Useful quote:

Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except the best. - Henry van Dyke, poet (1852-1933)

2 Aug 2016

Episode 19 - Past, present and future (continuous)


Still Thursday then Friday

The squad car Gary ordered arrived within minutes and Jessie was bundled onto the rear seat to be taken to HQ.
Cleo got away from Mrs Coppins’ questions as fast as she could. She would be able to see her daughter next day, but Cleo could not promise that Jessie would remember what she had done, or, if she remembered, that she had murdered Mrs Oldfield.
***

Episode 18 - Boil and bubble

Still Thursday

At Huddlecourt Manor School the atmosphere was far from jovial. Cleo hoped that Gary would arrive soon.

1 Aug 2016

Episode 17 - Polly

Thursday May  11th


Thanks to Gary Hurley’s newly-found attitude to Cleo’s way of doing things, Jack’s confession at HQ was dealt with quickly.  Jack would be charged for leaving the scene of what was now being referred to as an ‘accident’. That was not enough to keep him in custody. Cleo took Jack to the garage and sorted things out with Jack’s boss.
“He’ll be a witness at his father’s trial,” she told Mr Edwards, Jack’s boss. “But that won’t be for a few weeks.”

31 Jul 2016

Episode 16 - Not too hot to handle

Wednesday cont. then Thursday

Cleo was forced to admit to herself that the Tom Crowe case was now too big for the Hartley Agency. Not only did she have no way of locating Jack Coppins if he had gone to ground, but even if she found him she could not persuade him to give himself up if he had decided not to.

26 Jul 2016

Episode15 - Nailing Coppins

Wdnesday afternoon

Mrs Baines had not been forewarned of a visit, so Cleo and Dorothy  waited one the doorstep for quite some time after banging the brass gargoyle that served as a door knocker.

Episode 14 - Disclosures

Wednesday, May 9th


Cleo left early for HQ. She had made a list of questions she wanted to ask Coppins. She thought she was on the verge of a breakthrough with Jessie, but only Coppins could know the story. It remained to be seen whether he would be cooperative.

Episode 13 - Catch as catch can

Tuesday cont.


Dorothy was quite relieved to leave the crime world for an hour or two , thought it got later and later as Mr Morgan drove his old-timer at a modest pace along the quiet roads, negotiating even slower farm-vehicles and occasional tail-backs between Swansea in Wales and Upper Grumpsfield somewhere in Oxfordshire. Eventually he was able to park his little black Morris Minor near St Peter’s Parish Church. Mr Morgan was inordinately happy to be back again..

29 Nov 2015

Episode 12 - Gary

Tuesday cont.


Gary had recovered enough after two hours pacing the streets to get back to his office and call Cleo.
***

Episode 11 - Kismet

Tuesday May 8th

Gary was woken at six. Sybil had registered his home number on her phone. They had found it.

Episode 10 - Gone

Monday May 8th

Just after Robert had left for his usual visit at the wholesaler’s, Clear got a distressed phone-call from Gary.
Cleo tried to say hello having read Gary’s private cell phone number on the little red screen of her net phone, but Gary was not into a preamble.

Episode 9 - Dorothy's afternoon

Sunday May 7th


Dorothy spent Sunday afternoon showing Jessie how to use a computer and thinking what it pity it was that the girl had had such a troubled childhood and youth. Jessie gradually forgot to be the nitwit she pretended to be. Dorothy was astonished how fast Jessie grasped the basics, and even more impressed when the word game she opened to show Jessie how to play games proved that her grasp of difficult words and tasks was normal.
“Why do you pretend to be stupid, Jessie?” Dorothy could not resist asking.
“Everyone said I was stupid, so I was,” she explained. “People left me alone.”
“But your father didn’t, Jessie.”
“I just played dead with ‘im, Miss.”
***
Dorothy phoned Cleo after Jessie had one to bed early on Sunday evening, taking with her Dorothy’s new tablet because she wanted to do some Sudokus, having been shown how.
***
“I wonder if Coppins ran away with that barmaid because he was taking a risk continuing to abuse Jessie,” she suggested. “It is possible that Mrs Coppins had threatened to report him.”
“We could ask her,” said Cleo, “but in the end, she threw him out, didn’t she?”
“And we don’t know the exact reason why. Did she already know about that barmaid?”
“Meaning that abusing her daughter was more acceptable than him seducing an under-aged outsider,” said Cleo. “How cynical is that?”
“Coppins will need to find a way to stop Jessie talking, won’t he?” said Cleo. “I’d better phone Gary and get security for the girl.”
“I’ll go and se how Jessie is getting on with her Sudokus,” said Dorothy.
“Her what?”
“Sudokus. Jessie has a high IQ, Cleo. As we thought, she plays dumb. I think she sees it as a form of defence.”
“I’ll bear that in mind, Dorothy.”
***

“I hoped you’d phone,” said Gary, “though it’s  very late. Is your spouse already asleep.”
I don’t know where he is. I rather hope he’s in Edith’s bed, but I doubt it,” said Cleo.
“Thoughts are not always things, my love.”
“But this is not about us, Sweetheart. It’s about Jessie and that bastard of a father.”
“Do you think she’s she covering up some other big secret?”
“I have that feeling, but I could not ask her. I did not want to put her newly found trust in me at risk.”
“You did a brilliant questioning, Cleo. No criticism of that.”
“Dorothy thinks Coppins is out to get Jessie because she could talk, but whatever reason he has for getting at her, the girl is in danger and needs protection.”
“You’re probably right,” said Gary.
“She’s actually safer at home with her mother, isn’t she?” said Cleo. “I gather that’s one place Mr Coppins will avoid like the plague.”
“Always assuming Mrs Coppins is safe with Jessie,” said Gary. “Jessie did threaten to kill her, after all.”
***
“Can you try and trace the girl Coppins went off with, Gary?”
“You know I’ll help out where I can,” said Gary, wishing he had had that idea first.
“All I know is that the girl Coppins went off with is named Polly Spencer and was 15 years old at the time. Her family lives in Huddlecourt Minor,” said Cleo. “You’ll need her as evidence that he absconded with a 15 year-old. She was pregnant at the time.”
“That guy should be behind bars, Cleo.”
“Just one more question.”
“I’m listening.”
“What did you tell Dorothy?” she asked. “Something has changed her attitude.”
“Attitude?”
“To you and me.”
“She asked me if we slept together and I told her we did.”
“Wow!”
“Then she told me to fight for you with her blessing, and I’m going to, Cleo.”
“You’ll win in the end, Gary, but I don’t want to hurt Robert. I’m waiting for him to find another partner.”
“Do you have someone in mind?”
“Edith Parsnip, but it’s early days yet.”
“She’s a timid little church mouse. Why pick on her?”
“I’ve watched her looking at Robert.”
“Then get them together, for heaven’s sake.”
“Match-make? You must be kidding. Robert’s as thick as a brush on romantic, Gary.”
“Tell her she’ll have to seduce him,” said Gary.
“I love you, Gary, and that is never going to change, but I can’t play cupid to Edith.”
“You know how I feel about us, Miss Hartley. We’ll have to find a way to bring them together.”
“Start looking, Mr Hurley.”
“The conquering hero comes,” said Cleo. “I’d better ring off.”
***
Gary and Cleo turned up at Dorothy’s cottage on Monday morning to partake of Jessie’s scrambled eggs.
Now Dorothy had discovered the real Jessie, she told Cleo and Gary that they had played computer games and enjoyed their time together.
“Wow!” said Cleo.
Jessie looked at Gary appreciatively.
“You are free to go,” he said, slightly unnerved after Dorothy telling him the girl had all her wits about her.
Jessie was to go home to her family. Mrs Coppins would make sure that Coppins did not get anywhere near. Cleo would accompany the girl and explain the situation.
“Thank you....Mr,” said Jessie.
Cleo and the girl made their way out.
“Thanks you for having me, .Dorothy,” Jessie said.
“It’s been a pleasure, Jessie. Come again,” said Dorothy.
“I will.”
Astonishing, thought Gary.
“Don’t you want me to drive you there?” he said.
“We need the exercise, don’t we, Jessie?”
Jessie nodded.
Gary left for HQ. He thought he was leading a strange life, dashing to Upper Grumpsfield for five minutes with Cleo and a surfeit of scrambled eggs from Jessie.
***
“He loves you,” Jessie told Cleo. “I wouldn’t want a man who loves someone else.”
“I love him, Jessie, and I would not let you have him,” said Cleo.
***
“We’ll get my car, Jessie. You should go to work, now. We can drive to your mother’s and tell her where you are and that you are going to work.”.
“What shall I do if my father comes after me?”
“Phone me when you finish work and I’ll collect you and take you home, Jessie.”
“Thank you Miss. I need the wages.”
“Why don’t you just call me Cleo, Jessie? I noticed that you called Dorothy by her first name.”
“She said I should, Miss erm Cleo.”
“I’m sure Mrs Baines will be glad to see you, Jessie.”
“Even if that foreign guy is cooking?”
“He’s only helping out, Jessie. You could not manage on your own.”
“That’s true, Cleo. I’m not quite a cook yet, you see.”
That was the understatement of the year, Cleo decided, not merely on the basis of Dorothy’s description of the strange hamburgers that the girl had concocted that had tasted as awful as they looked. The students had sent back the hamburger meal and penned a communal letter pleading with Mrs Baines not to let Jessie do any more cooking.
That had forced Mrs Baines’s hand. It was fortunate that she was on good terms with Molly Moss and fortunate that Molly was willing to improvise pub lunches for a few days by lending the school her top chef, as she called him.
***
A few minutes later, sitting in her little car with Jessie at her side, Cleo wondered if she could risk saying what was eating at her, and risked it.
“You wanted Mrs Oldfield’s job, didn’t you?”
“Oh yes. I’d have done anything to get it.”
“And did you?”
“Did I what?”
“Do anything?”
The girl went on the defensive as quick as lightning. Was the friendship already at an end?
“Watcha bloody mean?”
“I don’t know. It’s just that....”
“Mrs Oldfield took a dislike to me. She stopped helping me to be a better cook.”
“But why?”
“Dunno.”
The girl bit her lip and put on a facial expression that said ‘I’m closed for business’. That meant that any talk of Tom Crowe would also be hampered by a stone wall that had sprung up between Cleo and the girl. Cleo wondered if Dorothy had got it right with Jessie’s IQ.
“But now Mrs Oldfield has gone, the way is clear for you to get the job, Jessie,” said Cleo, persevering.
“I don’t bloody want it anymore,” Jessie growled.
“We’ll definitely pop in at your mother’s, Jessie. It’s still early.”
“I should be in the kitchen now,” said Jessie.
“I’ll phone Mrs Baines,” said Cleo, and did.
***
At the Coppins’ house, Betty Coppins made an effort to turn over a new leaf in her relationship with her daughter.
“Let’s have a drink to celebrate,” Mrs Coppins proposed.
“Sorry Mrs Coppins. My husband will expect me home to make lunch. I just wanted to check that Jessie will be safe here. I’ll drive her to the school now.”
“Safe from what?”
“Your husband, Mrs Coppins.”
“I can deal with him, the bastard.  But he won’t come here. He wouldn’t dare.”
“That’s what we think, Mrs Coppins, but you’ll have to make sure that Jessie is safe until we catch him.”
“Well, another time then.”
“Yes. Another time, Mrs Coppins. I’ll wait in the car while you change, Jessie.”
***
As Cleo walked down the path to the gate, she heard Mrs Coppins shout “What’s all this about, young lady?”. She was tempted to run back and intercede, but thought better of it. Mother and daughter would have to come to terms with the situation in their own way. 
***
“Is Dorothy at home this evening, Cleo?” Robert asked when Cleo got home in time for elevenses.
“I think so.”
“I’ll ask her to supper,” he said, picking up the phone to do so.
“Have you got plans for this evening, Dorothy?” he said.
“I’ll feed the cat and then feed me,” was the reply.
“Will the cat starve if you come to supper?”
“Goodness me, no. Cats can go for ages without food. Am I being invited, Robert?”
“Is that a yes, Dorothy?”
“It’s nice of you to ask me. Will Cleo be at home? I don’t want people to talk, Robert.”
Robert was used to Dorothy sending him up. In retaliation he asked her if he should drive over and collect her to drive her the hundred yards from her cottage to Cleo’s.
Dorothy assured him that she could still manage that distance with her walking frame and armed with her father old pistol. Should she bring some ice-cream, assuming she could fasten it to the frame?
***
At the dinner table, Robert satisfied the two sleuths’ curiosity.
“I have an ulterior motive, Ladies. I don’t seem to be up to date with all your investigations and I want to hear all about what is happening.”
“Which bit do you want to hear first?” Dorothy asked, hoping that bit would not be questions about Gary.
“The bit you were most shocked about,” said Robert.
“I’ll have to think about that,” said Dorothy.
Robert stored Dorothy’s promised ice-cream in the freezer and then ransacked the fridge to make a big fry-up while the Ladies (Gary’s terminology) laid the table. Very soon they were tucking into mounds of fried food and Cleo was counting the calories, an action that by no means influenced the amount she ate. The only reason she was not as round as a keg was that she was constantly on the go and therefore burning up calories at a rate of knots. Dorothy was sinewy and had the appetite of an Irish navvy, Robert maintained. Her metabolism di not leave room for spare tyres.
***
“So you think Joseph Coppins is hiding out somewhere near, do you?” Robert said.
“I can’t think of another explanation. He has a hold over Jessie,” said Cleo.
“I thought that, too,” said Dorothy. “What could it be, apart from his sexual aberrations, and it would then be Jessie who has a hold on him, wouldn’t it?”
“Let’s wait for the forensic reports before making judgments,” said Cleo.
“I’m sure that’s a good idea,” said Robert, who was far from sure and had not liked to ask what an aberration is. “Whatever has happened can’t be undone. Keeping a low profile might help to solve some of the problems,” he added.
“Do you mean waiting for something else to happen, Robert?” said Cleo.
“I don’t really know what I mean, but if Coppins has done something illegal, he’ll want to get rid of anyone who knows about it.” said Robert. “The man is on the loose and he wouldn’t be if he had nothing to hide.”
“I’m impressed, Robert,” said Cleo. “I almost thought it was Gary talking.”
“And he came back to this district for a reason,” said Dorothy, jumping in because she thought that was a slip of the tongue from Cleo. “It might be a good idea to find out why.”
“Can we have a Gary-free evening, Ladies?” said Robert.
***
The evening passed without further speculation. At 10 p.m. Dorothy announced that it was time to leave and Robert volunteered to escort her home.
“Well, spit it out!” said Dorothy, who was astute enough to realise that the whole point of inviting her to supper had been to talk to her rather than just feed her and the escort home was where he always asked question.
“It’s about Gary Hurley,” he said finally.
“I thought as much.”
“I think he’s keen on Cleo.”
“You might be right,” said Dorothy, and had a feeling she was about to say something untrue to comfort Robert. “But she is not keen on him, Robert,” she fibbed.
“Are you sure?”
Dorothy found it hard to lie to Robert, but it had to be done.
“Cleo finds Gary rather irritating, especially as he is putting on an act of indifference to the case we are trying to solve at the moment.”
“Meaning Jessie?”
“And Mrs Oldfield’s death. He’s relying entirely on Chris Marlow’s forensic report to tell him who did it. He thinks it’s a common or garden killing.”
“Is there such a thing?”
“There is if you don’t look for the motive.”
“So what about that young man, Tom Crowe? Why did he have to die?”
“Gary has decided that Crowe was killed in a fight by thugs looking for thrills.”
“And you don’t agree, do you?”
“Certainly not. In fact I have hunch about who did it.”
“Want to tell me?”
“All in good time. Gary does not approve of the Hartley Agency finding things out before he does, so we’ll keep a low profile until we are certain who the murderer is.”
“Gary doesn’t approve of the agency, does he? Why?”
“We are too successful, Robert. Recent cases in which we have been involved have ended in the Hartley Agency finding the wrongdoers. Gary needs successes and isn’t getting any.”
“If he isn’t bothering about his job, it’s no wonder.”
“He lacks empathy with the victims. Even his colleagues have noticed that.”
Robert was no sure that Dorothy basically disapproved of Gary.
“Their reactions are revealing, Robert. I’ve never heard Gary say he was sorry about someone’s death. He even laughed at Nigel yesterday for being afraid to go down in the crypt. It’s as if he limits feelings to those he has himself.”
“That also means that if he’s decided to get Cleo from me, he’ll go ahead and not take me into account or even whether Cleo really wants him.”
“You said it, Robert, though I doubt whether Cleo can be persuaded to do something she does not want to do. Thanks for walking me home. Tomorrow will probably be dramatic for the Hartley Agency if Chris’s lab results come through.”
“Assuming Gary tells you about them,” said Robert.
“Chris phones Cleo  directly,” said Dorothy. “No nonsense about Gary forgetting to relay the findings.”
“Sleep well, Dorothy,” said Robert, satisfied with his chat with Dorothy.
***
Robert watched her go into her cottage and close the front door before walking around for a bit and wondering if Coppins was anywhere near. Back at the cottage he went all the way round the grounds. Cleo was safe with him, but were they safe from Coppins?
***


Episode 8 - Cleo

Saturday cont.

Gary reluctantly tore himself away from Cleo in time not to encounter Robert . He hated having to make room for a guy Cleo only tolerated, whatever kind of an act she put on in public and self-delusion she relied on in private.
***

Episode 7 - On the run

Saturday May 6th

To Cleo’s surprise, Mrs Coppins rang her very early on Saturday morning.
“Jessie didn’t come home last night,” she said.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. Her bed wasn’t slept in.”

28 Nov 2015

Episode 6 - Getting at truths

Friday cont.


Cleo finished her coffee at the Huddle Inn and drove to the school.
On the way she phoned Gary to tell him the identity of the dead man and that she would break the news to Jessie. He said thanks, but inside he was smouldering.

Episode 5 - Facts and Figures


Thursday cont. then Friday

Cleo’s realised that she would have to talk to Molly again, since Molly was well informed about what went on in her village, so she drove back to the Huddle Inn. Molly was wiping tables and generally tidying up.

Episode 4 - Ali et al

Thursday May 4th


Dorothy had been too busy to call on Cleo on Wednesday evening, though her curiosity nearly got the better of her. But she had been promising to go to the vicarage for supper for simply ages and thought Edith would be offended if she refused again. So on Thursday morning Cleo and Dorothy had plenty to tell one another.
***

Episode 3 - Mrs Coppins

Wednesday May 3rd


On Wednesday morning Chris Marlow delivered the initial forensic report to Gary Hurley. It stated categorically that the stab wounds had been delivered soon after death but were not the cause of death. Though they had made a lot of mess, they were relatively superficial and probably only meant to mislead. The police were to believe that Kitty Oldfield had been stabbed to death by an intruder.

Episode 2 - Jessie

Monday cont. then Tuesday May 2nd

On Monday evening Robert Jones delivered the usual order to the school. Cleo had phoned him and told him what had happened. He wondered how everyone would be fed that evening and in the near future. Mrs Oldfield's gormless  assistant would do nothing to ease the situation.

Episode 1 - Prelude

Monday May 1st

She was lying on the kitchen floor; motionless because she was stone dead; face down because she had been attacked from behind; bathed in blood because she had been stabbed. The murder weapon lay on the floor beside her. It was her own favourite kitchen knife, one of those smart Japanese knives chefs use in smart kitchens: long, sharp, lethal and glistening, except that this blade was now dulled by congealed blood.