‘But how could he?’ Debbie screamed. ‘We were both watching him and how did Uncle Stanley get here?’
Kevin could offer no explanation and shrugged his shoulders. ‘We need to wait for the police and then we’ll go find him in the school. Don’t worry he’ll be sat at his desk by the time we get there.’
No sooner had Kevin mentioned the police when a passing patrol car pulled up and the young officer began asking questions. Kevin explained that the dead man was his Uncle, but he didn’t know why he was there, unless he had wanted to see Jamie who was at the school. When Kevin explained that they needed to find their son, the policeman took some details off Kevin and told him that he would call at their house later for a statement.
Debbie was in some sort of trance as Kevin led her towards the school gate and then headed straight for the headmaster’s office.
Mrs Farr the headmaster’s secretary could see that they were upset even before Kevin told her that Jamie’s Great Uncle had died in a road accident outside the school. Kevin explained that Jamie was very close to his Uncle and so they wanted break the news to him and then take him home.
‘I’m so sorry about the accident, but I’m sure there won’t be a problem in taking Jamie home. The headmaster is preparing for a meeting, but I’ll just tell him you are here.’
Mr Tatum, the headmaster came out of the office and expressed his sympathy and told them that Jamie would soon join them and he should only return to school when he was ready.
The headmaster excused himself and left a relieved Debbie and Kevin to wait for Jamie. Debbie’s eyes were fixed on the office door and she stood up when it opened, ready to give Jamie the biggest hug of his young life, but sat down when the very tall boy came in.
The head boy, Gordon Myers, approached Mrs Farr’s desk and delivered his message. ‘Mr Franks asked me to tell you that Jamie has not attended class today and none of the children in his class have seen him either.’
‘Thank you, Gordon,’ replied Mrs Farr and left her desk to comfort Debbie who had let out an anguished cry.
An uncomfortable looking Gordon left the office while Kevin and Mrs Farr were trying to calm Debbie down.
‘I think we should go home, Debs and then we’ll call the police.’
Debbie didn’t reply as Kevin eased her out of the chair and thanked Mrs Farr who was looking distressed herself and sorry for the couple she had become quite fond of.
Their walk back to the car was slow and Debbie was in a state of shock as Kevin helped her into her seat. He drove slower than usual as he headed towards home, struggling to keep his concentration as the image of Jamie being struck by the car on the zebra crossing kept coming back.
Debbie had spent most of drive home sobbing, but when they arrived at their house she seemed sad, but calm and she’d stopped crying.
Kevin followed Debbie into the hall after he had held the door open for her and then called out for Jamie to come down.
‘I’m coming,’ Jamie shouted. His voice was sad and flat as he prepared to make his way downstairs while Kevin hurried down to join Debbie.
Jamie was almost knocked off his feet as his parents hugged him. He’d never been kissed on the cheek by his dad, nor had he seen him cry before.
When the hugging stopped, Debbie held him at arm’s length and saw Jamie’s reddened eyes. ‘You already know that Uncle Stanley is dead, don’t you?’
‘Yes, Mum, a policeman told me. He said he would be back later to speak to dad.’
Jamie had already known about the sad news shortly before the policeman called when he had received a surprise voice contact from Koolebron who told him that Devilmortex had been destroyed, but so had Soupinpota in the final confrontation. Koolebron explained that he had discovered that Devilmortex intended to kill Uncle Stanley and Jamie and that they had managed to put a temporary ring of protection around their house. Uncle Stanley had been aware of this and that is why he had told Jamie to remain in the computer room. Jamie had been puzzled when Uncle Stanley had told him that he would explain to his dad why he wanted Jamie to stay behind and then ask for a lift into town. Jamie had been saddened when Koolebron told him that Uncle Stanley had realised that leaving the computer to Jamie had put the family in danger. He had been prepared to sacrifice his own life to protect them from further harm and at the same time help bring about the destruction of Devilmortex.
Kevin and Debbie would never forget seeing Uncle Stanley knocked down and killed on the school crossing and puzzled why he had asked to be dropped off at the school. Thanks to Koolebron, Kevin and Debbie had no memory of seeing Jamie struck by the car on the crossing and Leanne’s last memory of Uncle Stanley was when she had waved good bye to him when he was sat in the back of the car when she was dropped off outside her school gate.
* * *
Uncle Stanley’s funeral was a quiet affair and it had been decided that Leanne was too young to attend, so only Jamie, his parent’s, Cyril Judd and Rufus Cranleigh were present at the ceremony. As expressed in the letter that had arrived the day after his death, Uncle Stanley had requested that he be buried in Steaderton. He had also explained that there was another will and he hoped that they would carry out his wishes contained in it.
In true Liverpool tradition all those who had attended the funeral were invited back to the house for tea and sandwiches. Kevin insisted that Rufus brought his mother around to join them and they were shocked when Kevin had told him that his Uncle had been involved in some work for the government and his first ‘death’ had been arranged for his own protection.
When Rufus had been introduced to Cyril Judd he remembered seeing him digging in the garden next door and he didn’t trust him. Nor did he like the way Cyril appeared to be almost studying his mother’s face and Rufus made an excuse for them to leave as soon as they had finished their tea and sandwiches.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
It was only two weeks after the death of Uncle Stanley when Kevin went to the reading of Uncle Stanley’s will in which Uncle Stanley advised them to sell their house in Hog’s End Lane. He had left them a fairly large sum of money, some of which was tied up in Telecommunications shares. Most of the money was to be used to help finance Jamie’s and Leanne’s education, expecting that they would both attend University one day. Later that evening Kevin revealed the contents of the will to the family and they discussed Uncle Stanley’s advice that they move from the house that he’d left them. Kevin had already discussed their options with Debbie and the whole family agreed that they would return to Liverpool once Kevin had worked his notice at the farm.
* * *
Three days before they planned to leave Steaderton for good, Kevin invited the family to step outside their house and be prepared for a surprise.
Debbie and Leanne groaned, but Jamie let out his familiar, ‘Wow’ and then asked his dad how he had managed to get Betsy fixed up and looking so good and said that it must have been like doing a really big jigsaw puzzle.
‘Soft, lad. This is Betsy2. I bought it off a farmer over at Cordle. It’s only got just less than forty thousand miles on the clock and has spent most of its life in a barn. She needed a bit of work and a good blow-out, but she runs like a dream. I think the farmer took a liking to me when I told him I was farm hand working with pigs and he said he was sure that it was going to a good home, so I got it for a very reasonable price.’
Betsy2 was exactly the same colour and identical in every way to her predecessor, except that she didn’t burn oil, backfire or have any signs of rust and dents. Kevin explained that he’d got a good price for the Vectra and used some of the leftover money to buy the latest stereo system with a CD player, so they could have music all the way home.
‘I thought we’d give it a bit of a run out tomorrow night, Jamie and go and see Denby Rovers play in the Devon Cup. That’s if your mum doesn’t want a hand with the packing.’
‘That sounds great, Dad, even though we’ll soon be seeing proper football again.’
‘You don’t mind, do you my, Petal, Sweetheart, Darling,’ Kevin joked.
‘It’s a good idea. We girls will manage better with the packing if you two are out of the way.’
* * *
The family had experienced mixed emotions during their last few days in the house where they had planned to settle into a new way of life that had held so much promise for the future. There were lots of tears from Leanne when she said goodbye to her class mates and even more tears when she had gone to visit Rosser Farm with her dad to see Falcon and deliver Ohmslaw. Mr Rosser hoped the cat would keep the field mice in the barn under control.
Jamie had managed to crack a few jokes when he had said his farewell to some of his mates from the football team who he would miss, but the person he would miss most was, Ethan, who reminded him in some ways of a country boy version of his Liverpool mate, Geoff.
Kevin would certainly miss Pat Rosser who had managed to fix him up with a job with a pig farmer he knew. There would be some travelling involved because the farm was twenty miles away from Liverpool, but Kevin was very grateful because finding work back home was still difficult.
Debbie had never really had time to make friends, but she had taken a little present to Mrs Farr who worked at Jamie’s school and had been kind and helpful to the family. Debbie might not admit it, but she would miss old Rufus who she had grown to like and was the man who might have saved Jamie’s life when he had freed him from the trailing branches of the creeper.
* * *
Rufus waved to the family as their car pulled away and he gave a weak smile when Kevin wound down the car window, gave a short blast on Betsy 2’s horn and waved his hand above the car roof. Rufus’s thoughts flashed back to the night the family had arrived at the house and been startled by him appearing out of nowhere. He had been surprised when he was told that the Tranter house had already been sold.
* * *
It was less than two hours since the Tranter family had left when Rufus was in for another surprise when he saw the man walking up his garden path.
‘I wonder what this feller wants,’ Rufus muttered to himself and then called out, ‘We’ve got a visitor?’ on his way to open the front door.
‘Hello, Mr Cranleigh. I’m your new neighbour. I just wanted to explain that there might be a little bit of noise from the removal men when they arrive tomorrow. I’ll ask them not to play their music too loud, but it seems the young people need to have it playing constantly while they’re working.’
Rufus eyed the caller with suspicion because they had met before.
‘We don’t have much noise around here. We like it peaceful, because it suits us, you see.’
Cyril Judd was puzzled by Rufus’s behaviour and decided to introduce himself again, ‘I’m Cyril Judd. We met at Stanley Tranter’s funeral a few weeks ago. ’
‘Yes, I know. It was a very sad business, him being knocked over on a crossing like that. Your friend didn’t have much luck, did he? Dying twice, I mean. Once is enough for most people, don’t you think?’
Cyril ignored the question and asked how Rufus’s mother was keeping.
‘I’m afraid mother isn’t with us anymore. She passed away last week, but she had a good innings.’
‘I’m sorry, she looked so well for her age,’ Cyril said, taken aback by the news.
‘Who is it, Rufus?
‘It’s out new neighbour, Mr Judd. He was an old friend of the man who used to live next door and died twice.’
The pretty lady who had joined them at the door was in her early forties. Her blond hair had faint streaks of grey. She was slim and stood upright like a former dancer. She didn’t wait for Rufus to introduce her and said, ‘I’m Lillian, Rufus’s wife. In case you’re wondering I have only just moved here myself. Rufus and I split up a few years ago, but we got together the day after his mother’s funeral. I’m afraid that Mrs Cranleigh and I didn’t get on, but she was a nice lady. Did you know her very well?’
Cyril explained that he had only met her once and then excused himself, saying that he had lots to do in preparation for moving in tomorrow.
‘I’m sure we’ll see you occasionally,’ Rufus shouted after him and closed the door.
When they returned to the sitting room, Lillian gave Rufus a kiss on the cheek and tweaked his false nose that must have frightened the children next door.
‘See that wasn’t difficult. We just tell everyone the same story. And if they ask we will say that she was buried in Cornwall in the family grave.’
‘You did very well, dear. But I keep forgetting that you once performed on the stage. I won’t be sorry to see this nose go and I can get rid of these false bushy eyebrows.’
Lillian praised Rufus for his own performance and her thoughts turned to plans for their holiday while they waited to see what their next assignment would be, but they already knew that they would be moving on very soon. Whatever the assignment was she hoped it wouldn’t require her husband to adopt a disguise. She had never agreed with their superiors who had insisted that they acted as mother and son. Her husband had looked like Pinocchio's grandfather with that ridiculous false nose and she had hated his hideous false bushy eyebrows. They had often needed to keep up the pretence even when they were alone in the house in case it was bugged.
Rufus was also lost in his thoughts as he was remembered overhearing Cyril Judd at the funeral telling Kevin that he had won a few prizes for his cucumbers. He would have enjoyed competing with his new neighbour at the next show because his love of gardening had never been just part of his act.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Kevin made a stop at the first service station when they reached the motorway and the family were pleased with Betsy2. There’d been no pointing from the passing cars, no smoke trail, or backfiring and Kevin wasn’t intending to lift the bonnet and check the oil.
Kevin and Debbie carried the two trays of food and drinks and the family sat at a table similar to the one they’d used on the last leg of the journey to Devon.
‘So, what did we think of Devon?’ Kevin asked as they tucked into their burger and chips.
‘Rubbish,’ Jamie replied with a smile.
‘Dad, what’s going to happen to all our furniture and things that those men took away in that big van? Did they take them to the dump?’ Leanne asked.
The other family members laughed and Kevin explained to Leanne that everything would be kept in storage in a big warehouse in Liverpool until they moved into their new house.
Jamie expressed his disappointment that they had left Ohmslaw behind. ‘I wish we could have brought Ohmslaw with us. He would have liked it in Liverpool and Grandma Dawn could have knitted him a little red coat to wear on match days.’
Kevin smiled. ‘He was too old to move and it wouldn’t have been fair. He’s used to the countryside being part wild and he’ll enjoy it at the farm with Benbow for company.’
Kevin was thinking that Ohmslaw wouldn’t have been very popular if he’d targeted any racing pigeons that might be near their new home, remembering that both his neighbours at the old house had pigeon lofts in their garden.
‘I liked Devon, but not as much as I like Liverpool, although I’ll miss Falcon. Can we go and see him one day?’ Leanne asked.
‘Of course you can, Princess, Mr Rosser told me that we’d always be welcome. It might be a bit crowded in that caravan, but I’m sure that our Jamie wouldn’t mind staying with Rufus.’
‘No way,’ Jamie shouted, but then added, ‘I actually liked old Rufus once I got used to him. ‘I suppose he was a bit like a granddad. He was always interested in my computer and he used to ask about the football results, but his mother used to frighten me.’
‘I think Mrs Cranleigh is some kind of witch. Not a cruel witch, but I think she could work some magic if she wanted,’ Leanne said.’
Debbie and Kevin laughed and asked her why she thought that.
‘Well, I saw her in the garden making strange signs ne
ar Mr Cranleigh’s vegetables and I saw her waving at someone in our garden and she was smiling, but there was no one there.’
‘I think you’ve been reading too many story books, Princess,’ Kevin joked.
‘She’s right about the waving,’ Debbie said. ‘I’ve seen the old lady do it a few times.’
Kevin was surprised and asked her why she had never mentioned it before now.
‘Well, she was a little bit odd, but she might have seen a bird or a cat.’
Jamie decided to join the discussion and asked his mum if it was a black cat.
‘I didn’t say there was a cat. I didn’t ever see what she was waving at.’
Kevin was remembering something he’d seen which had surprised at the time. It was early one morning when he’d gone out to the shed to pick up his shears so that he could sharpen them on the grinder at the farm. Next door’s kitchen light was on and he saw Mrs Cranleigh through the window. Well he thought it was Mrs Cranleigh, but the woman looked at least thirty years younger. It looked as though Rufus, the old devil, had smuggled the woman in because Kevin couldn’t imagine old Mrs Cranleigh allowing her only son to have a lady friend.
* * *
At the same time that the Tranter family were heading to Liverpool, General Deerbacker and Ed Runsfeld who had visited the Tranter house to smooth over the Sligo affair had arrived in the office of Giles Lakeland, Head of MC4F, a Section of British Intelligence.
Lakeland was fifty five years old, tall, slim and with side parted silver hair, a sensitive looking man with thin features. He was every inch the diplomat, but to General Deerbacker he looked a pushover.
‘I hope you’ve come to your senses, Mr Lakeland and you are ready to grant our request. We don’t want to pull rank and make any demands, unless we have to, but the bottom line is that we want those people arrested and handed over to us.’
‘We have given your request further consideration, General, but our position is unchanged. I’m sorry.’
General Deerbacker’s face reddened, he fidgeted and turned to Runsfeld. ‘I sometimes wonder if these people are on our side. We’ve spent a small fortune and identified two Russian agents on their patch. Now they refuse to do the easy bit and just give them to us.’
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