Don't Feed the Rat!

by Annie Appleton

  My sister Clara was sitting in front of her digs. Her ears perked up when she saw who was coming. Running up she gave both her boys a clip around the ears. ‘Don’t you ever be out this late again. I was worried sick. Go to sleep, right now!’

  I watched them go into their digs and knew the boys would do it again. The lure of being with the charismatic Cecil was just too great.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Jacob studied the beetle through his magnifying glass. It was a beautiful iridescent green. He’d never seen one like this before. It needed more studying. He pulled his notebook from the pocket of his lab coat and started drawing the beetle. He would look it up in his bug book at home.

  A chill wind blew down the street. He’d been on his way to Dave’s house for a bit of toast and a coffee, but he’d seen this beauty on a garden wall instead.

  Sirens sounded in the distance. Nothing strange. The police and ambulances often took Milbury Road as a shortcut when responding to an emergency. They sounded louder and louder, then abruptly stopped as if their destination was nearby. What could have happened?

  A door opened and someone walked out. Jacob ignored it. He was still on all fours, sketching the beetle.

  ‘I’ll have a look at what’s going on,’ came the voice of a man. He walked down the path and as he turned on to the pavement he nearly tripped over Jacob. ‘Whoa, what are you doing there?’

  Jacob got up and dusted his knees. It was Ian Fraser. ‘Sorry, Ian. I saw a beetle.’

  Ian laughed. He glanced at the window of his own house and grabbed Jacob by the shoulder, steering him down the road, towards where the sirens stopped. ‘Not to worry. I understand. I see some interesting beetles at the allotments sometimes.’

  ‘You’re a beetle enthusiast as well?’

  Ian didn’t answer. He peered down the road. ‘What do you think happened?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Jacob said. ‘I don’t really care.’

  ‘Let’s have a look.’

  Jacob followed, dragging his feet.

  Something had definitely happened. Police cars were parked haphazardly across Milbury Road, their blue lights still flashing. People milled about.

  As Jacob and Ian got closer, Jacob saw that whatever had happened seemed to have happened at the allotments. A crime scene tape was spun across the entrance. Onlookers had already gathered and hovered near the tape. A policeman watched them closely, making certain no unauthorised people crossed it.

  The first thing that sprang to Jacob’s mind was if this was going to interfere with him spending his free Sunday in his allotment shed, continuing his experiment. It had better not.

  Dave and his little West Highland terrier Jet were among the onlookers. The dog sat at Dave’s feet. It looked at Jacob and heaved a sigh.

  ‘Where were you?’ Dave said. ‘We were expecting you for breakfast.’

  Jacob shrugged. ‘I saw a beetle.’

  Dave rolled his eyes.

  ‘What’s happened here?’ Jacob said.

  ‘It seems that Godric Ainsworth was found dead at his allotment.’

  Jacob stared at Dave. His eyebrows up, nearly touching his thinning grey hair. ‘Godric? Dead?’

  Dave nodded. ‘From what I understand it was under suspicious circumstances. A dog walker found him this morning.’

  ‘It was that girl who lives at the bottom of Alveston Road,’ Mr Jefferson said. ‘You know, the one with the Border collie and the red hair.’

  ‘She got a real fright,’ Mrs Jefferson said. ‘She’s talking to the police right now.’

  Jacob looked across the tape. Godric’s allotment was around the bend, so there wasn’t much to see. Jacob tried to get his head around the fact that Godric was dead. He didn’t feel much emotion about it, but no one deserved to get murdered.

  ‘How did he die?’

  Dave shook his head. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Are you happy now?’ a voice hissed in Jacob’s ear. Startled, he turned around and saw Priscilla standing right behind him. Her face was pale, but maybe that was because she didn’t seem to be wearing any make-up.

  ‘Godric being gone would make life easier for you, Jacob Hicks,’ she said. ‘But I will see to it that that won’t happen.’ Priscilla turned around and stalked off. Jacob watched her retreating back and sighed. Should he be worried about her threat? Nah, probably better to ignore it. He had other things on his mind.

  ‘Can I get some space, please?’ Jacob turned around and saw the tall frame of Detective Chief Inspector McDermott sticking above the crowd, trying to forge his way through. ‘Good grief, it’s always the same.’

  McDermott’s eyes locked onto Jacob, who tried to pretend he didn’t see the inspector.

  ‘Hicks! I should have expected to find you here.’ He looked Jacob up and down, while chewing on one end of his bushy moustache. ‘Always the curious little professor, aren’t you? Gossiping your head off.’

  Jacob’s cheeks burned. An angry retort welled up inside him, but McDermott had already moved on.

  ‘Stupid twat,’ Jacob said. ‘I don’t gossip.’

  ‘Ignore him,’ Dave said. ‘He’s just trying to rile you.’

  ‘Well, it’s working!’ He sighed and watched as McDermott reached the tape. The policeman held it up for him, but before the inspector could duck under it, Priscilla grabbed him by the arm. She animatedly talked to him and pointed in Jacob’s direction. McDermott listened to Priscilla for a bit, then quickly scribbled something in his notebook. Jacob had a bad feeling about it.

  He turned back to Dave. ‘Do you think it’s possible for me to enter the allotments? I need to reach my shed.’

  ‘I shouldn’t think so.’ He pointed at the scene of crime people. ‘They will want to collect as much evidence as they can.’

  ‘Hmmm. Maybe the entrance at the top of the hill is still open. After all, that’s about two hundred yards from Godric’s allotment at the bottom. I’m going to give it a try.’ He waved a hand at Dave.

  Jacob made his way further along Milbury Road, then turned left into Alveston Road. Like the allotments, the road rose steeply up the side of Milbury Hill. The large terraced houses on either side followed the contour of the hill. The ones on the left had gardens that backed on to the allotments. Wasn’t this where Priscilla lived? It would be something for her to show off that she was able to afford a large two-storey Victorian terraced house, with its pretty gabled front. No doubt she’d laugh in his face if she knew his house was a small workers’ cottage. More proof of his ineptitude.

  A little out of breath Jacob reached the top of Alveston Road. Here was the top entrance to the allotments, but Jacob was out of luck. Constable Abe Monday stood guarding the gate that led on to the allotments, his young face eager and alert.

  Abe watched Jacob come closer and held up a hand. ‘Sorry, Jacob, but I can’t let you get on.’

  ‘Why not?’ Jacob pointed down the hill. ‘Godric’s allotment is far away from here and mine is right at the top.’

  Abe placed his feet a bit further apart and crossed his hands behind his back. ‘Orders from McDermott.’

  Knowing he didn’t have a chance, Jacob bent a bit closer to Abe and asked, ‘Do you know what happened?’

  Abe relaxed a bit. ‘It looks like Godric was strangled.’

  ‘Really?’

  A young woman approached Jacob and Abe. It was Emily. There was a spring in her step and she smiled widely. Jacob had never seen her smile like that. It disconcertingly clashed with her black outfit and black rimmed eyes. As she came closer Jacob noticed she had three earrings in one ear and two in the other.

  Emily petted one of her rats. ‘Can’t believe something exciting finally happened in this sleepy hole of a neighbourhood.’

  ‘Don’t say that.’ Abe frowned at her. ‘Murder is never exciting.’

  ‘You can’t tell me you’re not happy something interesting happened.’ Emily studied Abe’s face, a twinkle in her eye.

  ‘We
ll, uh...’

  ‘Better than chasing graffiti sprayers, isn’t it?’ She studied the sleeve of his uniform jacket. ‘Did you manage to get the paint out?’

  Abe stared at her, his face turning red. Emily stuck out her tongue at him and walked off.

  Jacob smiled. ‘So, she’s stalking you as well, is she?’

  ‘I hope she’s not going to do anything stupid,’ Abe said. The two men watched Emily walking down the street.

  ‘Indeed.’ Jacob waved a hand at Abe. ‘I’d better get going as well.’

  ‘Stay off the allotments,’ Abe warned. ‘You don’t want to get into trouble with McDermott again.’

  Dot had a tight grip on Jacob’s arm they walked arm in arm down Milbury Road. Dot threw occasional glances over her shoulder as if she was afraid they were being followed.

  ‘It’s really horrible what happened this morning, isn’t it?’ Dot said. This was the fifth time she had brought up Godric’s murder in the fifteen minutes that they had been walking the short distance from her house to where they were.

  ‘It is, Mum,’ Jacob said. He patted her hand. ‘But I don’t really think you have to worry too much. I’m sure he’s not going to murder you while you walk down the street in the middle of the day.’

  Dot sighed. ‘I know, but I’m still glad you’re coming with me to Florrie’s house.’ She looked over her shoulder again. ‘I don’t think I would have dared to go alone.’

  Jacob smiled at her. ‘No problem, Mum. Glad to help you out, you know that.’

  It was Dot’s turn to pat his hand. ‘I know, dear. Always much appreciated.’

  They walked on in silence.

  As they neared Florrie’s house, Jacob was reminded how close his mother’s friend lived to the entrance from the allotments. Right across from it, actually.

  As if reading his mind, Dot said, ‘Florrie lives very close to the place where that poor man was murdered, doesn’t she. How horrible. Did you know the police actually came to her door to ask if she’d seen anything? She told me herself on the phone.’ She glanced at the entrance to the allotments and shuddered. It was still taped off and some police vehicles were parked nearby.

  ‘And had she?’ Jacob said. ‘Seen anything?’

  ‘Oh, no. Apparently it happened in the middle of the night and Florrie was fast asleep. She always takes a generous nightcap before she goes to bed and never hears anything. Slept right through that horrible storm in April, you remember?’

  ‘Well, I guess she’s used to hearing noise, living on a busy road.’

  Ian Fraser came out the allotment entrance. He saw Jacob and Dot and crossed the road.

  ‘Good afternoon,’ he said. ‘What a to-do. I was just interviewed by the police about the murder and asked if I’d seen anything. Apparently they are interviewing all the tenants closest to Godric’s allotment.’

  Jacob shrugged. ‘That makes sense, I guess.’

  ‘Isn’t it a horrible thing to have happened,’ Dot said. ‘And right here in Milbury, where nothing bad ever happens.’

  ‘You are right, Mrs Hicks,’ Ian said. ‘Hard to imagine that these things happen.’

  Jacob’s attention was drawn back to the entrance of the allotments. Inspector McDermott was coming out, escorting Hal Simms. How odd. Why would the henchman have been stalking about the allotments? Or had McDermott interviewed him as well? Hal didn’t have an allotment. Nor did he come from York. This was strange.

  * * *

  Paddy

  Something was going on. There were far too many two-leggeds about on the allotments. I was watching the commotion from the garden wall with Vinnie, Pete and Eddy.

  ‘They just appeared this morning,’ Vinnie said. ‘Woke me up. It was most annoying.’

  ‘Well, that would serve you right for having your digs so close to the road,’ I said. ‘Why not move up the hill like a normal rat?’

  Pete nodded. ‘Yeah, why not? It’s much better up here.’

  ‘Why would this bother you guys?’ Vinnie said. ‘I like living at the bottom of the hill. It’s much too quiet at the top and there are too many rats.’

  ‘But you have been complaining that this two-legged keeps poking around in your digs,’ I said.

  ‘I’ve decided he’s harmless.’

  I shrugged. Whatever suited Vinnie. He had always been a bit different. You’d only have to look at his fur. It was much darker than ours, who were born on Milbury Hill. Vinnie claimed this was because of his Italian heritage, but I didn’t believe it. He was born in Hull of all places!

  ‘Is it the two-legged with the white coat?’ Eddy said. ‘He’s always poking around everywhere.’

  Vinnie nodded. ‘That’s the one.’

  Pete’s ears twitched and he pawed his whiskers. ‘I’m certain all this commotion is going to scare all the slugs, snails and worms away.’

  ‘Why would that be?’ I said.

  ‘It can’t be good to have too many two-leggeds hanging about in one spot.’ He hopped from one leg to the other and back. ‘And just when I’m getting hungry.’

  Vinnie and I both rolled our eyes.

  ‘I saw that,’ Pete said. ‘Surely you must be hungry by now. We haven’t eaten all morning!’

  I realised Pete was right. I was actually getting pretty hungry. ‘Let’s find some food away from the allotments,’ I said.

  We scurried along the wall.

  ‘I know a garden that still has some bird food,’ Pete said.

  ‘Good,’ Eddy said from the rear. ‘I feel like some peanuts.’

  I wondered if Older Female’s vendetta was going to reach the gardens as well. I smiled to myself. Pete would be heartbroken.

  When we reached Pete’s garden, we jumped off the wall. He was right. There was a nice spread of bird food laid out for us. We pounced on it.

  ‘Pity there’s no fat balls,’ Pete said. He mouth was full, as he was stuffing it with pieces of bread and peanuts at the same time. Then he sniffed the air. ‘Can you guys smell that?’

  We all raised our noses and sniffed. Eddy wrinkled his nose. ‘That’s disgusting,’ he said.

  ‘Not disgusting,’ Pete said. ‘Yummy!’ He climbed the side wall that separated the two gardens. Curious about the smell, Vinnie and I followed. Eddy reluctantly hopped on to the wall with us, holding his long fluffy red tail against his nose.

  ‘Look,’ Pete said and pointed at a big bowl of food that sat on the tiles near the house. ‘There seems to be a lot. I’m going to get some.’

  Vinnie, Eddy and I watched as Pete made his way across the grass.

  ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if something went wrong,’ Vinnie said.

  Pete tiptoed towards the bowl, looking over his shoulder to see if anyone was near. Then he took a big bite of some of the brown gooey stuff. His whiskers got stuck together with brown sauce.

  Then from nowhere Older Female’s dog appeared barking like mad, making a beeline for Pete. Pete ran off as fast as he could, carrying some of the food in his mouth.

  ‘Drop it, you idiot,’ I yelled at him.

  ‘Uh uh.’ Pete shook his head, while the dog nipped at his tail.

  If having a dog chase Pete wasn’t bad enough, the back door suddenly opened and Older Female came running out carrying a broom. In seconds she had made it across the grass and swatted at Pete. With an almighty jump he managed to scramble up the side wall to safety. We ran along it until we came to the garden wall, behind which the allotments loomed. The dog followed us and jumped at the wall, but he wasn’t agile enough to make it to the top. We made it to the safety of the allotment path, while behind the wall, the dog still barked and Older Female still screamed.

  Under a bramble hedge, Pete stopped and started eating the food he stole from the dog. I clipped him about the ears. ‘That almost got you killed. Now Older Female will be even madder at us!’

  Pete shrugged and kept eating. Eddy stared at him in disgust and just managed to keep himself from gagging.

 
I glanced at Vinnie and realised we thought the same thing.

  ‘This is not good,’ I said.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Emily kicked the heels of her combat boots against the concrete leg of the bench she was sitting on. What a waste of time. She’d been keeping an eye on police proceedings all day, but had unfortunately not managed to sneak on to the allotments.

  She sighed. It would have been fun to see the police drill the suspects and perhaps find some clues herself. But every time she tried, Abe Monday had spotted her and sent her off. Spoilsport. Asking her if she had nothing better to do than being in the way. Didn’t he know that Posh Nosh was closed on a Sunday?

  She watched from Milbury Green as the crime scene team packed up their gear and drove off. Things were quieting down. A policeman was rolling up the crime scene tape, now allowing tenants to go back and spend the evening in their gardens.

  The one thing she did manage this afternoon was sneaking up on Inspector McDermott as he asked those nosy parkers the Jeffersons some questions. Neither McDermott nor herself had learned anything from that exercise. The Jeffersons had just blabbed on about anything that came into their heads and to make matters worse, McDermott had noticed her listening and had sent Abe after her to shoo her away. So embarrassing for him to be ordered to do such unimportant jobs. But then again, he was too young to be in charge yet, and at this rate, it would take a while.

  Emily got up. Her mouth was parched and she realised she hadn’t drunk anything all afternoon. Better go back home. With activities wound down on the allotments, she could allow herself to stand down as well.

  Perhaps tomorrow she could find out more. Her shift didn’t start until ten, so there would be plenty of time for a thorough look around. Wouldn’t it be cool if she could solve Godric’s murder, instead of that horrible McDermott? She had only seen him around a few times, but he always looked at her with suspicion. Did he know about her past? There were reports after all. Deep in thought Emily walked up Milbury Road.