Scandal at Six(64)

“You do it. I’ve been thinking. Do you think Justin has anything to do with the zoo? Them creatures looked very unusual. Maybe a rare species? I should ask him outright, if I were you.”

Lois dialled the number, and a woman’s voice answered. “Mrs Brookes? Oh good. It’s Lois Meade here. We own the shop where Justin has moved into the flat. That’s right. Well, we said he could use the shed in the garden to keep some of his stuff. There’s something we have to ask him. Is he there, please? Oh, and please accept my condolences on your sad loss.”

“Is he there?” said Gran in a stage whisper.

Lois nodded. “She’s gone to fetch him. Sounded a nice person, anxious to help. Shame about her husband. Oh, is that you, Justin? Right. It’s just that Josie and me were getting rid of some of the junk in the shed, and found these little animals in a cage thing. Yours?” She turned and nodded at Derek. “So would you like us to look after them while you’re away?”

She paused, and the others watched, waiting for the answer. Then she nodded and said she hoped everything would go smoothly for the funeral, and hung up.

“So?” said Derek. “Don’t keep us in suspense.”

“He said he’d be glad if we could make sure they were warm, and give them food and water. He also said that they were a secret present for somebody, and asked us to keep mum on them being here. Or there, in the shop. As long as they were not disturbed, he said, they’d be okay. Fright could kill them, he said.”

“Huh!” said Gran. “I reckon there’s something funny going on there. If I were you, Lois, I’d inform Inspector Cowgill. He’ll know what to do.”

“But we know what to do,” said Lois. “Look after them, and don’t let on we know they’re there. Simple enough, and the least we can do under the circumstances.”

Gran went off to the film, and Lois and Derek turned on the television to catch the news. The item about Robert Pettison was brief. The man had had a serious accident and was in Tresham General. The zoo remained open to the public, and was being run by a team of helpers with the newly trained keeper.

“What about that message from Cowgill?” Derek said.

“It’ll keep until tomorrow,” said Lois. “Nobody’s dead, and there’s only the baby elephants to report. And we’re not doing that until Justin gets back. I need to think.”

“What about?”

“About what Gran said. Something funny going on there. She’s a shrewd old dame, my mum, and when you think about it, Derek, who does Justin know who would want a couple of baby elephants for a birthday present?”



*



“Morning, Lois. How’s my favourite spy this morning?”

“Not as chirpy as you, Cowgill,” Lois said. “But I got your message. What do you want?”

“You,” said the inspector. “But as that is impossible, I’d like a word about that Pettison character.”

“Him what fell downstairs in a drunken stupor with a whiskey glass in his hand?”

“Don’t forget the hot-water bottle,” Cowgill said. “It has not improved his facial features, I’m afraid. Looks very painful. Scalded. He’d just put the boiling water in the bottle. Of course, he should have known never to put boiling water in a rubber hot-water bottle.”

“Don’t waffle, Cowgill!” said Lois. “Can I come in and see you this morning? There’s something I need to ask you. And could we meet at the zoo? I want to look around.”

“Fine. I was going there, anyway. See you at half past ten?”



*



Margie was on the gate when Lois arrived, and as she bought her ticket, she saw Dot Nimmo crossing the drive with a wheelbarrow full of mucky straw.

“Dot! What on earth are you doing? Wait for me. I’m coming in. Thanks, Margie. See you later.”

“Morning, Mrs M. I’m not playing truant. Nothing much to do up at the house, with him being in hospital, so I thought I’d help out down here at the zoo. Did I do wrong?”

“No, absolutely right. But dump your smelly load, and come with me for a minute or two.”

“Where’re we going, then?”

“To the zoo, of course,” said Lois, and marched off into the entrance hall, where there was a souvenir shop and directions to the various enclosures.

“Mrs M, I hope you won’t mind my asking, but why are we joining the gawpers and going round the zoo like a couple of tourists?”

“Because I’m looking for something. Do you know your way around? Do they have small mammals anywhere?”

“My favourites,” said Dot, and led the way. “Look, Mrs M. Those tiny mice—they’re from the Isle of Wight. Aren’t they dinky? Dear little souls. Then look at these.”