~ DEATH IS JUST THE BEGINNING ~
 JM Dragon 2003

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

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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.

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Part Six

They’d gone over all the notes and possible suspects and still hadn’t come up with a viable lead. Even Ransome, who had a so- called secret, didn’t appear to have been involved in anything more sinister than over inflating the price of petrol in the village.

Glancing at her watch Charlie was surprised to find that they had spent over two hours in the café mulling over the information. It had gone remarkably fast and strangely, she would be sorry to leave the company of the detective. They had an affinity close to friendship that she hadn’t experienced for a long time, especially with a stranger. Marge would have been the last she shared that kind of confidence. Usually, when she met a person and liked them this much, they ended up being firm friends for a long time…usually forever.

“We haven’t gotten anywhere have we, Charlie. I’m really sorry for wasting your Sunday morning like this.” Pru looked down at her notes, hoping something had been missed and it would jump out of the page towards her shouting, look at me, look at me!

“True, we haven’t achieved any startling revelation that might lead us to whoever killed Milly and Violet, although I’m not sorry for being here with you.”

A beaming smile lit up the painfully thin woman’s face and it set a responding light inside Charlie, now this was new!

“Do you think we missed anything?”

“We must have or the deaths really were, as the coroner said, accidental. Could your sources be wrong, and have led you to believe something that isn’t true?”

That was a possibility except…except she was sure in her heart that someone had a hand in the women’s deaths, just as she was as sure of her own name. “I’d stake my reputation on the coroner being wrong.”

A rumble of laughter erupted from Charlie as she saw the serious expression and complete sincerity in Pru’s eyes. “I’ll take that as a no. Look, I need to go tend to my roast before it burns to a cinder. How about we catch up this evening and who knows, something might come to us that we’ve missed?”

Reluctantly, Pru nodded her head. She didn’t want to let this woman go. She enjoyed their time together, just as Charlie mentioned, and it had been satisfying to allow another to see her thought process at work on a case. Something she’d wanted to share with someone for a while now, but had never met anyone she’d trusted enough to allow inside. This woman had quite simply stormed her battlements and entered without any bloodshed, incredible!

“I’ll take a nap this afternoon. I didn’t get much sleep last night, too many possibilities running around in my head I guess.” The women stood up and Pru was dwarfed by the woman she was tempted to call friend, rather than acquaintance.

“Good idea, maybe I’ll do the same after lunch.” Charlie looked down at her hands that were clenched together, she was nervous and didn’t know why. Foolish really, it was like she’d felt…no it couldn’t be like that, could it…a crush on the woman?

As they left the café, Marge called out for them to have a good day and come by again soon. Polly smiled timidly in their direction, however her eyes held a speculative look in the depths.

Charlie turned towards her end of the village road, self-consciously feeling tongue-tied as she dropped her gaze to the tiny woman at her side. “I’ll talk with you later then, shall I?”

Pru caught and held the warm friendly eyes that watched hers with something more behind the depths. “Yes, what time?”

Charlie wondered if she should ask Pru to lunch. She had half thought to ask her before the café and had certainly prepared enough for an army, and with Pru’s appetite, that would only just be enough. However, her impromptu massive snack at the café had her decide that particular offer would be given another time. “How about seven, I have to work in the morning.”

Pru considered the timing, damn, right at dinnertime. She would be starving by then, her stomach was already asking if she was going to feed it again. “Absolutely, no problem. I’ll eat afterwards, I think they have meals until nine.”

“How stupid of me, I forgot about dinner. Look, are you perhaps slightly hungry now? I have lunch…”

“Yes, yes I’m hungry now. I have a dinosaur for a stomach, can’t seem to keep it happy once I start eating. I’d love to come for lunch, thanks for asking.”  Charlie turned away to hide the smirk and stifle the laughter that threatened to explode, a dinosaur? Well that would be novel, wouldn’t it. She’d never come across one in her country girl wanderings, however, there was always a first time for everything.

“Then follow me, let’s not keep the dinosaur in you waiting.” Charlie grinned and turned back towards home with the detective trying to keep pace with her longer strides.

* * * * *

The process of elimination was going well! Too well as they had nothing to go on, so far, other than finding out more about each other’s past lives or at least the last four years.

“On your last mission for the war effort, Violet, are you positive beyond a shadow of a doubt that no one knew you were a spy?”

“Yes, I’m positive. We spies know when we’re done for, you get a chapter in the spy manual to let you know what to do.” Exasperated at the woman’s annoying tendency to think she was the one the murderers had been after. When you listened to Packer’s involvement in the war, she was hardly lilywhite.

“I know I’m annoying you, I can see it in your eyes, but we’ve been over my meagre claim to fame and have found nothing of interest. By process of elimination, it has to be you and it was your car. How do we get away from that fact?”

“We don’t and you’re right. I just don’t want to think that I caused your death by my eagerness to help our Country, it wouldn’t be fair.” Violet felt miserable. Her head throbbed with a dull ache trying to make the pieces of this jagged puzzle fit together symmetrically. To no avail however. There was no evidence to suggest her identity had been blown wide open to the enemy. Anyway, where did this schoolteacher person come into the equation or was the Custodian leading them along a fruitless track.

“Will it help if I said I forgive you?”

“Do you? I know how bitter you were at the beginning, surely that hasn’t changed so quickly.”

“Maybe I’m starting too, especially if we find out who was responsible. I’ll go back up there a happier woman.”

“Personally, I’d like to go back now. Do you think the Custodian could help me out there?”

Milly felt her jaw tighten at the comment. Not that she didn’t blame Violet for wanting out of what appeared to be a totally useless exercise fit only to constantly annoy them, she didn’t.  She would, though, like the company for the final few hours she had on Earth, even Violet’s.

“I’m sure if you asked, he’d agree.” The voice pitched so softly Violet leant forward to where she was within an inch of the willowy woman’s face.

“You don’t want me to go, do you?” A rascally smile crossed Violet’s face. Had she finally gotten through to Packer?

Gulping in air or whatever ghosts gulped in, it felt like air, she gasped out. “No! That’s yes! If you want to go that’s your prerogative, I can’t make you stay here with me, can I?”

“You can, if you ask nicely. Why not try it?” Violet knew she was goading the dour woman when a devilish glint appeared in Packer’s eyes, and before she knew it, her lips were captured experiencing a kiss that literally overloaded her senses in all manner of ways!

* * * * *

“I’m stuffed! Charlie, anyone ever tell you that you are a tremendous cook?” Pru sank into the horsehair filled sofa sighing in extreme satisfaction. Her dinosaur wouldn’t want anything more to eat today after that feast. She’d never had such an assortment of vegetables with a roast. Succulent baby carrots that melted in your mouth, new potatoes deliciously sweet in their skins, cauliflower so white it reminded her of snow. Not to mention parsnip, roasted with the juices of the beef, and a mouth watering savoury starter, Charlie called Yorkshire pudding, brimming with piping hot onion gravy.

“Oh, so you can’t make a place in the bottomless pit for dessert?”

“Dessert! Charlie, that’s like putting temptation in front of a baby. What have you made?” Pru asked, unable to resist the wonderful thought of another beautifully prepared dish from this woman.

“Rhubarb crumble, it’s my mother’s favourite and she gave me her recipe only a few weeks ago. It’s taken me over twenty years to wrench that from her, you will be the first to try it out.”

Pru’s eyes bulged. She hadn’t had rhubarb crumble in…oh it was way too long to remember, probably back in school. “Are we having it with cream or custard?”

Charlie couldn’t help laughing. She hadn’t had this much fun feeding someone and if she was honest, she never ever had before, not even Milly. A faddy eater, Milly and desserts were not on the menu when she was home. During the week, when her lover had been in London, that was different, and she indulged her appetite for the sweet part of the meal, “I have both. What would you prefer?”

“You’re spoiling me, Charlie. I may want to stay here forever.” Pru grinned. The twinkle in her eye turned to warmth for the large woman who left the room smiling broadly, to fetch the crumble, a pot of cream and a jug of custard.

* * * * *

“I can’t believe you did that!” Violet choked back a sob as she ran to the hedge, ready to bolt like a scared rabbit if Milly came anywhere near her.

“I’m sorry! Really I am, Violet. Look, I promise it won’t happen again, you have my word.” Unable to comprehend why she’d even come close to kissing the pretty spy, never mind going ahead with it. Violet wasn’t remotely her type.

“Your word! My God, it will take more than your word to get me near you again! I want to know why you thought you could do that! I’m not Charlie or a substitute thinking you can take advantage of my good nature.”

“Violet, you’re over reacting. I wasn’t trying to take advantage of you. It just happened; I can’t explain it. I’m sorry, believe me, I’m sorry and it will NEVER happen again. On Charlie’s life I swear.”

At the mention of the woman, Packer had loved, the emotional turmoil bubbled up to rage. “I’d like to see how you could explain that away to your so-called forever love, Charlie. What did you do when you were in London all week? Have the odd fling if you felt lonely, knowing she was hardly likely to find out? You know, someone might have informed on you. It happens more often these days of turmoil, and she could be your murderer, have you thought of that?”

The ranting woman’s observations cut into Milly, ripping at her flesh, not because she was wrong, because she was right. There were times loneliness took its toll, and she’d found solace in the arms of other’s. Mostly women in the armed forces who had loved ones fighting or nurses who were about to see life at its harshest before they were shipped out to war torn areas, allowing themselves fun and relaxation in the arms of someone who didn’t want commitment. She was the ideal candidate and had abused Charlie’s faithfulness time and again. If that was evil, then she’d been evil to the core. Turning away unable to look Violet in the face, she was surprised when a finger tapped sharply on her shoulder.

“I was talking to you!”

Milly shamefacedly looked her in the eye as Violet sucked in a deep breath at the guilt she saw mirrored there. “You cheated on her, didn’t you! And you say you loved her, what a sham. I wish I could tell her what a lousy person you are, Packer. People like you make me sick, man or woman!”

“I make myself sick and I did…do love her. All the others were a diversion, they didn’t mean anything.”

“You think that makes it alright? Jesus, go crawl back under the rock you came from. I’m going to tell Charlie exactly the type of woman she’s been pining for all these wasted years.” Violet virtually spit the words out and Milly could almost feel the rivulets of moisture that would have caused had she really done so.

“She can’t hear you.” Milly responded dejectedly.

“You think that matters, at least I’ll have tried.” Muttering curses under her breath, Violet left Milly standing under the bough of a weeping willow, feeling much as the tree did while the tears of shame trailed down her cheeks. She knew she deserved the spy’s loathing, no more so than she deserved Charlie’s and that, the knowledge of her unfaithfulness, was a burden she would forever carry throughout eternity.

* * * * *

Charlie wrapped a checked blanket around the detective as she snored daintily on the sofa. Having eaten in one session more than anyone she had ever met, including herself, it wasn’t surprising the detective had fallen asleep. In repose, the tiny woman looked ridiculously young and vulnerable. Was she really a detective or someone who came into her lonely existence to brighten it up for a short time? Stepping backwards she retreated to her easy chair beside the fireplace where the logs were stacked neatly in the basket to her left, to her right was her knitting bag. Picking up the needles she counted her stitches and began to knit in earnest. This for her was a wonderful pastime to relax with and it had fringe benefits too, the odd sweater or two. As the needles clicked constantly she hummed a melody she’d heard on the radio that morning. It was rather catchy and from a young man she hadn’t heard of before, Cliff Richard. Another fad, which would probably disappear as many, did along the way. He did have a good voice though.

Violet watched Charlie knit. She looked so contented and happy. It was hard to see how someone could be so cruel as to cheat on such a nice person. Damn that woman, she deserved to be dead!

“Charlie, I know you can’t hear me, but let me tell you about your Miss High and Mighty on a pedestal Packer. She’s nothing more than a gigolo or whatever you call a woman in that situation. Oh…yes…Jezebel…that’s it, she’s a Jezebel and you shouldn’t let her carry on ruining your life.”

Walking closer to the unaware woman she then noticed the detective fast asleep on the sofa. At least that was a good start. Maybe she had found someone else to love and it would be about time. Twenty years was way too long to waste on a good for nothing like Packer. Anger was once more getting the better of Violet and as she kept ranting loudly was surprised when she heard an echo.

“She’s a cheat! A no good who betrayed you when you were here in the village and she was in London living the high life consoling army girls!”

She swivelled around in shock, had Packer followed her? Or was it the Custodian who saw fit to stop her from making a fool of her? There was no apparition but her in the room, she would know. Spinning back to the knitting woman who was not in her seat anymore, but instead was kneeling beside the detective with a look of undisguised shock and horror on her face.

“What are you talking about, Pru?”

Violet walked over to them and watched in fascination. Pru was asleep and yet…

“Packer is a fraud. She doesn’t deserve your love, she cheated on you for years.”

Amazingly as she spoke out loud so did Pru, her exact words. This was amazing and such a miracle breakthrough. Her mind drifted to Packer and unconsciously wished the other woman could see this, except that would go against the hatred she felt at the betrayal this woman had happily succumbed to all those years ago.

“Pru, wake up! I tell you wake up! You’re rambling about things you shouldn’t know anything about, even I’m not suppose to know.”

Violet heard the words and quickly wanted to know more.

“Did you know she cheated on you, Charlie, did you kill her?”

Charlie rocked back on her heels, the blood draining from her face and though she mouthed the words, no sound was heard.

Time to continue, this was astounding. A remarkable event and one that might yet get them the truth before their time was up.

“She wants to know who killed her, Charlie, just as you and Pru do. Want to work together on this, we haven’t much time left?”

Charlie’s ashen features stared mesmerised at the tiny woman speaking in a voice that wasn’t quite hers. It had a distant tone and what she was saying…what she was saying was the truth. “Who are you?”

 “Me? Oh, of course, you wouldn’t know me. I’m Violet Reed. They killed me too and we want to know the answer to the riddle of our deaths.”

“Is Milly with you?” the words whispered in awe or was it fear, Violet wasn’t sure.

“No, not at the moment anyway, she can be if you want that. I have a name for you to check very carefully, Jenny Gilmore.”

As she saw the tears splash onto the lashes, which were blinking rapidly to stop them from flowing, Charlie nodded her head, “I’d like to speak with Milly one more time to tell her….”

“What are you doing, Charlie?” Pru opened her eyes and stared at the large woman who was blocking out the light glinting through the daisy-patterned curtains.

Pulling back abruptly, Charlie stuttered, “Nothing.”

She then went on to explain what had happened, much to the detective’s astonishment, while her hand wiped away the tears that had fallen.

Violet watched the exchange and sighed, she hadn’t understood how the connection with the detective had ended. The question was how to make the connection again, something she had to work on. Pondering the thought, she gave the two engrossed women, who seemed to be friends; a second look with envy, then left the cottage.

Unconsciously, she walked back towards the only familiar place she felt comfortable at, the oak tree. She was annoyed and yet pleased, in a way, to see Milly there.

“Did you tell her?” Milly asked quietly making Violet jump. This woman had that effect on her as well as creeps up on her at any time.

“Yes! Yes I did.”

“Made you feel better I suppose.”

“You suppose right. I enjoyed the experience and it was enlightening for both of us.”

A smug expression settled on Violet’s face as she saw Milly’s jaw drop making her look like a guppy.

“Both of you, how?”

“Hey, my secret, Packer. If you behave, I might let you in on it.”

Milly was confused by the amiable conversation she was being allowed to have with Violet. Was this a perverse way for the woman to seek a revenge on her for the kiss? After she’d left, Milly had probed her own feelings about the kiss and she had to admit it tore into her heart in a way that hadn’t ever happened before, even with Charlie. It was like the searing of a flame on an open wound healing immediately.

“What do I have to do to deserve the privilege?”

“When all this is over and we get back, you and I will go our separate ways and I never want to see you ever again! Is that a deal?”

Emotionally, Milly didn’t want to agree, however, lip service had always been something she had excelled in,”it’s a deal, what’s the secret?”

Violet explained to Packer about her unusual experience.

* * * * *

Pru felt dazed by the explanation. At first, she wondered if Charlie had fallen asleep herself and been dreaming. However, the genuine tone and exhilarated expression in her eyes defied that immediately. What really spooked her out was the fact that she’d been party to the whole episode and knew nothing about it! Her friend back in London would be ecstatic at the so-called messages from beyond. If she ever told her, there would be no stopping the constant questions of whom and what happened and she didn’t have a clue, except for a slight annoying headache and she really hated those.

“Are you absolutely positive, Charlie?” the darkening of her irises played on Pru’s compassionate nature. Not that a detective should have too much in that department, but Charlie was a special case, she couldn’t help it.

“Yes, it wasn’t you. How could you know…” Her voice trailed off miserably. The actual conversation had been limited, but enough for her to know it hadn’t been Pru.

“How could I know what, Charlie?” Softly, Pru asked her friend who not only looked miserable, but her hands shook as she tried to hide them. Before she could do so, Pru grasped them warmly and held them as she would a frightened child.

“She implied things that only I know…or at least Milly would.”

Taking a deep breath, the detective gently lifted up Charlie’s chin and made contact with her eyes, which had dropped along with her body language.

“I don’t need to know the details, Charlie. What happened between you and Milly is your business. If you believe that she’s trying to contact us to help us solve the mystery of their deaths, then I’ll happily accept that.”

Charlie gazed thankfully into the gentle depths of the detective, a small smile playing around her lips. Knowing it had been a long, long time since she’d felt this comfortable with anyone, perhaps she never truly had. Her feelings for Milly had all been a memory that she’d cherished and rather than look at her lover’s misdeeds, she had simply blocked them out remembering only the good times. “We need to talk with Jenny Gilmore.”

“Ah yes, the whiter than white school teacher. My dad was right, wasn’t he? You never ruled anyone out of the picture until the mystery was solved.”

“Your dad sounds like a very shrewd man.” Charlie grinned reluctantly removing her hands from Pru’s and walked over to the photo’s resting on her sideboard, staring intently at the one of her and Milly. No matter what happened in London, when they were together they had been happy and that included her lover, she knew it.

“Yes he is. Maybe you might get the chance to meet him one day.”

Pre-occupied Charlie replied, “I’d like that.” As the detective collected her purse she looked over Charlie’s shoulder and saw the photo that had captured the other woman’s attention.

Her last thought, as they left the cottage in search of Jenny Gilmore was, it would be hard to compete against a ghost, even if that ghost might be a rattling skeleton in a cupboard.

* * * * *

“How did you do that?” Milly was aghast, but elated at the same time. This was the breakthrough they needed and if it went well, they might have a solution by the morning when the Custodian came back.

“Simple, really.” Smirking at the exasperated look on Packer’s face. She was so easy to spin around like a top.

“If it’s so simple, can you do it again? Didn’t you say Charlie wanted to speak to me?”

Oh here she goes again. It’s all about her, her and more of her!

“Yes, she did, but I think we need Pru to be relaxed in sleep before she can be used in such a way.”

“Then let’s go and do that.” Milly announced without thinking and when she did, she rubbed her eyes realising her stupidity once again. The regularity of saying stupid things was becoming a cause for concern.

Violet stood still with her arms folded across her chest waiting for the remark to hit home and realisation creep in. It didn’t take long as Milly turned back to her within a few moments.

“Sorry, another gaff. I’m beginning to wonder if they scattered my brains across the road and left them there when we died.”

Violet grimaced at the thought, how gruesome.

“I didn’t need that picture in my head, Packer. Come on, let’s see what our detective duo has found out assuming they believed anything at all.

Before Violet could pass her, Milly held out her hand and placed it gently on the ex-spy’s arm. Violet looked at her quickly, not alarmed exactly, surprised the woman would get this close again after their last encounter. “Yes?”

“You wouldn’t lie to me, would you, Violet?” Milly pleaded her voice low and to the other woman, desperate.

“I’m not you, Packer!” unable to stop herself from saying such a harsh rejoinder. She pulled away from the much stronger woman who let her go immediately as if stung.

Milly felt as if she’d been hit by a tremendous body blow. The wind was knocked out of her sails as she watched dejectedly as Violet left her several paces behind. Her only thought was that the woman really hated her and she deserved the hatred, after all, she loathed herself equally as much, if not more. As she watched the pretty spy leave her well behind, she whispered, No Violet, you’re not like me.  I’m not fit even to sit at your feet, never mind constantly thinking ill of you in anyway.

“Are you coming or do I have to do it all on my own?” Violet rasped as she picked up her pace, angry with herself more than Packer. She had no call to judge the woman. What happened was between her and Charlie and at the end of the day, which was perfect!

“Yes, yes I’m coming.” Milly picked up speed and moments later walked alongside Violet. They said little as they covered the distance towards the village to where Jenny Gilmore, the schoolteacher, lived.

As they approached the small cottage that was part of the deal of being the local teacher, they heard voices, familiar voices. Walking, literally through the door they stood inches from Charlie and Pru who were asking the teacher numerous questions, the reply surprised them all!

“Are you implying I know how Millicent and what was her name, ah yes Violet, died?”

Pru jumped in quickly as she saw Charlie about to back peddle the issue, “Yes we are, do you?”

“That was years ago and it was an accident. Why would I know anything about the case? Charlie, I’m surprised at you. A detective from London who doesn’t know anyone…well, we know how they are. But you of all people, I’ve known you for years!”

Charlie bristled at the remark not for herself, but Pru, “I’m not sure what you mean by that remark, Miss Gilmore, but I can assure you that I fully support Detective Sullivan’s line of questioning. Therefore, we would be obliged if you could answer, do you know anything about the deaths of Millicent and Miss Reed?”

Pru felt a warm glow seep through her at Charlie’s assistance. They were working as a team and it felt wonderful.

“This looks interesting, doesn’t it, Packer?” Violet turned to Milly, a glint of amusement in her eyes, which immediately slipped as she saw the gleam of jealousy piercing the back of the small detective.

Grinding her teeth, Milly replied reluctantly, “Yes.”

“May I ask why you think I might know anything after all these years.” Jenny Gilmore had been a passably good-looking woman in her day, but the years hadn’t been kind and her skin was now sallow and wrinkled, almost like she frowned permanently.

“We had information that you might.” Pru answered slowly without giving too much away.

“Really and may I ask who gave you that information?”

“You can ask, however, at the moment, we are not at liberty to reveal our sources.”

“I think if someone is maligning my name, I have a right to know!”

Swiftly, Pru answered her aggrieved stance, “I don’t think we mentioned maligning you in anyway, Miss Gilmore. We merely asked a question that we are going to ask several others. I’m sorry if you think we picked on you deliberately.”

The older woman glared at them both in disbelief. This silver tongued Londoner, who did she think she was? “I think you should both leave!”

Charlie was about to speak, but Pru grasped her arm pulling her towards the door. “Thanks for your time. We’ll see you around the village.”

As they moved away from the cottage Pru, with her hand gripping Charlie’s arm, grinned up at her, chuckling merrily.

“What? What’s got into you?”

“Me? Oh, I think she knows what happened. Want to know how I know?”

“Yes, of course I do!”

“Let’s go to the pub and I’ll buy you a drink. I think we both need one. Oh, and I’ll stump up for crisps or nuts, whatever you like, I’m starving and then I’ll spill the beans.”

All Charlie could do was nod her head in agreement Pru was hungry again!
 

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Continued In Part 7