Scandal at Six(76)

He grabbed a moth-eaten rug from a pile by the fireplace, and covered her with it, looking anxiously into her face for signs of movement. Her colour was definitely improving. She’s very pretty in repose, he thought abstractedly. He wondered what his uncle Pettison thought of her. Probably all he could see was a dangerous enemy. He had plenty of those, the old fool. “Now, I must make a plan, and carry it out,” he muttered.

He checked Lois’s breathing, and looked at his watch. Could it be only five minutes since he called the ambulance? An unpleasant thought struck him. After this, he would no doubt have to look for another place to live.





Forty-two





Hunter Cowgill sat in the Zoo Café, looking at his watch. It was unlike Lois to be late. Still, she had been reluctant to meet him, saying she was busy. Probably a very small act of rebellion! She had probably gone back home.

He got to his feet, thinking he would see her later. He had a couple of snippets of information for her, but they could wait. Waving to Margie as he went out, he headed for the centre of town.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen at Meade House, Gran was also checking the clock. It was long past the time Lois should have returned, and she now heard Derek’s van arriving. He would likely know what had happened to Lois. Maybe something wrong with her van, and she’d got a lift home with him.

But when he came into the kitchen, apologising for being late, he knew nothing about Lois’s absence. “Have you tried Hazel in the Tresham office?” he said now.

“No, I didn’t think of that. You know how she hates to be checked up on.”

Derek dialled the number, and after a few words with Hazel shook his head, and said to Gran that she hadn’t showed up there. Due to do so, but she hadn’t even popped in.

“It’s possible she’s broken down somewhere and forgotten her mobile.” He went upstairs to their bedroom and, sure enough, found the phone lying on the dressing table. Odd, he thought. Her mind must have been on other things. He returned to the kitchen, and said they might as well have lunch, and then he’d do some more enquiring if she hadn’t turned up.

Conversation limped along as they ate shepherd’s pie and peas, and in the end, Derek said he couldn’t fancy any pudding, and went off into Lois’s office to look for clues to where she might be.



*



In the drawing room at the hall, Justin stared at Lois. Her colour was definitely better, and her breathing regular. He willed her to wake up. It was after lunchtime, and someone would be bound to be looking for her. He went over to take a closer look. Although she looked much better, her eyes were still closed. Perhaps he should take her into hospital himself?

He went outside to check on the Fiat. He’d never be able to manhandle her into that! Her own van was still there, and the key dangling from the door. Obviously not worried about car thieves. But now he could cancel the ambulance and take her in her own van with not too much trouble, and straight to the emergency department. He could then leave her there, and scoot off out before they asked him any questions. Feeling more optimistic, he once more lifted her up.

God, she was heavy! He struggled out to the car, where he had left the door open. With great difficulty, he heaved her into the passenger seat, and stood back to take a few deep breaths. Then he went back to the kitchen door and went inside and checked that he had put his uncle’s office back into good order. He called the ambulance service, had a last look inside, and closed and locked the kitchen door. In the intervening few minutes, Lois had opened her eyes, slid across to the driving seat, started the engine and was well away down the drive before Justin could recover from his astonishment and chase after her.

Now, happily on the way home, Lois laughed aloud. That was easy! All she had to do was pretend to be still out cold, and then wait for a suitable opportunity. Her head ached, and when she put her hand up, her fingers came back stained with blood. Soon fixed, she thought. She had already cooked up a story for Gran and Derek, who, if he knew the truth, would probably explode, and steam off into Tresham to teach Justin a lesson he wouldn’t forget. She drove into Meade House yard, switched off the car engine and got out.

She could see Gran and Derek inside the kitchen, and, feeling a little dizzy, she opened the door and managed a greeting, before her head spun, and she fell straight into Derek’s arms.

“Lois! What on earth has happened to you?” Gran rushed round to help him, and together they got her onto a kitchen chair, where she rubbed her eyes and said she was perfectly okay.

“For God’s sake, woman,” said Derek, “what’s this? You’ve got a ruddy great graze on your head. A real mess! You shouldn’t have been driving home!”