Reluctant Witness

by Rachel Brimble

  She crossed her arms but said nothing.

  “I’m guessing your silence means there’s more to your leaving,” he continued. “Am I right?”

  “Only a cop would have the nerve to ask that.”

  He smiled dryly before starting the engine once more. “Comes with the territory, I’m afraid.”

  ****

  The Palmer’s cottage was situated on the outskirts of town in a pretty cul-de-sac. The window shutters and front door were painted a sunny yellow and the cottage’s beautiful thatched roof completed its storybook appeal. The garden was as colorful as a painter’s palette with strong pinks, blues, reds and purples scattered everywhere in a lovingly planted display of summer flowers. From the outside, it looked a happy household, but Daniel knew it was what went on inside a house that often solved a case.

  He pushed open the gate and led the way up the path, but once they reached the door it was Julia who rang the bell.

  He touched her arm. “I’ll be taking the lead once we’re inside.”

  “I know, Inspector. You’ve already made it clear I’m stepping on your toes.”

  Before he could answer, Mrs. Palmer’s blurred silhouette appeared behind the door’s glass panels. They turned to face her and when Daniel looked into Thelma Palmer’s laughing eyes, the burden of his job weighed heavy on his chest. He was about to blow her entire life apart.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Palmer. I’m Detective...”

  But she wasn’t looking at him. She was gazing at Julia with open adoration. She opened her arms and pulled Julia into a huge, motherly hug. “Oh, darling, it’s so lovely to see you,” she said, swaying Julia from side to side. “Where have you been hiding yourself for so long?”

  Daniel watched Julia squeeze her eyes shut over Mrs. Palmer’s shoulder but it didn’t stop the tear escaping from beneath her lashes. “We need to go inside, Thelma,” she managed. “We’ve got something to tell you.”

  “Well, sure, sweetie. Why don’t you come on in? Both of you,” she said, releasing Julia and gesturing for Daniel to follow them inside. “So are you Julia’s new man? About time she had some strapping lad beside her.”

  Julia blew out a breath. “Thelma, for goodness sake. At least let the poor man inside before you start questioning him.”

  Thelma giggled. “I’m just waiting for Derek to get home. He’s running late but that’s all right, maybe we’ll have time for a nice cup of tea before he starts hollering about an empty stomach, eh?”

  As they followed her into the house, Daniel watched Julia brush the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. But then she turned to look at him and pressed her fingers into his forearm.

  “Please, let me do this,” she said, urgently. “You saw how happy she is. This is going to devastate her.”

  “Julia, it’s my job.”

  “I appreciate that. I do. It’s just—”

  Thelma poked her head through the kitchen door. “What are you two whispering about? Go into the living room and make yourselves comfortable. I’ll bring some tea in.”

  Daniel let Julia steer him into the living room. Her fingers still gripped his arm. Once they were sitting down, she finally let go.

  “Please, Daniel.”

  “Inspector.”

  She waved a dismissive hand. “Sorry, Inspector.”

  He tried not to smile at her sarcastic tone. The tiger was back out of its cage. “It’s important I’m the one to tell her, Julia. I know how to handle situations like this. I’ll be sympathetic. You’ll just have to trust me.”

  “But this isn’t about you, is it?” she whispered. “It’s about Thelma. It should be me that tells her about Derek.” She paused. “You’re just a stranger.”

  Their eyes locked. Maybe her words weren’t meant as a snub but they immediately made Daniel feel as though she would never accept him as a part of this town. He would forever remain an outsider to this exclusive circle of people.

  Wasn’t that what he wanted? He’d told his Chief a small town like Corkley Park was not where he should be. He was a city cop through and through.

  He swallowed. “Thank you. It’s nice to know how you see me.”

  He knew it was wrong to make her feel bad, but a wave of satisfaction swept through him to see her cheeks color. It was a spiteful thing for her to say and now at least, she knew it as well.

  “I’m sorry, Inspector, I—”

  Thelma bustled into the room, carrying a tray laden with a teapot, cups and biscuits. He watched Julia snap her mouth shut.

  “Here we are,” Thelma announced, as she placed the tray in front of them on a low table. “Who’s for sugar?”

  He tore his gaze from Julia’s. “Mrs. Palmer, I’m Detective Inspector Conway. Can I ask that you sit down for a moment?”

  “Inspector? But I thought you and Julia...” She slowly lowered herself into an opposite armchair, her wrinkled brow wrinkling further. “Is something wrong?”

  Her eyes were already tearing up and Daniel’s heart began to beat a little harder in his chest. He turned to face Julia, whose cheeks were now damp. “I think it best if Miss Kershaw tells you why we’re here. Miss Kershaw?”

  Julia gave him a small, grateful smile before she leaned toward Thelma and took the older woman’s trembling hands in her own. “It’s Derek, Thelma,” she began.

  And as Daniel listened to the soft tones of Julia’s voice as she told an elderly lady her husband of forty years had been shot dead for no obvious reason, he felt a shift deep inside his chest. Something had happened the moment he’d laid eyes on Julia Kershaw. Daniel found her completely and utterly infuriating but at the same time incredibly intelligent and fantastically sexy.

  He knew there was much more going on with her than a desire for further advancement in her career. Certain rules would have to be adhered to if this investigation was going to proceed without mistakes. The mark on her arm and her obvious determination to be on that ship didn’t fit with her concerned, sensitive gaze as she looked at Thelma now, or the way her own tears fell in silent harmony with that of a newly bereaved woman.

  As his heart swelled a little more, Daniel Conway knew he wanted to get to the bottom of Julia Kershaw’s secrets as much as he did this case.

  ****

  Julia rocked Thelma back and forth in her arms like she would a troubled child. The older woman’s sobs filled the room with such sorrow and desolation, Julia could do nothing but hold her tight in her arms while praying for the strength to help her. “It’s going to be all right, it’s going to be all right,” she whispered.

  She repeated the words like a mantra, hoping they’d do something to soothe Thelma’s pain but knew at this moment, there was nothing she could say or do to make it any better. Eventually, Thelma’s sobs subsided to quiet whimpering. Julia looked over her head at Daniel.

  His head was respectfully lowered, his hands clasped tightly together so the knuckles showed white.

  “Daniel?”

  He lifted his head. “Yes?”

  “Do you want to tell Thelma what happens next?” she asked, quietly. “What you’re going to do to find Derek’s killer?”

  He cleared his throat. “Of course.”

  But before he could say more, Thelma shifted in Julia’s arms and sat up straight. When she looked at Daniel, her soft dove-grey eyes were filled with pain and confusion.

  “I knew he would end up dead. I told him so. I told him that he’d get killed or kill himself. One of the two.”

  Julia looked in shock from Thelma to Daniel, his eyes alert as he watched Thelma carefully. He leaned closer toward her, his elbows resting on his knees as he tried to keep his professional interest discreet, but Julia could tell by the sudden tightness in his jaw that whatever he had been thinking about a few moments before was forgotten.

  She had seen a fleeting glimpse of the man inside when he had been silently sitting beside her, his frown telling her it was possible he was capable of some amount of compassion. But
now that man was gone. Now he was a cop. A cop who needed answers and needed them fast.

  She stood and took a seat on the arm of Thelma’s chair, gently brushed the hair from Thelma’s eyes. “What do you mean? Was Derek in trouble?”

  “Trouble? Huh! That’s an understatement.” Thelma balled the handkerchief she held in her hand. Her voice broke. “The man was a fool!”

  “Why, Thelma? You must tell Inspector Conway anything that was going on with Derek when he was killed,” urged Julia. “He’s here to help.”

  Thelma slowly turned to face Daniel as though seeing him for the first time. “Inspector? Are you the one they’ve put in charge after Ed retired?”

  “Yes, Thelma. I am.”

  “Oh, what I wouldn’t give to have Ed here now. He’d know what to do.” She turned to Julia. “When Phil was killed—”

  Julia’s stomach twisted and a bitter taste rose in her mouth. Ssshh, Thelma. Don’t do this. I don’t want him to realize who I am. It’s only a matter of time before he knows. Then he’ll start treating me with kid gloves the same as everyone else.

  She leaned her face closer to Thelma’s, willing her not to say any more. “What sort of trouble was Derek in, Thelma?” she asked.

  But Daniel was standing and moving around the table toward her. She swallowed. He didn’t speak to Julia or even look at her, instead he dropped to his haunches in front of Thelma. Julia slowly released her held breath. He obviously wasn’t going to say anything right now, but he must have heard.

  “Thelma?” he asked.

  She wasn’t listening. She was staring at the handkerchief in her hands, lost in thought with tears slowly trailing down her cheeks. Daniel touched a hand to hers.

  “We’re going to find whoever did this, I promise you.”

  “But you’re so young and so new in town. Ed knew everyone in Corkley Park. Where will you start? How will you manage to find out who did this if you don’t know anyone?”

  Daniel smiled softly. “Inspector Langton may be retired but I have no shame in calling him if I think it necessary. He warned me Corkley Park was a town where everyone knew everyone else and I might need his help from time to time.”

  “He did?”

  Daniel nodded. “Yep.”

  Julia’s stomach turned all the way over as she saw the wobbly smile form at Thelma’s lips. He’d made her smile, if only for a second, he’d made Thelma smile. Despite her reservations about him, Julia had to admit the man could be more sensitive than most. Credit where credit was due—so he could be nice.

  It didn’t mean he was any better than most cops.

  “But before I can do anything else, Thelma,” he was saying, “I need you to tell me what type of man Derek was? Who were his friends? What were his hobbies? Anything at all. Do you think you’re up to that?”

  Thelma studied his face for a long moment before a wistfulness settled over her features. “You’re a very handsome man, Inspector. Do you know that? You remind me of my Derek at your age. He had the same jet black hair and devilish dark brown eyes.” She let out a little laugh. “And I bet you’re a hit with the ladies like he was too, aren’t you?”

  Julia bit back her own laugh as she saw, with perverted pleasure, the big, six foot two Inspector blush to the roots of his hair. Daniel opened his mouth to respond but nothing came out. Julia took his sudden inability to speak as her cue to cut in.

  “Why don’t you spare the poor Inspector any more blushes, Thelma and tell me what you meant about Derek. Was he in trouble?”

  When Thelma turned back to Julia, her eyes were glassy

  with tears. Despite her attempt at levity, Julia could see the woman who had been like a grandmother to her was barely holding it together.

  “Oh, Thelma,” she said, stealing an arm around Thelma’s shoulders. “Everything’s going to be OK. Derek will always be here for you.”

  Thelma shook her head. “This is all his own fault. He brought this all on himself.”

  “What is? His murder? Don’t try and get through this on your own, Thelma. You’ve got to tell us what you know.”

  “He was a silly man. A foolish man. A man with a head full of fantasy, a heart full of pride and a soul that would never believe all is not right in the world.” She turned from Julia to Daniel. “My husband was in serious trouble, Inspector. He was a gambler, you see, and unfortunately he left it too late for me to do anything about the ludicrous amount of debt he had landed us both in.”

  Shock rushed through Julia’s body. Derek was a gambler? She said nothing as Daniel leaned in closer to Thelma. “Derek was in debt?”

  Thelma nodded. “Not just Derek, me too. Our money has always been thrown together. But he continued to lie to me. Use money that was mine as well as his to back horses, fund cards. Oh, the list goes on.”

  “And what about the boat?” Daniel pressed.

  Her forehead creased in confusion. “I don’t understand. The boat?”

  Julia cleared her throat. “Derek was shot on board a boat, Thelma.”

  Thelma’s eyes widened. “But Derek doesn’t know anyone who owns a boat,” she exclaimed. “Why would he be on a boat?”

  “That’s what we need to figure out, Mrs. Palmer,” Daniel said. “Did he have business associates who he might have arranged to meet there? Or did anyone own a boat who came into the store, maybe?”

  She slowly shook her head. “Was it a fishing boat? Derek liked to go out on the water and fish but it’s been months since he’s even had any interest in doing that.”

  Daniel looked at Julia. “Could it have been a fishing boat? You said it was more like a yacht, didn’t you?”

  “It wasn’t a yacht as such, but it was definitely designed with pleasure in mind rather than work.” She took Thelma’s hand. “Maybe Derek knew a relation who had a boat?”

  She quickly shook her head, her voice rising, “There’s nobody. Oh, whatever had he gotten himself into? I loved him so much, the silly man.”

  Julia’s heart broke for the woman in front of her. “Oh, Thelma, I had no idea things were so bad.”

  Thelma gave a derisive laugh through her tears. “Things were so bad he’d started laundering money through the store for some loan sharks as interest payments.” She dropped her head into her hands. “I’m so ashamed to be telling you this. But now he’s dead, what’s the use in keeping up appearances? The whole sorry mess of our lives will be the talk of the town before long.”

  Daniel lifted himself from the floor and sat on the settee again. “The press will not be informed of any details about Derek’s gambling, Thelma. That information may turn out to be imperative to the case and so will be kept solely to the investigating team’s knowledge. It is of no public interest. People will only know if you choose to tell them. You have my word.”

  She gave a grateful nod. “I don’t know that there’s anything else I can tell you.”

  Daniel shut his notebook and pushed it into his jacket pocket. “Why don’t we leave it there for now and I’ll come back in the morning?”

  She dabbed at her eyes. “Thank you, Inspector.”

  It was nearing eight o’clock by the time Julia and Daniel left Thelma in the capable hands of her next door neighbor. They got into the car and pulled away in silence. Twilight was drawing in, turning the few wispy clouds above them salmon-pink. As they drove along the street, the imminent darkness reminded Julia how late it actually was.

  “Oh, my God, I completely forgot! I’m supposed to be at the club working by eight o’clock tonight.”

  “Julia, you can’t be serious. There’s no way you can work tonight. You’ve had a massive shock and although you’re still standing right now, don’t think for one minute you won’t fall. You need to go home and rest.”

  “I can’t, you’re going to have to drop me at the club.”

  “What club?”

  “The Ship’s Mate. I sing there and I’m supposed to be on stage in fifteen minutes.”

  “You sin
g? Is that what you’ll be doing on the Princess II?”

  “Uh-huh. A cool, clean, money-earning way out.”

  “Way out? From Corkley Park?”

  Julia swallowed. “Whatever. Can you take me to the club or not?”

  “But you shouldn’t be working.”

  “Point taken, Inspector, but I still want to go.”

  He shook his head. “You’re one stubborn woman, do you know that?”

  She shrugged. “Yep.”

  The corners of his mouth twitched. “And I’m quickly learning there’s no reasoning with you.”

  Julia bit back a response. As long as he got her to the club, she didn’t care what he thought of her. As they drove down the promenade, Julia felt envious of the families and couples walking along the sea-front, laughing and having fun. They had no idea just how cruel and violent this world could be—or did they? Who really knew anyone? Thelma had never had any idea Derek was leading a double life until recently. Even Julia herself would never have thought a handful of dates with a guy would lead to him having such a deep, unhealthy interest in her. She rubbed at the bruise Marcus had left when he’d tried to make her understand the nonsense that had spewed from his mouth a few days earlier.

  Who knew what secrets people had? Look what secrets she was hiding, herself.

  She glanced across at Daniel and an unexpected sensation skittered across her skin. There was something quietly masculine about Daniel Conway. He carried himself with a subtle assurance, his eyes clear and focused as though he were always looking into the heart of the person he was speaking to.

  Then again, maybe nothing and no one was what they seemed. Maybe it wasn’t genuine concern in his brooding eyes at all, but perpetual suspicion.

  Julia shivered involuntarily. Whatever it was, she could not ignore the tell-tale signals of attraction. He wore a short-sleeve shirt and she inhaled a deep breath as she watched the muscles in his arms flex and relax with each movement of the steering wheel. His strong profile and dark hair were nothing short of gorgeous.