A Secret Schemer (5 page)

‘So come on Lucy Ross
spill?’

‘You know me to well Hun.’ I
then relayed my conversation with Harry Miles.

‘I knew something was bothering
you, even though you’re a pretty good actress you can’t fool me.’
Jena declares. ‘Ok let’s wait until we meet this undesirable woman
and see how the gossip pans out. For a start if her scruffy dog is
not on a leash she won’t be bringing it in here, as there are
notices on both entrances that all dogs are to be kept on a leash.
Emma is a sly one, as we both thought she was OK, nevertheless it
won’t be a problem to get shot of her will it, you’ve only given
her ten hours.’

‘Trouble is Jena we’ll need to
watch her, anyway let’s see what tomorrow brings on that subject,
what did you think of Tim?’

‘Mm seems cool, although I
didn’t really have a chance to chat to him, I can tell you’re
captivated though.’

‘Yeah I guess I am I got
butterflies when I saw him today. It’s been a while.’ I add.

‘How about we have a meal in
the restaurant one evening, just the four of us?’ Jena
suggests.

‘Sounds good let’s make it this
week if we can; now maybe we should sleep.’

After setting the alarm we make
our way upstairs to our respective rooms, both with our own
thoughts of this rather momentous day…..

When I reach the kitchen I can
hear Mary hoovering in the bar, I can tell she is going to be a
treasure, what a pity I can’t say that about them all. Maybe today
we’ll meet this so called objectionable woman, the sooner the
better as I’d rather know what I’m up against sooner rather than
later. After making a coffee I walk into the office carrying the
two till drawers holding yesterday’s takings, secretly scolding
myself for not carrying out this feat last night. No harm done
though as yesterday was a special day. With that in mind I complete
the task and enter all the necessary data onto the computer. My
next commitment of duty is a visit to the bank, which will
presumably put a smile on my bank managers face. If every day’s
takings are to be that lucrative, maybe I’d become a millionaire in
a year….

Chapter 8

‘Oh Lucy I have to tell you
I’ve encountered the objectionable woman.’ Jena explains.

‘That was quick, what is she
really like?’

‘To sum her up in a word, Mm
discourteous, no has to be repugnant!’

‘She’s that bad?’

‘Actually far worse, a real
nasty piece of work. I was keeping my eye open for her as I thought
she’d probably make her entrance today, and I wasn’t disappointed.
She came through the door as large as life with the scruffy mutt at
her heels. I shot down to ‘greet’ her, pointing to the sign about
dogs being on a leash. She growled who are you and told me her dog
don’t need a lead and has always come in this pub. Obviously I
informed her of the fact this was now a different pub with a
different tenant and therefore different rules. I was met by a hurl
of foul abuse, as she ranted on alarmingly in words that were
difficult to decipher, so I suggested she should maybe come back
another day when she had calmed down and her dog was on a
leash.’

‘OMG poor you Jena sorry I
wasn’t there to support you Hun.’

‘No problem, to be honest I
quite enjoyed it, although it could have been to my advantage if
Harry Miles had acted as interpreter.’ We both laughed.

‘It’s a shame Emma wasn’t
behind the bar.’

‘Maybe, seriously though Lucy I
believe she fully intends to cause trouble, she’s a bad lot.’ Jena
endorses.

‘I guess we’ll have to face it
as it comes, you do the bank run tomorrow and maybe I’ll have the
pleasure.’ I add. ‘Meanwhile we need to keep an eye on Emma.’

Tim rang me later and asked
when we could meet up again, I mentioned having a meal with Jena
and Andy, and he thought that was a great idea. He also suggested
perhaps we could have a walk on Sunday afternoon, weather
permitting, which I’ve agreed to although it has to be after
lunches are served. Once again I felt the butterflies in my tummy,
is it too soon to feel such a connection I ask myself?

After a chat with Jena later in
the evening, we decided that Friday night would be the best night
for our meal, so I rang Tim to ask if he could make it and he
agreed readily. I hadn’t booked a band to play for this Friday; I
felt it was advisable to leave it for a week due to the opening day
celebrations.

Afterwards in the bar I noticed
Harry Miles shuffling in, so without hesitation I walked over for a
chat. ‘Good evening Harry, can I get you a drink?’ I proffer.

‘Thanks darling I’ll ave a
Guinness if you don’t mind.’

‘My pleasure, sit yourself down
and I’ll bring it over.’

‘Thanks girl that’s very nice
of yer.’

I sat at the table with Harry,
fully intending to ‘pick his brains’ over Vie Butler. As he was
pleased with his free pint of Guinness, straight away his tongue
was loosened.

‘As she been in yet that Vie?’
He asks.

‘Yes she came in today but I
was out at the time, what was her connection with the pub Harry?’ I
enquire.

‘She was well in with the
couple who ran the old pub, he was a heavy drinker and his misses
didn’t like it in the bar with him drunk all the time. So Vie
served behind the bar and did more or less what she liked. To be
honest girl the place was a shambles, dirty and didn’t smell good
either. They lost most of the regular customers and Vie aint never
been popular.’ Harry told me in between sips of Guinness.

‘So why do you think she’ll
cause trouble then Harry?’

‘Oh darling, like meself she
was born in this manor and she thinks she has the right to do as
she likes. Most of the family have spent holidays at her Majesty’s
pleasure, if you know what I mean.’ Harry tapped his nose. ‘The
story goes that her ol’ man died in the nick serving life for
murder.’

‘Thanks Harry enjoy the rest of
your pint.’ I’d heard enough for today and some of his mates where
about to join us.

Friday lunch time I had the
pleasure of meeting Vie Butler, Jena’s description was spot on. She
had tied a tatty piece of rope to the mutt’s collar and I’m not
sure who was the most pissed off by it the mutt or her….she walked
over to the bar with the mutt at her heels and ordered a pint of
real ale. Emma is due in any moment to give Archie a break, this I
must watch, I had an excellent view as I was sitting at the bar.
She hadn’t looked my way although I’m sure she’d sussed who I was,
this could be interesting. As Emma passed me she muttered hello as
she went behind the bar, Lucas was starting work at the same time
as Friday lunchtime was proving to be busy. Vie was leaning across
the bar speaking to Emma, who suddenly looked a tad flushed,
possibly because she knew I was watching them.

‘Hi Lucy how are you today?’
Lucas asked, breaking my concentration.

‘I’m fine Lucas and you?’

‘Yes good thanks, can I pour
you a drink?’

‘Mm a small lager would be
great.’

Lucas handed me my drink and
started to serve straight away, that’s when I noticed vie was
heading my way. Well it’s now or never let’s get this introduction
over…

‘You must be the boss?’ She
asked directly.

‘That’s me Lucy Ross, and you
are?’ I play dumb.

‘I’m Vie Butler and I’ve got a
few things to say to you.’ She snapped rudely.

‘Well do go ahead I’m all
ears.’ I reply.

‘We’ve never ‘ad notices up
about dogs being on a lead, this is a local pub for people who live
in this manor, my dog’s always been able to run around where he
likes.’

‘I’m sure you’ve noticed that
the pub now has a new tenant, has been refurbished and renamed, so
many things have changed.’

‘Well we don’t like it round
here and we intend to get it back like it was before.’

‘You say we, may I ask who else
you’re including?’

‘All the fucking locals, that’s
who.’

‘Firstly I don’t approve of
your language, and secondly I’d like to know how you intend to try
and change my pub?’

‘If I wanna swear I’ll fucking
well swear. The brewery’ll have you out in no time I know ‘em
well.’

‘Well I’ll wish you luck with
that, and I have no intention of discussing this subject any
further, however what I will say is take this as a civil warning
that I won’t be spoken to in this manner in my own pub.’

‘You’ll regret threatening me,
so take that as a warning you stuck up bitch.’

‘Are you OK Lucy, is this
person giving you trouble?’ Lucas prompts.

‘Nothing I can’t handle thanks
Lucas.’ With that the deplorable Vie Butler followed closely by her
scruffy mutt walked back to the other side of the bar. I noticed
that no one else had approached her to speak, so I’m assuming she
is a law unto herself. I also feel a trip to speak to Charles
Emerson at the brewery certainly won’t go amiss, as I believe this
needs to be nipped in the bud. I have learnt from experience that
one bad egg can cause problems and they need to be faced head on.
This person as Harry Miles has already mentioned, could turn out to
be a thorn in my side. I feel I should mention my concerns to
Lucas, as he’s been hovering close by in a protective way, which is
sincerely appreciated, it shows solidarity. I’ll talk to him when
he has his break, as now I’m keeping my beady eye on the dreaded
Butler woman. Without a doubt Emma will have to go, she only works
for ten hours; I need to think about this one. Shortly after our
brief encounter the objectionable Vie Butler sauntered out of the
bar trailing the mutt behind her. I watched Emma’s reaction, and
for the first time I noticed that same arrogant look in her eyes,
something she’d kept well hidden during her interview. As Lucas was
still working I decided to go and have a word with Kate about the
weekend.

‘How are you doing Kate?’

‘Yeah good Lucy, we’ve been
quite busy and I’ve had several bookings for Sunday lunch.’

‘Great stuff, now about Sunday
Kate as soon as lunches are over get yourself off home, at least
you’ll get a longer break with Monday as well.’

‘What about Monday though Lucy
how will you manage?’

‘Just fine, don’t you worry
I’ll cover any meals required and Grace will be in at lunch time.
So Kate tell me about your next date?’ I ask eagerly.

‘It’s Sunday evening, would you
believe I’m meeting him in here.’

‘Does he know you work
here?’

‘No, well I haven’t told him,
he just asked me to suggest a nice pub.’ Kate laughed.

‘Mm should be fun.’ I add.

‘Oh by the way Lucy will it be
OK if Jodie comes in to wait on table on Sunday lunch, you won’t
have to pay her I’ll do that.’

‘I’d love her to come in and
help and of course I’ll give her some pocket money.’ I laugh and
tap my nose.

‘They’ll be sixteen next month;
I want to encourage her to do something useful, Josh is learning to
play the guitar so they’re drifting apart a bit now.’

‘She can come in and help
anytime Kate it’s not a problem Hun.’

‘Trouble is Josh goes off to
hang out with his mates and she’s left with my parents. She loves
them dearly but you know what it’s like being a teenager, and she
thinks this place is awesome.’

‘I can just about remember
being a teenager….I think, Kate let her come whenever she wants
Hun.’

As we’re chatting Lucas comes
in for a break. ‘Is this girls only or can anyone join in?’ He
smiles.

‘The more the merrier.’ We say
together.

While Kate carried on cooking,
me and Lucas took our coffee into the restaurant and I told him the
story of the discourteous Vie Butler…so far.

‘I could tell there was
something amiss Lucy, obviously you had no idea about her or the
connection to Emma before you employed her.’

‘No neither me nor Jena picked
up on anything untoward during Emma’s interview. I’ve decided to
have a word with the brewery tomorrow and forewarn them of contact
from the unpredictable Vie Butler.’

‘I’m sure they’re used to weird
people in this trade.’ Lucas adds.

‘Unfortunately they are, every
pub has a bad apple and this one is proving to be rotten to the
core.’

‘If you get a problem Lucy and
I’m not around, don’t hesitate to ring me and I’ll be here in a
flash.’ Lucas promises.

‘Thanks Lucas that’s reassuring
as you never know how far these people will go, especially when we
have no idea of the underlying reason for the reaction, and there
usually is one.’

‘The family sound disturbing,
rebellious.’ Lucas advises. Don’t worry Lucy you have a strong
support team.’

‘That’s heartening Lucas,
thanks.’ As I got up to leave the restaurant I paused. ‘Hey don’t
forget to have a meal.’ I smiled.

Some time later I was in the
restaurant with Jena, Andy and Tim, the conflict with the Butler
woman temporarily forgotten. I’d decided that I didn’t want it to
be a topic of conversation while enjoying a meal; I would divulge
the details to Jena in the morning. We all settled for Kate’s
special, which was chicken curry and very tasty it was too. Then me
and Jena indulged in a yummy slice of fudge cake and dollops of
thick cream, the guys settled for coffee.

‘So Tim what do you think of
the Frog and Toad so far? Jena asks.

‘Impressive Jena and the food
is delicious too.’ He adds.

‘How are your new lodgings
Andy?’ I ask as I finish my last mouthful of creamy fudge cake.

‘They’re pretty good, very
clean and the foods basic but tasty.’ Andy replies. ‘A couple of my
work mates are staying there as well, so we go for a quick pint
before we turn in.’

‘So where do you live Tim?’
Jena enquires.

‘Oh I have a studio apartment,
just a large room really with dividers, it’s adequate when you need
to live in the city.’ Tim explains. ‘I would love a bigger place;
however the prices are beyond me at the moment.’