by Harry Nankin
It was cream and black advertised as summer wear and taken into use after Anne had bought it as a birthday present.
Entering the café the scene was the same as all other visits in that there were groups of mainly middle-aged women, it being a golfing opportunity for the men folk on such a delightful Cheshire morning.
When the new common arrivals, just policemen and their wives walked in there was a sudden silence save for Mrs Delwright who was in full flow announcing “ That Erica, was a lady filled with emotion, a drama Queen”.
Walking further inside and becoming seated Jack finally took off his hat and sat quietly but was all ears, mostly for tacit entertainment.
There was a group of six ladies typical of the Cheshire clique society. One lady was more outstandingly entertaining than the rest who frankly, Jack judged, was the leader and the rest were her followers.
It appears her name was Vera, at least which is what Girda called her as she arrived with the additional hot water to ensure the group had a top up of drinks on the once used tea bags thus saving on the cost of additional drinks but permitting more gossiping time.
“I say”, announced Vera for the whole room to hear, “These farmers complaining of no bees what a complete load of balderdash.”
“Where I work there are thousands of bees, blasted horrid things and their fellows the dreaded wasps. They are everywhere”.
The group nodded in agreement encouraging Vera to add, “Ghastly, they really are ghastly”.
“What are you two having to drink?” asked Jean.
Anne answered for saying, “Jack and I will have tea, I will have Early Grey, Jack will have a peppermint.”
“Any cake?” asked Jean,
“Not for us” replied Anne though quietly, not wishing to draw the attention of the gathered hoards of morning coffee and teacake brigade to the fact they were not eating.
Vera saved the day when she now announced she was taking her CSE in cooking and then proceeded to describe in intricate detail the make up of cooked fresh salmon and beetroot, which according to her was “ Delicious but was so wonderful as to be pronounced “Deeeeelishous”.
Christian made a pass at work asking, “Enquiry going according to plan, Jack?”
Jack nodded though passed no comment but changed the topic “What is your golf handicap now Christian?”
“It is six,” replied Woodcock who then proceeded to describe in detail his latest forays into his weekend golfing world and the various clubs he had visited as a guest.
All coming with his job as the HMI thought Jack.
The two wives, policemen had wives the Cheshire set had ladies. They were engaged in conversation as to the various recipes whilst Jack noted Anne had quickly made a note, which ominously read “Beetroot, Salmon".
The drink over they rose to leave, the best entertainment of the session for Jack was yet to come.
At they approached the door there was an attractive lady seated near the counter, Jack recognised her as a gardener who worked at two houses in their road.
She had been a laugh amongst other gardeners according to the Garden Rescue fellow who visited Jack.
He had pointed out the lady arrived armed only with a light mower and a hand fork, no other tools. She proceeded to spend the next two hours wearing marigold gloves and picking weeds out individually.
At the end of the session the garden, she had done look no different than when she arrived save for the grass was mowed but not the long straggling lawn edges.
Standing by her was a man he was aged early fifties, very tall well over six feet, slim, handsome with a moustache and stood like a guardsman.
He had all the panache required to charm the ladies. He was a frequent visitor to the café and stayed for several hours as Jack had noted as he went out on his walks only to find the man still sitting there by the window when the walk was done.
The man was gazing down into the eyes of the lady gardener he was telling her of a plan she should adopt to obtain more clients, none of the plan it appeared included more equipment and more work.
Whilst this was taking place the leaving group sensed the importance of the moment for none moved or spoke, just stood waiting for the event to come to its natural conclusion.
Jack had his day made when he glanced at Mrs Delwright who in turn was standing there, stained drying clothe in hand looking for ever upwards into the face of the man currently engrossed not with her but his new target the lady gardener. The man appeared to be named Roger but whom Mrs Delwright always referred to him as “Rojaa”
A moment of love and bliss was written upon the face of Mrs Delwright for her eyes were fixed, her mouth partly open but with a fixed smile, to quote a Hollywood movie she was swooning over Rojaa.
If ever there had been a moment to leave a place without paying, this was that moment for as far as Mrs Delwright was concerned all her world was transfixed on this tall brown-eyed handsome man.
The moment of sheer delight for Jack was broken when Girda arrived and said, “You all pay now”, this brought the love scene to an abrupt end and as the till bell rang it was back to the real world for everyone.
Once outside Jack asked, “Christian, did you know the tall fellow in there?”
“I know of him put it that way,” replied Christian. “He has a way with the ladies, drives a sports car has all appearance of wealth and the trimmings.
“I was speaking with a retired cop who had been working for a firm of solicitors and so visited lado in there with some papers.
The old cop served him with the papers but then old Roger who in fact was only a lodger prevented the process server from leaving saying, “Mind if I ask you a question?”
“Why of course not” replied the agent and so Roger asked him, “How are you going to get out of this house?"
The son, just as tall has him was now blocking the door so to escape the process server agreed to take the papers and so left the house with them.
When he got outside, he threw them down and made his escape.
“Some time later the boys in blue arrived at the home of the retired cop who they knew of course.
It seems old Roger made a complaint against the old bobby who was about to be arrested. This Jack is where attention to detail as you say comes in, for at the critical moment the old copper produced a tape recorder, he had it all on tape”.
The tables were turned and they now asked him if he wished to prosecute Roger for false imprisonment wasting police time and the rest, the old cop declined and finished doing the lousy job”
“Not so smart as he thought he was, old Roger” replied Jack as they parted.
Sunday morning 6am Jack was awake, he realised he was unable to sleep further so decided to rise and take an early walk.
He washed, shaved, dressed then made Anne a drink, which he left by the side of the bed, she appeared asleep but he knew she always woke when he did so left it on the small table at her bedside. He was out of the house by 7am but then closing the front door he saw an axe laying on the step.
He stopped, returned into the house brought a clean large brown envelope, lifted the axe with gloved hand and placed it inside the envelope. He then took it inside and secreted it inside his desk and left on his walk.
He knew of the axe warning it was an old East End of London gang warning, He had every gut feeling this axe had been left not by an East End gang but something nearer home possibly North Wales.
He continued his walk and on return made no mention of its finding to Anne.
It was eleven am Doris answered the phone thinking it was Striker yet again he had already called last night and again that morning.
“Hello” she said, “Doris here”
“Hello Doris its Jack Richards I am dreadfully sorry to interrupt your week-end but something has come up and it can’t wait”
“Oh dear it sounds ominous”
“I was going out this morning and on the door step I found an axe”
/> “God gracious have you called it in,” asked Doris.
“No” said Jack,” I have preserved the axe in case we need to get it examined. I don’t intend to do anything else immediately, I suspect our friend Wrexham Sid left it”
Very likely” replied Doris, “what do you intend to do next?”
“Well”, said Jack, “the important thing is, I really ought to get Anne away from here for a short while, just in case.”
“We have a son Craig who lives in Daram he is a schoolteacher educating the son of the Sultan. We have not seen him for a while so as you are away this week I thought to take a few days off and visit Craig.”
“I would leave Anne there, return myself and sort this dead cops thing and Sid out on my return, with your help of course.”
“Well as you mention it, Striker has been on again and doesn’t require me after all, seems it involves interviewing and he doesn’t think I am up to the job.”
“If you are taking the week off I will see if I can take some leave as well”
“Right” said Jack, “I will ring Craig, see if I can arrange it and take Anne as a surprise visit not to mention anything of the axe incident”.
“Ok”, said Doris” I will see if I can get leave and I will come back to you”
The call ended, Jack picked up the phone, it was some time since he had spoken to Craig, it would be nice to catch up on things.
“Hello Craig, is that you?”
“Yes who is that? Is it you Dad?”
“Yes I have been thinking of bringing Mum over to visit you Craig”.
“Why yes it would be great to see you both, if you could get here for the weekend you will be able to come to the Sultan’s family wedding”
“Oh I don’t know about that, I was thinking of coming over to bring Mum for a break, I would have to return as I am in the middle of something. When I have finished the job I will return for a few days and pick up Mum”
“That would be great Dad”
“I wonder if you might assist me?” Said Jack.
“If I can,” replied Craig.
“I wonder if you might just call Mum back and you invite her here, I can’t go into why at the moment but later, I will tell you”
“I see Dad. Sounds like a mystery cop thing, I thought you were retired?”
“I am but have got involved with something, I will explain later”.
The call ended but then within moments it rang Jack answered.
“Hello Craig. I forgot to ask before are you well?”
“Yes very well. The job out here in Daram is great. Living in a palace with perpetual sunshine, what better could one ask?”
“Hang on I will put you through to mum”.
“Anne, its Craig, he wants a word.”
“Hello Craig I was meaning to ring you today what a coincidence”.
Jack left the room and sat in the lounge awaiting the storm.
It was all of thirty minutes later when Anne arrived and said, “You will never guess what?”
“I never would my love”, he replied.
“Craig has asked us to Daram. Seems there is a wedding and we will be able to attend. What do you think of that Jack?”
A wedding in a Palace and with a Sultan”.
“I see, well the problem is I am in the middle of this job but I tell you what, I will take you over there, stay a day or two, then come back finish this enquiry I am doing and then return for a few days and bring you back”.
“Well Jack I don’t know, how will you manage?”
“I will manage” he replied, “never fear”.
The telephone rang again, Jack said, “it is probably Inspector Scott-Ling I will take it in the study”.
He picked up the handset and carried it as he spoke, “Jack Richards here”
“Hello Mr Richards I got the leave”
“Great”, he replied, “there have been developments here I have managed to get Craig to invite us to Daram, I will take Anne, stay a day or two then return, finish our enquiry and then continue the holiday”.
“Great, it will be better she is not around after the axe business. This Sid sounds a real cop hater and Looney”.
“Right” said Jack “I will ring the airport and arrange a flight”
“Ah now” said Doris, “I may be able to help here”.
“You help?” Said Jack.
“Yes, Mr Richards, get your bags packed tonight. I will arrange the flight and give you a lift. I have often wished to visit Daram so if you do not mind, I have good contacts for cheap air flights.
“Well that is very kind of you but the hotel?”
“Don’t worry about me; I will book one from here. I suppose you will stay with your son?”
“Yes I suppose we will. This is very quick and unusual but yes, thanks I will then settle up for the cost of the flights.
Doris laughed and said, “Yes of course, get packing and be ready for a breakfast time call from me”. She was gone
Anne arrived in the room and Jack updated her, he assumed she would object but far from it, she turned and went upstairs and in moments, he could hear her moving about
He went upstairs and his assumptions were correct. Cases on the beds, clothes everywhere including the regulation shorts and short sleeve shirts.
“Passport Jack, passports, find the passport”
He could see she was very excited far from what she would have been had she had known about Wrexham Sid and the axe.
PART TEN
JACK GETS THE AXE
The following morning, Anne and Jack were up early, all was packed and ready for the off.
“Are you certain this Inspector Scott-Ling will have been able to arrange a flight for us in such a short space of time?” Asked Anne, she had overcome her initial excitement.
Before Jack could offer a word of consolation that Doris always seemed efficient in spite of what her police colleagues appeared to think and said about her he hesitated. Still, he thought although he hadn’t said anything he had laid in bed wondering if he had done the correct thing permitting the organisation of the event to be taken from him and resting with Doris.
He was about to speak further when there was a knock on the door,
“Who heavens might that be at this hour” said Anne, wishing she herself had made the arrangements. “Will you please answer the door Jack?” She called.
Jack could see she was agitated so made post haste to answer the door. On opening it, he saw Doris, the first time he recalled seeing her out of uniform.
“Are you ready? The flight is booked. Your car awaits you sir”, she said with a laugh.
Jack looked up, his mouth gaped open, he hesitated then replied, “Yes, Yes of course Inspector”.
“Doris please". We are off duty after all”.
“Of course I am sorry” he replied.
At that instant Anne arrived, “Who is it?” She enquired.
“It’s Doris with our car”.
Anne looked outside, her mouth opened as wide as his had done. At the front of the house was a maroon Rolls Royce, the driver of which was dressed in a grey suit and cap. He was standing with doors and boot open awaiting the arrival of his passengers.
He walked to the house, the passenger’s suit cases picked up and all were now arriving at the car. The Chauffer said.
“Good morning madam and sir, my name is Carl; I am your driver for today”.
They climbed into the rear of the vehicle, the seats of which were more plush than they had ever seen.
Once the luggage was loaded Doris sat by Carl in the front of the vehicle. She was impressed with the very nice summer dress Anne was wearing and smiled to see Jack was wearing his work raincoat and trilby hat but said nothing, but thought a lot. Such as for instance when they arrived at Manchester airport and later at Daram dressed like that he would be rather a spectacle.
The vehicle was soon moving, Jack was impressed with the silence, no engine noise at all, the sile
nce was interrupted when Carl announced on an internal speaker.
“Madam, Sir, On behalf of British China Aero Industries I welcome you and I hope you have a very pleasant journey to Manchester airport.
Doris smiled, turned and said, “I had a word with father in view of the short notice. He agreed to let us use one of his drivers and cars. I have arranged the flight so nothing for you to do just sit back and think of the very warm weather in Daram”.
Having done so well so far, Jack and Anne now had no fears that Doris had in fact arranged the flight at short notice and they hoped, at reduced cost as she had initially indicated.
As they drove through the village Jack nudged Anne as they passed Mrs Delwright’s meetinghouse, it had a sign closed for refurbishment and renaming, as Delwright’s Pantry”.
She nodded and smiled, “Pantry, yes why not we are in Cheshire after all what better than having a pantry.
They arrived at the airport; the car stopped outside the main entrance but there was a delay whilst Carl left the car to walk inside presumable to make some enquiry. He arrived back after ten minutes with two porters and trolleys. He then supervised the removal of the luggage from the car for onward transmission into the airport building
As Anne, Doris and Jack, still wearing his Trilby hat entered the building there were the usual long queues at the check in desks.
“Heavens”, said Anne spontaneously. “Look we will be here for hours, oh no it is Mrs Delwright and several of her cronies from the coffee shop and look, the Golf President and his wife whatever their names are”.
“They must be going away whilst the alterations are being done. Let us hope they are not on the same flight as we are,” replied Jack, also noting he had seen Miss Sun Flower Pym amongst the group of Cheshire common travellers.
“They won’t be, don’t worry” replied Doris “just follow me”.
As they arrived at the rear of the seemingly never ending queue, the Delwright brigade looked and there was a jeer expression on their faces that they should be travelling with the common folk.
Mrs Delwright if one could lip read, and Jack could, was saying, “Those common people, look the old policeman and his wife”.
