INTRODUCTION

The sky was grey 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.

* * * * *

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 meagre 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 grey 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 favourite 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 tyres 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 realised 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 realised 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 favourite 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 realised 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 realise 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 judgement.” 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 realised 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 tranquillity 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 journeyperson. 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 authorised 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.

Charise Bootle didn’t like London. She had spent her life as a country girl in small towns and was happy to keep her life in the backwater, as some called it. She didn’t even have TV as yet. Anyway, the reception was poor in their village. However, she did love the radio and had taken to some of the new stations with their rock and roll music. It often amused her to think what Millicent would have made of Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard, not to mention the Beatles and Rolling Stones. Though she might have warmed to Frank Sinatra and some of the other balladeers. She was still smiling about that when a bird-like woman who looked like she hadn’t had a square meal in her life touched her on the shoulder.

“Yes?”

“Are you Charise Bootle?” Bright intelligent brown eyes snared her green ones and Charlie felt like she was being catalogued.

“Yes, I am. Are you Detective Sullivan?” Charlie wasn’t intimidated by the look; she had had worse. She’d lived with Millicent long enough to build a hardened shell over her sensitive nature. Millicent, for all she loved her, had been harsh at times in the way she went about life. She had always wanted to know reasons for everything, even the smallest of things.

“Yes, that’s me. Thanks for coming here, I wasn’t sure that you would.”

The thin woman sat down in the chair opposite Charlie. To the detective’s eye, the woman sitting in the chair gave could only be described as …gigantic, definitely generously proportioned in every department. Given her stature, Prudence Sullivan thought that if she had ever been part of the British Olympic shot put team, she would have given those Russians a run for their money.

Charlie smiled slowly, knowing immediately that she had put the other woman on edge by her size. She was six foot three and the only daughter of a farmer with five sons. Her mother had been a tall woman too but she had become tall and broad like the rest of the family. Sometimes she wondered why Millicent had fallen for her but she had and that brought its own bittersweet memories now.

“You said you had information that I might be interested in regarding Millicent Packer’s death.”

“I have, at least…”Prudence hadn’t been in the family business long and her father hadn’t been sure, at all, this was the right profession for her; a gumshoe. She had insisted and it was the sixties, where women were exercising their own freedom from the trappings of a husband and six kids.

“At least? You are doubtful? I don’t like London, Detective and especially today. I could be somewhere more important.”

Prudence saw the flash of disappointment and sadness reflect in the expressive green ones and she wondered if she had been right to contact this woman, her information was sketchy at best.

“I’ve been checking the records the local policeman made at the time of the accident. He had some entries that should have been checked further but weren’t.”

“And this is relevant how?”

“The entries were about anomalies he found at the scene of the crash and weren’t followed through.”

“There was an inquest, Detective, surely they would have considered those points and had them investigated if they thought it relevant.” This was pointless. She had wasted her time coming here except for one thing, someone could claim the body of the woman who had died with Millicent.

“The inquest didn’t see all the notes.”

“What! How does that happen?”

“Someone removed the relevant pages prior to the inquest and they were not considered.”

Prudence removed a notebook and a battered file from the rucksack she had brought with her. “Look at this.”

Charlie quickly scanned the pages she was given and didn’t see anything amiss.

“Do you see it?”

“See what?”

“Look at this.” Prudence brought out another set of papers and placed them on the table as she stood up. “I’ll get us another coffee, how do you take it?”

“I’d prefer tea, milk and three sugars please.” Charlie didn’t see the surprise on the Detective’s face as she said three sugars.

Flicking over the pages, she didn’t see anything wrong or anything which indicated something had been taken out. She wasn’t the brightest spark in the matchbox admittedly, but she didn’t see any problem here.

Five minutes later the Detective came back laden with the tea and her own black coffee. “You really have a sweet tooth.”

Charlie looked up and smiled, it was a smile that you never forgot, one of those innocent enjoyment smiles that touched everyone, even the most insensitive. “Yes, in coffee I have five sugars.”

“My goodness! Is that why you are so…” Prudence trailed off as she saw a flicker of hurt in the green eyes.

“I enjoy my treats, Detective.” The tone was cold and unfriendly.

“I didn’t mean…that is, I wish I could put on weight. People call me the sparrow, I never put an ounce of spare flesh on.”

“Forget it, I have read the notes again and can’t find a problem.” Charlie announced once again passing the papers back to the embarrassed and way too impressionable woman who didn’t look like the detective type.

Quickly taking the papers, Prudence found the entry she needed on one set and another in the official papers. “Here read this…no, let me.”

Pointing to a particular paragraph. “…the car skidded into the tree in torrential rain conditions, both parties died immediately on impact.”

“That’s what they said at the inquest, I was there!”

“Yeah, I know, I know, but listen, please.” Seeing the large woman nod her head she carried on. “…the car skidded into a tree in torrential rain conditions though it is unknown at this time why the speed was this excessive. The brakes may have been at fault, both parties died immediately on impact.”

“And your point would be?” there was nothing significant in that statement, none at all.

“It’s the point about the car being in excessive speed. Most would ignore it as driving too fast but in the notes I’ve seen from the police officer at the time, he expressed that it was more to do with tampering than speeding.”

Mulling over the information Charlie sighed, this told her nothing of interest. Why had she come here, especially now! “Where does it say that?”

“It doesn’t there, but I have notes that I copied from his files.”

Standing up Charlie stood over the woman like a giant, “if you don’t mind, I’ll go home now.”

Prudence stood up and felt like a Barbie doll in front of this woman, she was huge! “Please, will you consider that it’s a possibility that your friend died in less than accidental terms?”

“Good day, Detective.” Charlie walked out of the coffee shop. What a waste of time…

“You know, that if I thought for one moment, Millicent, that it wasn’t an accident, I would hunt down whoever had done this to you and I would see justice done, as I know you would have wanted it. I hope you are sleeping peacefully, love, and that the next life is peaceful and kind to you.”

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 realised 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 realised 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 realising 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 marvellous 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 realised 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 see