Chapter Seven – Longing for a Quiet Day

Jenny Merton was furious. Dennis had once again abandoned her for the sake of his job. Apparently he had felt it absolutely necessary to spend a perfectly lovely evening back at Ashfordly Police Station. They had been through this so many times and all she could do was to feel defeated by his work. She had some understanding it wasn't like that but recently it had been every night, almost every day. She waited up for him or made some plans, reservations on a restaurant, deciding to meet with Liz and Ben. Two nights they'd been out but it didn't compensate for the rest of them.

Jenny sighed in frustration as she opened the front door to their house. She was the first one home, she was the one to turn on the lights, to put on a comfy fire, to prepare a meal. Liz and Ben had tried talking her into going with them for a drink back at the Aidensfield Arms but she'd declined feeling like she was just in the way of their aspiring love, besides she would miss Dennis, wondering what he was doing and so on.

She tiredly shrugged out of her light green coat, hung it on a hook behind the door and headed further into the house, more precise, to the living room. Jenny cast a glance at her reflection in the mirror wondering briefly if she'd lost her looks or maybe it was the touch? She gently ran her fingers through her hair, adjusting the few strands that had loosened from her soft bun and unbuttoned the two top buttons on her shirt. After having decided she looked quite good she stepped lightly to the other side of the room and opened the bar. She reached for a delicate vine and uncorked the beautiful flask, a late wedding present from her brother. Tears stung her eyes as she poured the expensive merlot into a glass. Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly as she headed for Dennis's favorite armchair and sat down. It was one of the few things they'd managed to choose together, when he had been available.

She wiped a tear from her cheek and as she did so her eyes where involuntarily drawn to a framed picture standing across the room on a bulging shelf. Her lips curled upwards before a smile creased her lips at the memory of having the picture taken. It had been one of the happiest days in her life; their wedding day. He stood tall next to her, dressed in a tux decorated with one of the largest and most beautiful white roses she'd ever seen. He had been smiling at her, all other obligations forgotten, his eyes had been solely on her. The happiness and love in his eyes reflected in her own. They had been locked in a moment that day, a moment she'd do everything to get back to.

OOOOOO

Dennis Merton tiredly raked a hand through his greying hair and closed his eyes as he leaned backwards in his chair. He had nothing, no clues, and no witnesses, nothing at all that could be called reliable and work in court. He snorted. 'Court,' he thought sarcastically. He should be happy if he didn't have to drop the case altogether. Everything they'd got so far was circumstantial at best. The only thing positive was that DI Shiner had left for the hotel he was booked into so that he had had time to get on with the rest of his paperwork. Unfortunately the rest of the petty thieves and burglars didn't care if the police was busy or not.

Dennis glanced at his watch and stifled a yawn realizing he had been at it for hours after the end of his real duty shift. Jenny would no doubt have a word or two with him when he stepped through the door. However, he wouldn't trade married life for anything in the world, she meant so much to him. He just hoped that one day, she could understand what it actually meant to be the person in charge of a police station.

He felt the beginning of a headache once again as he thought back on the events occurring during the day. The goat farmer, Jack Lane had been furious by their visit and uncooperative till the last. He claimed he didn't know why his nephew returned to his roots and coming to think about it Dennis didn't know whether or not that was the truth. He had to take Lane's word for it though, given the situation. Still it didn't help matters at hand. Shiner was still looming the hallways of the station, appearing when it was most inconvenient. He'd thought of calling Jenny at work today just to speak to her but he found himself unable to do it as every time he tried there was something that demanded his attention.

Dennis sighed as he reached up to rub his temples, elbows on his desk. Aidensfield was one large gossiping village at the moment and as he'd briefly called in to the pub he'd found it hard to leave without being questioned by several people as to the progress of the murder enquiry. Some people believed Watson was doing something illegal and that he was running from someone. That was partly true because the young doctor had definitely been running from someone, the question was who and why? He groaned as there was too many questions that needed an answer.

Wearily he rose from his chair and started to walk toward the rack where he kept his coat and hat. He wondered briefly if he could just slip into the house and go to bed without having to be cross-examined by Jenny and being told how much she hated him being away every night. He felt bad enough about it as it was.

OOOOOO

"Well, hello handsome, we meet again," Ben Norton said with a cunning smile as he walked up to Liz Merrick who was sitting next to the counter at the Aidensfield Arms.

The young doctor turned slightly around, a dazzling smile grazing her lips. "It is a strange coincidence isn't it?" She teased softly.

"You two lovebirds," Gina complained lightly with a cheeky grin. "Is there anything I can get you Ben?"

"I'll have a pint, Gina and…" he said as he cast a hasty glance at Liz's almost empty glass. "…a refill of whatever Liz was sipping."

Gina nodded with a smirk as she looked from Ben to Liz and then back again. "There's room in the snug, if you want someplace more private," she offered.

"If we want to hear what we are saying to each other?" Ben asked with a twinkle in his eye.

The pub was crowded and the sound of chattering voices seemed to be constantly rising.

"Is there a special occasion that I've missed?" Ben asked curiously.

Gina shook her head tiredly. "Oscar's gathering parts of the council today to talk about the railway – they're upstairs. Vernon's been in here trying to sell in his, I don't know what he called it – fertilizer? The ornithologists are over there by the fire, having a drink before their annual meeting. So, no nothing exciting is going on," she finished explaining as she handed over the drinks.

"So, what's the latest?" Ben asked carefully, curiously, as they headed around the counter and into the back of the smaller room.

Liz had a questionable look on her face as she turned to look at him. "Interested, Mr. Norton?" She asked cunningly.

"You know with all the rumours going on…" he said casually as he slid his arm around her small back.

"And you're not exactly helping to stave off the rumours," Liz returned with a smirk.

"Maybe I want to create rumours. It's more fun that way," he replied. "Seriously, what's been happening? My lordship is starting to get frustrated and he's beginning to take that out on me."

"Oh, you poor thing," Liz teased sarcastically. "Here I thought it was me you where after but it was just information."

"You have a way of twisting my words, my dear Doctor Merrick," he returned politely before breaking into a grin. "Fine, let me show you that isn't so."

"Ben," Liz asked in confusion as she let herself being led by the arm away from the table they'd been approaching and toward the outer door. "Where are we going?"

"We are going to take a stroll in the park under the moonlit and starry sky. All by ourselves without any nosy onlookers," he said.

Liz chuckled. "Why? Is it safe going out alone with you?" She asked in a light tone.

"Are you accusing me of murder, madam?" Ben returned cheekily as he opened the car door for her.

"Don't be silly," she chided.

OOOOOO

David Stockwell climbed into the red truck's passenger seat and swiped away the dirt and perspiration on his forehead with his worn cap.

Vernon Scripps ungracefully got behind the wheel and let out a relieved sigh. "That, David, was one hard day," he complained as he turned to look at his right hand man.

David met his eyes dumbfounded.

"Well look at you," Vernon said in disgust, taking in the dirty man and shook his head.

"What?" David exclaimed as he let his eyes roam over the dirty clothes and greasy shoes before refocusing on the man next to him. "You look just the same, Mr. Scripps."

Vernon groaned inwardly as he cast a glance in the rear mirror. "I was afraid of that," he muttered. "However, our customer was happy so let's be okay with it for now."

"Are you sure it was such a good idea, Mr. Scripps, to use so much of the fertilizer on Mrs. Nolan's old roses?" David asked carefully. "And on that plateau next to the fish pond?"

Vernon snorted. "I know what I'm doing, David, trust me on that," he returned.

OOOOOO

"Sarge," a voice called out from behind him as he tiredly put his briefcase in the backseat of his Rover.

Dennis refrained from rolling his eyes as he turned around to see Steve Crane waking up to him from the parking area. However as tetchy as he felt he didn't let it show. Instead he calmly nodded out toward the gate.

"How are things?" the sergeant asked.

"I don't know, sir," Steve let on wearily. "Aidensfield is pretty much brewing under the assumption that Jeremy Watson was hiding something. I've heard the most ridiculous rumours for years. The worst thing is that I can't tell them anything because there isn't anything to tell yet."

Dennis nodded sadly.

"I wish I could correct some of the rumours. Sarge, I wish we knew more," he said in frustration. "More than that Watson likely arrived by train and that he was chased by someone."

OOOOOO

"I really don't know why I let myself being talked into this," Liz Merrick complained lightly with a cautious grin on her face as she got out of Ben Norton's Land Rover.

"Because you like me," he returned mischievously as he too got out of the car.

She waited for him to pick up the rather large basket with wine and grapes they'd bought at the grocery shop. She couldn't help but to smile as he draped the blanket over his shoulder, looking like a matador, as he closed the back door of the car and walked up to her.

Together they began walking down a narrow road, no more than two muddy lines, where cars went on daily basis a long time ago.

"At least this way we won't be disturbed by gossiping old ladies, old police sergeants who want to question us, lordships asking about campers or seeing a sad Phil Bellamy fumbling with a pint, looking at Gina from distance," he said with a sad smile.

The smile on Liz's face vanished and she became serious. "Ben, don't you ever talk about that like it's a joke," she admonished. "I don't think you should have liked to trade places with them. Gina and Phil have had a trying time."

Ben raised his hand in surrender. "I didn't mean it like that," he said. "And you know it."

"I'm sorry," she returned as they neared the more cupid terrain. "So, this is the mines?"

Ben nodded. "Yes, a long time ago they used to…" he trailed off as he thought he'd heard a moan.

Liz chuckled at the confused look on his face. She elbowed him in the side lightly. "What? Seen a ghost or something?" she asked playfully.

"No, I thought I heard something. It's coming from inside the tunnel," he explained seriously.

"Don't pull my leg, Ben. What have you got in there? A candle lit table and another surprise?" She asked with a cunning smile.

He held up a finger as if to silence her and when she concentrated, she too could hear the low moan. The smile on her face vanished in an instant to be replaced by a look of confusion and fear.

They glanced at each other and then carefully walked toward the tunnel entrance.

Ben turned on the flashlight he'd kept in the basket as he felt a small hand close around his wrist for comfort. He turned slightly to look into the large eyes of Doctor Merrick as they headed further into the dark tunnel where no one seemed to have been for at least fifty years.

The tension in the air heightened with every step they took. The tunnel was damp and poorly lit, illuminated only by the pointed light from Ben's flashlight, the bulbs hanging loosely in the ceiling having been decommissioned ages ago. As they walked inside they could see shovels and other equipment left like someone would be expected to work the next day. Liz got a feeling there was more to this mine than Ben had told her and her imagination set into higher gears as to what they would find.

Then Ben suddenly stopped and Liz almost had to back pedal in order to avoid slamming into him. She followed the light beam as it shone on a man lying in the dirt, propped up somewhat against the tunnel wall. His eyes where closed but his mouth was open, a thin line of blood trickling down his chin and down his shirt.

The fear forgotten Liz Merrick transformed into Doctor Merrick as she walked resolutely toward the man. Ben reached out to grab her arm, afraid that the man might be dangerous considering what had been going on recently on the Estate but the doctor slipped out of his grip as fast as he could touch her.

"Liz," Ben whispered, the warning tone in his steady voice not going unnoticed by the doctor.

"I don't think he'll do anyone any harm, at least not anytime soon," she told him as she knelt beside the fallen man.

Curious, Ben walked up to them and knelt beside the man too but on the other side. As he did so he understood what she had meant. He was more dead than alive.

"We better call an ambulance, Ben, and quickly or his life will be lost and I don't think your lordship would appreciate that," she ordered with urgency in her voice.

He nodded seriously and handed her the flashlight as he moved to stand. "I can find my way out, you need it more," he explained.

"Please, you better call Dennis here too," Liz said over her shoulder as she watched Norton become nothing more than a shadow as he headed for the entrance. A chill went down her spine as she was left alone in the unknown mine with the unconscious and unknown man and she willed for Ben to hurry back.

OOOOOO

To be continued

/Thank you for the reviews! I'm so glad you like the story ;)