East Pender Boxed Set: Cozy Mystery Series Bundle of Books 1-14 Page 17

  Andy looked at her for a long while, then he smiled. He rose from the table. Ellen thought he was going to storm off. Instead he pulled out her chair and planted a firm kiss on her lips, leaving her reeling, before he did indeed leave the cafeteria. Ellen blushed and looked around, a little embarrassed at the public display of affection, but there was no hiding the smile on her face.

  Chapter 7

  At night the sun set and relinquished its celestial throne to the moon. The silvery beams bathed East Pender in a soothing glow, reminding the denizens of the town that there was a relief to the seemingly relentless heat. It was still hotter than was comfortable for some, however, and they twisted and turned in their beds. For the first time in a few nights Andy was sleeping soundly, the weight of his mind having been lifted by Ellen's pep talk. Ellen, too, was relaxed and had less on her mind, while Kelly was her usual self and hadn't had any trouble sleeping all through the heatwave. Even Scampy was resting peacefully by the foot of Ella's bed.

  But not everyone was, and not for the same reasons. While most people who couldn't sleep suffered because of the heat there was one person who was awake because of something else...a shivering fear that ran up her spine and made every moment pregnant with terror. Every sound was greeted with a gasp for she didn't know if that would be the moment when her assailant returned. She had escaped once; would she be able to do so again? Her mind didn't want to face the possibility of being taken once more, of being blindfolded and dragged away and tossed in a deep dark place where nobody could hear her.

  All she wanted to do was go back to the city, back to where there were always bright lights shining and people were always around. She'd often heard people complain that city life was too dangerous. Her parents had been worried when she decided to set off by herself and live there, but she always felt safe there. There was always someone to turn to, someone watching, and someone ready to hear the screams. Not like East Pender, where everything was so quiet and peaceful that somebody could disappear without anyone knowing.

  Her throat was dry. She reached over to the bedside table and picked up the glass of water, hands shaking. She brought it to her lips and drained it dry, although she was still thirsty. The jug was empty beside it and she thought about calling for someone to refill it but it was nighttime and the shadows danced upon the walls. Fear seized her mind and her soul and all she wanted was to be left alone. Her throat was scratchy and raw and crying for some relief yet she could not bring herself to call for someone, and her body would not let her rest.

  Ella's mind danced with terrible thoughts and things that should have been forgotten, of the hopelessness she felt after having lost her voice for hours after screaming for help, that moment when she knew that nobody would be coming to rescue her. The world felt like it was ending at that moment, and that encroaching darkness seemed to be swirling around her and sucking her into an abyss.

  She pulled the sheets over her, even though she was hot, enduring the heat. She was curled up into a ball but kept fidgeting. No matter where she faced it seemed like somebody was watching her, lurking in the shadows, prowling outside, and ready to strike against her and drag her away into the darkness again. She turned and twisted, sometimes facing the door, sometimes the window, but no matter where she faced her eyes couldn't be everywhere and it always seemed like there was another presence nearby. And she wished for the sun to rise again, for the blazing golden shine to illuminate East Pender and all the dark corners.

  For in that light there was hope. There was another memory, another moment that she tried dearly to hold onto, that moment when she had heard the faint scurrying of paws against the ground, the scratching of claws, and then the sweet sight of a dog's face. Her hero. Her savior. And it was that memory that she clung to as she closed her eyes and tried to ignore the turbulent fears rampaging around her mind.

  But her fears were not unfounded. Outside, the cop who was guarding her door yawned and stretched. The night had been quiet and for all the time she had been in the hospital nobody had tried to sneak in. The heat of the day had tired out the cop and now at night he was struggling to keep his eyes open. He looked up and down the corridor. There was no sign of anyone. What harm would it do to step away for a moment and grab a cup of coffee from the machine? It would help him stay awake, after all. Better to leave his post for a few moments than to fall asleep for the rest of the night. At least that's how he justified it to himself. But, unbeknownst to him, there was somebody watching. As soon as he left his post the person made their way to Ella's room.

  They crept along the floor, stepping lightly so as not to make any noise. Their breathing was steady and they checked to make sure the cop wasn't going to come back. Once they reached the door they placed their hand on the handle and pushed it down, then opened the door and slipped inside. Ella had just managed to drift off to sleep but even before the ordeal she had been a light sleeper and the slight noise had jolted her awake. Her eyes opened and her vision was hazy, but when she focused in the dark she saw a large looming shadow coming toward her.

  She went to scream but her voice was dry from the lack of water and only a squeaking sound came out. Then a hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her. Scampy awoke and scrambled to protect Ella, but a swift kick from a heavy boot in the dog's mid-section sent him whimpering across the room, slamming into the wall.

  “You're not going to get away from me again,” the person snarled. Ella's eyes were wide with terror and she longed to scream, but once again she was helpless.

  Chapter 8

  Ellen had been sleeping soundly through the night when suddenly she woke up. She looked through the crack in her curtains and then checked the time, groaning when she saw how late it was. Now that she was awake she no longer felt tired and knew she would be laying in bed until the sun rose. She sighed heavily and stretched her arms, thinking about the day’s events and what was going to happen later. But as she did so she thought of Scampy. The decision to leave him with Ella had been a rash one and she had been so caught up with what happened with Andy that she had neglected to leave Scampy some food. The dog was a creature of routine and in the heat she knew he needed to keep his strength up, especially after he had gone missing while he had been looking for Ella.

  Feeling as though there was no harm in it, she went downstairs, gathered some food, and took it to the hospital. She drove along the empty roads and chewed her bottom lip, feeling a little foolish for going to these lengths for a dog. It wasn't as though he was going to die if he didn't get his breakfast, and she was sure Ella would have made sure he got fed anyway.

  Perhaps it was just her maternal side overcompensating again. She even considered turning around and going home but she had come this far and figured she may as well continue. At least Scampy would be happy to see her, and if Ella was still awake she might even get something out of her.

  It was eerie being in the hospital at night because there was only a skeleton staff on hand and everything was quiet. Her footsteps echoed off the shiny tiled floor and the electric lights buzzed overhead. She reached the nurses' station and told them she just was dropping some food off for her dog. They greeted her warmly and said it was fine. They also spoke a little about the tragedy and how hard it must have been for Ella. Ellen carried on, and when she reached the door and saw there was no cop outside she almost dropped the bag of dog food. Her heart began racing as she approached the door. She was about to call out to the cop when she heard the sound of struggling inside.

  Without a moment's hesitation Ellen opened the door and stifled a gasp as she saw a large figure over Ella's bed. All Ellen could see was the young woman's legs shaking and struggling to kick out, and then, over against the side wall, she saw Scampy. Filled with rage, anger swelled up inside Ellen and flowed through her veins, giving her a strength she never knew she had. The figure was so consumed with Ella he failed to notice Ellen behind him.

  First she swung the bag of food at his head, and then, while the fig
ure was distracted, she picked up the empty jug that was sitting on Ella's bedside table and brought it crashing down over the figure's head. Glass shattered everywhere, raining down over the floor and the bed, while a loud yell of pain was heard as the figure crumpled to the floor, cradling his head. Ellen rushed to Ella and helped her out of bed, then went over to Scampy. She was relieved to find the dog wasn't hurt too badly and was mostly only shaken up.

  Ellen glanced back at the figure, who she now could see was a man. He was wearing a heavy jacket with the hood up so it obscured his features, and he was beginning to stir. Ellen cried out for help as the man pushed himself up onto his feet. He was about to turn and face her, his face still hidden in the shadows of the hood, when the cop ran in. The door slammed on its hinges as the cop yelled at the man to stay where he was. Pulling out his cuffs, the cop avoided Ellen's glare, for he knew he had made a grave mistake in leaving his post. But Ellen was preoccupied with seeing who was under the hood. As the cop read the man his rights he pulled down the hood, revealing the cruel, twisted face of Ella's brother, Gregory.

  Ellen was surprised she hadn't figured it out before. She held Ella close to her with one hand, while the other rested on Scampy's body, feeling the soft rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. Gregory struggled against the cop and Ellen wished she hadn't looked into his eyes. The only thing she saw was anger. She was reminded of what Beatrice had told her shortly after they had first met; that the twins were a reflection of each other and Gregory had received all the pain while Ella had been given everything that was good. Gregory didn't say anything as he was hauled out, and Ellen made sure Ella didn't have to look at him.

  “It's okay. He's gone now,” Ellen said.

  Ella raised her head and glanced toward the door, checking herself that he truly was gone. Her body was shuddering and tears streamed down her face. She clung to Ellen desperately, and didn't seem like she wanted to let go for a long while.

  “Is that why you wouldn't say anything? Because it was your brother?” Ellen asked.

  Ella nodded, and buried her face back into Ellen's body. Ellen cradled her gently and rocked her as she looked outside at the night passing, vowing not to leave until Ella had told her story. Shortly after the attack, nurses ran in with some water and food to help comfort Ella. The doctor on hand was also nice enough to tend to Scampy as well, and declared the dog had no major injuries and would be fine.

  “Thank you for being here,” Ella said when she was back in bed.

  Ellen was sitting close by, holding her hand, grateful for the fact that she could be there for Ella. In some way it seemed to make up for the fact that she never had had children of her own.

  “I won't be going anywhere for a while, but you're safe now. I promise you that,” Ellen said. “Now how about you tell me everything that happened?”

  Chapter 9

  Ellen jumped out of the shower and walked over to Kelly's place. The heat was beginning to subside and it was easier to breathe. Her mind felt clearer and no longer was it such an effort to make it through the day. Kelly greeted her, and as Ellen walked through to the lounge she could smell the scent of paint in the air.

  “You've started painting again?” Ellen said.

  “The muse struck me once more. It seemed about time to start again. I have to admit that I did miss having a brush in my hand. But now please tell me everything that Ella told you because I've been dying to hear it. I can't believe you had such an adventure without me! I'm starting to feel left out.”

  “It wasn't like I intended to have an adventure, believe me. If I had known that was going to happen I would have dragged you along. I'm just glad that jug of water was there or else I don't know what could have happened.”

  “Best not to think about that, eh, but that's the Ellen I know, always at the heart of the action.”

  “I know, sometimes it's exhausting.”

  “Don't try fooling me, I know that secretly you love it,” Kelly said, and both women shared a secret smile.

  “So then, tell me the nefarious reason why Gregory kidnapped his own sister?”

  Ellen leaned back in the chair and took a deep breath. Ella had taken a long time to tell her, and it had been with much reticence for the poor woman was so shaken.

  “It turns out Gregory wasn't as fortunate in life as Ella was. Where she had a good job and could afford to take some time off to look after their parents, he had run up a serious gambling debt. While he had been bailed out before, there wasn't any money left. There wasn't even any for him left by his parents because they had used up his inheritance for helping him out of the holes he dug himself into. Ella tried helping him out as best she could but he couldn't stop racking up the debt and there came a point where he owed too much even for her to pay off. Then she told him she was thinking of going back to the city to start a new job. That was when he got scared that she was going to leave him behind since their parents had died, even though she didn't have any intention of doing that. It's tragic, really. Despite everything he did she still loves him.

  She told me he was the only family she has left. That's one of the reasons she didn't want to tell anyone about it. She still wanted to protect him, wanted to hope there was good inside him and that he would remember what it was to be a brother. But it wasn't to be. When he came to find her again she knew there was no helping him, and that for her own sake she had to come clean and tell the truth. He'd taken her out to the woods, had burst into her house in the dead of night and dragged her into the woods somewhere he had picked up some work cleaning up the forest. He threw her in some abandoned shed and kept her there, hoping that enough time would pass so people would forget about her.”

  “But why? What good would killing her have done?”

  “Not too long ago he took out a life insurance policy for her. So his plan was for her to die, and then he'd cash it in. Couple that with the fact that everyone would see him as a man who had lost his parents and his sister in quick succession and he would have been able to play everyone for fools.”

  “And he'd have enough money to ride off into the sunset.”

  “Until he blew it all on his next 'sure thing',” Ellen said, rolling her eyes.

  “She was so torn up about it. I don't know what hit her hardest, that she was kidnapped or that it was her brother who did it.”

  “I can't imagine that, a twin as well. They were so close all through life and then it came down to this.”

  “Yeah. She said she was so worried when she was locked up, she actually began to give up hope. She tried to reason with him but he showed no signs of remorse. From what I've heard from Andy he seems unrepentant even now. I can't believe he would do that to his own sister and not even feel guilty about it.”

  “At least she's safe now.”

  “Yes, she is, but it's going to take a lot longer for her to feel safe, if you know what I mean.”

  “Is she staying here or is she going to go back to the city?”

  “I think she's going to go back to where she belongs. She said she preferred the noise of the city, it made her feel less alone. I left her with Beatrice and I think she'll take care of Ella.”

  “Funny isn't it? After you were so insistent that the two of you were peas in a pod.”

  “Well, she gets to go back to the city and pursue her dreams. I stayed here and managed to have a pretty good life for myself. I don't think I'd change anything for the world, although it did feel kinda nice when I was with her in the hospital, like she was my own daughter.”

  “You're not thinking of...” Kelly asked, her eyes wide with fear. Ellen laughed her off.

  “No, not at all, it was just a nice thing to experience once, you know. Who knows? Maybe in the future...” she said, and giggled when she saw Kelly's disbelieving stare.

  “If you had a child you'd be too busy to solve all these crimes, and I know you'd never give up that.”

  “Maybe.”

  “And a child wouldn't be able to h
elp you solve the crimes, not like Scampy.”

  “No, that is most definitely true. If it hadn't been for him and his keen nose Ella would have been out there a lot longer. I don't know how well-fed Gregory was keeping her. I think he was hoping the elements would get her. I guess he reasoned that if she died from dehydration then he technically wouldn't be responsible.”

  “It's terrible, isn't it? It's almost enough to make me want to move.”

  “People always are going to be there, wherever you go, but I think we can agree there are more good people here than bad ones,” Ellen said. Kelly nodded emphatically.

  “Although I'm sure it won't be long before another case rears its head.”

  “Undoubtedly.”

  As if on cue, they heard rapping knuckles on the door. Despite it being Kelly's house Ellen opened the door. She saw Andy standing there. It was the first time they had seen each other since he had kissed her, and Ellen wondered – and a little part of her hoped – that he would do so again.

  “When you weren't at the cafe or your house I figured you'd be here. I just wanted to thank you again for your help with the case and your help with...well...everything. I don't think anyone else would have dared to tell me that, but it was exactly what I needed to hear.”

  “I'm glad I could help. I think we all need someone to tell us things like that now and then. I'm sorry if it came across as harsh.”

  “No, not at all. Well, yes, but like I said, it was necessary. I thought a lot about what you said and I realize now I've been living in the past and letting my mistakes define me. I got so caught up in that one case that I forgot all the others that I have solved. I guess it was just hard having the constant reminder in those books, and that my family never let me forget that the character was based on me. But it doesn't have to be like that here. I'm my own man, and I wanted to thank you for reminding me of that. And to say thank you I wondered if you'd like to join me for dinner?” he asked. Ellen blushed a little.