And the door opened.
*
Bell stood there, in the shadows.
“What do you want … what the bloody hell—”
Sarah came beside Jack.
“We found the killer, Tim. We’ve found the person who really killed Dinah.”
And though Jack couldn’t see, he thought Tim Bell might be shaking. After all those years, those wasted years in prison.
To be told, we know now … you were innocent.
You didn’t do it.
Bell sniffed.
“And something else, Tim. Someone … else is here …”
And Jack moved aside as Dinah Taylor’s father took steps forward and Bell could see him.
“You?” Bell said. “What the hell are—”
And Jack watched, the moment so pained, as Vincent Taylor stuck out his hand.
“I was wrong, Tim Bell. You were innocent. You never hurt my Dinah. I was so … wrong.”
The hand hung there, untaken.
Bell said nothing.
But Taylor continued: “I want to say, I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” Bell said. More of a bark.
Slowly Dinah’s father lowered his hand.
The old man looked from Jack to Sarah.
Jack thought … this has to be impossibly hard for him.
“I don’t blame you, Tim. Not at all. But I can do something, now can’t I? I’ve asked everyone I know to look for work for you, to find you jobs.” Then, as an afterthought … “right here, in Cherringham.”
“Yeah,” Bell said.
Non-committal.
“I will too,” Sarah added. “I get to hear about things opening up.”
Finally Jack felt like he had to speak again.
“I don’t know this village all that well, Tim. But I’m guessing … that everyone knows they owe you something. For what happened. I think … Cherringham will very much be your village now … and for as long as you want.”
“Yeah?” he said again. “Well then — good.”
And Jack wondered why Bell didn’t ask who did it. But then, after all this time … did that really matter? His innocence — that was the thing.
“You’ll read all about it, in tomorrow’s papers,” Sarah said.
“And we better go now,” Jack said.
But as he turned, hands came out of the dark doorway, one to Jack’s shoulder, the other to Sarah’s …
“Thank you. The two of you. For what you did.”
Sarah turned.
And never meaning it more — and so ready to have a much-needed nightcap with Jack somewhere, anywhere — Sarah said, “And you, Tim … are so welcome.”
END
Cherringham — A Cosy Crime Series
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Cherringham--Death on a Summer Night Page 10
