Lies and Misdemeanours

“They would hardly tell any of the villagers though, now would they?” Simon added. “Everyone hates Meldrew, and his men. Anyone who aligns themselves with him would be a social pariah.”

“We have to consider that someone in the village has been informing Meldrew. At the moment, it is more important that we find out if Meldrew killed Blagmire, or the Vicar, or ordered his men to kill them. If we can get proof of either, we have enough to arrest him,” Hugo declared firmly.

“Someone needs to go to the tavern to ask Mrs Blagmire if her husband paid Meldrew anything, or received any threats prior to his death,” Charlie murmured. “We need a statement from her to say as much.”

“Yes. We also need to know what happened to Blagmire on the night of his murder. I mean, did he tell his wife that he was going to see someone, or was he dragged from the house screaming and kicking?” Hugo added.

“Meldrew is the man in authority. If Blagmire was dragged away by Meldrew’s men, Mrs Blagmire has nobody to report the crime to,” Barnaby growled.

“I know. So, as far as Meldrew is concerned, he can do what he wants and there is nobody in authority who is able to challenge him,” Hugo replied calmly.

Joshua stood, and began to pull his jacket on. “I will go and take a look at the coaching inn, and see if I can get Mrs Blagmire to talk to me.”

“Get her to sign a statement. Even if she puts a cross next to her name, you need to get her to confirm, in writing, what happened that night. I need facts, Joshua,” Hugo said firmly.

“Aye, leave it to me.”

“You go with him, Marcus,” Hugo ordered before he turned his attention to Hetty.

“Do you know the layout of the rectory?”

Hetty thought about that. “I only ever went there once, when father passed away. I went to visit the vicar to discuss the final arrangements for the funeral. I can vaguely recall where things are.”

“You know where the office is though?” Charlie asked.

Hetty nodded.

Hugo immediately pushed away from the desk and, while Hetty sat down, put some parchment and a quill beside her.

“Draw a plan of what you can remember,” he asked quietly. He looked at Charlie. “I take it that there is no new vicar as yet then?”

“The verger has taken over the vicar’s duties. I don’t know what’s happening about a replacement,” Wally replied frankly. “We are not exactly church-goers.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Hugo dismissed. If he was honest, he wasn’t a church-goer either.

“We will go to the rectory tonight,” Hugo said amid many growls of acknowledgement from his men.

“Tonight, Charlie, you and I, along with Barnaby and Lucas, will go to the rectory to see what we can find. Everyone else stays here. Day and night guard, men. Usual rota. Make sure you get plenty of rest.”

Hetty looked at Hugo. She had no idea what he had just said, but the cool authority in his voice assured her that this was a man in control of the situat

ion. Although his eyes were not cold and hard, there was something in them that warned her that he wasn’t a man to be crossed. She shivered at the ruthlessness on his face, and edged a little closer to Charlie who, in that moment, felt like the most approachable man in the room.

“It’s alright, darling. This is what we do.” He seemed to sense her unease, and hastened to reassure her.

He had read the worried look she gave Hugo, and understood that anyone who was not used to dealing with the Star Elite could find the way they worked a little unnerving.

Most people would protest at going out in the middle of the night to break into a dead man’s house, at a place of worship as well. However, Charlie and his colleagues were used to doing whatever the job required them to do.

“I will just be glad when all of this is over,” she whispered.

“I know,” he murmured gently. “You are safe now. The men on guard won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I am sorry. I know this is your job, but Meldrew nearly hung you. He had the rope mere inches from your neck. If you go out tonight, even with your colleagues at your back, and Meldrew’s men catch you, nothing and nobody is going to stop him succeeding in killing you a second time round. You can’t take the risk. Why can’t the others just go by themselves?”

As she spoke her voice had grown louder until, by the time she lapsed into silence, she had drawn the attention of everyone within the room.

Charlie struggled to find a way to make her understand.