~ DEATH IS JUST THE BEGINNING ~
 JM Dragon

© 2003 by JM Dragon
Email: jmdragon@jmdragon.net

---

Love/Sex:..This story features strongly implied consensual relationship between adult women. If this bothers you, is illegal in the State, Province or Country you live or if you are  under the age of 18, find something else to read. There are loads of general stories out there.

Language:..Some strong language.

Violence:..Some violence in this story.

Hurt/Comfort:..There are scenes of heartache to be dealt with by the characters.

Dedication:..This story could have been my final one, but isn’t. Thank you to all those readers who offered genuine support and continue to read, not only my stories, but others too, we all appreciate your wonderful feedback. This story is simply for you.

Acknowlegement: My beta readers, Alice, Packer and Mel thank you as always, special thanks to T and Ephany for reading over the final draft as a double check.

---

Part Four

Milly lay alongside Charlie in her bed listening to the soft snores of the larger woman as she slept soundly. Looking longingly into the relaxed features, which although creased with several lines mainly around the eyes, defied her age. She certainly didn’t look forty-three years old.

Watching, she slowly traced the ridges over her face smiling as she recalled a conversation they’d had about the misshapen nose and how she had come by it as a child. Charlie’s eldest brother had whacked a cricket ball in her direction totally misjudging the catch and hitting her on the nose breaking it. She’d been ten at the time. Then there was the mole on her neck that had been put there she’d always said for Milly to kiss. How she longed to do that now and have her lover know she was there with her, had never left her; it had all been a terrible misunderstanding. Having made mistakes in the past, she hadn’t expected such harsh retribution, but it was now staring her full in the face.

About to indulge her fantasy, she pulled away as Charlie moved in the bed turning away from her. The movement made Milly realise that this was all futile, she was dead! Had been dead to Charlie for twenty years and she needed to let go!

Moving away from the bed she stared at her lover, and as she did so, she realised that all she could do now was find out what had happened to them. Then go back, be a good deceased citizen and find another ethereal life up there!

“I guess I came here to let you go, Charlie, because it’s time for us both to move on. You probably have in your mind. However, your heart needs the completion, you were always so soft hearted. We can walk this last path together, Charlie. You may never know, but I will, which will make me happy. I can say a final farewell to you knowing you’ll have the truth just as I will and everything shall move on from there.”

Walking out of the bedroom, she surveyed the small cottage one last time, wondering what it would have looked like if she had been alive all those years. Much of it remained as she remembered it although there were pieces of furniture that were new and strange looking. One thing she thought might have been in residence was a dog. Charlie had always wanted one and she had refused blaming it on allergies, when she hadn’t had any. She simply couldn’t abide sharing Charlie’s affections with anyone, not even an animal. Now, she wished she had; then Charlie wouldn’t have been so totally alone at her death. Perhaps she’d made up with her family once Milly died. Glancing around the small cosy lounge she looked at the pictures scattered around, some were vaguely familiar and one in particular she remembered, it was the last photo they had taken on a day visit to Dover. Moving over to the sideboard that held the photos, she smiled. In essence, she still looked the same only Charlie had changed. Her eyes travelled over the others and she saw a couple of family shots with Charlie and some young children and then a family scene. At least that was a good thing; her family had come back into Charlie’s life but at what cost to her lover? Had it been giving up on the alternative lifestyle she’d practised with her? Probably, knowing Charlie’s parents and her eldest brother, Clive, in particular. He’d been nasty when she’d left home to be with her and would have taken the opportunity to have his sister back under their protection…and their rules.

The thought of Clive made her angry as she threw a vicious glance at the picture and him in particular. As she did so, the picture flew across the room and hit the fireplace with a loud crash making her jump.

Had she done that?

As she pondered the situation the door to the bedroom opened and Charlie, bleary eyed from sleep, stood in the archway of the room peering into the lounge. Her eyes troubled but not frightened. Damn, she’d forgotten for a moment, in her surprise, that what she’d done could frighten her lover. Milly watched closely as Charlie sighing walked over to the fireplace and knelt to look at the broken frame of the photo.

“Wonder how that happened?” Her eyes travelling to the sideboard that held all the other photos. It was at least ten feet away from the fireplace. A puzzled expression came over her features.

Milly watched fascinated, what was her love thinking?

“Heck, if I didn’t know better I’d say Milly answered my prayers and was giving me a sign.” Then the ample woman chuckled standing as her eyes glanced at the time, far too early to get up, another two or three hours before dawn.

“I’ll clear you up in the morning Clive.” Charlie walked back to her room closing the door behind her.

“That’s it! That’s how we communicate I need to see Violet and let her know.” She looked back at the closed door of the bedroom where her lover now settled once more to sleep and then towards the external door. She’d go wait at the tree, it was the only familiar place she and Violet knew. The other woman would surely go back there eventually.

Excitement building as she thought of this new development and what Violet would say. This had to be a breakthrough and she would surely see it that way, wouldn’t she?

* * * * *

Darkness shrouded all but the spaces between the boughs of the tree’s limbs as the quarter moon allowed its glow to shed slithers of light through. Not the most welcoming place, but for the moment, the only reality and home she knew.

Milly accelerated her pace and was at the foot of the tree staring amazingly, although rather pleased at her appearance, at the person she hadn’t expected to be there.

“Violet, I wasn’t expecting you to be here. I thought you were going to check up on the Fray’s?”

Looking up at the willowy apparition that blocked out the tiny amount of light the old man in the moon had been allowing her in good grace, she squinted and shook her head depreciatingly. “I could say the same for you. Why are you here so soon, Charlie found out about you?”

Annoyed at the amused tone Milly pouted followed by a chuckle escaping from Violet as she watched the woman.

“No! How ridiculous is that!” Realising that it wasn’t that ridiculous but she would wipe the smug expression off the pretty woman’s features at her feet.

“Sorry, I was hoping, that was all.” Violet expressed solemnly the chuckle stifled quickly.

Milly could have kicked herself. This relationship between her and Violet never quite got beyond antagonism, no matter how she tried to rectify it. There was something about the ex-spy that quite simply irritated her. “Actually, I wanted to tell you what just happened to me.”

“If you have something to say, I’d appreciate it if you could sit or move over to the other side, you’re blocking out my moonlight.” Violet lazily dropped her gaze towards the spot beside her inviting the woman to sit down.

Ungainly, Milly dropped down beside Violet heaving a heavy sigh as she contemplated how she could tell her what happened when she really didn’t quite understand it herself.

“Packer, tell me, please, without the theatrics.”

“Theatrics! I don’t do theatrics. Whatever are you talking about?”

Muttering something softly under her breath Violet stopped herself short of saying exactly what she thought on that subject. Heck, hadn’t the woman been the centre of attention from the moment they’d died! “Forget it, now tell me what’s happened...please.”

“I was in the cottage looking at Charlie’s family photos in framed photographs on the sideboard when all of a sudden one of them flew off the table and ended up smashed against the fireplace.”

Violet perked up at this news. With luck it could have a bearing on what she had been thinking earlier and they needed some damn good luck at the moment. “How?”

“How? I don’t know how! I thought if we worked on it together, we could solve the HOW.” Milly spoke quickly. She was frustrated. Everything was going way too slow for her.

“Together?” Violet asked turning to the taller woman who shot her a dark glance at the question.

“Yes, together. Have you a problem with that? If you do, I’ll keep my thoughts and situations to myself in the future…”

“Hey, hey slow down, Packer. I was just asking that was all. You’re somewhat of a loner you know. A girl could get the feeling you didn’t like her or something along those lines.” Smiling to take the sting out of her comment. Violet was rewarded with a wrinkling of the brow followed by a bewildered expression.

“I don’t dislike you, if that’s what you think.” Milly pondered that question herself as she saw the wry smile that crossed Violet’s face. Knowing the other woman didn’t quite believe her she was, however, willing to allow the comment. A little rope before it hung her.

“We shall see on that one, the jury’s still out. What exactly were you doing when the photo moved?”

Grateful for a change in direction of the conversation Milly pursed her lips and then grinned wickedly. “I was thinking about how much I hated Charlie’s eldest brother Clive.”

‘Well there’s a surprise,’ Violet thought smiling to herself. At least she might be in good company. The woman didn’t just dislike her intensely. “Did he happen to be in that particular photo?”

 “Yes, precisely why I thought about him. He had that stupid superior smug expression I remembered the only time I ever met him.”

“You really didn’t like him?” Grinning wider still as she heard the venom from the other woman. Maybe Packer didn’t dislike her quite as much as the man she was talking about. Though there was time yet; they still didn’t have any answers.

“I hated him if you must know. All the pent up emotions of being here in this situation I wanted to vent on him, if that makes any sense.”

“Perfect I should say. You know what that means don’t you? Well of course you don’t, otherwise you wouldn’t have asked me,” her mind running over the facts. This could prove eminently useful, Packer’s rage.

“What does it mean? You seem to have the answers all of a sudden?” How annoying this ex-spy was. She appeared to be endowed with superior analytical powers. Milly had always prided herself on her own intellectual prowess, now she was being made to look like she couldn’t add two and two together!

“I haven’t told you what I was thinking yet, but all will be revealed.” Violet quickly told her of her own thoughts prior to Milly arriving at the base of the tree, it all made perfectly reasonable sense to her.

“Are you saying that I have to use my unexpected ‘talent’ to communicate with Charlie and that other woman?

“Yes, that’s right and please, that other woman, as you call her, has a name. She’s called Prudence or Pru whichever but THAT WOMAN is a bit harsh don’t you think?” Violet laughed at the absurdity of Packer’s jealousy and it was absurd, she knew it in her veins, as her old mum used to say.

A growling sound erupted from Milly as she grounded her teeth making Violet laugh even louder.

“It isn’t funny. I can see how that…how the so-called detective looks at Charlie.”

“Oh really and how would that be? I must say I haven’t noticed. Is there a woman-to-woman look? Better let me in on the secret so that I don’t practise it with you.”

“That, I can assure you, will never happen.”

“Oh, I know that, Packer, especially with…” Violet trailed off. Too much information was dangerous in the wrong hands and she had an inkling that Packer could be par with the Germans when it came to being upset on a personal level.

Unable to stop herself, Milly asked the question. Knowing full well the answer for she felt the same. Not unless hell froze over and even then, it would be long odds, “especially with?”

“Lets forget I started that stupid conversation and get on with more important things, shall we. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to a nice relaxing after life on a lovely fluffy cloud.”

Grumbling that she never, ever had a straight answer from the woman, Milly allowed the matter to rest…for now!  “Okay, bright spark, how do we tackle this problem?”

“First, we go to church and then we attempt to communicate with the other side.” A giggle couldn’t be stopped. She sounded like a gypsy at the fair; she had never believed that they could predict things or bring back a sign from the dead. How wrong she was.

A long-suffering expression crossed Milly’s face. Violet was apt to laugh rather a lot making her wonder how she had been allowed to be a spy. Her obvious inability to stop the laughter surely not an asset in such a strategic role.

“Anyone ever tell you that you laugh too much?” Millie observed standing awkwardly while moving her shoulders and arms to release the tension that was building. You would have expected that being dead meant no more bothersome aches and pains. Had the Custodian told them everything?

“How can anyone laugh too much, Packer? Don’t be such a sour- puss. Let’s go, it’s getting lighter and we can see who gets up first on a Sunday morning.” Violet shot up from her sitting position and a fleeting envious expression crossed Milly’s features; aches and pains obviously didn’t bother her at all.

“The milkman…” the conversation meandered on as they walked back towards the village.

* * * * *

“Will you be attending church, Miss.?” The young woman who served Prudence with a hearty breakfast consisting of two each of eggs, juicy sausages, crinkled rashers of bacon as she loved them and a delicious slice of fried bread swimming in the juices of hot tomatoes.

Wiping her napkin over her lips coated in the local churned butter from the round of toast she had just demolished she replied with a sheepish grin. “Haven’t been to church for years, therefore, I think the answer will be no,” picking up her knife and fork and continued to trench through the gloriously unhealthy meal in front of her.

“Oh, I thought you might be going. The Captain said you were a detective and where better for a sleuth to meet everyone in a village but at the local church,” the young woman, who was barely out of school, smiled sweetly at her walking away towards the kitchen swaying her hips provocatively.

Damn! Why hadn’t she thought of that? “Wait a moment, Beryl, please. What time is the service this morning?”

Turning back, the waitress winked at her replying ten thirty as she left the room. Perhaps she’d get a bit of extra tip with the information she provided the female detective when she left.  After all, isn’t that how it’s done in the movies?

Glancing down at her watch she noted the time as ten fifteen then her eyes wandered to the mouth-watering food still on her plate. Next time she wasn’t going to sit around thinking into the night making her wake up late. Now she would have to leave this wonderful fare, no rest for the wickedthey say. Prudence moved away from the table snatching up a sausage as she did so and left the room making her way out of the pub. She smiled as the bright sunshine blinded her for a few seconds until her eyes adjusted. Several people, many of them families, she deduced, were walking towards the south end of the village. That would be where she would go too. Hopefully it was the church and not the local duck pond.

* * * * *

Charlie placed her hands over her cheekbones and dragged them over the skin causing it to tighten then spring back as she released the pressure. Her eyes were drawn once more to the broken picture frame that she’d placed on the coffee table beside her favourite chair. Such a strange occurrence and in the early hours of the morning too! At first she had thought one of the shutters on the cottage window had broken loose. However, when she had checked over the picture damaged against the fireplace, it had her thinking even stranger thoughts, ghostly ones.

All this talk of someone murdering Milly and Violet must be plaguing her thought patterns and now she was talking of ghosts and messages. Perhaps Pru’s friend should come here to the village and give a séance, what could it hurt? Who beyond the three of them would know?

Selecting her Sunday best woollen sweater from the two she kept for church, she pulled it over her head then picked up her purse as she headed for the door. Taking the chain off the barn style door she opened it smiling as the sun hit her face. Another beautiful day, far better than the weather people had predicted, just as I thought. Then rushed back inside mumbling about the Sunday roast and within minutes was out the door locking it securely as she sped off down the lane towards the local village church.

Five minutes later she climbed over the stile to the graveyard area and having picked up a small posy of wildflowers, she deposited them on both Milly and Violet’s graves. “It’s a beautiful morning today ladies. Perhaps we will find out, once and for all, exactly what happened that night.” Her hand trailed a little longer than was necessary over Milly’s gravestone. Her hand shot away as she was disturbed with a now familiar voice speaking to her.

“Charlie, am I glad to see you!” Pru announced as she spied the older woman strolling through the churchyard and to her disappointment, stopped by a particular stone in contemplation.

“What are you doing here? I thought we would meet up later at the Forest Green?”

“Yes, well, you left so suddenly I wasn’t sure when or if that would happen.” Pru gave her a shy smile, not certain exactly what to say.

“Didn’t that old fool tell you I would meet you at the Forest Green at lunchtime?”

“Well, if the old fool was the guy who simply stated in the local accent that you had gone home to bed. Then no, he didn’t!”

Pushing a distracted hand through her hair Charlie wasn’t sure what to say. “I’m sorry about that, Jack never could take his drink.”

“Why did you leave so suddenly?” Pru asked softly walking up to the large woman and was immediately struck by how defenceless Charlie all of sudden seemed. Even though Charlie could probably crush her with one hand, should she decide to, the look on her face brought out the protective senses in her for the first time since meeting this woman. Strangely enough, from the first moment she’d met Charlie she’d felt a bond that was hard to describe and the more she was in the woman’s company, the more she felt at ease with the emotions it created inside her.

Why had she left so suddenly?

“I…I was tired.” Charlie knew it was a pathetic excuse and couldn’t meet the detective’s eyes, which looked at her compassionately.

“Okay… if we don’t go inside now, we’ll be latecomers I suspect.”

Charlie was grateful for the support Pru had given not pushing the point and providing a credible excuse to leave it well enough alone. “Yes, the good Reverend hates his sermons to be interrupted.”

They walked inside in companionable silence ignoring the interested stares that they created as they seated themselves in the middle of the congregation, where Charlie sat every week.

* * * * *

“She still loves you.” Violet whispered as she watched Charlie deposit the flowers she’d collected on both their graves.

A silence ensued making Violet wonder if she’d once again hit a nerve with her partner in death!

Attempting to converse again,“ I’m grateful she tends…” stopping in mid sentence as Milly finally replied.

“Yes, she does. Now it’s time to let go.”

Doing a one hundred and eighty degree turn Violet stared in astonishment at the statement, “What do you mean? Coming here to get back to her was all you blathered on about up there!”

Giving the smaller woman a hard glance she responded icily, “You never thought I would understand that I can’t have it all back, did you?” sighing heavily as she watched Violet squirm at her words, then deciding to let her off the hook. “Truthfully, neither did I. Last night showed me Charlie was my past and I must let go as she must.”

For once Violet lost her sense of humour as she realised how hard that must have been to come to terms with. “I’m sorry, I know how important she is to you.”

“She’ll always be important to me, that will never change. Now, she needs to forge a new life and I have realised that it doesn’t include me, hasn’t for over twenty years.”

“When we arrive back up there you’ll find a new life as well.”

“Perhaps.”

Violet felt a need to comfort the woman, but didn’t know how. She would either think she was coming on to her or that she felt sorry for her. Neither would be correct. It was purely compassion for her situation as anyone would who had half a heart.

“They’re going inside, shall we join them?”

“That’s why we’re here, let’s go.” The two ghosts followed the two earth bound women, each one of them with questions and emotions that really had no answers at this time.

* * * * *

The Junior Custodian paced up and down waiting for his superior, a most unusual occurrence, even for him, though admittedly he had only made a few… minor mistakes since arriving in this position.  But, for the sake of these two women’s souls, he had to face up to the fact that he might have made a tactical error. Four hundred years of showing the way had been interesting and never more so than now.

They’d had their doubters over time and those who did usually ended up lost souls with no home here or on the Earth they once knew. This situation was a little different. The two women, who had embarked on a mystery tour or so thought some of his equal counterparts, didn’t realise that they could end up being left in limbo for…eternity!

“You have a request, Custodian?”

“Yes. The two women we allowed back to Earth in an attempt to find out who had murdered them, how will we get them back?”

The figure shrouded in a light glowing soothingly gave the Custodian a sharp glance. “How we usually get them all back who embark on such an adventure.”

“Usually I agree, but this case is different.”

“How, may I ask, Custodian?”

“They don’t know how to ask to be retrieved. I never told them, did you?”

“No! Why would I? That is your role. Are you telling me that we have put two souls back on Earth who do not know how to ask to return?”

The Custodian dropped his head in shame, admitting by his action, the extent of the problem. “Yes.”

The light that glowed now took on a harsher tint. The Custodian knew what that meant; he was talking higher up the ladder.

Several moments, which seemed like a lifetime and was to some, passed. “There is no ready solution to this problem, Custodian. Someone has to go back in time to retrieve them.”

“That would mean going back a hundred years!”

“Yes, time flies doesn’t it? I cannot spare anyone from my team, therefore that leaves only one solution.”

The Custodian knew the answer to that one as he sighed heavily. Hadn’t he paid enough for doing wrong when he was on Earth? “I think that means I have to go.”

“Yes, glad you see it my way, Custodian. If all goes well, you may yet achieve absolution for your time below.” The figure disappeared much as he’d appeared, irritating the Custodian immensely. There were times when he wished he had the options to eradicate irritations as he had on Earth, though the need for taking his anger out, as he had on Earth, had been severely diminished. They castrated animals on earth. Up here, you had to serve penance equally as harsh for misdeeds. Becoming a Shepard of sort’s herding your flock to a brighter life. One day he might be allowed to give up the task and join the many towards the gift of a new life. This might be his chance to eliminate the usual thousand years before being considered.

Ladies, looks like you get to have me in your life again. Hopefully it’s just a question of retrieval and home. Knowing in his heart that with those two women, and one in particular, the chances were slim to nil, what a chore! Then his mind travelled to another darker thought. Would his evil nature take over when he set foot back on Earth? It would be interesting to see if four hundred years of penance had worked any miracles in him.

* * * * *

Pru stood silently as the Vicar of the parish spoke to everyone, even her, though she wasn’t exactly listening to him. Her mind elsewhere as she watched Charlie talking to several people.

“I told you, Violet, look at the way that woman is looking at Charlie!”

Violet spared a glance in the detective’s direction and then shifted to Charlie herself. “I understand why too. If you’d look beyond that jealous streak, you might see it as well.”

Milly was outraged and was about to give the ex-spy a sting from her sharp tongue when her eyes caught Charlie and who she was talking to. Three people turned up in the frame, Sammy Cransky, the butcher, Jeffrey Ransome, who still maintained his looks over the years and Alistair Bentley, it had to be him but he looked so young!

“What do you understand?”

“If I was single, and yes, I know I am, I’d be quite happy in the company of some of the most attractive men around. Funny how I never found our church filled with so many dishy men back then.”

Milly smarted at the comment. Was that a dig? Well, Charlie wasn’t batting on that side and never had or would! “Charlie’s not interested in men.”

“Yeah and how would you know? You’ve been dead for twenty years. Maybe she changed her mind, it happens you know.” Violet was unable to stop the cutting remark that tripped out and regretting every syllable as the willowy woman before her sucked in a deep breath, sobbing that it couldn’t happen.

Placing a hand over her mouth to stop anymore hurtful and stupid comments, Violet watched in fascination and compassion as the woman broke down…break down she did, as the tears flooded her eyes and the weeping wracked her body.

What should she do?

“I think I’ve arrived at the right time.”

Violet stared at what she thought was an apparition and Milly gulped back her sorrow. Tearfully gazing at the person who had spoken, he looked familiar, but she couldn’t fathom out who it was through the glaze of her tears.

“Custodian, how wonderful to see you. What brings you to our midst?” Violet grinned, thankful for the reprieve from the recent emotional struggle. It had been like watching a man cry, she felt helpless and embarrassed.

“I’m here to take you both back.”

“Back?” “Back?” Both women responded at the same time as they glanced at each other.

“Yes, I’m sure you have solved the mystery by now. You’ve had plenty of time. Now, it’s time to go back and I won’t take no for an answer.” The Custodians eyes travelled a little longer over Milly as he spoke noting her distressed state. She certainly looked defeated rather than ready to fight back.

“We can’t go back yet! Sorry to disappoint you and the others up there, but we haven’t solved anything yet.” Violet, having noticed Packer’s inability to respond, decided to do so for her; surprising herself at her adamant refusal to return to a place she had a few moments ago wished she was there.

The Custodian’s head sharply turned. The woman he had expected would be ecstatic by being allowed back so soon wasn’t. She hadn’t wanted to go in the first place, he recalled. “I’m surprised, however, my superior made it clear you are to return now.”

“No!” The voice echoed around the churchyard. Violet glanced around expecting everyone in the vicinity to have heard as the pain in the voice screeched around them. Other than the Vicar turning to speak to Charlie and Pru, nothing seemed amiss.

“Millicent, I’m sorry you need to return. It is most unusual for someone like me to be allowed back on Earth.” The Custodian could feel the gentle teasing smell of the people around him, awakening his evil senses. He had to leave this place quickly and return. He had no wish to recall his old life or embark on anything evil ever again. He wanted the peace that his superior’s had promised him if he could redeem himself over the centuries; and he had tried, how he had tried.

“You can go back. We’ll follow when we are done here and have found out the truth.”  Violet stepped closer to Milly in complete support of her request. God knows why, but something inside her told her she had to, an inner calling you might say.

The Custodian sighed heavily thinking this was ridiculous… arguing the point. “May I ask what progress you have made to date?”

Smiling, Violet knew the Custodian would see it their way, he’d done so before why not now. Relating to him all the facts they knew on the case and the introduction of the female detective at the same time they had arrived back on Earth.

“I see, nothing more than you knew before. You need a higher power to push the target out into the open.” The Custodian felt the familiar stirrings deep in his loin. He knew it was his own past that beckoned him to continue; to allow the women more time here, allowing him to stay too. After all, he had to take them back didn’t he? They would ask him why he stayed, of course, as he could so easily have imparted the knowledge of how to get back up there! That could come later, now to use his devilish past to help solve a crime. How very novel.

“Do we take that you are going to help, or is it someone even higher? Maybe I will get Jesus’ autograph after all?”

“Violet!” Milly couldn’t believe that the woman had blasphemed again, and in the churchyard, had she no sensitivity at all.

“I didn’t mean any harm, it was only a joke… alright a poor one, what can they do to me?”

A sneer passed over the Custodian’s face at the remark, what could they do to you, oh little girl, hopefully you will never know. “In this situation, you will be forgiven but don’t push your luck, Violet. Even the most forgiving are apt to make a point from time to time.”

Gazing up towards the heavens, which now consisted of a glorious baby blue sky and the odd fluffy brilliant white cloud, she wondered if they listened and had she gone too far. Well, she’d apologise later when they went back, for now, they had a murder to solve or should she say two!

“Custodian, how can you help?” Milly asked having wiped her tears away as the man spoke to Violet. Though she was surprised when she saw a sneer cross the normally angelic features, then shaking off the image. He’d looked more like the devil than a member of the more angelic order.

Smiling as his mind pondered the question, “I cannot give secrets away, Millicent, watch.”

The Custodian closed his eyes as a vacant expression crossed his features. He looked like he was no longer in his body, that it was a shell standing there, his spirit elsewhere.

Several minutes passed while the Custodian remained silent and very still. Several of the congregation moved along out through the large wrought-iron gate crested by an angel. Unable to help herself, Violet had to speak once more.

“What do you think he’s doing?” Whispering to Packer who not only watched the Custodian, but also kept her eyes peeled for any expression of guilt on any of the faces of those who were still milling around the churchyard.

“I don’t know! He wouldn’t say, remember? Maybe he’s not here anymore and has gone back up there to let them know we are being awkward. Perhaps they will send the big guns down for us this time.”

“No way, he said he would help and I think he will. What’s Charlie doing?”

“She’s talking to the butcher,” her eyes wandering to and fro over the other players in this drama.

“Oh Sam, he was great for a laugh. Always good for a joke even back then when it wasn’t really joke circumstances. I remember one time…”

“I know all about Sam, I lived in the village too.”

“Well, you might not be the shopping kind of girl, your friend might have done that for you.”

“Are you being obnoxious again? I shopped like most people.”

Violet heard the aggression in the woman’s tone and it made her smile. One thing was certain, she aggravated Packer and it showed up frequently. “I wasn’t actually. You worked in the city all week long. Seemed appropriate that Charlie might do the weekly shopping trip.”

Putting a hand to her forehead Milly sighed. She’d done it again, jumped to conclusions. Why did Violet antagonise her so much, it wasn’t fair!

“Well, ladies, we have a possibility. More than one, but certainly a thread to follow.”

“What, what’s that?” Both women eagerly asked, thankful the Custodian had returned when he did; it helped to ease the tension that always built between them.

A smile crossed the man’s face, one of smug accomplishment. If only he’d had this gift when he’d lived on Earth, he’d have never been caught. “I have a name for your Earth bound friends to follow.”

“Ok let’s have it, who is it?” Milly asked, anxious to have a result to this question of their murder.

“Hey, hold on, Packer. Shouldn’t we ask how we can let our friends know, first? A lot of use knowing the name will be if that’s all we find out.”

The Custodian laughed, he’d been right. These two women hadn’t changed much, they still had totally differing views…except perhaps on one subject now, the answer to their demise.

Milly was about to turn on Violet again when she realised the validity of the point and turning instead to the man who watched them with a strange, unreadable expression on his face. There was something not quite right about the Custodian here on Earth, he gave her the shivers. Strange how in one environment he looked angelic and yet, in another, he appeared the complete opposite. Shrugging away her ridiculous thoughts she nodded her head. “Violet’s right, how do we let our…friends know?”

“Thought you’d never ask. All we need now is a medium, which might prove the tricky part!
 

---

Continued In Part 5