“Did he now?”
Melody nods. “And yet, the townsfolk I've spoken to say he's not staying anywhere in Talon's Point that they know of. He's not still staying at Deacon House, is he?”
Maximilian says nothing. He continues looking at his drink. The silence deafens Melody. It is an uncomfortable one.
“Sanders is a strange one, Melody,” he finally says. “We weren't happy with how he was teaching Rebecca, so we ended his services. That's why you're here.”
The wind howls like a banshee once more, and then diminishes slightly, replaced now by a more gentle patter of raindrops against the window pane.
Maximilian looks around, as though the walls have ears. He leans in towards Melody.
“The strange thing is,” he says. “I never saw Sanders leave here. We told him he could stay for another week while he found other living arrangements or booked a flight off the island. But then, I went to his room the next night and all his belongings were gone. Tam the grounds keeper told us he saw him heading off the estate in the early morning. But, yes, it's strange that no one has heard from him on the island. Maybe the police should look into it.”
“Maybe,” Melody says, looking into her glass. Her heart is sinking. If what Maximilian says is true, perhaps he's not at Deacon House. Perhaps he's somewhere else. But Melody will need to learn more to be sure.
Chapter 5
It is a Saturday, two days since her chat with Maximilian, and Melody has a day off from teaching Rebecca, but not from finding her father. A plan is formulating in her mind. She is almost certain that her predecessor, Mr Sanders, is her father in disguise, but while she tries to find out whether this is the truth, there is a mystery to unwind, regardless.
Where is Mr Sanders?
If Will and Max are telling the truth, then the last person to see Mr Sanders alive is Tam, the groundskeeper of Deacon House. Melody has a soft spot for Tam. He has always been cheery, always welcoming, and she doesn't want to believe that he is involved in something unwholesome.
But as Rob said previously, he is loyal to the Deacons, and misplaced loyalty can lead people to the most destructive of actions.
Now that Melody has been staying at the Howling Dog for a few weeks, she has come to recognize the routines of Talon's Point. One of those is that Tam comes for a drink every Saturday at 1PM without fail. He stays for one hour, then he leaves.
Though she has spoken with him at Deacon House, he is usually very busy, and there is always the worry for Melody that someone will be listening, especially given how voices echo around the mansion. It is for this reason, that she has decided to speak with Tam when he is at his most relaxed.
Melody sits in a cozy chair by the fireplace at the rear of the Howling Dog. Though it's sunny enough and dry outside, there is a slight chill in the Atlantic air, so the fire is crackling away just enough to keep customers warm.
In her hand is a book. The book is of little consequence, because Melody isn't actually reading it. She is waiting. She is listening.
A few people are sitting spread out in different spots, but none of them concern Melody. When the door finally creaks open at 1PM sharp, it is only then that Melody's interest is finally brought to focus.
Standing in the doorway is the rosy-cheeked figure of Tam the groundskeeper. He is dressed in his usual fine attire, a tweed suit, but with green Wellington boots on.
“Afternoon, Tam!” Morrison says, cleaning glasses behind the bar.
“Aye! Afternoon, Morrison!” Tam walks in and takes a seat at the bar.
Melody listens and watches from the back of the room. Tam has not spotted her yet, but she doesn't intend on hiding forever.
The usual pleasantries pass between Tam and a few of the locals. He sips a pint of local ale and jokes loudly with Morrison, bringing a warmth to the room all of his own.
Melody waits until Tam has had his third and last drink, something he always does.
He'll be more open to questions now, she thinks. Hoping that the alcohol will loosen the man's lips.
“Hey Tam,” she says appearing from the back of the room and then affectionately patting him on the back.
He turns around in his stool.
“Hey, lassie. Good tae see ye. Ye want a dram of something?”
“No thanks,” Melody says. “I'm going to go for a walk.”
Tam glances at the clock on the wall above the bar, his face now redder than it was when he came in.
“Aye,” he says. “I better get a move oan as well. It's aboot two o'clock.”
“I'll walk you out,” Melody says, smiling and putting her arm through Tam's. He pats her hand gently. “Och, if I was 20 years younger, I'd whisk ye aff yer feet, Melody.”
“20? Come on, Tam. 30 more like!” Morrison says from behind his bushy mustache.
Tam lets out a lively laugh.
“Dinnae be puttin' more years oan me, Morrison. I dinnae need that!”
Melody walks with Tam out of the inn and into the salty air of Talon's Point. The sea is present everywhere, even when it cannot be seen.
“So, where are you off to, now?” Melody asks.
“Oh, that would be tellin', lassie,” Tam says. “A few errands. Nothing special. And you?”
“Just stretching my legs,” Melody says. “Morrison has been feeding me roast beef every night this week. I think I need to work off a few pounds.”
“I've always been slim,” Tam says, patting his stomach which is a little plumper than he seems to know. “It's all the hard
