Chapter Eight

 

 

JONATHON WAS in the middle of collecting glasses when he happened to glance through the window and stiffened. “Mike? You’ve got a visitor.”

Mike looked across from the bar. “Shit. I wonder what he wants. Go let him in, will you? I’ve only just bolted the door.”

“Sure.” Jonathon deposited the glasses on a nearby table and went to unlock the heavy main door of the pub. He pasted on a polite smile as the door swung open. “Detective Inspector Gorland. Is this a social visit, or do you have news for me regarding my uncle?”

DI Gorland regarded him with a neutral expression. “Mr. de Mountford. Still here, I see.”

“Until you tell me I’m free to stay at the hall, then, yes.”

“Is Mike here?” Gorland stepped past him and into the pub, and Jonathon followed. He could see why Mike didn’t like the man.

“John. What can I do for you?” Mike put down his cloth and came around from behind the bar.

“I’ll come straight to the point. Where is your sister?”

Mike stilled. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen her since last weekend, and I haven’t heard from her since then either.”

DI Gorland arched his eyebrows. “Don’t you find that strange that she’d go for over a week without contacting you?”

“Why do you want know where she is?”

“Because she’s wanted for questioning. We found emails from her to Dominic on his laptop. Not to mention some anonymous letters we feel certain came from her also.”

Mike frowned. “What emails? What anonymous letters?” His gaze flickered briefly toward Jonathon, and Jonathon’s throat tightened. There was fear in Mike’s warm eyes.

“Emails where she warns him not to go ahead with the hunt. The letters were a different kettle of fish. Nothing remotely subtle about them. Images of a fox torn apart by dogs.”

Mike’s eyes widened. “They could have been sent by anyone. Let’s face it, the whole village knew about Dominic’s plans, especially after—” His mouth snapped shut and he swallowed.

DI Gorland’s eyes gleamed. “After what, Mike? After she and Dominic got into a blazing row in the middle of your pub? After she was heard by several witnesses to threaten to kill him?” He set his jaw. “The fact that she’s not been seen since his death is highly suspicious, you have to admit, but all we want to do is eliminate her from our inquiries.”

“Yeah, right, pull the other one.” Mike’s eyes blazed. “Have you forgotten what I did for a living? You want to pin this on her. Well, she didn’t do it.”

“Then she has nothing to fear from coming forward and answering our questions, does she? And don’t think about concealing her whereabouts. Not unless you want us to do you for obstructing the police in their inquiries.”

“I was telling the truth,” Mike retorted. “I haven’t heard a word from her.”

“And while we’re on the subject….” DI Gorland got out his notebook. “Where were you on Thursday night?”

“Me?” Mike’s eyes bulged.

DI Gorland regarded him calmly. “After Sue argued with Dominic, you were heard warning him off. Telling him to stay away from her.” His cool smile made Jonathon ache to wipe it off his face. “Did you think we wouldn’t get to hear about that part?”

His words sank in. Jonathon jerked his head toward Mike. Wait—what? Mike hadn’t once mentioned arguing with Dominic. Dismay filled him at the thought that Mike was still hiding the truth from him. Is there more to come? Then the full import of DI Gorland’s line of questioning hit him. He thinks Mike might have done it. For reasons he couldn’t quite fathom, Jonathon found himself holding his breath, praying Mike had an alibi.

“Clutching at straws, aren’t you?” Mike’s face was impassive. “I was a copper. How many ex-coppers have you heard of who go around breaking the law?” His cool demeanor could have been down to two things in Jonathon’s mind: either he was innocent, or else he was a bloody good actor.

Let it be the former?

DI Gorland shrugged. “You have to admit, it’s a good theory. Dominic threatens Sue, so you go up to the manor and warn him again to stay away. Things get out of hand, you two have a fight, you push him, he falls.”

“And that’s all it is, a theory.” Mike froze. “Wait a minute. Thursday night?”

DI Gorland gave a thin smile. “That’s right. He died Thursday night, not Friday.”

“I was here, serving, until we closed at eleven thirty.”

“And after that?”

“Once I’d locked up, I took Trevor Deeping home. He was drunk.”

DI Gorland scribbled in his notebook. “Trevor Deeping?”

“He’s a local. He was rather the worse for wear on Thursday night, so I made him stay where he was until everyone had gone. When I’d seen off the last of the customers, I helped him into my car and took him back to his house. His wife, Sarah, was still awake when I got there.”

“Do you often make a habit of delivering drunken customers to their door?” That supercilious smile hadn’t altered.

“When it’s the decent, human thing to do, then, yes.” Mike stared defiantly at DI Gorland. “Any more questions?”

“Not for the moment.” Gorland tucked his notebook into his pocket. “If you should hear from your sister, please tell her to get in contact with us?”

“Of course. Jonathon, would you show the inspector to the door?”

“Sure.” Jonathon walked to the door and waited. He gave Gorland a single nod and then closed and bolted the door. By the time he got back to the bar, Mike was already pacing, scraping his fingers through his hair.

“Did you hear him? He wants to pin this on Sue. That slimy little—”

“Yes, I did. And getting upset about this isn’t going to help.” Jonathon was doing his best to keep a cool head. He didn’t want to believe Mike was involved, not when his senses were telling him otherwise.

Mike let out a heartfelt groan. “Anonymous letters? What the hell was she thinking about?”

“You think she did send them, then?”

Mike nodded. “That sounds like something she’d do. You should have seen her bedroom walls when she was a teenager. Greenpeace posters over every inch of available space. But violence like this? I don’t think she’s capable.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, dialed, and pressed it to his ear. “I’ve got to keep trying. She’ll have to answer the bloody phone eventually, right?” It was obvious from his expression that she wasn’t answering. He banged his phone down on the bar with a sigh of sheer exasperation.

All Jonathon wanted to do was comfort him.

Mike slowly raised his head and met Jonathon’s gaze. “Help me.”

The look of naked pain and despair in those eyes was enough to convince Jonathon that Mike had no part in Dominic’s death. “How? What can I do?”

“Help me to prove it wasn’t Sue? You want to know who did it just as much as I do. So… let’s work together. Let’s prove to that son of a bitch that my sister is totally innocent.”

“And if we prove that but find she did break the law?” Jonathon waited for Mike to give the right answer. Don’t let me down now, not when I’m starting to believe in you.

Mike squared his jaw. “If she broke the law, then she has to accept the consequences.”

Jonathon gave an internal sigh of relief. “Then I’m with you. Let’s find out who did this.”

Mike shuddered. “Thank you.” He dashed over to where Jonathon stood and enveloped him in a firm hug. When Mike released him, he stepped back. “Now, let’s finish clearing up so we can decide what to do first.” He went over to the bar and carried on wiping down the surfaces.

Jonathon returned to the task of collecting glasses, his mind in a whirl.

Where do we go from here?

 

 

“WHAT, NO cocktails tonight?” Paul Drake gave Jonathon a cheeky grin. “I thought that was gonna be a regular feature.”

“Can’t have too much of a good thing, y’know,” Mike commented. “At least now we know we can do it again, judging by how well it went.” If Mike’s happy smile when he cashed up that night was anything to go by, it had been a very successful night indeed. Jonathon was pleased he’d been able to do something.

He gazed around the pub at the occupied tables. “No Trevor tonight,” he said quietly to Mike, who stood beside him.

“Thought you’d notice that.” Mike focused on pulling a pint.

“Well, do you blame me? I got the distinct feeling last night that he was, well… scared of me.”

Mike snorted. “Scared of you? Why, for God’s sake? There’s nothing to you. A strong wind would blow you over.”

Jonathon aimed a hopefully withering look in his direction. “Yeah, thanks for that.” He shut up when Mike’s phone rang. “Here, you answer that. I’ll finish this.”

Mike smirked. “One night mixing cocktails and suddenly you’re Tom Cruise?” He grinned and took out his phone. When he froze, Jonathon’s belly clenched.

“Who is it?” he whispered, not even sure why he was doing so.

Mike’s gaze met his. Sue, he mouthed. He stepped away from the bar and began to talk in low tones. Jonathon knew it was wrong, but he strained to listen.

“Where are you? … Why not? … Listen… the police have been here. They want to take you in for questioning. … Yeah, I know…. Look, just come home. We’ll sort it all out, I swear. … No, no, that’s stupid! … Yeah, I know, but… Sue. Sue. Sue! … Just come home, all right?”

Jonathon hardly dared breathe. When Mike’s shoulders sagged, and he expelled a long breath, Jonathon found himself unconsciously mimicking him.

“Great. Come to the pub. You can stay here if you don’t want to go home. There’s plenty of room.” Mike glanced at Jonathon. “I’ve got a guest staying, but you don’t have to worry about him…. Yeah, sure. … Okay, I’ll see you when you get here. … Love you too. … Bye.” He disconnected the call and peered at Jonathon. “I think that glass is full enough, don’t you?”

“Huh?” Jonathon looked down to the pint glass, which was full to overflowing. “Oh shit.” He released the tap and set the glass down on the drip tray.

Paul laughed. “I think he still needs a few lessons, Mike.”

“Oh, I think he’ll improve.” Mike’s eyes sparkled. “He’s a fast learner.”

Jonathon poured out a fresh pint, this time paying attention, and was rewarded with a pat on the back from Mike and a happy smile from Paul. Jonathon didn’t give a flying fig about the pint.

He wanted to know about the call from Sue.

The chance to talk didn’t arrive until after closing time, and as soon as Mike had locked and bolted the door, Jonathon dove right in.

“Well? What did she say? Did she mention Dominic?”

Mike shook his head. “And I didn’t either. As soon as I told her the police wanted to question her, she started crying. I’ve never heard her so upset. But I did get her to agree to come home.”

“Well, that’s something.” Jonathon paused. “Wait a minute. If neither of you spoke about Dominic’s death, why was she so upset? Why didn’t she want to come home?”

“I don’t know!”

The agonized note in Mike’s voice was enough to make Jonathon desist his questions.

“Okay,” he said softly. “At least she got in touch and she’s coming home. That’s the important thing, right?”

Mike nodded. He seemed to have aged in the last ten minutes. “And when she gets here, then we can talk about Dominic.”

“How about I make us some warm milk, and then you can get an early night? We’re going to need all our brain power if we’re going to solve this.”

That seemed to infuse some calm into Mike. “You’re right. Things will look different after a good night’s sleep. Warm milk it is.” He smiled. “After we’ve cleared up.”

Jonathon nodded in agreement. “Then let’s get our fingers out.”

Sleep was probably the best thing for both of them.

 

 

“HEY, MIKE? Where’s the bread?” Jonathon had opened every cupboard in the kitchen, but they and the bread bin were equally devoid of a loaf.

Mike entered the kitchen, yawning and scratching himself through his shorts. “Huh?”

Jonathon chuckled. “I see the honeymoon is over.”

Mike snorted. “If two guys can’t scratch their bollocks in front of each other, then there’s something seriously wrong with the world. And there’s a reason you can’t find the bread.”

“Oh?”

Mike grinned. “I ate the last piece.”

Jonathon rolled his eyes. “Fine. I’ll go to the shop and buy some. While I’m gone, you can put the coffee on.” As he left the kitchen, he caught Mike’s muttered, “Yeah, the honeymoon is definitely over.” It was enough to send him out of the pub with a smile on his face.

It was a glorious morning, the temperature already rising, and Jonathon stood for a moment, breathing in the fresh country air. He felt revitalized, ready for whatever the day had in store for him. A brisk walk to the shop, which was filled with the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread, resulted in his nostrils being tantalized by the smell of the croissants he wasn’t able to resist buying. After paying and placing his purchases in a plastic bag, he headed for the exit.

“Excuse me, but… you’re Jonathon de Mountford, aren’t you?”

Jonathon glanced up from his phone and saw a woman with shoulder-length brown hair, her eyes hidden by sunglasses. He didn’t recognize her. “Yes, that’s me.”

She gave him a hesitant smile and removed her shades. “I’ve seen photos of you at your uncle’s place.”

The warm brown eyes regarding him with a hint of trepidation were so like Mike’s, it was uncanny. “You’re Sue, Mike’s sister.”

She blinked and stared. “You… you know Mike?”

Jonathon nodded. “I’m staying at the pub. He told you last night on the phone that there was a guest? Here I am.”

“I see.” She frowned. “But what are you doing staying at the pub? I thought you were going to stay with Dominic?”

Jonathon was stunned into silence.

“Is there something wrong? Are you okay?” Her brow furrowed, and her tone spoke of concern.

Finally he found his voice. “Mike didn’t mention Dominic during your call, because you were already upset, but… well, it’s fairly obvious that you don’t know what’s happened.”

“Know what?” A hint of a frown creased Sue’s brow.

“Mike was going to tell you when you got to his place, so I guess it’s okay for me to tell you now.” He forced himself to breathe, to be gentle. “Dominic is dead.”

Sue blanched. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Jonathon pushed aside his own feelings of confusion. Right then it seemed like she had enough of her own to deal with. “He had a fall, Thursday evening. He hit his head. But if you didn’t know this, why did you stay away? Where have you been? Why do you think the police want to talk to you?”

“Because I thought they knew about—” She pressed her lips together, her eyes wide.

There was something going on here that made no sense, and Jonathon figured the only way to get to the bottom of it was to take her to Mike.

Then the penny apparently dropped. “The police think I had something to do with his death?” Sue’s face paled. He nodded, and her jaw fell. “I swear, I had no idea, I—”

“It’s okay. Right now, you need to come with me. Mike will be so pleased to see you. We can talk about it at the pub.” Jonathon gave a quick glance around them, as though he expected the police to descend on them that instant. It was a fucked-up, illogical feeling, but he couldn’t help it.

She nodded. “Okay.” Her voice cracked, and she shivered. “Oh my God. Poor Dominic.”

“Not here. Not now. Let’s get you back to the pub, okay?”

“Okay.” Another shiver rippled through her, and instinctively Jonathon walked over to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

“I’ve got you. Let’s go see Mike.” He guided her out of the shop, conscious of the stares from passersby.

The sooner he got her to the pub, the better.