The Savage Gorge (28 page)

To take her mind off the hideous approaching land
slide, Paula looked to her right. She had the same
impression of the 'scenery' as she had when they had
driven to Seaward Cove. Many areas of Somerset and
Devon were delightful and beautiful. This was not one
of them.

This was a desert of rock and derelict fields, so
barren and with nothing green anywhere that she was
vaguely reminded of the Mojave Desert in America.
No hotels, not even a house. She looked away,
checked the landslide.

It was close to overwhelming the road. Marler
glanced at her with a dry smile.

'OK, Paula?'

She managed to wink at him. He grinned back,
swiftly stared back at the straight road. His foot was still pressed fully down and the car shuddered under
the pressure. Looking again in the rear-view mirror
she saw Tweed waving to her with a wide smile. He
looked so cool and calm.

Ahead of them a large round rock rolled across
the road. It told her the avalanche was nearly on
top of them. Then she leaned forward, tense.
They had nearly reached the turn-off to the airfield.
She couldn't believe it. As they swept past it she
checked the rear-view mirror once more, scared for Tweed. She sagged as she saw the Audi pass the
turn-off.

Looking back behind the Audi she saw no sign of
the road - only the seven-foot-high tumble of rock and

shale that covered it. The tension slowly drained out of her as Marler slowed to a normal speed.

'Where to next?' she wondered, trying to recall something said earlier. Park Crescent would be my choice, she thought.

TWENTY ONE

They were still in the wilds when Marler received a message from Tweed. Slipping his mobile into his
pocket, he grinned at Paula.

'
I’m pulling in at that layby ahead of us. Tweed will
join us there. Our next destination is Finden Square,
the lion's den.'

'Why?' demanded Paula.

'Here is Tweed. You rejoin him in the Audi. Harry
will be travelling with me.'

'OK, Paula,' said Tweed as he appeared, opening
the door for her. 'I'll take over the lead from now on,'
he told Marler.

'You must be mad,' Paula snapped as she settled beside Tweed in the Audi. 'He'll be expecting you at
Finden - with an army of thugs.'

'I've changed my mind. We're heading straight back

to Hobartshire. I'll inform Marler in a moment. As in
the past, I had a surge of fury, and misjudgement,
when I thought that landslide was going to kill you.'

'You'd have been killed too,' she pointed out.

'Goes with the territory where I'm concerned.' He
used her mobile to tell Marler of the change of desti
nation. 'He also likes the idea. Our main task is still to
identify the murderer.'

'Any narrowing of the list of suspects?' she
enquired.

'Possibly. A motive has appeared but it may not be
right.'

Paula took a last look at the bleak inland landscape.
She was so looking forward to getting away from the
treacherous sea. To be revelling in the greenery of Hobartshire, the strange old town of Gunners Gorge.

It was mid-morning and still May. The sun shone
out of a blue sky. The temperature indicator inside
the car registered 70
°F in the open. Perfect - Paula settled down to enjoy the ride as they entered green
countryside with rolling slopes and passed under
arcades of dense trees in full leaf creating a boulevard-
like atmosphere. Then the mobile buzzed. Tweed
grabbed it.

'Tweed here. Bob! Great to hear from you.
What?
Accident? Has he survived? Thank heavens for that.
We're on our way to you from Seaward Cove. Expect
our arrival about dusk. OK. Meet you inside the
garage at the Nag's Head. Watch your back.'

'Something has happened?' asked Paula.

'An attempt was made to kill Lord Bullerton this
morning.'

'Neville Guile,' she said.

'Doubt that. They were still doing business
together.'

'Maybe they'd completed their business, so Guile
—'

'Maybe, maybe, maybe,' Tweed responded irritably.
His voice changed to normal. 'Now there could be a
motive there. I think the fog is clearing over these mass murders. Must let Marler and Harry know.'

He spoke briefly on the mobile, knowing the quick
witted Marler would grasp the situation when told in
a few words.

Then he concentrated on his driving. Half his mind
was on this startling new development. Paula tapped
his arm gently.

'You're driving much faster. Only just under the
speed limit. . .'

'I know the speed limit,' he rapped back.

'I'm sure you do.' Paula changed the subject. 'I
really am looking forward to seeing Bob again.'

'So am I. I suspect he may have accumulated a
whole load of information as to what is really going on
up there. Something is. I said earlier I believe it's some
thing big. I'm more than ever convinced about that.'

'Bob won't have wasted his time. The energy of the
man is phenomenal.'

'Paula . . .' He looked at her and smiled. 'I apologize for my recent irritability. An attack on Bullerton is the
last thing I expected.'

'You've been under tremendous pressure. Please
forget the apology. Not necessary. You took a wise
decision to return to Hobartshire.'

'We could be walking into a dangerous situation,' he
warned.

'Situation normal,' she replied calmly.

It was dusk when they arrived at the Nag's Head and
drove slowly into the garage. Newman appeared from
behind Harry's grey Fiat. For a moment Paula didn't
recognize him. He was wearing khaki drill, a straw hat,
brim pulled well down over his face, and dark glasses.
He removed hat and glasses and came forward to hug
her.

'Good to see you,' Tweed called out, still seated
behind the wheel of the Audi. 'What do you advise as
our immediate objective?'

'Drive with Paula and Harry to Hobart House right
now. I can talk when you get back. Suggest dinner in
your suite.'

Driving to Hobart House, Paula found it strange to
be back in familiar surroundings. She sat beside
Tweed who was behind the wheel. Harry occupied the
rear of the Audi. Approaching the turn-off lane at
the nearest end of the Village, he leaned forward.

'I don't believe it. Mrs Grout is scrubbing her steps
again.'

'Maybe a cat with muddy paws climbed them,'
Paula joked.

'Drop me off close to that hole in the hedge,' Harry
requested. 'Anyone pursuing you up that slope will get
a bullet closer to his legs than he'll like.'

When they drove on down to Hobart House it was
pitch black. The moon was obscured by a low bank of
dark clouds. Every light in the residence was on.

The front door was opened by Lance. Wearing a
pale grey blazer and cream trousers, he looked as
smart as he always did. His expression was one of
relief when he saw them under the glow of the porch
lantern.

'Am I glad to see the two of you. Something awful
has happened.'

'How is your father?' Tweed asked as they entered
the hall.

'Lucky to be alive. Who would do such a thing?
Father is in his study, working on some papers. He's
amazing. The doctor has been, checked him over. No
bones broken and no injury to the muscular system.
I'll take you to him.'

'Hold it a second,' Tweed ordered. 'When did this
happen? In the early morning? I see. Now, who was in
the house at the time?'

'Let's see.' Lance frowned. 'I was here, so were
Margot and Sable - in their rooms. Mrs Shipton was
here - gets in to her kitchen where she is now at crack
of dawn. To deal with the girl staff from the town, and
they'd gone by then. I think that's the lot. No, the
stable staff were in their stables.' He smiled ruefully.
'Dawn cracks when it sees them coming.'

'What was the nature of the so-called accident?'

'My father couldn't sleep, so he got up earlier than
usual to take his morning ride before breakfast.
Apparently found his horse, Fairlight, already saddled
for him. Jumps on it, goes riding along the course.
Was just about to go over a high hurdle when his
saddle tips sideways, throws him off. Luckily they
hadn't mown the side grass yet, which broke his fall.'

'Who saddles his horse?'

'Jacko, chief stable lad.'

'Thank you. We'd like to see your father now.'

Lance led the way to the study. Opening the door,
he called out, 'Company which you'll welcome!'

As they walked into the spacious room, Lord
Bullerton was at a desk pushed against the wall. Its
surface was covered with papers. Lord Bullerton's
bulk was settled in a tall Queen Anne straight-backed
chair. What happened next startled Tweed.