Sweet Things Dying - Chapter XXIV

In this instalment, Cole realizes who holds all the secrets, and who holds all the power over them....

XXIV

Cole drank coffee though desired something stronger. But the coffee was hot, as was the fire that dried his soaked clothing. He looked up from his table by the fireplace. Much of the rest of the Thursday night crowd had left as Mac wound the shop down. Most would go on to the pubs and gin palaces – he might soon join them.

For now, he smoked and drank coffee and warmed himself until Mac was able to give him an ear.

“Tell me again what Heather thought of Jasper Pearson,” he said once the ruddy-faced shopkeeper was seated across from him, and he’d explained his adventures so far.

“She weren’t none fond of him,” Mac said. “Never said she `ated `im outright, but I could tell her skin crawled when `e came about. But `e were never `er choice in man anyhow - `er father thought `im best and what girl wants that, eh?”

“Did she speak of her father much?”

“Very little. Respected `im, I took it. Obeyed `im. But she never talked much on `im, no.”

Cole rubbed the lump on the back of his head and over another cigarette relayed some of his suspicions about Pearson and Bloom.

“I see where you come from there,” Mac replied after a thoughtful silence, “but it still begs questions, don’t it? If Jasper did `ave his fun, got `er in the family way, why is old man Bloom still `oldin’ the boy so near and dear? That knock you got proves it. Shouldn’t `e be furious? Should be ringin’ Jasper’s bell with his stick, no? Or at least point the finger, give `im to the coppers and let `is dead girl get some peace. No?”

Cole tossed his cigarette down and sighed. “Good points, all. I’m not unaware of the holes I’ve created with the dirt I’ve used to fill others. But there has to be some sense in it.”

“It’s a senseless crime, Cole – don’t look for no sense to it.”