She sluiced her face in cold water, and sprayed scent liberally behind her ears and on her wrists. Covers a multitude! she thought. The traffic was heavy in town, and she had to sit at traffic lights for what seemed longer than usual. She listened to her local radio station for news of road congestion, and jerked to attention at the mention of another death from snakebite. This time it was not at the zoo, but at the home of a private owner the other side of the county. She made a mental note of the name, and listened for more information. But it was a brief news item, and other, more cheerful stories followed.
Must make sure Mrs M knows, she thought, and drove up to Cameroon Hall, thinking what she would do if one of the wriggling things escaped up to the house and confronted her on the job. Another thought struck her. Was Pettison’s mysterious guest, needing such prompt attention, anything to do with the radio news item?
She parked her car and went quickly up to the back door of the hall. Pettison opened it almost immediately, and welcomed her in.
“Most grateful, Dottie,” he said. “And so sorry for the sudden summons! I have my distant cousin coming from Africa, and I would like to be shipshape when he arrives.”
“You can’t have made it so dirty since yesterday!” said Dot. “But I’ll have a go, and leave everything tidy.”
She started on the kitchen, and realised why he wanted her services. There were newspapers everywhere, not stacked tidily, but half opened and strewn on the floor. All the crocks from his meals since yesterday were heaped on the draining board, and there was cold greasy water in the washing-up bowl.
His cat, a large evil-looking male tabby, sat next to a half-eaten chicken leg, and glowered at her.
“Shoo, you nasty thing,” she said, and pushed it firmly onto the floor, where it yowled and spat at her, then fled rapidly away.
A bin labelled FOR COMPOST spilled its contents onto the floor, and she saw that it consisted mainly of a mouldy cabbage and oozing potatoes that had seen better days.
So much for saving the planet, she thought bitterly, and tipped it away. When she reached the sitting room, it was marginally tidier, but the drawers of a music chest had been emptied, and the decorative covers of old Victorian songs had been dumped on the sofa, where they were slowly sliding off onto the carpet.
“What a disgrace!” she said loudly, hoping he would hear. “Those lovely sheets of music are valuable to collectors.”
“Would you like them, Dottie?” he said, appearing like a jack-in-the-box at the door.
“No thanks,” she said. “But you should sell them, if you don’t want them. Where did you get them, anyway? I don’t remember seeing that chest before. Is it new?”
“New to me,” he said. “Fell off the back of a lorry, as they say. I am keeping it in safe custody until a buyer comes along. Nice piece, that chest. Lovely way of keeping music, with drawers that have a front that lowers like a little shelf.”
“Yes, well, I must get on. Coffee at eleven, don’t forget.”
He nodded, and disappeared. His study was at the back of the house, and she heard the door shut behind him. That was where she preferred him to be, safely shut away from her until it was time to go home. He gave her the shivers when he came too close.
She had been warned by Mrs M, and knew that at any time she would be able to refuse to do the job, and a replacement could be found. But she did not plan on that. She meant to stay until the whole business of trespassing reptiles and sudden deaths was dealt with.
Mrs M was cheerful, but Dot knew that she worried about Josie in the shop. One snake, one toad, one frog and a rat infestation, all more than enough for the girl to dismiss as accidental. They were lucky that a tenant had been found for the flat, as damaging rumours had gone swiftly round the village and beyond.
Pettison appeared again, this time in the guest bedroom, where Dot was dutifully making up the bed with clean sheets and pillowcases.
“Sorry, Dottie!” he said. “Change of plan. Guest is arriving earlier than expected. Called from the station, and is hoping to be here in half an hour or so. Could you finish that, and then leave the rest until Friday? You have worked your magic beautifully downstairs!”
Dot sighed. She picked up her cleaning things, and made for the stairs. As she passed the locked room, she saw there was a key in the door.
“Does he get to see inside the inner sanctum?” she asked.
“Time to go,” he replied, and almost pushed her downstairs.
“Just watch it, Pettison!” she said. “You know better than to do anything to harm me. I know too much, so lay off. You look scruffy, if you don’t mind my saying so. Best scrub up, and have the kettle on ready to give him coffee.”