Secret Reflection

12


Day Eleven

‘Good morning, Mr Ditchley.’ Inspector Mathieson strolled into the hospital ward sporting a wide grin.

‘What do you want, Mathieson? I’ve said all I’m going to say without my lawyer.’ He turned his attention to the garden beyond the window, effectively shutting out the inspector.

‘That’s fine, Mr Ditchley. All you have to do is listen. By breaking that mirror at Stanthorpe last night, you have provided us with enough blood for a DNA sample. I just wanted to let you know that the lab has run blood typing tests on Deanna Montgomery’s foetus and we’ll know later today whether the child was likely yours. The full tests take a lot longer than they say in the movies but we’ll know soon enough.’

Richard didn’t speak. The air in the room was suddenly too thin and he didn’t quite trust himself anyway. While he would never have allowed it had he known, he now fervently prayed that Deanna had been two-timing him. If the child turned out to be his, nothing he said or did would disprove Will’s ridiculous allegations. God he felt sick.

‘I’ve placed a man outside to ensure that you don’t decide to skip town before the results come through. I’ll be by as soon as we know.’

Mathieson left without another word.

With his good hand, Richard reached for the buzzer to call a nurse. When the poor girl entered the room he bellowed that his arm ached and he needed painkillers. ‘Now!’ he yelled after her as she departed.

‘How’re you feeling, kiddo?’ Tom asked as he placed a tray on the table beside Kelly. On the tray sat a pot of coffee, cookies, a croissant and a pot of jam. Her gaze drifted over it but she didn’t react.

‘I’m not hungry,’ she muttered, closing her eyes and turning away from his gently smiling face. She hated the pity she saw in both his and Nancy’s eyes. ‘I just want to be alone.’

‘Nancy gave strict orders that I wasn’t to leave until you drank the coffee, at least.’ He crossed his arms as if he intended to boss her around but the effect was lost because she refused to even glance at him directly.

The coldness that pervaded her being had made her numb and she wanted to bask in that icy nothingness.

‘Tell Nancy … tell her …’ She shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut to ward off the threat of tears that were brimming beneath her lids. ‘Never mind.’ She swallowed back a groan and though it took a great effort she picked up the cup and took a sip of the coffee. It tasted like dirty water but if it got rid of Tom so he’d leave her in peace …

‘Good girl,’ he said. ‘I told Nance I’d be able to get you to drink it without having to twist your arm.’

‘Go away, Tom.’ She said the words quietly and without inflection.

He sat beside her and took her hand. ‘Kel … I know it hurts. I know nothing we can say will help right now, but we’re here for you.

‘The inspector will be here to talk to you in a while. He needs to know what Richard did last night. Wouldn’t you like to take a shower, or have a bath and clean up first?’

Blinking, she noticed her dishevelment for the first time since last night’s altercation with Richard. Her arms and hands were spattered with tiny droplets of blood. She groaned to think she’d slept with Richard’s blood all over her. She hadn’t even washed her face. Once the paramedics had deemed her uninjured, she’d simply shut down.

Lifting herself off the pillows she swung her feet over the edge of the settee like an automaton. ‘You’re right. I need to shower.’

‘You can use ours,’ Tom said as he held out a hand to help her stand. ‘I don’t suppose you’d want to go back to your room. I’ll get Martin to move all your things into another room while you’re showering—’

‘No!’ She shrieked. She hadn’t meant to react so angrily but she needed to remain in that room. Even if John was dead, she couldn’t let go quite yet. ‘No – it’s okay,’ she said in a more temperate tone, ‘I don’t mind. I guess I’ll have to return to the States soon anyway so no point in moving. Nancy said that you weren’t going to use that room for paying guests. With the grand opening later in the week, I expect every other room is booked out.’

‘Not yet, but we’re hoping.’

They made their way up the stairs in silence, Tom following behind like a mother hen guarding her chick from harm. On the landing she stopped in front of the mirror, hoping against hope that he’d suddenly appear. He didn’t, and she died a little more inside. When they reached the top of the stairs, he tilted his head towards her door and asked, ‘Are you going to tell me what Richard did in there last night?’

Her eyes welled. ‘It’s a long story – which I’ll tell you and Nance later.’

‘But what are you going to tell Mathieson? Obviously, you can’t really tell him about John. If he’s gone, you have no proof he ever existed.’

Except what is in my heart.

Swallowing hard, she looked up into Tom’s kind eyes. ‘I know. I have to think about how to explain all that. Mathieson’s a smart man – I’m certain he knows I haven’t told him everything. I expect it’ll only make him more suspicious.’

Tom placed a hand on her shoulder in a gesture of comfort. ‘If you do decide to tell him about John, we’ll back you up.’

She shook her head sadly, the sense of futility settling like a weight inside her chest. She rubbed her arms, cold despite the warmth of the morning. Perhaps she’d never feel warm again.

‘There’s no reason to now, is there?’ She turned to go into her room, but as she crossed the threshold she looked back. ‘I’ll still write his story. I can’t leave until they find who killed Deanna so I might as well give you what you asked for. There’s no reason that your future guests need to know John has gone.’

‘Not necessary, Kel. Like you said, a golf course and kiddie park will be enough.’

A short laugh escaped her. ‘Maybe, but I think I need to write it. I need to assure myself it wasn’t all a fantasy.’

‘Whatever you want to do is fine with us. Go have a shower and clean up. I’ll come find you when Mathieson arrives.’

Surveying the room she still felt as if she hovered far away … not quite living in the here and now. All the broken glass had gone. The frame, with its patches of glue and plywood backing, appeared stark alongside the striped wallpaper. As she stared at it, her mind flew back to the night when she had lain alone in the throes of rapture. She saw John’s eyes, aglow with passion and fixed upon her as if she was the only woman alive on earth. That was how he made her feel. She remembered that moment of orgasm when her eyes sprang open and she saw all the love he had for her, flowing across the barrier to her even though they would never touch. That feeling, as real and tangible as if he had been buried deep inside her, had transcended dimensions. If only she could have found a way …

Kelly forced herself to turn away. While she needed to feel close to him, needed to sleep in that bed and keep those emotions alive in her heart, she also needed to deal with the moment. And right now she still had Deanna’s murder hanging over her head and she needed to appear sane, even if she didn’t feel it, so Mathieson would clear her and eventually let her go home. LA no longer seemed like home. She doubted anywhere would feel like home again.

‘I will be taking Mr Ditchley’s statement later today, but I’d like to hear your version of last night’s events, Ms Reid.’

Refusing to look directly at him, Kelly explained the events of the previous afternoon. ‘When Richard wasn’t at the coach house, I went in to look for him. In the process I found the journal I’d been searching for – the one I wanted to use for background to my story about Stanthorpe.’

‘I expect this was the journal to do with the ghost,’ Mathieson stated matter-of-factly.

Kelly’s eyes darted to his and he gave her a knowing smile. ‘Everyone who’s lived in the area knows about the ghost, Ms Reid. I grew up in Garford, and my grandfather was a gamekeeper here in the nineteen-forties. While I can’t claim to be a believer, I do know that others swear the ghost does exist.’ He turned to Nancy and Tom, who sat on one of the sofas across the room. ‘I gather you asked Ms Reid here to expose the ghost as part of your promotion for the hotel’s opening?’

They both nodded somewhat sheepishly.

‘So you took the journal, then what happened?’ he asked, his stylus at the ready.

‘Richard kind of made it clear that if I wanted the journal, I’d have to pay for it.’

‘Pay how, Ms Reid?’

She slanted him a look that basically said he didn’t need to think hard to guess.

One black brow rose expectantly. ‘Sex?’

‘So I thought. I didn’t know where he’d gone so I decided to read the thing quickly, that way I could simply hand it back and avoid payment. I went to the pub in the village and hid in a dark corner. I figured when Richard returned he would come straight here to find me.’

‘What time was this?’

‘A bit after lunch, maybe two o’clock when I went to the pub. I stayed until well after nine and read the entire thing.’

‘I drove her back here a little before ten,’ Tom interjected.

Nodding, Mathieson made a note on his PDA then lifted his gaze back to Kelly. ‘What happened next, Ms Reid?’

‘I guess it was after eleven when Richard appeared in my room unannounced. There’s no lock on that door so I couldn’t have kept him out even if I wanted to. While he did want … sexual favours as payment,’ her voice faltered slightly, ‘he said he also needed money.’

‘Did that surprise you?’

‘Yes. But he knew I have a substantial trust fund and he demanded eighty thousand pounds … I would have given him that if it meant he’d leave me alone, but he also said he wanted us to get married in a few days and move to the States.’

‘What?’ Nancy jumped up from her chair in astonishment, though Mathieson did not appear to be at all fazed by Kelly’s statement.

‘He said he owed a lot of money and he thought it would be a good idea to live overseas for a while.’

‘We are aware of Ditchley’s financial state of affairs. What led to the scuffle that wounded him?’

‘Well, he decided that we should … you know … to seal the bargain. I hadn’t agreed to anything but that didn’t seem to bother him. Anyway … when he started to kiss me and grope me I just snapped and pushed him backwards … into the mirror.’ The last three words came out as a mere whisper. She didn’t add the ones that remained in her mind: and I killed John.

‘Do you wish to file assault charges against Mr Ditchley, Ms Reid?’ Mathieson asked as he stood.

It took a couple of seconds for Mathieson’s question to register. ‘Not really – so long as he stays away from me, I don’t care what happens.’

‘Well, call me if you change your mind. You have my card,’ he said as he made to leave.

Tom blocked his exit. ‘What’s happening with the Deanna Montgomery investigation?’

‘It is continuing, Mr Wentworth. At this stage I cannot say more.’ With that, he left.

‘Well that wasn’t so bad,’ Nancy commented as she came across to sit by Kelly. ‘Are you sure you don’t want Richard charged? I certainly would.’

Swatting the air weakly, Kelly sighed. ‘I just want it over.’

Martin tapped on the doorframe and entered the salon with a large bunch of white roses in his arms. ‘For Kelly,’ he stated as Nancy came to take them from him.

‘Oh,’ she pouted in disappointment as she slid a glance at her husband. ‘I thought they’d be for me.’

‘Whoever they’re from, I don’t want them.’

Nancy raised both brows. ‘Can I read the card?’

‘Suit yourself.’

Tom took the flowers from her arms so Nancy could extract the card.

Dearest Kelly,

Please forgive my boorish behaviour. I hope you aren’t hurt.

Richard.

Rolling her eyes, Kelly wanted to laugh. ‘Who the heck is he kidding! Have Martin dump the flowers in the trash.’

Tom handed the bouquet back to Martin. ‘You heard the lady.’

Nancy came back to sit beside Kelly, embracing her in a sisterly hug. ‘Fancy some lunch?’

Kelly knew Nancy was trying very hard to keep things light and buoyant, but all she wanted to do was curl up in bed and sleep forever. ‘Thanks Nance, but I’m not hungry just now. Maybe later. I think I’ll just go upstairs and sleep.’

A few minutes later she stood in the centre of the room, twirling in a slow circle with her face lifted skyward. ‘You promised to haunt me. So, c’mon, start haunting. I need to know you’re still there. Show me something – anything!’

She remained standing in that spot for quite some time secretly praying that she wasn’t mad, hadn’t imagined it all and that he would do what he promised and come to her, even in death.

The cynical, rational side of her brain wanted to laugh hysterically that she had been reduced to pleading with a phantom she would never have believed existed only a few short weeks ago. Now she was not only a believer, but desperately in love with a dead man who in truth lived a hundred and forty years ago.

The air around her continued to remain oppressively silent, and just as she had done so many times in the past twelve hours, she forced the threatening tears back. ‘Please,’ she begged one last time. When no answer came, she breathed deeply and climbed into bed, huddling there as if it could cocoon her from reality.

The gentle hand swept up her back to make her smile inwardly. Her body reacted, a rash of goosebumps spread over her skin, raising each tiny hair. Heat pooled between her thighs, warming, dampening. She so needed his touch.

Turning, her lips sought the heated skin of his chest. Her tongue danced a circle around one small flat nipple that pebbled and peaked as if reaching toward her. The low rumble of his pleased laugh echoed through every cell and she felt a triumphant surge of feminine power.

One large hand splayed across her chest as he teased the edge of her breast. She felt it tighten and a dart of adrenalin shot through her belly, almost shocking in its intense suddenness. The hand began to weave a path downward bringing every cell in its path alive, then slowing over her slightly rounded belly, before his long fingers tangled in the damp curls. She lifted her hips, forcing his fingers lower so they delved into her heat. Yes, that was where she needed him.

Nuzzling, he buried his face in her neck, his hot breath feathering against her sensitive skin as he slid one leg between hers. Using a gentle pressure he pushed his thigh upward against his own hand to increase the pressure of his fingers as they delved in the slickness that flowed from her. A groan tore from her throat as he slid the pad of his finger over her swollen nub. Her legs quivered. His index finger pressed firmly, just once, and her back arched upward.

Crying out, the spasms of ecstasy shivered through her and her eyes flew open.

She gulped in air, panting as if she had just run a race. Her whole body thrummed and the contractions of her internal muscles continued to pulse, firing her nerve endings to send spurts of sensation down the insides of her thighs all the way to her toes.

‘Omigod! Not again,’ Kelly said into the silence as her heart rate and breathing began to slow. Her eyes darted about the darkened room. Could he be here? When she’d asked for him to follow through and haunt her, this wasn’t really what she’d meant!

Leaning across to the bedside, she tapped on the light. It took a minute for her eyes to adjust, but she already knew that she was quite alone. The hollow sensation that had gripped her since last night returned along with the light.

Looking down at herself she felt an uneasy sense of humiliation. Her nipples stood out against her t-shirt and as she wriggled her bottom to the side of the bed she felt that slippery, squelchy sensation that only ever happened when she’d had sex.

Raising a shaky hand to push her hair from her eyes, she stared at the blank space where the mirror should have been. The loneliness hit her in the chest like a blow. If this is what the future would be, she didn’t know how long she’d cope; erotic dreams and asking ghosts to haunt her … she definitely needed a psychiatrist!

It was no surprise to Richard when he opened the door to find Detective Inspector Mathieson’s unreadable visage staring blankly at him. He’d been expecting the good inspector all afternoon. Whether the man believed Will Montgomery’s allegations or not, he was fairly certain that Kelly would have told him all the gory details of last night’s little fracas. The flowers had been a peace offering, suggested by his lawyer. While he didn’t think it’d do much good, he decided the gesture wouldn’t hurt. Obviously it hadn’t helped any, either.

‘What can I do for you, Detective Inspector?’ he said in a sarcastic tone as he walked away, leaving the door open for the inspector to come in, or not, as he chose.

Sitting on the couch before the television, he nursed his bandaged arm and proceeded to focus on the football game that was playing.

The inspector followed him into the room and stood between Richard and the screen. ‘I’ve just been over at Stanthorpe getting a statement from Ms Reid.’

Richard’s eyes darted up momentarily before they again settled on what he could see of the match.

‘Ms Reid has decided not to press assault charges, Mr Ditchley.’

At that, Richard straightened and looked directly at the inspector for the first time. Maybe the flowers had worked. That notion set his mind to wondering whether he might, in fact, convince her to marry him after all? While he didn’t really think that likely, he’d pay another visit, perhaps in a day or so, just to test the waters. He knew he didn’t have long before Will would be by to collect Denny’s money … either he got a cheque from Kelly, or he needed to think seriously about getting out of town. And that wouldn’t be easy. Knowing Denny, he had blokes all over the place, watching him, waiting for him to do a runner.

‘Is that all you wanted?’ he asked the inspector lightly.

‘No, in fact it’s not, Mr Ditchley. Actually, I am here to make your day. You will be pleased to know that the blood test came back negative. It seems the foetus came back with neither your nor Deanna’s blood-type. We are doing further testing to see if we can learn the identity of the father of Deanna Montgomery’s foetus.’

‘I told you I hadn’t touched her.’

‘While you might not be the father, we still intend to pursue the investigation into Will Montgomery’s allegations. Until our inquiries are complete, do not leave the county.’

‘Fine.’ Picking up the remote control, he started flicking between channels as if the inspector was no longer there. ‘Anything else?’

Mathieson moved to the door. ‘I’ll be talking to you further, Mr Ditchley.’

‘Fine,’ Richard repeated.

As soon as the door closed Richard stood and smiled to himself. Relief washed through him like a spring wind. So, the brat was some other man’s bastard. While the idea that she’d been sleeping with someone else irked him, he felt deliriously happy that they had no evidence against him. That news deserves a celebration! He headed for the cabinet that held his stash of scotch and grabbed the most expensive bottle. What with Kelly not pressing charges and the test findings, things were looking up.

Another persistent knock sounded on his door. ‘What now,’ he grumbled under his breath as he stalked back into the living room and wrenched the door open. He was just about to ask the inspector what he’d forgotten, when Eithne’s angelic face greeted him.

‘Hello, Eithne. What brings you over?’

The girl tilted her head up and gave him her best smile. ‘You said to come by after the funeral, Mr Ditchley. Me dad’s at the pub having a wake with his friends, so I thought I’d come to ask you about the job … if it is still open.’

The charming persona clicked into place and he swung the door wide. ‘It most certainly is. Come in, Eithne. Would you like a glass of juice? Or a soft drink?’

She shook her head and shuffled inside.

‘Take a seat,’ Richard suggested as he sat on the couch.

‘What happened to your arm, Mr Ditchley?’

‘Call me Richard, Eithne … if you’re going to work for me, you’ll get sick of calling me mister all the time. I got cut by broken glass. Just a few stitches but it’ll be better soon.’

She nodded and squeezed into the seat on the end of the couch.

‘How was the funeral? I wanted to come but your dad wouldn’t let me.’

She glanced up at him from under her pale brows, her eyes, so like Dee’s, glassy from unshed tears. ‘It was okay. Lots of people kept trying to hug me and I just wanted to get away.’

Richard sipped his scotch and nodded sagely. ‘Yeah, people can smother you. Do you miss Dee?’

She put her head down. ‘Sometimes,’ she said weakly. ‘She used to stop dad from hurting me when he got to drinkin’ too much.’

Interesting.

‘Did he try to hurt you often?’

‘Sometimes. He hurt Dee lots.’

One of Richard’s brows rose slightly. Dee had never told him that her father beat her. ‘I’m sorry, Eithne. If he ever tries to hurt you, you can always come here … okay?’ He slid closer to her on the couch and gave her a reassuring pat on the thigh.

Without warning the girl threw herself against him, hugging him fiercely. ‘Thanks, Mr Ditchley,’ she whispered against his ear. ‘Dee said if I ever needed help and she wasn’t around, to come to you.’ She squeezed for a second, then pulled back and gave him a shy smile.

The smell of her fresh skin flooded his senses and his whole body tightened. Squirming slightly, he angled his body away from hers to relieve the sudden pressure inside him. This was not good, not so soon after Dee’s death, and certainly not with Will’s accusations still hanging over his head like the proverbial sword of Damocles. He needed to stay cool. While he might be eager to explore the possibilities Eithne offered, he really needed to bide his time.

‘What did Deanna tell you about the job?’ he asked to divert her attention, and his.

Eithne’s eyes narrowed as she concentrated on remembering. ‘Dee used to say that it was real good working for you Mr Di— Richard,’ she giggled sheepishly. ‘She said you never made her work too hard, and that you used to give her nice things to eat and sometimes special clothes to wear.’ Eithne slid him a sideways look that reminded him of Deanna when she was out to seduce him. His groin tightened further and his temperature went up a notch. He wondered just how much Dee might have told her little sister.

Leaning over he picked up the end of her pigtail and twirled it through his fingers, deliberately tickling her neck. Again she giggled.

‘What else did Dee say?’

‘She said that she was going to marry you one day.’

Richard’s eyes widened. ‘Really?’

She nodded with the enthusiasm of youth. ‘She said you were going to take her to London and marry her as soon as she was old enough.’

Swallowing, he wondered whether Dee had told her father these things as well. It would account for the accusations.

The door crashed open, bouncing on its hinges with an almighty crack. His breath lurched.

‘I told you to leave my little girl alone, you animal!’ Will Montgomery roared as he threw himself headlong at Richard so fast that he had no chance to evade him. All the wind was knocked out of him and he heard, rather than felt, several ribs crunch as the full weight of Will’s nuggety body landed on his chest. He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t even moan.

Will began pummelling his face. ‘You won’t be such a pretty-boy after I’ve finished with you, Lord bloody Stanthorpe.’

Richard’s head rocked back when Will’s fist ground into his face. Strangely, he didn’t feel a thing … it was as if he was watching from the sidelines. He knew he ought to be fighting back, but he had no strength, no air.

‘NO! DA, STOP!’ screeched Eithne from somewhere behind him. ‘We wasn’t doing nothing! We were just talking, Da!’

From the corner of his eye he could see Eithne trying to grab hold of her father’s raised fist. But Will was too fast and light blasted inside Richard’s brain as the fist found its mark. Now it hurt. Hot pain jagged all the way down his spine and warm liquid covered his face. Everything in the room went dark and hazy for a moment and his body began to shudder. The fist drew back, ready to strike again. He tried to turn away but his head no longer obeyed his commands.

‘DA! Stop it!’

The fist caused another shower of sparks inside his brain and he coughed hard. Several teeth came spraying out of his mouth in a crimson cascade that threatened to choke him.

‘Keep your weaselly cock out of my daughters!’ Will growled as his knee jerked upward.

GOD! Fire consumed him as the most excruciating pain he’d ever endured exploded through his body. Richard began screaming. Now he did choke and he didn’t even notice when Will’s fist smashed into his nose for the third time. He didn’t hear the sound of it breaking. He didn’t hear Eithne’s convulsive cries. The pinpoint of agony between his legs consumed him beyond all else and he struggled towards the distant buzzing that promised unconsciousness.

Only it didn’t come. Like a rag doll he slid to the floor while Will battered him relentlessly. Will straddled him, thumping each side of his face with the skill of a boxer. The buzzing got louder and Richard would have smiled if his face had been able to respond to his thoughts.

Suddenly Will’s weight disappeared and Richard found himself staring into Mathieson’s hard face.

‘Playtime’s over, Montgomery,’ he said as Will landed in a heap beside the television. ‘Let’s all take a ride into Abingdon.’

Richard didn’t know how long the ambulance took to arrive. He drifted in and out of consciousness. But he did hear Mathieson arrest Will and a gleeful sound gurgled up his throat.