Mary Dear - Redux

by de Gallegos, Alfredo

  It had been a month since Joseph’s funeral and Edward was at home, about to open his mail when the telephone rang. The operator told him that he had a call from Lieutenant Jim McCarthy and asked if it would be all right to connect him.

  ‘Hello, is that Edward Hannah?’

  Edward recognized the familiar American accent. ‘Good morning Jim, it’s Edward, good to hear your voice.’

  ‘Likewise. I have some good news that I thought you would want to hear from me personally.’

  ‘Good news? Sure. What good news?’

  ‘Well, the day after you left with Joseph’s body I went with two MP’s to arrest Major Bright on various charges, including one of tampering with your friend’s jeep, but was told he had gone to London on Army business. As soon as he returned I arrested him and he is being held pending a Court Martial. I promised I would call you, what do you think about that?’

  ‘I think it’s wonderful news. Really great news; have you a date for the hearing?’

  ‘Not yet but I will let you know the moment it’s set and will keep you up to date on the proceedings.’

  A few minutes later, after Edward thanked Jim for all his efforts and told him how much it all meant to him and Joseph’s family, they said goodbye.

  After he hung up he stood in the hallway thinking about what he’d just heard and feeling very pleased when he realized that he had been about to open his mail. He was surprised by a letter from Joseph’s solicitors informing him that he was a beneficiary of his friend’s Will and asking him to attend the reading in two weeks time. On the appointed day Edward arrived at the offices of Stafford Giggs and Browne at 30 Lincoln’s Inn Fields on the north side of the square, just next door to Essex Court Chambers. The imposing square—the largest public square in London and supposed to be one of the inspirations for Central Park in New York—is also home to many other famous institutions, notably The Royal College of Surgeons.

  Joseph’s solicitors occupied a fine building attributed to Inigo Jones that retained all its old world grandeur. Edward was ushered into the senior partner’s office, a large room with a high ceiling from which hung an elegant crystal chandelier. At the far end of the room, three tall windows framed by pale cream silk curtains, looked out onto the square.

  The walls were covered with large oil paintings of the firm’s founders. Sir John Stafford walked over to greet him. Edward noted that Becky and the children were already there; plus a few of Joseph’s other relatives and friends that he knew well.

  They were seated around a large sturdy mahogany oval table occupying one side of the room, away from Sir John’s Victorian pedestal desk. Sir John went back and took his place at the head of the table and Edward took the empty seat next to Becky.

  He was amazed to hear that his friend had left him two thousand pounds and a letter that expressed, in his usual forthright manner, the genuine love and affection that he felt for him. Edward was even sorrier, if that were possible, to have lost such a great friend and determined that he would find out all he could about the circumstances surrounding his death, particularly in view of what Jim, his American friend had told him. The idea that Joseph had died in an accident had never sat well with him.

  Edward left the solicitors office with Becky and her young children, Jane and Colin, who said they wanted to do some shopping in Harrods. When Becky mentioned that she wasn’t up to it Edward insisted she should have tea with him and they left without her. Edward promised to take her to Knightsbridge after they had finished with their shopping, called a cab and they set off towards Mayfair and tea at The Connaught in Carlos Place.

  They were seated in the tearoom when the waiter arrived with their pot of tea, some traditional finger sandwiches and a cake chariot with a tempting display of traditional tarts and farmhouse cakes.

  ‘Dear Edward, you are kind. I am exhausted, I could not bear a shopping trip and this is exactly what I need to revive me,’ she smiled at him.

  ‘Shall I be mother?’ he said.

  ‘No, please let me, and she picked up the milk jug. She looked at Edward while she poured, ‘I'm a “miffer”, milk in first... really because I'm lazy. This way I don't have to stir the tea. Did you know that in the old days the milk went in first to save the fine china from cracking with the heat of the tea alone?’ She was enjoying herself and Edward was happy to hear her sounding a little like her old self even if only for a moment.

  They’d been sitting and chatting when she suddenly remembered something, reached into her handbag and brought out a letter.

  She opened it. ‘Here it is, I very nearly forgot and I brought it specially to give to you. It’s the letter I told you Julian sent to Joe,’ and she smiled amused at the surprised look on Edward’s face. ‘I found it when I was going through some of Joe’s papers and thought you might like to have it...something of Joe’s I’m sure he’d like you to have.’ Edward had taken the letter and was listening to her, ‘...he once told me he wouldn’t have minded going off on an expedition of his own and taking you along with him, saying wouldn’t it be great if the two of you were able to make Julian’s dreams come true at last, even if he was no longer around to see it.’

  Then Becky seemed to hesitate. ‘This is a copy of the map, it’s not brought us much luck and I’m not sure I should, but you might have more luck with it. I think it’s been in our family long enough.’

  Edward took the map and thanked her. He did not know what else to say. They looked at each other and both smiled. That tender look and gentle smile conveyed more than any words could ever say.

  They left The Connaught and caught a cab to Harrods.

  Chapter Four

  September 1951

  Edward was at home when the telephone rung. He picked it up and was astonished to hear a voice he had not heard since the end of the war.

  ‘Hello old man. I bet you don’t know who this is?’

  ‘Peregrine? Peregrine Beddows. Good Lord, where on earth have you been?’

  Edward’s voice betrayed the genuine astonishment that he felt.

  ‘How’d you get my number?’

  ‘Well I took pot luck and thought I’d try your old place just in case you hadn’t moved and, as for your number, Bayswater 1939’s a bit of a hard one to forget, old boy,’ he said.

  ‘As to where I’ve been well, not in Blighty or you’d have heard from me sooner; but listen Teddy, I’m not going to be here much longer and I’d love to catch up if you can spare the time.’

  ‘No one’s called me that in years,’ he laughed, ‘of course I’d love to see you; where are you staying, as if I need to ask?’

  ‘You guessed it. Boodle’s as always, family tradition you know.’ They chatted on and agreed to meet the next day at his club.

  Edward set off early for his date with Peregrine. He wanted to drop into Liberty first to buy a present for his sister’s birthday. He headed off towards Oxford Street, carrying a bag with the cashmere sweater he had bought for her, and was passing the London Palladium remembering that, just last spring, he’d taken Becky to see Judi Garland’s debut—when a young man walked out of the theatre arm in arm with a beautiful woman and bumped right into him. It was only a moment but the man so resembled his old friend that he just stood there frozen while they excused themselves and went on their way. Funny how some things have a way of bringing back the past in an instant and make you relive a long lost memory.

  The experience was slightly unnerving, and made him realize that Joseph had been gone six years and that Becky and her children had managed to come to terms with their loss and move on with their lives.

  It was only he who was still, somehow, stuck in the past. He determined that he really needed to rethink his life and come up with something a bit more exciting than his present job at the bank. He walked on to Oxford Street and hailed a cab. The cabbie dropped him off outside the club in St. James’s Street.

  Peregrine was waiting for him in the smoking-room and got up the moment he saw Edwar
d walk in.

  ‘Edward dear boy, you have not changed a bit,’ he greeted his old friend with an outstretched hand.

  ‘A bit older, a bit wiser I hope,’ he said, ‘and neither have you dear friend, I guess we’re just a pair of Peter Pans.’

  Peregrine led Edward to a quiet corner and they settled into two comfortable armchairs. He looked well, tanned and fit as a fiddle.

  ‘So old friend, do tell; where have you been hiding?’

  ‘That’s a long story. The short answer is that I’ve been in Ecuador. Guayaquil, to be precise,’ he said leaving Edward completely bemused.

  ‘That’s most extraordinary; I didn’t have you pegged as the adventurous type. I’d rather thought you would have stayed in England and joined your father’s firm.’ Edward remembered his friend’s father as a rather successful businessman in ‘The City’.

  ‘I might have,’ he said, ‘but I met this rather wonderful woman at a party in London you see and she happens to be Ecuadorian. She was visiting England with her family and I was quite smitten by her. I simply could not let her go, so I followed her to her country and, to cut a long story short, we got married four years ago and have two children. One of each.’

  Peregrine had always had a reputation as a man about town but still the thought of him married with children and living in a foreign country was quite something to take in.

  ‘Well, well. Congratulations. Why, that’s wonderful—it’s no wonder you’re looking so marvellous, she clearly looks after you too well.’

  ‘She does do that, but Teddy, what of you? What have you been up to?’

  Peregrine had been in the secret service during the war and there was not much he did not know about what had gone on. He’d also known Joseph but had not been a close friend.

  ‘Me, well, what can I say? After the war I stayed with my sister in Pinner for a while and tried to find some work. There wasn’t much about, you know. Then an old friend from my regiment got me a job in his bank and I’ve been with Coutts in the city ever since.’ His eyes looked around the room avoiding his friend’s inquisitive look.

  Peregrine detected a slight air of dissatisfaction and thought he’d dig a little. ‘Banking eh! Well that sounds exciting, high finance and all that. So you’re set for life then?’

  Edward hadn’t seen Peregrine in ages but he’d always been a good listener and now he thought he might use him as a sounding board. ‘Not really sure. I’m Assistant Manager now and I guess I could make Manager when Gooding retires, but I’m not so sure that’s all there is to life. I mean, look at you—married with a young family and in far off lands, now that’s a bit more exciting if you ask me.’

  Peregrine rubbed his chin considering what he was about to say.

  ‘Look here Teddy; I’ve got a damn good job in Guayaquil. I’m manager of the shipyard there and I’m looking for someone I can trust to be my assistant. That’s part of the reason I’m in London,’ he paused to let Edward take in what he’d just said before going on. ‘Would you consider taking on the job? I know we’ve hardly seen each other since the war but I know I can trust you. What do you say Teddy, would you give it a go?’

  Edward had not imagined that an offer like that would drop on his lap—today of all days, just when he’d been re-evaluating his life and future prospects. Peregrine could see the effect that his offer had caused and pressed him.

  ‘Come on Teddy, it’s not so bad you know and I think you would love Guayaquil; chance to put the past behind and who knows, you might meet a lovely señorita and... good Lord, I didn’t think to ask. Are you married?’ Edward saw the embarrassed look on his friend’s face and said:

  ‘Dear me, no; I mean...I’ve not had much of a chance really...but Peregrine do you think I’d be up to the job? Shipyards are not really my thing you know.’

  ‘Absolute doddle old boy and remember I’ll be there to help you.’

  Edward’s face suddenly brightened and his smile said it all. He had made a decision and one that he was sure would change his life for the better. At last, he was stepping out of the dull life he’d made for himself and setting off on a great adventure.

  When Peregrine saw his friend’s happy face he said: ‘Do I take it that’s a yes?’

  ‘Absolutely.’

  ‘That’s wonderful Teddy. I know I haven’t mentioned salary, conditions or anything like that but you won’t regret it, I’ll make sure of that. This calls for a celebration,’ he said, and ordered a bottle of his favourite champagne.

  When Edward left Boodle’s it was with a distinct spring in his step and an altogether brighter outlook on his life.

  Edward had not stopped making plans since his meeting with Peregrine a month ago. Edwina had not taken the news well; but he’d always had a way of getting around his sister and this time was no different.

  A month later found Edward at home in the process of having a clear out. He’d gone to the storeroom cupboard in his flat and dug out his old case with the bits and pieces he’d kept from the war. He found his recent past stretching before him in the form of his old Montague Burton demob suit. Searching amongst the stuff inside he found some papers he’d kept, old bills, letters from Edwina and in amongst that lot something caught his eye that, though he’d not seen it in a long time, he recognized at once. It was Dieter’s little black notebook.

  Well now, here was something from the past that brought all the sad memories of his friend’s death flooding back. Tucked in amongst its pages, as well as his friends interrogation notes, he found Julian’s letter to Joe and the treasure map that Becky had given him; yet another mystery, pirate plunder no less. But what of the Gold Train? Whatever became of it? Could it be that that treasure lay somewhere undiscovered all this time? Surely not...but then, he’d not heard or read anything about the missing carriage since the end of the war.

  Edward had been studying Dieter’s little black notebook while enjoying his usual gin and tonic before lunch when he accidentally knocked the glass over spilling some of the contents over it. It was a stupid accident and he quickly mopped up the liquid with his handkerchief. No harm done he thought as he inspected the damage. The ink had run a bit, that was all, but then he saw something he had never noticed before—and heaven knows he’d studied that book closely enough so many times—yet there it was, a faint outline on the inside front cover coming through the page. If he hadn’t got it wet he may never have seen it. What was written there? He needed a magnifying glass. When he looked more closely something else struck him. A page had been expertly folded back and stuck to form the inside front cover of the book but its real purpose was to hide what had been written there. A good hiding place thought Edward.

  He got his Swiss Army knife and selected the small blade. Carefully, so as not to damage anything that might be there, he proceeded to slice through the page so as to reveal the real inside front cover of the book. Finally he was done.

  What he saw startled him: A set of coordinates. As he studied them it dawned on him that he was looking at the location of the items listed in the black notebook, the treasures looted from the Gold Train.

  Edward sat back astonished. What had eluded him for so long, and baffled Joseph too, had been there all the time. It was a lot to take in at once. He wished he could share the moment with his friend. He started pacing around the room thinking, and the more he thought the less he knew what to do. This was crazy; he forced himself to calm down and consider what was to be done. Step number one was to determine the position indicated by the coordinates. For that he needed a chart and he knew just where to get one. Lunch forgotten, Edward put his tweed jacket on and tucked the book in the inside coat pocket securing it in place with the tab and buttoning it down. He was taking no chances losing it now. He took the stairs two at a time, got to the bottom, and nearly knocked over his landlady who was coming in with some groceries from the corner shop. He bent down to pick up her ration book, said sorry and handed it back to her. Before she could reply, he went out
the door. Edward stood looking around and spotted a cab that had just dropped a fare on the opposite side. He ran across, gave the cabbie the address for Stanfords, jumped in, and settled back to think about what his next move would be. Pretty soon they were there;

  Stanfords went back to 1827 and was the brainchild of one Edward Stanford who had decided to be the most prominent seller of maps in the country, after noticing the growth of foreign travel and the impact that British colonialism was bound to have on his fellow countrymen. His business, initially at 55 Charing Cross Road, grew, and forty-six years later moved to 12 Long Acre, where it has remained.

  After leaping out of the cab and paying the fare, Edward went into the imposing building. Once inside he looked around, taking in the place which, as usual, was busy with shoppers looking at charts spread out on the many wooden plan chests to be found dotted around the ground floor. He found an assistant and gave him the coordinates to enable him to find the part of the world that they referred to. When he had narrowed it down he asked for the appropriate large-scale chart of that area and it was brought to him. The young clerk excused himself while Edward spread the chart on the plan chest and took a long hard look at the place indicated by the coordinates. He stood back smiling and thought that fate had contrived to make life easy for him this time round and he took this to be a good omen.

  Edward’s job in Guayaquil awaited him and he decided that he would take up his position. It would not be fair on Peregrine if he didn’t turn up, but as soon as he got there he would explain that something personal had come up that prevented him from continuing on in the job. He would thank him for his kindness in offering him the position and apologise for letting him down but he was sure he’d understand. Naturally he would give his friend enough time to find a replacement and, as soon as a suitable candidate was found to take his place, his adventure would begin.