As the miles sped by, he tried to add up the respective pros and cons. If Pettison should end up in jail, then there would be the perfect opportunity to clean up the zoo, get rid of illegal animal immigrants and run the place as one of the best private zoos in the country. He liked the animals. Not in the stupid “people” way of his uncle. But the chimps and the other captivity-bred monkeys were fun, and he might even build an elephant house, and give kids rides around the grounds. A small elephant, it would need to be.
He laughed. He really knew nothing about keeping animals. But he could learn, and it would be fun doing it.
The other course of action was clear. He could do what his mother dearly wanted, take over the farm, get married and have a family, and they could all live happily ever after. But could he change his present way of life so abruptly? His mother and the farm could tick over for a year or two, to give him time to decide. In any case, now was not the time to worry her with his indecision! He could stay with her for a couple of weeks, and help her to sort out solicitors and all the trappings of the law. He was fairly sure that his father had willed everything to Mum, so it shouldn’t be too complicated.
Back in the shop, Josie was opening up when she saw a note put through the letter box. It was from Justin, saying his father had died and he was away to Lincolnshire, and did not know when he would return. He left two telephone numbers, and a cheque for the next installment of rent.
Poor fellow! thought Josie. But perhaps it was all for the best. The old man had been hanging on for so long, in a more or less zombie state, and now Justin and his mother could move forward. She wondered whether to send a card, and then realised that she did not have the address.
Lois appeared, having run down from home to buy milk. “We never seem to have enough,” she said. “How’s everything, Josie?” she asked, seeing her daughter’s solemn face.
Josie explained about Justin’s father, and said she was thinking about tidying and cleaning the flat, so it would be nice for him to find on his return. “He didn’t mind a bit, last time I went up there. I might tackle the shed, too. I know he cleared one end of it, but there’s still a lot of our junk out there.”
“Good idea, so long as you’re sure he won’t mind. I’ll give you a hand with the shed, if you want. I’m free this afternoon. Any use?”
Josie said the two pairs of hands were always better than one, and accepted gratefully. She offered Lois a coffee, and was about to go into the stockroom to make it, when her phone rang.
“Shall I get it?” Lois said.
“Better not. It’s bound to be some supplier.” Josie picked up the receiver and her smile faded. “Oh my God! Hang on; I’ll put you on to Mum. Dot Nimmo,” she mouthed to Lois and gave her the phone.
After a few minutes, she handed it back to Josie, and shook her head. “I don’t know whether it’s bad news or good,” she said, and explained that when Dot went into Cameroon Hall this morning, she found everything still and quiet, dark because the curtains hadn’t been drawn, and all Pettison’s dirty dishes from yesterday on the kitchen table.
“And then she found him lying on the floor, surrounded by broken glass and a puddle of whiskey and water mixed, out cold. She thought he was dead, but then saw his leg begin to move. She rushed to call the ambulance, which was there in record time. They took him to the hospital, where they said he had a broken leg and multiple injuries. Poor Dot was sounding nearly hysterical. At least, that’s what I thought. But no, not Dot. She was actually making a big effort to stop laughing!”
“Good heavens! It’s one thing after another this morning,” Josie said. “First Justin’s father and now old Pettison out of action.”
“I hope there’ll not be a third, then,” said Lois. “Just watch where you put your feet, Josie love. I’m off now, and I’ll see you after lunch.”
*
It was not until Justin had eaten a sad lunch with his mother, and had returned from taking her on a food-shopping trip to nearby Spalding, that he remembered the cage and the little animals, concealed in the garden shed behind his flat. He swore to himself, and went into the chilly front room, never used except for family Christmases and funeral wakes, and dialled Pettison’s number. He would have to explain, ask him to collect and hope that he would understand.
There was no reply, and he finally left a message asking Pettison to ring him, saying it was urgent. He went to join his mother in the kitchen, wondering what to do if his uncle did not ring him back. Should he ask Josie to find them and take them to the zoo? No, the fat would really be in the fire if he did that. He would have to rely on Uncle Robert. There was nobody else. The new keeper had not been in on everything, and in any case, he couldn’t think of a good story the man could tell when asking for the key to the shed. Then, of course, there was always Betsy. He had had his own key to the shed copied and left it with her, in case of emergencies. Well, this wasn’t an emergency. Not yet, anyway.