Rachel Huntsman and the Village of Death

Chapter Two

"Is Mr and Mrs Morris here? No, of course they aren't, stupid me." The policeman smiled and told her that she could find them back at their house. Nodding in thanks, Rachel quickly walked to their house and was surprised to see that nobody else was here, those wishing to console them had already done so and had promptly left. For some reason she had concerns about knocking, she didn't really know them, they had been welcoming enough when she had decided to take on the business but she still felt left out from the other businesses every now and again. Telling herself that she was being stupid and selfishly for herself, she knocked on the door and was surprised to see that the door opened near on straight away. Mrs Morris' face was blotchy and her eyes so bloodshot and watery Rachel was surprised she had even managed to see the door to open it.

"Miss Huntsman, please come in." Her voice was wobbly and Rachel suddenly really wished she had heeded her own warning and turned away, but if the village found out she hadn't sent her condolences she would lose business. This was her being selfish. "I'm ever so sorry for your loss. He was a lovely boy." Mrs. Morris blew her nose in a now damp hankie and then wiped her face with it, Rachel tried to hide her disgust and hoped the look on her face reflected pain. "You knew him?" Rachel nodded and tried to make herself comfortable in the seat. "From school. He was a couple of years below me. He was friends with some of my friends." Mrs. Morris was now visibly crying and looking very pale. Concerned Rachel wondered whether or not she should call a doctor. "Is your husband here? Can I get you a cup of tea? A biscuit perhaps?"

"I've just had a cup of tea. John has gone out – he didn't want to stay in this house with the memories. Could you call Doctor Jacobs? His number is in the book, I don't...I don't...I don't feel too well." As she was talking Mrs. Morris was finding it harder to breathe and was going more grey in colour and looked like she was in an immense amount of pain. Rachel didn't even respond as she scrambled for her phone and ended up dialing 999 instead. As soon as the phone caller had said that the ambulance was on their way Mrs. Morris had collapsed to the floor clutching her throat. Rachel desperately tried to remember CPR and first aid but didn't think she had been trained for a case like this where the person was choking on nothing. It was all a blur as the paramedics came bursting through the door, Rachel couldn't remember laying over Mrs. Morris, attempting CPR or registered that she was crying or screaming but soon enough sirens were wailing and the DI that had spoken to her earlier was stood staring at the body. Rachel couldn't stand it any longer and moved herself to the kitchen, that's where she noticed it. Mrs. Morris' cup of tea on the side, half drunk next to the tea pot. Another cup and saucer had been hastily pushed into the water in the sink. Moving towards the counter Rachel moved her hair back and looked into the tea cup and sniffed. Mrs. Morris had been poisoned. Faintly she could hear talking in the hallway. "I just don't understand, did she have a heart condition?" Rachel stepped out and coughed lightly. The DI and his sergeant turned. "No, she didn't. She was poisoned. You can smell it in her tea cup that's on the side." Rachel didn't remember passing out, when she came round she was tucked up on her sofa, a steaming hot cup of hot chocolate in front of her, next to that was a note that had been scrawled in terrible handwriting.

Rachel,

The hot chocolate will make you feel better. Have a hot bath and a stiff drink. Your café has been taken care off. I need you to come to the station first thing and help with some questions.

DI Jones.

Rachel rubbed her face and sniffed the hot chocolate before drinking it, there were no guarantees it had been left by the DI. Moving the note there was writing on the back of it.

P.S – it's not poisoned.

Rachel chuckled and started to run herself a hot bath, her home was her sanctuary, it was where she felt safe – and that included the village and now everything was up in turmoil. A woman had been murdered right in front of her, where was Mr. Morris? Did he know about his wife? Did he do it? She shook her head in a desperate attempt to rid herself of the thoughts, pouring herself a large sherry she stripped and sunk into the hot deep bath. Trying to think about anything else than the dead boy and Mrs. Morris. Stuffed in the cupboard was an old girlie magazine that she had bought months ago in an attempt to relax, she might as well try it now. The magazine was boring and the hot water was doing nothing for her pounding headache, but the sherry worked a treat. For the first time since she moved, Rachel put on her heating and looked through her fridge for something edible. She had been planning to go the shop this afternoon, as she always did but events had changed leading her to have one out of date egg and a slice of mouldy bread to eat. She may have been upset but she didn't want to be upset with food poisoning. Almost as if reading her mind, there was a knock on the door which soon opened. Her heart racing Rachel was frantically thinking where the knives were when Jenny appeared with a box from the Chinese and a bag from the local coop. "I heard what happened, knew that you wouldn't have gone shopping so bought you some bits and bobs to eat and then we can go food shopping together tomorrow." Raising her eyebrows, Rachel took the food and emptied it out onto two plates whilst Jenny did the important job of opening the wine. "So together?" Rachel inquired. Jenny tactfully sipped her wine before turning back to her and smiled. "Someone is going round our town and murdering people. I think we have a duty to find out what happened, don't you?" Rachel smiled slightly and nodded, being productive, it was what she was good at. "So seeing as we know nothing about the lad and I am assuming that you didn't get anything out of her before she croaked out, rest in peace, Mrs. Morris. Why don't we focus on her, rumour is poisoned?" Rachel nodded and had a gulp of wine before answering.

"Yes, her face was blotchy when I arrived. She was crying a lot so that is what I assumed had caused the blotchiness. She asked if I knew him, I said yes and how I knew him and that's when I thought I should call a doctor. Mrs Morris was looking awfully grey and pale, like she was in pain. I asked about her husband and she said that he had gone out, but after the police and paramedics arrived I went to the kitchen and there was her cup on the side which I could smell had poison in it. But there was another cup in the sink, and a teapot on the side, far too big for someone to make if they were drinking on their own." Jenny frowned and briefly looked at Eastenders that was on in the background. "So somebody came round, made her a cup of tea, poisoned her. Tried to get rid of their DNA and fingerprints by leaving the cup to soak in water and left. Why not wait to see it out? To make sure that you had done the job properly?"

"Because they would be caught, especially if they had to admit that they had made the tea. But then what about the boy? Why is he dead?"

"Maybe they meant to get Mrs. Morris but ended up getting him? And then they came back to finish the job?" Rachel shook her head, none of it felt right. "I have to go to the station tomorrow and answer questions for DI Jones. That is going to be an enjoyable experience." Jenny chuckled.

"Well if anything, at least he is cute." They both chuckled and Jenny finished her wine.

"Good luck tomorrow, I'll see you in the afternoon, after all, you'll need supplies for the do on Saturday!" Rachel nodded, of course, the do that Jenny was hosting. "That I do, and some actual food."

"My number is on your fridge and on your house phone. Please do call if you need anything, as I said earlier we don't see eye to eye but it can't be nice watching someone be murdered." Rachel bid Jenny farewell and made sure that all doors and windows were locked. She didn't think that sleep would come to her but it did, nightmares claimed her but she slept. Unlike Jenny James on the other side of town, who was worried about a lot. Things between her and Mike hadn't been good and she wanted this dinner to be perfect – to prove to him that she did love him and care for him. But that sometimes she just wanted to do something for herself. It pained her to admit it but she was also worried about Rachel Huntsman across town all by herself after witnessing such a terrible murder; of course, she was worried about herself. If these break-ins were connected to the murders then what was to say that they wouldn't come back for her? Or for Mike? She felt across the bed for Mike's arm and gave it a small squeeze, they might not be in the best place right now but at least he was here and his body heat was comforting, along with his deep breathing. Subconsciously he patted her arm and rolled slightly towards her, she smiled slightly and tried to close her eyes and let sleep embrace her like death had to Jack and Mrs. Morris.