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.

Acknowledgement: 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

INTRODUCTION

“Miss, I’m closing off the door, please get inside.” The solider that manned the artillery at this point shouted at her. Sirens were ringing in her ears and the final people in the area were brushing past her, fleeing the The sky was gray except for streaks of bright lightning overhead, which crashed around the people scurrying this way and that like rats leaving a sinking ship. Millicent Packer walked swiftly and orderly towards the bunkered air-raid shelter that belonged to the London government building she worked in. It wasn’t lightning at all, but a barrage of anti-aircraft fire from the ground trying desperately to chase away the enemy aircraft indiscriminately bombing the Capital. As she reached the sandbags, yards from her objective, she looked up as the screech of an aircraft drew her attention towards the skies. Watching, fascinated as the fighter swooped up and down in a zigzag fashion, she noticed the tail end billowing black heavy smoke in its wake. One of the soldiers on the ground would have a wide smile on his face having hit the target. Seconds later, she heard the drone of the plane, as it plunged earthbound at an incredible speed. In the distance, a plume of smoke and flashes of fire were seen. At this range, the distance would only be a matter of a half a mile…maybe a little more…as the East Side of town was hit again. Albeit a victory in bringing the plane down, where it landed could have an equally devastating effect as it would have had if it had continued its bombing run. There were no victors in this war. Every inch of the battle claimed casualties. Only yesterday, a fighter crashed directly on an air-raid shelter with its full payload of bombs, claiming every living soul inside. The tally now had risen to a hundred and was still ascending destruction and noise into the relative safety of the shelter.

“Sorry.” Milly walked inside the dark area and heard the heavy door clank shut behind her.  As her last thoughts had been so somber, she wondered if today was to be her final one and this dark, stone room holding her building’s personnel, would be her tomb.

As she walked further into the dank space that would be her quarters for as long as the battle raged above her, she gave little notice to the others in the room, sitting down at the first available bench she came across. Giving one last look at the people in her vicinity, realizing there wasn’t anyone she knew or at least wanted to spend any time with, she shut her eyes and thought of her home and Charlie.

Tonight she was supposed to be going home, transport willing that was. You could never be certain that the trains would run and never having bothered to learn to drive, she couldn’t get back under her own steam. If she couldn’t, it didn’t matter so much. She’d been invited to a party tomorrow evening at the army nurses barracks at Potters Gate and that would be fun and light relief from being stuck in town on a weekend alone. Not that she ever really was alone…a few discreet calls, and she would be well taken care of in any way she wanted.

A brief smile crossed her lips as she recalled a particularly surprising and satisfying rendezvous she’d had with a fellow colleague. Actually, more than that, she was Milly’s superior. They’d always had a good working relationship and somehow they had both been at the same restaurant across the street from work and decided to have dinner together. Dinner led to a bar in the West End and then to another one of her frequent one-night stands. War had created more than the monster of death…it had allowed promiscuity to indulge itself for anyone who was tempted to follow its path. There were plenty of willing candidates not wanting a long-term relationship. What would be the point, tomorrow they might be called up to the front and never meet again. During Milly’s decreasing guilt trips, she used the premise of helping her fellow men, or in her case women, out in their pursuit of passion in an ocean of horror; and it never hurt anyone. Well, that’s what she told herself and Charlie was never likely to find out. She hated London and stayed away; so, who even knew about her to tell her. Her girl at home was a dyed in the wool country girl and that’s exactly how Milly liked it. Good old Charlie was her rock, and though she hardly dare admit it to herself she really did love her. Any other relationship she indulged in was the temptation of the moment, when she was here alone in the city, with the war raging around her.

As a subtle reminder of her situation, a loud blast was heard as the building shook. Screams of terror could be heard from many of the inhabitants of this underground world. Women sobbing in panic, usually the younger ones that had come in from the smaller villages to help out, they weren’t used to the continual barrage of bombs or sirens at all hours of the day. However, within a short time, they would be seasoned campaigners like the rest, and hold the fear they had. When the war was over, it would be their time to weep but not now. A stiff upper lip was what was called for, especially at home. No one wanted to let the outside world know that occasionally the English trembled as the enemy grew stronger and their forces appeared to be weakening. The bulldog fighting spirit was something they were all proud of and she, as much as anyone, strove to prove it was still alive and kicking in anyway she could.

Derisively looking at her hands, she frowned at the gray dust that had fallen over her clothes. Damn, this was going to cost her another ration coupon to buy more soap powder. She had hoped her clothes might last until next week, but not now.

A female, who was no more than sixteen, with tears rolling down her cheeks, causing streaks through the dust that caked her face, stood before Milly, her features creased in terror. “Do you mind if I sit near you, please?”

Glancing up at the slight figure before her, Milly felt like saying no; she didn’t need a sniveling tearful kid next to her for god knows how long. Then, her conscience kicked in; Charlie had said she was becoming too cynical for words and so she relented. “Yes, I could do with the company. Are you new here?”

A watery smile passed the young girl’s face as she gratefully slipped beside Milly. Her clothes told the older woman that she was probably one of the cleaning or catering women, fresh from the countryside. Every able-bodied person in the country had been rallied to help the war effort in any way. Domestic work was essential to the morale of the public; every bit as much as her own particular talent was…deciphering German coded messages.

“Yes, I came up from the country with my cousin. She’s cleverer than me though, and works in one of the offices. She got me this job only last week. I’ve never been to London before.”

Milly smiled at the admission. The girl had probably never been to the local large town near her village, if her instincts were correct, and in this, she was rarely wrong. “I live in the country too. I’m going home this evening, God willing.”

“Oh really, I wish I was too!  I feel like I’ve been gone for months. I… I miss my mother.” The girl’s plaintiff voice echoed in Milly’s subconscious. She felt much the same, but in a different kind of way, she missed Charlie.

“Who knows, the war might be over soon and you can go home.”

Innocent, trusting brown eyes stared back at her and Milly felt a glow of satisfaction. The girl looked less fearful now and it hadn’t taken much, but a little patience and a few kind words, Charlie would be proud of her. “Let’s hope so. I think enough people have died, don’t you?”

“Yes I do, thank you.” The girl gazed at her hands as she spoke.

Milly glanced in her direction at the platitude and saw a faint tinge of red touch the youngster’s cheeks.

Smiling slightly Milly replied, “no, thank you. I was getting bored sitting here by myself, it’s always nice to have company.”  She hadn’t been bored, impatient more likely, but this child wasn’t to know. Now that the benevolent part of her had kicked in, it wasn’t such an unpleasant sensation; maybe she’d do it again one day.

“Can I ask what do you do here?”

If anyone else had asked the question, she would have bitten their head off and told them to mind their own business. Her role, translating German documents that had been encrypted, wasn’t exactly top secret; the best papers went to those better qualified. This week though, she was sure her assignment was more sensitive than anyone would have guessed and she was close to cracking the code. As soon as she got back, she was sure to have the basis of the underlying message and she would then share it with her superior for validation. Who knew, next week she might be the toast of her office floor, if she cracked a big one. She hated mysteries, which was why she enjoyed her work so much. You didn’t get this kind of thing in normal working conditions.

“I work on floor three, the language center. Where do you work?” Milly finally replied as her brown-flecked gray eyes glinted in the darkening shadows.

“Oh, are you one of the secretaries? I’ve always wanted to be a typist myself, but the war, you know, prevented that. I work in the canteen peeling all the veggies and stuff.”

Milly heard the awe in the voice of the girl. A secretary was good enough and she wasn’t ever likely to find herself in the girl’s company in the building. Therefore, it didn’t matter if she held back her actual role. “We all need to eat and I confess I can’t cook, can you?” She said, trying to steer the conversation away from her job towards a lighter conversation.

For the next two hours in the shelter Milly listened to the girl explain how to cook various dishes. Pity Charlie wasn’t here, she would have traded recipes. The sound of the siren giving the all clear brought a sigh of relief from everyone, including her. She would be glad to get back to the relative harmony of her office surroundings and the mystery of her code breaking. Far better than being cooped up in a small area with too many bodies, though she had to admit, at least in this instance, it hadn’t been as boring as usual. Maybe Charlie was right; she should relax more with strangers. Mind Charlie was too trusting and that wasn’t in her nature and probably never would be…ever! As they stood up to leave, the girl grinned at her and said goodbye. For a few moments, Milly watched her leave the shelter before she followed. Her last thought, before she forgot the whole incident, was that she never found out the girl’s name!

* * * * *

“Damn and blast it!” Violet Reed kicked the rim of her tire in a fit of temper. She had promised herself a nice drive out into the countryside today. Her petrol rations had been accumulating since she’d arrived in this tiny village for a short break from the ravages of her London base, enabling her to indulge in her greatest passion…driving around.

At twenty-three, she’d traveled extensively through Europe with her parents until Hitler and his ‘merry’ men had decided to stomp all over and create havoc. Her mother had been French, and though she had spent a few years being educated in Paris, once war was declared, her father had insisted they return to his homeland, England. That had been four years ago and what people had once thought would be over quickly, raged out of control in almost  every country in Europe, not to mention other continents that were now on the fringes of being involved with this madness.

Coming to England hadn’t been such a bind for her. She loved London and its cosmopolitan, yet underlying English culture. Once the bombs came though, things had changed dramatically and the heart of the city bled profusely with each raid and every death it counted. She knew all about that too. A year before, her parents had been killed in such a bombing raid on their way to the public shelter. In one simple act of destruction, she had lost everything she held dear and London no longer held the appeal it did. The bodies of her parents had been found several days after the event under the rubble. She vowed there and then that for the rest of her life she would help in anyway she could to avenge their deaths. That was initially her grief and the vacuum of loneliness their deaths caused allowed her to wallow in the negativity of the situation. She had gone so far as to contact one of the few relatives who still had some semblance of freedom in the overrun country about traveling back and working with the underground.

What happened next had been a shock. She had been literally accosted one evening coming back from her job, as a junior photographer on one of the city newspapers, by two men who produced official looking badges. Before she knew it, she had been recruited into the role of…spy she supposed. Her links with family in France, not to mention her skills in the photography field, would be a wonderful addition to the ranks of secret surveillance and information gathering.  Giving up her job for a bogus cover in a government department she rarely visited, she’d gone on five missions for her country and the last had been the most dangerous, but had benefits she knew her parents would have been proud of…information that helped the French resistance. The year, and her new role, had taken its toll though and she’d gladly taken the break her superior had ordered her to take. So here she was in a quiet backwater village of England where, if it hadn’t been for the odd squadron of English fighters going overhead on their way to Dover and bombing missions of their own, you wouldn’t know war was depleting every resource in the world at the moment.

Having always been a buoyant and happy person, her dad had called her his own beam of permanent sunshine, and she was generally. Very little caused her to rage inside and it took a great deal to get her openly mad. The last time she had worked herself up into any kind of angry frenzy, if you could call a few swear words and shouting at the walls of an empty room a frenzy, would have been when she’d found out her parents had died. She’d even thrown a chair at the wall in temper at the sheer waste of life. Now, as she thought of it, cruelty, injustice and arrogance probably were her trigger and these days she had a much more rewarding way of handling that through her new work.

“You’ll need the garage for that young lady. Doesn’t do much to kick it, you know.” Old man Fray, who owned the bakery where she rented a room above the shop, remarked as he came out from behind his counter and stood in the doorway watching her vent her anger at the inanimate object.

Violet turned to the old man who wasn’t one to pass the time of day. His wife, on the other hand, you couldn’t stop gossiping, which didn’t bother her. It was light relief from her more serious work. “I know I’m disappointed. I was going out for a drive today.”

He raised his eyes to the sky and thinking he’d heard something she hadn’t, Violet followed his glance. “Take it from me, it’s going to rain. You’d do better staying in the village today.”

“How can you tell? It’s a glorious day!” Violet rejoined, looking up at the clear blue skies.

“You young uns never listen to the radio or the Meteorological forecast properly, do you. Rain today and bide me, it will be heavy too. The best place is inside with a good book, you mark my words.” With that, he turned away and went back inside the shop, unable to hear Violet’s muttered next comment.

“Haven’t much choice now. Knowing the garage here, it will take the mechanic all day. He’s not exactly noted for his quick turn around he always has something better to do, according to the gossip in the local pub.”

Opening the car door she collected her coat and purse then locked the vehicle. Taking another look up to the heavens she smiled, no way was it going to rain; old man Fray was wrong, it was a beautiful day.

Setting off for the other end of the village and a session with god’s gift to women or so he thought anyway, Jeff Ransome. She’d rather sit home with a good book, as old man Fray mentioned, than have a date with that bloke…he was way too slimy. The very thought made her shake her shoulders to rid herself of the idea, now if he’d been in Cary Grant’s league well…

* * * * *

Charise Bottle leaned on the fence of the paddock and watched the gentle, but completely in control rider, take the headstrong horse through the jumps that she had set up earlier. Although, she herself didn’t have a good riding seat, her employer did. If it hadn’t been for the war, then she would have been an Olympic champion; everyone had said. Instead, Fiona had married Alistair Bentley two years before and settled here in virtual obscurity much to many of her old friend’s loss, but to Charlie, it had been a major gain.

Charlie grinned widely as the rider finished the circuit and reigned in towards the length of fence where she stood.

“What do you think, Charise?” No one but Fiona and her mother ever called her by her full Christian name…not even Milly who could be quite formal at times.

“He’s not going to give you any more trouble, Fiona. You’ve broken his bad temperament, but let him keep his spirit.”

The rider’s eyes filled with joy at the compliment. Though the woman wasn’t a horsewoman, she had an uncanny feeling towards animals and what their disposition was. She’d been correct with this stallion. Alistair, her husband, never said much about the workers on the farm, but he was glad that the young woman worked for him and not one of his neighbors. She was a hard worker with a strapping build, a Godsend now and never complained. Many of the men on the farm had been enlisted in the war effort. He would have gone himself but a heart defect put a stop to all that.

“Thanks, Charise. I suppose I’ve kept you from other work again, haven’t I?”

“Don’t be silly, Fiona, you know I love to watch you ride. Let’s face it, I have something many don’t these day’s.” She smiled warmly at the woman. They would never be truly great friends, since their different classes meant that this friendship could only be a superficial one. The Lady of the Manor and the working girl as equals, fat chance of that, even though war was breaking down some of the social barriers.

“Okay, you have me interested, what would that be?” Fiona laughed at the embarrassment that crossed the farm hand’s face. She was a sweet woman, why she hadn’t been snapped up amazed her. The only thing she knew about the woman’s personal life was that she lived in the village with a friend who worked in the city during the week and came home most weekends. Not that she’d ever met Millicent Packer, and probably never would…they didn’t have the same social engagements.

“I get a front row seat at a marvelous equestrian event.” Charlie genuinely thought it too. She knew a talented horsewoman when she saw one, and Fiona Bentley was right there at the top of the pile.

“Charise, you are so sweet, thank you. Now I’d better let you get back to whatever you need to do or you will be late this evening.” Knowing she always left on time, if possible, on a Friday to meet up with her friend. A tinge of envy showed itself, for a few seconds, as she thought of the friends that she’d left behind when she married Alistair. Never mind, she loved him and that made up for everything else. One day she hoped Charise would find the same love she had, she deserved that happiness.

“It’s okay, I haven’t heard from Milly yet. She might not be home until the morning; all depends on the transport situation. But, you’re right; I need to go bring the cattle closer to the shed. It’s going to rain soon, a heavy one too, you can feel it in the air.” Charlie said turning away towards the barn to pick up a few items on her way to the fields.

Fiona watched her go with a wry smile. It looked like a wonderful day; no rain in sight, but if Charise said it was going to rain then rain it would. Country people seemed to know these things and she was certainly a country girl through and through.

Picking up a few necessary items, she needed in the fields, particularly her raincoat, she wondered if Milly would show this evening. It was still morning and sometimes her lover didn’t get a message to her until after lunch. If she didn’t get one by mid afternoon, it was going to be tomorrow. As she sniffed the air and looked up at the sky she quirked her lips, yes, definitely going to rain probably a mini storm. Maybe it would be a blessing if Milly weren’t able to get home. At least she wouldn’t have to travel in the downpour. If there was one thing that annoyed her love, it was getting her clothes wet or dirty…she was a very fastidious woman. Living in the country hadn’t made her any less so, though she would relax a little when she came home on the weekends, allowing herself to wear her slacks and sweater more than one day in a row. It did save on soap powder and that was crucial these days, rations being what they were.

Walking towards the fields where the cattle were grazing, she considered herself fortunate to be doing something she enjoyed. Though not as crucial to the war effort, in her eyes, as Milly’s contribution, she still felt producing crops and other animal foods a useful occupation. Having always lived in the country, she hadn’t relished the prospect of moving to the cities and working in a factory, though she would have done it if that were all the work she could find. Fate had been kind to her when she’d met Milly four years ago. Her smile widened as she thought of their first meeting. Brutus had made the introductions, literally dragging her into the tall, older woman. She should have handled him better but her mind had been pre-occupied with her two brothers enlisting in the army.  Her parents were proud, but her mother equally devastated…why couldn’t they do something else. She loved her brothers who had always been her friends. Her acute shyness at school and large stature hadn’t gained her any there. Most had called her names and played tricks on her. Fortunately, her brothers protected her and she had to admit, it was going to be hard to live without them in her life once they left home for good.

What she hadn’t realized, until she’d literally fallen into the arms of Milly, was her preferences to the romantic side of her life. Soon enough that had been established. The woman, older than her by ten years, had been very happy to educate her in all that it meant…this awakening of her womanhood. Within three months they were a couple, not that anyone knew at first. It wasn’t until they’d talked, or tried to talk, with her parents about their relationship two years before that things really took on a new level. Fate intervened again by providing them with a home, here in the village, when Milly’s grandfather died leaving her the cottage. Since then, she’d been estranged from all her family, which was a burden she bore because of her love for Milly. However, it hurt and brought tears to her eyes every time she thought of them and how they were. She didn’t even know if her brothers were alive or not. Her parents wouldn’t send her any communication at all, not even to the letters she sent faithfully every month. Maybe when the war was over they could settle their differences and they would accept her relationship with Milly. A forlorn hope she knew, hope nevertheless. One thing she knew in her tender heart was that while there was hope in the world, things could change. You just had to keep the faith; and she would, time was a great healer.

Mind you, she would have to convince Milly that her family was worth the older woman making an effort. Having taken a barrage of insults about corrupting the morals of their only daughter, it would be an up hill campaign to have her lover in the same room as her family ever again. Especially her elder brother, Clive, who had physically thrown Milly out of the house the final time they had been at her family home together. A part of her wondered what her lover had seen in her when they had first met. She had been a mere eighteen-year-old innocent in the way of love and relationships. Milly had been every inch the sophisticated experienced woman she had first come to admire and then love. At first, Milly had taken it slowly, thinking her love was infatuation. However, it hadn’t stopped her from teaching Charlie all about the love between two women and the thrill had been as much a rush to Milly as it had to her, she was positive.  In her heart, she knew that she loved Milly more than her lover did her. Her current exploits in the city, which had been furnished to her anonymously, a testament to that. They would need to talk about it soon. She had hoped last weekend, but Milly hadn’t been able to get home, maybe tonight or over the weekend. The pain she felt at the betrayal, coupled with her need for total honesty, was gnawing away at her gentle nature.  Whoever had sent the information called themselves friends. To her, it had blown away her confidence and left her upset and fearful. What would she do if it were true? Where would she live, she loved the village and her job. It wouldn’t be fair if she lost everything because of her lover’s infidelity. There was another option of course; she would silently kept the messages content until there was a right time for that kind of information to be discussed. She knew though, her inner turmoil would break through eventually and bitterness would be the only result, what a dilemma.

Sighing, she donned her raincoat and felt the first droplet of rain hit the garment. Sure enough, it was raining. Her step gathered pace as she set off across the fields.

* * * * *

The Past…1942

The train pulled away from the station as Milly looked around the empty platform; typical Charlie was late as usual! It would have to be raining like cats and dogs too and she didn’t have an umbrella. She’d called the farm and left a message for Charlie to let her know that it was the last train from London and she would have to come collect her.

As it was the third year of the Second World War all the men, except those not able to fight for King and Country, were away from home. The only taxi service in the village didn’t run because both the father and son, who ran the business, were stationed overseas. Walking towards the gate that led to the small country lane she smiled at how tranquil it was here, you wouldn’t even know that war raged in this quiet backwater. Yet in London, every few days, bombs hit the city. Air raid warnings and running to the shelters had become a part of normal life there. Making her even more determined that at the weekend, when she could get back, she came home to a semblance of normality. That and her love for Charlie. Not that anyone knew they were in love they had to be discreet. Probably would always have to be because people were not necessarily tolerant if people were different.

Fortunately for them, her grandfather had left her a small cottage here in the village of Snagglenook. Charlie had managed to get a job on the local farmers land, which was a good way of getting fresh produce in abundance when others in the bigger towns struggled on meager rations. Her job in the city, translating German documents for the government, was secretive and she was unable to discuss the contents of anything translated with anyone outside the government department. She was tempted though, and had briefly mentioned her current project to a friend last weekend when she hadn’t been able to get home. Her current project was suddenly proving very interesting and she had made a breakthrough that evening before she left. Perhaps when she went back on Monday all would be revealed. She hoped so, since she hated a mystery preferring everything to have its place and order in life, especially her own and Charlie’s.

“Do you need a lift?” a very pretty brunette in a small black salon car pulled up alongside her, dragging her out of her thoughts.

“No, thank you all the same.” Politely replying as she looked down at her wristwatch…where was Charlie?

“Are you sure? It’s dark and the weather isn’t good, no taxi service either.” The stranger persisted indicating the worsening weather front with expressive pale gray eyes turned heavenward.

Annoyed with her lover for being late, Milly snapped at the woman who had offered her the lift. “I’m quite alright thank you. I can see its getting dark, do you think I’m blind?”

“Whoa there, I was only trying to help.” My goodness where had politeness gone since they had committed to this war!

As the brunette rolled up the window of the small car and revved the engine in readiness to leave, the heavens opened and the rain poured down soaking Milly in seconds. Damn, if she had to walk the two miles home she was going to catch pneumonia!

Tapping on the window as the car began to move away it stopped again and the window came down partially. “Yes?”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to take you up on your offer of a lift.”

Surprisingly, there was no hesitation from the pretty stranger in the car, which she was thankful to note as she heard the reply, “sure, hop in.”

Milly opened the door of the vehicle sinking into the ruby leather upholstery. It was worn but comfortable and thankfully out of the torrential downpour. “Thanks.”

“No problem, where do you need to be?” The woman shifted the gear stick with a loud crank. Milly glanced sideward at the woman, could she drive?

“Lavender cottage, on the outskirts of the northern end of Snagglenook, is that okay?”

“I live above Frays bakers, it isn’t so very far away.”

“I’m sorry, if you drop me at Frays, I’ll walk the rest of the way.”

“It’s pouring with rain, it isn’t a problem.”

Quietly sitting in dripping clothes she looked out of the window at the trees that they sped by. The woman might not change gear smoothly but she certainly zipped along the small lanes. Probably speeding also.

“My name is Violet Reed. I’m having a rest from London and all its problems.” The woman spoke in a lilting, soothing voice that reminded Milly of someone who hadn’t a care in the world. That surely couldn’t be the case…not now with everything in an uproar around the world.

“Millicent Packer, I work in London and come home for the weekend.” Her voice, quiet and measured, giving little away. Part of her personality generally and now it came into good use with her current work.

“Don’t know how you can stick it in the good old capital with all those bombs dropping all the time. I’m glad to be out of it for awhile.” They were heading for the hilltop as the car screamed its annoyance at having to climb the steep slope.

“I enjoy my work.” The driver turned and gave her an odd glance, then returned her vision to the black sight in front of her. She hated driving in lousy conditions and you couldn’t get it much worse; driving rain making it impossible to see more than a foot in front of the windscreen. The small wiper blades doing blessed little to help the matter. However, just over this hill, they would cruise down towards the tiny village.

Snagglenook was a quaint village, nothing to get excited over. It didn’t have any claim to fame other than it was over five hundred years old and that wasn’t that old in England. They did have the village church with the usual resident eccentric vicar. What else could you expect with a population of around one hundred and fifty. There was a small grocery shop run by the Mead family, who were relatively new to the area, only second generation. Fray’s, the bakery of course, and according to old man Fray, the family had single-handedly built up the town. Not that anyone believed him since it was on public record that the Bentley’s, who owned the manor house south of the village, had that claim to fame. The local police station was run by Police Chief Blood, a kindly man, who would have retired had it not been for the war and no one to replace him. Then there was a schoolhouse for the village children, hardly the most prestigious building in the village. Judy Gilmore, who had arrived five years earlier, was doing her best to teach and the kids loved the middle-aged spinster, not to mention she had a do-gooder attitude by turning the school over to refugees from time to time. The tiny garage, with only two pumps, was in the hands of Jeffrey Ransome, a handsome young man who had taken over from Ralph White when he enlisted. No one knew much about him or why he wasn’t in the armed forces but according to gossip, there was a good reason. Sam and Kathy Sinclair ran the hardware with anything else anyone might require without having to shoot off to the nearest large town. Finally, there was the village pub. What would a village do without one? The Forest Green was the social gathering place and had been for centuries. Even the new village hall, which had been built at the turn of the century, couldn’t quite take away its power of persuasion to the locals. Captain Ben Riddle, who had a story for every occasion and when he didn’t made it up to keep the clients happy, ran the pub. No one seemed to know, or care if his title was real or not; he was a village favorite anyway.

“Have you lived here long? I came here about a month ago and haven’t seen you around, that’s all.” Milly was annoyed at the interrogation. She would be having choice words with Charlie when she got home for not meeting her.

“I keep myself to myself and no, not long.”

Wanting to say more at the abrupt reply, but needing all her concentration as they rounded the hilltop, Violet felt the tires skid as she held onto the wheel. “Kind of an atrocious night wouldn’t you say?”

“I think that is kind of putting it mildly,” Milly, who was very uncomfortable, wiped away a few droplets of rain that were trailing down her neck.

As they came over the hilltop, the lights of the village twinkled and Violet smiled, knowing that in a few minutes time they would be down the hill and almost to their destination.

“Almost home.” Violet grinned turning to the other woman, who in turn looked at her with an impassive expression.

As they went on the downward slope, Violet braked to slow the descent and felt the pedal shoot to the floor but with no answering reaction from the brakes…twice more and then a third time before she quickly turned to her passenger. “Hold on, the brakes have failed…”

Trying vainly to stop the descent, they careened towards the open road each holding their breaths, praying that the momentum would ease and they would come to a stop.

Fate had it decreed, that day, that neither woman was going to have a quiet end to their day as a shadow crossed their path. Thinking the shadow a dog, Violet tried to swerve and miss the creature. What she hadn’t banked on was a large oak tree barely two yards from them, a crash of the vehicle against wood or the resounding crunch of metal. The car finally halted severely embedded inside the tree trunk…

* * * * *

Somewhere up there!

The Custodian walked through the throng. It was becoming crazy. The number of new residents that they were processing everyday was multiplying by a thousand fold the normal intake. War was a waste of life but it also gave them a headache too! At times like these, he really wished he’d had a better earthly life to allow him to take up a better position. Never mind, only another two hundred physical earth years and he could have that vacation.

“Move along please, move along.” He announced waving the bewildered people to the next available station line. Some knew what was happening, other’s were shocked and out of it until they could be settled into a new habitat. Others were simply uncontrollable, very like the two women who were bickering, causing even more upset than allowed.

“Ladies, please be quiet!”

“No way! I want to know what’s going on.”

“Yes she does and she blames me for it too!”

The custodian gave the taller of the two women a small smile. It was hard to come to terms with a situation that was unexpected and in their cases, it was just that…a tragic accident. It happened and eventually they would find peace. It always ended that way, as it should.

“You need to wait in line to be allocated your living space.”

“Living space? I already have a place to live, a cottage in Snagglenook. I want to go back there now! If this is someone’s idea of a practical joke, they picked the wrong person to play a prank on!”

“Oh, I don’t know, this sounds interesting. What’s on offer?” Violet asked with a lighter tone. She had already come to terms with the fact that hitting the tree had resulted in a fatal accident. Nothing much she could do about it, therefore you had to make the most of what was on offer. At least they didn’t appear to be in Hell and she’d often thought she might end up there. Pity she had to take sourpuss with her though, the damn woman was nothing short of a moaning nightmare.

“We have many varieties of living space, which would you choose?” The custodian warmed to the brunette. She had obviously worked out that she was dead and decided to take things as they came; the other woman was not going to be that easy.

“Choose, we get to choose? Do you have a brochure with the options.” Violet’s eyes lit up like electric beams as she wondered if instead of the bed-sit over the baker’s. Maybe she could have a lavish apartment on a cloud with a view of the ocean below.

Milly blew out an exasperated breath. What where they talking about? This was ridiculous!

“Questions, questions. You newcomers always have questions. Yes, you have a choice. I will personally show you what is available. Follow me, please.” The man turned towards the nearest station area with Violet following closely behind him. Milly, however, refused to budge an inch.

“No way! Not until I know what’s going on and so should you!” Milly shouted at them as they both turned to observe her. The Custodian, with experienced patience and Violet, with undisguised irritation.

“I know all I need to know. I didn’t leave much behind in the other life, so why not aspire to better things here.”

Milly’s heart rate speeded up, other life? What other life?

“Millicent, I’m sorry but you had a terrible accident and you have fortunately come here to rest.” The custodian spoke softly not wanting to frighten the woman anymore than she was already.

Glancing from one to the other, Milly gave them both a scathing look, “Not me, I’m not dead! This is a dream and I’m going to wake up in bed next to Charlie and laugh about this.”

Violet hadn’t realized that the other woman wouldn’t let go of life as they knew it. She had assumed that the woman was intelligent enough to work out they had died and gone to…heaven by the looks of this.

“Hey, Millicent, it isn’t that bad. We get…”

“Isn’t that bad! Damn you, it was your fault. I refuse to die!”

The Custodian watched the two women sparring. It was quite entertaining from the humdrum, although it didn’t help matters.

“Millicent, please take a look around. You are not the only one who has been involved in a tragic loss of life.”

He motioned for them to look at the other people who wandered around in all kinds of dress, many of them military uniform. Some appeared to be laughing and joking with others, some pensive and shocked while other’s wandered aimlessly until someone came to their aid.

“Where are we?” Milly asked again, this time her voice low and less threatening.

“You are at the loading stage of your journey. A time for a fresh start and a clean slate.”

“Really? Well, I had a clean slate in the previous life and I want to go back. So should you!” Milly accused the other woman while crossing her fingers at the clean slate statement. Well, perhaps she had a few indiscretions, but none of merit to mention here.

Snorting disbelief at the sentiment, “who cares. No one is going to mourn me I might as well start again. What’s your problem anyway, you’re dead you’re going to have to live with it. Pardon the pun.” Violet said sheepishly as she smiled at the custodian who gave her an understanding smile back.

“I take it you’ve forgotten why I’m here?” Hands folded over her chest glaring at Violet daring her to say something stupid.

With a guarded expression she replied, “I guess I’m partly to blame, although you did take up my offer of a ride, remember?”

“How could I forget! Next time you should have a plaque attached to the vehicle saying this is a one way trip.”

“Oh, funny, ha ha…”

“Ladies, please! This is getting us nowhere.”

“Nor am I!” Milly announced belligerently.

“I’ll go wherever you want as long as it’s as far away from her as possible.” Violet quickly replied. She’d had enough of the other woman’s whining. Whoever Charlie was would probably get a good night’s rest. Perhaps that was a bit cruel under the circumstances but the woman goaded her to think that.

“Unfortunately, Violet, your situation is entwined with Millicent’s. You both need to be settled.”

“What! You never told me that! Why?”

“As you were, in part, responsible for the death of Millicent, you are obliged to see her settled before you can embark on your own choices.” The Custodian held up his hands in a show of resignation at the prospect. Sometimes the rules were harsh on innocent parties and in this, he knew Violet was totally without blame.

“Damn, I wasn’t expecting that.” Violet turned to stare at Millicent Packer wondering what she thought, but as she saw the smug smile, she knew without words…bitch!

“It was an accident! Something ran out in front of me, a dog maybe and I’ve always been a sucker for animals…would you have done anything different?” glaring at Millicent.

Before she could reply the Custodian spoke again and this time, it was with a rather abstract tone, “actually, it wasn’t an accident.”

“What do you mean it wasn’t an accident?” Milly quickly noted the comment and immediately latched onto it.

“Oh, nothing ladies, it isn’t important anymore.”

Quickly eating up the space between her and the man, she was as close as she could be whispering with a menace in her voice, “I want to know…no…I deserve to know. So does she! What do you mean, no accident?”

“Hey, don’t bring me into it.”

“You’re in it as far as I’m concerned, and I want the truth.”

The Custodian realized that he’d made a mistake. If only he had learnt from his original blunders on earth…a loose tongue hanged you in the end. Now he might have another hundred years added onto his work shift for that error. “I’ll speak with my superior. Ladies, please be quiet until I come back.”

He was gone as quickly as he had appeared, mingling in with the white clouds.

“What a mess!”

“Oh, I don’t know. It was working out great until you decided to know everything. What are you expecting, that they’ll send you back?”

“Yes! Why not, we might not have been meant to die.”

Laughing sarcastically at the remark, “sorry to burst your ego bubble, Packer, but no one wants to die.”

Annoyed as she heard her surname used in such a familiar fashion, “My name is Miss. Packer, if you wouldn’t mind.”

“No, I don’t mind, Packer will do nicely. Anyway, what can you do about it; I’m already dead!”

Both women turned away from each other, arms crossed over their chests, to wait for the Custodian to return. For the first time since they had arrived, complete silence was between them.

* * * * *

Back in 1942…a few weeks after the accident

Charlie Bootle felt numb.

The funeral of her close friend and closet love of her life, Millicent Packer, had taken place and she was now here, alone once more, in the cottage they shared. If only things had been different!

That had been the message going through her brain after PC Blood had given her the devastating news. If only, if only!

There had been a nice service in the village church and Milly had been laid to rest next to her grandfather. They had then gone to the local pub and had a few toasts in her memory and the other woman who had died as well. Not that much was known of the other woman, though the Fray’s said she had been a bright bubbly friendly woman, who had obviously offered a lift to Milly. Other than the police saying it was an accident and she must have hit a tree in the bad weather that was all they knew.

The inquest had said death by misadventure and had been straightforward. The only difficult part had been someone to come forward for the other woman’s body. It hadn’t happened and with all that was going on, it was going to be hard to locate a relative. Therefore, Charlie had decided to bury her next to Milly. It was the right thing to do and a place the relatives, if they ever turned up, could come to grieve.

Now she was left with…nothing but memories. She had to move on but where and what to, that was the problem? She’d fallen for Milly four years before as a giddy eighteen year old. Although there was a ten-year difference, it hadn’t mattered and they had eventually started to live together when she had turned twenty-one. Now it had ended and she didn’t even know if she would lose her home as well as her love. A trip to the solicitors next week was going to confirm that one way or the other.

Sinking into Milly’s favorite chair, she looked at the book that her love had been reading before she died and the poignant memories once again tumbled over her. She felt the tears stinging her cheeks; this wasn’t fair it really wasn’t!

* * * * *

Up there…

The senior Custodian pursed his lips and pulled at his chin shaking his head as he watched the two newcomers squabble over irrelevant things. What was past was past! Here they would start again it was that simple. Though one of them readily agreed to do so, the other adamantly refused to participate, providing them with a problem.

“Ladies, please, others are trying to find a modicum of peace after their passing!”

Violet, her face a shade pink, turned as she realized she was becoming as bad as Packer bickering with the woman over nothing really. What difference could her protests make; they were dead. She’d like to see the faces on everyone if they suddenly rose from the grave, “sorry.”

“Well, I’m certainly not sorry. Are you in charge…”

“I’m not exactly in charge, Millicent, merely a servant of a higher power.” The senior official gave her a gentle smile reminding them both of a saint that you saw on depictions in paintings.

“Any chance of Jesus’ autograph?” Violet asked with enthusiasm attempting a little levity into the fraught situation.

All eyes turned to her in stark amazement as Milly replied sarcastically, “God, give me strength.”

The original Custodian, who was standing beside her, whispered, “He might, and you never know these things.”

“Okay. I want to know who killed us…no, who murdered us?”

“Impossible!”

“I won’t rest until I know, so expect me to be standing here for eternity.” Folding her arms, Milly stood like a statue, making it clear that she meant every word.

“Is she always like this?” the senior Custodian asked Violet.

“Wouldn’t know, I only met her that fateful day.”

“Millicent, it is a rule here that all the previous happenings in your old life are forgiven and forgotten, it is a good rule and people are happy. If we allowed people to continue with their old memories, what happens below would occur here too and we do not allow that. I’m sure you understand?”

“Not me, I want to know the truth.”

The senior Custodian spoke quietly to his junior who had first come to their aid. They both stared at the women who were causing so much trouble. Didn’t they realize that it was a busy time here for them, though the end was in sight?

“I will be back.” With that, the senior Custodian left them.

“So, what do you do for fun around here?” Violet asked, praying for small talk with this man rather than the bickering with the other woman. Packer was a real pain in the ass.

“Fun? Ah, well, everyone makes their own fun.”

“Great, so anything goes kind of style?”

“Yes, I suppose.” The man smiled. He liked this woman. She was very easy going and he knew exactly the place she should consider. That would be when the issue was resolved with her companion and he knew exactly where she should end up. God forgive him for such evil thoughts.

“Is that all you can think about, fun?”

“Yes, what’s wrong with that? Better than moaning all the time like you. Thank God we only shared a car journey home once, twice would have been like going to Hell.”

“The way I see it, one journey with you put us in Hell!”

“Ladies, please! My dear, Millicent, I can assure you that you are not in Hell unless you wish to make it so for yourself.” The Custodian was affronted at the woman’s remark. She was very bitter, far more than many who had been in a similar position.

“I’ll reserve judgment.” Milly turned away from the other two and watched one of the many lines of figures queuing to be given a new chance. A part of her smiled as she realized that even here, in ‘heaven’, you had to queue, what an irony.

“Packer, why can’t you just accept it! I thought you had more intelligence, I must have been mistaken.” Violet said bored with the woman’s constant nagging.

“Will you stop calling me Packer.” Snorting out her own name in annoyance. This woman surely had brains, didn’t she? And, why wasn’t she interested in who wanted them dead…or at least. “Do you already know who killed us, is that why you’re not interested?” Milly accused, moving menacingly closer to the brunette.

Violet shrank away from the woman who looked deranged. As Milly got closer, the senior Custodian appeared with another figure that didn’t speak. Its aura, which was all around the figure, was one of peace as well as tranquility and the essence of serenity could be felt.

“Ah, so you came back. About time too! Now, can we get to the point, please?” Milly strode purposefully towards the figure and was held back quickly by the original Custodian.

“I’m afraid you can’t approach, Millicent. Only the senior Custodian is allowed to communicate directly.”

“Oh really, not another of your stupid rules.”

Violet watched the figure that was dressed all in white. It was hard to tell if the person wore a dress or it was a unisex tunic. It was almost impossible to distinguish the gender…the figure was so surreal. Her fascination wasn’t lost on the figure that turned bright blue eyes to stare at her position; she felt a lump lodge in her throat. Now she was totally at a loss for words as her body totally relaxed and an inner peace settled within her.

The senior Custodian spoke softly; giving what he said would be the final decision on the subject. “You will be allowed the chance to find your killer. We intend to send you both back to…”

“Hold it right there, both of us?” Violet retorted quickly. She didn’t want to go back, whoever it was might kill them again.

“Why yes. It was, after all, a double murder and until Millicent is settled, you cannot do so. Didn’t we explain that clearly enough for you?”

“I’m not going with her,” turning to look at the figure she then spoke directly to the entity. “No way, Saint, whoever you are. I’m staying here. I haven’t a problem with this starting over business, she can go on her own. I’ll even give up a chance for Jesus’ autograph, you can send me on my way now, if you wouldn’t mind.”

“She goes, you go.” The ethereal figure disappeared, the senior Custodian with it.

“Great, that’s exactly what I wanted. Come on then, let’s get this show on the road.” Milly rubbed her hands together and grinned at the Custodian.

The man glanced at the previously unhappy woman and wondered what it was in human nature that brought about a sudden shift in personality. Then he was given his answer as Violet spoke in a resigned unhappy voice.

“Wonderful, now we know how to get you to be happy, give you your own way!”

As both women looked at each other in loathing, they felt a sudden rush in their senses as they experienced total blackness, having done so once before…at their deaths.

The Custodian gave a rueful look towards the land below the clouds and rubbed his jaw, had the senior Custodian told them everything? He had better ask, otherwise there could be more trouble brewing with those two. Although he had been in awe, that was the first time ranks had been broken and the power had talked, if only briefly, to a journey person. It had been the first time, to his knowledge, in centuries.

* * * * *

Home again?

The area was dark as they came to their senses standing next to a tall ancient oak tree. Both women looked around unable to see much except for a multitude of lights from the buildings in the distance, though not that distant.

“We ended up here?” Milly glanced around. There wasn’t any evidence of a car accident and no vehicle in the vicinity. Wouldn’t it have been wise to leave them the car to enable them to go into the village as normal and not pose any suspicions?

“Don’t ask me, I died too remember.” Violet was concerned herself. Something didn’t seem right to her but she couldn’t put a finger on it at the moment.

“How could I forget! Come on let’s go into town, I want to see Charlie she’ll be worried about me as I’m so late.” Looking down at her watch, she was surprised. It was still the same time she had checked just prior to the accident. Damn, it must have stopped. Placing it close to her ear then pulling a face as she heard the ticking of the mechanism. Oh well, that was a minor point.

“Do I get to meet Charlie?”

“No you don’t! You go back to the Fray’s. Won’t they be worried if you don’t turn up?” Milly was astounded that the woman would suggest such a thing. If it were up to her, she would have left the brunette in ‘heaven’.

“We both need some sleep. I suggest we meet tomorrow for lunch at the pub and go over any details we have.” Milly began to walk briskly towards the town.

“Hey, hold up, Packer. Shouldn’t we be doing that now rather than tomorrow? Anyway, I’m not sleepy.” Violet wasn’t. In fact, she felt great! A little disorientated, but great nonetheless. Must have been that relaxed ambience up in the clouds.

“I haven’t time to trade arguments with you, Violet, come on.”

Following as fast as she could, at least ten steps behind the Packer woman, Violet muttered under her breath about walking this fast, couldn’t she slow down.

Ten minutes later they were at the edge of town and both women looked at the surroundings. This wasn’t Snagglenook, it couldn’t be.

“He did say we would go back, didn’t he?” Violet asked as she glanced around the buildings. There were some of the ones she recalled vividly but also many that shouldn’t be in the town.

Milly was astounded at the changes and it had changed. There was still the pub that looked as it had when she left on the Monday. Opposite the pub had been the tiny garage except this wasn’t tiny it was a large forecourt with several pumps and flashing lights in the window of the building that usually housed the mechanic. As she stared closer, she saw a young man laughing and joking around with a pretty girl. Not only that, strange music blared out making her shake her head at the noise level.

“Packer, it isn’t our village, is it?”

Milly tried a couple of times to answer but the sound dried up, what could she say? She turned to look further down the street. At this time of night, it was usually pitch black as everyone followed the strict blackout curfews not wanting to tempt any enemy bombers flying over at night. However, streetlights were well lit and the houses down the small main street all had lights glaring out.

“I think they made a mistake.”

“Mistake? This is some mistake, Packer, what do we do?”

“Don’t ask me, I don’t know. They don’t give you a handbook for this type of situation, you know.” Milly was feeling as hysterical as the brunette sounded and she placed a calming hand on her arm.

“It’s all your fault, you know. We could have had this new wonderful life but oh no, you wanted to come back to this!” Waving her arms around agitated.

“Look, the easy thing is we go over to the garage and ask where we are.”

“You call that easy? Go ahead.”

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

“Oh yeah and you want me as what exactly?”

“Support would be nice for a change.” Milly interjected her tone despondent. She really didn’t understand any of this and that meant dying as well.

“Support you shall have, I’ll be right behind you.” Violet gave the woman a sweet smile that didn’t reach her eyes as she followed her towards the brightly lit garage.

As they approached the building, the girl came out and walked towards a car that was parked next to one of the petrol pumps. She had walked within a foot of them but had not acknowledged them in anyway. Not only that she didn’t look familiar and Milly knew most people in the small town; she was obviously visiting.

With a hand on the door of the building, it opened suddenly and both women suffered differing degrees of shock as the young man they had seen at the window walked out. Not only didn’t he see them, he walked right through them!

Violet shrieked feeling an unfamiliar sensation as the man literally walked through the middle of her. Turning terror filled eyes to Packer, she was amazed to see the woman’s face as pale as snow staring at her own body. Apparently she too had experienced that strange feeling.

“Packer, does this mean what I think it means?” disbelief in her words.

Blinking several times Milly was certain that someone was playing a prank on them. It had to be that. No one could be so cruel as to do this to them… or could they?

“My God, Violet, we’re ghosts!”

“Yes, I know, but that’s not the worse of it.”

“How can it get much worse?” Milly was angry at the powers that be who had sent them there and didn’t see Violet glance around her meaningfully.

“This isn’t Snagglenook! How can we possibly find out who murdered us and get back!”

* * * * *

The future…

“Why did we have to sleep next to this tree it’s so…so uncomfortable!” Violet snorted as she systematically edged around the base of the tree trying to find a comfortable spot that didn’t have the largest boulder in town underneath her rear.

“Do you ever stop moaning?”

“Me! Me? She says that to me, after all her ranting and raving, which I might add, has led us to this rather terrible situation. Why couldn’t you have let sleeping dogs lie?”

“Well, pardon me for being slightly inquisitive about who wanted one of us dead.” This woman exasperated Milly more so than she had been before. The fact that they were ghosts and apparently not in the right time frame, didn’t make matters any easier.

“Hey now, don’t you go blaming me. You’re the one who works for a government agency.”

“Of course, now it’s my fault again! What exactly do you do for a living?”

Violet shrugged her shoulders muttering quietly under her breath. “I didn’t quite catch that, care to speak a little louder.”

“I’m a freelance photographer!” Her voice rose so sharply Milly felt her eardrums vibrating.

“No need to shout. You could wake the dead.”

“Yeah I know and look who heard.” Violet responded sarcastically, she was fed up with Miss. high and bloody mighty. Who did she think she was anyway, royalty?

“Who did you last work for and when?”

Violet gave Packer a look that sank invisible daggers into her back. “Who gave you the right to be detective?”

“Just answer the question, please, it might be important.” Milly wondered why it was that someone had wanted to kill them. It couldn’t be anything to do with her because how would they have known she would be in the car. Therefore, it had to be something this woman had done and the only way to know would be to find out how?

“What difference would that make now? Anyway, it was an insignificant job, nothing to write home about?”

“Let me be the judge of that.”

Rolling her eyes heaven ward she wondered if anyone heard her silent plea to be taken back into line for her new life…obviously not!

“I went to France to take some family photographs. It took two days, as you can see I arrived back safe and sound.”

“You went to France! How? Who authorized it? The Germans have overrun the place!” Milly couldn’t believe it and this woman implied it was nothing to write home about! Was she crazy? The place was overrun with the enemy!

“I’m not the one on trial here, Packer, you’re speaking to me as if I am.”

“It’s nineteen forty-two, we are at war with the Germans who are taking over every country in Europe including France and you call that a jaunt. I call it suicide or…”

Violet was annoyed. Packer’s ‘or’ had intonations she didn’t like and the suspicious glare she was being given made matters worse. “Oh, I get it. You are wondering if I’m a spy for the Germans and that was how I could go into France. You don’t have much faith in your fellow man or should I say woman, do you?”

“Do you blame me? I’m in this state because of you and that’s the only truth I know at the moment.” Milly wiped her brow, not that she was perspiring because she wasn’t and never likely to again. What a bloody mess this all was and she didn’t know what to do. They weren’t even in Snagglenook or at least the Snagglenook she recalled, giving rise to the next question…where exactly were they?

“Are you a spy for the enemy?”

“No! For your information, I have dual nationality. My mother was French, my father English. I went over to take the wedding photos of a cousin. Does that satisfy you!”

The words shot back at Milly and she felt guilty for a few short moments then shrugged the sensation away. It might still be the key to the truth.

“Can you prove it?”

Blinking rapidly, startled at the audacity of the woman, Violet stood up striding away from the tree and the offensive comments.

“Can you?” Milly shouted at the retreating back.

Spinning around Violet glared at her. Who did she think she was anyway! “If I could find my belongings then yes, I could prove it. So, tell me Ms. Clever Clogs, how do you propose we do that?”

Pursing her lips, Milly ruefully accepted she had asked for that comment. The brunette had been adamant and didn’t, at any time, appear to be flustered. Anyway, what did she have to lose now by admitting to helping the other side? “I think we should go into town and find out exactly where we are and how we get back to Snagglenook. It’s where the accident happened after all and obviously where the murderer plotted and acted to tamper with your brakes.”

Sighing heavily, Violet wondered if it could be a real simple explanation that her brakes had failed and the Custodian had been wrong with his version of their deaths. She could hope anyway, that way this woman would be out of her hair for good, the sooner the better!

“Let’s go, what have we got to lose. Anyway, I’m fascinated by that music, it’s really quite catchy. Wonder who Elvis Presley is?”

Milly caught up with her as they walked in silence towards the outskirts of town again, this time, wandering down the vaguely familiar, yet alien, main street.

* * * * *

Snagglenook Cemetery 1962

Charlie smiled at the wonderful array of flowers that blended well with the white marble headstone that stood with pride over Millicent’s grave. She’d tended the grave punctually every two weeks ever since her lover had been laid to rest here…twenty years ago. Normally she would have come on the anniversary of her death but she’d had an odd call from someone in London and had gone there instead.

They’d indicated that they had new information regarding the accident that had killed the one person she had ever loved and strangely enough, had never replaced in her life, which hadn’t been easy to do anyway in this quiet country village. People, she suspected, had always privately pointed the finger and assumed things, though she had never been subjected to any open scandal about her life with Millicent. Most people around respected her and left it at that, it was her personal business.

The person who had called her was a private detective who had been employed by a relative of the woman who had been buried alongside Millicent, Violet Reed. They had refused to indicate who was their employer, but it was clear that the person involved was having no expense spared to find out what had happened to her. The meeting had been strange, to say the least.

Turning away she felt once more that something hadn’t been resolved. It had been profound for years but never more so than now. Maybe she was just tired, she had been up since five, time for dinner and an early night.

* * * * *

Sullivan Private Detective Agency – London…

“But, Dad!”

“No but Dad me, Pru. If you can’t convince someone who was close to the woman to give you any help and information, how can I leave you with this case? I’ll assign it to George. He’s nearly finished with the Carlton divorce case and I’m sure he will love a mystery after being a peeping tom for the past three months.”

“No! You can’t do that, Dad. I can do this, I promise. Let me have another chance, please?”

Pulling at his short moustache, Joseph Sullivan mulled over her plea. He had yet to take a hard stand towards his daughter. Martha always said he was too soft where she was concerned and that was probably true. Being the only daughter and having three elder brothers who were all six feet tall minimum, Prudence had taken after her mother in stature, standing little more than five feet two. When she had failed the height restriction to join the police force, she had tried the armed forces but to no avail. Her height had simply stopped her being able to do what she wanted.

Jack and Philip, his twin elder sons, had joined the military for a time and George, the younger son by three years, had followed his father into the police. When he had retired from the service, he found it impossible to stay home and decided to start his own detective agency. He’d been a good policeman and the authorities had welcomed him into that profession, which was often troubled with seedy characters. It hadn’t been long before all three sons had elected to give up their careers and join the family business. Though no one had expected Pru to want to do so, since she had an independent spirit that had refused his help several times in the early days.

Eventually, the boredom of a secretary’s job finally broke her and she agreed to join the business, initially taking care of the paperwork although she soon used her feminine guile on some of the cases. That had been a major advantage in securing some of the work, especially in the divorce cases. This case was different in many ways. It was twenty years old and other than the ramblings of an old relative of one of the women killed in the ‘accident’, there wasn’t much to go on. However, the client had indicated the contract was potentially lucrative in the future if they came back with some solid evidence, one-way or the other. That was enough for him to take it on and allow Pru a chance. What harm could it do…but if she couldn’t even get through the first hurdle!

“What do you plan to do next?”

Pru grinned. Her dad was wavering and once he did that, she was sure to get her own way. “I’m going to the village where the accident happened and where both women lived. Perhaps I’ll find someone who will talk about the situation. You know these old villages, they always have one busybody or two.”

Glancing at the calendar on the wall he contemplated the date and then in a deliberately harsh tone followed by a wink he replied, “you have seven days, Prudence, after that, I want results or your brother takes over, no argument.”

A bubble of laughter crept out of her as she flung her arms around her father hugging him tight. “I love you, Dad, you won’t regret it, I promise.”

As he watched her leave the office like an excited schoolgirl, he shook his head ruefully. Yep, Martha was right, Pru could twist him around her little finger.

* * * * *

“We’ve walked these streets a dozen times, Packer and it’s the same conclusion…this is Snagglenook but not as we knew it.”

“Yes, the sign says that but how and why?”

Violet wondered if this woman ever took things on sight and didn’t always ask that three-letter word? “Do you ever trust anything you see?”

“Of course, why do you ask?” Violet had to laugh, there it was, that word again.

“What are you laughing at?” Milly was annoyed at this woman’s lack of curiosity over their situation. Hmm…unless…she already knew the answers and refused to tell!

“You, I’m laughing at you.”

“I take exception to that, Violet. Just because I want the truth.”

“Its getting tired, Packer.”

“What do you mean?” Milly placed a restraining hand on Violet’s arm to stop her moving away towards the pub.

“I mean, I’m fed up with you moaning about the truth and all that goes with it. Bottom line, Packer, is we are dead. Look at us, arguing about stuff we can’t do anything about; or can we?” Holding up her arms, then putting one out, as someone walked by, only to have them walk right through it.

Milly watched the woman as she jumped in front of people pulling scary faces with no one noticing, very like being in a different dimension and unable to communicate. “I know we’re dead.” She replied solemnly.

“I don’t know about you, but even if we found the truth, what happens next? Do we go straight back up there, do we stay here like this or what?”

The frustration of the situation was evident as Violet turned away and began to walk back towards the pub. It might not hold anything for them but at least it was familiar to her.

“I don’t know, Violet, I wish I did.” Watching the brunette walk away, Milly realized that she might have been acting rather too harshly towards her. After all they were both dead. It must prey on the other woman’s mind too, even if she appeared nonchalant about it. “Want to come with me to the cottage?”

Violet stopped in her tracks. She had initially said, after their first walk around the town, that they should go to Packer’s home but she had been against it for some reason.  Now, she wants to go and with me! The woman was weird beyond anything she knew. “Why now?” she closed her eyes briefly as she realized what she had said. It must be catching, that three letter word.

“It’s the only way to know for sure.”

“I thought you didn’t want me to see where you lived?”

“Things change, are you coming?”

“Yes, of course I am…a thanks.” Violet smiled shyly at Packer and was rewarded by a smile back, which had to be a first.

* * * * *

Up there…

The Custodian strode down the line as he would normally, except he wasn’t his normal self not by a long shot. He had finally heard that his senior had assumed he’d informed the two women about the visitation back to the land of the living and it’s restrictions and possibilities. He hadn’t, of course. It had been a quick decision, far quicker than many. Usually, it was many years later, than the twenty that had elapsed, when the verdict came back to send someone back.

Twenty wasn’t so bad. People were still alive who could shed light on the situation and the perpetrators who had been instrumental in the deadly task to eliminate them still lived in Snagglenook. They say things change very little in small communities and that was the truth, fortunately for the two women.

That didn’t detract from the fact that the two ‘ghosts’ or spirits, as he would call them, were on their own down there. They didn’t even know how to ask to be brought back and he couldn’t go down there to tell them. Now it was all up to them and luck, they would need it!

I wonder how many years it will be before they get back here…hopefully when he was on vacation in three hundred years time.

* * * * *

“This is Snagglenook.” Milly said it so softly Violet wasn’t sure if she blew out a breath or spoke.

“Did you say something?”

“This is Snagglenook.”

“How do you know?” Violet saw a cottage. It had roses all around the low walls and the ivy crept in an unassuming way all over the brickwork. The thatch on the roof had seen better days but wasn’t too bad; it looked like most of the village cottages in this area.

“It hasn’t changed, the cottage I mean. It looks like it did when I left, but more beautiful.”

Violet heard the wistful tone and felt sad for the woman who gazed transfixed at the oak door.

“Shall we go inside?” As she spoke, a car drove up and scared them both at its speed and…shape. What was that? It looked like an ugly bug?

A woman stepped out of the car looking around the lane and then opened the creaking gate. “It hasn’t changed. Charlie always said she would fix it.”

“Be quiet, let’s see who lives here.”

The woman, who was shorter than Violet and that was saying something, knocked on the brass lion’s head doorknocker then waited for it to be answered.

After what seemed liked hours, but was in fact less than a minute, the door slowly opened and a very large woman appeared at the door. Violet had never seen anyone of that built before…no, that was wrong, she had, but this was like larger than life.

“My God, she’s big! Can you believe she would fit in that small cottage?”

“She looks wonderful.” Milly whispered lost as she drank in the presence of her lover who had aged that was true but she had done so gracefully.

“Hello, Miss Bootle. Look, I’m sorry for bothering you again, but it’s important.” Prudence Sullivan smiled at the woman who looked shocked at her appearance.

“Why are you here?” Violet chuckled silently as she heard that word and wondered if it could be eradicated from the English vocabulary.

“I need your help, I know we didn’t exactly get off on the right foot earlier but I was hoping…”

Violet grinned. Didn’t she know that one. then turned to Packer. What she saw there amazed her. The woman was close to tears…no tears were slowly rolling down her cheeks. Why?

“Are you okay?”

“Yes I am.”

“Why are you crying?”

“I’m not!”

“You could have fooled me, anyone you know?”

Milly wiped away the tears while her eyes remained glued to the giant woman at the door. “Yes, I know one of them, she was very special to me.”

“Oh, at last, a break through. I wonder if she knows anything?”

“How could she!” the words explosive.

“Hey, don’t get your knickers in a twist, I was only asking.”

“Enough, she’s speaking!”

“Why are you here?” Charlie was surprised with the arrival of the detective at her door. She had wrongly assumed, it would appear, the episode was over.

“I need your help.”

“How?”

Prudence was shuffling on the doorstep like a child unable to articulate properly what they wanted to say. “I have seven days and this one is half over, to find solid evidence, one way or the other, about your friend and her companion. Will you help me lay this case to rest?”

Charlie mulled over the comment. She wanted it laid to rest…she really did. It had haunted her for twenty years and until now, she had assumed it would until the day she died. Then she would find out for herself when she met up with Milly in the next life. Now she was being given a chance to find out the truth and move on. Not that she had far to move, but perhaps that niggling worry that something wasn’t right would finally be laid to rest, she owed it to Millicent.

“Come inside, I’ll make us tea.”

Violet moved forward expecting to go inside when the taller woman restrained her, “not now.”

“Not now? Why?” Vi turned puzzled eyes to the woman at her side and saw a variety of emotions flicker over her face, the greatest, one of sadness. “Want to tell me?”

“I can’t!” The reply was a cry from the heart, something she hadn’t anticipated from this woman.

“I hate to say this but the way you hung onto her every word, you would think you loved her.” Vi smiled at her comment, little realizing the truth of the matter.

“I do.” The words issued so solemnly it could be like a prayer in church.

“You do? Is that Charlie?”

“Yes, that’s Charlie and she’s as beautiful now as she was then.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I think we need to find out the year.”

“It’s nineteen forty-two, we both know that.”

“It was when we died, but I don’t think so now. I think we have moved into the future.”

Violet closed her eyes wondering if things could get any worse. Here she was with a woman who didn’t like her and was a lesbian to boot! Not that she cared; it wasn’t her cup of tea though. Not that she had ever had a lover…time hadn’t been on her side. To top that and it took some topping…they had been transported into the future. How the heck were they supposed to find out what happened to them now?

“God, give me strength.”

“Yes, I second that.”

“What shall we do now?”

“We find out the year and go from there.”

Violet shook her head. Why couldn’t they have just accepted things and gone onto a new life; being here was far too complicated. “Don’t you think maybe your…friend might know something?”

“She might, now is not the time.” Milly didn’t want to go into the house and spy on her old love. If this was a new girlfriend, she couldn’t cope with that, not now. Not after all she had been through already. The odd thing was, it felt as if they had only been gone hours, when in fact years had passed by. Perhaps Violet was right. How could they ever hope to accomplish what they set out to do if this wasn’t even their era? Exactly how far had they gone forward in the future and why?

* * * * *

“You have a beautiful home.” Prudence said as she followed the much larger woman into the sitting room of the cottage. It was in pastel shades but the furniture was all in a cherry wood highly polished with beeswax. The smell was marvelous and so natural.

“Thank you. Now, how can I help you?” Charlie felt weary of this woman and she hadn’t even started a conversation yet. The simple matter was that Millicent and Violet had a car accident on a terrible rainy evening. There had never been any suggestion of anything else, to her knowledge, not even from PC Blood and she’d talked to him at length at the time.

“I came here to find out the truth and I wondered if you could point me in the right direction.”

“You have nothing to convince anyone that there was anything amiss when my friend died. Why rake up old hurt and sadness?”

“I don’t mean to inflict any more hurt on people because most will have forgotten the accident and moved on. However, if there is a possibility of foul play, surely you, of all people, would want to know.”

Walking over to the fireplace, which she dwarfed by her size, “I would naturally want justice to be served, if that was the case. However, I don’t see you finding anything wrong. In a village this size people talk, Detective, and although I’m not one of the older families here, I have lived in the village for over twenty two years and would have heard any rumblings.”

“Maybe you haven’t because it affects you.”

“Are you implying that I had a hand in my lo…friend’s death? That is preposterous!”

“No! No, of course I don’t think that. Don’t you see? Because you were so close to Millicent Packer, you wouldn’t hear any of the gossip. That’s how things usually work out.”

Charlie pursed her lips as she considered the validity of that point. “You could be right. How do you want me to help you?”

“We could start at where the accident happened and go over the report.”

“You want me to help you do that?” the thought was both exciting and daunting. She had never delved into the ‘why’s and where for’s’ since the inquest. It had been too painful at the time and then over the years she had simply tried to remember the happy times, rather than the sad, in their short time together. Unfortunately, there hadn’t been as many as she would have liked with the onset of war and being separated most of the week. However, the few she had, were as precious to her as the jewels were in the Queen’s crown.

“I’d welcome your help, if you can spare the time.” Pru felt safe when she was near this woman. It was probably her size, perhaps there was something more…an intangible element that she was unable to decipher.

“I work over at the Manor house every day, I’m the lower farm manager. I usually arrive home by three in the afternoon, if that will help?”

“Great! I can do some leg work and research. Together I know we can piece it together.” Prudence held out her hand to confirm the situation. As the large hand engulfed hers she felt that safety net surround her again and it made her feel good, really good. Things were looking up. Her dad might yet have to eat his hat by suggesting her brother George could do better.

“I’ll leave you my notes, shall I? I’m sure you don’t want to go to the site of the accident now. We can meet tomorrow afternoon…”

“No, that’s okay, we will go now. No time like the present. You never know what’s coming round the corner, do you.” As she said the words she realized the absolute truth in that. Milly hadn’t known, had she, otherwise she would have stopped it. Her deceased lover had always been a force to be reckoned with, even though deep down her heart was as vulnerable as the rest.

“You lead the way, Ms. Bootle.”

“My name is Charlie.”

“Mine’s Prudence or Pru, whichever you prefer.”

Charlie picked up her jacket draped over the easy chair and let them out of the house. This was surely turning out to be one very strange day.

* * * * *

Violet had seen a few interesting things in her time. At first, when she was taking photos mainly for family then, she had been given several commissions when war came and those had been hairy, to say the least. This situation might actually come out on top of the pile as her eyes wandered to the taller woman who was leaning heavily against the tree that had taken their lives or at least had been instrumental in taking it. Her features usually schooled and unreadable now had that strained look of a person fighting with troubles that had no answer. As she continued to stare at Packer, she looked her over as one would a prospective suitor, not that she was contemplating making a pass at the woman…she wasn’t! She and Packer…no way! However, she wondered what other women might see in her.

Packer’s personality was rather dour and you wouldn’t exactly make a pass at her, unless it was a dark night and you were blind…oh okay, that was harsh. She wasn’t ugly…exactly… merely plain and the lines etched around her eyes gave the impression she frowned heavily, another thing she had seen first hand. Her hair was a mousy brown and pulled back in a harsh bun…made her even more frightening. Her best asset had to be her height and the way she carried herself, with confidence and inner strength. As she considered all this, a thought occurred to her…had it been a beautiful evening, she doubted she would have given a second thought to asking the woman if she wanted a lift home. No, her appreciation of the physical form was one of aesthetically pleasing to the eye and Millicent Packer didn’t fit that description, in any way.

“Have you finished dissecting me?” Milly had noticed the unabashed stare she was being given by her companion and allowed her to continue until she had felt like a bug under a microscope. Well, it was true. Now she was an object of interest because of her sexual preferences. There was no wonder that their fraternity tended to keep their choices shut up in the closet.

“I wasn’t!”

“You could have fooled me, we have company.”

“We do, who?” Violet looked over to the roadside and saw the two women they had left at the cottage approach them.

“Do you want to leave?”

“No, I was thinking about the conversation they had. For some reason, that other woman wants Charlie’s help in finding out something about me…maybe us and it’s the only lead we have so far.”

“I could listen and get back to you if you wanted to take a walk?”

Milly wanted desperately to do that. She had thought about the situation as they walked back to the scene of the accident. Her only choice was to let it all go, this old life of hers and she would try, however heart breaking it would be. There was one good thing out of all this, Charlie looked good and she was still living in the home they had shared, that had to be a bonus.

“The sooner we piece what we can together, the sooner you get your wish and we return back to the chance of a new life.”

“I’m with you on that.” Violet walked towards Packer and stood with her as Charlie and Prudence arrived at the tree.

“This is it.” Charlie spoke quietly. Today was not a good day to be here. She often drove by the spot and tried to ignore it because it had robbed her of the love in her life. With it being the twentieth anniversary, it was harder still.

Prudence heard the quiet words and looking down at her notes realized what an unfeeling idiot she was. It was twenty years ago that the accident had happened. “I’m sorry, Charlie.”

The larger woman looked down puzzled at the comment, a quizzical expression in her eyes. “What for?”

“You must think me terrible for asking you to come here, what can I say.”

Charlie pulled a wry smile, “ It was time I faced facts. I’ve avoided this area for twenty years. Milly wouldn’t have wanted me to grieve as long as I have. She would have moved on if the roles had been reversed.”

“I wouldn’t, Charlie.” Milly whispered and Violet heard but didn’t comment. The emotional upheaval the woman was going through was far worse than dying. Making her glad that at least she hadn’t been in love with anyone when she died. They now had the answer to one puzzle…the time difference was twenty years!

“Thanks. The report says that the car hit the tree at an excessive speed, indicating one of two things. The driver was speeding intentionally or the car was out of control.”

Violet and Milly both had startled expressions and moved closer to the inspection, this was proving interesting.

“I don’t know much about the driver…she hadn’t been in the village that long and was a bit of an enigma, kept to herself.”

“Ah well, I might be able to help you there. One of her relatives gave us as much information on her as she possibly could. Want to hear who Violet Reed really was?” Prudence asked opening her valise to retrieve the notes on the woman.

“Of course, but why hasn’t anyone from her family come forward and paid their respects if they are taking this much interest now?”

Milly was fascinated and saw Violet shift uncomfortably on the spot next to her. “Something you don’t want made public?”

“No! It’s just strange hearing people talking about you as if you are dead.”

Milly laughed and was given a scornful glance. “You are dead.”

“Yes, yes I know, but you know what I mean. I’m here and can hear them.”

“They don’t know that, do they or I’m sure they would whisper to save your blushes.” This was quite funny. Now she would find out whom Violet Reed was and if there was a dark side to her life that would warrant someone killing her.

“I don’t blush!”

“Here it is. They live in France and until six months ago, hadn’t realized she was dead. They plan on coming here next month to pay their respects. Seems she was a favorite cousin or something.”

“Six months ago? She’s been dead twenty years!”

“Yes, I know. Look, this is what they said about her. Outgoing personality, pretty in the swarthy sense, intelligent and a perfectionist with the camera, born in France but lived most of her life in England. Had a period of three years in boarding school in France and then back to England as war broke out in Europe. Her parents were killed in an air raid over London a year before she herself died.”

“Doesn’t imply she was a reckless driver. In fact, she sounds too good to be true.”

“Now I wondered that too and delved a little more and guess what? She worked for some interesting people that last year of her life.”

“Interesting people, who?” Both Charlie and Milly asked at the same time.

Violet wanted the Custodian to send for them now, at this minute or maybe the ground would open up and swallow her.

“She worked for the military taking strategic photographs of activity by the enemy in various European hotspots. I guess she was a spy or as close to one as you could get. From what I gather, she had been assumed missing in action when she didn’t contact the powers that be after her last assignment.”

“My God, she was a spy?” Charlie couldn’t believe it. This was out of a storybook surely!

“You were a spy?” Milly asked astounded. The woman didn’t look like a spy. Far from it in her eyes; she’d seen a few people she would consider a spy at her government office.

“I wasn’t a spy!” Violet announced. Who gave that woman this kind of information? It was supposed to be top secret and she hadn’t been on assignment…that was an untruth.

“Yes, to all intents and purposes. She was very well thought of too; according to a couple of people in London who still remember her. A pint sized Mata Hari one of the gentlemen at the war office said. Seems she had a way with words and men, could twist them around her little finger.”

“Oh please, I need a bucket to be sick in. I was nothing like Mata Hari, I certainly didn’t sleep with anyone to get my pictures!”

Milly smiled a genuine smile as she saw the woman next to her squirm at the revelations about her past. However, it did shed light on the fact that Violet was the likely victim, now the question was, who and why?

“I never said you did.”

“Good. Who is that woman anyway? She’s got a cheek describing me as a man siren!”

“Oh, I don’t know. You have many of the attributes. Look at you, even up there you had the Custodian eating out of your hand.”

“Pity you poisoned the oats or I would still be up there without a care in the world.” Violet remarked sarcastically.

“Yes, pity I did.”

“…want a drink at the pub? We can go over what I have so far? I also need to check in. I’ve booked a room for the rest of the week there.”

Charlie ruefully considered the request. She didn’t drink much, these days anyway. The doctor had warned her off her favorite tipple, whisky, but she had the occasional beer. “Okay, are you paying?”

“Of course. Its on expenses, you can have two.”

“How very generous of you.” Charlie replied sardonically. They headed back towards the detective’s car, a Volkswagen Beetle in metallic silver and by the looks of it, brand new. The pay must be good in this line of work.

“I’m going with them.” Milly announced as she walked alongside Charlie relishing the chance to be close to her lover, even if she wouldn’t know it.

“What about me?”

“Well, Mata Hari, you can do what you want.”

“Great, I’m coming too!”

Charlie stopped suddenly and Milly passed through her arm before she could pull back. “What’s wrong?”

“Ever have that feeling at the back of your neck that someone is watching you?”

“Yes, and it’s usually my dad. You look pale, are you okay?”

“I think so. Maybe someone just walked over my grave.” They carried on towards the car and settled inside the polished interior.

Milly and Violet passed through the car and sank into the back seat wondering what it was like to be in the car of the future. They didn’t have to wait long as the car set off and reached speed so quickly they shot back in the upholstery almost falling out of the car.

* * * * *

“Hasn’t changed much since I was last here.” Violet said as she contemplated the interior of the public house. Mind it hadn’t changed much in five hundred years; so a little over twenty wouldn’t spoil its ambience.

“No, it hasn’t. Though the bar staff are different.”

“I wonder if old Captain Riddle is still alive.”

“That old goat will never die. I’m sure he pulled the first pint in this place when it opened.”

“Packer, how can you say that about such a kind and affable man.”

“Not sure I’d call him kind, but then you would know better with your talents with men.”

“That’s a low blow, Packer. Remember I’m a spy, we spies have special talents.”

“Oh no, now she tells me.” They both walked towards the small table next to a window that Charlie and Prudence had taken. Charlie was alone at the moment staring vacantly at the beer in front of her. Prudence had gone to check out her room and deposit her suitcase there.

Violet sat down next to the giant of a woman. She might be big but there was something gentle and caring about her that made you like her on first association. Which was more than could be said for her good friend Packer, who was standing like a lost sheep at the head of the table.

“You know you can sit on her knee and she wouldn’t feel a thing.”

“That’s uncalled for! Just because she’s of larger proportions than most doesn’t mean you can ridicule her.”

“I wasn’t! You take everything so literally. I merely meant that because of the way we are, you could be close to her for a while. I guess it’s hard to be this close to someone you loved and not be able to show them how you feel.”

“It is hard, harder than I thought possible. I always wondered if I loved her fully. Now, I know I did. I miss her.”

Violet didn’t know what to say as a lone tear slowly trickled down Packer’s cheek. “I’m sure she knew that.”

“It’s too late to tell her though, isn’t it? I wish that I could, just one more time.”

“Why not concentrate and send her that message? Who knows, she might hear you in her subconscious.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“Is it? If I loved someone that much, I’d want to try at least, what do you have to lose?”

Milly pondered that remark, what indeed? Nothing and it would make her feel better. “Thanks, I’ll try.”

“Great, I’m going to check up on our other party.”

Violet walked through the crowd of people that had converged on the bar as she went towards the inner door leading to the private rooms, in her quest to find Prudence.

* * * * *

Milly concentrated hard and ended in giving her a headache. She was dead for God’s sake! Why did she still get a headache?

Clearing her thoughts of everything around her and concentrating on the one person in the room who was more important than anyone else, Charlie, she tried once more.

As Milly stood there, she was transfixed by a sharp glance from eyes she would know in her dreams forever. Charlie looked up and stared at her directly, could she see her? Could she? Perhaps this wasn’t all going wrong. Maybe her lover had heard her and was reaching out, could she be?

Stretching out her hand towards Charlie she was stunned when Prudence Sullivan walked right through her and dropped down beside Charlie.

“Great room, lots of atmosphere. Maybe I have a ghost or two to haunt me.”

“Never heard any rum ours that there were ghosts in these parts, wish there were.”

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe Milly would come back as a ghost, tell us what happened and save you all this delving into the past.”

“Yes, we can wish. Not going to happen though unless you believe all that garbage about psychics.”

Charlie chuckled. It was a deep one that vibrated around the room or so Pru thought. “I have never met one or experienced their talents, so I can’t say.”

“I should introduce you to a friend of mine. She thinks she has the power.” Pru laughed. Gayle thought she was a psychic today, tomorrow it would be something else, though she had held to this belief for at least six months now.

“Why not bring her here and see if she can help.”

“I might if the going gets tough, but I think we are making progress, don’t you?”

“How can we? You knew all this before I entered the frame.”

“Of course I did, but now it’s coming alive and who knows, once that happens anything could happen.”

“Who knows indeed. What next?”

“Oh, next we check out anyone who came into contact with Violet, namely the Fray’s. They must be the prime suspects.”

“Prime suspects, the Fray’s? That would take a great leap of imagination.” Charlie finished off her beer and held the glass aloft.

“I’ll get a refill and you can tell me what you know about the Fray’s.”

Violet turned to Packer, “what do you know of the Fray’s?”

“Let’s put it this way, would Jesus have killed?”

“No!”

“The Fray’s neither. Nice people, but tending to exaggerate and, as far as I know, that isn’t a capital offence.”

Chuckling, Violet wondered if she had misjudged this woman. She had a sense of hum our after all.

* * * * *

“We’ve eliminated the Fray’s from the investigation, at the moment anyway. My dad would say you couldn’t rule out anyone no matter how innocent they might look.” Pru drank thirstily from the light beer that Charlie had purchased for them. She had to admit the woman was a surprise after their original introduction. Now, she appeared to be telling her about every detail. Likes and dislikes of everyone in the village, though there was still the matter of eliminating Charlie from the suspect list.

“You look like you have come across a problem?” Charlie spoke softly as she seated her large frame on the wooden bench they shared pouring over the notes that the young detective had brought with her.

Pru looked up into piercing but gentle eyes smiling wryly, “yes, in a way.”

“Can I help? If it’s about someone around here, then it might not be such a problem?”

“Yes, you can help, I’m not sure you will though.”

“Try me.” The rejoinder whispered so quietly that Pru strained to hear. This was going to be harder than she imagined.

“You.”

* * * * *

“What did you find out when you followed that woman?” Milly was annoyed that her time alone with Charlie had been disturbed as the young woman, who was called Pru, came back with Violet tagging behind. She had really thought she was getting through to her lover, now the contact had been severed.

“You sound miffed, what’s wrong with you?” Violet didn’t like the tone. She was getting used to being spoken to in an off hand manner but thought that with the previous conversation, she had made headway with the taller stoic woman.

“Nothing’s wrong, other than that we are dead. What did you find out?”

“Ever heard the term please or didn’t they teach you that at the school you went to?”

Milly gave her a savage glance and then it miraculously softened. Realizing how obnoxious she was being; at the end of the day it really hadn’t been Violet’s fault they were in this position, even if she liked to think that because it was the easy way out. “I’m sorry, that was rude of me. How did your trip to that other woman’s room proceed?”

Violet wanted to goad the woman a little more but realized that this was a break through, she’d actually said sorry and it sounded like she meant it. “Nothing much to tell. She made a phone call to her parents, at least her father and was telling him what she was doing. Sounds like a family affair, this detective business to me.”

“She was also asking her father what to do about your friend Charlie.”

“What do you mean?” The hackles rose, once more, as Milly took an attacking stance in de fence of her old love.

“Listen to them…”

“You.”

“Me? What do you mean, what have I got to do with this?” Charlie was astonished. Surely she was beyond reproach. She was helping the woman with her investigation, wasn’t she!

“Sorry, Charlie. As I explained earlier, no one is totally out of the circle of suspicion though I think you are as close as it gets.”

Blowing out a stream of warm air causing her hair to move on her forehead she was about to reply when the proprietor of the pub walked by their table.

“Everything alright with your room, Miss. Sullivan?” announced Captain Ben, as he liked to be called, lounging beside their table casting furtive glances at the papers strewn over the table.

“Absolutely, couldn’t ask for better, nice and homey, thanks.” Pru smiled friendly towards the doddering old man. He looked like he was about to keel over, “want to join us for a drink?”

“Why that’s very good of you, my dear. Mine’s a whisky, top of the shelf. Miss Bootle will go fetch it for me, won’t you?”

Charlie was annoyed that Pru had asked the man to join them. He was a nosey busybody of the worse order and they said women gossip, he was worse than a dozen women, “yes, of course.” Standing to her full height she gave the petite, bird- like woman a strange glance then set off towards the bar area.

“Charlie won’t be back soon, knowing her, she’ll take off home.” Milly stated as she watched her lover walk towards the bar in a stiff stance. She’d seen that walk before on more than one occasion, and it all meant the same thing, she was annoyed and didn’t mind anyone knowing it.

“Why?” Damn, there was that dreaded word again. Looks like it was a permanent fixture in the vocabulary.

“Because she doesn’t like the good Captain and he knows it! Before you ask, I’m not sure why. She never said other than he wasn’t what he seemed. We never got around to discussing details at the time.”

“A bit lame don’t you think? Perhaps he has something to hide and she found out. Maybe he’s our man.” Violet grinned. That would be a long shot and absurd. In all her dealings with the old man, he had been a bit of a windbag and would and could talk the hind legs off a donkey, but that wasn’t a crime was it?

“I think I’ll be correct in my observation unless she’s changed over the years.” Milly pondered the remark. Charlie might well have mellowed towards the man. Twenty years was a long time for most, except them and what did it matter if it was twenty or two hundred, they couldn’t reach out and be with the ones they loved, no matter how hard they tried.

Pru listened intently to the old man and his ramblings. One thing she was very good at was being a listener. However, her eyes constantly went over to the bar where Charlie stood talking to first the barmaid and then a couple of others at the bar, presumably locals, she would ask the woman when she came back to the table. Smiling as she saw Charlie turn, the expression died on her face as the large woman left the bar and a small wiry man approached the table with a shot glass of whisky, which he placed on the table beside the publican.

“Charlie said to tell you it’s getting late and she was away to her bed.” The wiry man tipped his head and left them to walk back to the bar.

Pru didn’t understand. What had she said? Just because she wanted to know more about Charlie shouldn’t warrant this kind of rudeness, surely? “Excuse me a moment please, Captain.”

Rushing out of the bar and into the coolness of the early evening air, her eyes scanned the main street for the woman. She couldn’t have escaped that fast! As she peered further down the street, she saw the large shape of Charlie striding purposefully towards the end of town and her cottage. “Damn!”

Violet pulled at her chin. She wasn’t going to say anything to Packer but this looked suspicious to her and she had the training to notice these things, not that she would brag about it. However, it might prove useful to them in the future. “You were right, Packer.”

“Yes, I was, some things never change,” her eyes following the large woman until she wasn’t to be seen at all.

“Are you going to go be with Charlie?”

“What do you mean?” The thought hadn’t occurred to her, but now that it was mentioned, it was a wonderful idea. Why hadn’t she thought of it first?

“Well, she’ll be alone and although it’s not the same, I know you could spend a little more time with her. Not many get a second chance, even if it is unorthodox.”

Milly turned to Violet astounded at her understanding, “thanks, I will. What will you do?”

“Oh me, I think I’ll go back to the Fray’s and see what happened to them.”

“Okay…sounds like a good idea.” Turning away to walk after Charlie, she quickly turned back and saw Violet standing looking forlorn and sad, which was unusual. She was always brimming with sunshine.

“Violet, are you sure about this? I know you want to find out about the killer immediately and get back to the promised new life.”

“Quite sure. You go on now. The way time flies with us, it will be daylight before you get there.” The smaller woman whose previous sadness on her features were now removed completely chuckled and waved her away.

Milly left her standing outside the pub; much as ‘that’ other woman stood watching Charlie leave.

* * * * *

Pru closed her journal and reflected on what had happened that day. Not much really, although now she felt that she had a good grounding on the main characters in the village. Actually too much information after the session with the Captain. The puzzle, for her, had been Charlie leaving so abruptly. Tomorrow she would find out why. There had to be more to it than her wanting to know something more about her.

She looked out onto the dimly lit street, virtually deserted except for a stray dog and a couple of late revelers from the bar now staggering down the street towards their homes.  When she considered the situation she was in, it made her wonder why someone wanted two apparently innocent enough women dead; or was it a tragic accident, as the coroner had deduced twenty years ago. PC Blood’s account was sketchy when she had talked with him; the saving grace had been his hoarding of old notebooks. She knew that wasn’t allowed in the force these days. However, maybe in a small sleepy village where nothing much happened, it was a common occurrence.

Her mind wandered recalling her meeting with the old policeman. He’d been vague as one would expect an eighty-five year old, but he was quite interesting and told her about the village back then. The people and some of their strange habits, one person he did mention was a man called Jeffrey Ransome, who at the time worked at the local garage. Scant information it was true, but the policeman told her he was one to watch out for; he would have had the knowledge to tamper with the brakes of a car without looking suspicious.

When she’d asked about Millicent Packer, he’d gone silent for a short time and then said she was a rigid woman, cold and unfriendly; not like her grandfather. She worked in London only coming back to the village most weekends. There had been something funny going on with her and Charise Bootle, not that he was one to gossip, he wasn’t. Anyway, the Bootle woman had kept to herself over the years and worked hard in the village. She had turned out to be a good one.

The thought ‘something funny going on’ made Pru smile. Yep, it was funny all right. They were in love and even now, that hadn’t changed or appeared not to have. Charlie didn’t look as if she’d allowed anyone near her for years, pity she was a nice woman. Maybe once they had found out the truth she could move on with her life and find someone else to love. There came a time in everyone’s life when they had to move on. It was just a matter of taking the bull by the horns and allowing yourself to go with the flow.

Stepping into bed she chuckled softly. All those wonderful practical thoughts and here she was at thirty still looking for something in her life that meant as much to her as loving Millicent Packer had been for Charlie. Perhaps solving this case would be her turning point too. She would have to wait and see.

* * * * *

Violet wandered around the main street long after Milly had left to see Charlie. It must be a marvelous feeling to have loved someone so much, even if that love could no longer be acted upon. Some people believed that love transcended everything, even death!  Never having experienced the emotion, except the love for her parents, she couldn’t really comment. Though, she had half anticipated that her parents might have been around to greet her when she had died so soon after they had. Okay, so it was a year later, but that wasn’t much in the big picture, not if you could lose twenty years so quickly up there.

Up there! What an experience that had been and if it hadn’t been for the tenacity of Packer, they would be living another kind of life now. She had even decided which cloud she wanted to float around on for eternity. Not that the Custodian had said it would be for eternity, just that she could chose to live someplace else, it had been all rather vague. Mind you, wasn’t this rather vague looking for a needle in a haystack? Though it was rather odd that they had arrived on the scene at the same time as this woman detective. Perhaps that was the idea; that they could all work together on clues…

Exactly! Work together, she and Milly could go places that the other two couldn’t and vice versa! If only they could communicate with the two earthbound ones, then it should be a breeze. They had to find a way but how? Perhaps together they could come up with the answer.

She should go tell Milly about her brainstorming. Looking at the night sky there was at least another three hours before dawn. She’d wait and perhaps then, Packer might be in a better frame of mind.

Wandering further down the street she stopped by the bakery. It was still called Fray’s, but looked far different than it did in her day. Old man Fray must be at least seventy now if he were still alive. She’d find out soon enough. It was Sunday tomorrow and everyone who was anyone went to church, as would she.

Chuckling to herself she recalled her comments about Jesus’ autograph. Guess that had been blasphemy, but they hadn’t seemed to mind. They probably put it down as shock.

Continuing her meandering along the street until hitting the end of town, she looked out towards the large oak tree that had taken their lives. Time to go home for a while and wait for the others. She settled at the foot of the tree to wait for dawn to arrive and knowing sleep wasn’t going to happen, closed her eyes allowing her thoughts to drift to a cozy cloud with a wonderful sea view, what more could you want.

* * * * *

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 realize 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 realized 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 cozy 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 traveled 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 practiced 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 traveling 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 deprecatingly. “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!” Realizing 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 center 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 practice 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 wicked they 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 favorite 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 woolen 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 de fenceless 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 hum our as she realized 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 realized 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 realize 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 traveled 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 traveled 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 apologize 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!

* * * * *

Charlie and Pru walked slowly towards the small café after they agreed that the pub wasn’t the place for a serious discussion. The Olde Tea Shoppe’ opened shortly after church and they had a good reputation for delicious coffee, flavoured teas, not to mention a decent selection of savouries and cakes.

Walking inside, the bell above the door tinkled making Pru smile. She’d forgotten what it was like here in the countryside, having spent the best part of the last ten years of her life holed up in London where smog and traffic were the order of the day. Except for her favourite haunt when she wasn’t working, Carnaby Street. It was alive with all the new fashions and the bright young things that came to the city hoping to become overnight sensations like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Twiggy, along with the other talented people who made the headlines at the moment. She wondered what Charlie would make of the new scene in the big city if she lived there. Pru, having only been a young child when the country was war torn, relished the new wave that appeared to be storming Britain. Not so sure her parents did and she suspected Charlie wasn’t that keen either. However, it would be interesting to see her in the modern lifestyle.

Charlie pointed in the direction of a small table set for two beside the window just far enough away from the next table for them to have a private conversation. She’d been one of the few people in the village to support Marge Scott’s opening of a small teashop in the village and over time she’d been right to do so. Marge was doing really well. Tourists to the area stopped and some of them even remained in the village spending money in the other establishments because of the friendly approach inside the cafe.

“How are you today, Charlie?” Marge Scott, a cheerful woman with a ruddy complexion and an amiable demeanour, asked as she popped her head around the small kitchen to seek out her first customer of the day.

“I’m fine thank you, Marge, and yourself?” Having spent many an hour chatting with this woman about this and that over the last five years since Marge’s arrival in the village, they had become friends; not close friends, but certainly close enough to go to the odd movie together in the nearest town.

“Good. Did I tell you young Polly has finally taken that job in Birmingham? I’ll be on the look out for another waitress soon.” The woman grinned and popped her head back to her oven pulling out the scones before they burnt.

“No, but I’m glad for her. She’s a very clever woman and her father was being ridiculous to stop her taking the position.  I take it you had a hand in talking him around?”

“Well…yes. For someone of Alistair Bentley’s standing, he lives in the dark ages. Anyway, what can I get you? I recommend the scones today, fresh batch out of the oven as we speak? I have your favourite plum jam too, if you care to partake.”

Smiling warmly at her friend, Charlie wondered if she dared. Her Sunday lunch would be waiting for her when she arrived home and she did love her Sunday roast with all the trimmings. “Let me see what Pru wants first and I’ll let you know.” Leaving the counter and walking back to the detective who was staring out of the window; apparently pre-occupied with her own thoughts.

“What do you want to drink, Pru, and something to eat perhaps? I can recommend… everything here?” Smiling as she commented. It was true. Her friend was a great cook reminding her of her mother’s baking when she was young.

Pru pulled herself out of her reverie with a slow thoughtful glance at the sizeable woman. No contest…London would never be the place Charlie would remotely enjoy, therefore, there would be no chance of her ever going to live there and change her present lifestyle. “Everything?”

“Yes, Marge, who owns the place, is a personal friend of mine and I’ve tried all her wonderful concoctions.”

For a moment Pru was struck by a stab to her heart at the comment, once again wondering about what it was that called to her whenever Charlie was near. “I’m starving, I had to leave breakfast at short notice and it will be evening before I can have another meal at the pub. I’ll have anything for a hearty appetite. I’ll let you chose. Oh, and may I have a black coffee medium strength to wash it all down?”

Ten minutes later Polly, the young waitress she had been talking about with the proprietress, deposited two large mugs of coffee, a jug of cream and several tasty looking scones. They also received pastries of all descriptions, along with a pot of plum jam, onto their table, which Pru was sure creaked under the mouth-watering feast.

“Enjoy, ladies.” Polly smiled shyly and scurried away towards the table at the far side of the room where three more customers were seated.

“Wow, this looks great, Charlie, a feast fit for a queen,” laughing at the mountain of cakes that attracted her attention. One thing anyone who knew her remembered was she not only loved her food, but she had a sweet tooth as well. Who had told this woman, was she physic?

A chuckle escaped Charlie as she saw the detective’s eyes bulge at the display before her, “Don’t be shy tuck in.”

For the next fifteen minutes while quietly sipping coffee, Charlie watched the younger woman demolish all but two scones, which she had placed on her own plate, enjoying every minute of the spectacle. For one so thin you wouldn’t think she could handle all that food. However, a satisfied sigh went up over the table as Pru settled back rocking gently in her chair, having eaten all she could for the moment. Then she surveyed what she’d eaten and closed her eyes in embarrassment and disgust at herself.

“Oh God, Charlie, I’m sorry! I trenched through all the food. Did you get any? Let me go order something more for you please.”

Charlie grinned and shook her head, “No, I’m fine, I have a roast cooking at home. I really shouldn’t have indulged in what I did, but the temptation was too much. Marge knows my weakness for her scones and plum jam.”

“I’m greedily stuffed. My parents and brothers in particular say I never know when to stop, I’m sorry.” She said placing her hands over her tummy, which showed no evidence of bulging with the amount of food consumed, not as her own would have done.

Holding up her hand Charlie replied, “Don’t be sorry, it isn’t often I watch anyone enjoy food as much as you have. Marge will want you to become a resident of the village if you eat like that all the time.” Smiling to take the sting out of any suggestion that the comment held a barb, it didn’t. Charlie had experienced enough cruel jibes about her stature in the past to never inflict the same on another.

“I do love food and how did you know I have a sweet tooth?” Pru felt relaxed again and knew that it had been okay for the other woman. Some would have called her greedy or worse. Not this woman though, she seemed to understand and appreciate her love of good cooking.

“A little bird told me and I never snitch on my sources.” Laughing at the astonishment on the detective’s face she took pity on her, “not really, just a gut instinct.”

“Oh, I thought you’d had insider information on me, like my dad had called you or something.”

Laughing at the absurd thought Charlie pointed to the notebook beside Pru’s side plate, “Shall we go over what you think you’ve found out today?”

Pru scrambled to pick up the notes she’d made as relief flooded her at the change of subject. As she did so, Charlie ordered more coffee and the table was cleared of the empty plates.

“There was mention that a man by the name of White ran the garage before Ransome and that he didn’t return from the war. Under the circumstances, that was unfortunately a regular occurrence. Ransome carried on running the place after the war. However, no mention was ever made that he actually purchased the place from White’s estate. I also heard there were rumours of a secret about the man, but no one has ever found out what it is, though the police know and are keeping it under wraps for some reason.”

“Yes, I’ve heard the same. As you say, no one knows in the village to my knowledge anyway. Anything else?”

“The Vicar appears to be a straightforward enough person, a little dithery otherwise, your common or garden vicar type. Jenny Gilmore, the schoolteacher, was quiet, rather timid I thought for a teacher, she certainly wasn’t like any at my old tarter school mistress.”

Smiling at the description of Jenny, Charlie replied. “Jenny spent most of her energy keeping the school alive. When the local council wanted to shut it down, she managed to get the entire village backing her. During the war she did her bit, allowing refugees to sleep in the schoolhouse on their way to other parts of the country.”

“Ah, a do-gooder, that explains it. The person I wasn’t sure of was Alistair Bentley…” Stopping in mid sentence as Polly brought the coffee refills.

The young girl glared at the detective and the reference to a village member. Especially when the person talking about them was a stranger to the village, even if she was with Charlie.

“Thanks Polly, when do you leave for the new position?” Charlie saw the changing expression on the young girl’s face. She’d obviously heard Pru’s reference to Alistair.

Taken off guard, Polly glanced towards Charlie. She liked the woman, though she kept to herself. Marge said that if anyone took the opportunity to get to know her, they would find she was a fine upstanding person with wonderful qualities. “I didn’t think anyone knew yet. Dad said I was to keep it low key until I left.”

Charlie snorted softly at the remark; typical of her father to say that. In his eyes, sons were the only true commodities. Polly would prove him wrong. It was her time and the changes in the world would benefit her tremendously. “Marge told me today. I wish you luck, Polly, you deserve to succeed. Your mother would have been delighted.”

“Thanks, Charlie,” beaming at the reference to her dead mother. Her attention was then sought from the newcomers to the café.  Excusing herself, she walked over to serve them.

“Seems like a nice girl.” Pru picked up her coffee and sipped from the black as coal contents. Her eyes discreetly watching Charlie as she turned to give the young waitress a backward glance.

“Yes, she is.”

The detective heard a note in Charlie’s voice that caught her attention, had the villager fallen for a teenager? Surely not! It wasn’t her style, was it? Then again what did she know, barely scratching the surface of who Charise Bootle was. Though she would like to know more and that wasn’t just because of this case. It was becoming more and more personal as each hour spent in her company made her realise she’d have liked this woman as a friend, a best friend even.

“You like her?” Oh God, that was a stupid question. Prying and she’d promised not to do that.

“Like her? I’ve known her since she was born. She was a bright kid, even when she was a toddler learning to walk. I recall she was a natural on a horse just like her mother, not like her brothers who can’t hold their seat to save their lives. Though their father thinks they are perfect in everyway.” Her voice filled with memories and Pru heard the scathing inflection at the mention of the male species. Could that be because of her personal choices in life?

“He obviously has a hard time letting his daughter go out alone in the world, mine was the same.”

“You could say that. I’d say it’s more like he doesn’t want an unpaid housekeeper leaving. Since her mother died four years ago, Polly has been little more than a skivvy at home. I wonder how the poor kid ever managed to pass all the exams she did. I guess her mother’s perseverance was passed on.”

Although this conversation now appeared to have nothing to do with the case in hand, Pru was finding out more about the woman and that was good. It might help in the future; nothing was irrelevant in a case her dad would say. “You knew her mother well?”

“I worked for her and her husband. She was a wonderful horse handler, used to watch Fiona from the fields on my breaks.  When she died, the heart of the farm died with her. Her husband let the place go. At least now Polly can forge her own life and I think she’ll be better off without the family until she’s found her feet.”

“Sounds like she should cut free all together and never come back.”

“Oh, she’ll be back. Her family loves her and she loves them. Unfortunately times change and her father hasn’t changed with them. He lives in an age gone by, much as I do, I suppose, though in a different way.” The melancholy potent in the air attached itself to each woman as they contemplated the statement and what it actually meant to each one of them.

Breathing deeply Pru spoke, “Shall we get back to Bentley.”

A wry smile crossed Charlie’s face, “We never left him, and he’s Polly’s father!”

* * * * *

Milly paced, Violet pulled several animated faces. However, she resisted the temptation to ask again how they would contact the two earthbound women. The Custodian was being rather mysterious about the whole situation.

Although they differed in opinion on almost everything, Violet was with Packer on this one. It was frustration pushed to the outer limits. Had he no compassion for their predicament?

“Aren’t you going to ask me about a medium?” Confused at the two’s delay in referring to the tricky part of the puzzle.

Clearing her throat before she asked, Milly glanced at Violet. She didn’t want to have them both ask the same and argue again over who was right and wrong. The ex-spy shrugged her shoulders waiting for her to continue. If she asked the wrong question, nothing was more certain than Violet jumping in with her own brand of questioning.

“Yes, we were. Although I assumed you would just continue to clarify the situation. Exactly how do we find a medium?”

Smiling faintly, Violet thought that was a rather clever response from the often outspoken and direct Packer. “I’m with Packer on that one.”

A frown appeared over the brow of the Custodian. Perhaps he would create some mischief and not tell, let them guess. Where would be the harm in that and it would be wicked harmless fun for him at least.

“Well?”

Walking towards the two women he came as close as he could without actually transmuting inside their ectoplasm. “There is  an untried medium in the village, always risky with someone in the unaware stage. However, if you want to progress I see no alternative under the circumstances.”

“Who is it?”

“Will it hurt them mentally?” Violet was quick to respond to the possibility that another might end up scarred, as they were, though not as drastically. “Whoever it is can’t die, can they?”

“No, at least it is a rare occurrence.”

“It might happen though, is that correct?” Violet was not happy about this at all. They couldn’t endanger anyone else for their own gratification of the truth. Her troubled gaze rested upon Milly who registered a look of anticipation rather than any awareness of the possibility of hurt to another.

“Yes it might! As I indicated, rarely does it occur, a headache is all that usually transpires. Time is marching along, ladies, the choice is simple. We attempt this and settle the matter of your murders or we return as instructed by my superiors. Let me know, but please don’t take all day over it, I have other pressing engagements up there.”

Angrily, the Custodian stomped away around the bend of the church towards the door. He would hear what the women said even if they felt he wasn’t in earshot. The door was made of sturdy oak and the hinges were in a beautifully worked cast iron, he estimated made around two hundred years before, typical of its period. Placing a hand on the handle to allow him to open the massive beast before him, he felt a jolt akin to a lightening bolt pass through his body, jerking back in annoyed surprise. Ah, they hadn’t forgiven him quite yet. Evil had always been turned away at his master’s door when in the corporeal presence as a church was.

Violet shifted her attention primarily to Packer as the man stalked away. He was certainly acting differently to when they were ‘up there’. Circumstances she supposed. It wasn’t easy being back on earth in this form and at one time, she assumed, he had been a living entity as they had once been.

“Packer, this isn’t the way to go.”

“Why not? He’s confident all that will happen is a headache for whom ever. I’d take those odds, wouldn’t you?”

“No, I wouldn’t…well, unless I knew what was going to happen and agreed to all the possibilities. We can’t endanger anyone else, Packer, don’t you see that! Be the intelligent woman you once were and think beyond your own selfish desires!”

“Selfish desires? This is about us, not me or you, we need the answers or we will never complete the journey.”

“We can accept that, we are dead and gone to those living and go back to start a new life or whatever they allow us up there. I can’t have it on my conscious, be it a headache or death, simple as that. If you want to go along with him then do so, that’s your personal choice. I’ll wait for you here or he can send me back alone.”

Spinning on her heels Violet left a stunned Milly to assimilate the solemn words from the smaller woman. Who, was now speeding away towards the hedgerow and the field that would lead her towards the now old familiar landmark, the oak tree that had been the innocent instrument of their deaths.

What should she do now? Her mind wouldn’t rest until she knew what had happened to her. It was eating away inside her like a maggot. There was a wonderful opportunity for them, with the Custodians help, to achieve the goal quickly and everyone would be happy…except for Violet. However, in the big picture, did it matter how she felt. The woman thought her selfish anyway. Why not be exactly what she thinks and end that particular doubt. Milly placed her hands as if in prayer over her nose and mouth, closing her eyes while absorbing all the facts and thankfully there were blessed few. The Custodian wouldn’t tell them lies, he was a messenger from above. It certainly didn’t feel like they’d entered Hell when they were bickering up there, he had to tell the truth…or did he?

Her thoughts strayed to the situation, cringing at the thought. It wasn’t possible was it? She hadn’t been that bad in her life had she? Yes, people had, in the past, intimated that because of her choices, she might go to Hell and she had scoffed in disdain at their ignorance. Could it have happened? Then there were her other transgressions, but surely… What about Violet, had she ever done anything wrong in her life to warrant going to Hell? She’d muttered something about expecting to see her parents when she’d died that hadn’t transpired…maybe all was not what it appeared to be up there!

“Violet, did you ever make any major mistakes before you died?” Milly shouted well above her normal volume to reach the other woman, hopefully not within earshot of the Custodian, who had disappeared for the moment.

Hearing the desperate tone in the question, Violet listened to the stupid question, the content of which she could have expected from Packer. The woman appeared to be in a permanent state of shock as far as she was concerned. “Other than being a fool and picking you up at the rail station that day, no!”

“I’m serious Violet, have you ever done anything remotely evil?” this time the Custodian, who had been concentrating on trying to find a way inside the sanctity of the church, swivelled his head in surprise at the question. Did the Millicent woman know something about him…no, impossible! His deeds were centuries old and little more than a mention in the criminal history books.

“No! Why do you ask?” Perched on top of the fence. She didn’t know whether to leave as planned or stay; therefore she remained precariously resting in the centre.

“This is going to sound stupid but I wondered if instead of up there being good, it might actually be bad.”

“Arghhhh!”

A loud crash accompanied the wailing sound as Violet fell unceremoniously off the hedge landing on her rear back in the churchyard grounds.

Running across to help the woman up, Milly gave her a sheepish smile, “Didn’t expect you to take the question quite in that manner, do I take it you think I’m wrong.”

“Wrong! Wrong, ask him, not me!” Violet spluttered out as she rubbed the sensitive part of her bruised anatomy shaking off Packer’s attempt to help her up.

Milly looked towards the direction of the pointing finger. The man was approaching a blank expression on his face, had he heard or was he merely coming back for their answer?

“I think it might be.” Milly lowered her voice so that only Violet could hear clearly.

“You’re a demented soul, Packer, it’s time to leave if you want my opinion. Ask yourself one thing, did you ever do anything evil in your life?”

“Not directly… perhaps.”

Before she had time to quiz the taller woman about her perhaps, the Custodian approached them and gave them a nod. “Are you ready to answer my question?”

Violet was, she wasn’t sure of Packer and waited until the other decided to answer, after all her decision was final.

“I want answers,” Violet shut her eyes. Something inside her had thought that Packer would see sense and not pursue this situation. How wrong can you be about someone and a piece of her heart felt sorrowful for the willowy woman. “However, Violet and I will get them another way. We can’t jeopardise an innocent party, that isn’t why we are here.” The words buzzed in Violet’s head, had she heard correctly?

Flashing her lashes like the shutter of a camera lens her voice squeaked out, “Yes, we will.”

“So be it. How do you expect to contact your friends in the limited time I have to offer you?” Amazed again at their apparent agreement, it had certainly looked like a different scenario a few minutes earlier.

“How limited?” Violet shrugged off the uncertainty and incredible relief at Packer’s reply and asked the second most important question.

“Until the dawn breaks tomorrow, you will understand when you return to the way-station.” The Custodian was surprised at the stance they had taken. He knew that without his help they would have very little hope of achieving their goal in the time allowed.

“Okay, we can do that, right, Packer?”

This woman constantly surprised her with every action she made, one moment she was leaving, the next she was right beside her ready to go forward. And she calls me demented. We must have both been hit on the head too often.

“Yes, right. One more thing, who is the person that knows or is involved in our deaths?” The brilliant smile shot at her from Violet made her glow inside and she thawed a little more to the ex-spy.

A thoughtful look came over the bland features of the man and then he muttered virtually inaudibly a name.

Gulping back her surprise Milly asked again, “Would you repeat that, please? I’m not sure I heard correctly?”

“Jenny Gilmore. I believe she’s a schoolmarm here in the village.”

The shock on both the women’s faces made the Custodian laugh. Wasn’t it the truth, it was always the ones you least expect. With laughter travelling behind him the Custodian left abruptly leaving them alone in the churchyard with only a name to go on and precious little time to act upon it, if they knew how to do that and he doubted it very much.

“Well…don’t know about you but I find that hard to believe. What did you say about us ending up in Hell? I take it you meant Hell when you asked me that question earlier.”

“Yes, yes I did. This is ludicrous, Jenny Gilmore wouldn’t have had any reason to kill us, would she?” Milly turned a sharp glance towards Violet. Perhaps there had been friction between the two in the village…it was a possibility.

Holding up her arms to ward of the dagger glances she was receiving from icicle-laced eyes, Violet responded likewise, “I never met the woman, would she have a reason to kill you?”

“Don’t be so totally ridiculous! Anyway, how did she know I’d be in your vehicle that night?”

Rubbing her hand across her lips plucking at them in concentration, “you know, Packer, everything about this case appears random and that’s how we’ve viewed it. What if the planning was so meticulous it was made to look random.”

Silence met the observation until Milly finally spoke, “I’ll go with that train of thought. However, the real key to the answer is why. What did either of us do or say to warrant such a drastic and dastardly plan of action?”

“I’ll be honest with you if you will do the same. You’ve already admitted that you may have done something that might be considered evil to someone.”

Choking on the words for a few moments before finally committing herself to this fanciful line of question. “How far back do you want to explore?”

Chuckling at the expression. How so Packerfied it was! The woman knew how to make her laugh; she should have made a profession of it. “I’d say probably the war years to start. We each had ‘sensitive’ roles. Perhaps that will shed light on the situation.”

“Okay…you go first.”

“What? Oh, all right. Ever the doubter, Packer. Right, well I was involved in five missions, as we called them. The first in Belgium before it fell to the enemy….”

* * * * *

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.

Keep reading --->