Annalisa countered.

  “It is Joshua, now, is it?”

  “Just what do you want, Billy?” Annalisa sighed and glanced longingly at the house.

  “What of him? Who is he?”

  “You mean you don’t know already?”

  “I am not taking the blame for his crimes.”

  “He is not the kind of person you mess with, Billy. Not even you should be that stupid,” Annalisa warned before turning her attention to cutting a small rosebud off the bush beside her.

  “This is my patch. I don’t take kindly to having fops like him try to take over it,” Billy growled. “Tell your boyfriend to leave well alone.”

  “If you have any warnings for me, I suggest you issue them directly and stop hassling the lady,” Joshua growled suddenly from the exact spot Billy had been hiding.

  They both turned to watch him step into the garden. Joshua’s direct glare was challenging and he watched closely as Billy’s avid gaze fell to his very expensive pocket watch and cufflinks.

  “What are you doing here?” Joshua growled.

  Billy suddenly grinned at Annalisa. “So, you have a guard dog, do you?”

  Annalisa sighed but didn’t answer.

  “I was merely on my way home.” Joshua ran an insulting gaze over the shabbily dressed man. “It isn’t usual to see someone like you in these parts. People’s gardens, yes, but that is usually at a time when something goes missing.”

  Billy’s eyes flashed angrily. “What would you know?”

  Joshua ignored the man’s almost feral glare and lifted his brows at Annalisa. “Are you all right?”

  Annalisa, although pale, nodded. She was infinitely grateful Joshua had decided to come and check on her because she doubted she would have been able to get rid of Billy by herself.

  “It appears that the young lady neither wants nor needs your words of warning. Unless you know of some imminent danger that threatens her safety and wellbeing? If you do, speak up now. However, it should be noted that if anything happens we shall know exactly who is responsible,” Joshua drawled.

  As he spoke, Joshua moved to stand beside Annalisa whereupon he slid a proprietary arm around her waist. Annalisa made no attempt to stop him, not least because she was shaking so much she wasn’t at all sure she could stand up much longer by herself. Joshua’s strength was wholly reassuring and gave her the determination she needed to maintain her dignified stance. Billy, when he chose to be, could be threatening and sinister, but strangely still didn’t seem to match the threat Joshua posed.

  Annalisa looked at the men closely as they sized each other up like prize fighters before a boxing match.
She knew instantly who would win if they did physically start to fight, but she hoped and prayed it wouldn’t come to that.

  “If you have anything to say to me, I suggest you say it to my face. I only live over there. Stop threatening women, or you are likely to get yourself a reputation for being the kind of weak fool who isn’t strong enough to pick on someone his own size.” Joshua lifted his brows and threw him a dismissive look. “Now get out of here, and if you know what is good for you, don’t come back.”

  With that, Joshua held his arm out to a stunned looking Annalisa, and promptly escorted her back to the house. He knew that while he had been engaging Billy in conversation, Dean had circled around and was waiting to follow the young man back to his camp. From now on, neither Billy nor any of his cohorts would be able to move anywhere without having the Star Elite on their trail.

  “Are you all right?” Joshua asked again once they had reached the back door to the house.

  Annalisa nodded, but when she looked up at him seemed about to cry. Without thinking, Joshua guided her into the house and promptly swept her into his arms for a hug. She looked so scared that he was certain she was going to collapse. It made him so angry with the thug who had hassled her that the urge to follow him to warn him away more physically was strong. It was only the realisation that he was above and beyond that kind of feral attitude that forced Joshua to stay where he was – for a few moments at least.

  “Is that you, Annalisa?” Yvette called.

  “Yes, aunt.”

  “I had better go,” Joshua mouthed.

  “Really?” Annalisa whispered. “Can’t you stay for a while?”

  “Who are you talking to, dear?” Yvette called.

  Annalisa whispered. Before she could answer, there was a rustle of movement in the hallway. Annalisa’s eyes popped wide. She jerked out of Joshua’s arms just seconds before Yvette appeared in the doorway. Her gaze fell immediately upon Joshua, who looked somewhat sheepish at being found inside her kitchen. Yvette threw an accusing look at her niece before smiling broadly at her new visitor.

  “I didn’t realise you were here,” she began with a wave toward the door. “Come on in. Come on in. The vicar is here. I am sure you will want to meet him. Have you already?”

  “Ah, no,” Joshua muttered only to find Yvette had already hurried back into the parlour. He threw a pleading look at Annalisa but there was nothing she could do. With a sigh, Joshua followed the women into the study.

  Minutes later, he found himself furnished with a goblet of brandy and sitting in a high-backed chair beside the fire while listening to the vicar moan about how his parishioners were dropping in numbers.

  “At this rate there is only going to be me in the pulpit,” he moaned.

  Yvette and Annalisa shared a look because they knew he was seeking a promise from them that they would join his congregation on Sunday, and neither of them were prepared to give it.

  “Well, I am sure your regulars will return in their own good time. They are probably a little busy given it is harvesting season, and people are trying to stock up ready for winter. There isn’t much anybody can do,” Yvette reasoned.

  “But my regulars don’t usually stock up for winter because they already live in the village. They always come to church on Sundays whether hail, rain, wind, or shine. It is unheard of that they should avoid the place.”

  “Yes, my dear reverend, but you must remember that word is out now about what happened to your poor Warden. It is most distressing, especially to your regulars who knew him. I am sure that once they have had time to absorb the shock and assimilate the latest news they will return. They have to grieve as well, you know,” Yvette replied.

  She was inwardly somewhat proud of how she had managed to skirt around making the vicar any promises she had no intention of keeping.

  The vicar suddenly turned to Joshua and pierced him with a beady glare. “You must wonder what kind of village you have moved into.”

  “I don’t intend to stay for long,” Joshua replied. “I am only here while my uncle is away. As soon as my business is concluded, I shall be on my way again.

  “Oh? Where do you originate from? I don’t believe I have heard of any Holtons in the area.”

  “London,” Joshua replied. “I usually live in London.”

  “What business are you in?”

  “Production,” Joshua replied.

  He ignored the heavy and expectant silence which followed because he refused to furnish the vicar with any details not least because a defiant part of him refused to be interrogated by the man. Moreover, he had no intention of ever becoming one of the man’s congregation. There as something about the vicar that was a little unnerving, and it wasn’t just his looks. Reverend Mannering was an extremely tall man with a cadaverously thin frame atop of which sat a mop of steel grey hair above penetrating jet-black eyes which had a way of spearing you as if seeking out all your sins. It was unnerving to be pinned beneath that steady stare Joshua suspected didn’t miss much. Because of it, he had no intention of spending any time with the man unless he absolutely had to.

  “I understand the Warden had only been in the village for just over a year,” he began. “It must have been a shock to lose him.”

  “It was a shock to us all,” the vicar replied somewhat sharply.

  “Was much taken?” Joshua asked with a thoughtful frown.

  “The church collection. We help the poor and needy as much as we can. If anybody needed some help all they had to do was ask, there was no need to steal anything. I am sure Robert would have offered them every assistance.”

  “Robert?”

  “The Warden,” Annalisa offered.

  When Joshua nodded, their eyes met. There was something hidden in Annalisa’s eyes that warned Joshua that she was worried. He had no idea if she was worried about what had happened to Malcolm, the other locals, the vicar, going to church on Sunday, or something else. He wished they were alone so he could ask her and reassure her that everything would be all right, but he had to content himself with offering her a gentle smile instead. It was only when he had done so that he realised how it looked to Yvette and the vicar, who were both watching them far too closely for comfort.

  “Yes, well,” Yvette murmured thoughtfully to try to break the awkward silence that fell over everyone.

  “I had best be on my way then,” the vicar began although made no attempt to get to his feet.

  It was only when Annalisa stood up and moved over to join her aunt that the vicar had no choice but to take his leave of them. However, even when he was at the front door he seemed reluctant to say farewell and go.

  “Am I to have the pleasure of seeing you both on Sunday?” he asked pointedly of Yvette.

  Annalisa mentally winced. “We will be there if we can.”

  “Oh? Do you have plans?” The vicar made it clear that he highly disapproved of anybody who made plans on Sunday which over-rode the need to go to church. As far as he was concerned, nothing was more important than joining his congregation.

  “Yes, we have an aged relation who is ill. We had arranged to go to her on the Saturday. If we return in time we will be in church,” Annalisa offered.

  The vicar nodded and looked thoughtful but didn’t press for details. He slid a look over Joshua that was assessing. Thankfully, he didn’t consider there was a need to press him to join the congregation. After a few moments more, the vicar finally stepped out of the door. Yvette watched the man make his way down the path to the front gate before quietly closing the door. She turned to look at her niece chidingly.

  “Do you know something? I should not advocate you lying to the vicar like that,” she warned.

  “Well, do you want to go to church on Sunday?”

  “No, but that isn’t the point,” Yvette sighed. “We just seem to be surrounded in lies at the moment, don’t we?”

  Joshua mentally winced. He had to wonder if Yvette’s statement was meant for his benefit. When they re-j
oined him in the sitting room moments later, he realised that Yvette’s comments hadn’t been directed at him at all, Yvette appeared to be talking about something else because there was a distracted air about her, as if her mind was miles away, with the dishonest individual.

  Now, who else could be lying around here?

  “I apologise for the highly unusual circumstances, Mr Holton. The vicar rarely calls by to see us, you see. It is a little curious that he has. I am afraid that everybody is worried about the burglaries and now there have been those murders nobody knows what to do. This used to be such a quiet little place. Now, everything is at sixes and sevens. It is so difficult to just carry on and pretend that everything is all right.”

  “Billy has been around.” Annalisa told her shaken aunt what had happened in the garden.

  “Thank you for your assistance,” Yvette said to Joshua.

  “Do you think Billy might be involved in the burglaries?” Joshua asked.

  He sensed that while neither lady liked Billy or his associates, they would give a fair and honest opinion based on facts about the man rather than offer their personal beliefs. Joshua hoped so in any case because it was all he had to go on. That, and a growing tide of doubt about Billy’s honest that he didn’t seem able to quell.

  “Yes, I do,” Yvette announced firmly. “He is a thief. We all know that. Why, you ask any of the villagers and they will all say the same about Billy and his gang. They are a bad sort, and I don’t mind admitting that aloud. No matter which villager you ask, there will invariably be someone who has had something stolen by one of Billy’s lot. If they haven’t directly been a victim of his, they know someone who has. The thefts only started just a day or so after Billy’s entourage arrived. Ever since then it hasn’t been safe to leave your back door open, and that is rare around these parts. Everyone is on edge and suspicious and that was before these burglaries started. Now, people are being murdered in their beds at night. It is difficult to believe that there are two groups of criminals committing the same kind of crime in the same area.”

  “It’s understandable to be suspicious,” Joshua assured her.