Scandal at Six(47)

“Him, maybe? If so, you’ll be looking for a new tenant shortly. Now can I have some of that grapefruit marmalade your dad likes?”

“Doesn’t Gran have a monopoly on homemade marmalade in Meade House?”

“Yeah, but she only makes orange. A couple of jars, please.”

The door opened, and Justin came in. “Hello, I’m back,” he said. “I need a few supplies, when you’re ready, Josie.”

“A good fairy has left a box in your flat,” said Lois, and watched his reaction.

“You’ve been in my flat? I’m not sure—”

“Oh, don’t worry,” said Josie. “I didn’t look around. I just put the box in your kitchen, and a ready meal in the freezer. How was your father? Any improvement?”

Justin shook his head. “Afraid not,” he answered. “I’ll be going upstairs, then, and thanks for the groceries. I’ll settle up later.”

Up in his flat, he looked around. Thank heavens he had tidied up before he left! Nothing incriminating left out. He went into the kitchen and found the box of groceries, and a bottle of red wine. He read the note beside it. “On the house! Welcome back. Josie V.”

He looked out of the open window across the houses and to the playing field beyond, where a young boy kicked a ball about with his father. Both were shrieking with laughter that travelled to where he stood, and he could not stop the tears squeezing out from under his eyelids.



*



At Cameroon Hall, Dot was cleaning silver, and asked Pettison if his guest was still upstairs, as she didn’t want to disturb him with the vacuum if he was asleep. But he had gone, apparently, quite early in the morning.

“He recognised you, Dot,” Pettison said. “I told him you had died recently, just in case.”

“In case of what?” Dot replied.

“In case you would rather not have been recognised. He is a dangerous person to know, but we get on well together.”

“Wasn’t he that man from the Far East somewhere, the one that crossed Handy’s path once or twice? If so, you’d be far better using someone else. He’d slit your throat as soon as look at you!”

Pettison laughed. “Not if I’m ready for him,” he replied. “No, he brought me a very beautiful person to add to my collection. And don’t worry; she’s put away in a safe place.”



*



At four thirty precisely, Lois sat down opposite Cowgill at his desk, and said that she had one very important question to ask.

“Ask away, my dear Lois. And may I say how lovely you are looking, as always?”

“I can’t stop you, but I’d rather you didn’t. Now concentrate, Cowgill. It is very simple. I want to know why Pettison has not had his zoo with its dangerous animals closed down by the law, long before this?”

“Good question, Lois. But the answer is not so simple. He has animal-protection organisations inspecting him, and we have been called in on a number of occasions when a visitor has been mildly hurt. Usually a child sticking its fingers in where it shouldn’t. We have insisted he tighten up security, and he always obliges. The animals’ papers are beyond reproach, all bred in captivity and so legal. Sometimes I wonder if he doesn’t have some spy who warns him when we do spot-checks.”

“Well, can’t you find out?”

“Difficult. Everything points to a bent copper. Now, we arrive at an even more complicated place. The police officer in charge of such checks and inspections is Josie’s husband, Matthew Vickers. You see my difficulty? Even more complicated, Pettison occasionally pleads exemption because he has breeding programmes in place, helping to increase the numbers of rare animals.”

“But if you’re worried about Matthew being a member of my family, why don’t you take him off that particular case, and put him elsewhere? Maybe hunting for real criminals. He’s a clever fellow, our Matthew, as well as being your nephew and my son-in-law.”

“That’s just it. Matthew is by far and away the best cop to be communicating with a slippery character like Robert Pettison. And I could swear Matthew is no double agent! No, I shall arrange to monitor Pettison myself, alongside Matthew, and we should be able to trip him up. The surest way of doing this is to catch him in the act of receiving or handing over the wretched animals. Now, we go on to Dot Nimmo’s reports from Cameroon Hall. Can you help me out there?”

Lois nodded. “She has already told me some useful things. First, Pettison is very jumpy when she is there. Follows her from room to room, or hides in his study. She has discovered the locked room that I told you about, but doesn’t know what’s in it. I decided not to tell her, and hope that he doesn’t think of showing it to her himself. Dot is quite sensitive in her way, and not fond of creepy crawlies.”