Chapter 19 #2
“He makes a pretty good sandwich. With everything going on, I forgot to eat last night.”
“How is my patient doing?”
“Thanks to the tablets you gave him, sound asleep in the cell when I left. I felt bad with the arm, but his parents agreed.”
“How did he take it?”
“Like it didn’t matter, but he’s scared. I told him we’d consider charges this morning.”
I grinned. “Mean.”
“Well, he scared you to death and resisted arrest.”
“True. I can’t believe the parents went along with it.”
He shrugged. “They’re good people at the end of their wits with a teen. He reminds me of me,” he said.
“What? Mr. Doo-Gooder was a salty teen?”
He laughed. “I had my moments. My own dad put me in the cells after I put porridge in the headmaster’s car.”
“I can’t believe you did that.”
“On a dare and with some of my friends. Da stuck us all in the cells for two days. It worked. Especially since back then we had to share with drunks and assorted petty criminals. I told you before, I’m far from perfect.
I don’t always agree with my Da, but he knew what he was doing.
The kid last night was lucky. He has his own cell. ”
I couldn’t imagine Ewan as a bad boy. He carried the weight of Sea Isle on his shoulders.
“In his formal statement, did he give you any idea who the woman might be.”
“Not a lot more than what he said to you, except that she was Scottish and posh sounding. She also had a wad of bills with her. She was about five foot, five inches. Does that remind you of anyone?”
“I haven’t had my coffee yet.”
“I forgot the ritual. I’m surprised you could speak before your first sip.”
I held up a hand. Then took a sip of my espresso. “OK, you may proceed.”
“I spent most of last night going through CCTV of the fête and looking at photos from social media trying to find the witch.”
I snorted.
“What?”
“Just that you’re looking for a witch. It was funny. I’m sorry. It’s too early for me.”
“Did we wake you up?”
I shrugged. “I sensed someone else in the house. These days, I can’t be too careful.” He glanced by the door where I’d left my bat.
“How many of those do you own? And I told you a cricket bat has a wider surface area for greater damage.”
“I never actually plan on hitting anyone, it’s more of a deterrent.” Though I’d grown brave after years of working in the ER. One never knew the state of a patient, or of those who came with them. But there, I had armed security guards. Here, I had my bats and Ewan.
“Have you been snooping on your own?”
“I told you about visiting the sites where our second Duncan had been buying things. But we didn’t come up with much. Except that Robert McClendon’s house was one of those places. Did you get the phone records? Do you know if he called McClendon?”
“Takes a while to get phone records. Many hoops, as you like to say.”
“Right. I think it’s the same way in the states. I’m releasing the bodies today.”
“Well, hopefully, that will stop whoever has been trying to get in.”
“Hopefully.”
“I need to get back to the station. Time to let the prisoner out.”
“Poor kid.”
“You say that now, but I remember how upset you were that night.”
“True.”
He left out the front door. I sat at the table trying to think if I’d spoken to a posh Scottish woman who would have that much money to carry around.
I came up blank.
Our last patient was in the early afternoon, another high school student with strep, which had spread well beyond the rowing team.
That had been most of our cases that morning.
After he and his mother left, the funeral service folks arrived.
We’d run all the tests and had taken the evidence we needed.
One of the companies was just outside Sea Isle, the other was from Glasgow. We double-checked to make certain the right man went to the correct funeral home. With the same names, we couldn’t take any chances. Abigail and I worked together to make sure everything checked out.
I blew out a breath when we went back inside.
“It’s sad but a relief,” she said. “Do you think Flora and her daughter will return to Glasgow, now?”
“I would imagine. They took the train here, I wonder if I should offer them a ride home?”
“What about the party tonight?” The whole town would be dancing and partying in a giant white tent behind the church. Then on the weekend, there would be another charity event at Ewan’s place.
“It’s hours away. I can go and get back.
I hate for them to have to take the train, though it’s a wonderful ride.
They may not be in the mood for our storytellers.
” The train, which had been recommissioned several months ago, had become popular for tourists.
“Then they’d have to take another couple of trains to get home.
I remember her saying that when they arrived. ”
“Still, I hope we’ll see you at the dance. Tommy is staying at Ewan’s. They are making candy bags for the children on All Hallow’s Eve.”
“Ewan’s housekeeper is like a fairy godmother,” I said.
“She is that, for the both of us. She’s become like a grandmother to us. She actually asked if Tommy could come and help her. She said she loves her time with him.” Her voice caught at the end.
“We all love him, and you,” I said.
“Ewan has always been there for us, but now, I feel like, with you and the others we have real family.”
I hugged her. “Sorry. I know I shouldn’t do that as your employer, but you are my family, Abigail.”
She hugged me back. “You know I feel the same way about you. Please be careful today. I worry about you being on your own.”
“I’ll be fine. She may prefer the train, or they could have already left. I’m going to call the B&B to check.”
“I’ll see you later.”
I waved goodbye.
Mrs. Beatty didn’t answer her cell when I called, so I decided to take a trip up the mountain. Ten minutes later I parked in front of the B&B. She had her porch decked out with jack-o-lanterns and cute pink ghosts. Before I could ring the old-fashioned bell, the door opened.
Mrs. Beatty was there. “Is everything all right dear? I was talking to my friend Glenda on speaker and had my hands on some dough. I couldn’t pick up.”
“No problem. I wanted to find out if Flora and Elsie were still here?”
“Yes, luv. They are upstairs packing. Ewan says a car is coming to get them in an hour. I’m sorry to see them go. It’s been lovely having a little one in the house.”
Well, that answered my question. If he already made arrangements, they wouldn’t need me. “Do you mind if I go up and say goodbye.”
“Oh, luv, you are always welcome. Go on up.”
Akif was in the front room playing checkers with Elsie.
“Hey,” I said. “Who’s winning?”
“I am,” Elsie said proudly.
“Of course, you are.”
“Ma and I are going home. I’m sad. I love Mr. Akif and Mrs. Beatty. He knows how to play all the games, and Mrs. Beatty makes the best treats. She knows how to do princess tea every day.”
“Bless her little heart,” Mrs. Beatty said and then weepily went to the kitchen.
“Maybe you can come back and visit some time,” I said.
“I hope so. I like it here. Everyone is nice.”
“I haven’t lived here very long, but I agree,” I said. “I thought I’d go and say goodbye to your mom. I’ll let you two get back to your game.”