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“They haven’t told me direct
ly because they don’t want me to challenge the person responsible myself. It is their job to protect me from the negativity on the earth plain, and they are keeping the identity secret. As an officer of the law, you have the capability to be swift and efficient in ensuring that the culprits responsible for the thefts, and the murders, are brought to justice before any more harm is done. They have told me that my grandfather’s fob watch and the vase were taken by the same person.”
“Is that person also responsible for the murders?” Mark wondered if this was a strange kind of séance where oblique references and vague hints didn’t actually mean anything.
“A very small amount of what you have received at those séances was actually accurate, Detective. Pushing the glass yourself proved to you that deception can be achieved at that kind of thing. You needed to know, and found that out for yourself.” She smiled when Mark flushed guiltily. He was stunned. She hadn’t even been there and he hadn’t told anyone what he had done, not even Harriett. How on earth could Helena have known? “Don’t worry, they understand and accept that you needed to do it. They warn you to watch those closest to you. She has to be protected, you understand?”
“Of course. I am doing everything I can.”
“It’s not enough, Mark. They are warning you that it is not enough.”
Isaac sighed and put his book away. Mark looked just as stunned as he felt. Deep in thought, he jumped when Helena appeared before him.
“You need to look deeper into the annoyance you feel for her.”
“Pardon?” Isaac replied warily. He had absolutely no belief in the paranormal at all and like most sane people on the ‘earth plain’, considered it stuff and nonsense, but there was something about the way Helena studied him that made him feel as though she was stripping his emotions bare and he hated it. He turned away only to pause at her next words.
“The distrust will turn to passion and you will get what you want in the end.”
Manners dictated that he should not insult the woman in her own home and he wisely kept his mouth shut. It took every ounce of fortitude to quirk his lips and nod at her politely as he followed Mark closely toward the door.
Mark frowned at her and wondered if she was issuing some kind of veiled threat. If she had of been at the séances, he would have arrested her there and then but she hadn’t been anywhere near, so what was her motive? He briefly considered the factual information she had given him, well, as factual as it could be right now, and once again thought of Mr Montague’s vase. Was she involved in some way, or was she playing some kind of trick?
“If you get anything else, or hear of anything else, please let us know as soon as possible.”
“Of course I will.” Helena followed them out of the room and stood beside the front door. “She will be alright. She isn’t meant to go over to the higher side for a good many years yet. You just need to stay close to Tipton Hollow right now. Well, as close as you can be.” The warning was written in her eyes and all Mark could do was nod before he swept out of the door.
Once outside, he took in a deep breath of fresh air but it did little to ease his worries. It wasn’t that he felt threatened or warned, it was just that something was driving him forward; compelling him to uncover the truth, and quickly. For the first time in nearly two weeks, he felt a sense of urgency that hung over him like a dark cloud.
Isaac moved to stand beside him. “Whew. Thank God that’s over. Let me tell you something boss, the next time you want to go there to interview her again, you are bloody well going alone.” Isaac knew he could get the sack for speaking to his boss like that, even though Mark was more of a friend than a superior but didn’t really care.
Mark coughed uncomfortably and could understand his sentiments. He had no intention of going back there again either. Not without Harriett, a large cross and a bible in his hand.
“I understand, Isaac, but we have to look at this logically. She is either the thief or the murder, or both, or bloody good at playing guessing games. Yes, she could know about the timber merchants through gossip. She could have known about my association to Harriett through the gossip about our engagement. After all, I made the announcement of our engagement at the séance, and it is bound to be talked about.” He shared a glance with Isaac. “But I think we have to be fair about this. First and foremost, I think we have to pay a visit to Hugo Montague’s house and take a look for that vase. If it is still in the window where I last saw it, I think we can put all of her predictions down to her living in that old mausoleum by herself for too long. If the vase has gone,” he puffed out his cheeks and blew a breath, “then I think that we have to take what she has said seriously, and look for ways to unravel the thefts in case Bentwhistle is the thief and has killed people to protect himself. The vase may be the clue after all, just like the lady says.” He frowned and studied the gravel beneath his feet.
For some reason, the thought that she had known he had pushed the glass at the séance on purpose to falsify a message plagued him.
Isaac shook his head and kept his gaze firmly locked on Tipton Hollow, which was situated a little way ahead of them.
“Hugo Montague’s next?”
“Definitely.”
Neither man could think of anything else to say.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The flat was still and quiet, and the air dank and musty when they entered it later that morning. It had only been a few days since Hugo had died, yet dampness already hung in the air. Mark actually felt quite unnerved when he opened the door to the sitting room and looked at the empty table in front of the window.
“Shit,” Isaac sighed and glanced around them. “I’ll take the bedroom and kitchen, you check in here.”
They had discovered from the neighbour that Alan Bentwhistle had borrowed the key from her in order to get some clothes for Hugo to be buried in, and had yet to return it. The neighbour did however, have Hugo’s cat, and had been busy cuddling it when she had answered the door.
An hour later, Mark brushed dust off his hands and watched Isaac reappear in the doorway with a dark scowl on his face.
“Do you want me to check the pawn brokers around town?”
“I think that would be wise. We need to see if it has been exchanged for cash and, if so, get a description of who traded it. If the vase cannot be found then we need to think again.”
