Geordie placed two, full pint glasses down on the table. The pub was busy, people still taking shelter from the earlier rain. The two old friends were lucky to find a table. Sidney took a sip of his pint before reaching for his jacket, which was slung behind on the back of the chair he was sitting on. Geordie immediately held his hand up to stop him.
"Thank you," Sidney said gratefully.
"Pleasure." Geordie sat down and they both raised their glasses. The light 'chink' sealed their toast and Geordie made sure he took a good long drink. "Glad to be back?" he asked. Sidney looked around the drinking establishment, which obviously hadn't changed. His eyes turned to Geordie and smiled his response. "So… What's been going on?"
"It is different," Sidney replied of his new life. "Very different. But, you know me – I like the challenge." There was a glint in his eye. Geordie tutted knowing him too well.
"I still don't understand why you left so quickly." There was disgruntlement in his voice which made Sidney smile some more.
"Sometimes, you just know when you have to go."
"So, you're not a vicar any longer?" Geordie remarked noticing how his old friend was dressed. Sidney glanced at his shirt.
"Always," he replied. "Just not here." He chuckled and took up his pint glass as Geordie tutted once more.
Will walked into the pub looking for Geordie having been told at the station where he was. He looked out of breath slightly. His eyes dotted around before he spotted him in the corner and walked over, stopping briefly to shake a few punters' hands as they greeted him. Sidney turned.
"Geordie," Will said to him. "I am so sorry." He glanced at Sidney. "Sidney."
"Would you like a drink?" Sidney asked, glancing at both his old friend and his successor. Will looked at him.
"Sure. Thanks." Sidney stood up to head to the bar. Will turned and politely asked a couple if he could take the spare chair from their table. He thanked them before bringing it over and sitting down.
"The body," Geordie began. "Died of accidental drowning." Will nodded slowly, the news not coming as any surprise.
"That object...?"
"That is what I wanted to have a word about." Geordie took another sip before placing the glass back down at the table. He reached into his pocket and placed the one Will gave him on the table in easy reach. "Where you did obtain one?" Will glanced at the object and flinched a little. Sidney came over with a pint glass in his hand. He placed it in front of Will, who thanked him. He took note of the atmosphere between the two men.
"It's an initiation symbol," he replied as if somehow he overheard the conversation. Geordie looked at him, his eyes widening. Sidney retook his seat. "Curates receive them depending on the circumstances." Will said nothing as he raised his glass to his lips. Geordie now was intrigued. Sidney continued. "Circumstances only between the Archdeacon or the highest placed member of the clergy and the curate himself." He glanced at Will, who was still undeterred.
"I don't get it," Geordie said. "What circumstances? Does Leonard have one?"
"No." Sidney replied as he glanced at the object, his voice suddenly turning serious.
"That lady," Geordie said turning to Will. "The one you spoke to. How involved is she?" Will didn't reply. Instead he stole a glance at Sidney, the two vicars obviously hiding something. Geordie looked at him as Will suddenly grabbed the object, hiding it back in his blazer pocket.
"Did you receive one?"
"No," Sidney replied. "I was ex-armed forces. No way." Geordie was now puzzled. Will placed the glass to his lips once more. Geordie now had enough and stood up.
"I'll see you later," he told the vicars as he left.
"Go easy," Will called after him, knowing where he was going and reminding him of their conversation by the river. Geordie turned, but said nothing before leaving. Sidney watched as Will was deep in thought.
"Did you see her?" he eventually asked. Will looked at him.
"Where did you meet her?" Sidney didn't reply. Will knew he was still abiding by the rules of confidentiality. He wasn't happy.
"She means a lot to you, doesn't she?" Will didn't reply. There was silence.
"Thank you for looking after her," he eventually said. Sidney nodded slowly in response. The two vicars supped their drinks in further silence, the atmosphere turning increasingly tense.
The female that Will spoke to much earlier gave Geordie a stern look as she opened the door. Geordie, standing on the doorstep, noticed the dark corridor behind her. The female continued to stare at Geordie, but there was the urge of slight panic, as if she was scared of being discovered. Geordie met her eyes and picked up on it almost immediately.
"Can I help you?" she asked almost calmly.
"I am Detective Keating," Geordie introduced himself politely. "I would like to speak to you about a deceased curate…" He stopped. The female was almost now trance like. Her eyes were permanently affixed ahead of her. Geordie turned to see what she was looking at only to find a brick wall.
"Mr Keating," she eventually said, causing Geordie to turn back to look at her. "I know you are a friend of Mr Davenport. I know you saw me talk to a gentleman in a car." She paused, her eyes now met his, softness returning. "I don't mean to be rude, but I have nothing to say to you."
"Oh, I think you do, Miss Leighton." Geordie would not let this one go. He laid off however, Will's advice ringing in his ears.
"How do you know my name?" she asked, her voice becoming a whisper.
"We found an object on his person," Geordie replied refusing to disclose the answer. "Something which you could possibly help me with?" The female sighed heavily. She leaned in suddenly, close enough to whisper in Geordie's ear.
"Not here," she told him. Geordie looked at her wondering if she was having him on. The female stood back upright. "Thank you, Mr Keating." She stepped back inside closing the door, but not before Geordie placed his foot in the way. The female looked at him.
"Please, Miss Leighton," he said giving her the choice. The female sighed heavily and stood aside. "Thank you." Geordie stepped inside and walked down the corridor. The female closed the door admitting defeat and followed him inside. She passed him as he stood by the table going to the window to open it.
"Cup of tea, detective?" she asked.
"No, thank you." Geordie was still miffed at leaving a half empty pint back at the pub. He watched as the female walked to a set of drawers from a desk underneath some of her certificates. She opened one and took out a document before outstretching her hand in order to pass it to him. Geordie stepped forward to collect it. What he read surprised him.
"If that is all, Mr Keating?" She walked back to the open window looking out in effect dismissing him. Geordie politely bid his farewell before leaving. The female bowed her head upon hearing the door close.
Outside, Geordie took in what he had read one more time. This couldn't have possibly be what Will was keeping to himself was it? Sidney wasn't that forthcoming neither. He made the conscious decision to speak to Will further when the sound of a gunshot was heard from within. Geordie turned in horror and pushed the door, which was open slightly ajar, and ran in followed by two uniformed officers who were alerted whilst out on the beat not far away. Geordie stopped suddenly upon seeing the mess by the window and winced. The two officers came to a halt behind him. Geordie instructed one to get some assistance and the other to keep guard outside. As they ran back out, Geordie looked once more at the dead body and angrily kicked the leg of one of the chairs nearby. As he looked around the room, something caught his eye. There was a framed picture sitting horizontally on a shelf at the end of the room. Geordie walked over towards it, picking it up, and his thoughts then turned to someone very well known to him. He walked out just as assistance arrived. Geordie gave them instructions as they rushed in. He stood a short distance away from the door and turned to look down the street. There in the distance was a young girl watching what was going on. She was standing on the opposite side of the main road, clear as day. Geordie recognised her as the girl Will had ran after. The girl suddenly became spooked and scarpered, disappearing into the crowds that had suddenly gathered. Geordie let it pass as more personnel arrived, the pathologist and his team running inside the building.
The teenage student bowed her head absolutely devastated. She was sitting on a chair inside the room Will had first met her in, her hands between her legs. Her dark hair fell forwards. She was being incredibly strong and Will couldn't help but admire her. He was crouched down in front of her, concern over his features despite his admiration. He had been given the news at the pub and immediately rushed over. By the doorway was Sidney watching on. Geordie was standing next to him, still visibly angered at the events of earlier. Sidney turned and walked a little distance away.
Will grabbed a stool behind him and dragged it over parking himself on it. The teenager was still in the same position. Will gently placed his hand on her upper right arm.
"It's okay," he told her reassuringly. She looked up at him. Will was visibly upset upon seeing her state. "Did you know her a long time?" The teenager nodded, a tear dropping and landing on her immaculately pressed skirt. "I need your help," Will said to her in a friendly tone.
"Sure," she said, wiping the tears with the back of her hand. Will reached into his pocket. The girl watched as he took out an object – the same one he gave to Geordie. A look of recognition came over the student's face. Will held the object in the palm of his hand.
"Do you recognise this?" he asked kindly. The girl's eyes settled on what Will had in his hand. She stared at it for a little while before meeting Will's kind gaze and nodded, her head falling slightly forwards again. Will took her hand and held it. The girl looked up again and Will leaned inwards so she could whisper her answer. Will smiled. "What is your name?" he asked. The girl just looked at him refusing to answer, and Will left it at that.
"She was my tutor," she suddenly said, her voice dull and almost unfeeling. Will, about to leave, turned to look at her. He watched as she turned her position to look at him. "Her name was Lucia Leighton. She taught me all I know, including what you have on your person." She stared into his eyes before noticing the figure of Geordie behind him. "Yes, Detective Keating?" Will turned as Geordie walked inside. The girl stood up. "You were there before she died." She walked over to him. "Was she okay?"
Geordie glanced at Will briefly.
"Yes, Miss, she was." The girl knew he was sparing her the truth and let it pass. Geordie however knew from the look on her face she saw right through him. The girl looked at Will before walking back to the chair. The vicar turned and asked Geordie to leave them for a minute. Geordie obliged and walked away meeting Sidney by the front door.
"You know something, don't you?" he asked him. Sidney, his head also bowed with his hands in his jeans' pockets, didn't reply. Geordie now was beyond sick of all this secrecy.
"If one of you knows something, then tell me!" he spat in a low voice. Sidney looked up at him.
"It's the girl, the teenager," he replied eventually with a heavy tone of voice, the troubled look on his face saying it all.
Will looked at the girl one more time before letting go of her hand and walking over to the half opened door. He turned back to look at the girl, who returned to her stance of leaning forwards, her hair spread across her back and arms.
"I have to go now," he told her as she turned to look at him. "But, if you ever need me, you know where I am. My name is Will Davenport." The girl's face fell and turned back, the sound of her grief tearing into the silence. Will tried to keep his emotions in check. "It will be okay," he tried. But, he had no choice but to leave. Sidney now was outside the front door on the pavement, not wanting to deal with this any longer. Will however glared at Geordie as he walked past. Geordie followed but not before he was stopped by the sound of the creak of the carpeted floorboards. He looked round to see the teenager standing in the doorway. She was looking at him completely distraught. She then looked to the front door to where Will was waiting outside alongside Sidney. The red headed vicar looked at the girl and she gasped.
"Sidney? Sidney Chambers?" He nodded. Will gave a look of defeat as Sidney stepped back inside. The teenager couldn't believe whom she was seeing as she ran towards him. Sidney took her in her arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek. The girl began sobbing as she held him tightly.
"Come on," he said to her gently. "Let's go back inside. We can have a long talk, yeah?" He felt the girl nod her head. Sidney walked past a now confused and stunned looking Geordie back into the room. Will meanwhile began to walk away.
"What the hell is going on?" Geordie asked out loud as he walked outside closing the door behind him. He approached Will, who was waiting by the car. "Will!"
"The teenager," he replied.
"Yes, I know that! Who is she?" Geordie was taken aback by the distressed look on Will's face. "You saw her," he suddenly said. "You saw her by the bus stop. You know who she is, don't you?" Will, not impressed by the tone of Geordie's voice, forced himself to look at him.
"I don't!" he replied. "But.."
"But what? Sidney knows something. You know something. Your damn fraternity knows too much, but you both won't tell me what the hell is going on!" His voice was raised.
"She knows why her tutor killed herself!" Will snapped. He looked away to the side. Geordie didn't say anything further as if he already knew the answer. He caught sight of the front door opening and Sidney standing in the doorway beckoning them both to come in. Will was only too happy to go on ahead. He made a beeline straight for the room. Geordie walked inside as Sidney closed the door knowing he deserved an explanation. They walked down the corridor, past the staircase and into another room.
Leonard Finch walked somewhat anxiously into the kitchen. He had a notebook in his hand. Sylvia meanwhile was rolling out some pastry on the table. Leonard watched as she floured the pastry before applying the rolling pin again. Just as he knew, she wasn't happy when she found out the utensil had nearly been used as a weapon, and he knew that only made things worse between them. Nevertheless, Leonard knew he had to try. He had spent the best part of the day writing his sermon in his bedroom and he needed an audience for a read through. Leonard gulped and took a deep breath. The eggshells under his feet were painful.
"Mrs C.?" he called like a guilty child. Sylvia said nothing and applied more pressure to the pastry. Leonard was once again hurt but tried again. "Mrs C., I have written a rough draft for my sermon. I was wondering if you could listen to it?" But once again, he was ignored. Leonard turned away hiding his feelings.
"Let's hear it then," Sylvia suddenly told him. "But, I am in the middle of making a pie for tea." Leonard turned, a look of joy coming over his face. A whole wave of confidence suddenly came over him and he walked courageously inside the kitchen.
"What kind pie, Mrs C.?" he asked.
"Chicken and gravy," Sylvia replied. Leonard's eyes widened. This was one of his favourites. Could she actually be coming down perhaps? She stopped rolling out the pastry and looked at him. "Well? Are you going to read it or not?" She got back to her baking. Leonard nodded and stood by the sink. He cracked a wonderful smile as he began to read, confidence and power in his voice, taking pride in the words he had written. Sylvia listened as she gently placed the pastry inside the dish covering the filling, showing no visible reaction, but taking each word in as she heard them
