Foxes and Fatal Attraction

by Ruby Loren

  “Brighton.”

  “Well, there you go… I’ve worked down there a lot. I promise I’ll call you if I remember anything else.”

  I thanked her for her help and hung up. Once she was gone, I let out a long sigh. I’d hoped that my phone conversation with Katya would leave me certain that Alex Gregory had nothing to do with British Intelligence. Instead, I was left with more questions than I’d had before I called.

  Did I really believe Katya had recognised him from the police? I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t sure at all.

  15

  Congratulating a Killer

  The next time I heard the latest gossip was when I popped into Avery Zoo on the day of the local business awards evening. I was already in a pretty bad mood, having put up with the press trying to pry into my personal life instead of asking the questions they were supposed to about the new comic, and then trying to come to an answer about how to raise my suspicions about Alex with Tiff - and if I even should be raising them with her? Shouldn’t I confront the detective himself first? I just didn’t know.

  I was still mulling it over when I popped into The Wild Spot to check that everything was running smoothly and happened to hear a couple of waitresses gossiping.

  “Did you hear? I know someone who knows someone with the police and apparently they’re getting Detective Treesden back in.”

  “I thought he’d retired?” the other waitress said.

  I hovered nearby, frowning at the mention of the retired detective’s name. He and I had never seen eye to eye and I couldn’t imagine why he would be being brought back. Unless it was to do with what had happened last night…

  “Just between us, some people on the police force think it’s someone new in town who must be responsible for the murders. I don’t know what they have, but that’s what I was told. Maybe a real psycho has moved here.” The implication in her voice was clear. I needed no help to join the dots.

  If what this waitress was saying was true, at least some of the police force suspected their current detective of being a murderer.

  I’ve got to talk to Tiff! I thought, knowing that nothing escaped her ears for long. The time for mulling things over was finished. I needed to warn my best friend that bad news was on the way.

  I found Tiff in the back room of the shop, going over various accounts.

  She looked up and smiled when I entered the room. “How are you holding up? I know I said it the other night, but thanks for forgetting about that form. If you hadn’t been there, I don’t know what might have happened.”

  “Alex was there with you. I’m sure he would have handled it just fine. He was the one who handled it in the end,” I said with a weak smile.

  “I heard you were prepared to take action yourself.” There was a sparkle of amusement in Tiff’s eye and I could only assume that Alex had probably recounted my interesting choice of weapon.

  “I actually, uh, need to talk to you about that,” I said, saying goodbye to the warm and fuzzy mood. “I overheard two of my waitresses talking about the case, and it sounds like bad news. I’ve no idea what they might have on him, or even if it’s true, but I think that some people might be starting to suspect that Alex is responsible for the murders.”

  Tiff frowned. “What?! That’s ridiculous! He didn’t even know the victims. At least, I don’t think he did?”

  I shrugged my shoulders, having no idea.

  “Why on earth would he decide to kill two random people anyway? It’s ridiculous!” she repeated. “I thought everyone was settled on the killer being a woman.”

  “I still think that’s right,” I agreed. “However, Alex must have done something to draw this kind of unwanted attention. At the very least, he should probably be advised to watch his back. I think it’s pretty obvious that someone is out to get him.”

  “They’re trying to frame him,” Tiff said, angrier than I’d ever seen her.

  “I’m sure that’s true,” I said, consolingly. “Do you happen to know why Detective Gregory owns a gun?” It hadn’t been the usual country rifle fare either, but I wasn’t going to get into that with Tiff yet.

  She shook her head. “I assume he must have done some special police training and have a license.”

  I shot her a significant look. Her expression morphed into understanding and then annoyance.

  “Oh, Madi! You can’t think that. Alex isn’t one of them.” She huffed out air. “I don’t want to hear any more of this. I think you’ve got a problem, I really do. You’re seeing them everywhere!”

  A knock on the door made us both jump round.

  “Maybe I should come back later?” Joe said, looking half-amused half-alarmed by our venomous expressions.

  Tiff nailed me with another furious look. “If I were you, I’d be more worried about the people you know are definitely liars.” She threw a disgusted glance in Joe’s direction before storming through the door that led back into the shop.

  “I’m guessing I picked a bad moment?” Joe’s smile was already back on his face.

  “What can I do for you?” I asked, not willing to play his games today.

  “You can tell me why you didn’t let me know you saw that man again.”

  “It slipped my mind when I was trapped in a house with him and he was coming after me with a knife,” I said, drenching my voice in sarcasm. “He’s been arrested. Surely that means whatever your problem is, it’s been solved?”

  Joe rolled his eyes heavenwards. “I suppose I’ve only got myself to blame for not being specific enough. He’s not going to be held for long, believe me. Men like Jim Smith never are.”

  “Men like Jim Smith?” I frowned. “Whose side is he on anyway?”

  “His own,” Joe said, cryptically, before abruptly changing the conversation topic to the restaurant’s forthcoming wedding bookings. I was left baffled and with fresh questions, both about Detective Alex Gregory and the man who had broken into his house.

  I looked at myself in the hallway mirror and tried a smile. I tried harder and managed to make it appear a bit more convincing. Tonight was the night of the local business awards night and I knew Auryn would never forgive me if I looked miserable all evening. I’d yet to hatch a plan as to how we were going to slip the influence of these powerful few, so for now, the only option was to play along. Tonight needed to be a glorious farce if our zoos were to obtain the support Auryn claimed was essential.

  “Ready to go?” Auryn said, walking down the stairs in a smart black suit. I took a moment to appreciate how different he looked in the space of less than a year. A year ago, he’d been the surfer-style zoo cutie who had years ahead of him before he stepped into shoes bigger than his own, and now, forced to grow up sooner than he’d liked, he looked like a different man. It wasn’t his physical appearance that was much changed - although he definitely looked older in the eyes - it was the way he’d risen to take charge of the zoo and bring it through a tough time that I thought really made a difference, both in the way he saw himself and the way others saw him.

  “I’m so proud of you,” I said, wanting to speak my mind.

  For a moment Auryn looked surprised, but then he smiled that same easy smile he’d had ever since I knew him. Some things would never change. “I’m proud of us,” he said, taking my arm and walking me to the door.

  Rameses followed along behind us, looking hopeful.

  “Not tonight, boy,” I told him. “You stay and guard the house. And don’t let any foxes get in!” I added with a smile. We’d installed the microchip cat flat for Lucky. So far it had solved our problem. Rameses seemed to whine and want to be let out more than ever - especially when the two orange streaks were running around - but I didn’t mind that, even when he came back smelling like a fox himself. It was better than having our kitchen invaded. Even my love for animals knew some limits.

  Auryn told our dog he was a good boy and then we left for the dreaded awards ceremony.

  I couldn’t wait for it to all be over.r />
  It wasn’t only the usual culprits I spotted milling around The Dawson Hotel when Auryn and I arrived. I was surprised to see Detective Alex Gregory standing in the corner talking to one of the group I recognised from Harry Farley’s fox hunting send off.

  “What’s he doing here?” I said aloud, letting my dismay get the better of me.

  Auryn shot me a funny look. “At the last club meeting, he was chosen as the police representative to be invited to this gathering.” He cleared his throat. “I believe that someone is invited every year to prove that there’s nothing underhand going on. Of course, I also got the distinct impression that whoever is chosen receives preferential treatment themselves, if they toe the line. Detective Treesden used to be the representative.”

  “Even the police are under their thumb,” I grumbled, scarcely able to believe it.

  A slight smile graced his lips. “Don’t be so sure. Detective Treesden and Detective Gregory strike me as two very different men. Do you think the new detective could be bought by the promise of further promotion, or pressure to give him a better salary?”

  “I don’t think so,” I said, frowning as I made the conclusion. The answer I’d given made sense to me. It fit with what I knew of the detective’s character, but it seemed at odds with everything Jim Smith had complained about. I had no idea what to believe.

  “I guess I’m just surprised he was asked, considering…” I began and then bit my tongue. I’d just slipped into gossip-mode, without having the faintest idea if any of it was true.

  Auryn looked curious and I was forced to explain my secondhand gossip.

  “The police can’t be taking any of it too seriously if he’s still walking around freely.” He shook his head. “I don’t think he did it.”

  “Neither do I, but they must have something on him… right?”

  “It could simply be gossip and rumour. You said he had a gun when he confronted the intruder in Tiff’s house.” (I’d told Auryn all about the curious encounter and I’d even shared my fears) “He might just have more enemies than your average policeman. Perhaps they caught up with him and are spreading lies.”

  “Perhaps,” I said, unwilling to accept that Detective Gregory wasn’t hiding something but knowing that now was not the time to discuss it.

  I looked around the room and did my best to smile at various people I'd rather have avoided. The estate agent crowd were out in force. Tristan Herriot was preening next to Drew James, doing his best to compete. By their side sat Sophia, who I noticed had managed to find herself a partner for the evening.

  It was with some surprise that I realised her choice of date was none other than Andy Wright, the local crime historian. I’d known that he'd recently split from his wife, Annabelle, but I was surprised to see him paired up with Sophia. She really must have been desperate for a date! I thought and then chided myself for being mean to Andy. He was nice enough to look at, I just found his personality to be as dry as old bones. Being a fascinating writer did not make you a fascinating person.

  Dashing Drew had paired up with Poppy, Auryn’s recently hired manager of reception, and I had to confess they made a striking pair. Even strange Helen Greer had found herself a partner and was sitting primly next to Cedric Jameson - a local builder who definitely didn’t have me in his best books.

  “And so it begins,” Auryn muttered, steering me through the crowd in order to find our place names around the tables that had been set all over the room.

  I nodded to Yolanda and Esme when we passed and I even managed to summon up a smile for Rachel, who was at the event with a nervous looking man, whom I didn’t recognise. I was unsurprised to see Felicity Farley had got in - and apparently without the need to lasso a man. The Lords of the Downs had evidently seen fit to waive that requirement in lieu of her circumstances.

  “Here we are,” Auryn said, lifting up the little name tag which listed his first name. Auryn and I were both fortunate in that there was never anyone else with the same name as us. I could already see a lot of head scratching going on as men and women with more normal names tried to figure out if they were the Tom or Harry that the name card was referring to.

  “Pretty,” I said, sitting down and fiddling with the name tag for a moment. The card was expensive and a sweet little bow in rustic string had been tied in a neat bow beneath the writing, which had been hand-done with a gold calligraphy pen.

  Auryn glanced down. “I think one of the club members has a wife who owns a local craft shop. That’s probably her work.”

  I rolled my eyes when he wasn’t looking. This was supposed to be a meeting of local businesses, which should mean that the local craft shop owner was referred to first and foremost, but it was all too clear that this meeting was an extension of The Lords of the Downs, and their influence was overshadowing everything. That fact was made clearer than ever when Nigel Wickington, president of The Lords of the Downs, took his place on the stage at the front of the room and began a pre-prepared speech on how wonderful a year it had been.

  I knew that Auryn, myself, and everyone else in the room was waiting for the important bit - the awards ceremony. Awards would be given out for various categories and it was apparently these awards that let you know how well you were doing in the eyes of the influencers. Winning an award meant that you were flying high, being a runner up was a good sign, being a nominee was okay, but not even being mentioned meant that your business was in deep trouble.

  When the speech moved on and categories were announced, I looked at Auryn questioningly. He shrugged slightly to let me know that he wasn’t sure where we’d fit in either. He breathed a sigh of relief when Avery Zoo was read out as being a nominee for the best local employer. I watched him relax in his chair as the other names were read out. I could tell Auryn was satisfied - he’d done enough. I bit my lip and silently hoped that The Lords of the Downs were lumping our two zoos in together. Aside from what I knew Auryn did for both the zoos at the club, I had no way of influencing how well The Lucky Zoo did in the eyes of this ridiculous mafia-style racket. Although I hated the entire concept, I was still well aware that (for now) we both had to play ball.

  My eyes skimmed the crowd as they read out the runners up. My sort-of friend Georgina Farley was seated at a table surrounded by a bunch of other serious looking men and women, including Annabelle Wright. Georgina winked when she saw me looking over and I took it as a sign that she wasn’t worried about what tonight was going to bring for her.

  My gaze jumped across to the table of estate agents and I watched as Felicity Farley glared in Georgina’s direction. The empty chair she had beside her was just another strategy to remind everyone of what she’d lost and how much she was mourning. I appreciated that it was a tough time for her and everyone she worked with, but I did think she was laying on the theatrics - especially when I didn’t really believe she’d been that enamoured with Harry Farley when he’d been alive. Next, I found Detective Gregory seated at a table full of other Lords of the Downs members. I was quick to observe that he didn’t look out of his depth. It was just another thing to add to my doubts about who Detective Gregory really was.

  Oliver’s Cafe was read out and I saw a small group of people grin and pat each other on the back. The next runner up was a local builder, who had also managed to win favour.

  “Someone told me he did the Wickington’s house for half price,” I heard someone on the table we were sitting at mutter.

  I sucked my cheeks in to keep from frowning and nearly missed the moment when Nigel read out the winner of the category.

  “It’s us! Avery’s won!” Auryn said, grabbing my shoulder and grinning like a loon. “I never thought…” he said, practically glowing.

  I did my best to look proud and happy as he practically skipped up to the stage to collect his award for best employer. On one hand, I was pleased that Avery wouldn’t have to worry about any skulduggery that might affect it in the coming year, but on the other, I hated pandering to these p
eople.

  Auryn returned a couple of moments later and set the large chunk of engraved glass down on the table. “This will look great displayed in reception. I’ll have to get a cabinet…"

  I smiled and pretended to examine the trophy whilst people on our table congratulated us with thinly veiled envy. But although Avery had marched to success, I was still worrying about my own zoo, and two categories later with no mention of it, I was starting to sweat.

  “Best personal service,” Nigel Wickington boomed, announcing the next category. Herriot’s Houses, Farley and Sons, Blanky Country Houses, Tims and Hammond, and a couple of others were read out as nominees. A slight hush fell over the crowd as everyone craned to look the way of the estate agents, all knowing that two of their number had recently died under some very mysterious circumstances. Already I could see one group of unhappy people on the large table where they were all seated. I would wager that not every estate agent in town had made it to the nominee stage. I kept my eyes on them, even as one of the agents I didn’t know was read out as a runner up. Tristan was doing everything he could to look calm, but I caught him shooting glances in Felicity Farley’s direction and could tell what he was thinking. Harry Farley had been a Lords of the Downs member. After his death, there was no way Farley and Sons wouldn’t win the category. Tonight, they were surely unbeatable.

  By comparison, Drew James looked relaxed and was chatting to Poppy. However, Sophia and Helen looked just as concerned as Tristan did. As I watched, Sophia picked up her name card and detached the string from it. Her fingers twisted it for a moment, undoing the bow, before subconsciously retying the string into a knot.

  My hands clenched on the tablecloth just as Blanky Country Houses was read out as the first runner-up. I watched as Sophia rose to her feet, blushing with pleasure, as those around her congratulated her as she walked up to the stage.