Found Guilty at Five (21 page)

F
ORTY-
F
IVE

B
Y THE TIME
A
KIKO AND
J
AMIE RETURNED TO
M
EADE
House, the rest of the family were sitting in the best room, conducting a halting conversation with the girl from Last Resort House. “My name is Diana. I have come to see Akiko,” she had said, when she found Lois gardening by the front gate.

Lois had felt obliged to invite her in for a cup of tea, and the conversation had soon dried up. She jumped to her feet with relief when the others arrived, and handed over to Akiko. “We have had a nice talk with Diana,” she said. “She has some good news for you.”

“It is so kind of you to come, Diana,” Akiko said. “Did you have any luck with the musical instrument man?”

“Yes, I did!” she said, and got up to look behind the sofa. “How about this one? Would it be any good to you?”

“How clever of you!” said Akiko. “It looks brand-new. Very much how my own lost cello must have looked when it was new! Oh, I must just try out a few bars.”

She settled carefully on an upright chair, set the cello up and tried tuning a few strings. Then she played a short scrap of music.

“Sounds good to me,” Jamie said, smiling at Diana. “How did you work the miracle?”

“It was a funny little man I met in the summerhouse. He took me along to the craft workshops, but the instrument maker was not there. I spotted the cello, and he said he was sure the maker would be pleased to lend it to a professional cellist. He put it into its case, and told me to take it, and he would explain to the maker. So that’s it!”

“This is marvellous,” said Akiko. “And of course I shall pay him well when we return it. He must be an extremely clever craftsman?”

“Never met him,” said Diana, with a shrug. “But I did see some half-made Noah’s Ark animals on the bench. I suppose those are a money-making line. I do hope he won’t be cross!”

“Please tell him I will take great care of it, and if he wants it back straightaway, I will bring it personally,” said Akiko. “It may be a commission for a client.”

*   *   *

W
HEN
L
OIS AND
G
RAN RETURNED TO THE ROOM, THEY WERE
followed by Derek, carrying a tray with glasses and a wine bottle.

“A small snifter to celebrate?” he said.

“Wow!” said Diana. “It’s only a glorified banjo to me. No problem! But I never say no to a glass of wine. It’s really nice of you.”

“It is very important to me, Diana. So thank you again,” repeated Akiko, smiling broadly. Then she looked at Gran and said wouldn’t it be a lovely thing if Diana could stay for supper? “Mrs. Weedon is an excellent cook,” she added.

What a difference a cello makes, thought Lois, seeing a new Akiko in front of her. The girl looks as if she has been part of the Meade family for years, talking about supper and super-cook Gran. Of course, she had been to see her father and was pleased with his progress, so that must count. This thought, as always, gave her a moment’s pause.

*   *   *

S
OLOMON WAS CONCERNED ONLY WITH A MISSING GIRL,
D
IANA
Smith. As yet, the cello had not been reported removed.

“Where the hell is she, then?” he asked around. But nobody had seen her. They must all have been at the prayer meeting in the big hall, they said.

He thought one or two were looking furtive. But then, some of them looked furtive all the time, poor sods. “Diana Smith is not allowed to go wandering off on her own!” he shouted. “I already explained that to her not three hours ago! She said not a word about going out again, and now she’s nowhere to be found.”

He looked around for a scapegoat and picked on a likely looking woman. “You were the last to talk to her, so you’d better smarten yourself up and go and find her. I want her back in my office before seven thirty this evening. Or else.”

The woman shook, knowing what would happen if Diana was not back. She rushed away to ask friends when they had last seen her, and Solomon returned to his study, banging the door with a crash behind him.

When he had calmed down, he decided to search Diana Smith’s room to see what he could find. He regularly did the rounds of his residents’ rooms. Amazing what people left lying around! Personal papers, letters, all kinds of things. She seemed a nice girl, but there was something decidedly shifty about her. On his way to the stairs, old Herbert came rushing up to him, stammering even more than usual.

“What are you trying to say? Spit it out, man!” Solomon turned to go upstairs, when Herbert finally said, “My cello! It’s gone, Mr. Grundy. My unfinished cello!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Bert, it can’t have gone. You must have put it somewhere safe and forgotten where you put it. You are about to age it, aren’t you? Have another look. I’ll be down in a few minutes.” What an old fool! For two pins he’d give him the push. But he’d never find anyone as skilled as Bert.

He charged up the stairs two at a time, and in Diana’s room, his temper rising, he opened every drawer, shaking out the contents on to the floor. Books, neatly arranged on a shelf, were thrown higgledy-piggledy around the room. A vase of flowers picked from the garden was knocked over, spilling water over everything, including pages of beautifully illustrated books.

Nothing of interest to Solomon emerged, and he left the room without locking the door or attempting to clear up the mess.

House policy, he reminded himself as he went downstairs. Every so often at Resort House they encountered a rebel, and now here was another one. He had forgotten to tell the unfortunate woman who would be looking for Diana Smith that she could go beyond the usual boundary, but when he asked the others, they said she had already left in search of the truant.

Solomon sighed. It was definitely one of those days. He supposed he should go to the workshop and see if Herbert had found his cello. It had better be found! It was due for collection next week. He opened the door to the craft area, and saw Herbert on the floor beside his bench.

“Bert? What on earth are you doing?” No reply. “Bert? Speak up, do!”

A mumble reached his ears, and he went closer. Bert buried his face in his hands. He mumbled again, and Solomon heard only the word “gone.”

*   *   *

I
T WAS GROWING DARK NOW, AND
E
ZEKIEL HAD BEEN LOPING
about in the wood, keeping out of sight. Like a rabbit, he told himself. He was used to alfresco sleeping, but he had decided to keep himself awake at all costs. Old Bert’s cello had been a neat trick! He grinned. Diana Smith would deliver it to Akiko, and Solomon would be desperate, but never connect it with him. A small revenge on Grundy, but not nearly enough to pay him back for past humiliations. Grundy would talk to the blonde later, find out where the cello had gone and make sure he retrieved it.

Parsons sighed. He had left Resort House long before Diana was likely to return, vanishing with his meagre belongings before anyone had seen him. The Resorters were all on their knees in the hall, so it was perfect timing. On his way out, he had said a few short prayers himself, but doubted if anyone was listening.

Now he crouched down uncomfortably in the woods, his back against a tree. He was deliberately uncomfortable, so that he would not fall asleep for more than a few minutes. He would have to take some risks tomorrow, his last chance to find Akiko alone. He would just ask her a quick question—was Nakky dead or alive—and then scarper on his way. He would know then whether he was a clumsy villain or a murderer. It was important to him to know. Whichever, he had decided to head for the coast and see if he could get a job on one of the boats. It wouldn’t matter where it was going, as long as it was a long way away from merrie England.

*   *   *

P
EACE REIGNED IN
M
EADE
H
OUSE.
L
OIS AND
D
EREK HAD
discussed with the others the afternoon’s events, and Gran had excelled herself with a show-stopping supper. They had all sat round watching an antiques valuation programme on television, Lois’s favourite, and conversation had declined to the odd grunt from a sleeping Derek and some hoots of derision from Lois when hideous ornaments proved to be worth thousands.

Finally, Diana Smith stirred and said she really must be getting back. “There is a kind of curfew, which is long past,” she said, looking at her watch. “I expect I shall be locked out, or maybe drenched in boiling oil as I go across the drawbridge.”

“What!” said Akiko. “Then you cannot go! Mrs. M! She cannot go back and be covered in boiling oil!”

Lois laughed. “A joke, Akiko. Just a joke.” Then she turned to Diana, and said that perhaps it had not been that much of a joke? Was she actually afraid to go back to Resort House? “I don’t know much about the place, but I’ve never heard any good of it,” she added.

“Stay here, if you’re frit,” said Gran. She had taken to the pleasantly spoken girl, and felt kindly towards her when she heard of her parents’ accident. “She can have Douglas’s old room. Not very jolly, I’m afraid, but probably better than boiling oil. You’d be very welcome, wouldn’t she, Lois?”

Lois thought rapidly, and answered that yes, of course, that would be fine. Diana said that she was not exactly frightened, but would really appreciate a break from the community.

*   *   *

L
ONG AFTER HER MOTHER HAD GONE TO BED,
L
OIS SAT ON IN THE
quiet sitting room, winding down from the excitement and revelations of the evening. Derek had woken refreshed and demanding to be filled in with what had happened whilst he was asleep, and Lois was happy to oblige.

“Now then, let me get this straight,” Derek said. “You’ve got this plan to trap Ezekiel Parsons, using Akiko as bait. Right?”

“No,” said Lois.

“Sort of,” said Jamie.

“Right. Well,” said Derek, “I can see you’re in full agreement. So who’s the boss?”

“Me,” said Lois.

“Me, sort of,” said Jamie.

“Well, pardon me if I’m wrong, son James, but I think this is a pretty loony plan. I’m with your mother on this one.”

“What does Akiko think?” said Lois, curling up on the sofa beside Derek.

“Akiko?” said Derek.

Akiko hesitated, looked sideways at Jamie, and said, “I’m a little worried. My instructions are to run like hell, and Jamie will be right behind me. This could easily go wrong. Parsons will be a desperate man by now, and I suppose I must accept that he is likely to be in this locality.”

“Akiko!” said Jamie. “I thought you were happy with the plan?”

“Not now. I’m sorry, Jamie, but I know him too well.”

Lois stood up, hands on her hips. “That’s that, then, Jamie. Plan cancelled, thank goodness. Parsons is bound to show up sooner or later, and then we’ll act.”

“So what next?” said Derek, also getting to his feet.

“Easy,” said Lois, stroking his stubbly cheek. “Bed. Right?”

“Right!” said Derek.

F
ORTY-
S
IX

“C
AN YOU HEAR SOMETHING?”
L
OIS SAT UP IN BED AND
nudged a still sleeping Derek.

“Huh? What? Is it morning?”

“Yes, it is. Early morning, I’m afraid. But I just woke up and heard this noise. There it is again! Is it music or what?”

Derek groaned. “If you call it music, yes, I suppose it is.”

Lois collapsed back on to the pillows. “Oh my God, I think it’s Akiko playing her borrowed cello. Where’s my earplugs? Ah, that’s better. Now, since we’re awake, shall we get up?”

“No,” said Derek, now wide-awake. “Let’s dance to the music, Mrs. M.”

“What did you say?” Lois said loudly.

Derek put his arms around her. “I said, let’s dance to the music,” he repeated poetically, “while we’ve got the chance.”

*   *   *

G
RAN, MEANWHILE, WAS UP ALREADY AND CLATTERING ABOUT
with frying pan and eggbeater. She did not hear Diana’s silent approach, and started as she looked round. “You made me jump, gel!” she said. “Here, sit you down and have a cup of tea while I get the breakfast. I suppose you couldn’t sleep?” Poor thing looks quite worn out, Gran thought. We’d better look after her for a day or two.

“Thank you, Mrs. Weedon,” Diana said, and her chin wobbled. “It’s all been a bit much lately, what with Mum and Dad, and that awful place . . .” Her tears plopped into the tea placed in front of her, and she scrubbed at her eyes with a tissue. “Sorry,” she said in a muffled voice. “I reckon you’ve got enough on your plate as it is. Am I right?”

“You’ve said it! I reckon my Lois is going mad, rushing about after imaginary criminals and stirring up that old fool, Mrs. Tollervey-Jones, when the silly woman ought to be settling down with her knitting at her age. I don’t know what her son, Robert, is thinking of, letting her loose in her dotage! Now she’s turned Stone House into a convalescent home for sick Japanese gentlemen. Then there’s my grandson Jamie and his friend—her with the cello—getting into all kinds of trouble up London! I don’t know, I’m sure,” she added, placing a plate of curly, crisp bacon and a mound of buttery scrambled eggs in front of Diana. “Get that inside you and you’ll feel a whole lot better.”

At this point, the door opened and Akiko appeared, a smile stretching from ear to ear.

“Good morning, Gran, and Diana,” she said. “I have been having a lovely time playing again. It is such a beautiful instrument, even though it is new. I do hope I did not disturb anyone?” she asked, looking anxious.

“Oh no,” said Gran, “not at all. It sounded lovely.” She crossed her fingers behind her back, and thought privately that it was just like a load of howling monkeys. She supposed she would have to get used to it, if Akiko was going to be a frequent visitor to the family. “And, as my dear hubby used to say, you can get used to anything,” she could not resist adding.

Akiko sat at the table next to Diana and asked her warmly if she had had a good sleep.

“Oh yes, the first good night I’ve had since I came to these parts,” she replied. “Nighttime in Last Resort House was full of eerie footsteps and creaking stairs. And sometimes, the footsteps stopped outside my door, and I was terrified.”

“So you don’t mind our Douglas’s bed? He’d broken practically all the springs by the time he left home. Used it as a trampoline,” said Gran. “You’ve not much time for Last Resort House, then? I think it would be best, my dear, if you collected your things from there, and we’ll find you a place to stay in the village. Mrs. Tollervey-Jones might fit you in, even though you’re not Japanese.”

“My father will not be there long,” Akiko said. “He is a very active person usually, and as soon as he feels stronger, I am sure he will want to go back to Japan. And then I shall be faced with a decision to make,” she added, almost as if talking to herself.

Diana was still unsure about the relationship between Akiko and Jamie, and did not like to ask. Once or twice she had caught Jamie’s eye last evening, and that old familiar frisson of interest had sparked up between them. Not for the world would she come between Akiko and him, but it was possible that theirs was only a professional partnership. Give it time, Diana, she could hear her mother saying.

“What decision is that, if you don’t mind my asking?” she said now to Akiko. “Any help needed?”

Akiko shook her head. “No, only I can make this decision. I have spent more time with my father since he has been here than for a very long while. He was always so busy, and I had music commitments to fulfil.”

“And nonmusical ones?” Diana risked a pointed question.

Akiko laughed. “Those ones are private, Diana. And you? You were living with the gamekeeper at the hall, weren’t you? I hope that is not an impertinent question. I do not always get the right words. Please forgive me.”

Diana was quiet for a moment, and then sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. I was living with Foster. He took advantage of my being in mourning for my parents and not thinking straight. But now I am thinking very straight and shall have no more to do with him.”

“So will you fetch your things?” said Gran. “Lois will ring Mrs. T-J for you, and then you can go down to see her.”

“Tell me about her,” replied Diana. “She sounds an interesting person. Has she lived here long?”

“Generations, that family,” said Gran, and embarked on a long and much-embellished history of the Tollervey-Joneses.

This lasted until the kitchen door opened once more and Derek and Lois appeared, smiling. “Morning, everyone,” said Lois.

“And this is a fine time to come down to breakfast! These two girls are finished and on their last cups of coffee,” said Gran in a stern voice. But Lois could see a twinkle in her mother’s eye, and asked if there was anything she could do to help.

“You can give your son a shout. I can’t keep this bacon hot much longer. It’ll be like dried leather. And I’m intending to go to midweek matins this morning in church. That new bishop is visiting, and I want to give him the once-over.”

On cue, Jamie came smiling into the kitchen. “Morning, everyone,” he said. “Morning, Diana! Glad to see you’re still here.”

“Help yourself, Jamie,” Gran said. “I must wash the smells of cooking off me hands.”

“You go, Mum, and get ready,” Lois said. “I’ll finish breakfast. Now, did everybody sleep well? Hope so. You and Jamie are off for a walk this morning, Akiko, aren’t you?”

“Oh yes, I am ready for anything today,” she replied. “But we do not go to the spinney, Jamie. This I insist on.” Her face was unsmiling, and he did not answer.

“Something else, before I go,” said Gran. “Diana’s been talking about that place at Waltonby, and doesn’t want to go back to stay. I’ve said you’ll ask Mrs. T-J about putting her up for a while. Can you do that today?”

“Certainly,” said Lois, smiling kindly at Diana. “Are you all right for collecting your possessions, or do you want Derek to go over to Waltonby for you?”

Diana hesitated. “I would love that,” she said. “But I think I have to go and sign off. There are some things I need to say to Grundy. Then again, I might leave a few presents for the poor souls who were nice to me. But thanks, Derek.”

“No problem, gel,” he said. “You do what you think best.”

*   *   *

E
ZEKIEL WAS TIRED AFTER KEEPING HIMSELF AWAKE THROUGH
the night. He thought he had heard sounds of searching, but had managed to avoid them. Now he was hungry, and decided that he would sneak into the hall kitchen when the coast was clear and snitch something to eat.

The Norringtons were both off to the supermarket this morning. The chapel shop would be open and Dot Nimmo had agreed to deal with customers until they returned home. She had no New Brooms tasks this morning, and fancied herself as an upmarket shop assistant.

“Who is that over there, Mel, by the stables?” Geoff asked, as he and Melanie walked to where their four-by-four was parked. Melanie shrugged. “Don’t know,” she said. “It’s not our ex-gamekeeper. I’m sure of that. We get so many people here now, it is difficult to remember them all.” She looked at her watch. “Come on, hurry up,” she said. “We want to miss the rush.”

Ezekiel Parsons watched from a place of shadows in the stable yard as they climbed into the car and drove off at speed. What an idiot, he thought to himself. Old Norrington was putting on weight, and it’d do him a power of good to have a good walk occasionally. “Still, it’s his choice,” he said, as he quickly opened the kitchen door and tucked bread, butter and cheese into his knapsack. He fled at top speed, glad of his own lean and hungry frame.

*   *   *

A
S
A
KIKO AND
J
AMIE SET OFF WITH
J
EMIMA ON HER LEAD, SHE
began to think about what their future together might be. “I shall miss these walks with Jeems,” she said, taking Jamie’s hand. “When we go back to London, perhaps I will buy a very small dog that I can carry about with me. Would that be possible? We could walk it in the park, and buy it a little bed with a cushion.”

“Don’t know,” Jamie said. The plural “we” was beginning to alarm him. He had no serious intentions of making a more permanent duo than they had now. They were from different cultures. He had seen that very clearly when Akiko was with her father.

He could not help noticing that she was starting to be possessive with him, and thought that quite soon he would have to have a talk with her. She was so alone in this country, and once her father went away again, she would rely on her musical partner more and more. He knew now that this was not a good idea, but Akiko was stubborn. It would not be easy to get her to change her mind. She had only recently said to him, admittedly in the abstract, that she believed in the soothing power of love, and discounted any differences in race or colour.

Then there was her father. He seemed to have had a change of heart, but that might fade once he was completely recovered. With any luck, Jamie thought, feeling slightly ashamed, Nakamasa might persuade her to give up any idea of marrying a foreigner.

“You are very quiet, Jamie,” Akiko said now. “A penny for them. Isn’t that what you say?”

“Not worth having,” he said quickly. “Come on, let’s step out.”

They were out of the village now and walking through a field belonging to John Thornbull, the husband of one of Lois’s team. Jamie released Jeems, and she shot off across the long grass towards a high hedge.

“Rabbits,” said Jamie. “There’s a warren under the hedge over there. I expect I shall have to pull her out by her tail. Come on, follow me, Akiko!” He ran off, quickly gaining ground.

And then she saw Parsons. A motionless figure standing by a gap in the hedge on the far side of the field. For a moment she was not sure, but as she looked again she saw that it was the man she hated most. It
was
Parsons, she was sure, and she stopped, frozen to the spot.

“Jamie!” she yelled. “Come back!” He had nearly reached the far side of the field, and when she looked back, the figure by the gap had melted away.

“Jamie! Look over there! It was Parsons!”

But Jeems was barking furiously now, hot on the scent and halfway down a burrow, and Jamie did not hear.