McQueen's Agency

by Reynolds, Maureen

  Leaving the office, she stood at the foot of the stairs and called up, ‘Kenneth, can I have a word?’ There was no reply and everything was silent. She knew he was there because he had passed the door a short while earlier. She called out again but there was still no answer.

  She decided to go out to the sheds and speak to Joe. Christie was alone and busy stacking paintings against the far wall.

  ‘Is Joe here?’ she asked

  ‘No, you’ve just missed him. He’s gone out in the van with Mike.’

  ‘Listen Christie, something has come up at the agency and I have to leave early. I’ve tried calling up to Kenneth but there’s no answer, so can you give him a message and tell him I’ll be back tomorrow?’

  Christie said he would pass it on when he saw either Joe or Kenneth.

  ‘I hope it’s nothing serious, Molly,’ he said.

  ‘No, it’s one of my workers. Something has happened with her assignment and I have to be there to sort it out. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  She didn’t want to elaborate to Christie about the problems she was having with hoax calls and, judging by Edna’s story, this was more serious.

  As she drove along the narrow road towards the ferry, she was considering her future with the agency. She would have to look at the financial statement and see if it was worth carrying on. The job she had was a good payer but now she had burnt her bridges by leaving. And all because of some domestic situation that was no concern of hers.

  When she reached the agency, Edna was sitting with a tearful Mary. When she saw her, Edna jumped up but Molly said, ‘Can you please make a pot of tea for us all, Mary?’

  Mary scuttled upstairs, glad to be out of the firing line. She was worried she would get the blame about this latest fiasco but it had been a woman who had called about the job. She wondered if it could have a man who disguised his voice but no, she was adamant it was a woman.

  Downstairs, Edna was telling Molly the entire story. ‘I know him from years ago, Molly, and I had my suspicions this was all his doing but he hadn’t been in touch for over three years.’

  ‘What do you think he’ll do now, Edna?’

  ‘Well, he’ll want his own back if I know him, but he did say he was going to a job overseas so with a bit of luck he’ll be away again.’

  Mary put down the tray with the tea and three cups. ‘It was a woman who phoned, Edna, I’ll swear to that.’

  ‘It’s not your fault, Mary. He got a stranger, a woman, to call from a phone box to fool you. He was quite proud of his deception, but he is devious.’

  ‘Do you want to take a holiday and get away with Billy, until you’re sure he’s away?’ asked Molly.

  ‘I thought you would want me to leave.’

  ‘No, I don’t. All this isn’t your fault.’

  ‘Well I’d rather keep working, Molly, if you don’t mind. Billy starts school again next week so I want his routine to stay the same.’

  ‘Well, leave it with me and I’ll go over the diary with Mary and let you know what’s available.’

  Mary showed her the diary. There were some small jobs booked but nothing more than a week at a time.

  ‘I’ll put Edna on this one,’ said Molly; a vacancy in a small office in Tay Street, initially for one week.

  Molly was quite worried, as the diary didn’t show enough work for everyone. She would be finished on Thursday and now felt stupid for saying she was leaving. Maybe by Thursday Lena would be feeling better and she might ask her to stay on but she couldn’t rely on that happening.

  It didn’t matter so much if Jean and Betty were laid off until something else turned up and Molly could tackle the other two vacancies. What she needed were other clients like John Knox and Lamont Antiques.

  Mary was twiddling her pen, looking at Molly, a bright expectant look on her face. Molly’s heart sank.

  ‘I know I said I was going to advertise for another school leaver to do the reception work, Mary, and let you go out on agency work, but after this awful affair with Edna I would be worried about your safety. We don’t know if this man, Reg, is still around.’

  Mary said she understood. After all, she didn’t relish going into some deserted building with a maniac and she shivered slightly at the thought. It was one thing going to the pictures and seeing Frankenstein terrorising everyone and another being in the same situation for real.

  ‘As soon as all this blows over and when we get a lot more bookings, then you’ll be going out and about.’

  Molly decided to go home. Mary was dealing with anything that turned up at this end and there was lots of work she could do at the house.

  Marigold was sitting in the garden when she arrived home and she called over the fence.

  When Marigold saw her face, she said, ‘What’s happened, Molly? You look terrible.’

  Molly sank back in the roomy garden chair and found herself telling her neighbour about the trials and tribulations of the agency. Marigold was horrified when she heard about Edna.

  ‘And she says she knows this man?’ she said.

  Molly nodded. ‘He’s some army pal of her late husband and quite a controlling person by the sound of it. I hope he goes away and doesn’t come back as I think Edna is frightened of him.’

  Marigold was sympathetic. ‘I had a good friend once, when I was young. Her name was Bella. She fell in love with a young man from a good family and her parents were delighted when they got married. He was the perfect man in their eyes, but her life was a hell on earth with him. He tried to control everything she did but her mother wouldn’t believe her when she told her. Said she just had to put up with it.’

  ‘What happened to her?’

  ‘She went out one night and disappeared. Her shoes were found on the shore but she was never seen again. The verdict was an accidental death but I knew she had come to the end of her tether with her so called perfect man.’

  Marigold picked up her cup and drained the last of the tea from it. ‘Let me tell you Molly, it’s amazing how many dark secrets can be hidden from prying eyes.’

  Molly didn’t realise she was shivering until she went into the house. Don’t be silly, she thought. You’re just cold because the sun went in and a cold breeze blew in from the river.

  Charlie had been busy. There had been a spate of burglaries and some trouble with kids who had been running around the Howff graveyard, knocking over headstones and trampling on the bushes.

  Then there were the kids who played regularly on the tops of air raid shelters. People who lived in the surrounding houses were forever complaining to the constable on the beat. As a result, he had made the trip to warn the kids away from this dangerous ploy.

  One of the women who had been complaining had given a statement. ‘One of these nights somebody is going to fall off and break their neck.’

  Ina Kidd was in the house when he arrived at Tam’s door.

  ‘Come in,’ she said, ‘Tam and Jock are out walking with Rover, but they’ll not be long.’

  She went over to the sink and started to wash the dishes. ‘Tam thinks he’ll be able to take Rover out now. He says he can’t hide away forever.’

  Charlie wasn’t very happy with this because he hadn’t managed to solve this case but he understood Tam’s need for independence. He would wait another five minutes and if he wasn’t back by then he would come back in a day or two.

  But Tam and Jock arrived back within a couple of minutes and Rover ran ahead of them into the small kitchen. Tam looked pleased to see Charlie.

  ‘Any news?’ he asked.

  ‘I think I’ve come to the end of my enquiries, Tam, and I’ve not been able to connect anyone to Harry. It’s turned into a dead end, I’m afraid, but I’ll still keep trying. In the meantime, just watch out when you’re out of the house. The man who attacked you is still out there so be careful. I wish you would get Jock to walk Rover.’

  Tam shook his head. ‘They’ve been so good to me and I can’t keep playing on their good
nature. I’ll watch out and if that man comes near me again, well I’ll have Rover to warn me, like last time.’

  Charlie walked away down the stairs. It was a lovely night and loads of people were out on the streets. The City Centre Bar on the corner of Dock Street was busy. The door was open and he was able to see people enjoying a drink and a gossip. Tam’s assailant could be mingling amongst these crowds.

  The Empress Ballroom was open and a large queue had formed at the door, waiting for admission to a night’s dancing and merriment, while couples strolled through the Victoria Arch after a walk around the wharves. This was a popular evening’s entertainment; strolling over the little swing bridges that connected the various docks and looking at the boats that were berthed.

  He was still sure that Harry hadn’t died a natural death but proving it was going to be almost impossible. He hated to lose a case but this one was a lost cause, which was a pity, he thought. Still he had given it his best shot but wished he had solved the crime.

  29

  It was Molly’s last day at Cliff Top House and she was full of mixed emotions about it. On one hand, she was glad to be leaving all the tension behind but she would miss this place and the wage it brought in. Although she tried not to think about him, she also knew she would miss Kenneth. She liked his company very much and she had thought they had become friends, even though he had been cool with her these last few days.

  She was clearing her desk, putting all the completed invoices in the filing cabinet, ready to go when Kenneth appeared.

  ‘Are you finished up here, Molly?’ he said, looking at some vague spot over her right shoulder. Molly said she was and picked up her handbag.

  ‘Lena doesn’t want to give you this ‘flu she’s suffering from, but she says to tell you what a great help you’ve been to the business.’ He handed her an envelope. ‘This is the payment for last week, plus a bit extra for all your help … and thank you.’

  Molly took the envelope and put it in her bag.

  ‘Say goodbye to Lena for me. I’ve enjoyed working here very much.’ She held out her hand. ‘Goodbye, Kenneth.’

  She didn’t go into the sheds to see Joe, Mike or Christie. After all, she was an employee and not some guest of the family. She was getting into her car when Christie came over.

  ‘Joe told me you’re leaving. Is that right?’

  Molly said she was and this was her last day.

  ‘Can I come and see you some time? Maybe go out for an evening together?’

  Molly was surprised by this. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to see him again but she nodded. ‘I’ll look forward to that,’ she said.

  As she drove up the twisting drive to the main road, she wondered why she had said that. Was she really looking forward to meeting him?

  Kenneth watched as she left the room and went to the kitchen window to see her get into the car. He wanted to run out and tell her how he felt about her; to ask her to run away with him to some place where they could live their lives without people like Nelly poking their noses into his business.

  He had his hand on the window latch, ready to call her name, when he saw Christie approach the car. What did he want, he wondered?

  He quietly opened the window, thankful that it opened smoothly and overheard the conversation. He waited with bated breath to hear what her reply would be and was upset to hear her say she would look forward to seeing him.

  He went into the lounge, poured out a large whisky and slumped down on the chair.

  Molly was taking it badly, having nothing to do. On Saturday she went over to the office in the morning and made a pretence of organising the files. She had given Mary the day off.

  Edna had finished with her week’s work and there was very little in the diary. Jean and Betty could have some time to themselves now and she and Edna would share the remaining jobs. Hopefully, things would pick up soon.

  It was the summer holidays that were to blame she told herself. At this time of year firms weren’t hiring temporary staff.

  She had been surprised by the generous cheque from Kenneth, money that would tide her over for a few weeks. After that, well it was anyone’s guess what would happen. She was depressed that her business wasn’t the success she had hoped for. All the planning since coming back from Australia had amounted to very little, but most of all she dreaded having to tell Edna and Mary that they could be out of a job.

  She was busy checking the bookkeeping ledger, glad to note that it was kept meticulously up to date by Mary, when the door opened.

  John Knox stood on the doorstep, looking uncertain.

  Molly smiled. ‘Mr Knox, how lovely to see you.’ And she meant it.

  John sat down. He looked unsure.

  Then he spoke, ‘I’m needing someone to help me tidy up my book and file away my notes. I wondered if you had anyone available, Miss McQueen?’

  Molly almost blurted out, ‘Take your pick.’

  ‘I know Mrs McGill didn’t seem happy about coming back but if Mary is available, that would be fine.’

  Molly made a great show of studying the diary. ‘I think I have both Edna and Mary available. When do you want one of them to start?’

  He looked sheepish. ‘On Monday, if possible. I know I should have given you some warning but I’ve been trying to do it all myself and it’s a proper muddle I can tell you.’

  ‘I’ll have someone round at nine o’clock on Monday morning,’ she promised and he left, still looking unsure if he had done the right thing.

  Edna arrived later and Molly told her of the new job. ‘I don’t know if you want to take it, Edna,’ she said. ‘If not I can ask Mary.’

  ‘No, I’ll go,’ she said. ‘I was warned off this job by Reg, but I can’t live my life in fear all the time. Anyway I’m hoping he’s gone overseas.’

  ‘Well, it’s initially for one week but hopefully it’ll last a wee bit longer,’ said Molly.

  Edna stood up. ‘I’d better get my messages done. Mum has asked Eddie to the house tomorrow for his tea, to thank him for all his help with Reg.’

  ‘How do you feel about that?’

  Edna hesitated. ‘Eddie did ask me out to the pictures when I worked in the shop before but I told him I had to look after Billy. But I’m really so grateful to him for all his help. I would probably have taken a good beating from Reg if he hadn’t shown up. I’m going to tell him that I value him as a good friend.’

  After she left, Molly sat for ages, watching all the pedestrians walking down the Wellgate, but there were no more clients beating the door down for her help so at five o’clock she closed up.

  She didn’t feel like going home so she wandered along the Murraygate, looking in the shop windows. Before she realised where she was, she was standing outside Lamont Antiques. The shop looked deserted and when she tried the door, it was locked.

  She hadn’t thought what she would say if the shop had been open but she would have gone in and spoke to Kenneth, saying she was just passing and wanted to say hello.

  She stood and looked in the window. As usual, it was a simple display of a tapestry and a vase of flowers. Unlike the first time when she had stood outside this shop, the tapestry only partially covered the back of the window and she was able to see a small area inside the shop. She had the strangest feeling that someone was watching her from the dark interior but she told herself not to be foolish and walked away.

  The figure sat in the dim back shop, watching Molly standing there. Now why was she here? they wondered. However, there was a lot of work to be done and not enough time to do it in.

  The figure moved towards a stack of packing cases and dismissed Molly from their minds. At least for the moment.

  30

  Edna approached the house with uncertainty. The last time she had seen John Knox, he had walked away, annoyance written clearly on his face. Now she was about to do some more work for him.

  Molly had left it up to herself if she wanted this post. She had been willing to send M
ary but Edna said she had to explain to him about her reluctance to finish the initial work.

  The house looked the same. The garden still had that neglected look and the rose bushes were hanging over the path.

  She rang the bell and he answered the door, delight clearly visible on his face. ‘Edna, how lovely to see you, do come in.’

  The house still had the warm, homely feel and she was glad she had come.

  ‘Miss McQueen said you wanted another week’s work done on your book.’

  He decided to be as business-like as she was. ‘Yes. It needs tidying up and then I would like all my notes to be filed away.’

  They worked away all morning, both being pleasant and polite but nothing more. At dinnertime he said, ‘I’ve made some soup and sandwiches if you would like to join me.’

  She smiled and laid down the pile of files she was arranging into some sort of order.

  It was so good to be back in this house, she thought. It felt safe and comfortable, a bit like a well-loved pair of comfortable shoes.

  They were sitting at the kitchen table with two bowls of hot broth and thick slices of bread when she said, ‘I have to apologise to you, John. About the way I suddenly stopped working for you, especially after you were so kind to me in Arbroath.’

  ‘You don’t have to explain to me Edna. If you don’t want to.’

  ‘But I do,’ she insisted.

  She told him the story of Reg and his threats. ‘He said he would harm Billy if I kept working for you.’

  John had stayed silent throughout the story but now he looked furious. ‘I’d like to get my hands on him.’

  Edna told him he was probably abroad by now but even if he wasn’t, she couldn’t live her life always looking over her shoulder and, if Reg threatened her again, she would report him to the police.

  John nodded. ‘That’s the best thing to do with a scoundrel like that. Threatening a woman and child like that, he should be in jail.’

  Suddenly he smiled and took her hand. ‘I’m glad you’re back working here. I’ve missed you very much.’