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.”
“Yes, Mr Edwards, I’m on my way,” Jack shouted over his
shoulder.
“He’s the son I never had,” said Mr Edwards.
“He’s the son I never had, too,” said Cleo.
“We used to have a filling station,” Mr Edwards explained. “But
it wasn’t making a profit on this corner of the road. There was too much
competition and it was costing me an arm and a leg to get sales-people day and
night, so I closed it and I’m concentrating on revamping old cars, especially
American ones, and selling them. We also do repairs, so we have plenty of trade
and Jack can work on his lovely old cars when he’s not busy with customer
wishes. Jack’s a good mechanic, Miss...”
“Hartley.”
“It’s good to know someone else cares about Jack,” said the garage
owner.
Cleo gave Mr Edwards a card, wondering if he was the Edwards
on the banner “Edwards – your car expert”.
“Oh!” he said after looking at Cleo’s visiting card. “You
are a private detective, are you?”
“Yes, Mr Edwards.”
Mr Edwards saw Cleo gazing at the sign over his shop. It was
painted in ornamental gold paint and a far cry from the neon signs adorning all
the other garages in the vicinity.
“That was my father, Miss Hartley. He got on fine with petrol
in the old days. This was the only filling station for miles.”
“Times change, Mr Edwards,” said Cleo, “but you have a nice
business here and I’m sure you’ll get our custom.”
“That would be nice,” said Edwards, smiling before his
facial expression became solemn. “We have a problem with theft here,” he said.
“Do you think you could help us catch the thieves? The police tried but didn’t
get anywhere.”
“The Agency is here to help people who run out of ways of
helping themselves, Mr Edwards,” said Cleo. “I’ll send my assistant, a Mr Peck,
along tomorrow to get some details, and he will have a good idea how to protect
your business and hopefully find out who is responsible for the thefts.”
“That would be wonderful. Thank you so much.”
***
Driving back to Upper Grumpsfield, Cleo pondered on the merit
of spontaneous appeals for help. She also phoned Gary to thank him for being
lenient on Jack, and to ask if he had done anything about Polly, the girl Mr
Coppins ran away with.
“Coppins won’t say anything, Cleo. He’s waiting for his
lawyer. Can you find out more about her without his assistance?”
“I should think so. I’ll go to the pub in Huddlecourt Minor
and ask Molly. Polly was helping out there. I suppose that’s how she met
Coppins.”
“Great. Let me know what you find out, though it’s no longer
desperately important now Coppins is safely under lock and key.”
“Would you like to meet me there? Strictly above board
because Robert delivers all their meat. I think you’ll enjoy talking to Molly
and they do good food thanks to their wonderful chef.”
“That sounds like a good idea, Cleo. I know her slightly,
but I’ve never talked with her. I’m not much of a pub crawler.”
“It could be important to know more about Polly otherwise I
would not insist. We don’t know if she really wanted to go away with Coppins.
If she didn’t, she was kidnapped and you have another charge you can bring
against that evil guy.”
“I almost hope she was,” said Gary, who was getting ready to
throw that proverbial book at Coppins and welcomed any additional material.
***
Just after eleven, Cleo parked outside the Huddle Inn and
went in to talk to Molly.
“Well! Well! You have made yourself scarce, Miss Hartley.”
“I’ve been really busy, and it’s Cleo. Remember?”
“Sorry. I hear they’ve caught Coppins.”
“Not before time,
Molly.”
“Were you involved in that?”
***
Cleo wondered how much information Molly had at her
fingertips, but this was not the reason she had called and she was determined
to get on with her mission. Before she could do so, however, Molly took the
initiative and Cleo was relieved of the chore of answering questions about
Coppins and asking about Polly.
***
“I’ll tell you one bit of news, Cleo.”
“I’m dying to hear it, but wait till Gary Hurley gets here.
I could use an espresso and Gary really needs to be in on things.”
“My instinct tells me that you are in love with that guy,
Cleo.”
“Why would you think that?”
“You may have olive skin and not blush very obviously, but
your eyes sparkled when you talked about him.”
“I’m married, Molly.”
“You can still be in love with someone else, and Robert is a
bit of a bore,” said Molly. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”
“Have you ever met the man of your dreams, Molly?”
“He’s in the kitchen, Cleo, and he wants to marry me.”
“Wow! I hope it works out.”
“He’s too young for me.”
“No he isn’t, Molly.”
“Isn’t what?” said Gary, coming into the pub.
He went straight to Cleo and drew her into his arms.
“Gary. Robert delivers meat here. I don’t think we should
make it difficult for Molly.”
“How would we do that?”
“He might ask questions.”
“My lips are sealed,” said Molly.
“Unseal them and tell this woman to get a divorce, Molly.”
“Go ahead, with what you were doing,” said Molly. “No one’s
looking.”
***
It was still too early for the regulars and even Molly’s pub
food lunch did not start until midday. Nevertheless, Molly was a little
astonished at this demonstration of affection that Cleo did nothing to quell.
“As I said, I won’t tell anyone, Cleo, but that was pure Hollywood!”
“I’m Gary,” said Gary gratuitously, offering Molly his hand.
He took hers, raised it to his lips and kissed it, looking at Molly in such a
way that she went weak at the knees.
Now it was Cleo’s turn to be a little astonished.
“Charmed,” said Gary.
“Me too,” replied Molly and leant confidentially over the
counter.
***
Quite apart from unashamedly making up to Gary, Molly
considered what she was about to tell extremely surprising and dramatic. She
was glad that Gary was the kind of man who would listen carefully. He was
really nice, she thought, and was happy for Cleo. She liked Robert and would
flirt with him intensively knowing that Cleo had now met the man who could make
her happier than that dreary if kindly family butcher. Molly did not need to
put two and two together to know that Gary was a great lover. On the other
hand, Molly was shrewd enough to want more than one iron in the fire. She did
not quite believe in Ali’s declaration of eternal love and she thought she
could probably liven Robert up.
***
“Polly is back at home,” she announced.
“Awesome!” said Cleo, wondering what kind of a struggle the
girl had had to get back to Huddlecourt Minor.
“Isn’t that what you
came to find out, you two?” Molly asked.
“I want to talk to
her, Molly. I thought you might know where she is.”
“You’re in luck,” said Molly. “Polly should be here in about
fifteen minutes. She phoned last night. She wants her old job back.”
“Are you going to give it to her?”
“I can’t see why not. She deserves a second chance. I don’t
think the last three years can have been very happy ones for her.”
“Let’s wait for her,” said Cleo.
Gary could not help thinking ‘she’s done it again’, but he
was impressed and quite glad that he would not have to search for Coppins’
victim, which was how he interpreted the girl’s stance.
“It was quite fun being a Molly and Polly duo,” added Molly.
“She was only fifteen, but she certainly knew how to deal with the customers.”
“In the end, that was not good for her,” said Cleo.
Gary led the way to a vacant table.
***
Polly arrived. She was a slip of a girl. At eighteen she had
lost the bit of weight she had had as a schoolgirl and looked much older than
her years. But she was smiling and hopeful about the job.
“Someone wants to talk to you, Polly,” said Molly.
Polly’s face clouded over. She was horrified. What if
Coppins had caught up with her?
“Not Coppins, a private investigator. Miss Hartley can help
girls who have gone through what you went through and hopes you’ll talk to
her.”
“How do you know she just wants to talk?”
“We’ve both got a pretty good idea that things weren’t all a
bed of roses for you, Polly.”
Molly poured a glass of orange juice out for the girl and
led her to Cleo’s table.
“Here she is, Miss Hartley. I’ll leave you to it.”
“Who’s the man?” said Polly.
“A friend of mine, Polly. Nice to see that you are home safe
and sound.”
My father sent me the fare to a post office in Great
Yarmouth.”
“Is that where you’ve been living?”
“Yes, but Joseph threw me and the kid out and we had to
sleep on the beach for two nights.”
“That’s terrible,” said Cleo, and Gary made a mental note of
another charge Gary could bring against Coppins. He exchanged glances with
Cleo.
“We had enough money for chips and a drink and I spent my
last coins phoning home.”
“I’m sure your family was delighted to hear from you.”
“My Dad was. Not his wife.”
“Not your mother, Polly?”
Polly shook her head sadly.
“She’s sick, Miss Hartley. I think she’s dying.”
“So how did you get back home, Polly?”
My Dad wired money to the post office so that we could stay
the night at a bed and breakfast and get home on the train yesterday.”
“Can I ask you just one more question, Polly?”
“Ask as many as you like, Miss.”
“Did Mr Coppins force you to go away with him?”
“No, Miss. He promised me a new life.”
“You got one, too, didn’t you?”
“Not the one he promised.”
“Describe your life with him, Polly.”
“I’m trying to forget it.”
“Forget what?”
“He hit me.”
“Once, or often?”
“Every time I said something he didn’t want to hear.”
“What about your child? Did he beat the child?”
“No. But he hated it and I’m glad he threw us out.”
“Was he drunk at the time?”
“Yes. He was often drunk. After we got out, we hid away so
that he could not drag us back home, Miss.”
“I’m sure that was the right thing to do, Polly. And now
you’re safe.”
“Won’t we have to hide?”
“No. Coppins is in prison and will be there for many years
to come on a charge of murder and other charges, including his cruelty to you,
Polly.”
“Did you say murder, Miss Hartley? Did he murder Jack?”
"Why would he do that, Polly?"
"Jack was my first boyfriend."
“He killed a guy having a fight with Jack.”
***
So Coppins had not only coaxed a schoolgirl away, but had also destroyed an
innocent relationship and replaced it with an illegal one.
***
“Will you come with me to Middlethumpton Police Headquarters
and make a statement, telling the police everything you’ve told me?” said Cleo.
“Yes, of course.”
“Would it bother you if my friend came, too?”
“No, Miss. He looks nice. Is he a detective, too?”
“Yes, Polly.”
“I’d like to tell the police everything, Miss Hartley, Is
Jack all right?”
“Yes, Polly, he is, and you can see him again soon.”
“I’ll give you a lift home, Polly,” said Gary.
“I could explain everything to your parents later,” said
Cleo.
“Don’t bother, Miss Hartley. My mother’s dead and my father is
married again – to the woman he had living in the guest room while my mother
was still alive,” said Polly. “She should be at home with my little boy. I’ll
have to get back to him because she hates him. My father will be at work.”
“You don’t like your stepmother, do you, Polly?” said Cleo.
“No. She usurped my mother,” said Polly.
“Are you accusing her of something, Polly?” said Gary.
“No Sir,” said Polly nervously. “What I meant was that she
pushed my mum out. Stole my dad from my mum and her so ill.”
“Things like that happen,” said Cleo.
“Oh yes, they happen!” said the girl sharply. Cleo looked at
Gary as if to say that she was uneasy about what the girl had said.
Molly came to the table to say that Polly could start
working at the weekend.
“Oh, thank you so much, Molly,” the girl said, giving Molly
a big hug.
“Don’t leave without eating something, even if it is only
pie and salad,” said Molly.
“Pie and salad will be perfect!” said Gary.
“I suppose Ali is still making lunches at the school, is he?”
said Cleo.
“Yes. You’ll have to come In the evening to get Ali’s
cooking, Gary.”
“We’ll come, won’t we?” said Gary.
“You can have some of Robert’s sausages now.”
“That’s a good idea, Molly,” said Cleo. “I could eat a
horse.”
“You won’t have to. We know who makes the sausages and I can
vouch for the pie. Robert will be here by the time you get back from taking
Polly home. He delivers on a Thursday and he always stops for an espresso. I
expect you’ll want to see him, won’t you?”
Gary was not anxious to meet up with Robert.
“It’s later than I thought, Cleo. I should get back to the
office when I’ve dropped Polly off home. “Can I take my lunch with me, Molly?”
”I’ll pack it up for you, Gary.”
“See you tomorrow then,” said Cleo.
“Unless…”
“I’ll see what I can do,” said Cleo.
Gary took his leave. Polly was thrilled to be driven in
Gary’s lovely red sports car.
“I have guestroom, Cleo, if you ever need a place to go,”
Molly whispered.
“Thanks, Molly. I’ll remember that.”
***
Robert’s face was a picture when he arrived at the pub and
saw Cleo sitting at the ‘regulars’ table chatting to some of the guys whose
divine right they thought it was to sit there.
Molly could not resist shouting “A
surprise for you, Bob!”
“Indeed to goodness!” said Robert, on seeing Cleo and
relapsing into his Welsh homeland vernacular.
“I’ve been talking to
Polly,” Cleo explained.
“I’m sure you’ll tell me about it later,” said Robert. “I’ve
got to go now. Gloria’s in a panic about getting the rump steaks cut right.”
“I’m going to the school this afternoon, Robert. See you
later.”
“I’ll look forward to that!” said Robert, departing with a
wave. “I’m free this afternoon, should you have time for me! Gloria is trying
to run the shop single-handed for a change. I could not think of a reason to
stop her.”
“Hey, that’s a married man,” said one of the regulars. “He
shouldn’t be flirting. His wife will be furious. I’ve heard she’s a very
dangerous woman.”
“That must be his other wife,” said Cleo.
“You mean he’s got two?”
“The wife I know is a kind, soft-hearted person.”
“Well I never!”
Molly came over to the table.
“Jim, you know who this is, don't you?”
“Who is it, then?”
“It’s Robert Jones’s wife.”
Everyone else at the table laughed heartily while Jim looked
perplexed. Cleo wasn’t exactly average looking for the neighbourhood, and most
of them knew exactly who she was.
“Where’ve you been hiding, Jim?” one of the others asked.
“Don’t mind Jim, Mrs Jones. He’s a bit soft in the head.”
Since saying she wasn’t Mrs Jones but still Miss Hartley
would have caused even more confusion, Cleo didn’t correct them. They insisted
on buying her a drink.
“Thanks, guys, but just one very short short, Molly,” she
called, and Molly winked knowingly.
Behind the counter she poured about 3 drops of gin into a
glass and topped it up with a lot of tonic water. She was sure that’s what Cleo
had meant.
“Here’s your gin, dear,” she said, nodding at Cleo.
“Down the hatch!” said Cleo raising her glass. She proceeded
to drink the contents in one go and the men around the table looked at her in
amazement. Only midday and she was knocking the gin back. Did Robert know his
wife was a tippler?
Cleo got up and smiled benignly.
“I’ll be on my way now. Have a nice day, you guys!” she
said, and one of them called
“Don’t drive, dear. You’re not fit for it!”
“I’m used to it,” said Cleo.
Molly enlightened them.
“We just played a joke on you. There were only three drops
of gin in that glass. The rest was tonic water.”
Now it was Jim’s turn to laugh.
“Cut along now, boys. It’s time for my siesta,” Molly
commanded.
Although the humorous interlude at the Huddle Inn had done
Cleo good, it could not raise her spirits for very long. What she had to do
next was going to be extremely difficult, especially as she had not been able
to reach Dorothy and could only hope that she was helping out at the school.
Cleo also wanted Gary to be there. She could hardly leave him out of the
critical talk she was going to have with Jessie.
Gary said he was on his way. He no longer commented that it
had better not turn out to be a wild goose chase. The guy’s learning, thought
Cleo.
***
Driving along the bumpy road between the pub and the school,
she was distracted when she met Ali bicycling towards her. He looked
disgruntled. Cleo wondered why, stopped the car and opened her window to talk
to him. She wondered if Dorothy had warned him about the arsenic in Mrs
Oldfield’s body.
“You look a bit fed up, Ali,” she called.
“I am! Have you ever worked together with a deprived
spinster and a nymphomaniac?”
“Dorothy is not deprived, Ali, and I’m not interested in
women.”
“I don’t mean Dorothy. I mean frustrated with that dreadful
housekeeper and twit of a girl.”
“She is not as stupid as she makes out, Ali.”
“You could have fooled me. That girl, Jessie, has been
making eyes at me and her necklines and skirts were shorter than ever today.
She has decided to seduce me.”
“I wouldn't put it past her, but at least she's not thinking
of poisoning you!"
"Poisoning me? Is that what your Dr Watson meant?"
"I think she has more features of Holmes than Watson,
Ali!”
"She dropped a hint about arsenic. I thought she was
targeting Mrs Baines. Now that's an old cow if ever there was one."
“Take it all in your stride, Ali, and don't be hard on
Jessie. She’s still suffering from shock at the death of the guy she thought
was her boyfriend. She has to get over seeing her father kill him.”
“What kind of a
father does a thing like that? Are you sure?”
“We think that’s what happened.”
“Who’s we?”
“Me, Dorothy and a friendly cop.”
"Do you mean that Hurley guy?"
"Do you know him?"
"You pick up quite a lot of gossip when you live with a
woman like Molly."
"What kind of gossip?"
"That the Hurley guy goes in and out of your cottage,
for instance."
"He doesn't do that, Ali."
Cleo was genuinely shocked that there was gossip about her
and a bit angry with Molly for saying that sort of thing. Whose side was Molly
on? Robert was possessive and having gossip getting around that she was
carrying on with Gary would be making mischief.
“I’d get better back to the pub now,” said Ali. “Siesta
time. I wouldn’t like to miss it.”
“Have fun!” she called after him.
“I’ll try,” Ali called back.
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