‘Bloody hell! How on earth do I stop it?’
Presumably his end Geoff was holding the handset miles from his ear. ‘Excellent,’ he yelled. ‘Ed’s on patrol your way – he’ll be with you in four. Less. Ask him for the second, fourth and seventh letters in his password and text them to me before you let him in.’
‘But I know Ed.’
‘All the same. Cheers!’
‘No! Don’t ring off. How do I turn off the bloody noise?’
‘Shout at it. Just like it was a real dog. There. All nice and quiet again, eh? If you’d pressed the button twice, it’d start again, just like a real dog. And then it’d shut up and whine a bit. When it’s safe, you can press the Clear button. Hang on – ah, Chummie’s leaving the shop via the front door. Press that doggie noise now. Twice, remember. Don’t open the front door yet. If you feel you must, keep it – like Fido – on the chain! And Lina, my eyes won’t leave this screen till I see you’re safe.’
Fido – Saul! – still barking his digital head off, I called Mary on the shop phone. ‘You’re OK? Thank God. Now, lock the door and don’t let anyone in – anyone, any age, either sex. Except Paul,’ I added with a giggle. ‘With his golf clubs, of course.’
It was hard not to respond to the doorbell, which was now ringing loudly. A bit more baying dog. It even came with the sound of large feet scrabbling on a wooden floor. I was so impressed I actually yelled at it to shut up.
And it did!
Then it started again, and this time I let it continue. Checking the chain was still in place, I opened the front door a crack. ‘You’ll have to wait till Griff gets in,’ I said. ‘He’s the only one who can really calm him down. Give me your card and I’ll call you the minute I can.’
The fake dog let out a terrific burst. Holding a card by the very end of his fingertips, the guy passed it quickly through the crack and left.
Talk about exit pursued by a bear.
Ed, like our previous visitor a man in his fifties, looked more like an old-style GP than a security geek, which was as good a disguise as any, I suppose. There was no sign of a company logo on his well-cut but not snappy suit. He didn’t flash an ID uninvited. And there was no problem with his password letters.
As much to calm myself down as anything, I made tea, and summoned Mary from the shop, with a request to bring those cakes with her.
‘What was all that about?’ she asked, sharply for her, setting the tin down on the kitchen table.
‘Someone’s tried to get unauthorized access to the property – both properties, in fact, Mrs Walker,’ Ed explained, cutting across me. He pressed a tiny receiver further into his ear, smiling as he absorbed what someone, Geoff, presumably, was saying. Then he added, ‘We think he was specifically aiming to tamper with the security system.’
‘You mean leave us without a burglar alarm? And all those clever photos?’
She sat down hard. ‘And was that woman who tried to get into the shop – no, I kept her out, don’t worry … But, of course, you’d know that, wouldn’t you, from your cameras.’
I didn’t, of course. ‘It wasn’t the same woman as before? With Puck?’
‘Mrs Fielding? No, I don’t think so.’
‘Could it have been her with a wig? I think I might have clocked her the other day at a fair.’ I explained to her and Ed, now halfway outside one of the rock cakes. I helped myself to one. ‘I’m still waiting for the police to get back to me about the bit of leg she left behind when she fell down. China horse’s leg,’ I added hurriedly.
‘One way to find out,’ Ed said. ‘We check the photos. Geoff’s got some really nice kit that compares faces. Excuse me just a second.’
While he stepped into the living room to make his call, I turned to Mary. ‘I was really sorry to leave you in harm’s way like that.’
‘I’ll give Paul what for, insisting on playing golf on Tuesdays!’ she said, with a slightly watery smile.
‘No! He’s entitled to enjoy himself. He’s not even on the payroll! You are – and that means you’re entitled to feel safe where you work.’ Sighing, I put my head in my hands. ‘If things go on like this, I’m tempted to say we close the shop and concentrate on our Internet trade.’
She pulled herself straight. ‘As Griff would say, I Do Not Give In. Where would we be if we did? No, I shall carry on just as normal.’
Normal? There was no point in telling her to vary her route to the post office when she dispatched our mail order parcels – in a village this size there was only one route.
‘It’s true I shall be looking over my shoulder more till this business is sorted out. And perhaps Ed would install another panic button so we have one at either end of the counter.’
Ed, returning, caught her second sentence. ‘I can run a sensitive strip the whole length. Geoff’s got a bit of an emergency over in Essex, so he can’t do the face comparison yet. I’ll just get my stuff from the car.’
Catching his arm, she said, ‘You’re always reading in the papers about people being deliberately run down.’ She listed several examples, one of which had actually made the national TV news. ‘I wouldn’t want you to be the victim of a hit and run attack. Do be careful.’
He gave a slow smile. ‘That’s what I’m paid to be.’
THIRTEEN
Although Ed was far too professional to say so, I suspected that Geoff and his staff wouldn’t rest till they’d nailed the man claiming to be their colleague. That was their business, not mine. But I did suggest quietly to Ed, as Mary set off across the yard to open the shop, that he talk very firmly to Mary about her and Paul’s personal safety.
‘When I can get a word in,’ he said with a rueful smile as he opened the front door. ‘It’s the adrenalin – some people can’t stop talking after a scare.’
I didn’t disagree. No need to point out she could always talk for England. The phone rang. I reached for it.
He put out a warning hand. ‘Let it ring. Could be a diversionary tactic. Lock me out, then answer it.’
He was taking things horribly seriously, wasn’t he? Diversionary tactic sounded a bit too military to me. But he’d probably say it was his job to be serious. ‘OK.’ I withdrew my hand. Then I got serious too. ‘And I need to talk to you about Griff’s safety before you go. He’s staying with a friend.’
‘Best place he can be.’
When I got round to checking, I found our caller had withheld his or her number. Had we won yet another holiday to Florida? Or not. Before I could turn off my cynical smile, it rang again.
‘Carwyn Morgan here, Ms Townend. I have to be over your way round about midday. Would you be in? Or, of course, we could meet over lunch somewhere?’
Oh, yes please! But then I remembered what Griff – and even Pa – would call My Duty. ‘We’ve had a bit of a security scare, Carwyn, so you’ll understand I don’t want to leave my shop manager alone on the premises.’ Mouth turning down, I mentally reviewed the fridge contents, and then had a brainwave – before Ed left I could nip to the deli. ‘Why don’t you eat here? So long as you don’t mind salad and something?’
But even as he agreed, I remembered that whatever else we had to talk about, apart from the china horse, he’d almost certainly want to pick my brains about Titus. It would be a very careful lunch indeed.
‘Tell me about this security scare,’ Carwyn said, by way of a greeting. ‘Mmm, something smells good.’
‘The deli’s speciality flan. Usually Griff cooks.’
‘That’s your business partner – and honorary grandfather. Right?’
‘Right. He’s still in Tenterden with his other sort of partner. Aidan and I don’t always see eye to eye, so I’m trying to keep out of their way.’ Here I was, gabbing on again, just as if I was Mary Walker.
‘How is he?’
‘Making excellent progress. But I wouldn’t want him exposed – to any possible danger?’ I prompted him. And then I slapped my head in fury. ‘Hey, the guy who claimed he was from
the security people gave me his card. It’s over here somewhere. I promised to call him back when I’d tied up the dog.’
‘Dog? What dog? I didn’t hear one last time I was here.’
‘You wouldn’t. I didn’t even know I had one myself until I called the security firm. It’s a nice fierce one, but beautifully house-trained. Very convincing.’
‘What about a real one?’
I spread my hands in despair. ‘When would I walk it? Look after it generally?’
He smiled. It was nice to see the man behind the cop again. ‘My gran got one after she was diagnosed as starting diabetes. She read that exercise might postpone the diabetes, so she started walking. Lost two stone. Even plays tennis again. And no diabetes – yet. So it might help Griff’s heart. Have it as his dog, not yours. After all, you’ve got enough trouble with white horses,’ he added with a smile.
‘Would you mind if Mrs Walker was here while you updated me? She’s been involved from the start. And then her husband joined in,’ I explained. ‘Plus I don’t see why she shouldn’t have a share of that flan.’ Did I detect a tiny frown? Annoyance at being asked to share sensitive information? Hell, it couldn’t have been disappointment, could it?
No, Lina, you do not do policemen. Remember?
Of course I remembered – and hadn’t I thought he might be gay when I first met him?
‘So I think you’re right about someone repainting and refiring these horses,’ Carwyn declared, rejecting a further helping of salad. ‘That’s what our forensics people with their clever gizmos have been able to prove – it’s no longer just a matter of your keen eye and professional expertise, Lina. And thanks to your fiancé’s nosiness, Mary, we’re two steps closer to finding out who’s doing it. They certainly put your fiancé to a lot of trouble to get back what we think is the prototype forgery.’
‘What would they have done if he hadn’t returned it?’ Mary asked, her voice muted.
I squeezed her hand. She might never Give In, any more than I would, but if someone threatened Griff directly, I’d hand over anything, even the contents of our hidden safe. And she loved Paul enough to be marrying him in a very few weeks’ time.
‘He did return it. It’s all over. No worries.’ But she clearly didn’t believe him, so he continued, ‘All the same, I’d be grateful if you told him simply to report any other white horses to us, not to try to buy them. These people aren’t fools, Mary: they were able to track him down once. They may be inclined to believe he really did have a niece at uni who is now minus a nice gift. But if he made a habit of scouting for white gee gees, you can bet your life the word would get round, and there’s nothing to stop them getting on to him again. Tell him to leave it to us. Please. And that applies to you too, Lina. You can repair china wonderfully – but you might not be so hot on repairing your own bones.’
I couldn’t hold back a shudder. A criminal had threatened my hands once before. I held them out in front of me, meeting his eye with a silent question. He gave a tiny nod.
‘There’s talk,’ I said, ‘of a mini conference of auctioneers in this area. They want me to be involved. Would you be, too?’
He pulled a face. But then he seemed to make a decision. ‘It’s not exactly the Met’s Fine Arts people’s bag, is it? So I’ll make it mine, so long as my boss gives me permission.’
‘Tell your boss it looks as if they’re moving up a notch. Sang de boeuf Ruskin.’ I told him about the identical high-fired ginger jars I’d seen in Folkestone. ‘They’re after hundreds with the horses, but thousands if they nail Ruskin ware.’
‘I’m not familiar with it,’ he admitted.
‘Let’s have our coffee in the living room,’ I said, suddenly thrust into hostess mode. It was always Griff who managed such things, but now it was up to me. ‘Then I can show you what they’re copying. It’s the most beautiful stuff.’
In response to a buzz on the shop doorbell, Mary left us to it, rubbing her hands at the prospect of a sale.
‘The strange thing is,’ I told Carwyn, ‘that Mary prefers to sell ugly dross. I think she sees it as a bigger challenge than selling beautiful things.’
‘Which she’d rather keep for herself. I don’t have a problem with that. Neither do you or your grandfather,’ he added, gesturing at the rest of the room. His eyes lit up, and he headed towards the display cabinet. ‘Is that the Ruskin ware you were talking about?’
Unlocking the cabinet, I placed the vase gently into those lovely hands of his. He inspected it with something like reverence and returned it to me to put back in its place. He smiled as I adjusted the spotlight slightly to bring out its deep rich purples and reds.
‘Actually, that Ruskin’s one of the very few perfect artefacts in the room. Most of the others are lovely one side, but too damaged elsewhere to think of selling. Which is how I got into restoration. But tell me, how did you get into policing—?’
‘Long story.’ He was just settling back into his chair when his phone rang. I gestured – he could take it here while I busied myself in the kitchen. As it happened, our office phone rang too. Pa! Of all the people I’d rather not have in my life in the next ten minutes.
‘Crisis, Lina. Major crisis.’
My God, they’d arrested him! Or Titus!
‘Dropped my last two bottles of shampoo. Oh, not the good stuff in the cellar. Can’t touch that on my own. Your inheritance, Lina, that’s what that is. No, the ordinary muck.’
The stuff that usually came in at twenty-five pounds a bottle, even with discount for quantity.
‘Any chance you could get me some, old girl? Oh, and one or two other odds and sods. Got a pencil handy?’
When he’d dictated an A4 sheet-long list, he paused. ‘How’s that old bugger of yours?’
‘Griff’s doing fine, thanks, Pa. Still at Aidan’s, over in Tenterden.’
‘About time he was home. Or do you sleep over there?’ His voice sounded both suspicious and jealous.
‘Occasionally. But you know how Aidan and I are together.’
‘Two dogs, same bone. All the same, time Griff was heading to his own home – you need someone to keep an eye on you.’
‘Me? Who’s broken two bottles of bubbly? Anyway, all I can say is I’ll do a supermarket run when I can. Perhaps a late-night shop tonight. Then I could drop the stuff in first thing tomorrow. I can’t talk any more. I’ve got the police here.’
He cut the call immediately.
Carwyn wandered in clutching his phone. ‘My boss,’ he said.
I pointed to ours. ‘My dad.’ As Carwyn’s face clouded, I added, ‘He’s just broken his last bottle of champagne, which is pretty serious. Alcoholic,’ I added, bending my arms and wrist vigorously. ‘Starts the day with a nice healthy Buck’s Fizz – to get his vitamin C, you understand. And then he thinks he might just as well empty the bottle. And the next.’ This time I demonstrated the shakes – an arrant lie, because I’d never seen Pa’s hand less steady than mine. Well, with his line of work … ‘Mind you, he gets a lot of time to watch TV. When Griff was having surgery he was a mine of really useful information, having seen every medical programme going.’
He opened his mouth to say something and then shut it, with something of a snap. ‘I’ve got to move on to another investigation, I’m afraid. Ten minutes ago.’
Damn it if my face didn’t fall.
He added quickly, ‘But I’m still running this one. So copy me in on any invitation you get to this conference on horses, will you?’
‘Of course I will. As I was saying to Brian Baker, it’d be good to have official involvement. You might want his number.’ I held up the phone so he could copy it. There, that was better. Altogether more professional. I added, with a touch of malice, ‘Mind you, he thought Kent Police’d be too busy protecting old ladies from armed robbers to worry about minor fraud.’
He put his head on one side, eyes slightly narrowed. ‘And what did you say?’
‘That little crimes led to bigg
er ones. And I spouted a lot of crap about money-laundering, drug-running and people-trafficking. Proper little head girl, I was.’
He nodded appraisingly and laughed. Then his face was serious again. ‘Are you over that assault yet? Nasty, from what I gather.’
‘Heavens, I’ve got to be. I shan’t enjoy going to court and reliving it all, but at least both Griff and I are alive to tell the tale. Unlike your undercover colleague,’ I added soberly. After a moment I continued, ‘Would you mind leaving via the shop, by the way? And reminding Mary to keep Paul’s sleuthing under control?’ Which was the best way I could think of to tell him to push off and let me get on with my life.
At least until the white horse conference.
FOURTEEN
I’d just picked up my paintbrush when Aidan phoned. He’d forgotten he had an engagement at a charitable function he really ought not to miss, and wondered if it wouldn’t inconvenience me too much if he asked me to cook Griff’s supper and stay overnight.
‘No problem,’ I said. ‘What time do you have to leave?’
But if Pa needed rations, my being in Tenterden by six forty-five did cause problems. Big ones. Putting down the brush still unused, I toddled down to the shop. Mary was busy rearranging the main shelf. A quick glance told me she’d managed to offload five hundred pounds’ worth of early nineteenth century Derby plates.
‘We’re running out of stock! It’s no good, you’ll have to go to a sale or two soon,’ she greeted me.
‘I know.’ I was ready to tear my hair. ‘But I’ve made no progress on my pile of restoration and there’s more coming in. Griff needs babysitting tonight, and on top of that Pa’s run out of supplies. Where do I start, Mary?’
‘With your brain, Lina. Order the supermarket stuff online: have them deliver it.’
‘I tried that once. Pa’s lane broke a spring on their van. He’s blacklisted.’
‘Well, have them deliver it here, and then you can take it tomorrow. Or Paul and I can drop it off – we’re at my place this week.’ She paused. ‘But he only runs out of supplies when he wants to see you, doesn’t he? And when he wants you to sell more of his goodies?’
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