When he rushed into the shop, he found Josie sitting on her high stool, reading a newspaper.
“Hi, Justin,” she said. “Good journey?”
“So-so,” he said. “Animals okay?”
Josie took a deep breath. “I am afraid they’re not there. Somebody either collected them or stole them, and the odd thing is, the door was not broken into. So sorry! I didn’t want to have bad news for you when you must be feeling sad. Did the funeral go smoothly?”
Justin did not answer. Why had Pettison insisted on him giving Betsy a copy of the shed key? In case of emergencies, he had said. Well, now they had an emergency, and he knew who to ring immediately.
“Excuse me, Josie,” he said. “I must make a quick call.”
At this point, Mrs T-J came through the door. “Good morning! Lovely morning, though cold.”
“Hello, Mrs T-J,” said Josie. “Afraid it’s not such a lovely morning here. I’ve just had to confess to Justin that I’ve lost his elephant shrews.”
“My dear, how awful! Justin, your new tenant? Well, I wonder what he was doing with them.”
“They were special,” replied Josie. “Elephant shrews are special apparently. Golden rumped ones are very rare, and an endangered species. Not indigenous to this country. Bred in captivity, this lot, I think Justin said.”
“Dear little things, actually, with their goldy-coloured bottoms,” said Mrs T-J. “Used to see lots of them on travels with my husband. Forests being cut down or burned low, you know. Natural habitat for lots of rare animals being lost. Such a shame.”
*
“Betsy? Justin Brookes here. What have you done with them?”
“Done with what?”
“You know perfectly well. Those shrews. I had to go to my father’s funeral, and found them gone when I returned. I gave you the copy of the shed key, so don’t waste my time. Where are they? I need to hand them over today.”
“Sorry about your dad. Don’t bother about the animals.” Betsy put her hand over the receiver and hissed at Ted, “What did you say you did with them?”
“They were stone-cold dead, Betsy dear, and I wrapped them tenderly in newspaper and put them in the bin. You can tell him that with my compliments.”
Betsy scowled at him, and uncovered the receiver. “I’ll hand them over, Justin,” she said. “Got to go down to the zoo anyway, this afternoon. So I can go up to the house and meet the customer.”
“And take your share of the loot? Always handed over in cash, isn’t it? No flies on you, Betsy. Well, it’ll be between you and Uncle Robert when you next see him. But don’t upset him too much. He’s still a bit frail. And watch out for yourself. Some of uncle’s customers can be very unforgiving.”
“Don’t you worry, dear. And thanks for the advice. Anytime you want a favour, just you let me know.”
What me? Oh Lord, save me from the weaker sex, thought Justin. He made himself a cup of coffee and sat down on his sofa to think.
*
“Who was that, dear?” said Ted suspiciously.
“Justin, wanting his animals. But I fixed him. I said I’d take them to the rendezvous myself. Being helpful, see. The poor soul just back from his father’s funeral. Now, we’ll have a quick lunch and then I have to go into town again. Forgot to get some moisturising cream from Boots. I used the last this morning. I’ll get some crumpets for tea. I don’t know,” she added. “My head will never save my legs!”
Driving back into town, Betsy planned what she would do. It was extremely unlikely that the pet shop would have elephant shrews. She hoped there would be something like them, about the same size, that could be wrapped up and passed off as the real thing, at least until she had the cash safely in her pocket. Of course, she should never have left them in the cold washhouse. Poor little things. But it was really Pettison’s fault for importing little animals into the climate of this country.
It’ll be risky, but as long as the man who comes to collect doesn’t ask for a close look, all should be well. For the moment, anyway.
*
“Sorry, love, we’d never ever see any of those,” said the pet shop assistant. “Probably a protected species, I’m afraid. Can I suggest an alternative? I’ve got a pair of lovely piebald mice. Very pretty, and tame. Bred in captivity, and will eat from your hand.”
Ugh! thought Betsy, but she said they would be fine, and please could she buy a carrying case as well. “And wrap them up well,” she said. “It’s really bitter out there today.”
She was nervous as she placed them in the boot of her car. Suppose they escaped and ran around her legs when she was driving! Telling herself not to be silly, she drove out of town and approached the zoo. Margie Turner saw her coming and waved her through the gates. She drove swiftly up to the house, and in the yard behind, she saw a black car, not one that she recognised, with a figure sitting in it.