by Amber Boffin
“Andy…” Her eyes narrowed. “Stuart—”
“Oh no, you’re not pinning this on me, Sunshine,” interrupted Stuart. “She came to me thinking I’d get her out of this.”
“So, after seeing Stuart, what happened?” Maggie asked, already having guessed her answer. Kate was silent. “You went to see Ted, didn’t you? You had met him before.”
Kate didn’t say a word.
Maggie insisted. “It’s important, Kate. You see, Ted couldn’t have killed Ben by CO poisoning, if he was with you at the time of his death. I doubt you’d have done this together.”
Raj added. “I could never see Ted’s motive, Sergeant.”
Maggie was keen to push though her theory now that everyone was present, nearly everyone aside from James. “Someone else here—” Maggie stared at Stuart as she spoke, weighing each of her words, “—benefited from his death, especially if he could pin it on you, or Ted, for that matter.”
Kate rose to her feet. “CO poisoning? You bastard!” She jumped at Stuart’s neck. “That’s why you asked me all the details about Ben. When I said I thought he was dead, you pushed me away. At the time, I thought I understood it. But then you came to me after, offering your help. Was it because you knew about the proof? You wanted to make those papers disappear.”
Kate was banging on Stuart’s chest. He held her wrists. “Look who’s talking. Don’t be fooled by this professional liar.”
The vision of James in his hoodie popped back in Maggie’s head. She asked Andy and Kate, “Was James also working with you guys?” Did he help get the samples for the DNA analysis of the trees?” They nodded. Before Stuart had a chance to protest, Maggie said, “I saw you, Stuart, speaking with James today, right here. You had an argument with him. Was it because he was trying to blackmail you with the documents?”
“No.”
“So you were blackmailing him then? That seems a strange thing to do for a would-be cop, no?” asked Maggie.
“I won’t answer this woman.”
“Sergeant, aren’t you looking for James Kravets to question him?” asked Maggie.
“Oh yes, we are. And you knew that, Stuart Harris.” Sergeant Humphries had dropped his familiar tone with Stuart and took out his handcuffs from behind his belt with a triumphant smile.
“You are a little quick, Sergeant. You have no proof I did anything wrong.”
Andy twisted Stuart’s shirt in his fist and lifted him off the ground. “I do. I was waiting for this moment. I’ve been following you, just as you say you followed me. Only I have pictures of you in that forest. You know the one.”
“So I’m not the only one who’s been there,” replied Stuart, his hand on Andy’s.
Adam stepped in. “Yes, but together with the DNA analysis of the trees and your unique position at the company, I’m sure we can dig up a lot of proof now that we know where to look.”
“How can you believe him and this liar of a woman?” Stuart spat at Kate’s face.
Kate appeared to have seen a ghost. She was pale. She stammered. “You killed him. I know it. You saw your opportunity. It was too good to miss.”
“You said CO poisoning, Sergeant?” asked Stuart.
“Yes.”
“From a smoky stove, no doubt?” Stuart asked.
The sergeant nodded.
“Well then, she could have put some nice smoky logs on the fire, locked the door from the outside with a big stone, and the latches, just in case he wanted fresh air. In the event he wouldn’t have succumbed from the poisonous mix, then the CO would finish the job. She came back to check if he was dead, picked up her backpack, and left the door closed but not locked from the outside. It would have been a perfect accident. Now that’s what I call proper detective work, Sergeant.”
Maggie asked, “How did you know her backpack was still there?”
“I didn’t tell him,” Kate added.
“And how did you know there was a stone in front of the door? And the latches on it?” Maggie waited for a response that didn’t come and said, “The only way you would’ve known that was if you put the stone there yourself and closed the wooden latches when you followed Kate back to the cabin. You didn’t think that an old hermit like Ted would take care of Kate, did you?”
Stuart replied, “Very thin. It won’t hold up in court.”
“The only reason you borrowed a poor dog that was afraid of you for a picture in my studio was to see if you could get hold of the pictures I had taken when we found the body. You wanted to find out how much we knew and what evidence the police might have. But I only had pictures of the body, not of Kate’s belongings. Why else would you pick up my camera and search the pictures? No client would ever do that without my permission.”
Kate narrowed her eyes. “Why do you think I slept with you? It wasn’t for your looks, I can tell you that. I argued about it with Ben; he didn’t want me to see you. Ben wanted all the credit, that was the reason he didn’t want me to do it, not because he loved me. You had already told me when you moved the illegal logs. I just needed to know if it was the last batch.”
Adam asked, “Was it at night? It must be the trucks that Ted saw.”
“Yes, and I knew I’d find out where you shipped them sooner or later. Then Ben would have had to share the credit for busting your scheme. Oh yes, we had the story, it was ready.”
Tina had been typing with her thumbs as fast as she could on her phone, keeping quiet till now. “I can help you with writing the story, Kate. You’ll see, it’ll be big.”
Kate turned to Tina, who was smiling at her. “Don’t even think about it.”
Stuart had slowly tried to sneak away while Kate was talking, but not far enough to prevent Sergeant Humphries from reaching out his long arm and clicking a handcuff on his wrist.
“Where do you think you’re going, Stuart Harris?” He pulled him back with the handcuff. “I have more than enough witness statements and evidence to arrest you now.” He looked at Stuart in the eyes with contempt. “You always liked to boast about your incredible detective skills. This is the first time I can say thank you, that you managed to corner your own self. You shouldn’t underestimate everyone else.”
Humphries read him his rights and was about to walk him away when Raj asked, “What about this James Kravets? Do we still go after him?”
Adam replied, “No need for that. Look.”
Behind Andy, James appeared. This time his hoodie was down. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have run away, but I thought you was going to nail it on us. It’s always like that.”
“James, I saw you arguing with Stuart earlier. What was it about?” Maggie asked, wondering if her deductions had been correct.
Stuart interjected, “Blackmailing me, the wrong man.”
Maggie was convinced Stuart had been the one pulling the strings all along, playing the good cop background while being the mastermind behind the illegal logging, to the point of killing Ben Fearon for it. She looked at him, head to toe.
He was standing proud above everyone around, untouchable in this superiority. If only he realized how people really saw him: a crook, liar, and now a murderer. He would probably never admit to it. Some people were like that, always blaming others for their stupidity, never seeing their own. He won’t let go and will lie to the end. He’s smart and very good at manipulating people. It will be tough for the jury, thought Maggie.
Maggie turned to James. Appearances could be deceiving. At first she didn’t like him or trust him, but now she wanted to help him, especially against Stuart.
James hadn’t responded to Stuart’s comment. Maggie asked, “Why did he give you money?”
“I didn’t give him any! I would never—” shouted Stuart, pushing his chest forward, restrained by the handcuffs behind his back.
“You did. Yeah, I tried to blackmail him—it was my only way out. The cops were on my back, and I didn’t think you’d believe us.” James pulled out a roll of notes from his pocket and shoved it into S
ergeant Humphries’s hand. “Here. All of it. And evidence for you…he was always paid in cash for them trees.”
Raj approached James to caution him. Maggie jumped in between them. “Wait. From the sounds of it, both James and Andy were trying to stop this illegal logging business. Shouldn’t you question them further with that in mind? You might get the bigger picture.”
“I agree with Maggie. If you agree, Sergeant Humphries, I’d like to question them myself,” Adam said.
Sergeant Humphries grumbled at first. After one more look at Stuart, he said “But James Kravets ran away from you, and what about your broken rib?”
“I don’t want to press any charges, and same for Ted.”
Humphries looked up, suddenly aware that the crowd that was initially around them had dispersed. To Maggie’s surprise, Ms. Stilton, the mayor and chieftain of the ceremony, had managed to coax everyone back to the caber toss. At the fringes of the group, a number of curious onlookers were craning their necks to try to hear what was happening.
They were now in a small group with only the relevant people to the case gathered together—even Barrie and Brigit had moved away—nearly all, that is. Tina was right next to Sergeant Humphries, soaking up every little detail in preparation for her next article.
Humphries looked at Tina. “Not to be published.”
“What? But it’s a big thing. I’ve been investigating this illegal logging story for a while and wanted an interview with Ben Fearon on it. Come on.”
“I mean not what I’m about to say. And for the rest, if I agree to it first.”
Tina smiled broadly in the direction of Kate, defying her to publish the story first.
“Fine.” Sergeant Humphries looked at Adam. “Up to you. But we’re backing you if you need it.” He tugged Stuart by his handcuffs as two constables who were on duty turned up. “Constables, bring him to the station and lock him up. I’ll get the statements…” He sighed.
Raj bobbed his head. “Sergeant, why don’t I deal with it? You can preside over the last few contestants. It’s part of my training…” he mumbled, “as a future detective.”
Sergeant Humphries appeared to hesitate.
Adam gave him a nudge. “Come on, he’s in good hands. I’ll go with them.”
They didn’t need much to twist Humphries’s arm, especially if it meant he could return to the games.
Maggie rejoined Barrie and Brigit, who were hooked to her lips to find out what had happened, until Barrie’s name was called on the loudspeaker.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Barrie was the last to compete at the caber tossing, and to his relief, Andy Smith was no longer a threat. Brigit, Indira, and Maggie took a position in the front row to cheer him. Wearing a kilt, as all competitors were required to, he could have been a true Scotsman. He had the right stocky build, muscled calves that held up the woolen socks well, and a true liking for beer.
He walked up to the caber, a long timber lying on the ground. As he stopped to contemplate the huge pole, the thick tartan pleats swung side to side still under the force of inertia from his stride. How can he lift it from the ground, Maggie wondered, let alone throw it, with the heavy end high up? There must be a trick.
Two people helped place the caber vertically against his shoulder. Barrie squatted down and slid his hands all the way down the log. He lifted it slightly, tossing it up a few inches, then gripped its bottom with his clasped hands. It was a wobbly affair. He appeared to walk like a drunk man as he tried to balance the load.
Maggie held her breath. Barrie ran slowly at first then accelerated with each step. She thought the log would fall, but miraculously, it was righted again. Suddenly, he stopped, bent his knees, using his momentum and legs, followed through with his hips thrust forward, and pushed the load up with his hands. The caber made a perfect arch trajectory before falling down top first with a thud on the lawn. Maggie was impressed.
The spectators erupted in cheers and clapping. Sergeant Humphries took on a serious air as he inspected the position of the caber. It had fallen straight in front of Barrie, with the narrow end of the pole pointing in his direction.
Sergeant Humphries walked up to Barrie and took his hand, raising it above his head. “A perfect end-over-end throw, the best I’ve seen today—a 12:00, according to the rules. Congratulations!”
Maggie jumped up and down in excitement. It was unbelievable. Barrie had won. She gushed to Brigit. “Did you see that? You know, this thing weighs around eighty kilos…I think. You can’t tell when you see him like that, he’s that strong.”
“I agree. I know who to call when I need help with my move.” Brigit laughed.
“Your move?” asked Maggie, thinking she must be moving in with Adam.
Brigit put a hand on her mouth. “Oops, I wanted to keep the announcement for tonight at Heidi’s café. We’re still going there for dinner, I hope?”
“Yes, I think Adam and Raj will make it, at least I really hope so.” Maggie wasn’t going to let Brigit go until she found out what her move was about. “Announcement? Has it got something to do with Adam?”
“Not exactly. Well, in a way, and I have to ask you something.”
Maggie wished she hadn’t asked but had to listen now. “Sure. What?”
“Can you look after Adam while I’m away?” She smiled as she put her hand on Maggie’s shoulder. “As a friend, of course, nothing else.”
Maggie looked up at her, a little offended at first and then relieved. “Have you got it? The position in Antarctica?” Brigit nodded. “That’s great, congratulations! Wow, it will be a big adventure. I hope you’ll write a blog about it. I want to read it.”
“I’m not there yet. I only got the news recently. We can still test our safari idea before I go. I’d like that, you know. I like Foxton.” Brigit looked around with a warm smile on her face, then back at Maggie. “I really like Adam. I hope he’ll manage to accept it. I really want to make it work between us.”
Maggie could understand her feelings too well. She sighed. “I know what you mean. He’s a very nice guy.” She was about to say that she hoped it would work out but instead said, “Come on, let’s congratulate Barrie.”
It was the end of the games, and the prizes were handed to the winners with fanfare. Just after Ms. Stilton gave her closing speech, Sergeant Humphries surprised everyone by borrowing bagpipes from one of the musicians and playing the last tune of the day. He managed to slip in after his performance that his country band, the Haystack Needles, would be playing on Sunday at the Horizon Cafe.
*
Maggie made a quick detour by her home to let her dogs out before meeting up with her friends at the café. The day had been so eventful, she was on an adrenaline high as she sped down the road to Foxton. There was still a mystery bothering her. If James wasn’t Kate’s brother, who was her brother? Maybe Barrie knew the answer?
She parked in the marina’s lot; the café’s parking was full. It was already getting dark far too early for her liking. She shivered; she should have brought her warm coat. The heat of the Indian summer had gone, and the northern wind reminded her that winter wasn’t far away. Heidi’s café was beckoning with its promise of a wood fire and delicious food. Over the past few weeks, Heidi had gotten a chimney built by an old mason. By the looks of it, it was finally ready, and smoke was swirling out of it.
She pushed open the entrance door with its worn wooden handle. Straight ahead of her, at the bar, Barrie was talking with Indira, propped up on their stools. To her right, a fire was roaring irresistibly.
Maggie stopped by to warm her hands up and admire the stonework before heading for her friends. “Hi. I had to see the fireplace, nice and warm. What can I get you?” Barrie looked at his empty bottle of beer. “Same again?” asked Maggie. He nodded. “And you, Indira?”
“I’m still working on this one. I don’t have Barrie’s capacity.”
“After his efforts today, he deserves it.” Maggie smiled and asked her
, “Will Raj make it tonight?”
“Yes, he just texted me, they’re on their way.”
Brigit joined them, then Raj. Maggie couldn’t see Adam behind them. “What happened to Adam?”
“Oh, he’s coming. He got held up a little with Ted. I left them to it. What a day. Maggie, how on earth did you see through Stuart? I didn’t like him, but he managed to fool me. As for Kate, I really thought she killed Ben Fearon. I didn’t believe anything she said.”
“It’s thanks to Barrie.”
“What?” asked Barrie, swallowing a mouthful of beer.
“Forcing me to be upside down on your back made me see it the right way…and there was something else. Ted’s mysterious note that ‘things were not what they seemed.’ When I put those two together, it dawned on me that Stuart wasn’t an undercover cop as I thought. Although Sergeant Humphries was always behaving strangely with him.”
“I know what you mean,” said Raj, “but that was because the sergeant had been a constable working for him, and as you can imagine, it wasn’t a good combination. He was still afraid of him, I think, because he treated him like an idiot and must have crushed his confidence. I’m lucky the sergeant doesn’t do that to me. He’s annoying in other ways, but I’m getting used to it now. He isn’t a psychological manipulator.”
Barrie raised his beer to Maggie. “Maggie, you always surprise me. No clue how your mind works, but who cares—we get results!”
“I can say the same for you, Barrie. You’ve many hidden sides. Here’s to your victory.” Maggie raised her glass to Barrie, who took a big swig from his bottle.
As he put it down on the bar, Adam arrived with Ted.
Maggie jumped down from the barstool to greet them. “That’s a nice surprise. I’m so glad they freed you. I didn’t think I’d see you here.” She looked at Adam. “How did you convince him?”
“Easy, I made him taste some of Heidi’s pastries; now he has to taste her cooking.” He laughed. “I didn’t need to convince him. He wanted to come when I told him you’d all be here.”
