by David Wilson
‘Abby!’ It was Alasdair’s loud voice shouting down the phone. ‘I’m at your house but you’re not here, or not up, or I don’t know what but I came to join you for breakfast. I’m going to have a quick walk around the block to try to ease my back off. If I’m back first I’ll put a chalk mark on the door but if you’re back first, well, you know. See you in a bit!’ She hung up the phone and checked the time of the call. Ten minutes ago; at the speed he’s walking these days, I’ll be back long before he is.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Abigail put two slices of bread into the toaster and some bacon under the grill and then set out some plates and cutlery before going to look out of the bay window at the front of the lounge. After a few minutes she saw Alasdair shuffling up the street and went out to let him in. ‘How’s your back?’ she asked.
‘A little bit better,’ he grimaced. ‘I think the walk helped a bit. Are you just up?’
‘Shhh,’ Abigail said in hushed tones as she gestured him in. ‘Emma’s still sleeping upstairs. Late night last night at the restaurant; opening night.’
‘How did it go? Did you get a free meal?’ Abigail shook her head.
‘No, she doesn’t want anyone she knows coming yet, not until they have a few nights under their belt. I’ve got a table reserved for Monday night for myself, you and Sophie. Thought it might be a nice surprise and help her to relax once the high tea’s over. She must be wound up like a clock this morning.’
‘She was up and out before I woke up. I had to sleep in the spare room again with my back. I think she has quite a lot of meetings and final preparations to make today. Have you had breakfast yet?’
She gave him a wry glance. ‘No, not yet. But it’s on. Come through. I’ve got some news on Milton Scott which I think is very interesting.’
Abigail filled Alasdair in on her email, much to his astonishment, ‘Absolutely genius, genius Abigail,’ he enthused, and was even more impressed when she showed him the replies that had come back.
‘Look,’ she laid them out on the table, ‘this one here says that a set of rare coins was stolen from a house in York. The owners had just had them valued at two thousand pounds, and then a few days later they were stolen in a break-in. Look at this bit, where they had them valued.’
Alasdair looked a little closer. ‘Surprise, surprise,’ he said, ‘itsworthwhat.com’.
‘These others are the same; although some of the rest don’t actually mention the website some of them do mention that police are trying to trace a van seen in the area. Or some say the owners were hoping to sell them and it was really bad luck that they had been stolen since they needed the money to pay for a holiday or debts or some such thing. And what do you do before you sell something?’
Alasdair slapped the table. ‘You get them valued. And where do you get things valued cheaply?’ he asked.
‘Milton’s website,’ Abigail replied. ‘It just seems to fit. People put their stuff onto the website to get it valued, Milton or one of his cronies keeps a check for the good stuff, and then they arrange to burgle them. If they’re careful and spread the jobs around the country then who’s going to put two and two together between the different police forces that something bigger is going on? It’s brilliant. I bet those people we saw in his house that night are the ones who burgled you and they must travel the country doing these jobs.’
Alasdair let out a whistle. ‘He could be raking in a fortune when you think about some of the things people have in their homes; family heirlooms, antiques and the like. These are just the ones we’ve found out about but how many others didn’t make it to the papers or went unnoticed when your people were checking? That’s enough for me, we need to get onto the police.’
‘Hang on Alasdair, I promised Sophie if we found anything out we’d wait until after the event before we go to the police.’
He looked puzzled. ‘When were you speaking to Sophie?’
‘Yesterday, I bumped into her in town and we had a coffee. I think she’s ready to buckle under all the pressure of this you know. She’s up to her eyes organising this event, which is being talked about every day on the local radio station, and now we find this out. Can you imagine? All she’s worked on for the past four months is about to collapse about her ears. Unless …’
‘What?’
‘We wait. What difference will one day make? Then on Monday we can hand everything over to the police, let them take over.’ Alasdair stood up and started stretching. ‘That way the event goes off and is a triumph, Sophie can relax, and then Milton gets arrested.’
‘But that man, that arrogant blow hard of a man still gets to lord it over everyone tomorrow. No, I can’t take that. He’ll be sitting up their like some sort of King and I’ll know exactly what he’s like. Everyone needs to know what a fraud and a criminal he is. He must have got away with this for ages!’
Abigail tried to calm him down. ‘Yes, he must, and it’s a terrible thing. But we’re not doing this for him, we’re doing it for Sophie, remember? One day won’t make a huge difference. We’ll tell the police we didn’t come sooner because we couldn’t believe it ourselves but then after seeing him on Sunday we thought it only right to go to them with our suspicions.’
Alasdair sat down again but was clearly unhappy. ‘I don’t know, he makes my blood boil.’ Abigail gave him a stern look. ‘But OK, one day and then we’re dropping him in it.’
They finished up and Abigail showed Alasdair out and watched him until he walked around the corner towards his house. As she came back in and closed the front door, Emma was coming down the stairs, still in her pyjamas. ‘Morning. How did things go last night?’ Abigail asked.
Emma smiled. ‘Oh, quite well, do you want to hear about it?’
‘Absolutely. I’ve a bit of news to tell you myself.’
Chapter Thirty-Five
Alasdair walked slowly home, taking small steps since his back ached persistently again. I’m going to need some more balm on this today, should have known it wouldn’t have got better this quickly. As he was approaching his house he heard a voice calling his name. It was Dorothy Grey waving from her lounge window and gesturing him over, and since he was without any purpose for the moment he thought it neighbourly to go over and have a chat, hopefully with a cup of tea, some cake and sympathy. The door opened as he arrived and her small eyes twinkled as she invited him in. ‘Mr Mills, nice to see you. I wondered if you had any news of your slippers? You look very tired. Are you unwell?’ Alasdair groaned as he slumped down into a chair.
‘Mrs Grey, if I told you it all you wouldn’t believe me!’
‘I’ll put the kettle on and you can try me, Mr Mills.’ She hurried off into the kitchen and came back shortly after with two mugs of tea and a plate of chocolate biscuits. Alasdair filled her in with events thus far, both on the condition of his back, his plans for domination of the lumbar-soothing market, and last but by no means least, the story of Milton Scott and his criminal goings on. ‘I don’t believe it,’ she said after listening for half an hour.
‘I told you you wouldn’t, I can scarcely believe it myself. To crown it all Abigail has agreed with my wife that we won’t go to the police yet but wait until after the high tea event tomorrow. I’m almost ready to burst thinking of that man waltzing around there tomorrow when we know he’s running a criminal empire across the country.’ Dorothy Grey had a ponderous look on her face.
‘Would we call it an empire, do we think Mr Mills? It doesn’t sound like he’s quite at the empire stage yet, although I do see your point about him attending the park tomorrow as the guest of honour. Not very honourable at all if you ask me.’
Alasdair snapped his fingers. ‘You’ve hit the nail on the head there; he’s not very honourable. He’ll be the guest of dishonour. But what can I do about it? I promised Sophie albeit by proxy. Just need to grit my teeth and bear this one I think. Anyway, will you be coming along? It should be quite a good show by all accounts, and I’ll definitely be samp
ling the high tea.’
Dorothy frowned. ‘I’m afraid not; I don’t really get out much these days so I won’t be able to make it this time. I’m sure I’ll hear it clearly though, since the stage looks big enough and there are enough speakers to project the music over half the city.’
Alasdair looked puzzled. ‘But I thought you didn’t really get out now. You’ve seen the stage?’
She smiled. ‘Oh, not in person no, but it seems someone has deemed it wise to install a camera in the park which streams it onto the internet. It went live yesterday and I’ve been able to see the stage and some of the tents too. Look I’ll show you.’ She went over to the table in the bay window and tapped on the keys before sliding it over towards Alasdair. ‘See? The picture quality is really quite good. Isn’t it amazing what they can do now? It will almost feel like I’m there anyway.’ Alasdair wasn’t really listening, still lost in a little world of bitterness about the whole affair. Suddenly her voice caught his attention.
‘What?’
‘I said, isn’t that Mrs Mills in the park?’
‘Oh probably, I expect she’ll be there all day. What’s she doing?’
‘Look for yourself, Mr Mills.’ She turned the screen to face him and he squinted at the figure in the middle of the grass before the stage. Sophie, but not just Sophie. She was talking to the person standing very close to her, who was unmistakeably Milton Scott. Alasdair’s face seemed to glide up the colour chart to a scarlet hue.
‘What on earth is she doing with him! Bloody cheek.’
‘Well, I’m sure they have things to go over before tomorrow, last-minute details and all that.’ They watched, Alasdair still generating some heat from his face. ‘Look I think they’re finishing.’ Sophie seemed to be walking away when Milton Scott walked after her and put a hand on her back and said one final thing before turning and walking in the other direction.
‘Did he just put his hand on her as well? That’s it. As if it’s not bad enough that he’s completely shady, he’s going to start taking liberties with my wife! Well, not if I’ve got anything to say about it.’ He started puffing and groaning, struggling to get up from his chair. ‘I’m going right around there to have this out with him, once and for all.’ His face had a look of complete focus and determination and he was intent on storming around there immediately. In reality, however, by the time he had gotten up from his chair and made it to the front door, the elderly Mrs Grey was waiting there holding it open for him. ‘Not a word about this to anyone please Mrs Grey. I need to make a quick stop at home first and then he’ll get what for!’ She watched as he hobbled down the path and across the road.
Chapter Thirty-Six
‘So how was the food?’ Abigail asked as they were sitting at the kitchen table. ‘Would you recommend it?’
‘Absolutely. Proper comfort food, lots of hearty casseroles and things like that and the desserts, sorry the puddings, Alec doesn’t do desserts, were to die for. You’ll love it I’m sure.’
Abigail smiled. ‘I’m looking forward to it. It sounds like it’s got a good chance. The restaurant that was there before didn’t last too long but then I don’t think they put enough effort into marketing. If the discount you’ve offered to the police works out then it might turnout to be quite lucrative. I hope what’s his name was grateful?’
‘Alec? Oh he was really pleased – should be good for the business taking off. He’s a nice guy to work for and I get on quite well with him. Not to mention …’ she stopped mid-sentence and looked a little sheepish.
Abigail looked at her curiously. ‘Not to mention … what exactly?’
Emma was smiling now. ‘One of the police who had come to try out the restaurant last night started talking to me after the, well, the incident, and he asked me out on a date.’
Abigail looked impressed. ‘That was quick work; you’ve only been single for a few days. Do you think you’re ready for taking the plunge again?’
‘Probably not, but then I thought what the hell. He seemed like a really nice guy and I thought that this was maybe fate lending a hand so I took a chance. I don’t really believe in karma and all that but if I hadn’t walked out on John, I wouldn’t be living here with you, wouldn’t have gone for the job and not met Chris. As much as it still feels like there’s a lot to sort out, maybe this is the world giving me a lucky break.’
‘You could be right, and who are we to meddle with what the world wants?’ Abigail relaxed back into her chair. ‘I’ve often thought about why things happen but we can’t control them and goodness knows I’ve spent a lot of time in the last year trying to figure that one out. But maybe we just have to accept it and try to move on. Have you given any more thought to what you’re going to do long term?’
She shook her head. ‘No ideas at the moment.’
‘Well, as I said, you’re welcome to stay here as long as you want. I’ve quite enjoyed having company in the house the last few days.’
Emma smiled. ‘I would like to stay for a while if that is OK? The only thing I worry about is it’s all working out so well for me it almost seems unfair, I mean you don’t get much out of it. I just hope your friends, Alasdair for example, won’t think I’m taking advantage?’
‘Good God,’ Abigail said, ‘don’t worry about him. Anyway as we’ve just agreed we can’t argue with what the world wants and this would seem to be what it wants for us at the moment.’ Emma smiled.
‘Thanks. If it’s OK then I’ve arranged to meet with Chris this afternoon and I was going to ask him to pick me up from here?’
Abigail nodded to indicate she had no problem. ‘Of course, if you can’t trust a policeman who can you trust? He seems keen anyway.’
‘He does. Although with me working at the restaurant again tonight and Chris on duty at High Tea in the Park tomorrow, this was the best chance we’ve got this weekend.’
Abigail got up from her chair. ‘I’ll probably be out later as well. Speaking of not having any control over things, I need to try and keep Alasdair occupied to stop him getting into mischief.’
‘Why? What’s he done?’
‘Oh nothing yet,’ she put the dishes in the sink, ‘but I need to try and keep it that way. Wait until I tell you the latest …’
Alasdair stood outside the black iron gates and peered through them and up the long driveway. I wonder if he can see me just now on one of his security cameras. He might still be out or bothering my wife at the park, maybe I should have gone there first. Don’t want to get in Sophie’s way today though, she would not be pleased.
Just as he was wondering whether to buzz the intercom or go up to the park after all, given that those were the only two options available to him since scaling the gates was definitely not a possible course of action, there was a crackle of electricity and a creak as the gates started to open. Huh? Maybe my luck’s in, he thought, as he started up the drive. If he doesn’t know I’m here then I’ll be able to catch him offguard and see what he’s got to say for himself.
At the front door he stood for a moment, psyching himself up. Although he was used to confrontation from his days as a solicitor, not to mention having to deal with those of a criminal nature, he was now retired and was out of the habit of this type of thing. There wasn’t much call for this in his daily routine and you forgot sometimes that there was a whole world going on that you never see. People all living their lives, for good or bad, but unless you were confronted with it then you didn’t see it. Yes, you might see people on the street and guess as to their circumstances, but you would never really know. Now here he was stood on the doorstep of someone they believed was involved in fairly widespread crime and it suddenly dawned on him that this might not be a one-person job. Maybe I should wait like I agreed, after all it’s not like he did anything that bad on the camera, and I did give my word to Abby. I should have thought of this before now, but then what’s the worst that could happen? And if people like me don’t make a stand against people like him then where
will the world be? This is a matter of principal and I’m well known for my stand on such matters. He grabbed a hold of the door knocker and rapped it forcefully three times against the door. Moment of truth, he thought.
‘All arranged?’ Abigail asked. Emma nodded as she came back into the lounge and watched as Abigail put her coat on and fastened it up.
‘Yep, he’ll be here at one.’
‘Hope you have a nice time. I’m going round to see Alasdair and maybe suggest lunch to keep him occupied and out of mischief.’ Emma looked slightly alarmed. ‘Don’t worry we won’t cramp your style. I’ll suggest we go outside the town so we’ll be well away from the possibility of bumping into Milton Scott.’
‘That’s good,’ Emma said relaxing again. ‘I’ll maybe see you later but if not I’ll be back late again after work.’
‘Okey doke. Have fun.’ Abigail stopped at the front door to pick up yet another plastic charity bag and slot it into the rack. That’s seven now, when are they ever going to come back for these? She pulled the door closed behind her and set off around to Alasdair’s house. It was still dry but the clouds had come over and the day was now a little overcast, giving it a slight chill for this time of year. Not quite time for lighting a fire she thought, although the smell of lums wafting through the air clearly meant that not everyone shared her thoughts on this.
She walked up the garden path and took a quick glance inside the bay window as she passed it but there was no sign of life. She gave the doorbell a press and waited. The outer storm doors were closed which was unusual if Alasdair or Sophie were in but maybe it was just him being more security conscious now. She pressed the doorbell again and gave a knock on the door and waited for a minute but still no answer. Well that settles that then, he’s out somewhere. Maybe he’s off to the Marches to see if he can terrorise the carbon woman again with his ideas for a greener afterlife. I’ll have a wander round and see if I bump into him in the town. She turned to leave but a movement caught her attention. A woman across the road was waving to her from inside her front door so Abigail walked over and smiled at her. ‘Hello. Did you want me?’ Dorothy Grey introduced herself.
