Found Guilty at Five (13 page)

T
WENTY-
F
IVE

J
AMIE WAS AWAKE EARLY, STRETCHING AND YAWNING AT HIS
window, when he saw in the sunlit street a single person loitering outside. An empty house with a high fence and a
FOR SALE
notice stood on the opposite side of the road, and as he watched, the loiterer vanished into the tangled front garden of the property. Oh dear, thought Jamie, squatters. The area had been a poor one, but was on the up, and the presence of squatters would inevitably lower house prices. Not that Jamie was thinking of moving, though he had begun to feel he had had enough of London. A nice peaceful cottage in the country, like that of his sister, Josie, seemed a better option right now.

He had a quick breakfast and, looking at his kitchen clock, decided that he would walk to the city and St. Ignatius convent. It was a lovely morning, and he would go along the route by the river and up into the city. He felt optimistic about the chances of gleaning some information on the whereabouts of Akiko. He showered and found some clean clothes, pocketed his mobile and opened the door. He stood at the top of the steps for a few moments, staring across the road for signs of more squatters. But all was quiet and still. Soon the rush-hour traffic would be in full flow, but now it was pleasant and cool.

Ezekiel Parsons, concealed behind the fence, watched Jamie set off at a cracking pace. Was lover boy intending to walk far? The long trek from the convent, after he had taken food to Akiko at dawn and she had rejected it, had depressed him. But needs must, and he followed at a suitably distant interval, waiting for an appropriate moment to grab him. But where on earth was the lad going? They were well on their way to the Thames embankment, now busy with people on their way to work. They soon came to Pimlico Gardens, and to Ezekiel’s astonishment, Jamie went in, and with his elbows propped up against the river wall, he gazed across the fast-flowing water. Already a number of people about. Ezekiel cursed. He waited for a few minutes, and then Jamie was off again.

The temptation was too much for Ezekiel. He dashed across to William Huskisson’s memorial, and to his huge relief, his hand touched a sealed envelope in the hollow. He hurried back to the path, relieved to see Jamie still sauntering along towards Westminster, and he continued to follow. His relief started to ebb when he realised the envelope contained only a small sheet of paper, with one sentence in Nakamasa’s handwriting. “Come home, my darling daughter,” Ezekiel read. He swore, crumpled up the message and flung it into a rubbish bin. “Same stupid old Nakky,” he muttered. He rushed on, determined not to lose sight of Jamie, although crowds were now streaming across the bridges.

*   *   *

T
HE EMBANKMENT ROAD WAS LOOKING ITS BEST.
T
HE SUN
glittered on the Thames, and all the historic buildings along its course seemed to have been cleaned up for the day. Throngs of tourists and office workers were beginning to collect in queues for the commuter boats, and Jamie’s spirits rose higher. He turned up away from the river, making for the city.

Finally, when Parsons saw that the convent was just around the corner, he realised Jamie had been doing some constructive thought. Then his quarry stopped outside the large, heavy doors, still shut against intruders, and looked around. Parsons halted in the shadows. This solution to all his problems must be a gift from God! His failure to nobble Meade somewhere out of sight of passersby was no longer important. Lover boy had walked right into a trap.

The smaller entrance door to the offices was ajar, and members of staff were arriving and chatting on the doorstep. Jamie hovered, then approached an attractive girl.

“Excuse me,” he said. “Was this once a convent? I’m an architectural student,” he explained. “Doing a project on the Victorian Gothic buildings of London.”

She stared at him. “That’s the best chat-up line I’ve heard for a long time,” she said, laughing, and then took pity on him as he coloured with embarrassment. “Yes, it was a convent years ago. Creepy old place in some parts. You should make an appointment to see Mr. Nakamasa. He’s the owner, and is very proud of the improvements he’s made. Must go now. Late already!” she said, and disappeared through the door.

Perfect, thought Ezekiel, who had overheard this conversation, and now approached Jamie. “Good morning,” he said. “I couldn’t help hearing what you said to our Marjorie. I work here for Mr. Nakamasa, and could show you round, if that’s what you would like? It is a most interesting old place. Have you noticed the Gothic turrets? Apparently the nuns used to say the pinnacles were like prayers, winging their way to Heaven.” Oh, you wicked man, he said to himself, and grinned. Perhaps God was really on his side this morning. Certainly things seemed to be going his way at last.

T
WENTY-
S
IX

“P
LEASE FOLLOW ME,” SAID
E
ZEKIEL
P
ARSONS, SELF-APPOINTED
tour guide, and he beckoned Jamie towards the great double gates. A small door cut in one of them was locked, but Parsons fished his bunch of keys from his pocket and they were soon inside the courtyard of the convent.

It was an attractive sight, full of flowers, with a central fountain playing, sparkling in the sunlight. “Mr. Nakamasa has taken a deal of trouble to maintain this place,” Ezekiel said proudly. “It makes a very good impression on important clients. He likes to show them around and tell them the history of the convent. The turrets are used as storerooms, except that one over there.” He pointed to Akiko’s prison. “We keep that to show visitors what it was like originally. Come along with me, please.”

This was much more useful than Jamie had hoped, and his eyes darted everywhere. He looked up to the second storey, and thought he saw a bulky figure staring down at them from a beautiful mullioned window. Their eyes met, and then the figure disappeared. Ezekiel had seen it, too, and knew it was Nakamasa. There was no possibility that he would know the visitor was Jamie Meade. His boss had some time ago made it clear he would not attend any concert where his daughter was playing with an Englishman.

Nevertheless, he did not want Nakamasa to see him entering Akiko’s turret. “Oh look!” he said, stopping suddenly in the middle of the courtyard. “Isn’t that one of those green parrots? They’ve invaded the whole of the south of England apparently. Noisy beggars, aren’t they?”

When he was sure it was safe, Ezekiel continued to the door of the corner turret. “Up we go,” he said brightly. When they reached the door of the cell, he turned the key and stood back. “You first, please. You must get the real authentic impact!”

Jamie took a step forward and opened the door slowly, then suddenly he was pushed from behind and the door closed with a bang. He heard the key turn in the lock and an unpleasant laugh from Parsons, who called softly, “See you later.” His voice faded as he retreated down the spiral stairs. There he waited until the coast was clear, and then sauntered casually out into the courtyard, locking the turret door behind him. A wrought-iron seat circled the fountain, and he sat down to think.

*   *   *

I
NSIDE THE HALF-LIGHT OF THE CELL-LIKE ROOM,
J
AMIE SAT ON
the narrow bed, his arms tightly around Akiko, who was sobbing and smiling at the same time. “I’m so pleased it’s you, Jamie!” she said, over and over again.

“Akiko, you poor little thing! I can’t see you very well, but you mustn’t cry! Are you ill?” said Jamie, still holding her in his arms. “How long have you been here? And what happened? There’s no window in this horrible place. No wonder that old nun did herself in! Oh God, I
knew
you must be in trouble somewhere.”

After a while, when she had calmed herself, they talked about what seemed to be their hopeless situation. Locked in a tower where nobody ever ventured, and with only Ezekiel Parsons to bring food and water, what could they do? And what did their captor intend to do?

“It is all due to Parsons. He is my father’s unpleasant assistant,” she replied. “He is responsible for everything. I have tried and tried to persuade my father to get rid of him, but the horrible man has some hold over Papa. Has had for years! He will not speak of it. Just changes the subject. But I think now if we can get out of here, we will have no trouble in seeing the last of Mr. Parsons! My father will be so angry that I fear for Parsons’s life.”

“When will he be coming back? Does he bring you food regularly?”

“Very early in the morning, and late at night, after dark. I do not eat it. He stole the key from my father’s office, but replaced it after having a new one cut for himself. He is trying to blackmail my father, I am sure of that. He has more or less said as much. But my father, though extremely rich, is not likely to give him any large amount of money, even if he believes that I am held prisoner, which I very much doubt. Papa is so obsessed with preventing me from going back to my career with you, he probably thinks I have run away and we are together! Parsons is quite stupid, and will not be able to conceal his identity as blackmailer for long. Sooner or later, I am sure there will be a violent scene, and . . .” She was in tears again, and Jamie silently squeezed her hand.

“Sounds like Parsons is not that stupid. He followed me from the flat, though I don’t think he could have expected I would come here. Must have had another plan. But he’s chosen a good hiding place. People who work here would be scared to see a ghostly nun! But what were you going to say, Akiko? What do you think will happen? Please don’t worry about us getting out of here. I shall think of a way, and very soon.”

“Jamie, if my father realises that Parsons is the blackmailer, one of them will end up, well, probably badly hurt or worse. Father always carries a beautiful little gun. It is a habit with him. And I have seen Parsons flashing a dreadful knife around, teasing the girls in the office. It is illegal, I know, but he is not worried. Everything about Parsons is illegal.”

“So he is your father’s right-hand man, right? And there is some reason why he cannot be given the push?”

Akiko nodded. “He has watched me for years, on my father’s instructions. Sometimes I know he is there, sometimes I don’t. But he is always around. And when Papa fell ill, Parsons persuaded me to go straight from the concert to Scotland to see him. It was Papa’s idea, and Parsons was, as he said at the time, doing my father’s bidding. The next move, I am sure, will be to take me by force away from England and back to Japan. Papa wishes me always to be close to him. I have tried many times to explain to him that much as I love him, I must live my own life.”

“And he does not accept that?”

Akiko did not answer, but hung her head.

“I see,” said Jamie, who was beginning to wish he had never heard of Nakamasa or Ezekiel Parsons. “Well, that is for you to deal with, Akiko dear. All I want at present is to stop playing games and get out of here and take you with me, so that we can decide what to do. If you must return to Japan, then that is that. We must cancel all our concert engagements, and I shall wish you well.”

T
WENTY-
S
EVEN

“A
RSENAL MATCH ON THE TELLY SHORTLY,” SAID
D
EREK.
“Are we all watching?”

“It’s a bit hot for football, I’d say.” Gran remembered the days when football was an autumn and winter game, and now the season started in the middle of summer.

“Forecast says rain later,” Lois said. “That should cool them down.”

“Rain?” scoffed Derek. “Did you see the sky today? Not a cloud in sight. But they’ll be playing, whatever.” He looked at Lois’s miserable face and added, “Why don’t you drop everything and watch with me?”

Lois had clearly been worrying about Jamie ever since she last spoke to him. She had tried once or twice to ring him, but he had not answered. She had threatened to go and catch the next train to London today, but Derek had persuaded her against. “He’s only been gone a day or two! He did warn you he was going to be out and about. For goodness sake, think of something else, like football,” he said.

Lois sighed. “I’m just worried that he might still be trying to find Akiko and has got into real trouble somewhere. I wish there was somebody we could ring, who might be able to check on him. A neighbour, maybe, or an old friend. But he’s never needed to give us contact numbers, what with mobile phones an’ that. And yes, why isn’t his mobile switched on?”

Derek squared his shoulders. “Now then, Lois, me duck,” said Derek, “I’ve changed my mind about those two. They’ve been thrown together, playing their music, but Jamie’s no fool. He’s not going to get serious about a girl who’s so determined to make a global career. It’d never work, and I suspect he knows it. He’s probably decided to forget all about her and get on with his life. Now, don’t snap my head off, Lois love, but I’ve got an idea.” Derek reached out and took Lois’s hand.

“It was you,” Lois replied accusingly, “who was originally so sure he was in love!”

“Well, as I said, I have changed my mind. Now, are you going to listen to my suggestion? Mrs. Tollervey-Jones—no, let me finish—she’s supposed to be some kind of assistant to you, isn’t she? Didn’t she have friends who lived around the corner from Jamie’s flat? Well, I’m sure they would pop round and see that he’s all right. Would that put your mind at rest? He probably won’t like it, but that’s a risk we have to take.”

“Quite right,” said Gran. “Might as well make use of the old trout, seeing as she’s so keen.”

Lois forbore to point out that Mrs. Tollervey-Jones was probably much the same age as Gran, but agreed that contacting the old trout was a good idea.

*   *   *

“E
VENING,
M
RS.
T
OLLERVEY-
J
ONES.
I
DO HOPE IT’S NOT TOO
late to have a word?” Lois had decided to walk down to Stone House, to see if Mrs. T-J was working in her garden. It was the most likely place to find her.

“Not too late for me, Lois dear,” came a voice from the vegetable patch. “Come in, my dear. My best thinking is done in the evening. So what can I do for you?”

“It’s rather difficult to explain,” Lois said. “You remember Akiko? The one who’s gone missing? Well, Jamie’s still in London and I can’t get hold of him. I am a bit worried, because of all the hoo-ha surrounding that cello theft, and I know that you’ve friends living just round the corner from Jamie’s flat.”

Mrs. T-J thought fast. Perhaps not a good idea to say she’d already contacted them. She had quite forgotten the rule about telling Lois
everything
.

“So you would like me to ask them to check?” she said. “Leave it to me. I’ll ring them first thing tomorrow, and then let you know. Try not to worry. I remember with my Robert, once he had left home and had a flat of his own, I might just as well not have existed! They remember us when we’re useful, in my experience.”

Lois did not agree with her for one minute, but said nothing except to thank her and her friends in advance. “Derek thinks I am making a fuss about nothing,” she said. “But—”

“I know exactly how it is, my dear. I will certainly do what I can and be in touch with you very soon. Ah!” the old lady added. “Is that the telephone in the house? Must dash. Expecting a call, you know.”

Lois had never seen Mrs. Tollervey-Jones move so fast. Must be an important call, she guessed, never dreaming that it might be from Jamie.

*   *   *

“D
OESN’T SOUND AS IF SHE’S THERE,”
J
AMIE SAID TO
A
KIKO.
H
E
was about to sign off when he heard a voice, puffing and panting, calling his name.

“Hello, Mrs. T-J,” he said. “Sorry about this, but try to cool down. No hurry, we’re not going anywhere. Akiko and I are locked in a gloomy, haunted cell, living on bread and water. I have just managed to retrieve my mobile from our captor’s pocket. If my mother mentions not having heard from me, tell her I called with a quick message about the cello. Say I’m terribly busy but will ring soon for a chat. And don’t mention imprisonment! I have a master plan, and we should be out of here very soon.”

“Are you making this up, Jamie Meade?” Mrs. T-J frowned. He sounded almost jaunty, and the whole message was ridiculously melodramatic. “Have you remembered what I said about being cautious and sensible? I think this must be a joke.”

“No joke,” said Jamie. “Must go. I don’t want to speak to mother at the moment. She has a genius for wheedling everything out of me. But reassure her, if she asks. Thanks very much indeed. Bye.”