Found Guilty at Five (14 page)

T
WENTY-
E
IGHT

R
OBERT
T
OLLERVEY-
J
ONES DROVE INTO
L
ONG
F
ARNDEN
feeling decidedly resentful. Thanks to both his mother and wife, he had been manoeuvred into leaving all the things he had planned to do with his evening, in order to spend half of it in a car.

Mrs. Tollervey-Jones had telephoned him to ask for help, refused to say what it was about, and announced her intention of coming up to London again. Felicity had said he must not allow it. “Go down there,” she had said. “Today, if possible. She sounded very worried, and she
is
an old lady, darling.”

Ever obedient to his wife’s wishes, Robert told his mother he would be with her by late suppertime. As he made his way down the familiar High Street, he passed the shop where, as a boy, he used to buy sweets. He sighed. He had thought that once his mother had left the hall and was settled in Stone House, she would relax into a contented retirement. He should have known otherwise.

He cruised into the drive, and switched off the engine. It was all Lois Meade’s fault, he thought. Her rash involvement in solving local crimes had landed his mother in this latest muddle. Perhaps he should have a word with her? He could suggest she would do better to concentrate on her cleaning business and leave his mother to a quiet retirement. Some chance, he thought, as he saw Mrs. T-J rounding the corner of the house at speed.

“Ah, there you are, Robert. Don’t sit there brooding on the misfortune of having a troublesome mother. Out you get. Supper is ready.”

As they tucked in, Robert heard the whole story. As far as he could make out, two people and a cello had disappeared, and his mother had had a message from one of them saying they were incarcerated in a prison cell. Without the cello.

“Sounds like a bad dream,” he said, helping himself to another glass of red wine. “If I didn’t know better, I would worry that Alzheimer’s had taken hold of my beloved mother. No, Mother, no! I don’t mean you
have
got it, just that it sounds like that. More than likely your associate in Long Farnden has an over-fertile imagination. There is probably some quite simple explanation. Jamie Meade and Akiko have gone secretly up to Gretna Green and got married. Very likely they had too much celebratory champagne and thought it a hoot to play a trick on you. As for the cello, it will turn up, I’m sure. She should have taken greater care of it, if it was a valuable old one. A cellist on the radio was saying he always books an extra plane seat for his instrument. Never lets it out of his sight. Dates back to sixteen ninety something. Made by a man named Kapper, or some such.”

“Very interesting,” said his mother. “And more or less what I expected you to say. But it is possible that both are in danger, and I have promised Mrs. Meade I would do something. That something was to have been a call to our friends, the Oakes, to see if they could check Jamie’s flat. But I’ve spoken to them already and don’t want to be a nuisance.” She did not add that so far she had not told her boss. It was not that she had actually forgotten about Lois’s rule, but she wanted to choose the right moment. She had almost convinced herself that this was true, but not quite.

“I suppose there is no point in asking you whether you or the tiresome Lois Meade has been to the police about all of this?” Robert felt a little more cheery after the wine.

“Lois is constantly in touch with her friend, Inspector Cowgill. He values her participation very highly.”

“Mm. I wonder how highly he would rate her if she was old and ugly?”

“Neither here nor there,” snapped his mother. “I am beginning to wonder if it was a waste of time asking for your help.”

“Sorry, Ma. Now listen. I have a sensible suggestion to make. You give me Jamie’s address, and I will shoot back up there and knock on his door. I shall have to think of a convincing reason for appearing at midnight. But when he answers, I shall ask him to contact his mother at once and set her mind at rest. Will that do?”

“No, it will not. I don’t believe he is there. And anyway, I could have asked you to do that without your coming all this way, nice as it is to see you,” Mrs. Tollervey-Jones replied. “I had been intending to ask for your help in finding disused or converted nunneries, or places where there are small cells with no light.”

“Prisons? Police stations?” suggested Robert, with the ghost of a smile. “London is a big place. I think the needle in the haystack would apply. But,” he added quickly, seeing his mother’s expression, “I will certainly do my best. I’ll report back in a day or two. Now, will you promise me you won’t do anything more yourself? I don’t want to fish you out of the Thames, strangled with a cello string.”

“Robert! This is no joke! Now, if you’ve finished, I’ll make some coffee.”

*   *   *

I
N THEIR BARE CELL,
A
KIKO AND
J
AMIE SAT HUDDLED TOGETHER
on the tiny, hard bed. It was evening, and they had had nothing to eat but sandwiches curling at the edges, and water to drink. Jamie, for one, was hungry for some real food. Ezekiel Parsons had brought them this minimal sustenance, and had dumped it on the floor of the cell without speaking. During his last appearance, Jamie, with commendable stealth, had managed to lift his mobile from Ezekiel’s jacket pocket before he left again, mumbling that he’d forgotten to refill the water jug and would be back soon.

Jamie had just had time to make the call to Mrs. T-J before Parsons surprised them by returning almost immediately. He seemed distracted, left them a jug of clean water and disappeared again. Jamie held his breath, and listened. He was almost certain that Parsons had forgotten to lock the door behind him.

Akiko began to speak, and Jamie hushed her. “Listen!” he said. They heard loud voices raised in anger, followed by banging doors and a revving car engine. Then an uncanny silence.

“Something’s happened!” Akiko said, grabbing Jamie’s arm. “Those voices were my father’s and Parsons’s, and they were having a terrible argument. You remember what I said about the gun and the knife? I am frightened, Jamie, really frightened. We must get out of here!”

“No problem,” said Jamie, and opened the door.

They fled, Akiko leading the way. “We must go to my father’s office,” she said, “to find the key to the side door. It is late now, and we have to risk meeting one or other of them. We will see if the Bentley has gone. If it has, both will be gone. Papa does not drive. We need a key to get out, and I know exactly where it is hanging.”

Jamie was reluctant to go through the offices, but they would need a key, so Akiko said, and he had no alternative but to trust her. There was no turning back now, and he duly followed her along the convent passages. They met no one, and the Bentley was not in its usual place.

“Quick!” Jamie said. “They’ve gone off somewhere. Must have made up the quarrel. Don’t be frightened, Akiko, we are out now, and can go straight to my flat.”

They found the side door, and had no trouble opening it. Then they were stumbling into a quiet, dark alley down the side of the convent, and Jamie realised that Akiko was shaking from head to foot. “I am frightened for Papa,” she said, beginning to sob. “What has Parsons done with him?”

“Or what has he done with Parsons,” Jamie replied grimly. “Come on, we’ll get a cab. Give me your hand now, and hold on. You’ll be safe with me.”

T
WENTY-
N
INE

A
S
J
AMIE PAID THE TAXI DRIVER, HE HEARD SOMEBODY CALL
his name from the top of the block steps. It was his neighbour, and he rushed up to apologise for waking her at this time of night.

“I’ve already been woken up by your friends calling a short while ago,” she said.

“Friends?” said Jamie, his heart sinking. “What did they look like?”

“Only one got out of a big car. He came and knocked, until I got out and swore at him! He said he needed to find you urgently. I said you’d gone away for six months and wouldn’t be back until after that. Sorry, Jamie, but I really was outraged at his behaviour! Very impolite, to put it mildly.”

“So what did he do?”

“Got back into the car and drove off with squealing tyres, like some film gangster.”

“I’m so sorry. It must have been a practical joke. I don’t believe any of my friends would be so barbaric. Off you go, back to bed now. We’ll talk more in the morning. Good night, and sorry again!”

*   *   *

“D
ID YOU SEE
E
Z’S KNIFE WHEN WE WERE IN THE TURRET?”
Akiko was stretched out on Jamie’s sofa, a pillow behind her head and a mug of cold camomile tea by her side. He had told her about their so-called friends disturbing the sick lady on the ground floor, and she had agreed that it was almost certainly Parsons and her father. Her father would have insisted, she said. It was a lucky thing that they’d gone before the taxi arrived, they both agreed.

“What knife? Do you mean Parsons?” Jamie sat beside her on his one comfortable chair. As soon as they had settled in, he had insisted that Akiko should try to rest. She had drifted off quite soon, and was still half asleep. Jamie looked at his watch. This was the first thing Akiko had said for three hours. She had whimpered in her sleep, and twice he had caught her when she suddenly jerked towards the edge of the sofa in what seemed to be fright. Now it was completely dark, and he desperately needed some sleep himself. But he was reluctant to leave her, and decided to make a quick coffee.

Her question was an odd one. Of course, it could be the continuation of a dream, or, more likely, a nightmare. “You told me he had a knife, but I didn’t see it,” he said gently.

“It was in his pocket. Didn’t you see it when you got your mobile back?”

Jamie was not sure how to proceed. It was likely that she was still worried for the safety of her father, but he did not want to alarm her if she was half in a dream. His dilemma was resolved by a knock at the door.

“Jamie! I must hide,” she said, suddenly awake now. “Please wait a moment, and I will go into your bedroom and hide in a cupboard.”

“Relax, Akiko,” he said. “It’s probably some mistake. It’s very late.”

He went out into his hall and shouted through the locked door. “Who’s there?”

“Robert Tollervey-Jones. You know my mother. Apologies for calling so late. I had trouble getting past your guard dog!”

Jamie sighed and opened the door. “Come in, please. It is not exactly a convenient time, and that poor lady has been pestered by others looking for us. But how can I help you?”

Robert entered and was led into the small sitting room. It was empty now, but there were telltale signs of a second occupant. The chair drawn up to the sofa, the pillow, with one dark hair left behind, the mug full of cold camomile tea.

“Where is Akiko?” he said.

“Safe,” said Jamie shortly. “What is it you want? Did my mother send you?”

Robert shook his head. “No,
my
mother sent me. Where would we be without mothers?”

His tone was so heartfelt that Jamie smiled briefly. “She wants to know where we’ve been, I expect,” he said. “Well, I can’t tell you at the moment. Perhaps you would kindly report back that we are both safe and well? I really do appreciate all the trouble you’ve taken, and your mother’s concern for us. I probably shouldn’t have sent that message to her. I’m not thinking too straight at the moment, but as soon as I’ve had some sleep, we shall be off to Farnden. We can tell your mother—and my mother—the whole story then.”

“Don’t worry, old chap. Is there anything I can do for you now? Or later? Just let me know. Here’s my card. Get some rest, if you can. Oh yes, and one thing you can do for me. Could you possibly ask
your
mother to dismiss
my
mother from her new job? What does she call it? Ferretin’, that’s it. Good night, then.”

*   *   *

N
EXT MORNING,
J
AMIE WOKE
A
KIKO EARLY.
S
HE HAD ELECTED
to continue sleeping on the sofa, saying that her upbringing would not allow her to occupy a man’s bed. Jamie was tempted to say that any bloke feeling as deeply tired as he did could guarantee that her moral code would not be compromised. But he had finally given way to her insistence that she would have the sofa and he his own bed, where he had slept the sleep of the innocent.

Now he made a quick cup of tea, and toasted a couple of pieces of bread. “More later,” he said. “We must get away from here as soon as possible.”

“Where are we going?”

“Down to Long Farnden, to my mother’s house.”

She sat up, frowning. “But surely, Jamie, that is the first place they will look for us?”

“I presume you mean Parsons and your father? It is by no means certain that they will be together now, or will even continue trying to find us. We don’t know where they’ve gone, or why, nor do we know if your father had discovered we were in the turret. If they do turn up in Farnden, I shall be ready for them. And so will Inspector Cowgill and his men. I mean to tell them the whole story as soon as we reach home. I daresay Mother has had them combing the countryside for us already. Now, please hurry, and we’ll be off. We’ll take the train, and then a bus from Tresham to Farnden.”

“Shouldn’t we tell your mother we are coming?”

“No, I don’t think so. It’ll send her into a spin, rushing around. Think of poor old Dad! If we just turn up, then we can explain at leisure. Now, be as quick as you can.”

“Please may I borrow a toothbrush? Then I am ready.”

Jamie frowned. “Sharing a toothbrush is even more of a commitment than sharing a bed. Did you know that?”

“I know that you are laughing at me. Please turn away, and I shall tidy myself.”

*   *   *

“G
UESS WHO
I
’VE JUST SEEN, GETTING OFF THE BUS,” SAID
J
OSIE.
“At least, I think it was them.” There were no customers, and she had been gazing out of the shop window, thinking about ordering more stock.

“Not—?”

“Yep,” Josie said, “Jamie and Akiko. Looked like they were heading your way.”

“Oh, good heavens! Are you sure? You’re not kidding me?”

“I wouldn’t be so cruel, Mum. They’ll be there in a couple of minutes, so better compose yourself. And don’t fire questions at them straightaway.”

“As if I would!” Lois rang off, and rushed into the kitchen with the news.

Gran took off her apron and filled the kettle. “They’ll be thirsty,” she said, as if they were just coming home from school. “Now, Lois, clear those dirty dishes off the table. We don’t want Akiko to think we’re slovenly, do we?”

They fell silent, listening for the gate to click open. When it did, Lois could wait no longer, and rushed out of the back door and into the drive. She held out her arms and embraced Jamie, and then, on a sudden impulse, she approached Akiko and gave her a gentle hug.

“Welcome, both of you,” she said. “Come on in, and no, I’m not going to ask you a single question until you are ready. Have you told Cowgill you’re here? Please, Akiko, make yourself at home. Gran is longing to start cooking a huge breakfast for us all.”

*   *   *

“L
OVELY MORNING, DARLING,” SAID
G
EOFF
N
ORRINGTON, AS HE
looked out of the bedroom window. The hall park was at its best, with the sun lighting up the spreading chestnut trees. Rare breed sheep, newly acquired, grazed calmly, and Geoff felt the satisfaction of a man who is monarch of all he surveys.

“Busy day?” said Melanie. “Are you going into the office?”

“Afraid so,” he said. “The usual mound of paperwork, I expect. The pundits all say paper is a thing of the past. The internet has made it slow and unnecessary. But if you ask me, there is just as much junk paper as before, if not more.”

“Ah, well, I hope we shall get some replies to the gamekeeper ad. I’m sure we will. After all, it’s a nice, healthy job, and could be more or less what you make of it. Am I right?”

Geoff nodded. Then he stiffened, and peered more closely out of the open window. “Hey, there’s a strange man coming down the long drive. But no, he isn’t strange. I’d know that jaunty stride anywhere. You won’t need to bother about your ad, Melanie. Our gamekeeper is back.”

“But you won’t take him on again, will you? I mean, what about the burglary?”

“No proof that it was Foster. There was nothing missing, although it was such a mess. Now, don’t worry. I’ll give him a stern talking-to, and warn him if he doesn’t pull up his socks, he won’t get another chance.”