Deadly Clementine

She knew Elaine was put out that she hadn’t agreed to take tea with her but saw no reason why she should explain her daily routine to anybody. The way Elaine was talking made Clementine feel as if she had done something wrong and she hadn’t.

“Do you intend to spare the time for the committee meeting?” Elaine demanded dourly.

“Next week. Yes, why?” Clementine arched her brows and waited, but Elaine was busy sweeping the Captain with a dark look that almost rudely asked the man why he was listening to their conversation.

“We have things to discuss,” Elaine explained as if Clementine didn’t already know.

“We agreed to have the next meeting at the end of next week,” Clementine pointed out. “I don’t see why we should have to meet again before them. Of course, you are the Chair. If you think we should do something different you will have to tell the other committee members, but I doubt they will agree. Now, if you will excuse me, I must be getting on. Captain? Shall we?”

The Captain beamed at her and held his arm out in a gentlemanly gesture. Clementine took it with a smile before they both resumed their journey down the street.

“Your friend is deeply upset at not being in control of the Autumn Fair I fear,” the Captain murmured.

When Clementine glanced over her shoulder it was to find the path behind them empty. It was unsurprising, really, seeing how upset Elaine was.

“Do you think the reality of the deaths has started to dawn on her and that might be why she is so upset?” Clementine asked quietly.

“I think that Elaine is still in denial about what is happening like some of the other villagers are. She will have to accept what is happening once we have caught the bounder, though. At least the fair is happening soon, so the committee will no longer need to meet.”

“I wonder what she will want to be chairwoman of next? I mean, Elaine has only taken over the position of Chair to give herself something to do and get away from the farm for a while. I think she is going to be a little lost without it.”

“I am sure she is perfectly capable of finding something else to do with her time,” the Captain soothed. “For now, we have to make sure we do our bit to ensure this killer is captured.”

Clementine nodded, but deep in the back of her mind had to wonder if she was ever going to be able to consider Elaine a friend again. After the somewhat sharp side of the young woman she had recently witnessed, Clementine was starting to suspect that there were far too many differences between them for them to remain friends. She certainly didn’t agree with Elaine’s dismissiveness toward the murders, or organisation of the committee. Nor did she want any kind of friend who questioned her movements and actions as she went about her life.

“I hope Moss knows what he is doing,” Clementine whispered fervently, wondering if Elaine would change once the killer had been caught.

“Do you see anyone?” the Captain growled.

“No, but then I didn’t notice anybody the day I spoke to Mr Cavanagh,” Clementine replied.

“I doubt they are just going to stand out in the middle of the road so we can get a good look at them, eh?”

Clementine grinned at him. Together, they discussed various innocuous things to keep themselves busy as they wandered down the road until the reached the end of the street where the Captain lived.

“Well, I shall bid you good day.” While his words were innocent, the secretive look the Captain gave her as he kissed the back of her hand spoke volumes.

“Goodbye.” Clementine smiled and resumed her journey, but didn’t go too far before Moss appeared on the path before her.

“Well, well, well, fancy seeing you here,” Moss mused tenderly.

Clementine rolled her eyes and smiled when he bent and kissed her hand. In contrast to the Captain’s gentlemanly elbow, Moss captured Clementine’s hand in his and held it as he walked side-by-side with her toward her house.

“Do you know something? I get the distinct feeling that we are being watched,” Moss mused wryly when Clementine’s home appeared before them.

“Where are they?”

“Not sure,” Moss replied. He tried to study the area but couldn’t see anything more than hedgerow and trees. “But someone is watching us.”

Clementine didn’t doubt it. If there was one thing that she knew about Moss, it was that he was very good at what he did. If he said that someone was watching them then there was undoubtedly somebody watching.

“What do you want to do?” she asked.

Clementine looked at him when he didn’t immediately answer only to find him studying her closely. To her amazement there was something akin to adoration in his tender gaze. It was thrilling and made her smile. To her delight, Moss immediately smiled back.

“God, I have to keep my mind on the task at hand,” he grumbled.

“So do I.”