Found Guilty at Five (23 page)

F
ORTY-
N
INE

I
N
S
OLOMON
G
RUNDY’S OFFICE,
D
IANA STOOD DEFIANTLY
clutching her packed bags and refusing to sit down as told.

“I’m off now,” she said. “Tell me how much I owe you, and I’ll settle up. Then there’ll be no need for me to come back.”

Solomon smiled. “Why the hurry, my dear?” he said. “I hate to think you have been so unhappy here that you cannot bear to stay at least an hour or so to have a farewell lunch with us. Please put down your bags.”

Diana shook her head. “No, thanks,” she said, and continued, “and if you haven’t got my bill ready, I’ll let you have an address where you can send it. I think you can trust me to settle up.”

“Trust?” said Solomon. “I’m not so sure about that. I thought you would be trustworthy enough to consult me before you took a valuable musical instrument and gave it to a total stranger.”

“How do you know it was me?” she replied shortly.

“You were seen. It is my job to make sure nobody leaves here without being monitored. For their own safety, of course. Anyway, no harm done. Perhaps you will tell me now where it has gone, and I can retrieve it.”

“It is in the safe hands of a professional cellist. I am perfectly willing to stand surety for her.”

“But it is a commission, and now it is almost finished, it must be delivered soon to my client. Name, please, and address.”

“I don’t believe your client would mind if this person borrowed it for a few days. She is a well-known concert performer, but likes to keep her private life private.” Diana knew she was being unreasonable, but was suddenly fearful of this man, and had no intention of putting Akiko Nakamasa in danger. Danger? Did she really think he was dangerous? Maybe not, but she was unwilling to risk it.

Saying that she was sorry and could see his problem, she said she would go right now and retrieve it for him. She turned and made for the door. But when she tried to open it, she found it would not open.

“Oh, for God’s sake!” she shouted, suddenly afraid. “Cut the dramatics! Let me out at once!”

Solomon Grundy merely smiled. “Don’t worry, my dear. I have a messenger on hand who will fetch the cello for me,” he said. “Name and address?”

*   *   *

G
RAN LOOKED UP FROM THE
R
AYBURN AS
L
OIS WALKED INTO
the kitchen. “I don’t know what’s happened to your latest lame duck, Lois,” she said. “Didn’t she say she would be back for lunch?”

Derek was sitting at the table reading the sports pages. “I don’t know about you, gel,” he said. “I’m due to see old Bill in Tresham this afternoon. Promised him a couple o’ rabbits. We’d better start very soon. You can always keep a plate hot on the stove, can’t you?”

Lois frowned. She had had a brief word with Cowgill, and was aware that a police car had cruised through the village already. “But what can have happened to her?” she said. “I know she intended to spend no more than half an hour signing off at that place.”

“Can I make a suggestion?” Jamie had been sitting quietly in the corner with Jeems sleeping sweetly on his lap.

“Go on, then,” said Gran impatiently. “I know what
I’m
doing this afternoon. I’m going round to Nancy’s for a nice quiet cup of tea and a gossip.” She made a great production of turning down the Rayburn and moving the joint of beef to the warming oven.

“Why don’t we eat now,” Jamie suggested, “and then drive over to Waltonby this afternoon. It would take Akiko’s mind off seeing Parsons this morning. We could take Jeems round the cricket pitch and across the field. There’s a footpath there, and it backs on to Last Resort House.”

“You’re not suggesting storming the place if Diana has not come back, I hope?” Derek looked at his watch. “But anyway, I agree that we should eat.”

“What has happened to Diana?” Akiko had come into the kitchen as Derek was speaking, and looked around, puzzled at their solemn faces.

“Nothing, probably,” said Jamie. “Come and sit down. We are about to eat. Then after lunch we are going over to Waltonby, taking Jeems for a walk.”

But Akiko’s face fell. She said that she had really had enough walking with Jeems for one day, and would it be all right if she stayed behind and practised her cello. “And maybe have a little nap?” she added. “I will lock up everything and be quite safe.”

*   *   *

B
ACK IN THE SPINNEY, HIS WORLDLY GOODS ON HIS BACK LIKE A
snail, Ezekiel had decided to keep on the move until dark. He had weighed instant flight in daylight against the safer cover of night and decided on the latter. Nakky would have the village crawling with policemen by now. A good thing he had had plenty of practice in dodging from place to place out of sight.

A cough caused him to freeze. Then he heard footsteps crackling through the underbrush. He vanished, but only a few yards away, waiting to locate the steps’ direction. A voice suddenly said his name, sharply and with authority. His heart sank. Grundy! Should he run, or might his old adversary be prepared to help?

“Ah, I thought so,” said Grundy, appearing with a satisfied smile. “Now, among other things, we have to talk about a certain valuable cello. It has gone from Bert’s bench, and you are responsible for it. Get it back. I could send the Diana girl, but don’t trust her. I don’t have to trust you. You know what’s good for you, Ez. I shall need to have it back in my office within the next two hours, or sooner. I have a buyer, and like me, he does not suffer fools gladly. Oh, and keep your eyes open for cops. We’ve already had one visitor looking for you.”

*   *   *

L
OIS CLIMBED INTO THE
N
EW
B
ROOMS VAN, WITH
J
EMIMA
sitting neatly by her side. She set off for Waltonby in silence, until she turned a corner and in front of them could see the tall chimneys of Last Resort House.

“D’you think Diana’s still in there?” Lois looked at the little dog. “If only you could talk,” she said. It was a pity Jamie had decided to stay with Akiko. She could have done with some company in the van, but he was probably right. At this late stage it would be disastrous if Parsons was still on the run and something dreadful happened.

She passed the tall iron gates to Resort House, but could see nothing but massive trees and high fences. The footpath ran behind the property and was not part of it. Lois parked, and released Jemima. They set off along the path, and Lois looked up at the darkening sky. “Better not be too long, Jemima,” she said. “Looks like rain.”

*   *   *

A
FTER AN HOUR OR SO TRYING TO SLEEP,
A
KIKO GOT UP AND
went downstairs. Jamie had insisted on staying behind with her, and she found him dozing in the sitting room. Poor Jamie. She had brought him nothing but trouble, but one day she would make it up to him. “Jamie,” she said softly, and kissed his cheek.

He woke with a start. “Something wrong?” he said quickly.

She shook her head. “No, nothing. I just cannot sleep. Shall we set out and meet your mother coming back from Waltonby? The walk would do us both good, I think.”

Jamie was not sure. He felt safer in the house. But he saw Akiko’s pale face, and reluctantly agreed. Akiko’s shoes were not really suitable for a long walk, and all the Meade boots were too big for her. Still, the road was well made, and in the absence of pavements, she walked close to the edge, jumping on to the verge when heavy farm traffic passed them.

About a mile along the way, a car pulled up behind them. Then a familiar voice called out, and they looked round.

“Akiko! Jamie! Where are you going? Can I give you a lift?” It was Mrs. Tollervey-Jones, smiling broadly and coming up to be level with them.

“Oh, good afternoon,” said Akiko. “How is my father? I must come down and see him a little later.”

“I left him having a post-lunch nap. Locked up safely, of course! I’m going for eggs from the Resort lot.”

“If you are going to Waltonby, I should be very glad of a lift,” Akiko said. “My feet are hurting a little. It would be nice, wouldn’t it, Jamie?”

They climbed into Mrs. T-J’s comfortable old car, and Akiko smiled happily. “Where are you going? I hope we are not taking you out of your way,” she said.

“No, no. Only as far as the community. I buy eggs from them. They are much the best eggs for miles around. Free range of course. Perhaps you would like to take some to Mrs. M?”

“Oh yes, that would be a really good idea,” Akiko answered enthusiastically. Jamie said nothing. He was uneasy, but he thought the plan could be quite useful in keeping eyes open for Diana.

“Oh good,” said Mrs. T- J. “Now, here we are. Would you jump out and press the bell? It’s on the left, there. Next to the gate.”

As they waited to go through, Jamie’s eye was caught by a figure approaching along the footpath. “Hey! Wait a minute, that’s Mum! She might like to come in with us.”

Lois came up to the car, carrying Jemima. “She’s got a thorn in her paw,” she said. “I’d better take her home and get it out.”

“Don’t go, Mum,” said Jamie. “Let me carry her, and then you can come in and get some eggs.”

“I get my eggs from Josie,” she replied. “But I’d like to come in and have a snoop. We still haven’t seen Diana.”

The gates swung open, and Mrs. T-J drove in slowly. They made their way up the long drive, and Akiko looked back nervously to see the big gates slowly shutting behind them. “Are they good people here?” she said.

“Bit of a mystery, my dear, this lot. But they mind their own business and, as far as I know, have caused no harm. So we let them get on with it. And they do supply extremely good eggs! We don’t go to the main house. They have their eggs for sale in an old bothy behind in the stable yard. There is always someone keeping watch for customers. The man in charge of Resort House is a very experienced businessman, apparently.”

“Among other things,” muttered Jamie.

“Have you met him?” Akiko asked.

Mrs. T-J nodded. “Once or twice. Grundy is his name. Solomon Grundy. Born on a Monday!” she added with a laugh.

“Perhaps it is not his real name,” Akiko suggested.

“Possibly,” Mrs. T-J said. “Now, here we are. I’ll park over there and then we can fetch the eggs. Oh yes, look, there’s someone in the bothy already.”

They walked over and found a pleasant-faced woman waiting for them with a smile. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Tollervey-Jones. And welcome to your friends.”

“Good afternoon. Now, I’ll have two dozen of the lovely brown eggs, and a dozen white-shelled ones. I propose a session of baking for my special guest, and your golden yolks are spectacular in cakes. And is that butter over there? Is that your own?”

The woman walked over to the packs of fresh butter, and added one to Mrs. T-J’s purchases. “Is that all now? We have some lovely apples here. This lot are eaters, and those are cookers.”

While Mrs. T-J was deciding which to have, Akiko, Lois and Jamie walked out of the bothy and into the yard. They looked around curiously and saw the big house looming up behind the outbuildings. All the bedroom windows had blinds drawn, and Lois was thinking how unfriendly it looked, when one of the blinds was swiftly lifted and a face appeared.

“Diana!” Akiko said aloud, and waved vigorously.

“Christ! That’s her!” said Jamie, waving vigorously. Lois stared hard, and thought she could see a moving shadow behind her.

Mrs. T- J emerged and joined them.

“It’s Diana, Mrs. T-J!” said Akiko, pointing at the window. “She does not look happy!”

“Where, Akiko? I can’t see anyone.”

When Akiko turned back to the window, she saw the blind had been drawn down, and Diana had gone. Jemima, barking furiously, jumped out of Jamie’s grasp and disappeared.

F
IFTY

M
RS.
T
OLLERVEY-
J
ONES HAD BEEN ALL FOR MARCHING
round to the front door in search of Jemima, and demanding to see Diana, but Akiko pleaded with her to wait. Lois said she was sure Jeems was heading for the New Brooms van and home, and so walked off, refusing Jamie’s offer of going with her. “Just be careful!” she called over her shoulder as she went.

“Are you sure you don’t want to ask about Diana?” Mrs. T-J asked Akiko.

“Very sure,” she replied. “We might cause something bad to happen to her, but now we know that she is there, I think it would be best to go back to Farnden and tell the others. Mrs. M will know what to do.” She was not at all anxious to be around while Mrs. Tollervey-Jones set up a rumpus in the tightly controlled community Diana had described.

“Oh, very well, if you are sure,” Mrs. T-J reluctantly agreed. “But I promise you I have no qualms about tackling Solomon Grundy. In all my days on the bench, I found him a most cooperative person when occasionally some unfortunate from his house indulged in minor shoplifting in Farnden.”

“So they are allowed out into the world?”

“Yes, I think so. Some of them seem a bit odd, but their previous lives have been appalling in some cases. Naturally some of them have difficulty in adjusting, and I believe some are difficult to handle. There have been one or two cases of unruly violence.”

Akiko and Jamie were silent as they drove back to Farnden, and when they reached Meade House she asked if Mrs. T-J would like to come in for a cup of tea. Mrs. T-J smiled kindly. “Thank you, my dear, but I must be getting back to make tea for your father, dear man! Besides, I did not actually see Diana myself. If you remember, the blind had come down by the time you drew my attention to the window. So you were quite right to stop me bursting in! But I am sure Mrs. Meade will deal with it. I shall await a progress report.”

*   *   *

I
T WAS NOW DARK OUTSIDE, AND
E
ZEKIEL HAD COME SILENTLY
and unseen to Last Resort House to find Grundy. He needed money, and had no intention of risking capture attempting to retrieve the cello without being paid. Once he had cash in his pocket and a means of transport—Grundy would provide—he could be away for good. He felt once more in his pocket and was reassured by the cool feel of Nakamasa’s gun. We’re equally matched, he said to himself. He had seen a gun in Grundy’s desk drawer. It was there, so Grundy had told him, only as a threat in rare cases of violent disturbances.

Grundy was waiting for him at the door. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Parsons! Just the person I was hoping to see. But where is the cello? Ah, I see you haven’t got it. Dear me, that is not good, Ezekiel.”

“Never mind about the cello,” Ezekiel said confidently. “You’ll find it at Meade House. Your precious Diana lent it to the Jap woman staying there, her whose cello was stolen out of Meade House drive. Remember? Got rid of that one, have you, Grundy?”

“You know perfectly well I have. And I am quite confident of retrieving the replacement once the circumstances of Diana’s theft has been explained to the Meades. You are making life difficult for yourself, Ez. And for me. I cannot now get it aged by Bert and restored to the Nakamasa woman as her original. She is sure to recognise it as a new one she has so recently been playing. So what do you suggest we do with it?”

“You could try it on somebody else. Bert makes a good job of them, doesn’t he? You could offer it on the dodgy deals market as a genuine eighteenth-century one, you know, the thingummy model. Forget about the Japanese girl. Her papa will buy her another one. You can take that from me.”

“Mm. Maybe. Now, I have a number of questions to ask you, Parsons, but not tonight. There is a bed made up for you, and we will talk tomorrow.”

“Not if I can help it. You owe me a favour, mate, but a bargain will do. And don’t forget I know enough about your scams to put you away for years! You are going to lend me that new Jeep you’ve got out in the backyard, and I swear I won’t cough up the recent history and whereabouts of the Jap girl’s instrument you stole. The Jeep is just the job for the bit of off-roading I need to do. And no squealing to the police. Wherever I end up, I can always put a cop on your tail. Expenses and car keys now, please. Then I’ll be out of your hair for good. Give my love to Foster, ho ho.”

“I’ll get you one day, Parsons, if old Lucifer doesn’t get you first! Here, take the keys and bugger off, out of my sight, and good riddance. You can have the cash in my pocket, and that’s the lot.” He held out a wad of notes, and Parsons took them.

Grundy waited until he heard Parsons out in the yard, cursing because there was no light. He had deliberately given him the wrong keys, and now followed. He had put up with more than enough from Ezekiel Parsons. His patience was at an end, and in the darkness of the yard he approached the Jeep quietly. Then he spoke.

“Parsons! Wait! I gave you the wrong keys. Here’s the right ones!”

Ezekiel turned from the Jeep and began to walk towards him. Before he could see what was happening, Grundy’s hand came out of his pocket. There was a dull thud, and with a look of terror on his face, Ezekiel slowly crumpled to the ground and was still.