McQueen's Agency (11 page)

The young constable on the beat helped Tam into his house and said he had called the doctor.

‘What about Rover? Will he be all right?’

The policeman didn’t reply.

The doctor arrived within the hour and examined Tam’s shoulder. ‘It’s not dislocated and I don’t think it’s broken but you might have to go to the DRI for an X-Ray tomorrow. You’ve got very bad bruising but I’ll have a better idea tomorrow when I come back to see you.’

After the doctor and policeman had left, Mrs Kidd made Tam a strong cup of tea and placed a hot water bottle in his bed. ‘Would you like me to make you some supper, Tam?’

Tam shook his head. ‘What about Rover. Have you heard how he is?’

‘The policeman took him to the People’s Dispensary in Dock Street for emergency treatment and you’ll hear tomorrow how he is. What happened? I didn’t hear what you told the policeman.’

‘Somebody hit me with a cosh or a truncheon. Rover saved my life by biting them and now it looks like I’ve lost him.’ He tried hard not to cry but tears formed in his eyes. He wiped them away with his handkerchief.

Mrs Kidd said, ‘Now, now, Tam, let’s get you to your bed. The doctor left these pills and I’ve to give you two before you go to sleep. They’ll help the pain.’

She bustled over to the sink and filled a cup with water. ‘Here, swallow them and you’ll get a good night’s sleep.’

Tam did as he was told but after the departure of his neighbour, he did something he had never done before. He hobbled over and locked the door.

The pills did make him sleep but when he woke in the morning, all the horror of the previous night came flooding back along with his anguish over his dog. He had heard Rover yelp in agony and it seemed like the assailant had used his cosh on him.

There was a knock on the door and Tam almost called out to come in before he remembered he had locked the door.

Mrs Kidd was standing in the lobby but Tam was surprised to see DS Johns behind her.

As the woman set about making some tea and toast, the policeman settled himself on Tam’s chair. ‘What’s all this I’m hearing about you being attacked, Tam?’

Tam, who was thinking about the episode, was beginning to doubt his first reactions.

‘Maybe it was just somebody in a hurry. You know, he came rushing down from the top floor and banged into me and then knocked Rover down the stair because he was barking at him. I thought he was carrying a truncheon or something like it but maybe it’s just my imagination.’

Charlie Johns didn’t think this was the reason. He had the doctor’s report and Tam had certainly suffered a heavy blow to his shoulder; a blow that had been aimed at his head, if he hadn’t been forewarned by the shadow. He had also seen the report on Rover and it didn’t make good reading.

Tam was asking about his dog. ‘Will I get Rover back from the Dispensary today? Is he going to be all right?’

Charlie Johns said he was in good hands. He was going to see the vet after questioning Tam’s neighbours.

Mrs Kidd hadn’t heard anything to start with. ‘I was listening to the wireless as I like the programmes on a Sunday. It was the high-pitched yelping from Rover that made me open the door and poor Tam was lying there in a heap. I thought I heard footsteps running out of the close but I’m not sure.’

Charlie went round all the neighbours but he had no joy until he saw old Mrs Rice who lived on the downstairs landing. She had been putting out her milk bottle when a figure ran by but she hadn’t been able to give any description.

‘It’s my glasses, son. They’re cracked.’

Charlie saw that was an understatement. One lens had a deep crack across the surface and the other lens was totally covered with a mesh of fine lines.

‘I dropped them the other day and stood on them,’ she said ruefully. ‘I’m waiting to see the optician later today to get another pair on the National Health.’

He turned to go but Mrs Rice added, ‘The man was wearing one of those coats with a hood. You ken the ones I mean. Sailors wear them but I can’t remember what they’re called.’

‘A duffle coat, Mrs Rice?’

Her face lit up. ‘That’s right, son. Those coats with the toggles and the hood. I’ve seen them at the pictures in one of those John Mills films about ships and submarines.’

Charlie was puzzled. Here was another incident with a seaman. First Harry and now Tam. There had to be a connection.

He made his way round the corner to the Dock Street Dispensary for Sick Animals. Rover was lying in a cage. He seemed to be asleep. There was dried blood on his head and stitches covered the deep gash on his back. His back leg was in a splint. The vet came out and examined him.

‘Poor wee dog. He got a good beating with something heavy. I’m not sure if the leg will heal. We might have to amputate it but I’ll give it another day or two. Just to see how it goes.’

‘What about that deep cut on his back?’

‘That should heal all right. Luckily for him he was well fed and had a bit of fat about him. Otherwise it could have been much worse.’

Charlie made his way back to Gellatly Street. He was filled with anger at the thought of someone trying to kill a harmless old man and his dog.

Charlie sat by the side of the bed and told Tam about Mrs Rice’s statement. ‘Everything seems to come back to Harry Hawkins. Are you sure you’ve never met him before? Maybe you were both on the same ship at some time.’

Tam shook his head. ‘No, I never saw him till I met him in the pub the night he died. I’m much older than him and I’ve been retired for almost thirteen years. I never saw any action during the war. Not like Harry. He said he had been all over the world since going to sea at sixteen.’

‘I checked up on Harry’s work record. He was with the Hull firm for four years and he did a year on the emigrant ships going out to Australia, as a steward. I’m not sure why he left that job but he went straight back to work on the ship from Hull to Rotterdam, then
The Mary Anne
afterwards.’

Tam gave Charlie a direct look. ‘You’ve not mentioned Rover. He’s dead. Isn’t he?’

Charlie shook his head. ‘No Tam, I’ve just left the vet. Rover has a deep gash on his back that needed stitches. He was sleeping when I left him.’

Charlie felt awful not telling Tam the entire truth but the vet had said to give Rover’s leg another couple of days. Why worry the old man until then?

Cliff Top House was a hive of activity on the Monday morning. Joe, Mike and Christie were busy loading the van with Ronald’s furniture.

Lena appeared in her housecoat. She looked tired and had black shadows under her eyes.

‘What a weekend we’ve had. Ronald’s van has broken down so he wants his furniture delivered today. Actually, he wanted it yesterday but Joe fell on the beach and cut his arm badly. He won’t go to the infirmary or the doctor. He says it’ll heal in a couple of days.

‘And as you can see, Molly, I’ve overslept. My arm was very painful last night and I didn’t get much sleep and I have to be with Kenneth in the shop today. Can you and Christie deal with the delivery for Edinburgh? James’s van is coming this morning.’

Molly said she would help Christie with the loading.

‘Now don’t you do any heavy lifting, Molly. Christie and the van driver will do that.’ She gave a final glance towards her husband who had finished loading his van and gave a little wave as he drove away with Mike. Joe didn’t return her wave nor did he say anything to his wife as he drove out of the courtyard, even though he passed within a few feet of the two women.

After a few minutes Lena headed back indoors, saying, ‘I’d better get dressed or Kenneth will be waiting for me.’

Molly headed for the office where there was a huge pile of invoices waiting to be filed, plus another batch of brochures to be posted.

Molly could hardly believe the amounts of money people were spending on antique furniture, rugs and paintings. Perhaps it was as Betty said. People were tired of Utility furniture and clothes.

Glancing through some of the brochures that were sent out regularly to the Lamont’s favoured customers, she saw some lovely pieces; tables with beautiful inlaid work and chairs covered in fabulous fabrics.

She heard the van before she saw it; its slow lumbering whine as it drew up at the back door.

Christie appeared as Lena and Kenneth were getting into their car. ‘We’ll be back about five o’clock, Christie.’

The two van drivers were standing at the side of their vehicle. Christie said to drive it to the entrance of the shed.

Molly had to go to the shed with the delivery book and note everything that was put on the van, but the three men lifted the goods and placed them gently into the interior, wrapping cloths around the furniture to protect it from bumps. Molly didn’t like to be morbid but everything looked as if it were covered in shrouds. It all looked quite ghostly.

It had been cool and misty earlier on but now, by mid morning, the sun had come out and the office was warm and stuffy. Molly went to open the window but when she returned to her desk she heard a faint creak like a footstep above her head, in Joe and Lena’s bedroom.

She held her breath and listened hard. There was another soft footstep.

Molly went out quietly into the hall and stood by the foot of the stair. Everything seemed peaceful. The clock in the hall chimed eleven.

Perhaps she had imagined the noise. After all, it was an old house and full of creaks and groans.

She went back to her desk and soon the only sound was the sharp tapping of the typewriter as she typed letters to accompany the brochures. Fifteen minutes later she decided to make a cup of tea.

She was sitting at the kitchen table when she heard another creak from upstairs. Someone was definitely prowling around. She made her way back out to the hall and climbed the stairs. Her footsteps muffled by the thick carpet, she reached the landing without making a noise.

She didn’t like the idea that she was snooping so she called out, ‘Who’s there?’

There was no sound. She opened the bathroom door but the room was deserted.

She didn’t like to check the bedrooms as they were personal and off limits to her and her sense of common decency.

She moved to the end of the landing and was surprised to see another small staircase which seemed to lead to the back of the house. She stood looking down this stair but all was silent. There were four doors on the landing. Lena and Joe’s bedroom, Kenneth’s room, the bathroom and probably another bedroom.

She opened this door and was surprised to find it full of pictures, rugs and antique vases and ornaments. There were also lots of silver items ranging from tea services and picture frames to large ornamental bowls.

As she was shutting the door she noticed one of the paintings. It was the one bought by Nelly Marten on Saturday evening. Kenneth and Lena had obviously left it behind by mistake.

Feeling like a criminal she hurried downstairs. There was a small window on the stairs that overlooked the garden and, to her surprise, she saw Christie heading towards the sheds.

Surely he couldn’t be the prowler? He worked in the business and had every right to be around. So why creep around like a thief?

Molly decided to go out and see Christie. She could always make up some sort of tale to explain her visit.

Christie was checking a sheet of paper when she went in. She called out. ‘Hullo, I hope I’m not disturbing you?’

Christie looked alarmed and thrust the sheet of paper into his pocket. ‘You gave me a fright,’ he said, giving her a big smile. ‘What can I do for you?’

‘I’ve got letters to post and wondered how far the nearest post box is,’ she said.

He gave her a quick glance. ‘I think Lena likes to post the mail when they go to the shop. Or else she takes it to the post office in Newport.’

Molly put on a disappointed face. ‘Thanks. It’s just my own private letters but I’ll post them later.’

She turned to go but he said, ‘I’m making some coffee. Do you want to join me?’

‘I’ll have some tea if you have any.’

He grinned. ‘We have everything here. Even a tin of biscuits.’

He bustled about in the tiny kitchen and Molly heard the rattle of cups and the sound of the kettle boiling. She poked her head around the door. The room was compact but well fitted out. A wide bench ran along one side of the wall and a small gas cooker sat beside the other wall, next to a sink and draining board. There were three chairs grouped around a wooden table and it felt warm and comfy.

Joe and Lena were certainly thoughtful employers. Christie placed the two cups and some biscuits on the table and sat down in one of the chairs. He waved an arm towards the other chair. ‘Take the weight off your feet.’

Molly sat down on the edge of her seat. She wasn’t sure of this man. As she sipped her tea, Christie chatted about the previous Saturday evening.

‘I bet they were pleased with the sales they got. I mean that picture must be worth a fortune.’

Molly remained silent. She wasn’t going to discuss her employer’s business with a worker.

‘You got home safely?’ he asked. ‘It’s a narrow road especially in the dark.’

‘It wasn’t too dark. The summer nights are something I had forgotten when I was in Australia.’

‘That’s right, I remember you said you had emigrated to Australia with your sister. Your parents are going out there now, you said. What brought you back from the land of opportunity?’

Molly froze. There was no way she was going to tell him about Tom and all the heartache his death had caused.

‘My sister got married and I got homesick.’

‘I know the feeling,’ he said. ‘I miss Canada a lot but I’ll be going back sometime. Maybe you’ll go back to Australia, Molly.’

Never, she thought, but she smiled. ‘Maybe. Who knows where we’ll all end up?’

She decided to mention the footsteps. Just to see what he said. ‘When I was in the office I thought I heard someone upstairs.’

He gave her a blank look. ‘When was this?’

‘It was about an hour ago. I went up to check and saw you heading back to the sheds. Did you see anyone?’

He shook his head then suddenly said, ‘You must have heard me. I had to go upstairs to the bathroom.’