Scandal at Six(40)

His mother wanted to know all about the new flat, and he gave her a brief description before signing off and saying he’d be in touch very soon. Before he switched off, she said something that bothered him considerably.

“What did you say, Mother?” he asked anxiously. “It escaped while you were feeding it, and you couldn’t catch it? It’s still in the barn somewhere? Right, well, keep the door firmly shut, and I’ll deal with it when I arrive. Thanks a lot, Ma, and don’t worry about it.”

He turned the radio on to a classical music station to calm his nerves, and sat down to think. He knew it was a rotten trick of Pettison’s to ask his father to house Robert’s consignments, but the money was good, and though his mother was not keen, his father had seemed quite happy about it. In fact, he had been fascinated by some of the creatures, and had taken it for granted that he mustn’t mention them to anyone. Pettison had reminded Justin that he must stress to his parents how valuable they were, and that collectors could break in and do damage if they knew where they were.

Now, to his dismay, he heard his mother’s voice breaking into tears as she said how much she was looking forward to seeing him, and he opened his diary to suggest a date.

Loud voices caused him to look down into the street, and he groaned when he saw Robert Pettison’s car. He thought of locking his door and pretending to be out. Then the loud voice was outside on the stairs, and he knew that would be hopeless. Robert would know exactly where he was. Robert had a knack of knowing, and so he crossed to the door and opened it, forcing a smile of welcome.

“Very nice, boy,” said Pettison, as he looked around. “I really think that with Dottie coming to clean for me, and you being up here well within earshot of the irritating Lois Meade, we should have that little problem solved. Nip in the bud any forays into enquiring too closely into our activities, won’t you?”

“I have already logged in the time she disappeared off to Tresham,” Justin said. “But no, only joking. I can see up to her house, though, and who knows, that might be useful.”

“Good lad,” said Pettison expansively. “Now, when will you be able to receive some very small people? Silent but deadly, as the saying goes.”





Twenty-four





“Morning, Mrs M!” Dot always spoke on the phone as if she had to shout loud enough to cover the distance, however near the unfortunate person taking the call.

Lois held the receiver away from her ear, and said there was no need to bellow. She said this almost every time Dot phoned her, but to no effect.

“Is that better?” yelled Dot.

Lois sighed. She had had a worrying night, after the team meeting yesterday. She dreamt that Justin Brookes had enticed Josie upstairs into the flat, and was about to have his wicked way with her when she drew a knife from her pocket and stuck it in him. She awoke with her heart beating wildly, and it took her a little while to come back to reality.

But now, thank goodness, here was Dot, yelling in her ear that she had nothing but good to report about her first day at Cameroon Hall.

“Well done,” Lois said. “Anything at all you’d like me to check on?”

Dot thought about her snack with Margie from the kiosk, and decided to mention it, stressing that it had been in her own free time. She described having seen a small child stick its fingers through a gap in the monkey cage, and she had pulled it free, only to be told by its parents that she should mind her own business. They came to the zoo regularly, they said, and sometimes the little monkey took a piece of bun from the child.

“But apart from that, all went well, Mrs M. There is one room I couldn’t get into, but Pettison said they’d lost the key and would get the lock changed. Anyway, it’s full of old books, and he said it didn’t matter.”

Lois thought about the hanging gorilla and the dozens of dissected animals around the room, and shivered. Just as well Pettison had decided not to give Dot the guided tour.

“Right, well, you’ll be there again on Thursday. If Pettison has any complaints, which I am sure he hasn’t, I’ll let you know before then. And don’t forget to be vigilant. Ears and eyes open, Dot. You know the form.”



*



Justin Brookes set off once more for the Lincolnshire fens and his parents’ farm. He had not wanted to visit so soon, but his mother’s anxious account of the escaped rodent made it imperative that he should catch the wretched thing and return it to captivity. Pettison would be furious if it escaped beyond recall. All his people, as he called them, were valuable specimens. What a man of contrasts his uncle was! On the one hand, he was cold and ruthless, never to be trusted, and on the other, he could be charming, even childishly twee with his ridiculous “people” thing.