Enigma of Fire

by Marilyn Leach

  “Hello, Dave,” several greeted.

  Tillie edged closer to Doug, Carl and Barbara nudged each other, while Lillie watched intently.

  There was a brief tense moment that seemed to go forever.

  “Good to see you again, Chad.” Rollie extended his hand.

  Chad graciously withdrew his arm from Berdie’s clasp and shook Rollie’s hand.

  “Glad you’ve come,” Hugh added.

  “Yes, thank you,” Chad stammered when he released Rollie’s hand. The dark-haired fellow glanced about and took a deep breath. “I can understand how you may be surprised to see me here. Mrs. Elliott offered her gracious invitation and I accepted.”

  Everyone had stopped their chatter.

  “And as many of you are aware, relations between the commander and I have been strained. It would be insincere to pretend otherwise.”

  Berdie clasped her hands together, working at appearing calm. What was this impulsive young man going to say?

  Everyone was listening.

  “But, going through all he has at this time, and still clinging to life, it would appear Providence has dealt the man a winning hand, at least so far, and who am I to dispute Providence?” Chad paused. “Well, that’s it, really.”

  “Well said, old friend,” Dave commended Chad. “And I, for one, want to celebrate that winning hand of Providence with a Pimm’s and some of that delicious terrine.”

  “Oh, yes,” Berdie urged, “everyone tuck in, please.”

  The group returned to their casual chitchat and Berdie gave a silent thank you to the One who always hears.

  “Can I interest you in some canapés?” Lillie asked Chad, extending the tray. She also offered a generous smile.

  Kindness in action, Berdie thought.

  He took an appetizer. “They look quite good,” he offered politely.

  “Pimm’s on the table, just there.” Lillie pointed.

  Berdie took in the back garden prepared for this evening by her and her helpful crew: Lillie, Barbara, and Carl Braunhoff. Fairy lights looked like miniature stars caught in the branches of several smaller trees. Lanterns edged the garden walk as the scent of climbing roses and the blooming hawthorn splashed their fragrance into the evening air. The soft tones of a crooner, from memorable days gone past, lilted cross the garden from a portable speaker. The filled Pimm’s glasses, laden with bits of floating fruit, sat atop a draped garden table. They caught the flickering light of hurricane candles in their sparkling bubbles. Dinner waited warmly, ready to be served at the gracious dining table inside.

  And then there was that lovely moon, just taking on a glow that seemed to say all was well. It was almost unimaginable to think that, only days ago, a most horrific event occurred so near this spot.

  Berdie watched Hugh as he finished a conversation with Barbara. For a rare moment, he stood alone.

  In her university days, when she met Hugh, it was as if wild horses pulled her to him the moment he came in view. It wasn’t just his height, golden hair, or even his dazzling blue eyes that she found unavoidably attractive. It was his confidence and his palpable faithful character. She could still hear those distant hooves pounding away madly, drawing her to him.

  She walked toward the man she loved as the wild neighs of the thundering herd became louder. She stopped unusually close to him. “Are you enjoying your evening?” she asked. She leaned in, almost touching him, to be sure he caught the scent of his favorite perfume that she wore. Berdie dipped her chin and looked up into his intent gaze. She took his hand. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

  It was almost as if she could see the frost that coated his shoulder evaporate into the moonlit air.

  “Berdie, if you think you can tempt me and work your tender charms to get round me…”

  “Yes?”

  “Well”—Hugh gave her an easy grin—“you’re probably right.”

  Berdie smiled.

  Hugh squeezed her hand. “As a matter of fact, you look stunning this evening, love.”

  Berdie squeezed his hand back.

  “And this dinner-party idea of yours was just what we needed to get past the events of recent days. It gives us time to catch our breath. I appreciate all the work you’ve put into it.”

  “Thank you, Hugh.” Berdie’s words were butter.

  “And, truth be told, I’m pleased that you helped the Raheems, but I’m not pleased with your, umm, creative way of doing it.”

  “All behind us now,” Berdie purred.

  “You’re a marvel, you know, a brilliant hostess”—he touched a finger to her cheek—“and a beautiful wife.”

  “Reverend Elliott,” a small voice cracked, “I have a question to ask you.”

  Hugh, caught slightly off-guard, released Berdie’s hand and turned to face the interrupter.

  Natty Bell, known in the village as Batty Natty and looking slightly younger than her seventy-something years, stood by Hugh. Her hair was somewhat flighty, a bit like her mind, but she was well turned out in a lovely dress. She begged Hugh’s attention.

  Berdie half winked at Hugh. “Hold that thought. I’ll just excuse myself.”

  She stepped aside and made her way to Rollie and Joan.

  “Did Lillie offer you some canapés?” she asked.

  “Oh yes. They’re so good.” Joan’s pink-colored lips made her short white-blonde hair seem to glow.

  Though Rollie was tall, his wife, a devoted homemaker, was of average height and build for her middle age. Though rather ordinary in appearance, she possessed a far-above-average appetite for books and reading.

  “You know, I just finished reading Entertaining in the British Home. It had the history of canapés and wonderful recipes. I think these little cheese things were in it.” She nibbled a bite from one. “I must copy that recipe out before returning the book to the library.”

  “Um, tasty,” Rollie agreed, brushing a pastry flake from his lip, “only do remember to take my book back when you go as well.”

  “I noticed you reading at the hospital the other day, Rollie,” Berdie commented.

  “That’s the one.” Rollie took a sip of Pimm’s. “Cloak of Deception by one S. N. Flow. Nom de plume, no doubt.”

  “Cloak of Deception,” Berdie repeated, thinking. “Oh yes, somewhat popular then. Tillie’s reading that book as well.”

  “Tillie?” Rollie only just swallowed his sip of drink down. “Why would Tillie read something like that?”

  “I started it,” Joan said, “but just a few pages into it, and that was enough to put me off it.”

  “I told her she wouldn’t like it,” Rollie said with vigor. “Still, she had to give it a go. Too technical and too much blood, you said. I could have told you.”

  “Oh, I have no interest in wartime exposés and such.”

  “Wartime exposés, too much blood?” Berdie thought Tillie had said the book was a mystery.

  Joan waggled her finger. “I’ve read other exposés that I quite liked. But this one, no. Give me a good historic romance or I’ll even go a decent suspense, if you please, but not that gore.”

  “Now, had you said Doug was reading it, I could have understood it,” Rollie countered. “Right up our street.”

  “Tillie said something about it being required reading for an online class she’s taking,” Berdie recalled out loud.

  “What kind of class is that then?” Joan asked. “How to Wreck and Ruin in Five Easy Steps?”

  “So it’s a class on parliamentary goings-on,” Rollie wagged.

  Berdie found Rollie amusing, but she also had to wonder why Tillie told her it was a mystery.

  Hugh tapped his Pimm’s glass with a spoon. “May I have your attention, please? I believe we’re all gathered now. I have something special to tell you.”

  Expectation danced around the garden as everyone became still.

  Hugh’s tone was light. “As most of you know, Sparks, the commander’s dog who was trained in explosives detection, was spare
d a second time. He was brought to the commander’s bedside in a rather farfetched chance, an attempt, if you like, to help Cedric along in his battle for life.”

  Berdie caught the stare Tillie riveted upon Chad, who exchanged his empty Pimm’s glass for a filled one.

  Hugh took a deep breath. “Well, in addition to an entire congregation praying for our friend, it would seem the arrival of Sparks has worked a sort of miracle. Cedric’s vital signs have stabilized, and the prognosis has become more hopeful.”

  Grateful cheers sounded like celebratory bubbles popping throughout the group.

  “Now, he’s not out of the woods yet. There needs to be far more improvement before they can remove him from the critical list, but there’s something positive to report at last. Since most my day has been spent in catching up on my church work, I wasn’t at the hospital at the time. But Loren, Dr. Meredith, can tell us more about it.”

  “It’s quite remarkable,” Loren responded. “Had I not seen it myself, I’m not at all sure I would have believed it, but there it is.”

  “What happened?” Joan asked on behalf of all.

  Loren snapped to. “I got word that the commander appeared to be losing ground. Sparks had arrived, and although he was to go home after a few hours, he refused to leave his master’s side.”

  “Faithful old thing,” Barbara whispered, just audible.

  “Mr. Hayling, who works in animal therapy treatment, had Sparks stand up. With one leg in a cast, old Sparks had to really work at it, but with help, the dog was up. The therapist thought to put Sparks actually on the bed, so between the two of us, we lifted the creature and laid him next Cedric.”

  “He’s a large dog. That couldn’t have been easy,” Carl noted.

  “Sparks, for all the ferocious behavior he’s shown, was like a spring lamb. He let us handle him with not so much as a growl.”

  “Amazing.” Rollie said aloud what Berdie thought.

  Loren placed his straightened hand against the glass he held. “Sparks lay right next the commander, close against his body, and put his chin on the old fellow’s thigh.” Loren moved his hand on top of the glass. “Mr. Hayling placed Cedric’s hand on Sparks’s head. The dog lay quite still, as if aware of his duty to help.”

  Loren paused and looked at the lush grass beneath his feet as if a vision of the event played across the blades, then raised his eyes to the group.

  “Just a bit after, I noticed that the commander’s breathing had become less labored. I asked Mr. Hayling if he had noticed it too. ‘Yes,’ he said with confidence. I could scarcely believe it. Then we both realized that his vital signs became less irregular, more consistent, his stats, numbers, reflecting an improvement.”

  Loren stopped again and shook his head.

  “It was as if some kind of unconscious awareness stirred within him. Astonishing. Anyway, it appears he’s making progress.”

  “Thank God,” Barbara praised.

  “And much is to be said for the thinking outside the box by the hospital staff that allowed Sparks to be brought in,” Loren finished.

  Hugh lifted his glass. “To God’s creation and the wonders He performs.”

  All raised their glasses in a salute.

  “Large dogs and small miracles,” Rollie reiterated. “I must admit, I wouldn’t have ever described that animal as a spring lamb in even the loosest of terms.”

  Laughter bounced, along with a few not-so-amused raised brows.

  “All in all, the news couldn’t be better,” Tillie chimed. Her long blonde strands danced in loose curls that stood in rich contrast to the tasteful little black summer dress that adorned her svelte figure.

  The young woman made her way toward Berdie as conversations ensued amongst the guests.

  “It sets you at ease, doesn’t it, good news?” Tillie observed.

  “How blessed are the feet of those who bring good news,” Berdie affirmed.

  “Feet?” Tillie eyed Hugh’s shoes. “Really?”

  Berdie chuckled. “Yes. Really.”

  Tillie rubbed her finger round the rim of the glass she held. “I understand you found that young man, the suspect in the bombing, who’s related to the greengrocer.”

  “A gift of divine timing was at work, but yes, Lillie and I found him.”

  “You’re good at that kind of thing?”

  “Some would say.” Berdie smiled.

  “Not to take the polish off the glow, but I’ve been thinking that there’s something no one seems to have considered in this whole mess with the commander’s mishap, and I was wondering if it may have crossed your mind.”

  Chad, who stood nearby, took in Tillie’s pensive air.

  “What is it?” Berdie asked.

  “Well, my father said that Sparks sat down in front of the vehicle on that fateful afternoon.”

  “Yes, I saw him,” Berdie confirmed.

  “That means the dog was aware of explosive material—he must have smelled it. When a trained canine smells that kind of material about, they sit down as a signal.”

  “Yes.”

  “The commander knew that was the signal of danger. I mean, he had been in the military. So, why did he proceed to drive the vehicle?”

  “I have thought about that, and I think it can be explained.” Berdie wondered just where Tillie was going with this train of thought.

  “Excuse me, I couldn’t help but overhear, Tillie,” Chad interjected. “I think I know what you’re suggesting.”

  “Yes,” Tillie went on. “Why send the children away from the vehicle, but carry on himself?”

  “Right. Dave wondered the same thing”—Chad nodded—“and it pulled me up short when I realized what he was pointing out.”

  “I heard my name. Should my ears be burning?” Dave said.

  “Sparks signaling the commander about the explosives,” Chad said to his friend. “Tillie’s asking the same question you did about what could be a possible motive for him to carry on.”

  “Oh.” Dave’s smile faded.

  “Motive? What are you talking about?” Berdie knitted her brows.

  “Was he aware that explosives were there?” Tillie asked with intent.

  “Sparks had sustained a war injury to the smell sensors in his nose,” Berdie informed them. “He was going to be put down because of it. I can only imagine the commander thought Sparks’s detection sense was off, not functioning properly, but nevertheless sent the children away from the van as a safe measure. Why should he suspect dangerous materials in a church people carrier in a small village?”

  “Possibly, but I think what Tillie’s asking is, did the commander, well, had he given up?” Dave clarified.

  “Given up?” Berdie felt warmth rush to her cheeks when she realized what the three were trying to say. “No.”

  “To be fair, Mrs. Elliott,” Tillie went on, “his wife had died, he no longer had a proper job, and then there was his estrangement from Avril, his only child. By any standards, he was in a pretty dark place.”

  “Even if that’s true, there’s dozens of ways someone could do themselves in that would be a far easier and more effective means than explosives.”

  “What’s this about explosives?” Rollie joined into the conversation.

  “Cedric was in deep water,” Berdie agreed as she widened her eyes, “but he wasn’t the type of man to cash in his own chips.”

  “What?” Rollie all but roared.

  Berdie could see this conversation gaining momentum, and she didn’t want to give it any more life than it already had. “I can see how you may consider things from that dark perspective, but I truly believe the commander didn’t have that self-destructive nature. In fact, I’ll go out on a limb and say it’s simply not the case.”

  Tillie, Dave, and Chad made skeptical eye contact with one another that Berdie tried hard to ignore while Rollie frowned.

  “Perhaps this isn’t the time or place to discuss this,” Dave offered.

  “Yes, I thin
k you’re right, Dave.” Rollie looked a bit piqued.

  Berdie extended her hand toward the back door. “Besides, it’s time for our dinner.”

  “Well, I, for one, am hungry,” Rollie answered.

  “Let’s make way into the dining room,” Berdie urged.

  “I’m not one to say no to food that smells delicious,” Dave piped.

  Within minutes, Hugh had offered grace and food and drink were being consumed with relish by all round the dining-room table.

  Berdie enjoyed all the compliments on the food, which she redirected to Lillie and Loren, who had actually done most the cooking. Lamb cutlets with fresh mint sauce were the star of the main course, and dessert waited. In fact, Loren was in the midst of disclosing his secret mint-sauce recipe when the front doorbell rang.

  Berdie caught Hugh’s eye. “Well, we’ve made it through the lion’s share of the meal,” she said discreetly to Hugh, who laid his napkin aside.

  He stood. “Excuse me, I shouldn’t be a moment.”

  Loren went on with his conversation, and general chitchat ensued. Berdie finally wondered, after a little while, if perhaps she should join Hugh. Though she was very aware of his absence, it seemed others paid it no mind.

  But they noticed his arrival back to the dining room.

  Hugh brought with him two people unknown to Berdie.

  The couple reminded her of some sort of Bedouins, in from the desert. The handsome young man with dark features seemed a bit distant, even while standing just feet from the table, and not just because he appeared to be foreign. His dark eyes flitted about the room with a cool calculation. The slender young woman wore denims and a loosely fitted top. Sandy brown hair peeked out at the forehead from under her head-covering shawl that reached her elbows. Her pale eyes were somehow familiar.

  “We have guests,” Hugh announced.

  Everyone took the couple in.

  “Avril?” Tillie gawked.

  “Tillie, I didn’t know you were here,” the young woman spurted.

  Berdie, when she finally gathered her lips from their agape position, struggled for words. “Avril, welcome to our home. We’re so pleased you’ve come.” Berdie found her feet.