Restless Dead (Harry Grimm Book 5) by David Gatward (english reading book TXT) 📗

that we’re around for a start, because I’m pretty sure that one flock being taken is more than enough to get the whole dale worried. Am I right, Jim?’

‘You are that,’ Jim said. ‘And I know that they shouldn’t be, but I’m pretty sure there’s a few out there now who’ve taken to late-night walks around their fields with a gun. They’ll say they’re out lamping, after a few rabbits, but they’re not. They’re scared. And who can blame them?’

‘And while we’re up there,’ Gordy said, turning an eye to Jadyn, ‘use this as an opportunity to find out more about farming. Because let’s face it, you’re not exactly clued up on it, and it’s kind of the main thing in Wensleydale.’

‘I know more than our DCI does,’ Jadyn said.

‘Watch it,’ Harry said. ‘I know what a tup and ewe is now, don’t I? Before you know it, I’ll be telling you what breeds they are and whatever else you need to know about sheep. Which I’m sure is a lot.’

A few minutes later, they made to cross over the road, when a shout pulled them up short. Jim turned around to see a man coming out of a garden gate to meet them.

‘Hello, Reverend,’ Jim said.

‘Good to see you, Jim,’ the man replied, then he looked over at Harry. ‘We’ve met,’ he said, ‘but I’ve a feeling we’ve both been too busy to make it more than that.’ He held out his hand. ‘I’m Mike Rawlings, the Methodist Minister.’

Harry shook the man’s hand. ‘Most vicars I know are old and grey,’ he said.

‘Well, I’m not a vicar for a start,’ Mike smiled.

‘And where’s your dog collar?’

‘On the dog,’ Mike replied. ‘Can’t stand the thing. I wear it for official stuff, and if folk want me to, but generally I leave it at home.’

‘Is there something we can help you with?’ Jim asked.

‘You off to the mart?’ Mike asked. ‘I’ll be heading over myself, later. Highlight of my week. Make sure I never miss it.’

‘We are,’ Jim said.

‘After what happened, we’re just going to show a bit of police presence, that kind of thing,’ Harry said.

‘That’ll reassure folk, I’m sure,’ Mike said. ‘After what happened with your dad’s flock, Jim, people are jumpy.’

Harry leaned in. ‘Don’t suppose you’ve heard anything about what happened?’

Mike shook his head. ‘Sorry, no. But if I do hear something, I’ll let you know straight away. But it’s not that I was coming over for. It’s about James Fletcher.’

‘Liz and Jen are over there now,’ Jim said. ‘What’s wrong?’

Mike quickly told them about a number of phone calls he’d had with James since the crash. ‘I visited right away, and obviously, there was the trauma they were dealing with, but since then, these calls? Something’s not right.’

‘You mean how he’s seeing his wife around the place?’ Harry said.

‘I know he called you out last week, and he’s done it again?’

‘Just this morning,’ Jim said.

Mike fell quiet.

Harry asked, ‘Something bothering you, Rev?’

‘James is, or was, a sensible man,’ Mike said. ‘He wouldn’t be reporting stuff, calling you, if he wasn’t seeing something. I’m doing my best to keep him focused, to think things through, but this? Well, I just think there’s more to it, that’s all.’

‘You want us to take it seriously, is that what you’re saying?’ Gordy asked.

‘I do,’ Mike said. ‘What happened, it was awful, and James is really going through it. But this worries me. I know I’m being vague, and really, I had no idea what I was going to say to you when I saw you, but I thought I’d best just mention it anyway.’

Harry handed Mike his card.

‘Call me if you need to,’ he said. ‘And it’s good to know we’ve not just got another pair of eyes on the mart here and what happened at Jim’s place, but over at the Fletcher’s too. Much appreciated.’

Mike stepped back. ‘Well, I’ll let you get on. I’m actually thinking of buying myself a few pet lambs next year, Jim, so I’ll need your advice on that.’

‘Pet lambs?’ Harry said. ‘Who the hell keeps a lamb as a pet?’

‘No one does,’ Jim laughed. ‘It’s the lambs that are spare, like, where we have triplets and the mum can only look after two, or the mum dies during the birth or just rejects her lambs. If we can’t get another ewe to take them, then they get sold.’

‘I knew that,’ Jadyn said, with a knowing nod.

‘You’re a terrible liar,’ said Harry. ‘Anyway, thanks Mike, and good to meet you.’

‘I’ll give you a call,’ Mike said, holding up Harry’s card. ‘Go for a pint some time. If you’re going to stay around, then I’m sure I can give you a good insight into the local community.’

‘Of course, he’s staying!’ Gordy smiled. ‘I don’t think any of us can imagine the place without him now.’

As they turned to cover the final few steps over to the mart, Harry called out, ‘Look, you go on and I’ll catch up. I’ve a phone call to make.’

‘Well, don’t be long,’ Gordy said.

As they walked off, Jim glanced back at his boss and couldn’t help but hope that Gordy was right and that Harry was going to be staying around. It wasn’t just that they needed him, but that despite his gruff nature and occasional short temper, they liked him. And that, Jim thought, was worth more than gold.

Chapter Fifteen

Liz was now sitting in a rather old-fashioned farmhouse-style kitchen and nursing a large mug of steaming hot tea. Jen was busy doing a sweep of the house to check windows and the like, and to make sure that the house was as secure as it could be. They had both been rather surprised to discover that such a large and impressive house had no high-end security system installed. Indeed, when they had asked to check it, James had laughed at them, said something about how no security system in the world could be a match for his years of military