by S G Read
‘I don't know where you went to but I should stay there, they've parked down the street a ways.’ She said it just in case he could hear her but there was only one of the residents sitting in his chair, a blanket round his legs with a newspaper covering his face.
‘Tell me when she's gone then.’ A voice said from under the newspaper.
Cally looked at the resident closely.
‘That's neat. I didn't even notice you!’
‘Caleb taught me well. He used to say the best place to hide is where no one will look!’
Cally watched through the window as she worked, until she had done all there was to do. The car was still parked where it had stopped. There were two people in the car sitting and talking.
‘They're still there.’ She announced as she walked over to where Drummond sat. ‘If she wanted to hurt you she'd only have to sit on you!’
‘I need the men's room. Any ideas?’ He replied.
‘I'll get the wheel chair and wheel you out of sight.’ Cally offered.
Drummond did not like the idea but it seemed the only thing to do apart from him wetting himself. Cally eased Drummond into the wheelchair and moved him out of sight of the car, then he stood up.
‘I'm never going to live this down!’ Drummond groaned as Cally wheeled him along.
‘Don't be silly, I won't tell anyone! Well not too many people anyway.’
‘Where do I go now?’ Drummond asked.
‘You could go out the other door but they might have another car that side!’ Cally replied.
‘No, I meant where is the rest room?’
‘Oh that! Through the kitchen but keep your head down as you go through or they might see you!’
Drummond sneaked through the kitchen and soon returned, looking a lot happier.
‘Let's go upstairs, we can keep an eye on them from up there.’ He said and started up the stairs.
Cally followed, leaving the chair in the middle of the hall in her usual tidy way. Drummond chose Dermot's room and peered down at the car.
‘How many did you say were in it?’ He asked, a worried tone in his voice.
‘Two. A man and the fat woman who came to the door.’
‘Well the fat woman isn't in it anymore!’
Cally had a look.
‘I bet she's sneaking round the house!’ She said indignantly. ‘I'll soon sort her out!’
Cally hurried down the stairs, leaving Drummond hiding in her father's room. She found her mother at the back door giving the fat woman a dressing down, in a way only a girl of Irish descent could. Cally did not stop to listen, not for too long anyway. She hurried back upstairs. She suddenly had a picture of Drummond twisting her father's arm in an effort to get him to talk! She was relieved to find Drummond sitting on the bed waiting for her.
‘Was she sneaking around?’ Drummond asked.
‘You bet but Ma was giving her what for!’
Drummond moved to the window in time to see the car drive off but there was only the fat woman inside.
‘The man's still about somewhere!’ He announced warily.
‘He won't get up here though, he's got to get past my ma first!’ Cally replied.
‘So are we going to try and get your pa to tell us where the key fits or not?’ Drummond asked changing the subject.
Not if I have to hurt him!’ She looked down at her father and saw tears in his eyes. ‘Don't cry Pa, I won't let anyone hurt you.’ She picked up his right hand, which was the one nearest her, as she sat on the bed, and squeezed it slightly.
Dermot blinked. Cally looked at Drummond to see if he had seen him blink and was pleased when she saw him pointing and smiling!
‘You didn't have to hurt him did you?’ Drummond asked awkwardly.
‘No I just squeezed his hand.’
‘He must really like you and you haven't gone near him since he was hurt!’
‘That's not true and you know it. I went and saw him at the hospital when everybody was after me!’
‘I know if someone liked me like that, I'd move heaven and earth to get them better.’
‘If you remember I nearly drownded, when I got caught trying to see him!’
‘It's drowned and when you did get in to see him, did you hold his hand?’
Cally thought for a moment. ‘I can't remember. That's bad isn't it?’ She turned to face Dermot. ‘Sorry pa. I'll come and see you lots from now on!’ She turned back to Drummond.
‘How are we going to use his blinking to find out where the key fits?’
‘That's easy, I saw something like it at the nickelodeon, one blink means yes and two blinks means no. It means you we have to ask questions that want yes or no as the answer.’
‘I get it. Do you get that pa?’
Dermot blinked once.
‘He blinked once that means yes!’ Drummond cried.
Cally pulled the key from inside the top of her dress.
‘Does this key fit a- What's it called Drummond?’
‘A safety deposit box!’
‘Does it fit one of those that Drummond said?’
Dermot blinked once.
‘Is it in a bank?’
Dermot blinked once again.
‘All we got to do now is find out which bank!’ Drummond sighed.
‘What you're saying is we haven't really got too far.’ Cally sighed. ‘Well at least you can talk to your pa now.’
‘There is that I suppose but I can't say much while you're here!’
‘I know when I'm not wanted! I'll go and hide in the attic in case that fat woman's little helper is still about!’
Drummond left Cally to talk to her father, it was going to be a one sided conversation but with a lot of blinking.
Chapter 3
Drummond stopped at the top of the stairs and thought about the problem and Dan came to mind. Dan Craigrose, now he was sober, was a man who knew a lot of things. Drummond risked being seen to by the man who had been with the fat woman and sought out Dan.
‘Dan, how many banks with Safety storage boxes are there in Chicago?’ He asked when he found Dan sitting in the lounge.
‘Quite a few Drummond. Look in the phonebook to find them but I can't tell you which ones have security boxes.’
‘Thanks Dan you're a- Oh shit.’
‘I am?’ Dan asked. ‘I've never been called that before, well not that I can remember anyway!’
‘No that little man who was with that fat woman just took my likeness.’
‘Did he now?’ Dan said jumping to his feet. ‘You get lost Drummond, I sort out the little snooper.’
Dan charged through the door and the man who was walking away started to run. Dan chased him and although Dan was a lot older than the man he was chasing, he started to gain and the other man quickly gave up and stopped running.
‘I am Rupert Fromes, Private detective!’ He said with pride.
Dan snatched his camera and opened it. He knew it would spoil the film inside.
‘I am Daniel Craigrose and I hate having my picture taken by a little snooping shit like you!’ He gave him back the camera. ‘But I have no complaints against the camera. Fromes? Haven't you got a feud with the-’ He tried to remember the song but failed. His memory was not as good as it used to be. ‘Whoever they are.’ Dan said giving up the mental search. ‘Should I call them to let you know you're here?’
Dan dwarfed the man when he stood next to him and it gave him a feeling of power to look down on him.
‘Very amusing but you have your fun, I will prevail!’ The little man proclaimed and walked off muttering to himself and examining the camera as he did so.
Dan watched him go and smiled.
‘I've eaten bigger fish for breakfast!’ He called after the retreating detective.
Back inside he sought out Drummond.
‘Why are they after you in such a big way? There are plenty of street urchins for them to sort out, without them going out of their way to come out here!’
‘She knows a lot of people but they know you are here now, we'll have to keep you under wraps until we can find out what is going on.’
‘I could hide in your boat Again! I looked after it well last time didn't I?’
‘You did indeed but I don't think the new owner would like it too much!’
‘You sold your boat?’
‘Lock, stock and leaky planks. The money will help to keep this place afloat a bit longer and now that I'm living here, I don't need the boat anymore.’
‘You could have told me!’
‘Why? What's it got to do with you?’ Dan asked.
‘I was the last one aboard it and I did stop it from sinking!’
‘Keep your hair on, I'll find time to drive into Chicago with Barbara and we'll check at the records office. I want to find out where my family are living now even if they don't cotton to me none but I'll have to wait until the truck is available!’
The retirement home shared one truck between all the boarders who could drive, whether legally or not. Some even used it to take their dates out.
‘Where is the phone book?’ Drummond asked thinking back to the other problem he had, finding the safety deposit box that fitted their key.
‘I don't know you best ask Barbara. The phone’s been disconnected but there might well be a phone book about, they don't take them back when they disconnect you, as far as I know.’
Drummond stopped to peer through the window to make sure the snooper was no longer around before he sought out Barbara.
‘Do you have the phone book Mrs. Doyle?’ He asked politely.
‘In the drawer of the hall table,’ she replied without interrupting her routine in the kitchen, ‘but the phone's been disconnected until we pay the bill!’
‘I know. I only want the book!’
Barbara stopped what she was doing and stared after him. ‘I wonder what they're up to.’ She mused but went back to her work without further investigation.
Drummond took the book upstairs and met Cally at the top by the door to her father's room.
‘Why have you got the phone book?’ She asked. ‘The phone's been disconnected until we pay the bill.’
‘I know that! You’re the third person to tell me that! I'm going to go through the banks and such with your pa to see if any make him twitch.’
‘Don't be rotten to my pa. He'll sort you out as soon as he gets better.’
Drummond opened the door.
‘I surely hope so but now we need to know where the money is or this place will fall apart round us,’ he lowered his voice a little, ‘and your grandpa won't get the operation he needs!’
They walked into Dermot's room and closed the door behind them. Cally sat next to Dermot on the bed.
‘Now what?’ She asked.
‘You hold his hand and I'll read out a bank or savings place and you tell me if there is a reaction.’
‘Did you get that pa?’ Cally asked and squeezed Dermot's hand.
Dermot blinked.
‘Now see if he can do two in a row?’
Cally looked round at Drummond.
‘Why?’ She asked. ‘He's not a performing bear you know!’
‘Don't be silly! It's so we can communicate with him! One blink for yes and two blinks for no.’
Cally looked back at her father.
‘Can you pa?’
Dermot blinked once. Cally watched but nothing else happened.
‘I guess he can't.’ She sighed.
Dermot blinked once again.
‘You can stop now pa it isn't doing any good!’ Cally said close to tears.
A tear ran down Dermot's cheek.
‘Just a minute, what if he was answering you by saying yes he can blink twice? Once for yes. Ask him something he will say no to!’
Cally thought for a long time before she asked. ‘Are you happy pa?’
Dermot blinked twice.
‘Yes!’ Drummond exclaimed.
‘No, that means no!’ Cally corrected.
‘I know that, I'm not stupid!’ Drummond replied. ‘I mean he can blink twice! Now we can communicate with him.’
They worked their way through the various banks and savings offices until Dermot finally blinked once.
‘Wells Fargo! Is that where the key fits Pa?’ Cally almost shouted.
Dermot blinked once. Cally wiped the tears from his eyes.
‘We did that all wrong!’ She declared. ‘We should of told him to blink once for no! It would have saved him an awful lot of blinking!’
‘You're right. We were silly.’
‘Why we? It was all your idea!’
‘At least we know where the key belongs now!’ Drummond replied, before he went in search of Dan with Cally tagging along behind.
‘The key fits a Wells Fargo safety deposit box.’ Drummond explained to Dan before Cally could say anything.
‘How do you know that?’ Dan asked.
‘We asked pa!’ Cally said quickly.
‘We found out he can blink now and used it as a signal.’ Drummond added. ‘One blink for yes and two for no. Then we went through all the banks and such.’
‘Been going a long time Wells Fargo have, when Charlie comes back with the truck we'll go in and see about opening the box.’
Drummond and Cally both sat by the window at the front of the home waiting impatiently for Charlie to return, as usual he was out visiting a woman friend. The longer they had to wait the more impatient they became.
‘I could have walked it by now!’ Cally moaned, when her mother called them to help prepare the food for the midday meal.
The food was put on the table and they helped themselves. As it was mostly old people living there, who enjoyed eating and with little else to do, it was soon gone. Cally and Drummond were clearing the plates when Charlie finally returned. Cally was all for going to Chicago straight away but her mother had other ideas.
‘Make something up for Charlie to eat Cally.’ She called from the top of the first flight of stairs. ‘He'll be hungry.’
‘But mum-’ Cally started.
‘It's alright Cally you go, I'll fetch Charlie some food.’ Archie called from the chair he was sitting in. Cally knew it would take him a lot of effort as his legs barely took his weight now and to get anywhere he had to walk with the frame.
‘Are you sure Grandpa?’ Cally asked, feeling a little torn between going and letting him do it and saving him the trouble by doing it herself. She wanted to go but she knew she should do what her mother asked and not bother her grandfather.
‘You go on and sort things. I may be slow but I get there in the end. I'll do Charlie a bite to eat.’ Archie said already on his feet. ‘He'll want to talk about his visit and it's as close as I get to a woman nowadays.’ Archie added with a smile.
Cally was sold on the idea and they all piled into the truck. When they stopped up the street from the bank Cally and Drummond jumped out.
‘You wait here with me Drummond, this is personal to Cally.’ Dan ordered.
Drummond looked to Cally, for her to invite him with her.
‘Dan's right. If we all go in there they'll think we're there to rob the place or something.’ Cally replied and she saw Drummond's face drop. ‘Don't worry I'll be back in a minute.’ She turned to go then turned back. ‘And I might be a lot richer.’
She walked up to the counter which had a sign over it telling her that it dealt with the safety deposit boxes as well as being the normal teller window.
‘I want to open our safety deposit box.’ She announced.
The woman on the counter looked at her over her horn rimmed glasses and for Cally it was instant dislike.
‘What number?’ She asked.
‘We've only got one.’ Cally answered.
‘I meant what number is your box!’ The woman replied tiredly.
‘I don't know the number, is it important?’
‘We cannot proceed without the number.’ The woman replied with the hint of a smile. ‘Next.’
Cally turned clutching the key and walked back out of the bank.
‘Well?’ Drummond asked when she returned to the truck.
‘I have to know the number of the box or we can't open it!’ Cally replied.
‘What does that mean?’ Drummond asked turning to Dan.
‘It means they won't do anything without the number of the box.’ Dan said looking down at a distraught Cally.
‘What can we do Dan?’ Cally asked.
Dan sat back in the seat of the truck and pondered the situation for a few minutes.
‘Go in again and say key number one. If you're wrong it won't open so you go out and come in again to try number two.’ He said with a smile. ‘With luck they'll get tired of doing that and let you try them all in one go, until you find the right one!’
‘You're a genius Dan.’ Cally cried and planted a big kiss on his stubble covered cheek. She ran back to the bank and followed Dan's orders. She was taken downstairs and tried to open box number one, she noted it was marked zero zero one.
The box did not open and she walked out of the bank, waved to Dan and Drummond, before she walked back in again.
‘You again?’ The woman asked, peering over her horn rimmed glasses.
‘Number two this time, or should I say Zero zero two?’ Cally replied.
‘Say what you like but you only get in once, if you get the number wrong it's not our fault.’
‘That's not fair!’
‘Fair or not you can try again tomorrow!’
Cally stood there, not wanting to go but not sure how to get things moving again. This was not going as it should!
‘Excuse me.’ A woman standing behind her called but Cally was oblivious to her.
‘Young woman, you are causing a hold up. Can you let the next customer through please?’ The woman with the horn rimmed glasses asked.
Cally was eased to one side, still a little at a loss and the business at the bank continued. She walked outside and stood there staring in. Dan and Drummond saw her and walked down to see what was wrong. Cally explained what had happened in the bank the second time. Dan scratched his head but Drummond smiled.
