Page 21 of Their Burning Graves
‘I can’t believe it; her entire family are all dead. Let me tell you what happened. She rang up and asked if she could come in for a card reading, usually Magda does those, I prefer the hands-on kind of readings, but she was away, so Sally asked to do a session with me instead. So, Sally turned up, I spoke to her, and she told me she thought she was being haunted. I sat with her for fifteen minutes, but I really couldn’t see or feel there was anyone who had passed on lingering around trying to get her attention. I told her that I didn’t think it was a haunting and that maybe there was another reason for how she’d been feeling, perhaps she had a stalker. She laughed at that and asked who on earth would want to stalk her, said she lived a boring life and survived off the gossip from the salon. I advised her to be careful and speak to the police, but she didn’t think there was any need. Sally still wanted to buy some cards, said she might try it at home or in the salon, in case the ghost was attached to one of those locations. Bless her, I feel awful thinking about it now because once upon a time I would have been able to go into police-mode, but I really never saw it coming.’
‘That’s not your fault, how were you to know any of this was going to happen?’
Annie sipped her latte. She looked sad, and Morgan felt bad that she’d upset her.
‘Sally thought you were lovely, she told Jackie that.’
‘I can’t believe she’s dead, it’s so senseless, and her family too. I’m sorry I haven’t been much help, Morgan. The only thing I can tell you for sure is that she wasn’t being haunted, at least not by the dead.’
Morgan popped the last piece of cake in her mouth and finished her latte. She nodded. ‘Thank you for staying behind to speak to me and for this, it’s truly the best coffee and cake I’ve ever eaten.’
She stood up and felt an overwhelming urge to hug Annie, but she didn’t. What was happening to her lately? She wasn’t usually a hugger.
‘If you need anything, let me know, the only days I’m not here are Sundays and Mondays.’
Morgan nodded; she had a feeling as she walked away that this wouldn’t be the last time she visited the shop.
FOURTEEN
Ben was waiting for a phone call from either Declan or Will, maybe both, but hopefully not at the same time. When the pair of them walked into the office he thought he was seeing double, and managed to dribble the mouthful of coffee he’d just swigged all down the front of his white shirt. He stood up and grabbed some paper, blotting the stain with it.
‘Would you look at you, can’t take you anywhere, Matthews. Do you need a bib?’ Declan grinned at him.
He smiled for what felt like the first time in hours. ‘Good afternoon, Declan, Will, what brings you here?’
Declan crossed the room to where Ben was standing and before he could speak wrapped his arms around him, hugging him tight for the briefest of moments before letting go and stepping back. ‘I’ve been longing to do that for years. How are you holding up? It’s been a tough day for you, and Will here told me that you knew Sally Lawson?’
‘It’s been crap, in every way you can imagine.’
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t make the funeral. I thought I’d help you in the only way I could by not delaying Sally’s and David’s post-mortems. Look, the reason we’re here is to drag you to the pub for a pint and to discuss my findings with you in some quiet corner, what do you say?’
‘That sounds bloody great, yes, thank you.’
‘Good, it’s not often you listen to your uncle Declan, but I’m glad to see you’re learning. Where is that feisty fire pot, Morgan?’
Will was smiling and Ben joined in.
‘Gone out on enquiries. I think she needed to escape for a bit. She blames herself for Des.’
‘What, why? You two are a pain in the foot. Well reel her in and tell her I’ll buy her a pint too.’
‘I will, but maybe she’d be better doing her own thing, she’s driving again, and I think she’ll be enjoying her freedom.’
Declan shrugged. ‘Whatever you think, come on let’s go, it’s been a hell of a day for us all, and I only have an hour before the love of my life finishes work and arrives to pick me back up. Your good man Will drove me here to come check you were okay. You have some good friends, Benjamin.’
Ben smiled at Will; he was fortunate that he did have friends because they were all in this together.
The Black Dog was relatively quiet considering it had been Des’s unofficial wake a couple of hours earlier. Ben had thought there would be a few stragglers hanging around, and he was relieved there weren’t. He ordered two pints of lager and a half for Will who had to drive back to Hawkshead, where he lived. He’d texted Morgan, to see if she wanted to join them, but she’d replied she was busy. That made him smile and worry at the same time, but he was glad she was out doing what she was so good at. They took their pints to the billiard room and Declan began to set up the balls, at least no one would bother them in here. There were only a couple of blokes sitting at the bar, nursing their drinks and watching the news on the television. Declan picked up a pool cue, handing it to Ben, then grabbed one for himself.
‘So, the cause of death for both of them was suffocation and clearly the manner of death is homicide. Thankfully, David Lawson was killed before he had his hand cut off with a razor-sharp instrument. You’re looking for something along the lines of a professional meat cleaver, the kind that a chef or butcher would use, you know. I entered the information onto the database, and it should come up with a complete match of make and style, but that might take a little time.’
‘I suppose that’s something, that the injuries were post-mortem.’
‘Ah, I haven’t got to Sally yet. I’m awfully sorry to tell you this but her injury was perimortem and sustained whilst she was still alive.’
Ben leaned over and took his shot, smashing the white ball so hard that the rest of the balls flew violently across the table. He stood up inhaling deeply and downed half of his pint in one mouthful.
‘How could you tell? Is there a chance you could be mistaken?’
