Deadly Past

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

The welcome aroma of coffee brewing woke Trev. Then he noticed the soft fur of a cat against his neck, which was at an odd angle. He forced tired eyelids open enough to see daylight and groaned. The cat hissed and abruptly departed, leaving his skin cold.

“Mayhem, that was uncalled for.” Rosie’s voice was low and came from the kitchen.

Trev stretched, opened his eyes the rest of the way, and pushed himself upright. The sofa wasn’t long enough to accommodate his height but he’d been grateful for anywhere to rest when he’d snuck in a few hours ago.

“Darling, go have a shower and change. I’ll make some breakfast.” Rosie came out of the kitchen. “What time did you get in?”

“Three, bit later.” Trev straightened and groaned again. “Getting old, Mum.”

She laughed and wheeled away. “Leave the blankets for me.”

He wasn’t going to do that so folded them and returned them to the hall cupboard. His clothes were all in his bedroom and the door was closed. He’d help his mother first.

Rosie was cracking eggs into a bowl. “Charlie’s in my bedroom dressing. She used my shower so you have access to your room.”

“Sweet of her. Of you both. Be right back.”

The shower eased the aches in his muscles from being in the rain and cold for so long, and helping move heavy beams to make the building safe. His heart was heavy and he still smelled smoke even when in clean clothes. As the steam cleared from the mirror he stared at his reflection, unsurprised by the exhaustion lining his face. It was from more than being away for days at the court case.

All he wanted was to climb into his bed and put his head under the pillow. Hide from the day ahead and what he’d seen overnight. But he had too much to do.

Charlotte and Rosie were in the kitchen now. He watched them for a moment as they prepared breakfast together and his heart warmed. This was why he did his job. To keep good people safe. Or try to. Charlotte glanced up and her smile was enough to make him want to get down on one knee and propose.

Marry me. Live with me so I can protect you forever.

He opened his arms and she snuggled against him for a moment.

“I’m glad you’re back.” She pulled back to look at him, her eyes searching. “Breakfast and coffee. Then tell us stuff.” Charlotte kissed his chin, which made him smile. She wasn’t short, but unless she rose on her toes she couldn’t quite reach his lips.

He helped carry cups of steaming coffee to the table which was set for breakfast and already loaded with eggs, bacon, hash browns, mushrooms, and toast. His stomach growled. The last meal he’d had was lunch yesterday and even then it was only a quick sandwich between court sessions.

The three ate in silence for a few minutes. Trev caught Charlotte and his mother a couple of times staring at him as though waiting for answers. He needed food and knew once he began to talk, his breakfast was probably over. So he smiled and finished the delicious meal. When his coffee cup was half empty, he prepared his thoughts.

“Lovely meal. Thank you both.”

“Pleasure, dear. We were worried about you being out in the wet last night.”

“Part of the job, Mum. There’s not a lot to tell.” He sipped more coffee.

“The bookstore is okay?” Charlotte asked.

“Yes. The fire was out before getting the chance to spread.”

Rosie leaned forward. “So no other shops affected?”

“Just the realtor. Apart from lingering smoke and the shop next door has some water damage.” Trev put down his cup and sighed. “I’m sorry to say there was a body discovered inside the shop. Thanks to the quick response by the CFA, the fire hadn’t reached the body.”

“Was it smoke inhalation? Who was it?”

“Mum, no cause of death until the coroner does their thing. But I doubt it. The victim had a gunshot wound.”

Charlotte was quiet. Was her sleuth-mind already ticking over, or like him, had she had enough of violent crime in their town? He hoped for the latter.

“It wasn’t…you see, Trev, Lewis saw Cecil last night to put his house on the market and he said Cecil was going back to the real estate agency to do paperwork…” Rosie’s voice trailed off and he put his hand over hers.

“Sorry to say it was Cecil. His family have been informed and he’ll be formally identified soon. I might talk to Lewis about the visit. Get an idea of timing.” He pushed his chair back, ready to stand. “I’m sorry you both had such a shock last night. Sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”

“Trevor, we were fine, thank you.”

He smiled at Charlotte’s firm tone.

“I have no doubt. When would you like to go and see if everything is okay?”

She was on her feet in a second. “Now would be a good time.”

“You two go on and I’ll make my way down in a bit. Actually, let’s just close the shop today, Charlie. Seems wrong to trade after what happened. Can you put a sign on the door? I might visit Lewis.” Rosie collected plates.

“Happy to wait and drop you over.” Trev helped clear the table and followed her and Charlotte, whose hands were also full. “Even though the rain stopped earlier, it isn’t the nicest weather out there.”

“I’ll find out if he’s at the shop and decide if I drive down or not. No need to worry about me, but let me know how things are.”

Trev had parked the patrol car in the driveway behind Charlotte’s car. “Just stay close behind and I’ll get you to the bookshop. Not sure if the road is open yet.”

The road was open but only on one side, with a fire truck still outside the burnt-out shop and a uniformed officer directing traffic. Trev parked near the bookshop and met Charlotte at her car once she’d gone into her driveway. Her face was tense. Trev took her hand and waited for her to meet his eyes. When she did, there were questions in them.

“I know you are probably formulating who is responsible but this crime is one which makes little sense.”

“I’m not…not really.” There was a flicker of her lips. “Not yet. But whoever did this either was caught in a robbery by poor Cecil and killed him to keep him quiet, or it was cold blooded and the fire set to cover evidence. Either way, which Kingfisher Falls resident is behind this murder?”

So, you’re not sleuthing?

It was hard to avoid grinning but Trev managed. Charlotte couldn’t help herself and although she’d landed in some tight spots because of her curiosity, she also saw evidence where nobody else did.

“Let me go do my job for a bit and we’ll talk it through later. I need more to go on and you, my sweetheart, need to reassure yourself the shop and apartment are unharmed. Unless you want me to look with you?”

Charlotte pressed her lips together but shook her head.

Trev longed to pull her against him and kiss the worries away but it would need to wait. “Assuming I can get away, would you like to meet for lunch? Maybe the café, where I can also keep an eye on things. And would you let me know how Mum is? Bit concerned about her.”

“I will. And yes to lunch. Go be a police person.”

“Kiss first.”

“Nope. Work first. Then maybe a kiss.” She laughed and made for the back of the building.

A cold wind whistled along the driveway and Trev zipped his jacket to the top.