Third to Die (19 page)

Buck removed his Stetson and held it to his chest and closed his eyes for a brief moment, paying his respects to Avalon’s fallen. Then he placed it back upon his thinning grey hair and climbed into the patrol car. As he slammed the door shut and gunned the engine, some of the birds departed from their perches; their dawn chorus momentarily silenced.

*

The sky had only just started to turn to grey as Aiden hauled his luggage into the trunk of his car. He had a few hours before his flight to Chicago, more than enough time to pop into the office and see Betty.

Aiden took a moment before climbing into his car. He breathed deeply, inhaling the fresh morning air. He could smell flowers, cut grass and damp earth. The neighbourhood seemed beautifully still just before the dawn. Dew still clung to the blades of grass in his front lawn. Aiden let the tranquillity soak into him. He hungrily drank the serenity in. He needed to remind himself what had originally bought him to Avalon and, more importantly, what made him want to stay.

With his lungs suitably filled with pure morning air, Aiden climbed into his car and headed into town.

*

Avalon didn’t experience rush hour. At peak points during the day, like just before nine and just after five, you could end up idling behind two other vehicles as you waited for the lights to change from red. But that was it. And by Avalon’s standards that would be considered busy.

Aiden didn’t spot any other cars as he drove into town. It was still too early for most people. He parked up outside the offices of Copes and May and rummaged in his pockets for his set of keys. He hadn’t used them for so long that for a split second he feared he might have lost them. But they were there, nestled beneath his house keys.

Betty almost always beat both Aiden and Edmond into work. She prided herself on her reliable efficiency. She’d greet them both with a smile and a fresh cup of coffee. Sliding his key into the front door, Aiden glanced down the street. A couple of other cars were parked up, clearly he hadn’t been the only overly zealous person that morning.

Once unlocked, the door opened and the soft chime provided the soundtrack for Aiden’s arrival. It was strange to see the office in darkness. He quickly flicked on the lights and glanced around the familiar space. Betty’s desk was immaculate at the far end of the waiting room. Aiden only offered it a cursory glance as he walked by and entered his own office.

In the main waiting area the air smelled crisp and clean. The same couldn’t be said for Aiden’s office. Here, everywhere smelled stale. It seemed that it wasn’t just Aiden who had been avoiding the office in Edmond’s absence, Betty had also been keeping her distance.

Aiden headed over to the windows and pulled up the blinds and unlocked one of the latches, letting in some of the morning air. He looked at Edmond’s empty seat, his untouched computer and flinched.

“He’ll be back soon,” he promised himself, moving towards his own desk and switching on the monitor.

It only took Aiden twenty minutes to catch up on his emails. There was nothing urgent which required his attention, but then most people didn’t contact him directly, they’d go through Edmond first and then the work would get passed on to him. Really, he needed to access Edmond’s inbox but he wasn’t sure how his old colleague would react to the suggestion. The last thing Aiden wanted to do was make him feel like he was being pushed out.

Checking his watch, Aiden saw that he still had a bit of time before Betty was due in. Shrugging on his coat and snatching up the office keys, he decided to make one quick trip before she arrived.

*

Aiden heard the chime indicating that Betty had arrived. He waited politely in his office, he didn’t want to bombard her as soon as she came in. Less than five minutes later, she knocked lightly on his door and then came in. She was wearing a smart navy dress, her grey hair held up in her trademark bun and she was holding a fresh takeout cup of tea and croissant. She proffered them nervously towards Aiden.

“You left these on my desk,” she told him, her tone slightly accusatory.

“Actually, Betty, those are for you.” Aiden smiled at her. Betty blushed as she glanced back down at the items she was holding.

“Oh.” She didn’t seem to know how to react to such a gesture.

“I got in early so thought I’d pop out and get drinks, save you doing it.” Aiden explained.

“But I don’t mind doing it at all!” Betty quickly insisted.

“I know,” Aiden nodded kindly at her. “I was just trying to help.”

“Oh.”

For the sixth time that morning, Aiden wished Edmond were there. He dealt with Betty with such ease. He always knew exactly what to say to her whereas Aiden was constantly in fear of insulting her traditional sensibilities. But somehow he had to get past his own awkwardness and talk to Betty. She deserved to know what was going on, she had after all worked for Copes and May much longer than Aiden had.

“Betty, can you sit down?” Aiden suggested. Betty glanced at the free chair in the room, the chair which belonged to Edmond. Then she pursed her thin lips, placed her tea and croissant down and disappeared into the main waiting area. She returned seconds later, wheeling in her own chair. She positioned it in front of Aiden and neatly lowered herself into it, folding her hands across her lap.

“I know I’ve not been in lately,” Aiden began, his tone apologetic.

“It’s completely understandable.” Betty nodded gravely.

“I’ve been dealing with some business out of town. But I wanted you to know that I’m still completely committed to Copes and May. I’m sure Edmond will be back to full health and annoying us with his terrible jokes in no time at all.”

Betty smiled at this but her eyes watered. Aiden coughed nervously. Betty had visited her beloved employer, she knew how grave his situation was, Aiden couldn’t sugar-coat it for either of them.

“But until then I want to make sure we keep things ticking over in his absence.”

“Of course,” Betty said emphatically.

“Do you have any idea how to access his computer?” Aiden gestured towards Edmond’s desk. Betty followed his gaze and drew her lips into a thin line.

“I’m just worried that the more urgent emails are going straight to his inbox,” Aiden quickly explained. “I’d hate to let Edmond down while he’s away by missing something important.”

When Betty turned her head to look back at Aiden, he could see that she was beginning to cry. She sniffed and tried to force her tears back behind her eyes.

“Should we be speaking more frankly, Mr. Connelly?” she asked in a small voice.

“No.” Aiden quickly shook his head. “And please, no more Mr. Connelly. Call me Aiden.”

“He was so weak when I went to see him,” Betty declared, lowering her chin to her chest and nervously fidgeting with her hands.

“He looked like a different man. Though of course, once he started speaking, I knew it was him.”

Aiden shifted nervously in his chair. The conversation was becoming more intense than he had intended.

“Might I be excused this afternoon?” Betty suddenly enquired, looking back up at him.

“Um…yeah, of course.”

“It’s the funeral of Samuel Fern,” Betty explained, looking pained. “I feel I ought to go and pay my respects.”

“Did you know him well?” Aiden asked gently.

“How well do you ever truly know someone, Mr. Connelly?” Betty replied. Then she blushed and corrected herself. “Sorry, Aiden.”

Aiden was taken aback by her profound observation. He wondered if perhaps the issues Avalon had dealt with of late, like the revelations surrounding Brandon White’s death, had more of an impact on the community than he had realized. But like any tight-knit community, Avalon wouldn’t let an outsider like Aiden know how they had been shook by the news. They’d just circle the wagons and place tighter lids upon their secrets.

“Will you be attending the service?”

“Actually, I can’t. I’m heading to Chicago in a few hours. It’s all part of that out of town case I mentioned.”

Aiden hadn’t realized that Samuel Fern’s funeral was that day. He knew it would look bad if he didn’t attend, or would it? He doubted Buck Fern would want him there. Even Deena for that matter. Surely Aiden would just be a reminder of all the secrets that were being buried with him.

“Ah,” Betty nodded courteously. If she judged him for not going she didn’t show it.

“I’m hopeful that things will return to normal soon,” Aiden admitted, trying to sound bright.

“With all due respect, Mr.— Sorry, Aiden, Avalon hasn’t been normal since you showed up.”

Aiden tried to read into her delivery of the statement, was she mad at him? Betty smiled and he felt his shoulders lower with relief. She wasn’t mad.

“You’ve shaken things up here, Aiden.” She said his name so carefully, as if she was trying it on for size and deciding if it fit.

“Edmond loves you all the more for doing so. It’s like you’re this mirror, and people can no longer escape from the ugliness of themselves when they’re held up to you.”

“I’m just trying to do the right thing.”

“Edmond is a man of honour, just like you.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you believe in miracles?” Betty asked, seeming wistful.

“Honestly?” Aiden didn’t want to lie to her. “No, I don’t.”

“Me neither,” she sighed. “But I fear that’s what our dear Edmond needs.”

She carefully stood up, straightened her dress and took her leave, wheeling her chair back out. It made a soft squeaking sound as it moved, like a timid mouse. Aiden checked his watch, he needed to leave if he was going to make his flight. He was logging off his computer when Betty popped her head back round the door.

“I forgot my treats,” she said as she came in and picked up her tea and croissant. “Thanks for these.”

Betty stared sincerely at Aiden.

“Earl grey tea and a croissant is my favourite breakfast, how did you know?”

“Edmond told me,” Aiden replied simply. As he shared the explanation, he felt a sense of dread wash over him. Edmond had delivered the information so flippantly, as though it were nothing, when in reality he was preparing Aiden to take over his role as Betty’s employer, he wanted to make sure that he could look after the loyal old lady as he had done.

Betty also sensed the truth behind the sentiment. She stiffened but forced herself to smile.

“That’s Edmond, always looking out for me.” Then she disappeared behind the door.

Aiden stood up and shrugged on his jacket. He reached for his car keys which were on the desk when his cell phone suddenly whirred to life. He was now running dangerously close to missing his flight if he procrastinated any further. But when he saw the caller ID he knew he had to take it. It was an incoming call from Edna Copes.

“Edna, hey,” Aiden lowered his voice slightly as his heart began to race. Surely this wasn’t the call, it couldn’t be. Not yet. Edmond was a fighter; he was locked in a battle he was going to win, wasn’t he?

“Aiden?” Edna sounded brittle on the other end of the line. He could hear the pain stabbing through her voice.

“Edna, are you all right? Is Edmond okay?” Aiden spoke frantically, his body breaking out into a nervous sweat.

“Can you come?” Edna asked him urgently. “Can you come now?”

“I’m on my way.”

Chapter Nine

Letting Go

Aiden felt his chest tighten as he listened to Edna’s panicked voice through the phone.

“He’s…he’s asking for you.”

“Okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Aiden was crossing the waiting area in long strides. The door chimed as he went through it and stepped out onto the street, but he didn’t stop to savour the sound. He raised his keys and clicked open his car.

“I’m worried he doesn’t have long left,” Edna admitted. She sounded tearful and broken.

“I’ll be right there.” Aiden climbed into his car and was about to turn the key in the ignition when he noticed Betty standing in the entrance to Copes and May, she was squinting at him in the morning sunlight. As he wound down the window, she approached the car.

“Is everything all right?” she asked cautiously. She’d heard the worry in Aiden’s voice, saw his haste to leave.

Aiden knew he could say that he was just running late for his flight but he didn’t want to lie to Betty.

“It’s Edmond,” he told her sadly. “I’m heading over there now.”

Betty bristled and tilted her chin upwards.

“Do you want to come?” Aiden wasn’t sure Edmond would be up to accepting guests, but he felt he had to extend the invitation to her nonetheless. After all, she’d known him a lot longer than he had.

Pursing her lips, Betty quickly shook her head. She moved it fast enough to cause her glasses, which now hung around her neck, to sway but not so fast as to disturb her styled hair.

“Tell him.” She drew closer to the car. The words were seemingly right on her lips but then they inexplicably fell away. She shook her head once more.

“Just be there for him, Aiden.”

“I will be.” Aiden nodded solemnly. Then Betty backed away from the car and he turned the key and the engine growled as it came to life.

*

A few more cars merged along Avalon’s roads as the hour was now a more reasonable one. Aiden weaved his way through town towards the long road which led out to Edmond’s home. The same road he’d had to travel to visit the late Samuel Fern.

Questions buffeted around Aiden’s mind like paper caught in an updraft. He was powerless to collect any one of them and actually consider their answer. He wanted to turn on the stereo, to drown out his thoughts with music, but they refused to give him such respite. Each question gnawed at his mind, demanding attention. Straining, Aiden managed to catch just one and he sighed as he realized it wouldn’t have an easy solution.

He would miss his flight to Chicago and in doing he wouldn’t be able to meet with Guy Chambers. Or Brandy.

“Dammit.” Aiden seethed as he smacked his hands against the wheel. He needed to be by Edmond’s side, he owed the dear old man as much. But he also owed his friends the truth over Justin’s death.

“Dammit,” Aiden repeated. He indicated and quickly pulled over on to the side of the road, stirring up a cloud of dust as he did so. He reached for his cell phone and dialled the number he now had for Guy Chambers. He knew his former friend wouldn’t take the cancellation well, it might even mean that Aiden missed his opportunity to call in that favour he was owed.