The shadow of daph, p.7
The Shadow of Daph, page 7
“Any theories?” Daphne pressed.
“That is two questions. But no, I’m not at the theory phase. Still at the ‘what the heck happened’ with a dash of ‘what possessed someone to do this?’ phase.” He grinned and put his fingers on the keyboard. “My turn. I’ve been busy asking a lot of questions, but they’ve been of people who live in the town and knew Edwina. Most were close to her one way or another and either in a state of shock or hiding something. Too early to tell. So, your take on the day might insert some much-needed clarity.”
“Where would you like me to start?” she asked.
“Can you go back over what you’ve already told me from when you arrived at the funeral home? From the first meeting.”
“I had a mid-morning appointment with Fred, Sonia, and Tracy. The purpose was to go over the ceremony I’d drafted based on information sent through by Fred in a message. Due to the short notice, I had prepared a fairly generic document so was looking forward to having some input from Sonia because of her relationship to the deceased. We were in the funeral home in the reception room. There was some discussion about people who wished to speak at the funeral—Tracy, Desmond, and Ilona. And the last wishes of the deceased.” Daphne said.
“Which were?” Adam asked.
“Gifts to the mourners who attended the wake. I believe they were from her shop. A table was prepared filled with bottled goods, small pieces of artwork, framed tapestry and the like.”
“Ah. I saw the table at the funeral home.” Adam stopped typing to look at Daphne. “Did you see Edwina? Was it an open casket?”
Daphne shook her head. She’d have not wanted to view her if it had been open. “My understanding is there was no viewing.”
Was she even in there?
“Adam, Ilona mentioned last night that Edwina was found in her garden. Nothing suspicious as she’d had heart problems for some time. Was there any kind of police involvement?” Daphne asked.
He reached for a file and flicked through. “Fred found her, realised she was deceased, and called her doctor. After examining Edwina, the doctor signed a Cause of Death certificate, which was straightforward and indicated natural causes. No need for us or even an ambulance. And Fred, being our only local funeral director, took care of everything else. Sonia would have been informed and approved Fred being responsible for her mother. Or there may have been a pre-existing arrangement.”
The phone on the desk rang. “Sorry. Be right back.” Adam answered as he walked to the back of the room.
John touched Daphne’s shoulder. “What are you thinking? I can see your brain ticking over.”
“Just gathering data.”
“As long as you don’t find yourself knee-deep in someone else’s problems.”
She knew what he meant. The last time she’d got involved in helping solve a murder she’d ended up putting herself at risk. Not that the events in Shady Bend were linked to any murder.
Unless Petra’s death was intentional by someone else’s hand.
Daphne forced her face into what she hoped was a reassuring expression. “Don’t own any long boots so best to stay out of knee-deep situations. Do you think there’s something familiar about Adam? He reminds me of someone.”
“Funny you mention that. I got a sense I’d met him from the beginning. Must have one of those faces.”
Adam returned and dropped into his seat with a sigh. “Sorry about that. Trying to get a bit more help up here but we’re such a small town we rely on the bigger stations in surrounding towns for numbers and there’s a blitz on the highway underway. Might be able to pull a couple of officers off it to assist but in the meantime, it is me and Constable Porter until the dogs and handlers arrive.”
“Can we help?” John asked. “Never mind taking a walk in the bushland.”
Daphne hid a smile. So much for staying out of things.
“Very kind of you to offer, John. We’ve already had a civilian sweep of the area but will keep you in mind if we need extra legs and eyes. When do you both intend to leave town?”
After exchanging a glance with John, Daphne spoke. “It depends on when I can perform the ceremony. I would like to speak to Fred about the possibility of holding it regardless of Edwina’s whereabouts but I’m not certain on the protocol and have no wish to offend.”
With a short laugh, Adam returned to the keyboard. “Guarantee you will offend someone in Shady Bend regardless of your intentions. I’ve worked in quite a few places in my time and this one takes the cake for being contrary. Nice people but they work against each other a lot of the time.”
Daphne filed that away as Adam continued.
“But you have another appointment coming up?”
“I do.” Daphne chuckled. “At least, they will say ‘I do’. I just tell them when to say it. And yes, in four days I have the great honour of marrying a lovely couple in Benalla. We have to leave by Friday morning in order for me to meet with them on Friday afternoon.”
Hands off the keyboard, Adam tilted his head as he looked at Daphne. “You have a pretty special job. I know a few celebrants and usually they stay close to home. As Ilona does. Makes sense really as there is always something happening to keep her and those like her busy. But you get to travel as well. And bring—I imagine—your own special brand of love to those who need it.”
Oh my.
“She certainly does, Adam. I’ve known Daphne since high school and there is no other person I know who seems to understand what a person is going through and finds exactly the right way to comfort or support them. And while I would rather she only does happy ceremonies, the care she gives to those grieving is something to behold.”
Although the wonderful words warmed her heart, they also made it hard to speak.
With a quick smile, Adam returned to the keyboard. “Back to my questions. You finished at the funeral home. What was next?”
She licked her lips. “Ilona was waiting for me outside the funeral home to have a quick chat about her speaking at the funeral. Then no sooner had we got to Bluebell than I got a call from Fred. He asked if I would go to the pre-funeral get together to meet the pall bearers. So, after a quick lunch and change of clothes, I arrived to find the room transformed for the wake.”
“With the table?”
“Yes. All the gifts on a central level and lots of food around the sides.”
Adam stopped typing to flick through his notepad.
“You mentioned who else was there. Fred. Zeke. Petra. Tracy. Desmond. Amanda.” Adam read his notes from their chat at the cemetery. “Amanda wasn’t a pallbearer. Earlier, you suggested a feeling she wasn’t welcome. Why is that?”
“She stood outside the door at first, then came in.”
Amanda had said something odd when she’d thought nobody was close by. Something in response to Tracy’s toast. The words evaded Daphne but they’d been uncomplimentary. With nothing concrete, there was little point mentioning it.
“And there was a small incident between Tracy and Amanda, more of an accident.” Daphne said.
“Go on.”
“Tracy was carrying a tray with glasses of champagne. I declined to have any, I mean, with such an important ceremony ahead it wasn’t appropriate. But Amanda said she’d like one and when Tracy walked away without giving her any, there was a mishap and the tray was dropped.”
“Mishap?” Adam stared at her.
“Amanda tried to help herself and the tray overbalanced. Petra cleaned it up. Tracy said something about trying to avoid a disaster and Amanda always finding a way. Oh, and Zeke tried to help but cut himself and Petra sent him off to clean it up. It was an accident but I got the impression Tracy was annoyed Amanda was there.”
Yet again, the phone rang. After this call, Adam grabbed his keys from the desk. “Apologies. Dog squad is at the funeral home so can we continue this later?”
A few more minutes and Adam drove off after locking the station. Daphne and John stood on the footpath. Across the road was a café and without so much as a glance at each other they crossed over. If there was one thing they both needed it was a coffee and a chat.
Truth in Talk
“This was a brilliant idea, love.” Daphne stirred her coffee and smiled across the table. “Needed to have something to pep me up a bit after the interrupted sleep last night.”
The café was almost deserted with only one other customer at a table and one person serving. Looking through the window, John saw the odd car drove by but the street wasn’t as busy as he had seen previously.
“I wonder where everyone is.”
John grinned. “I was thinking the same thing. Seems a bit on the quiet side. Are you sure you wouldn’t like one of these pastries?”
She shook her head. “You go ahead. I’m fine.”
“What if we find somewhere nice for dinner tonight? Can’t see us leaving today so we might as well enjoy the local fare.” John suggested.
“I would love that. Although Shady Bend isn’t on the map for its culinary delights, I have a feeling it is under promoted. After what we saw at the show, I’m excited about trying some of the locally made products.”
There was movement across the road near the police station as a car pulled up and immediately, a couple climbed out. Both were in jeans, T-shirt, and peaked caps which were pulled down over their eyes and they were too far for John to know if he’d come across them. And it wouldn’t matter, except for the way they huddled together part way along the path to the station, looking past each other and back to the road. Not looking. Checking.
“Are you wondering what they’re up to?” Daphne asked.
She was also watching the couple, her long fingernails tapping the handle of her coffee cup. Something about the events in this town warned of coming trouble. Not for them, but among the residents. So many at odds with each other and such tension now that one of their own had disappeared and another had died. Daphne wouldn’t be able to let go.
“I am. Do you recognise them?” He asked.
“I think the man is Zeke. He works for Fred. The height and build is right but I can’t see his face or hair. But the woman is Tracy. I’m certain.”
After another check around them, the man scurried to the station, his head down. The woman returned to the footpath and gazed one way, then the other. At the station door, the man rattled the handle then disappeared around a corner.
Daphne had her phone out and was taking photos of them. The peculiar actions of the couple might be innocent, but John had the strongest feeling they were up to no good, and in a minute, he’d need to decide whether to call Adam.
A couple walking a dog headed towards Tracy and she pulled out her phone and spoke on it. She climbed back in the car and once the couple had gone past, the man raced to join her, sliding into the passenger seat.
“Not sure what we just saw. Looking for Adam?” John said. “Why are you screwing up your face like that?”
“That is definitely Zeke and Tracy. They were deep in discussion at the funeral after the casket fell and Petra collapsed. After the police arrived. He was edgy, kept looking at the casket. Yet Tracy was abrupt in how she spoke to Zeke at the pre-funeral meet. Bossy. Bordering on rude. And then there’s the apparent dislike between Tracy and Sonia yet we both saw them laughing last night like best friends. Makes one wonder about what Tracy is up to.”
It did.
Tracy got out of the driver’s side and headed their way. Daphne was suddenly busy stirring her coffee again. If she wanted to avoid being noticed, it didn’t work because Tracy saw them both through the window.
She pushed the door open with a bright, “Well, hello you two. Enjoying our little town?”
“Tracy! How nice to see you, dear.” Daphne sounded welcoming and John had to admire her ability to make other people feel comfortable.
“Those coffees smell good. Back in a minute.”
The minute Tracy stepped to the counter, Daphne leaned towards John and whispered. “Let’s find out what she knows.”
“Daph.”
“It can’t hurt.”
There was little point objecting. Daphne had a look in her eyes. A glint of curiosity which he knew accompanied her love of puzzles.
“Right. I’ve ordered mine so might as well catch up while I wait.” Tracy dragged a chair from another table and sat at theirs. “Nobody has found Edwina yet and Petra died. Did you know?”
John nodded, a little shocked by her indifferent tone. “We spoke to Leading Senior Constable Browne this morning.”
“You did? Do you know where he is? Even better, where Porter is because I have information for her and the station is shut.” She gestured across the road. “Don’t want to sit around waiting.”
Daphne’s lips were pressed together and she gave John the faintest shake of her head. It wasn’t their place to say. Not that it was likely to be a secret, but even so.
“No idea? I’ll ask someone who does.” Tracy tapped at her phone. “Did you have fun at the show? As a judge I’m disappointed so far. The quality of the preserves was particularly ordinary this year which isn’t surprising.”
“Why is that?” Daphne asked.
“Obviously because Edwina hadn’t entered anything. Or she did, but it wasn’t displayed posthumously. She generally won most categories and that irked the others.” She laughed shortly. “The funny thing though is there has been a rumour lately that she didn’t actually make any of them.”
John feigned surprise. “Is it just a rumour?”
Tracy raised both eyebrows. “There’s always truth in talk.”
Daph’s favourite saying.
“If that is the case, who did make them?” Daphne hadn’t blinked an eyelid. In fact, she didn’t take her eyes off Tracy. “And what did she usually enter?”
“Second question first. Preserved fruit, from her garden. Jams. With fruit from her garden. Oh, and she and Desmond swapped fruits as he has a decent orchard. Chutney. Her secret sauce. And oil paintings.”
“Well, that’s a bit different.” John said.
“Never saw her paint anything and I always suspected poor Desmond did them for her and then the paintings he signed as his were inevitably beaten for best oil. Perhaps that is why he did that preposterous painting of her this time.”
“Anyone else involved, or just Desmond?” Daphne asked.
A puzzled expression crossed Tracy’s face. “It is a mystery. Not Desmond when it comes to bottling, but someone close to her. I’d say Sonia if it wasn’t so funny. Petra was one of her fiercest competitors. And Ilona is useless. Maybe she got someone in another region to make them and passed them off as her own.” She shrugged. Her phone beeped and she checked it. “Adam is at the funeral home with the canine team. Group chat has its upside. But he’s not going to find her.”
Daphne straightened. “I beg your pardon?”
“If our law-abiding, never-put-a-foot-wrong Adam wanted to find her, he would have already.” Tracy pushed her chair back and stood. “I’ll find Porter. At least she takes me seriously.” She started to leave then turned back. “Oh, I was being sarcastic about Adam. He’s crooked and I expect he had something to do with Edwina’s disappearance.”
With that bombshell dropped, she collected her coffees from the counter and left with a ‘Cheerio’ as she exited.
As much as Daphne had hoped to avoid Tracy, there was plenty to interest her from their conversation. It irked her that the woman believed Adam was crooked and she’d have liked to ask why.
John paid for their coffees and they set off for a walk around town, arm in arm.
The morning was getting a bit busier with a few more cars passing and it occurred to Daphne that it was still early. Not even ten o’clock. No wonder the place wasn’t bustling. If it ever did.
“Shall we see what shops are here?” John asked.
“It won’t take long, as the population is only about four hundred. I looked it up.”
Beside her, John smiled and she squeezed his arm. “Thanks for your help with Tracy.”
“Didn’t do much.”
“Sure you did, love. Asking her if it was just a rumour about Edwina not making her own goods. Have you considered acting? The surprise on your face was a sight to behold.”
His smile turned into a lopsided grin. “You were pretty good yourself.”
“Thanks. But she’s right. There is always truth in talk. I’ve always said it. If you cast your mind back to when Christie first walked into our agency, I told her then there was speculation about her great aunt that deserved closer inspection.”
“And I suggested it was old gossip to stay away from.”
“And I was right.” She smiled to herself. “Look at all the love and happiness which resulted from following the speculation.”
John chuckled. “I give up.”
“Besides, the world isn’t filled with straight forward answers. The truth about a situation is often clouded by the passage of time or misunderstandings.” Daphne stopped smiling. “Even by lies and deception. If everyone was truthful, we wouldn’t need to rely on gossip or speculation.” Her stomach tensed as sadness crept into her heart. “Why can’t people be honest?”
John stopped them both beneath a tree and rested his hands on her shoulders. “This isn’t about Shady Bend, or even Rivers End, is it, doll?”
She shook her head. If she answered, she might blurt out the words she’d kept buried for so long. It wasn’t John’s fault but if she brought up the past—that particular part of the past, he’d blame himself for not trying harder to help her find the truth about her family.
“Daphne Agnes Jones, my sweetheart. I’d give anything to help you find the truth. And I know we lost momentum thanks to building the business up. But the few occasions I’ve suggested we hire a private detective or the like, you’ve said no.”
This was true. The shock of discovering the man on her birth certificate wasn’t her father still resonated after all these years yet she’d come to terms with never finding her real dad. Too many roadblocks had stopped her original search. And the other loss, the foster child she yearned to see again, was another dead end. Privacy laws had to be respected.
