Gina’s phone?
Where was the person who’d done this? Daphne’s eyes shot back to the bridge and there, heading towards town, the person strolled along. Not a care in the world. She climbed back through the reeds, her fingers in her handbag grasping for her phone. Stopping long enough to dial, Daphne held the phone to her ear and snuck onto the bridge.
“John. It’s me. Daphne. I’m following the real brains. Not Gina. But someone else. Get the police. They threw the missing phone in the river. Bluebell’s side of the bridge to town. Hurry.” She hung up. He had to get the message. She risked taking a photo of the tub which was visible under the surface. The white cloud around it should help the police locate it. That done, she began to dial the police and started up the bridge. Nobody was in sight.
She shoved the phone away and began to run.
At the crest of the bridge she spotted the person almost at the far end. They glanced back and stopped. The face was impossible to see from this distance but she knew they recognised her when they turned and sprinted away.
“Staaap!”
What was meant to be an authoritative command sounded like the screech of an angry bird. And did nothing other than draw the attention of a group of woman—all dressed in fitness wear—doing star jumps partway down the bridge. As Daphne puffed her way past them, she sang out, “Call the police. I’m in pursuit!”
“You’re going to pop those buttons, honey.” One woman said.
“Or have a coronary.” Another added.
Laughter followed Daphne. Her head dropped for an instant and her legs faltered. But there was no time for being sorry for herself.
She reached the bottom of the bridge, grabbing a post to help her around the corner and onto the path. “There you are!”
The figure was still too far ahead to identify.
Sweat poured down Daphne’s neck.
It was getting hotter with every painful step.
The path weaved through trees. offering a welcome respite from the sun.
But the hooded figure was out of sight.
Faster, Daph. Don’t let them escape.
She might have been in the wilderness with not a soul around between the dense undergrowth on either side and the canopy above the winding track. It suddenly split in two around a large gum tree.
Daphne took the left path and ran straight into another body.
Her feet slid from beneath her.
The ground rose.
With a sickening ‘thud’ she hit the path.
Silence.
A breath. Hers.
And a moan. Not hers.
Daphne turned over onto all fours and used the trunk of the tree to help her up. The hooded figure was a bit further away and took a moment to stand, straightening with another moan. A male moan. Blood seeped through the fabric of the hoodie down his left arm, which hung at his side.
For a moment they got their respective breaths back.
They were alone.
She was alone with the killer.
The person pushed back the hood with their good arm.
“You.” Daphne gasped.
“Me. And now you know who I am.”
Bertie grinned at Daphne. It might have been a chance meeting on a spring day in a peaceful country town.
Between a killer and their pursuer.
The Arrangement
“Why, Bertie?”
“Interesting question, Mrs Jones. Why run? Why dispose of the evidence? Or why dispatch people who try to harm my family?”
The man standing before Daphne was a far cry from the elderly person whose memory led him astray. His eyes were sharp. His body strong, apart from his damaged arm. Old, yes, but strong. What an odd thing to remember but his photographs and trophies had been in front of Daphne every time she’d entered the Brooking house. He’d been a runner. A champion runner.
“You don’t have dementia.”
He chuckled. “They all think I do. Made it easy to do what I wanted.”
Daphne shifted her weight. The impact of the fall left her ankle throbbing. The earlier churning in her stomach was replaced by a cold and heavy stone. Was she the next victim?
How had she missed the clues?
As if reading her mind, Bertie’s smile vanished and he took a step forward. And a second. Daphne’s back was against the tree trunk and her eyes darted around. Why wasn’t anyone around to help?
“Gina wasn’t meant to die. Silly woman talking about going to the police must have freaked out Dempster but she was my sister. He had no right.”
With only a few feet between them, the grief in Bertie’s eyes was real and in spite of her fear, Daphne felt for him. But more for Gina.
“I’m sorry I accused her. But I don’t understand how Dempster got to Steve that day. Gina said she’d seen you both on the other side of the property.”
“She lied. Never had anything to do with the arrangement, but she knew enough and we always protected each other. Until I didn’t.”
In the distance, a siren sounded. Bertie’s eyes roamed, settling on a short, thick fallen branch and then back at Daphne.
A shiver ran through her body. “Um… The arrangement?”
“Nobody else in the world knows. Only Demps and me. And Gina knew bits. So if I tell you, it’s our secret.” He grimaced and glanced at his left arm. The blood now dripped beneath the sleeve onto his fingers, which were motionless. “That’s annoying.”
Bertie shuffled to the fallen branch. He leaned down, his fingertips touching the bark.
Daphne edged away from the gum tree. “No point harming me. Your blood is all over the ground and you’ll be in jail before you know it.”
With a groan, Bertie straightened. His hand was empty. “Just wanted something to lean on.” He managed a short laugh. “I’m the brains, remember. Not the brawn.”
“What if we get you some help.”
“I’m past help. Might use the tree though to prop me up.”
Daphne hobbled further away. She wasn’t about to let him near her and if she had to, she would scream the place down. He sighed as he rested against the trunk.
“What arrangement did you have with Dempster?”
“Our secret, right?”
With a nod, Daphne apologised to him in her mind. She’d break his trust the minute she could. The siren had stopped wailing.
“Dempster and I were a lot alike. He grew up hating a family he’d never met. The Tannings. He’d been told the same stories I was. Joseph Tanning stole Mary from our ancestor. And every Tanning since then followed suit. Bunch of liars and thieves.” He ground the words out.
“But you said Troy was your friend.”
“He was useful. I had it under control and was gradually squirrelling away every dollar he’d invested of. Gina and Bob ruined it but I had enough money hidden in a safe place to partly rebuild the Brooker wealth.”
An embezzler. Was it all about money?
Bertie continued, speaking faster as if telling his story for the first time. “Dempster came along when I was unsure of my next move. Money was hidden. Still is. Lisa was spending hers and lots of it was on me and my family. Wasn’t about to stop her. But then she married one of them.”
“Sam Tanning?”
“Yup. And I knew time was running before they started a family because the minute they had a kid all the money would flow away from me and mine. Bob was all I had left and then Demps came along. Not my grandson but the nearest thing I’d ever have and he’d been done out of a lifetime of his rightful Brooker name. So we brokered an arrangement to stop anyone who tried to take away my legacy.”
There was movement further up the path, behind Bertie and the tree. Police uniforms appearing and disappearing through the bushes.
Bertie stopped talking and his eyes closed. His skin was a sickly shade of grey and the bleeding hadn’t slowed.
“Bertie? You told me you love Lisa.”
He opened his eyes and his lips turned up.
“She’s a good girl. A bit emotional and makes bad decisions but yes, I love her.”
“Then why would you kill her husbands? And don’t remind me it is because of some legacy or for revenge.” Daphne lifted her chin. “You and Dempster took away her happiness. What makes you any different from the Tannings?”
His mouth opened and closed. A shaking began in his legs, getting stronger by the second until they started to buckle. Daphne managed to reach him before he collapsed, getting his good arm over her shoulder and using all her strength to keep him upright.
“A little help!” she cried out.
He dropped his head so his mouth was close to her ear. “I was a fool. Tell Lisa I’m sorry.” As his body went limp, strong arms caught him. Matty was there.
In the Rear View Mirror
“I promised you we’d leave this town today, and I’m keeping to my promise.” John held Daphne’s hand so tight it hurt but she wasn’t letting go.
The last few hours were dreamlike, which might also be in part due to some painkillers the local doctor gave her after ensuring her ankle wasn’t broken. Painkillers and anti-inflammatories plus instructions to rest.
Bluebell was fully operational and ready to leave, but a call from Matty delayed their departure again. John had agreed to wait for half an hour and then he was taking his wife away from Little Bridges once and for all. They sat inside Bluebell to wait, finishing the last of the cookies with some apple cider. Lunch hadn’t happened and they’d both decided to give up on finding a meal until on the road.
“I wonder how Bertie is.” Daphne hadn’t stopped thinking about him since the paramedics strapped him onto a stretcher and took him to hospital with a police escort.
“I’m more concerned about you, my love.” John finally released her hand to refill their glasses and glanced out of the open door. “You should have waited for help.”
Daphne smiled. “Do you remember back home when that awful man broke into our house and I ran down the road to see what kind of car he had?”
“How could I forget? But at least then you were on a street where people could see you, not camouflaged by trees and bushes. Thank goodness those women did as you asked and phoned the police.”
“Oh. Them.”
“Why?”
Would they have stopped a killer?
She shook her head. “Doesn’t matter.”
“And I heard your message and must have phoned the police a couple of minutes later and thank goodness Matty and Leading Senior Constable Barber knew the general area you were in. Had no idea I could still run so fast!”
The patrol car parked next to the open door.
“Hopefully, he doesn’t want another statement.” John said.
Apart from the visit to the doctor, Daphne had spent quite a long time making a full statement at the police station. With Bertie’s confession the homicide detectives had more to investigate.
“Afternoon. Thanks for hanging around.” Matty appeared in the doorway. “May I?”
“Come on in. Iced tea?” Daphne offered, moving over to make room for him to sit. John collected a fresh glass and poured a drink before Matty could reply.
“I have some news. Thanks for this.” He sat. “Bertie is undergoing surgery but expected to recover. We were able to retrieve the tub from the river and the phone and yes, it is the one stolen from Gina and used to lure Steve to the pool.”
Tears prickled at the back of Daphne’s eyes as a sudden wave of relief washed away the tension and stress of the past few days. She didn’t speak for fear of crying, but tapped her hands together in a discreet clap. If Matty noticed her emotional response he was too polite to say anything but John caught her eye and smiled.
“We’ve formerly charged Dempster with two counts of first degree murder pending other charges. He has admitted to stabbing Steve, pushing him into the pool and then using the hose to wash the obvious blood into the water. He hid in the cleaning room until Steve was found. The Brooker and Tanning families have both expressed gratitude to you and asked me to pass that on.”
“I would imagine much of this is a shock to the Brookers. Their patriarch behind such heinous crimes for the sake of money and his family name.” John said. “Hopefully, they’ll move on in time and at least no more murders.”
Matty nodded. “There’s one more thing. We found the person responsible for slashing your tyres. They’ve been charged on summons and have already offered to make full restitution for the cost of replacing them. I’d suggest wait until the offer is formerly made and then counter offer to cover your time and any other expenses. Sadly, that’s the best way for this person to learn.”
“Who did it?” Daphne found her voice. “I thought it was Dempster.”
“No. It was Lloyd.”
Daphne gasped.
“He was angry at the attention he got from your report and decided to pay you back. Now, he really has to pay you back.”
She’d known Lloyd wasn’t a nice person. Not one to be happy at another’s misfortune, Daphne nevertheless enjoyed a moment of glee. Nice to see swift justice done.
Matty finished his drink and stood. “Time to let you both get on your way.”
“At last.” John said, but there was no malice in his tone.
He offered his hand and Matty shook it before turning his gaze onto Daphne.
“We might have got off on the wrong foot, but I’ve come to respect you, Mrs Jones. You’ve got good instincts. But no more getting in the way of trouble. Okay?”
“I’ll see you out.”
The men climbed out and Daphne opened her notebook to a new page to write her final words about Little Bridges.
Family matters but when money and pride become more important, terrible decisions are made. The Brooker and Tanning families may never be friends, but at least they now have one common enemy—the past and its influence. If they can put that behind them then there is a chance for a better future.
“Ready, love?” John was back inside and held out his hand. “Let’s get you into the car and we can be off.”
“No last minute shopping? No people to say goodbye to?” she teased, letting him help her out of Bluebell.
“I don’t think I’ll answer that one.” John wrapped Daphne in his arms. “There’s only one picture I want in my head of this town.”
Daphne leaned back and kissed his lips. “Little Bridges in the rear vision mirror?”
He answered with a kiss in return.
* * *
Like to discover more about Daphne, other titles, and Phillipa’s world? Visit Phillipa’s Website where you can join her newsletter.
Next… The Shadow of Daph
The forest town of Shady Bend is known for its crafts, preserves, and local produce.
* * *
It is not known for disappearing bodies let alone a mysterious spate of crimes!
* * *
Daphne came for a funeral but as the body count rises, she might be the only person standing between the truth and a killer.
* * *
The Shadow of Daph
About the Author
Phillipa lives just outside a beautiful town in country Victoria, Australia. She also lives in the many worlds of her imagination and stockpiles stories beside her laptop.
* * *
Apart from her family, Phillipa’s great loves include the ocean, music, reading, the garden, and animals of all kinds.
* * *
Phillipa’s Website
Books by Phillipa Nefri Clark
River’s End Mystery Romances
The Stationmaster’s Cottage
Jasmine Sea
The Secrets of Palmerston House
The Christmas Key
Taming the Wind
Martha
Or read books 1-4 in one collection
The River’s End Collection
The Charlotte Dean Mysteries
Deadly Start
Deadly Falls
Deadly
Secrets
Deadly Past
The Giving Tree
Daphne Jones Mysteries
Till Daph Do Us Part
The Shadow of Daph
Tales of Life and Daph
Doctor Grok’s Peculiar Shop Fantasy Shorts
Colony
Table for Two
Wishing Well
Sculpture
Or get the entire collection in one:
Doctor Grok’s Peculiar Shop Short Story Collection
Last Known Contact
(A gripping standalone crime/romantic suspense
* * *
Simple Words for Troubled Times
(Short non-fiction happiness and comfort book)
Prefer Audiobooks?
The Stationmaster’s Cottage
Jasmine Sea
The Secrets of Palmerston House
Simple Words for Troubled Times
How the books connect
Daphne Jones made her entrance in the very first book I published - The Stationmaster’s Cottage. With her husband, John, she ran River’s End Real Estate and even then had a flair for gathering useful information. Her role expanded for the next three books in the River’s End Series (Jasmine Sea, The Secrets of Palmerston House, The Christmas Key).
Another important character made their first appearance in Jasmine Sea. Dr Charlotte Dean stayed for a couple of books before demanding her own series, The Charlotte Dean Mysteries.
Daphne and John drop into one of Charlotte’s books and most likely will be seen in River’s End again before too long.
Till Daph Do Us Part Page 18
