Found Guilty at Five (16 page)

T
HIRTY-
T
WO

A
FTER LUNCH,
L
OIS ANNOUNCED THEY SHOULD RELAX AND
have a discussion with Jamie and Akiko about when they would return to London after a sensible interval. Jamie had cancelled a number of concerts when Akiko had gone missing, when there had been no clues to where she was or whether she would be able to return to performing with him. As a result, they had three weeks or so before they needed to be in Edinburgh for a concert in a small venue in the old town.

While they were out walking, Akiko had told him her father regarded her English accompanist as “the enemy.” She stammered as she revealed this, and Jamie took her hand reassuringly. “He is a very old man,” he replied, “and no doubt has his own grim memories of the last world war. When all the survivors have gone, perhaps time will tell whether the memories will stay alive or be slotted into history.”

They were approaching Stone House and as they passed, the front door was flung open and Mrs. Tollervey-Jones appeared, waving and smiling.

“Jamie! Akiko! You are back here safely! Do come in and tell me all about it. I’ve just made a pot of coffee. There’s plenty of time before lunch.”

Jamie hesitated. He was not sure about Akiko’s reaction. She could well not want to talk about her father or Ezekiel Parsons. But to his surprise she turned back and said they would be delighted, so he followed her into Mrs. T-J’s kitchen, where they sat around the table and exchanged pleasantries. A light breeze fanned them through the open kitchen door, and there was a tempting smell of real coffee brewing.

“Let’s stay in here,” Akiko said, refusing a suggestion that they retire to the drawing room. “I love your kitchen, Mrs. T-J,” she added. “It is so peaceful and reassuring.”

“You poor child, you must have had a very bad experience?” She patted Akiko’s hand and beamed at Jamie. “What adventures have you two been having since we last spoke?”

Jamie gave her a sketchy account of their abduction, thanked her for handling his message to his mother and sending Robert to help them and looked enquiringly at Akiko. She nodded, and took over the telling, haltingly at first, but then as she described the quarrel between her father and Parsons, the rest of the story came out in a rush.

“So how is your father now?”

“I have telephoned the hospital,” Akiko answered, “and he is making very good progress. In fact, they said he was demanding to be released! Of course, they are not allowing this.”

“But have you a plan what to do when he does come out of hospital?”

Jamie looked at the old lady, and could see from her expression that she was rapidly thinking ahead. Even so, he was surprised by her next words.

“No?” she said. “Then you must let me make a suggestion, Akiko. I have a large house here, with plenty of help and plenty of money to hire nursing assistance if required. I would like to offer a period of convalescence for your father, until he is well enough to make plans for himself. Do think about it, and let me know.”

Akiko smiled broadly, and said she did not need to think about it. She said that she had been quite prepared to take on the care of her father in some way. The Parsons man had almost certainly disappeared, and so Papa would need support. She would encourage her father to reorganise his life, once he was better, and then they could make a new start. She accepted Mrs. T-J’s offer straightaway, and added that in this way she would be able to stay with Jamie and his family in Farnden for longer, and know that her father was in the best possible hands.

“Of course,” she said, “he will want to repay your kindness. He too has plenty of money, Mrs. T-J.”

Good God, thought Jamie, stunned into silence. They’ll have the old boy proposing to Mrs. T-J in no time! Then money will be sloshing around all over the place!

But Mrs. Tollervey-Jones had not finished. “And now we have to think about finding that wicked man who imprisoned you. I presume it was a serious quarrel he had had with your father. Something to do with money, do you think? He clearly meant to leave him for dead, and could so easily have been wanted for murder by now. He will no doubt have gone into hiding somewhere, but our beloved Inspector Cowgill, ably assisted by your mother and myself, will surely be able to find him in no time. Then he will be severely punished, Akiko, for his wickedness. So is there anything else I should know?”

Akiko and Jamie exchanged a glance. Both knew that the subject of Parsons’s longtime hold over Nakamasa had not been mentioned. Akiko shook her head, and said quickly that there was nothing more to tell, and then they all relaxed and talked of happier times to come.

*   *   *

L
UNCH WAS ON THE TABLE BY THE TIME THEY RETURNED TO
Meade House, and Gran was in a fighting mood. “Don’t you two think of anybody but yourselves?” she said fiercely as they walked in. “Your mother’s been biting her nails worrying about where you’d got to. You must know we are all on tenterhooks not knowing what’s going to happen next.”

“Sorry Gran,” said Jamie. “But we’ll tell you what’s going to happen next, the minute you have dished up whatever it is that smells so good. Sit down, Akiko, and don’t look so alarmed. Gran’s like dog Jeems; her bark is much worse than her bite.”

After giving the details of their conversation with Mrs. T-J, and especially her amazing offer to turn her house into a convalescent home, they looked around for reactions.

Lois stood up, scraping her chair on the tiled floor. “Right! That’s it then,” she said. “Another session with the inspector, and then we make a plan to catch Thingy Parsons, or whatever his name is. Mind you,” she added more gently, “I think it would be best if Akiko and Jamie concentrate on getting back to working together and putting their music first. If they can.”

“And not forgetting my father,” Akiko said softly. “Without him, I am alone in the world. And I remember the good times, when he would come to visit me at grandmamma’s and play lovely games in the park with our dog.”

Jamie saw her tears and squeezed her hand. “And now he will be taken care of properly,” he said. “And don’t forget you’re not alone. You have me and my family around you.” Oh Lord, he said to himself as he saw Akiko’s loving look. Perhaps that was going a bit overboard.

Gran’s eyebrows shot up, and Lois blinked. “Um, yes, of course,” she said. “And your dad, too, when he gets back from work.”

*   *   *

A
FTER SHE HAD HAD TIME TO DIGEST THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT
and discuss all aspects of Akiko’s father staying in Farnden, Lois remembered about Dot’s possible new client. She had noted the number to call, and went into her office, telling Gran she would put in an hour’s work to make up for time lost this afternoon.

“Hello? Is that Mrs. Rowntree?” A firm voice answered that yes, it was, and she had been expecting a call from New Brooms.

“I usually like to come and see potential clients to talk about what you need from us, look around the house and so on. Would that be convenient? Tomorrow morning? Yes, thank you, Mrs. Rowntree, eleven o’clock would be fine. I understand you are moving to a smaller house in Waltonby, so there will be a number of things to discuss? See you tomorrow, then.”

Sounds a nice enough woman, thought Lois, as she settled down to orders for new equipment and supplies for the team. There would be a question of who took on the new job. Perhaps as Dot had found Mrs. Rowntree, she ought to be given first option? The other girls were more or less fully occupied, though possibly a little reshuffling might be a good idea. Floss and Paula, for instance, had been ages working with Mrs. T-J at Stone House, and at the hall before that. Lois made a note in her diary, and decided to leave the rest of her paperwork until tomorrow. She set off to have a shower and change, and steel herself for a conversation with Derek, filling him in with all that had been discussed this afternoon. She could imagine what he would say. No further involvement of the family. Hand over to Inspector Cowgill, and refuse any future part in ferretin’ of any kind. Concentrate on New Brooms business and friends and family, and take up singing in the choir or knitting.

“Lois! I’m home!” It was Derek, returning in time to hear the six o’clock news on the radio. She had not expected him until seven-ish, and now here he was, calling from downstairs, thwarting her plans for drowning herself in seductive perfumes before tackling him. Perhaps she was too weary for seduction anyway. And these days, after a hard day’s work, Derek fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow. Weekends were different, thank God, and today was Friday.

As it happened, Derek was in a very good mood, having just received a request to rewire the entire premises of Tresham football club. Not only was this a lucrative contract, but he would get to rub shoulders with his heroes.

“Very sensible,” he said, when he was told Mrs. T-J’s offer to receive Nakamasa into her house. “Akiko’s father may have been genuine in his strong feelings against the British, but all that was a long time ago,” he suggested. “Mind you, a couple of weeks staying with Mrs. T-J could make or break!”

“Papa is a fair-minded man, Mr. Meade,” Akiko said defensively. “Old-fashioned, of course, but not always too old to change his mind. His early days were not happy ones, and he has never wanted to talk about them.”

“We shall see, dear,” said Gran soothingly. “Now, if everybody’s ready, I’ll get a very tasty fish pie out of the oven and dish up. You do the vegetables, Lois, and Akiko can get us a jug of water for the table. Right?”

*   *   *

W
HEN THE MEAL WAS EATEN, AND THE DISHES STACKED,
D
EREK
asked Jamie if he fancied a pint to celebrate the football club contract? They could have a jar or two, and be back in time for the news on television.

Jamie looked at Akiko, and said perhaps she might like to come with them? She shook her head, and said she would have an early night. She had not slept much since those awful days in London.

“Of course,” said Gran, never one to mind her own business. “Very good idea. I’ll do you a hot water bottle and you can curl up safely in bed.”

As they all prepared to leave the kitchen, Lois said, “Oh, and by the way, it looks like we’re getting a new client for New Brooms. Mrs. Rowntree, who lives in Waltonby, is moving to a smaller house in the village, and wants us to help with the move, and then continue cleaning for her. I’m going over to see her tomorrow.”

“Good-o,” said Derek. “Well done, me duck. So it’s good news all round.”

“Well, yes, until the next thing,” said Lois.

“Did you say Waltonby?” Akiko said, growing pale. “Isn’t that where there is a charitable community?” She had once overheard Parsons talking to her father about his wayward youth, and she was sure he had mentioned a community in a village named Waltonby. He had been trying to persuade Papa to make a donation to help them in their charitable work in providing succour to the needy.

“That’s right,” said Derek. “Barmy lot. Religious nutters, the lot of ’em. Harmless, though, so far as anyone knows. So come on, Jamie, let’s be going. Back soon, girls. Behave yourselves.”

“If you ask me,” said Gran, “our Derek has been celebrating his new job even before he came home, bless him.”

T
HIRTY-
T
HREE

H
ALF ASLEEP ON THE SOFA,
A
KIKO AND
J
AMIE HAD TALKED
in fits and starts about Parsons and the part he had played in her life. Akiko had described how she had felt, knowing that for most of the time she was away from her father, Parsons would be monitoring her, sometimes visible, sometimes lurking in the shadows.

The mention of Waltonby had reminded her of the community where Parsons had found refuge. She had overheard him more than once telling her father that he had been very young when he first discovered it, and it had saved his life. Always a rebel, he had found a home there, and compared with what he had experienced in an orphanage, it was a good one.

“Later he discovered the truth about the Last Resorters,” she had told Jamie. “There were stern rules in the community and restrictions on movement in and out of the premises. But he boasted to Papa that he had turned the tables on the manager and made his own rules.”

Now, Akiko had gone to bed early, and Jamie and his mother were in the sitting room, talking quietly. Gran had also retired, and their only companion was Derek, now comfortably propped up with cushions, fast asleep.

Jamie had brought Lois up to date on Akiko’s memories of Parsons, and now he said, “We need to set a trap. It is quite likely that he’ll turn up at the Last Resort community, judging by what she said.”

“You don’t mean a trap involving Akiko? That would be cruel, Jamie. That poor girl has gone through enough!”

“Yeah, you’re right, Mum, but I know she will want to help. She looks frail, but she is really very tough. Has had to be, I reckon.”

“Do you feel you know her really well, love? She doesn’t give much away to anybody else, does she?”

“Funny question, Mum! Of course I know her really well. You don’t rehearse and practise most days together with someone without knowing them well. And she is getting better about talking to people.”

“So you believe everything—no, let me start again—so, you believe she is telling you the
whole
truth? I don’t mean to be unkind, but it is possible to select the bits of truth you want to tell, and conceal other bits.”

Jamie was quiet for a few minutes, then he said, “I see what you’re getting at. Just how much does she know about Parsons blackmailing her father? And you’re right. I’m not sure. She knows it’s there, lasting many years, but I am not certain she knows what it is. No doubt, like the rest of us, she wonders if it was to do with the last war. She probably doesn’t
want
to know.”

“Perhaps we shall get to know a little more if Nakamasa comes to Stone House. Mrs. T-J will have the whole story out of him in no time!”

“Not so sure about that, Mum. It’s true that I haven’t heard much about him, except that he’s a very successful businessman, is the only relative Akiko has and is obsessed with her, to the point of being a control freak. I don’t think she’s seen him regularly recently. But he always kept a close eye on her, usually with the aid of Ezekiel Parsons, as when she was abducted and taken to Scotland.”

“Ezekiel? Blimey, where’d he get a name like that?”

“Dunno. Orphan, an’ all that. Anyway, there was a big gap when Akiko and her father didn’t see each other often. That was between her starting school and going to music college, but Parsons was always around. Akiko has not seen her father since we were shut up. He stayed in the car when they tried to find us after we’d escaped. He’s in his eighties, you know, but pretty spry up to now. I suppose he’ll have to take it easy after a heart attack?”

“Yes, well, it is not for me to say. We’ll leave that to our Gran! But if you could get Akiko to talk to you about things, mostly her recent past, I reckon that would help us a lot. You must understand, Jamie, that your dad and me have been very worried about you both, but specially about you. Precious son and second in line, et cetera, et cetera.”

“Cor!” said Jamie. “How much do I stand to inherit?”

“Be serious,” said Lois. “I should probably hand over what we know to Hunter Cowgill, and leave it there. That’s what your dad would like. But I know you’re fond of Akiko, and so I shall do my best to help sort out Mr. Parsons and get you both out of danger. If the cello turns up, so much the better. But I do not intend to waste any more time on that. It doesn’t have anything to do with Akiko and her dad. I’ll make an appointment to see Cowgill in the morning.”

“And Mrs. T-J?” said Jamie. “She’s a clever old duck. It’d be good to have her along, especially as she might have Nakamasa as a lodger some time soon.”

“Silly old trout,” said a sleepy voice from the other end of the sofa.

“Ah,” said Lois. “Thank you so much for your helpful contribution, Mr. Meade. Perhaps you’d like to escort me up to bed?”

Derek leapt to his feet, wide-awake, ready and willing. “You bet,” he said, and he lifted her bodily in his arms. He got as far as the stairs, before puffing and blowing and setting her down.

“Well done, Dad,” said Jamie. “Now for God’s sake, go to bed. And don’t worry, I’ll lock up.”

*   *   *

N
EXT MORNING, BEFORE BREAKFAST,
L
OIS PHONED
C
OWGILL ON
his private line. “Of course, my dear,” he said. “What time do you want to come?”

“About half nine,” she said. “I’m seeing a new client at eleven, so that should give us time. Jamie has suggested a plan of action, and I want to try it out on you.”

“Good. I shall look forward to half past nine, then. Bye.”

Lois raised her eyebrows. It was unlike Cowgill, not to have some silly affectionate words for her? Perhaps he was cooling off at last. His assistant, Chris, was certainly a very attractive girl . . .

She had a quick breakfast, took Jeems for a run around the playing field, and then set off for Tresham police station. “He’s expecting you, Mrs. Meade,” said the officer in reception. “You know the way. I’ll ring through and tell him you’re here.” He winked at her, and she felt like telling him to mind his own business. But this time he reminded her of Jamie, and so she just smiled and set off up the stone stairs.

“Coffee, Mrs. Meade?” Chris stood at the door. “Please come in. The inspector will be back in a minute. He’s just gone along to leave a message with one of the team.”

Lois frowned. “I haven’t got much time, so I hope he won’t keep me waiting,” she said. Was she imagining a certain coolness in the air? Ah, well, she was here on business, and if that was the way Cowgill wanted to play it, so be it.

He was back in the office with her in two minutes. “Morning, Lois,” he said gravely. “You’ve got a coffee? Good. Now let’s hear Jamie’s plan.”

Lois stared at him. “What’s up? Is something wrong?”

“Um, well, not too wrong, we hope.”

“What the hell is it, then?
Not Matthew?
”

Cowgill nodded. “I’ll tell you all I know at present. It seems there was some sort of a fracas over at Waltonby last night. Just after midnight. At that community place. We do get some bad feedback occasionally from over there, but nothing we can ever pin down or act on. Anyway, last night we got a call from a neighbour, complaining that two men were shouting obscenities at each other in the trees surrounding the place, but loud enough to disturb the nearby residents. Matthew was on duty, and he went out to have a look, taking another officer with him.”

“So what happened? Get to the point,
please
.”

“It seems Matthew got slightly hurt. When they went in to investigate, Grundy denied everything, as usual. Said they’d had no trouble, and had heard nobody shouting, or causing an affray.”

“So how did Matthew get hurt?”

“As they were leaving, walking down the unlit driveway, they saw a shadow moving in the woods surrounding the place. Matthew went in to take a look, and fell over a fallen tree, just grazing his arm and spraining his ankle badly. A nasty sprain, it turned out to be. They both chased after the shadow, Matthew limping, of course, and so lost him.”

“So, does Josie—?”

“Of course. We took him to the hospital, and they dressed his arm and treated his ankle. Then we took him home. He’ll be hobbling for a bit, but knowing our Matthew he’ll not take too much notice of it! I was going to ring you, Lois, but thought it would be best if Josie told you first. Anyway, that’s why we’re a bit dull here this morning.”

“And two great policemen couldn’t catch a lone shadow in the woods? Oh my God, Cowgill, this beats everything.”

“Matthew’s fellow officer was concerned primarily with making sure Matthew was all right,” he replied sternly. “Whoever it was knew the territory, and disappeared in seconds. Nothing to follow up, of course. But the past history of that place is tricky. Visitors are not encouraged.”

“Except the police, of course?”

“Oh yes, those in charge of the place are not stupid. They apologised. Said they would look into it. They are polite and helpful. On the surface, anyway. Very strange atmosphere there, Lois. I advise you to keep well away.”

“Oh dear. Perhaps I should go back straightaway and check that Josie is okay? Why on earth hasn’t she told me herself?”

“Didn’t want to worry you, I expect. Matthew was a bit shamefaced about the whole thing. They should be coping on their own now, my dear. He will have warned her that such things happen. Leave them be. That is my advice.”

Lois sighed. He was probably right. “So I’d better tell you about Jamie’s plan, though I don’t feel much like it.”

“Best to tell me. Matthew is safe and well, so I should put it out of your mind for now.” He walked across the room to where she was still standing. “Look at me, Lois,” he said. “Do you trust me?”

She nodded mutely.

“I shall never let you down, my dear,” he said, and bending forward, he kissed her gently on the cheek. “Come on now, sit down and let’s talk.”

Her cheeks flushed and, finding it hard to breathe, Lois dutifully sat down and gulped down a mouthful of hot coffee. She choked, and Cowgill silently handed her his big pocket handkerchief. Then he smiled broadly, and said he was eager to hear anything she had to say, including Jamie’s plan. She managed a laugh, and began to talk.

“Yes, well, you see, we all decided that now the Parsons man, who seems to be the villain in all of this, may well think Akiko’s father is dead, and so won’t have anyone to blackmail. On the other hand, he may discover that he is alive, and plot another way of getting at him. Through Akiko, if necessary. He’s bound to find out sooner or later that Nakamasa
is
alive and in the care of our old toughie, Mrs. Tollervey-Jones. So with father and daughter both in Farnden, Parsons is bound to show up. That’s what we think, anyway.”

“And the plan?”

“A trap. That’s what Jamie is suggesting. Once Nakamasa is settled into Stone House, we should all be on the lookout for signs of Parsons. He is fairly recognisable. Scruffy and furtive-looking. Then, and here’s the difficult bit, we bait the trap. And the bait will be Akiko. Says Jamie.”

Cowgill was quiet for a minute or so, and then he said, “Do you remember that night of the concert at the Wilmore Hall? When I hid in a cupboard?”

“And saw Akiko talk desperately to a man standing in the darkness under the stairs? Yep, I remember that. And that is the reason why I have asked Jamie to do what he can to encourage Akiko to talk more about herself in the recent past. She has already told him that the man you saw was Ezekiel Parsons, and that he was the one who more or less forced her to go with him to Scotland. And that him and Nakamasa stopped her from getting in touch with Jamie.”

“Mm. So, the plan?”

“Is something wrong?”

“No, no. Please carry on.”

“Anyway, we decided Parsons will be around here. If you don’t get him first, of course.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Lois.”

“I have no idea why it should have been him shouting the odds in the middle of the night in Waltonby,” she continued, “but it looks likely. Nasty piece of work, according to Akiko.”

“And the trap?”

“Patience is a virtue, Hunter,” Lois said. “I’m getting there. We wait for him to make an approach to Akiko on her own, when he might even make another attempt at abduction. And then we nab him. After all, if he’s still thinking Nakamasa’s dead, she will be a rich woman. Have I got it right?”

“Right. And it is about the most dangerous, amateurish plan I have had the misfortune of hearing. I can’t forbid it. But then, yes, I can. Presumably you want the entire police force of the county to lie in wait for Parsons, should he appear, and should he approach Akiko, and should she be willing to do it. No, Lois, no! But I know that forbidding Lois Meade to do anything is as good as giving her carte blanche, so I’ll just say this. When we have carried out more investigations into the whereabouts of Parsons, which shouldn’t take long, I’ll let you know if we need your help. In the meantime, I repeat my insistence on being told the minute any of you spot him. And he is not to be approached. Right?”

“I suppose so,” said Lois.