~ 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 Eight

Violet stood in line to receive her new life; or at least she hoped the cloud of her dreams. The Custodian, who had been unable to say very much to her, was whisked away abruptly by his superior. She figured he had a lot to answer for, especially pulling her out of the situation below. Hadn’t they said she couldn’t have what she wanted until Packer’s problems had been resolved? Funny how the powers that be could change their minds on a whim when they felt like it, even up here. Nothing changes in the world, whichever world that might be!

Fortunately for her, or so she thought at the time, she had immediately been put at the top of the line. Time wasn’t an issue to her anymore, having all the time in eternity to ponder the ‘what if’ scenario if she’d chosen to stay behind with Packer.

“Name please?” A sharp voice barked at her. Oh well…figures you can’t change everyone.

“Violet Reed.” Smiling winningly at the grumpy person who was ignoring her charms as they scanned the sheets in front of them.

“You’re not due, you will have to wait. Next!”

Violet wasn’t sure what was going on so she refused to move and leaned on the partition that separated her from this obviously ill informed party. “What do you mean? Of course it’s my time! Remember I was here earlier with the Custodian?”

Rolling eyes stared at the woman who had the audacity to question her directive. Why do they always have glitches like this on my shift?

“I don’t recall you at all, perhaps it was the other shift. Now please, I need to allocate spaces to others, time is moving on you know.”

“Okay, okay. I know I’m a little late, but that wasn’t entirely my fault. Look, can’t you contact the Custodian? He will surely clear up the matter.” Violet frowned at the nonchalance of this person. Who did they think they were anyway?

“Not in my job description. Please, allow the next person to come forward.” This was becoming irritating. If the shift quota wasn’t met, there would be trouble and no way was she going to take the blame because this pipsqueak of a woman was ignoring her.

“Hey, lady, I don’t know how things work up here…yet. However, I’m sure your superiors will not welcome you being rude to people. It isn’t our fault that we are here, you know. No one wants to die!” Cross at the tone and arrogance of this person...she was worse than Packer and that had to be a record.

“In your opinion, I’m sure. Take it from me, many do. Look, perhaps the next shift has you on their lists. You will have to wait.” Damn, she would be allocated extra shifts for sure if this woman caused her trouble.

“Oh yeah and when would that be, the next hundred years?” Violet sarcastically voiced as she turned to look at the ever-increasing line behind her.

Looking down at her timepiece calculating the shift change, “not quite, only another thirty to go. Move along, please.”

Gulping at the comment her breath caught in her throat almost choking.  “What? I was only joking!”

Defeated, Violet stood aside for the next person to be allocated their space in this strange set up. Question was, what did she do now?
 

* * * * *

Rapping on the door for the second time that day, Pru gave Charlie a reassuring smile though she wasn’t too sure what to expect or say. As she pondered that thought the door cracked open an inch and two beady eyes with a look of fear quickly disguised with annoyance looked out at them.

“What do you two want?”

“I think you know, Miss Gilmore. Wasn’t that why you left to speak with your accomplice?” Pru decided the direct approach was the only one and prayed that Charlie didn’t let her down at this stage in the game.

The door was slammed shut on their faces without another word.

“I think you hit a nerve, Pru. What do we do now?” the large woman was impressed at the detective’s apparently confident stance as she confronted the old schoolteacher once again.

“What do we do now, good question. If it were up to me I’d shout up the neighbourhood until she spoke to us, however…”

“However?” Smiling at the thought, everyone would think the detective nuts. Jenny was definitely a paragon in this village and they would have to have conclusive proof that she had been a party to murder for anyone to think ill of her.

“Let’s go to the pub and talk over a drink. I don’t know about you but I’m freezing, my hands are purple, look.” Holding them out for inspection, a warm glow penetrated her body as larger hands took hers chaffing them for a few moments.

“They’ll be warm as toast in a minute.” Charlie responded, little realising the effect she was having on the woman before her.

A mere squeak escaped Pru’s lips, “Thanks, I think that’s done the trick.”

Charlie released her fingers with a quizzical glance. She hadn’t warmed them up yet, but Pru didn’t seem comfortable with the touch. She could understand that the younger woman probably wasn’t used to people like her. Although, understanding and disappointment went ‘hand in glove’ to coin a phrase and it would be apt here. “Great, next time I’ll loan you some mitts.”

Pru didn’t realise that a few words could create so much havoc to her system, but it had. A piece of her was already well and truly lost to this woman and she wondered how much more would end up that way. “I might take you up on that.”

“Anytime.” They both walked away from the teacher’s home towards the pub deep in confused silence.

* * * * *

The old battleaxe wasn’t going to let them in, well that wouldn’t stop her.

Milly walked through the door that had been closed on the other two women, the clang echoing around the small room she’d entered.

Jenny shook as she walked unsteadily back to her chair by the fireside, embers glowing vividly with oranges and reds, a crackle the only sound in the room. The only other sound in the house emanated from the ticking of the grandmother clock in the hall.

Watching the flickering flames she wondered how they had managed to track her down after all these years. It should have been impossible; no one outside the cell knew that the accident was contrived.  It had been such a shock too when they had instructions to kill Millicent Packer. She had never come across as a potential threat though they knew her background; checking her out thoroughly with the odd willing lover that was on their side. The woman never mentioned her work at these liaisons, even though she had been coerced. The subject had always been adroitly changed according to their sources. That had been until shortly before her death.

“What a fool you were, Millicent. Had you never fallen short of your lover’s devotion, you would probably still be alive today. At least she’s always been true to you, pity you didn’t do the same.” Jenny spoke quietly to the heat of the fire in her grate.

Milly shook her head, what? What did this mean?

“I was sorry we had to kill you as well as the spy…two birds in the hand they say…and remarkably, you both made it so easy. We were astounded at our good fortune, like a lamb to the slaughter.” The old woman’s eyes glazed over, her memories taking over as she spoke directly to the flames in the grate.

Stamping her feet at the…the…my God! What exactly it was she didn’t know! All she knew was she was angry and that the down side was it was all her fault! Here she was blaming Violet, thinking the woman the only target, when she wasn’t at all! How did providence get so scrambled that they ended up dying together?

“You bitch!” Milly shouted angrily. As she did so the poker in the fire slipped out of its brass container falling across the grate.

The old woman jumped out of her chair more quickly than she would normally, frightened by the movement. Heaving a sigh of relief, when she noticed it was only the poker not someone entering her house…like, possibly the two women.

Damping down the fire she would have a nap before the meeting at midnight. Her old bones didn’t take too lightly staying up beyond the cocoa hour these days. How terrible it had become to be old in body, but still feel young in your mind.

Milly, watching the woman leave, stroked her chin hoping for inspiration. Where was Violet? Something was wrong. The spy would surely have been with the other two women and if she wasn’t, had she seen the danger that Milly had heard about? No, impossible! Violet wasn’t that good…was she? She was now desperate to see the pretty woman. What if something had happened to her, how could she forgive herself?

All she had to go on was that Violet had been with Charlie and Pru…yeah, Pru, that detective. Funny, the woman’s name didn’t bother her as much has it had earlier. No, she had other more important things on her mind…more important than Charlie’s welfare? Shaking her head, she tried to rid herself of that thought, but to no avail, it persisted. Violet had somehow become the driving force here and she needed to find her ghostly partner, it was as simple as that.

* * * * *

Violet rarely prayed, not that she was agnostic, she wasn’t. It had just never been an important factor in her life, even though her parents had brought her up to believe in something. She recalled that they had always said one day she would know what that ‘something’ was. Right now she hoped it was up here and listening to her.

She had waited patiently, if you could call pacing up and down beside the line patient, watching several, no, dozens if not more people being taken away to this new life she’d been promised by the Custodian. What about her?

Here she was in no man’s land alone, totally alone. What had she done in another life to warrant this kind of treatment? Nothing at all, unless you called serving your country a bad thing, she didn’t think so and never would, especially at wartime!

How come Hitler wasn’t stuck like she was?  He was surely not worth being in line, never mind passed over.

“God give me strength. Why am I stuck like this?” Violet looked upwards, though why she had made her wonder. Hadn’t she already ascended to the top of the mountain?

“What is your problem, may I help you?”
 
Spinning around, Violet gasped as she saw a figure approach her. It wasn’t the Custodian it was …no, it couldn’t be! It was the angel-like figure that had given her such peace when they were here before.

“Well…sure. I think people have forgotten about me!” The plaintive tones echoed around her, did she really sound so sad?

“Tell me your dilemma and I will seek a solution.” The voice was so reassuring Violet did as asked relating the whole story, as she knew it. Even the Custodian’s part though she did embellish that not wanting the man to be under any more pressure than he already was.

“You appear to be here and no one seems to know of your arrival, is that the situation?”

The melodic tones lulled Violet into a sense of security she hadn’t felt for…too long.

“About sums it up. Can you help me? I don’t want to be any trouble but….”

“You say you were returned by your Custodian. Why and why not the both of you?”

“Long story. Maybe you should ask the Custodian himself. You know, too many cooks spoil the broth and all that!” her voice trying to remain neutral though her face carried a sheepish expression as she spoke.
 
“I was asking you, I already know, of course. This is very complicated.”

“I agree, complicated is the right word. What do I do next?”

Several moments passed making Violet wonder if she was going to be left high and dry again without a solution. Then the angel looked at her with a gaze that scorched her inner being and left!

“What the heck is wrong with people around here? Don’t they know it’s rude to just leave?” Exasperated Violet sank down. Could this situation she was in get anymore complicated.

* * * * *

“Ladies, how would you like to have a drink with me this evening?” Charlie was about to refuse the publican when Pru spoke for them both.

“Great, thanks, Captain Ben. Have you had a good day?”

The aging publican grinned at the young woman. He was partial to a lovely smile and this woman certainly had that in abundance. She could do with a little more flesh on the bones, but that was a minor point.

“Yes, it has been an interesting day and no doubt more to come.” Pulling two half pints for the women who had been chatting animatedly in the corner for over two hours.

“Really, anything we might be interested in?” grinning as the old man shook his head shouting something across the bar to a few of the regulars.

“You shouldn’t encourage him, Pru.” Charlie whispered reprovingly.

“Oh, come on, Charlie, it was innocent fun.” There was something wrong here and she would find out this time. Heck, they’d drawn a blank on what to do next anyway.

“I’m sure it was. Come on let’s sit back down. It’s stupid to think he’d know anything.” Walking back to their previous seating arrangements.

“We never asked him, so you can’t say that. Anyway, why don’t you like him?”

Staring at the younger woman she felt the curious gaze. If it had been anyone else, she would probably have cut them dead. As it was, the detective seemed to have a way of bringing her out of her shell, her secrets as well.

“He’s obnoxious and should know better.”

It was hard to stop the bubble of laughter that welled up in Pru at the words. Was Charlie jealous? Surely not! Trying to stifle the chuckle she sucked in a deep breath and tried again to get to the root of the problem. “I thought he was quite harmless myself. He’s old enough to be my grandfather, if that’s what you were thinking…”

“No! No I wasn’t thinking that way at all. He’s a windbag full of himself and doesn’t know when to stop. I’ve also heard rumours about him, nothing that can be set in stone unfortunately.” Charlie placed a weary hand to her brow. Normally at this time of night she would be safely tucked up in her warm bed, the only thoughts in her head, which cow to milk first in the morning.

Pru unconsciously placed her hand on Charlie’s forearm, her eyes capturing the larger woman’s in understanding, “you can tell me, Charlie.”

The blood sped around Charlie’s body at the gentle touch from the detective. As each hour in her company proceeded, she felt more and more linked. What would she do when this was all over? How could she go back to being good old reliable stuck in the forties Charlie!

“It’s just a rumour, probably totally unfounded.”

“Maybe, then again maybe not. Look at where we are now.”

Troubled, Charlie gave Pru a look signifying that she didn’t know where they were, in no man’s land probably. “There have been stories around that link the good Captain with unsavoury disappearances.”

“Charlie! Why didn’t you say this before? It might be crucial evidence?”

“Nothing to do with Milly! Way after her time, something to do with refugees and stuff like that. No one is very specific, it’s only a story.”

“Who disappeared and why did they associate the Captain with it…yes, I know it’s only a rumour. Come on, Charlie, please tell me?”

“Refugees often came by the village in the later stages of the war. Nothing unusual in that as the school was used to house them on a temporary basis. At least Gilmore had some saving graces she was responsible for them at the time. In fact, it was her idea and the rest of the village was happy to help.”

“Go on, please.” Pru’s mind fitting the pieces of the puzzle together with ease as she spoke.

“All I heard was that from time to time, the odd one or two went missing. At first we all thought that they had just left early but over time, it was happening frequently. One of the old stable hands at the manor farm said it wasn’t natural.”

Pru sat closer to Charlie, an avid listener, “Please, more.”

“Jack mentioned one night he was sure he’d seen three people dragging a screaming man and woman towards the forest. He couldn’t make out what the couple was screaming as it was in a foreign language. Needless to say, the next day two refugees were reported missing.”

“Didn’t he tell the authorities at the time?”

“Oh sure, PC Blood was going to take notice of the ramblings of a self confessed drunken stable hand like Jack. No, he just mentioned it occasionally when he got drunk as a skunk.”

“I see. How does Captain Ben figure in this scenario?”

“Before Jack passed away, he clearly stated that Ben Riddle was one of the three people dragging the couple away. He said he’d know him a mile away.”

Pru let out her held breath, “How do you know this, Charlie, were you a witness to the confession?”

Nodding her head, she gazed deep into the amber liquid of her untouched drink placing it to one side as if a chalice of poison. “I was the only witness. He died of a heart attack at the stables. He said someone else had to know.”

Pru grabbed Charlie’s hand, “Did you ever tell anyone else about this?”

“No, how could I? There wasn’t any evidence.”

“You believed him though, didn’t you, that’s why you hate Riddle?”

Hanging her head for a few moments she finally lifted it and Pru saw tears glistening on the heavy lashes, “I let Jack down, I never followed it up.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, Charlie. What did you have to go on but a dying statement from a drunk.” Allowing caution to go to the winds Pru reached up and tenderly wiped away the tears from the other woman’s cheeks. Her skin was so soft to the touch it felt like crushed velvet.

Unable to help herself, Charlie relished the contact wanting more, much more! It was like a dam bursting its seams, taking all her strength not to take the detective in her arms and make love to her here in the middle of the pub! God, what was happening to her?

“I believed him, Pru. Riddle has secrets he wants to keep hidden as much as Jenny Gilmore does. Makes you wonder what else is brewing in this cauldron called Snagglenook.”

“Not everything brewing has to be bad, Charlie.” Pru breathed out, her eyes captured immediately. The sensual charge that each experienced magnified a hundred times.
 
“You know if it isn’t too forward, I’d like to invite you to my room for a nightcap.” There, she’d said it. She didn’t know exactly what she meant by a nightcap since this was all new territory for her, in a big way!

Charlie frowned. What exactly was Pru offering her? In her heart she thought it was crystal clear, but her mind struggled to accept the invitation. What should she do now? “I…I should go home. Work in the morning, you know.”

God how lame was that!

Pru pulled her raging hormones under a semblance of control and smiled slightly, “Of course, I’m sorry, Charlie. You get up early, I forgot for a moment.”

She stood up unsteadily, so much not like her. This feeling she had for Pru was overwhelming, far different than the emotions she had for Milly…my God, they’d forgotten, again, why they were here. “We’ll talk about it in the morning. Goodnight, Pru.”

“Yes, sounds like a plan, see you in the morning. Anywhere special?” Concentrating on trying not to let the other woman know how disappointed she was.

“I’ll buy you breakfast at the café, say seven a.m.?”

“Seven a.m.! Charlie, what kind of time is that?” The uncomfortable feeling between them dissolved as they smiled at each other.

“I’m up at four, works for me.” Winking at her friend, she walked away hearing a faint ‘okay’ to her proposed and obviously agreeable schedule.

“My God, what an insane time in the morning. That’s still night!” Picking up her drink, she emptied the glass waving casually at the Captain and the barmaid then opened the door to the passage that took her to the stairs and her room. Time to reflect on all that had gone on today as well as the revelation also about the publican. This place was teeming with intrigue, wow!

* * * * *

Milly had searched everywhere and when she said everywhere, she meant it. Now seated under the limbs of the giant oak, about the only place she knew Violet would come back to as a base, it made her wonder if finally someone up there had taken pity on the spy removing her from this situation. Perhaps she was now living on that cloud.

If that was the case, what was she doing here? Hadn’t the Custodian said she had to be settled first? At the moment, that was the furthest thing from happening. It all looked likely to end up as before, no real solution to the problem. Though now, she did know that Violet wasn’t the only intended victim. She didn’t, however, know if that was a good thing or bad under the circumstances.

She closed her eyes, what choices were left to her? In the morning the Custodian would come and regardless of the outcome, she would be whisked away back to oblivion. In the mean time, Charlie and Pru might equally end up as she and Violet had. Though selfishly there was some merit in that situation, however drastic it was, she could at least face Charlie and tell her how sorry she was. Alternatively, she could sit around and wait for the detective to try another stunt to prompt action from the murderer. Though she couldn’t say how helpful she would be, that had been Violet’s expertise.

“Violet, look, if you’re listening to me, please, I need you to come back and help me. Tomorrow you can go back to that fluffy cloud and I’ll never bother you again. I promised, remember!”

Hanging her head dejectedly, Milly felt that this was worse than actually dying. At least she hadn’t been alone when that happened. Now here, she was totally by herself and she hated every single second of it.

“Come on, Violet. Please come back. If not for me, for them!”

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Continued In Part 9