Chapter Two

"Jessica, he's gone. Permanently. Adios Amigo. Rest In Peace." drawled Harry with his phone at his ear and rummaging through his fridge.

"Harry! Listen to me!" Jessica paced her apartment while talking on the phone to him.

"I'm listening, Jessica but there are things in life you have to accept. Death is one of those things." Harry sighed. "I'm sorry the old Doc is gone. I liked him. I always figured he would pay off your bill to me since you haven't yet."

Instead of playing along with Harry, Jessica pleaded softly. "I always thought I could count on you, no matter what."

Harry's heart was pierced. He knew the pain she felt. He even knew how important Doctor Hazlitt was to her but what could he do? Of course he would do what he could for her. He could at least check out the story of the Doc's demise.

"Alright Jessica, I'll do a little investigating." He agreed. How could he live with himself without looking into it for her.

"Thank you, Harry." She whispered. "I knew I could count on you."

She disconnected and dialed another number.

"Aye, lass. You must have known I've been thinking about you." George Sutherland, one of her closest friends and a Scotland Yard Chief Inspector answered the phone with a smile in his voice which immediately turned somber when he heard her voice.

"George, I need a huge favor."

"Jessie, what's wrong?"

"It's Seth, George. He went to Vermont for a convention and they said he died in his hotel room. Somehow he was cremated in error but it doesn't sound right to me. Could you check to see if there is anything going on like a coverup? The company that holds the convention, American Medical Trust and Casualty. Also the chairperson and assistants are Drs. Amelia Bancroft, Harold Jacobsen, Lloyd Sherwood, and Vasily Tigerbrand. The convention is the only thing I can think of outside of the hotel itself, The Harewood. Seth has been going for about forty years so he's pretty well known there."

"Lass, I can check with a few people I know but I can't do anything officially." George sighed. He believed that Seth was the reason Jessica couldn't fully commit to a relationship with him, whether to keep from hurting Seth or because she couldn't decide which of them she preferred, he didn't know. Regardless of the reason, he knew she was hurting so he would try to find out what he could. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm in hell, George. Trying to get people to listen to me and not write me off as a grieving lunatic has been difficult. I wish you were here."

George sighed silently. "I wish I were there too, lass. Once we find out what happened, come out to the castle for a visit. Imagine I'm giving you a hug right now, love. I'm going to make a few phone calls. Call you later."

"Thanks George, I really appreciate this."

George hung up the phone and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. He didn't mind helping Jessica. He was happy she could call on him. He just didn't want to help Seth too much. He wouldn't mind saving his life but he didn't want to help him into Jessica's arms. He sighed. Maybe he could go out there and make sure Jessie doesn't get too involved or get into danger which happens even when it shouldn't.

He would have to call in a few favors but he had American contacts as well as British ones. A lone doctor dying would be difficult to investigate unless something unusual occurred. Maybe Seth was living a double life? Nah, that would be too easy and he would have to beware of being the messenger of that news.

Jessica hung up the phone and debated whether she should make the next call. Remembering all the trouble he has caused for her over the years, she decided he owed her one and looked up his number.

"I knew one day you'd be calling me to say you're ready to elope, darling." The smooth velvety tones of Michael Haggerty rang in her ear.

"Michael, I need a huge favor."

"Why do women only call me when they need something?"

"I could say the same to you, Michael but I'm serious, I need your help." replied Jessica.

"I don't think I can help you, darling? I'll be on the other side of the world tomorrow."

"If you can't, then lose my number and never call me again." Jessica nearly growled into the phone. It isn't as though she ever asked him for a favor.

Michael was shocked at the venom in her voice. "Wait darling! What's going on?"

Jessica reiterated the story she had been telling all day only this time Michael immediately cottoned on to something being wrong. His suspicious nature could not fathom the coincidences and the fact that it was now impossible to confirm the cremated body was Seth's immediately twanged his antenna.

"I'll do what I can from here but I'm coming out there, Jessie."

"Thank you for believing me, Michael." Jessica was flooded with relief. She hung up and put in a call to Mort so he wouldn't worry.

Fortunately her call went to voicemail so she left a message that she was in New York for a couple of days because she was feeling overwhelmed and needed a breather. She would try to return in a couple of days to finish making arrangements. She had one final call to make. It had been a few years since they were in the same room but she sent him a Christmas card each year and he sent one in return. They spoke a couple of times a year but she had done a huge favor for him expecting nothing in return. Now maybe he could help.

Senator Harbin was on the Terrorism Intelligence Committee for the senate and he had been in meetings all week without hardly any time for his appointments so he was irritated when one of his aides patched through a call after he explicitly told them to hold all his calls.

"Senator…"

"I said to hold all my calls!"

It's Jessica Fletcher. You told me to always…"

Senator Harbin disconnected his aide and connected to Jessica's call.

"Long time no hear, Jessica." he smoothly spoke into the receiver. "How have you been?"

Jessica immediately and concisely retold her story. The senator took notes and only briefly asked questions. Jessica was relieved that he took her call and was treating it seriously.

"In all the time I've known you Jessica, you've never asked for anything. Even when I owed you favors. Let me look into a couple of things. It sounds a little fishy." The call ended but the senator's mind stayed on Jessica. He had hoped they could begin a relationship when she was in Washington but she was elusive, outspoken, and completely naive to politics. She earned his respect quickly though and although he escorted her to several events and was even able to snag an unforgettable kiss once, she did not commit to anyone in Washington. He went as far as investigating her (just briefly and only in regards to whether she was seeing anyone) but he only learned she was widowed and a writer, linked to her publishing house and the escorts they provided when needed it seemed. She wasn't involved in any affairs in Washington that he could discover and that said a lot about the person she was. Attractive, curious, and genuine.

She agreed to attend a few events with him and several dinners and she was an enchanting companion on those dates. She was a wonderful dancer and a great listener, something he appreciated about her. That she wanted a simple favor spoke well of their friendship. She was comfortable enough to ask personally and didn't try to coerce him. He should probably make a trip up to New York and see her. He had her apartment address, he would send an aide with a message for her.