The Pastor’s Daughter: Episode VIII

Lieutenant Jim Ludlum completed his examination of the vacation house and his interrogation of the maid from the village around three-thirty. While I didn’t see her, I did hear the faint sound of their voices as he talked with her in the kitchen. All the time he was talking to her, I remained in the lounge, smoking cigarette after cigarette, my mind whizzing round in panic like a squirrel in a cage.

I can’t believe Brittany had been pregnant! I’m sure it wasn’t mine for I only made love to her a few days ago.

This new information would be the final nail in my coffin if they ever found out who Graham Reed was. Even though I knew I was innocent of her death and, perhaps of her pregnancy, no one would believe it if ever the facts came out. I told myself once again that I was crazy to have ever got tangled with Brittany.

So, who was her lover? I had no idea. I thought again about the mysterious intruder I had seen at the vacation house last night. Was he Brittany’s lover? I told myself that it was quite possible. All the facts we have so far shows that he hadn’t been a thief. I have never seen or heard of any thief who would  have left two thousand dollars’ worth of jewelry on the dressing table.

I continued to turn this situation over in my mind,  because I knew that in, say, another half hour or so, I would have to give the details of her death to Reverend Waters. The more I thought about it, the more worried I became. I became more acutely conscious that only one step would sink me for good.

As the hands of the clock on moved to three forty-four, Lieutenant Ludlum came into the lounge.

“I believe you know by now that there are complications,” he said gloomily.

“Sure,” I replied.

“Since you knew her for a while, do you think she was the suicide type?”

I was startled by  his question.

“I don’t really know much about her,” I said. “All I can tell you is that Reverend Waters asked me to pick her up from the airport and take her to their house in Victory Villa. That was  months ago. I have scarcely seen her since then. I just don’t know anything about her, except that she is my boss’ daughter. And I’m so shocked that this happened to her.”

I don’t think he paid much notice to what I had said because he simply said, “Lieutenant Reid is convinced that her lover deserted her and, because of that, she threw herself off the window in despair.”

“I doubt it,” I replied. “Black girls are usually practical and they seldom do that sort of thing. You will have to be very careful when you talk to Reverend Waters. Before you suggest a theory to him, think about it very well. This may not be the best thing to tell him. I’m sure he might not like it.”

“Actually I’m suggesting it to you, not to Reverend Waters,” he said quietly.

Lieutenant Reid wandered in at this moment and sat down. He looked at me. His eyes were cold and hostile. Maybe it’s  because I’m black but I had this feeling he don’t like me for some reason.

“You are free to make all the suggestions you like to me,” I said, looking at Lieutenant Ludlum. “However, you will need to be extremely careful about what you say to Reverend Waters.”

“I do understand that,” Lieutenant Ludlum said. “But I want to rely on you for help in this situation. You never know – this may be a case of love affair gone wrong. According to the maid Brittany came here two days ago.  And she came alone. She told the maid that her husband will be joining her the following day, which I believe would be yesterday. The maid says that she was very excited to meet with him here. She was very happy.” He stopped to stare at me. “What I’m telling you is what the maid said. In matters like this, women are very reliable.”

“You could be right,” I said. “I will not argue with you. So, go on.”

“This man, her so-called husband, was supposed to be arriving at Atlantic City Rail Terminal from Penn Station in Baltimore at three-thirty. Brittany told her she was going to meet the train. She also told her to come in at nine in the evening to help her clean up the dinner things, you know. According to the maid, she left the vacation house at eleven in the morning.  So, something happened between that time and the time it was necessary for Brittany to leave to meet the train – something that made her to change her mind about meeting it, or have prevented her from meeting it.”

“What kind of thing do you have in mind?” I asked.

He shrugged.

“Perhaps she  received a message,” he said. “But I have already checked: there’s no record of her receiving a telephone call. Still she may have learned somehow that her lover wasn’t coming as they planned.”

“Are you going to tell that to Reverend Waters?” I said

“By the time Reverend Waters arrives here, we may have some facts,” he said. “But before then, I will continue to try theories.”

He moved restlessly, and I could see he was not happy with the situation. “I’m just trying to see if Lieutenant Reid’s theory that she killed herself in a fit of depression sounds reasonable.”

“Does it really matter?” I said. “Brittany’s dead. Can’t you guys put this through as an accident? I don’t think it is necessary to broadcast that she is pregnant either.”

“We can’t keep it quiet,” he said. “You  seem to have forgotten that the coroner will have the autopsy report.”

Lieutenant Reid said impatiently, “ I guess I have to leave you guys now. My goal now is to find this man Graham Reed.”

When he said that, I felt very uneasy. It was like a feeling you have when someone touch the back of your neck with a splinter of ice.

“I think this would be the best time to call Reverend Waters.” I said. I tried with great difficulty to make my voice sound casual.

“You think so?” Lieutenant Ludlum asked.

“Yeah,” I replied. “ I know that by now he will be wondering what is happening. What do you think is the best thing to tell him?”

Both Lieutenant Ludlum and Reid exchanged glances.

“I will suggest that at this stage of the investigation it would be best to tell him as little as possible,” Lieutenant Ludlum said. “Please don’t mention the name Graham Reed at this point. You can just tell him that she fell off the window while using her camera, and that we are currently arranging an inquest and a full investigation. You can also tell him that until these are completed we…”

Before he could complete his statement, the telephone started to ring. Lieutenant Reid lifted the receiver and listened for a moment.

“Sure, he’s here,” he said, looking at me. “It’s for you.”

I took the receiver from him.

“Hello” I said.

It was Candace.

“Reverend Waters called just a few minutes ago,” she said. “He wants you to meet him at Atlantic City International  Airport tomorrow.”

I wasn’t really prepare for this, and I drew in a long, slow breath.

“Eh, how did he sound on the phone?”

“Well, you know him. He was very curt and sharp,” she said.

“He didn’t ask any questions at all?”

“Not really. He just told me he will be flying out right away, and ask for you to meet him.”

“Okay,” I said. “If he calls again, tell him I’ll be there.”

“No problem. Is there anything else you want me to do?”

“Not at this time,” I replied. “You can go home Candace. You have done your job. I won’t be needing you  now.”

“Just in case you need me later, you know where to find me – in my apartment,” she said. “I’ll be there all the evening.”

“That’s very nice of you Candace. But I don’t think I will worry you. Go ahead, go home and relax yourself,” I said, and then hung up.

I noticed that Lieutenant Ludlum was watching me, and his eyes were frowning.

“Reverend Waters will arrive at Atlantic City International  Airport tomorrow evening,” I said. “Between now and then, I believe you guys will get some facts. I know him very well: telling him as little as possible will simply not work. He will need a detailed account of what happened to her daughter.”

Lieutenant Ludlum grimaced and got to his feet.

“By tomorrow evening we should be able to find this man Graham Reed,” he said,  and then he looked at Lieutenant Reid. “Please leave your man here. Let him stay here until he is relieved. We are driving down to the train station Harry. You come with us, and don’t forget the jewels.”

I picked up the leather box that contained Brittany’s jewels and slipped it into my pocket.

We all went down the steps and down the drive to the police car. As we were about to enter the car, Lieutenant Ludlum said to Lieutenant Reid, “I will leave you at the trains station. Ask around and find out if anyone knows Graham Reed. You can go into the neighborhood too. Do all you can to see if he was seen in Atlantic  City. You can also look at the station’s records to check up all visitors who arrived yesterday, especially any visitor travelling alone.”

Even though it was a hot day, the sweat on my face felt cold. If I ever survive this, I will donate a large part of my paycheck to the Salvation Army!

END OF EPISODE VIII

P.S. Episode Nine  will be published here next Monday.