Criminal Case: Grimsborough

Chapter 55: Ashes to Ashes-Part 3

At the station, Tess's sister Morgan ran into the office crying to Marie and pleaded for her help cause she was scared that the Crimson Order would come and kill her just like they did to her sister. Shocked by her words, Marie asked, "Why would you say that Morgan?"

Morgan then started to sweat in nervousness and she said to the two officers, "Tess was killed because of what she knew about Mary's past. But I think that I know those stories too! You see, this whole story about Tess and my ancestor burning at the stake, it's unlocked some forgotten memories from my childhood. I remember a date that our grandmother talked about and it was on the 17th of November in 1649; the day Mary Goodwin received help from the Bell family."

After hearing the name the Bell family, Jones' eyes went wide with surprise and he exclaimed, "Then that means Constance might know something about it! She'll help us go back into the past and investigate that very date!"

Marie nodded in agreement and then she looked at Morgan and said, "Morgan, I would advise that you stay here and be safe. In the mean time, Jones and I have a little trip to take to the past." And soon they headed back to the library to see Constance Bell.

As soon as they arrived and Constance noticed Marie and Jones approaching, she smirked and said, "I take it you need help peering into the past again?"

Jones nodded and Marie told the old woman, "To be exact ma'am, we need to know what happened on the pilgrim docks on November 17th 1649."

Just as Marie told her about the date, Constance's eyes went wide shock and surprise and she exclaimed, "I don't know how you two found out about that date, but this next bit concerns my ancestor Claire Bell!"

Marie tilted her head slightly and asked, "Why is that?"

Constance shook her head and told the female officer that she and Jones will soon find out the truth for themselves and she told them to close their eyes and imagine themselves back on the pilgrim docks 400 years ago as Claire Bell risks her life to talk to Mary Goodwin on the early morning of 1649. As soon as they did, Marie and Jones felt themselves being pulled back. Soon, Marie felt herself on the docks of 1649 and she looked and saw Mary Goodwin talking to a woman who Marie knew was Claire Bell.

Marie then heard Mary say, "Mrs. Bell, thank you so much for being here. I know how dangerous it is for you to be seen with me."

Claire scrunched her lip and said to Mary, "What is you want Miss Goodwin? You know that I can't help you cause the Crimson Order is onto you! They will find and kill you!"

"I'm really sorry to endanger you, but I need your help to take care of my notes! They have to be kept safe and it's the only way to bring them down! I've hidden my notes here at the docks and that's the last thing I ask of you! Let's just hope that the Crimson Order will have enough with one victim," Mary said with a look of determination on her face.

After she heard their conversation, Marie looked around and then a pile of paper caught her eye. As the story ends, Marie felt herself being pulled back into reality. As soon as Jones opened his eyes he exclaimed, "That was one hell of a tale! Listening to that story made us feel like we were there!"

Marie looked over at Constance and asked, "So your ancestor was trying to help destroy the Crimson Order?"

"Not directly, but she agreed to help Mary by preserving those papers that caught your attention my dear," Constance said and she handed Marie the papers she spotted.

Looking closely, Marie noticed that the ink on the papers has been badly damaged in their 400 years and she agreed to fix them. Marie also suggested that they talk to Morgan and tell her what they discovered about her ancestor. As they were about to leave, Constance stopped Marie and said to her, "On your way out dearie, could you find my black cat for me? The damned thing seems to have run away again."