Abediah Thornton

Chapter 20 - Thursday

Abediah was up bright and early the next morning. She was up in the hay barn when her cell phone started ringing. It was unusual for anyone to call her. 'Hello?''Mrs Thornton? Is that you? It's Karen here, down at Holtby and Cope.'

'Oh hello Karen, is everything alright?'

'Mrs Thornton, I just wanted to let you know, I got the safe open.'

'Really? How did you do it?'

'Actually, I think it's a new safe. When you get them the number is apparently usually just set at zero zero zero zero until you change it. It was still set on that. I've spoken to Winnie and she wondered whether maybe your husband had switched the safe?'

'I've got no idea. Although, if that's a brand new safe it does seem possible, doesn't it?'

'Well, anyway, you were right Mrs Thornton. The safe is empty, I'm sorry to say.'

'Ah. Well. At least we know for sure now.'

'Exactly. So just remember to explain all that to the police when they come, tell them the safe is here if they want to take a look. And Winnie just wanted me to remind you, if you feel uncomfortable at all, just tell them you're done talking to them and they should speak to your lawyer. OK?'

'OK. Thank you Karen.'

'No problem, Mrs Thornton. You have a good day now.'

'You too Karen. Bye.'

'Bye.'

Abediah put the phone back in her pocket. She stayed sitting on a bale in the hay loft for a while. The swirling questions returned often these days, but there were still no answers. She was sure nobody else had been in the house. And she had been with everyone who'd visited recently. The only person that could have taken the safe was Frank. But where would he have taken it to? And why switch it? Was it so that she wouldn't notice it was gone? That seemed like the most likely answer. What had Frank been up to that he needed all of their documents? 

She got stuck on this last question for twenty minutes. The idea of Frank, this new Frank, this post death Frank that she didn't recognise, having all of their documents made her feel very unsettled. This Frank seemed so unpredictable. She couldn't imagine what he might have done.

After some time she rose from the hay bale and made her way back down the steps. Her knee had been particularly bad this morning so she had her knee support on. She could feel it squeeze and slither at the back of her knee as she bent and stretched her way down the stairs. Creaking all the way.

The police arrived just as she was washing the dishes from her lunch. She saw them drive up in a big police cruiser. When they got out of the car one of the officers waved at her and she recognised it was the young woman who had come to deliver Frank's death notice. She was with another female officer this time. Abediah was very glad she wouldn't need to deal with that male officer again. She pushed the button down on the kettle and then walked round to the door to greet them.

'Good afternoon Officers.'

'Good afternoon Mrs Thornton, I'm sorry to be here bothering you again,' said the officer she had met before.

'You're just doing your job officer. Why don't you come in.' Abediah stood back out of their way and motioned them to the table. The two officers sat down.

'Can I get you anything?'

'A coffee would be lovely Mrs Thornton, thank you.'

'Yes please,' added the new officer.

'Ok, well the kettle is just boiling now.'

'Great, Mrs Thornton, let me introduce myself again. I'm DeeDee Jackson. I'm an officer with the county.' The officer lay her badge down on the table, flipping it open so Abediah could see the picture and name. DeeDee continued, 'and this here is my friend Rita Yu, she's an officer in the city.' Rita also flipped open her badge, holding it out so Abediah could see it across the table.