CHAPTER THREE

The following morning, Madelyn let the doorbell ring several times, but after an insistent fourth time, she grumbled and walked slowly downstairs. She'd hardly slept at all that night, her mind whirring through possibilities, who the killer was, where he was, whether he was still nearby. She'd locked every door and window in the house.

Madelyn unlocked the door and squinted in the bright morning light, then realized it was Owen Gallagher, a friend of both her and William. She reached out for a hug and he took her gently.

"I'm so sorry, Maddy."

"Thanks," she mumbled into his shoulder. She stepped back, then brushed her hair out of her face.

"Did I wake you?"

She shook her head. "Not really. I hardly slept last night. Do you want coffee?"

"I could do a whole breakfast."

She chuckled. He knew she liked to cook when she was going through a loss. This wasn't the first time.

They went inside and he sat in one of the bar stools at the large kitchen island while she set to work on the coffee and put some eggs on the stove.

A loyal Brit through and through, Gallagher had been a friend of William's ever since Madelyn could remember. After he'd received a promotion within the Starfleet Corp of Engineers, he'd gone to William for much needed advice on how to invest his rising paychecks. Though he was fifteen years older than her, she'd always imagined him to be the elder brother she never had, though he looked nothing like anyone in her family. He was tall, with a round face and short curly blond hair. She'd always reminded her of Mark, and when she lost him, she'd gone straight to Gallagher for emotional support. She had a sneaking suspicion that he felt more for her than he let on, but she wasn't about to encourage him. Him showing up this morning was more than enough.

The coffee was ready and Madelyn served them the eggs and some instant oatmeal with their hot mugs. She sat across from him and sipped her steaming hot coffee, watching as he dug into his food. Despite the smell of the eggs and oats, she wasn't very hungry.

After a moment of silence, Gallagher looked up from his meal. "Listen, Maddy, if you need help with anything I'm here. I took off a few days from work, much to the Admiral's disgruntlement, since we've got a lot of big projects going on, but I don't have to be back on duty until next week."

"Thank you, Owen," she said quietly. "I guess I need to make funeral arrangements. Meanwhile, his killer is out there somewhere walking free. I couldn't sleep at all last night."

"I forgot this house didn't have an alarm system."

She shook her head. "You know William didn't like technology. You'd think he was born in the wrong century."

They both chuckled softly, remembering the old man. Madelyn took a bite of oatmeal. Gallagher had about finished his food. "You mind if I stay over for a few days?" he asked.

She straightened. "No, please do. It'd be nice to have some company, plus you offered to help out."

He nodded with a crooked smile. "Great." He stood up and snatched up his rental keys. "I'll pick up my things from the inn and bring them up here. If you want I can head into London and get start getting some of William's affairs in order."

Madelyn went around the kitchen island and kissed him on the cheek. "That's really sweet of you, Owen. Thanks so much. I don't know what I'd do without you."

He snorted as he headed out of the kitchen. "You'd have more food in your fridge."

She rolled her eyes at him playfully and watched as he went out the door. She checked the time. It was still early. She had enough time to get to work and request some leave time, but it was too late to request a sub for her class. She sighed and went to shower and get ready.

After her shower, she went downstairs, running her fingers through her wet hair, and flipped on the television. The news came on. A man's body had been found in a ditch on the side of a road south of Windsor. Both of his arms were cracked to pieces and his abdomen was severely bruised, but he had died quickly, his neck snapped with brute force. The report announced the man's name and flashed up his year old mug. Madelyn's hand slid over her mouth. It was the man from William's pub last night. She switched the screen off, her mind playing through her brief conversation with him, recalling the way Harrison had rushed her off as soon as he'd seen them.

She shook her head and hurried out the door to the private school she taught at in Eton.

When she walked into the school, she was greeted immediately by the headmaster, who assured her she didn't have to teach today, and for the next week or longer if she needed the time off. Clearly they'd all seen the news and knew she'd lost someone very dear to her. What most of her co-workers didn't know was that she'd lost almost everyone dear to her. Owen Gallagher was perhaps the only exception now.

She went into her office and began retrieving a few odds and ends she didn't want to leave unattended for too long: her collection of tablets that contained most of her lesson plans and materials; the projector, which she slid into her pocket; and a thick, rare, print-edition of Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy, which she tucked into her shoulder bag.

"Madelyn."

She jumped at the deep voice and her gaze flew to the door. "Mr. Harrison." She breathed a sigh. "You surprised me. I wasn't expecting to see you."

He entered the room, his eyes sweeping it. His silver, high-collared coat gave him an air of intimidation and broadened his shoulders, but Madelyn wasn't impressed enough to show it.

"Please, call me John." He studied a moving photograph of Madelyn, William, and Owen hanging on the wall, then turned back to her. "When I heard that your grandfather's killer was still on the loose, I thought I'd make sure you were safe."

"Thanks, but it's not necessary. I'm fine, really." She adjusted her bag on her shoulder. "I was just about to head back home. I've been given a week off work so I can deal with…" She hesitated. "With this."

He nodded understandingly, continuing to walk across her office until he stood between her glass desk and the wall, blocking her way to the door. "I think it would be best for you if you were not living alone."

"I've got a friend in town. He's in London right now, helping me out."

"Starfleet Commander Owen Gallagher, I assume."

She frowned. "How did you know?"

"My work with Starfleet has brought me in contact with many people, and I recognized him in that photo. I assumed you two were close."

Madelyn shook her head. "He was a friend of William's."

Harrison tilted his head towards her. "I don't trust him," he said in a low, quiet voice.

"He's a friend! And besides you've never met him."

"He may be your friend, but don't think for one second that there aren't other agendas at work here. I don't believe your grandfather's murder was a random act of violence."

Madelyn stared up at him, turning his words around in her mind. He was so close to her, she could feel his warm breath on her face. "You think Owen was involved?" she said quietly. She wondered briefly about the man, her friend, his blond curls, his laughing eyes and wide grin. So much like Mark, she thought. "Maybe, if you think you should, you should stay over for a little. I feel weird about this, I mean I hardly know you, but if what you're saying about William's murder is true… I shouldn't trust anyone, not even you."

Harrison's gaze grew sharper and he lifted his chin, as if raising himself above her standard of trust. Madelyn glanced at the open door across the room as someone passed by. She noticed he followed her gaze. She turned back to him. "I should go to the police."

"No," he warned. "The police only answer to higher authorities, authorities I do not trust."

She watched him carefully, his piercing blue eyes studying her from above his prominent cheekbones, the way his jaw was set, his lips pressing against each other.

"You're not giving me a choice, are you?"

He didn't break her gaze. "No."

She nodded, slowly coming to terms. Clutching her shoulder bag and the tablets in her other hand, she slid around him, not ignorant of the way he watched her every movement. The open doorway was a welcome relief to his penetrating presence, but he quickly followed her.

They walked outside together. She noticed he kept a steady eye on their surroundings and the people that passed them by. She headed towards home, which was about a thirty-minute walk from the school. When they walked out onto the bridge over the Thames, she stopped suddenly and faced him.

"What did my family have to do with your investigation?"

"Even if I told you, it would make little difference now," he said. "I didn't expect your grandfather to become collateral damage."

"Collateral damage? He was my last living family member, Harrison."

His brow tightened. "I am sorry."

"Collateral damage to what?" she asked after a moment.

"There are certain people walking among us that are not wanted alive by certain authorities. Your grandfather knew too much and was disposed of."

Madelyn swallowed. "Somebody wants me dead."

"There is a chance, yes."

She glanced at people as they walked by. Harrison reached over and took her arm firmly. "You are not alone, Madelyn." He gazed down at her sympathetically and she couldn't help but feel secure in his hand.

"You know, speaking of dead people…"

He raised an eyebrow and she paused, smiling as she realized what she'd said.

"It's probably nothing, but that guy I was talking to at William's pub last night, they found him dead this morning, in a ditch south of town."

Harrison didn't seem concerned. "Seedy type. Probably picked a fight with the wrong man." He slid a hand down her back and pulled her gently beside him. "Let's take you home."

She breathed deeply and headed back across the Thames with Harrison close beside her. She didn't dwell on the dead man any longer. How could she, when Harrison was pressing his gloved hand firmly into the small of her back.