Scandal at Six(52)

“Not a bad idea to get your money’s worth! Anyway, that new customer was, I think, the woman who lives over the road from Dot. A woman of the night, as they used to say. Obviously, not the sort of customer Melanie wants!”

“Her money’s as good as anybody else’s,” said Josie. “Maybe being a pro is what she’s good at. Some of them call it sex therapy. You know what Gran says—live and let live! Not that she practises what she preaches. Shall we be off back home, then?”

“In a minute. I just want to look something up in my diary, while I think of it.”

Lois shuffled the pages of her diary, keeping an eye on the shop door. When it opened and Mrs Brierley came out, Josie was surprised to see her mother open the car door and go over to speak to her.

Betsy Brierley was also surprised. “Don’t I know you?” she said. “Aren’t you Dot Nimmo’s boss? Anyway, did you want something?”

“Oh, no, not really,” said Lois. “I think I’ve mistaken you for someone else. Please forgive me. I’ll be going. Oh, and yes, I do run New Brooms, a cleaning business. Don’t forget us, if you ever need any help!”

Useful, thought Lois, as she returned to the van. She knew who I was, quite clearly. We’ll see what Mrs T-J does with her. We should get some good stuff on Pettison. Feeling optimistic and cheerful, she drove Josie and the jacket back home in a buoyant mood.

After a pleasant evening with her husband and mother, Lois relaxed on the sofa to watch her favourite detective serial. Then the telephone rang, and she groaned.

“I’ll go,” said Derek. But he was back after a minute or two, saying it was for Lois. “Mrs T-J, sounding a bit wobbly,” he said. “She’s been burgled, poor old thing. A masked man, who took some of her silver.”

Lois went out immediately and took the telephone from him. “Hello? I’m on my way, so don’t worry. Have a strong coffee and wait for me.”

After that, Mrs T-J said there was absolutely no need for Lois to turn out, and lightning never strikes the same place twice, and tomorrow morning would be quite soon enough.





Thirty





Next morning, Lois arrived at Stone House to find the police had already been and taken a statement, and would be in touch with the old lady.

“It was one man, last night after dark, theatrically disguised,” she said to Lois now. “He made me stand by the door, while he filled his swag bag with the small silver pieces I keep on the table in the drawing room. Then, when I blocked his way out, he laughed and said he had no wish to harm me, but would I kindly step aside! I mean, Lois, I ask you. I thought the days of the gentleman burglar were dead and gone. Then he said I must learn to keep my nose out of other people’s business and stick to gardening! Wasn’t that stupid? It was all too ridiculously dramatic, my dear! But I know it is best to forget about saving the silver, and just get rid of a burglar as soon as possible. Oh, and he almost forgot to take the silver with him! I had to remind him he’d left it behind. I felt rather sorry for him.”

“Mrs T-J! You’re not serious?”

“Well, actually, my dear, I am. I suspected at once that he was no professional burglar, but had just been sent to deliver a warning to keep my nose out of the zoo business. I thought I would let him get away with it to see what happened. His voice was familiar, but he did have his face more or less covered, so I’m not sure where I’ve seen him.”

“And the police?”

“Your son-in-law was wonderful, Lois. He was calm and reassuring. Made a list straightaway of the pieces I could remember, and said he hoped and trusted they would all be restored to me. I hadn’t the heart to tell him that it was most unlikely I’d ever see them again, and in any case it wasn’t very good stuff. Now, we must forget all about this, and return to business. I intend to go into Tresham this afternoon and have a chat with Mrs Brierley. I made an appointment yesterday, to make sure she was there. She will remember me kindly, I hope, and will cough up some interesting info.”

“Well, all right, but please be careful, won’t you. The likes of Betsy Brierley are not good-hearted girls down on their uppers. They have learned to be ruthless.”

“You are teaching your grandmother, Lois, my dear! Dealing with the raffish underworld of Tresham for more years than I care to remember has taught me a thing or two. I shall be perfectly safe, and I’ll be in touch.”

Lois returned home and stood gazing out of her office window. The snow had turned to slush, and children were out in their wellies, kicking the muddy water at each other and yelling abuse. She saw Josie’s new tenant come out and walk away up the road. They’d not talked about him yesterday, but everything seemed to be going well. Josie would have mentioned it, if not.