by Marian Phair
The glade was suddenly filled with a magic all of its own. The sound of Mali lapping up water from the edge of the pool brought them back to the moment.
“This sure is a magical place, honey, no wonder you and Jack wanted to keep it a secret, it has an otherworldly feel about it.”
“I’m so glad I was able to find it again and share this special place with you, Scott.”
He could tell by her face this place held happy memories for her, memories of a lost love that she once knew. Scott felt at a loss for words, and suddenly unsure of her.
“So am I, honey.” he told her.
Scott took the rug and spread it out on the ground, inviting her to join him.
“I thought it might be more comfortable than sitting on the boulder while we eat. I have a something for you,” he said, opening up the picnic basket. Inside was a small, gift wrapped box, with a tiny, artificial, red rose, attached to the top. For a moment his hand hesitated over it as he was filled with uncertainty. Taking a deep breath, he picked it up and handed it to her.
“Is this a birthday gift, Scott? How sweet, thank you.” Ruth leant over and kissed him lightly on the lips.
“Not exactly a birthday gift, but something I planned to give to you later. Suddenly, somehow, in this place, it seems to be the right time.”
Ruth carefully removed the wrapping. Inside was a small, blue, velvet covered, box. Her heart started beating faster with anticipation. Could it be a ring, or was it earrings? Scott knelt before her, and placed his hands over hers, preventing her from opening it.
“Before you open the box, I want you to know the meaning of the rose I’ve given you.
A red rose is a symbol of love. Although, this rose isn’t real, unlike my love for you, which is real and true. A real rose would fade away and die, but this rose, like my love for you, my darling, never will.” Ruth could see the sincerity in his eyes as Scott removed his hand.
With trembling fingers, she opened the box, and her eyes widened at the beautiful, solitaire diamond ring, nestling in the velvet pad. Caught by the sunlight, it sent out a myriad of colours that took her breath away. Ruth gasped, and looked up to find Scott on one knee before her. Taking her hand in his, he looked deep into her eyes as he declared his love for her again. Ruth sat holding her breath. She felt as though she was dreaming.
“Ruth Ferguson, in the short time we have known each other, I’ve fallen helplessly in love with you. Will you honour me by becoming my wife?”
“You’re proposing? You want to marry me?” she said, in a daze.
“If that’s what they call it when a guy offers a gal a ring, and asks her if she will be his wife, hell yes I’m proposing.” He tried to lighten the moment, fearful of refusal, as she sat with a look of amazement on her lovely face.
Coming to her senses as it finally sunk in, that Scott loved her, and wanted to marry her, Ruth’s face broke into a beautiful smile.
“Yes, Yes, YES!” She shouted, her voice getting louder and louder. She threw her arms around him, and kissed him. Then formally said, as he slipped the ring on her left hand, “Scott Holden, I accept your proposal. I have loved you from the moment I set eyes on you. I will gladly be your wife.” Their lips met in a lingering kiss.
Scott, let out a ‘Whoop’ of joy, and shouted out, ‘She loves me.’ Mali ran around barking excitedly at all the noise. They burst out laughing as the little terrier kept pushing his way in between them forcing them apart, licking first one face, and then the other.
Scott hadn’t felt this light hearted in years, there was a spring in his step as he threw a stick for Mali to chase, the two of them running around like a pair of idiots, while Ruth laid out the food. It was comical the way they both flopped down besides her, gasping for breath, when she called them to eat. Sated, the little dog lay dozing in the lush grass, mindless of the couple making love beside him on the rug.
“Did Jack kiss you here?” Scott said, as he kissed the dip in her throat. “Or here?” He kissed the cleft between her breasts. “Or here?” he asked, as he moved on down her body.
Mali only acknowledged their presence by cocking an ear when Ruth cried out in pleasure, as they climaxed together. Afterwards, they lay curled up in each others arms, and dozed. An hour passed, then Scott, stirred, stretching out his arm as he checked his watch, and untangled himself from Ruth’s arms. For a few moments he gazed on her fondly, his heart full of love for the beautiful, wanton creature, that gave herself to him so freely, and who was to become his wife.
“Hey, sleepy head, it’s time to make a move. I wish we could stay here forever like this, in this magical place, but hey life goes on.” He planted a kiss on Ruth’s head and rose stiffly, stretching his limbs. They gathered up their belonging’s and with reluctant steps, made their way back through the gap in the bushes. Scott replaced the branch to hide the entrance.
“Honey, I need to answer a call of nature. If you want to walk on I’ll catch up with you,” he told her.
“I have seen a man pee before, darling. I can wait for you, and I promise not to look.”
“It’s not that kinda call. I’ll slip down the path here a ways, and use the undergrowth.”
Ruth, not wishing to embarrass him, smiled and walked on ahead, while Scott took the left fork to some bushes. Scott stepped off the track to find a suitable spot, and Mali, who had followed his footsteps, ran past him. He called the dog back, but Mali ignored him, and started barking. Scott swore, called the dog back again, then whistled, but Mali just kept on barking. He walked to where the little dog sat gazing up at a tree and barking.
“You come when I call you, you mutt,” he scolded, then looked up to see just what the dog was barking at, thinking it must be a squirrel or some other animal up in the tree. What he saw made his blood run cold. A young man wearing black jeans and a black leather jacket was hanging from a branch, by a rope around his neck. Tucked into his top pocket, its petal’s white as the driven snow, against the black leather, was the vigilante signature, a single white rose.
With trembling fingers, Scott removed his mobile phone and dialled the police station. His eyes were still transfixed on the body hanging in the tree, as he spoke into his phone, and told the duty Sergeant, Dick Francis, what he had found. He knew the procedure only too well. He should stay with the body, and try to protect the scene until the police officer’s and the SOCO team, took over. He was in a quandary what to do. Ruth had gone on ahead, she was out of sight and more than likely out of earshot, and she didn’t have a mobile phone.
“You dumb mutt, why did you have to go and find this dead guy, and today of all days?” He glared at Mali who sat looking at him expectantly. He didn’t want Ruth to see this. He knew if he was much longer, she would come looking for him. Swiftly dialling the police station again, he told the Sergeant his dilema.
“There’s a car on the way to your location as we speak,” the officer told him. They’ll be with you in a couple of minutes. What I can do, is get them on the radio and ask them not to let Ruth know why they are there, and then you can leave the scene, and take her home. When you get back, report here and fill us in on the details.”
“Thanks, I’d appreciate that. I owe you one.” Scott said, ending the call.
He took the dog lead from his pocket intending to clip it onto Mali’s collar so he had control of him, but the little dog had disappeared. As luck would have it, he hadn’t gone far, he was sniffing at a pile of leaves under a tree just a few feet away, and then he started digging. Scott went over to where Mali was digging away furiously, scattering dead and decomposing leaves behind him. As he bent down, and clipped the lead onto Mali’s collar, Scott thought he detected a familiar scent.
Pulling Mali to one side and holding him on a short lead to prevent him from digging, Scott inhaled deeply, and froze. The rank smell, like rotten meat, tinged with the sweetness of perfume, was one he was sadly all too familiar with. It was the sweet, sickening smell of a body, already advanced i
n putrefaction. Something in the blood adds the sweetish tinge, and when he was a student, they had referred to it as the ‘sweet smell of death.’ Once smelled, you can never forget it. Scott knew without a shadow of a doubt, that the unmistakable smell, mingled with that of the damp earth, came from a decomposing body. A human body; and a body buried secretly in a wood, meant only one thing… Murder!
The sound of twigs snapping under hurrying feet, announced the arrival of the police on the scene. Pete Morgan was the first to approach Scott, as the others set about sealing off the area, and sorting out equipment. Scott picked up Mali and cradled him.
“Oh hell, not another one.” Pete Morgan said, when he saw the white rose protruding from the pocket of the victim’s jacket. “We can’t do anthing until Dan Carter completes his examination. I’m glad it was you and not Ruth who found him.”
They watched as the body was taken down from the tree, and Dan Carter bent over it. As he did his examination he passed on his findings to the investigating officer standing beside him, making notes. They found a wallet in the back pocket of the victim’s jeans, and a drivers licence in the name of Terry Jones.
“I didn’t find the body, he did.” Scott nodded his head at Mali. “That’s not all, he’s been digging over there under that tree, and my nose tells me you have another victim buried there.”
“You’re kidding me, right?” Pete Morgan’s eyes widened.
“I wish I was. You won’t need to do a necro search, that’s for sure, and my guess is the body is in a shallow grave, and it’s been there for some time. I’ll drop by the station later and give you a statement. I need to get Ruth away from here, I don’t want her involved with this.”
As Scott walked away, he heard the officer identifying the petty criminal by the spider tattoo on his neck. He contined on down the track carrying the little terrier,
Behind him, he heard the voice of Officer Morgan calling out to the M.E Dan Carter.
“Over here, Dan, we’ve got another one!”
CHAPTER 48
It was late afternoon when they finally arrived back at the rectory. Ruth was eager to show off her engagement ring, and share her joy with her daughter and the priest.
She was a little disappointed to find no one there. Ruth found a note from Father Patrick telling them he had been called away on some urgent business, and that Sally was with her playmates, the Taylor children, and would be staying overnight.
Ruth wound her arms around Scott’s necked and pressing up against him.
“Well, darling, it seems like we’re all alone here. We could go to my room, and you could show me how sorry you are for keeping me waiting while you were in the woods.” She kissed him softly on the lips, and placed a hand on his crotch, using her fingernails to scratch him lightly through the fabric of his jeans. She ran her tongue provocatively across her lips, feeling his arousal straining against her hand as she continued to fondle him.
“Honey, I would fuck the ass off you right now, here on this kitchen table, but I have to be somewhere. I have to go. I have two pressing engagements. The first is with the men’s room, the second’s in town.” He kissed her swifty on the lips and untangled himself from her clinging arms, and saw the disappointed look on her face.
“I’ll make it up to you tonight, I promise. Right now, I really have to leave. Why don’t you go and get ready for our dinner date. I’ll be back to pick you up at seven.”
Reluctantly, Ruth stepped away. Then lifting up her sweater she cupped her naked breasts, and tweaked the nipples. “Are you sure I can’t persude you to stay?” she asked. Scott groaned, and adjusted his crotch, his penis ram-rod stiff, causing him discomfort where it pressed against the tight fabric of his jeans.
“Oh, you little minx, I’m gonna need a cold shower as well now. You’ll pay for this later, you can bet your sweet fanny on that,” he grinned, and blew her a kiss as he left.
Scott’s feet crunched on the gravel as he walked towards the path that led from the church to the street. Suddenly, he heard Father Patrick’s raised voice called out from inside the church.
“And the lion shall lay down with the lamb.”
Retracing his footsteps, Scott went through the open church door, where he found the priest on his knees in front of the altar, muttering away to himself. Scott noticed Father Patrick’s dishevelled appearance as he approached.
“Patrick, are you ok? Is something wrong?” Scott asked.
The priest turned his head, his eyes held a hunted look, and he stared at Scott as if he were seeing a stranger.
“Audiatur et altern pars,” he muttered in Latin.
“Hear what other side, Patrick?” Scott asked.
“Frarinas specta Culorim beritas,” the priest muttered.
“Ash will show the truth.” Scott translated. “Ash will show what truth, Patrick? You’re not making sense. Here, let me help you to your feet.”
Scott reached out a supporting arm, and helped his friend to rise from the hard concrete floor. He led him over to a pew, and sat him down, noticing the priest’s dirty fingernails, and soil marked clothing. Father Patrick sat muttering to himself, his eyes staring off into space.
“I’m going to call your doctor, Patrick, you’re not well.”
Scott was afraid his friend was having a breakdown using his mobile phone, he called for help. While they waited in the church for the doctor, Scott made a futher call to DCI Jake Fletcher’s office, and told him what was happening with the priest, and that he would catch up with him later. He was about to hang up, when he remembered something.
“Hey, Jake, Ruth said yes.”
“Yes to what?” Jake asked him.
“I asked Ruth to marry me, and she said yes,” he told him.
“Congratulations! We have something extra to celebrate now. I’ll see you later tonight. I hope Father Patrick will be okay, keep me informed will you?”
“Sure thing, the doc’s here now, I’ve gotta go, catch you later.” Scott hung up as the portly figure of Dr Matthew Harrison approached them, and moved out of his way.
Dr Harrison sat down next to the priest, setting his bag on the floor at his feet.
“Well now, Father, what have you been up to?” Taking in the priest soiled clothes and dirty hands. “Have you been doing a bit of gardening?”
The priest looked up at him; his eyes didn’t appear to recognise the doctor at all.
“Do I know you?” he asked him.
“Of course you do, Patrick; I’m your doctor, Matthew Harrison. Have you remembered to take your medicine today?” he asked.
“Medicine. What medicine? I don’t need any medicine.”
The doctor, looked up at Scott, who was standing in the aisle, quietly watching.
“Will you give me a hand to get him to his room please, where I can examine him properly?” the doctor asked Scott. Together they helped the priest back to the rectory, where a startled Ruth was ordered by the doctor to put the kettle on.
“Make Father Patrick, a cup of hot sweet tea, Ruth, and bring it up to his room when its ready, along with a glass of water. I may have another job for you afterwards.”
“He’s had a bit of a funny turn.” Scott told Ruth. Then seeing the anxious look on her face, he put a comforting arm around her shoulders and give her a quick squeeze.
“Don’t worry, honey, he’ll be fine, the doc’ will fix him up in no time. Some birthday this is turning out to be for you, eh?” he gave her a wry smile.
“It’s been one of the happiest day’s of my life,” Ruth told him, flashing her engagement ring at him, and giving him a beaming smile. Looking at her lovely smiling face, Scott’s heart swelled with pride, he mouthed, ‘I love you,’ then turned on his heel and followed the doctor.
They sat the bewildered priest down on his bed, bending down Scott removed his friends muddy shoes, and placed them out of the way.
“I’ll get Ruth to bring a bowl of hot water and a towel, and we can give him a bit of a
clean up after I’ve examined him. Maybe you could find him something else to wear, and help me to get him out of these dirty clothes.” The doctor said, as he opened his bag. Taking out a small brown bottle, he shook two pills into his palm.
Ruth knocked on the door, then entered carrying a small tray. She set it down on the bedside table, and handed the glass of water to the doctor.
“Patrick, I want you to pop these into your mouth for me, and swallow them, there’s a good chap,” he said. The priest did as he requested, and washed them down with the water Ruth had brought. Ruth left to fetch a bowl of hot water and a towel from the bathroom, as requested. Her concern for the dishevelled priest’s health, brought tears to her eyes. She closed the door quietly behind her, as the doctor administered to Father Patrick.
By the time they had cleaned him up, got him out of his soiled suit, and into slacks and a sweater, Father Patrick was almost back to his normal cheerful self.
As if coming out of a trance, he smiled genially, and asked them what they were both doing in his bedroom.
“People might start talking if they knew I was entertaining gentlemen in my bedroom,” he laughed. “Why are you here Matthew, no one’s ill, I hope?”
“No, everythings fine, Patrick. I just thought I’d stop by and see how you were getting on with the new medication I gave you. Are you sleeping better now? Have your headaches stopped?” Dr Harrison asked him.
Matthew Harrison knew that the priest hadn’t slept properly for days. He knew his patient was greatly affected by all the tragic events that were taking place in his parish, and the rest of the county. The priest had told him when he first sought his help, that every time he closed his eyes, sickening images were haunting him, and he couldn’t get these images out of his head. The poor man was worn out, both physically and mentally, and along with his other medical conditions, it was a wonder he could carry out his duties as parish priest at all.
Father Patrick stifled a yawn as he went and sat down on an old, brown leather, two-seater couch, under the window. “Will you be coming to Ruth’s birthday party tonight, Matthew, we did send you an invitation, didn’t we?” he asked him.
