by El Edwards
I did as I was told and followed her back into the shop with a tray of tea and biscuits. Beverly was talking to the other lady when we walked in but when she saw me her face lit up.
“Charlie, what a lovely surprise. Any news?”
I shook my head and watched her face fall. “That’s why I’m here. I’m sorry but it’s looking pretty hopeless. None of your neighbours even knew you had a dog and with no sign of a break in, it’s not looking too promising.”
“But what about the others?” May’s friend asked.
“What others?” I was confused. No-one had mentioned anything to me about any other dogs.
“Oh Jill, don’t start on that again.” Beverly sounded irritated.
“Start on what?” I turned from Jill to Beverly. “Listen, if there’s anything else, you need to tell me. I can’t help you if you don’t.”
“You just said yourself it’s hopeless. You came here to tell me to give up, that you couldn’t work on my case anymore.”
“It’s the pigs,” interrupted Jill.
“The micro-pigs?” I knew Rob was holding out on me. He and I were going to have words when I was done here.
“You know about them?” Beverly sounded confused.
“Sort of, I mean, not really, just something Rob mentioned.” I turned back to Jill. “You think they’re connected to Tortoise?”
“I dunno but it’s kinda funny, so many of them going missing on the same day.”
“The same day?” Rob hadn’t told me that. Jill was right, it was funny, and I needed to find out more. I drained my cup, thanked May for the tea, and turned to leave. Before I did I looked back at Beverly. “Forget everything I said. I’m still on the case.”
I raced back to the car, dialling Rob’s number as I walked. When his phone went to voicemail I sighed and left a message.
“Rob it’s me, Charlie. I need to know about the micro-pigs. Call me when you get this message or meet me. I’ll be up at the old hotel in Burry Port. Can’t explain over the phone but we need to talk.”
I left the car where it was parked and headed on foot back in the direction of the hotel. I still didn’t know what that place had to do with Beverly’s dog but I’d learned to trust my instincts and they were telling me that I needed to get a look inside that hotel. I walked as quickly as I could, thankful I’d chosen to put on sensible shoes that morning. I turned a corner that led back to the main road and was about to try Rob on his mobile again when I walked straight into a familiar lanky frame. He looked me up and down before flicking a cigarette butt onto the floor.
“Fancy seeing you again. Guess it’s my lucky day.” His smile sent a trickle of fear down my spine as he reached out to touch my arm.
Without thinking, I raised my knee, deposited it firmly in his groin and ran like my life depended on it.
THIRTEEN
The man’s voice was ringing in my ears as I ran and I didn’t stop until I’d reached the bottom of the hill leading to the hotel. I paused to catch my breath and listened for footsteps but no-one had followed me. I cursed myself for being so silly. I didn’t know what it was about the man but he sent a terror through my veins. I walked slowly up the hill towards the hotel, checking my phone as a walked. I’d hoped Rob would at least have rung back but things were so strange between us, I knew I couldn’t rely on him.
I turned a corner and the hotel went out of view for a moment but when I rounded the next corner, there it was again, standing proud and resplendent despite its obvious neglect. And there, waiting at the side of the drive, was Rob. He hadn’t seen me, he was too busy fiddling with his phone, so I was almost on top of him by the time he noticed me.
“Morning Rob. Thanks for coming.”
He gave me a smile that held no hint of any previous awkwardness between us. “Got your message. What’s up?”
Before I could speak the wind must have changed because suddenly my nostrils were accosted by a stench. “Ewww, what’s that smell?”
Rob sniffed. “Dunno, can’t smell anything.”
“Really?” I held my scarf over my nose as I started coughing. “It’s rank! How can you not smell that?”
“Lost my sense of smell years ago.” He shrugged. “No big deal. Anyway, what’s going on?”
“Can’t talk here. The smell …” I wanted to have a poke around but the smell was so bad, I thought I might be sick.
“Come back into town then. You can buy me a coffee.”
I followed him back down the hill. “Why’s it always my round?”
“Because you’re always the one needing the favour.” He pointed at a small cafe overlooking the harbour. “In here. They do a mean bacon buttie.”
“I’m not buying you breakfast!” I playfully punched his arm, glad that things were more normal between us.
We found a table overlooking the street and after giving our orders to the waitress, I turned my attention back to the reason for Rob’s visit.
“Tell me about the micro-pigs.”
“What do you want to know? There’s not a lot to tell. They’re little pigs, pretty cute, and some have gone missing.”
“Did you know they all went missing on the same day?”
Rob looked down at the table before replying. “I heard something yeah.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Does it matter? They’re not even your problem. In case you’ve forgotten, you’re looking for a dog.”
“Oh ha bloody ha.” The waitress arrived with our coffee and Rob’s sandwich. When she’d gone I gave him what I hoped was my most probing look. “Those pigs went missing the same day as Tortoise.”
“So?”
“So what if it’s relevant? It’s a bit weird, all those pets going missing from the same town on the same day, don’t you think?”
Rob’s face flushed. “Maybe.”
“I want to speak to the owners of the pigs.”
“We’ve already done that.”
“I’m sure you have but you always say you have too much work on. And I take it you have no new leads?”
He nodded his head in agreement.
“What harm is there in letting someone else do a bit of the leg work for you then?”
“Alright.”
I couldn’t believe he’d given in so easily. “Really?”
He nodded. “Yes really. Just don’t go getting into any bother. I’ll get you a list of names and addresses when I go back to the nick.”
I felt elated. At last I had another line of enquiry. I hated feeling obsolete and this was just what I needed. “Thanks Rob.”
He smiled and I felt something flicker between us. Before he could do anything silly like talk about the other night or, horror of horrors, try and kiss me again, I drained my cup then leapt up and went to the counter to pay for our coffees. I was feeling generous so I even paid for his bacon sandwich, despite my earlier protest.
After thanking Rob again for his help I headed out the door, pausing to let a postman pass me. As he walked past, my brain registered the same scent as previously.
“Excuse me, this is going to sound weird but, I don’t suppose you deliver to the hotel on the hill?”
He shook his head. “Sorry love, that place is closed. Have you seen the state of it?”
“Nearby then?” He was looking at me like I might be crazy but I couldn’t ignore the smell so I decided to plough on. “It’s just, I was up there the other day and it has a very distinctive odour. Don’t take this the wrong way but, um, you sort of smell the same.”
“You saying I stink?” He was a young lad with hair that suggested he liked to look after himself.
“Not at all.” I took one of my cards out of my pocket and showed it to him. “I’m an investigator. I have to follow every lead. Sorry.”
He looked at the card and turned to walk away but then he hesitated. “It’s probably the mud.”
“Excuse me?”
“When it’s wet, some of the smaller paths, they g
et pretty muddy. I think there’s something in the dirt round here.” He gave me a small smile. “I did geology at uni for a bit, before I quit and became a postie.”
“Something in the dirt,” I repeated. “Thanks.”
I wandered out the door, his words rattling around inside my brain. Something in the mud up at the hotel that was causing the stink? I couldn’t begin to imagine what that might mean yet or what, if anything, it had to do with Tortoise.
“Pigs like mud.”
I looked up to see Rob standing next to me. I smiled. “Even micro-pigs?”
He shrugged. “I dunno. But I’ll bet you can find out. Check your email in about an hour. I’ll have that list waiting for you.”
I shivered with excitement. I just had to hope my enthusiasm wouldn’t be unfounded.
FOURTEEN
After my run in with the creepy bloke earlier and the stench up at the hotel, I wasn’t keen to hang around town waiting for Rob’s email so I decided to head home and take Missy out for a quick walk instead. She leapt up and down like a yoyo when she saw me reach for her lead and as soon as I got it on her, she made it perfectly clear that she would in fact be walking me. Her mouth was round the lead and she pulled like she was a dog on a mission. She’d been the runt of the litter but she was incredibly strong and I soon found myself out of breath as she pulled us both down the hill. It was a grey and dreary sort of a day so I was keen to keep our walk short but Missy had other ideas and we headed in the direction of a large field. Two kissing gates later and she was safe to be let off the lead. I smiled as I watched her race around the field in circles.
Half an hour later, we were both cold and I was exhausted, even if she wasn’t, so I persuaded her in the direction of home. I’d just crossed the road and was about to walk up my little path to the front door when I saw a familiar figure in the distance. It was Mark, Gareth’s son and my daughter’s most recent chauffeur. I gave him a little wave and he waved back. I could see he was headed in my direction so I paused at the end of the path.
“Hi there Mark, how are you?”
“Good thank you Mrs Diamond. And yourself?”
“Oh I think you’ve known me long enough now, you can call me Charlie.”
“Okay, thank you.” Mark blushed.
“I should be the one thanking you.”
“Oh?”
“I hear you gave my daughter a lift home from school yesterday? There was really no need.”
“It was no bother. I was coming home anyway.”
I wanted to ask what his intentions were towards Grace, to find out if they really were just friends or if he had designs on her but I knew what would happen if I went blundering into that conversation with my big mouth. It wouldn’t end well and Grace would probably refuse to speak to me for at least a month.
“I didn’t realise you were back at school Mark?”
“I’m not. I was sort of in the area.” His face flushed again and I began to feel sorry for him. I knew what Grace could be like.
“Grace rang you and asked for a lift home?” When he didn’t say anything I smiled. “It’s okay, I know my daughter very well Mark. She can be very persuasive. But if I can give you a little advice?”
He nodded.
“In my experience it doesn’t pay to allow Grace too much wiggle room.”
“Wiggle room?”
“It’s not good to let her think you’re a pushover. A lift home yesterday, who knows what it’ll be tomorrow.”
“I’m happy to help Mrs … uh Charlie.”
I smiled again. “I know you are. Just don’t be too keen.” Otherwise she’ll wipe the floor with you, I added silently.
The phone was ringing as I put the key in the lock. I quickly took Missy’s lead off as I reached for the phone, hoping it might be Rob letting me know he'd emailed the list.
“Hello, Charlie Diamond speaking.”
I listened as the softly spoken women on the other end of the phone, who introduced herself as Mrs Williams, told me about her leaky washing machine.
“It's probably just the taps needing tightening,” I said, when I heard where the leak was coming from. “Have you got an adjustable spanner? I can talk you through it if you like?” Leaky taps were my bread and butter but I also loved the idea of empowering women to fix stuff themselves whenever possible.
I smiled as I listened to Mrs Williams tell me how her husband used to do all the little jobs around the house, God rest his soul.
“I'm sorry to hear that. Give me your address and I'll pop round and have a look.”
She only lived ten minutes drive from Beverly’s house so I decided I could visit her on route to my micro-pigs. All I needed now was that list from Rob. I looked at the time. It had been over an hour already and still no email so I gave Missy a biscuit then headed out to the van. I hated hanging around waiting and was keen to get on the road. By the time I fixed the leak I was sure to have heard back from Rob.
The address Mrs Williams had given me was for a street on the other side of Burry Port so I found myself driving along the main road, past the abandoned hotel. I’d driven along that road a few times now and every time I’d looked up the hill at the hotel, the grounds had been deserted. This time though, I noticed a couple of cars parked alongside what would once have been the main entrance. I couldn’t see any people but I was curious to find out if maybe some work was finally being done on the old place. I’d found nothing online to tell me who owned the hotel and there were no signs up forbidding entrance, not that that would have stopped me. I decided I’d go back up there and have a nose around soon.
First though, Mrs Williams was expecting me. My tummy rumbled as I parked the van outside her house and I hoped she’d stick with tradition and offer me a cuppa and a biscuit on arrival. I knew some tradespeople who always refused but personally, I saw it as a perk of the job. I checked my email one more time and was disappointed to find nothing from Rob. He wasn’t usually unreliable but, just in case he’d got distracted by a more pressing case, I sent him a quick text to remind him that I was waiting on the list. His reply came as I knocked on Mrs Williams’s front door. Sorry Charlie, bit of a problem. Will ring you as soon as I can.
My heart sunk. I didn’t like the sound of that one bit. I was about to ring him when the front door opened and an elderly lady smiled at me. I plastered a smile on my face and pushed all thoughts of Rob, Tortoise and micro-pigs to the back of my mind. I had a job to do. I just had to hope that Rob could fix whatever the problem was in the time it took me to fix the washing machine.
FIFTEEN
“Mrs Williams? Charlie Diamond. Lovely to meet you.”
“Come in, come in.” The lady stood to one side. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”
“I was passing anyway. Besides, I don’t think it’ll be a big job.”
Mrs Williams’s home was a small mid-terrace with the front door opening straight into the living room. She had an ancient looking television in one corner with a single chair in front of it. There was a makeshift dining area under the stairs and a door which I assumed would lead to the kitchen. Mrs Williams closed the door behind us and led me through the living room into the kitchen. Like the front room, it was sparsely furnished and I knew straight away I wouldn’t be charging my regular call-out fee. There would always be bills to pay but not at this elderly lady’s expense.
“I just don’t understand it. It’s been fine for years but just yesterday I noticed a bit of a noise and now it’s leaking something chronic.”
She pointed to the corner of the kitchen where a washing machine sat in a puddle of water. Like everything else in her home, it had seen better days but the age wouldn’t matter if it was just the taps or a loose washer. I turned the tap to stop the flow of water to the back of the machine and grabbed my adjustable spanner. I hesitated, waiting to hear the magic offer of tea and biscuits, and when none came, turned my attention to the washing machine.
Ten minutes later I was all d
one. As I’d suspected, the washer on one of the taps had disintegrated. Having replaced it and tested that the leak was now gone, I took a step back to inspect the water damage.
“Don’t worry about all that,” Mrs Williams said when she saw me looking at the mess. “I’ll get another towel.”
She bustled out of the room and was soon back with a couple of bath towels. She lay them on top of the water and dabbed at them with her foot.
“Would you like me to do that Mrs Williams?” I didn’t want to patronise her but it looked like bending down to wipe up the puddle would be a bit of a struggle.
“No need, I’ll just leave these on top for a bit. Thanks though. Now how much do I owe you?”
“Ah nothing, it was only a washer.”
She shook her head. “That’s no way to run a business young lady. Come on, what’s your hourly rate?”
I took a business card out of my pocket and handed it to her. “Keep this safe. When you need something bigger doing, I’m all yours but until then, I’d love a cuppa.”
“Chocolate biscuit?”
“Perfect! Thank you.”
“Well if you’re sure, you’ve got yourself a deal.” I watched as she busied about the kitchen, putting the kettle on and putting biscuits on a plate. “Tea or coffee?”
“Coffee please Mrs Williams. Milk, no sugar.”
“Sweet enough eh love.” She smiled as she pressed a ten pound note into my hand. “I can believe that. And no arguments.”
A few minutes later when we were settled on the sofa with a mug and biscuit each, my thoughts turned to Beverly and her dog. “Have you lived here long?”
“Only fifty-three years.” Mrs Williams laughed. “Moved here with my husband when we first married. Never had the heart to leave.”
I laughed with her. “Just a little while then. Don’t suppose you know the hotel on the hill?” I showed her one of my other business cards. “I’m an investigator, as well as a plumber.”
