She's Out (11 page)

The other women looked at Ester to know what they should or shouldn’t do, exchanging furtive glances and nudges. As soon as Dolly was out of earshot, they whispered questions to each
other: Was Dolly serious? How long was she going to keep them all waiting? When would she go for the diamonds? Ester hissed at them to keep their mouths shut, no one was to mention diamonds.

‘Yeah, well, that’s why we’re all here, Ester, and so far she’s not said a dickie about them. All that’s gone down is you’re two hundred grand up. What if
they don’t exist?’ Gloria was irritable.

‘They exist,’ snapped Ester. She crossed the kitchen and looked out into the hallway, drawing the door shut. ‘Make her think we’re all behind the project, right? Offer to
stay and help out, start clearing the place up. She’s gonna need hard cash to get this place up and rolling so we watch her like a hawk and—’

Dolly called from the stairs, asking if the boiler was working as she wanted to have a bath before she left. Ester opened the door and shouted that the water was on and hot. She waited until she
could hear the thud of the old pipes before she went to give the women more instructions. She then paid off Angela and said that when they went into the village she could catch the next train
home.

‘I got to go and see Eddie,’ Gloria said tetchily.

‘Fine, you go,’ said Ester.

‘I need my gear.’ Connie pouted.

Ester sighed. ‘Look, all do what you have to but, whatever you do, keep your mouths shut about being here. You don’t say a word to anyone about us being holed up here and especially
not about the diamonds. Is that clear?’

By eleven they were all waiting for Dolly, Ester out in the yard in her Range Rover. Julia was looking into the stables. ‘You know, this place must have been something,’ she
said.

‘It was. What the hell is she doing in there?’

Ester paced up and down, impatient to go into the village to bank the cheque.

Julia came close. ‘You going to be okay?’

Ester nodded. ‘Yeah. Nobody knows I’m here and besides, I got to bank the cheque to get her the deeds of the house.’

Julia cocked her head to one side. ‘Well, you take care.’

Gloria teetered out with Connie behind her. ‘I’m off, see Eddie. I’m givin’ Connie a lift in. Can you take us to the garage see if me car’s ready?’

Connie put her bag into the back of the Range Rover. ‘I won’t even see Lennie. He always leaves by twelve so I’ll just get my stuff and come straight back.’

Kathleen wandered out. ‘Where you all going?’

Ester sighed. ‘Into the village. Where’s Dolly?’

‘She’s on the phone, the social services again, asking what they want her to bring in. I dunno.’

‘Are you stopping, then?’ Ester demanded.

‘Yeah, I got nowhere else to go, have I?’ muttered Kathleen.

Angela joined them, followed by Dolly, so they all squashed into the Range Rover and departed, leaving Kathleen alone.

‘I’ll need builders’ estimates, see how much the place will cost to get into order,’ Dolly said, as they bounced down the lane. ‘Get these potholes filled
in,’ she said, staring out of the window. She looked back at the house. ‘I don’t know about this, Ester, I mean . . .’

Ester pulled on the brake. ‘Dolly, look at the place. Take a good look. It’s crying out for kids, isn’t it?’ A dull chorus of, ‘Oh, yes, kids’ll love it
here.’

Gloria’s car wasn’t ready so Connie and Angela were dropped off at the local railway station. Ester took Dolly on to the Aylesbury town hall. ‘I’ll wait
here for you.’ She smiled.

Dolly nodded but seemed ill at ease. ‘I’ll just see what they say. I shouldn’t be too long, then I’ll need to do a bit of shopping, tights and stuff like that.’

As soon as she walked into the town hall, Ester drove straight to the bank. She kept a good lookout for anyone following her and hurried inside.

Dolly waited in the anteroom and eventually a pleasant-faced woman called Deirdre Bull asked if she would come into her office. Dolly was offered a seat and coffee, as Deirdre
sat down behind her cluttered desk. The walls were lined with posters for foster carers and adoption societies.

‘Now, it’s Mrs Rawlins, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, Dorothy Rawlins. I’ve come to ask you about opening a foster home. I’ve done a bit of research with a probation officer but I thought I’d just run a few things by
you.’

Deirdre nodded and began opening drawers. ‘First there are some forms you’ll need to look over and fill in. Have you ever been a foster carer before?’

‘No, I haven’t, but I’m buying a big house and I could accommodate up to ten or twelve kids easily.’

Deirdre was so relaxed and friendly that Dolly began to ease up, as Deirdre patiently passed her one form after another to look over.

‘Are you married?’

‘I’m a widow.’

Deirdre nodded, not really listening, just passing leaflets across the desk.

‘Do you have children?’

‘No, but I have worked with a lot of babies recently, and I have some letters from . . .’

Ester handed the cheque to the cashier. Impatient, her eyes on the clock, she’d had to stand in a queue for ten minutes. The cashier’s pace was slow, steady, which
Ester found infuriating. He looked first at the cheque, then at Ester’s paying-in slip.

‘There’s nothing wrong, is there?’ Ester asked sharply, leaning closer into the counter. ‘I’m in rather a hurry and I have someone waiting.’

The cashier peered at Ester. ‘It’s Miss Freeman, isn’t it? Could you wait one moment?’

‘Why? All I want are the documents I’ve listed. Can’t you just get them for me? I’m in a hurry.’

‘The manager will need to speak to you, Miss Freeman,’ the cashier said pleasantly.

‘But there’s nothing wrong with the cheque, is there?’

‘No, not that I can see, but he will need to talk to you. Your account has been frozen.’

‘I know that,’ Ester retorted. It was hard for her not to know just what her financial situation was. She was in debt up to her eyeballs, tax inspectors breathing down her neck, and
the only asset she had was the manor – and that was frozen like her accounts. Ester had no way of getting any cash without Dolly, and it hurt to hand over the cheque.

She tried a different approach. ‘I just want the deeds to Grange Manor House.’ She gave a soft smile. ‘I have a cash buyer and surely it’s worth considering that part of
the overdraft could be paid off. If the bank tried to sell the house, they’d not get as good a price. And I’m sure I’ll be able to cover any further outstanding debts within a few
weeks.’

It sounded good. She just hoped the little prick would see it made sense and she knew he had when he looked up and gave her a tight nod: he was going to release the deeds of the house. He
excused himself and left Ester waiting. She checked her watch again, willing him to move his arse because she didn’t want to miss Dolly.

Deirdre looked at Dolly’s neat handwriting on the forms, and showed not a flicker when she read that she had only just been released from prison.

The house is well situated, with gardens and a swimming pool. It will need a lot of work and I don’t know how I apply for grants and allowances – or if I am acceptable as a foster
carer.’

Deirdre nodded. ‘Well, you’ll have to go before a board of committee members – I can’t say whether or not you’ll be acceptable, Mrs Rawlins. All this takes
considerable time and your property will have to be reviewed and assessed by the committee.’

‘But you don’t think it’s out of the question?’

‘I can’t say. If you like, I can ask Mrs Tilly, who is my superior, to come and talk to you.’

Dolly leaned closer. ‘I would be grateful if you would. I don’t want to go ahead with the house if I don’t stand a chance with my application – if my background goes
against me, you understand?’

Deirdre smiled warmly. ‘Mrs Rawlins, there are so many children in need. Obviously your background will be taken into consideration but, that said, there are so many ways we can approach
the board. If you can give me ten minutes I’ll go up and have a word with Mrs Tilly, see if she can tell you the best way to approach it. But I would think positively if you have a
substantial property and the means to open a home.’

‘I’ll wait,’ Dolly said, becoming more confident by the second. She had finances, she would be able to make the manor house look like a palace. As soon as the door closed
behind Deirdre, Dolly inched round the desk and drew the telephone closer. She looked to the door a moment before she dialled.

Jimmy Donaldson was sitting with a mug of tea. It was almost twelve and there had not been any further contact from Rawlins. DI Palmer was sitting reading the morning paper. He
also had a tea and chocolate biscuits. In the hall another officer sat on duty and had even opened the door earlier for Mrs Donaldson to cook breakfast. She was confused as to what was going on,
especially as she had had little time alone with her husband. Even when they slept, an officer sat outside their bedroom. Jimmy was nervous and twitchy, and had said that whatever was going down
meant that he’d be home for good sooner than they had anticipated. She was asked to speak to no one, to remain at home and continue her housework as if they weren’t there, so she was
preparing lunch in the kitchen.

The phone rang and she turned from the sink. The door was closed, the officer in the hallway giving her a pleasant smile. Palmer on the other hand gave a brisk nod for Donaldson to pick up the
phone as he slipped on his headphones to listen to the call.

‘Jimmy? It’s Dolly.’

He looked nervously at Palmer who gestured for him to continue the call.

‘Hello, Dolly. How are you?’

‘I’m fine. I’d like to collect.’

Palmer nodded and Donaldson hesitated. ‘Okay. When do you want to come over?’

‘I won’t come to your place, you bring them to me. You know Thorpe Park?’

‘What?’

‘It’s a big amusement park. About four o’clock this afternoon. I’ll see you there.’

She hung up before Donaldson could reply. He sat looking at the receiver in his hand. Palmer swore, told him to hang up and then put a trace on the call.

‘Have they found them yet?’ Donaldson asked.

Palmer said nothing as he waited for the trace to give the location of where Dolly had called from. DCI Craigh came in as Palmer was jotting something down. He passed it to Craigh. ‘She
made contact from Aylesbury town hall, social services.’ Craigh took the memo. ‘She’s asked for a meet. You want to hear the call?’

Craigh nodded, his face uptight. ‘She’s moving fast, isn’t she? What the hell is she doing at the town hall?’ When he heard where Dolly wanted to meet Donaldson, he swore
and gestured for Palmer to come out for a private chat. ‘We’ve still not traced the stones, they’re ripping his entire shop apart.’

‘Shit.’

‘Yeah, well, we’ll just have to stall her, or Jimmy will.’

Palmer looked back to the closed door. ‘You think he’s spinnin’ yarns? If we’ve not found the ruddy diamonds maybe they’re not there and he’s playin’
silly buggers.’

Craigh sighed. This wasn’t working out the way he’d hoped. Now they’d have to drag Donaldson out to Thorpe Park, which would mean even more officers assigned to the case and
his super had only given the go-ahead because, as Craigh had said, it would be fast. As soon as she contacted them, they thought they’d have her. Well, she’d contacted faster than
they’d anticipated and now they were screwed if they didn’t find the stones by four o’clock.

‘Look, see if you can get his wife shipped out – to a relative. I don’t like her being around. And meanwhile I’ll go and see what I can work up for the four o’clock
meet. Why Thorpe Park?’

Palmer shrugged. ‘I dunno. She said it, then hung up.’

Tommy Malin worked until late the previous night and went straight back to it in the morning. He reset the stones one by one and he was a true professional: they looked good.
He used a lot of settings from a previous little job he’d done, only then they had contained some beautiful emeralds and diamonds. Usually he melted down settings, anything that could cause
aggravation. He had never, that he could remember, been asked to make up a whole bag of glass but far be it from him not to earn an easy two grand cash. He had some business to attend to at
lunchtime. Audrey called to ask if they were ready and he said they’d be finished later on in the afternoon.

‘They’re not ready yet,’ Audrey said to her son, as he paced up and down the living room. ‘Has she called? Do you know if she’s talked to Jimmy yet?’

‘No, I’m going over there now. I’ll come back later and pick them up. And for chrissakes don’t tell anyone about this.’

‘Who’d I tell?’

Mike stared at her, his anger at what she had got him involved with still close to the surface. ‘Just get the stones, Mum, and as soon as you’ve got them, call me on my
bleeper.’

Mike slammed out of the flat and hurried to his patrol car as his bleeper went. By the time he’d called in, he was instructed to meet DCI Craigh at the station and not, as he had
previously been told, at Donaldson’s house.

Mrs Tilly looked over Dolly’s forms. She then stacked them in a neat pile. Well, I think you stand a good chance but you’ll have to be interviewed by the board and
have your details assessed. Until such time, I wouldn’t do too much structural work on the house because we will have to view the property to make sure it meets our requirements. It will take
time for us to give you a positive answer and you’ll obviously require grants, which is another area you’ll need to be instructed in as there are so many different sections and
application forms.’

Dolly was feeling good, her dream already shaping into reality and so fast it took her breath away. Mrs Tilly frowned as she re-read the top form.

‘Grange Manor House? It had a bad reputation, you know.’

Dolly looked confused. ‘I’m sorry? I don’t understand. It was a health farm, wasn’t it?’

‘It used to belong to an Ester Freeman. Oh, I’m going back maybe three or four years. It’s been closed –I thought it had been demolished, to tell you the truth, not just
because the motorway was built across the main access, but because it was such a scandal—’