the results of that day.
Eileen rescued little Willum, who was trying to sit on Ned's back. 'Ma's right, Will. Any'ow, I think there's too
many cooks at the puddin' round 'ere. Ain't you got nothin' else to do, you menfolk?'
Sergeant Patterson had an idea. 'Why don't you ladies and Mr. Braithwaite set your minds tae solving the
puzzle. Ah'll take the men out into the kitchen—there's something Ah want tae speak tae them about.'
Winnie exchanged a secret smile with her friend Hetty. 'Agreed, Sergeant. Would you mind taking these dishes
out with you when you go and washing them? We'll let you know when we want more tea.'
The sergeant paused in the doorway. 'Right ye are, marm. Ben, Alex, bring the dishes out. You're with the men
now, ye ken!'
Amy handed her brother a cup and saucer. 'Here you are, sir.' Alex took them, giving her a stern glance. After
all, he was classed as one of the men now.
In the gathering dusk, Gripper jammed on the brake, throwing the motorcar's occupants forward. 'Flash, nip
back 'n' see wot it sez on that signpost we just passed. Go on, move yerself!'
Flash blinked, rubbing his eyes. 'Go easy, willyer, Gripp. I was jus' takin' forty winks there.'
Gripper raised a threatening fist. 'I'll forty winks yer. Get goin', yore supposed t'be the one keepin' watch.'
Flash slouched off moodily back down the road. Gripper unfolded the sketch of Chapelvale, which had been
supplied by Maud Bowe's father, squinting at it in the half-light.
'Can't be too far from the spot now, eh?'
He was answered by Chunk's stentorian snore from the backseat. Using the leather gauntlet he had removed,
Gripper turned and belabored the two sleepers vigorously. 'Am 1 the only one wid 'is eyes open 'round 'ere? Wake
up!'
The blows bounced off Chunk's stolid face, and he opened one eye. 'Wot's the matter, are we there?'
Chaz snuffled, wiping a grimy sleeve across his upper lip and complaining as he inspected it. 'Y'b started bee
dose off bleedin' again. Wodjer doo dat for?'
Flash interrupted further complaints by climbing back into the front passenger seat. 'It sez 'Adford. Any good?'
Gripper explored the sketch with a grimy finger, repeating, 'Hmm, 'Adford, 'Adford, lemme see . . . Hahah!
There 'tis!'
Up in the far corner of the drawing, a road leading out of Chapelvale was marked 'Hadford Rd.' Gripper
realized that it was totally the wrong way to be approaching their destination. Hadford Road was at the north side of
Chapelvale. Coming up from London, they should have entered by the south road, which ran parallel to the railway
line. But he did not offer this information to the others.
Instead he announced proudly, 'See, I wasn't lost. Told yer I knew the way, didn't I, eh?'
He continued driving, assuming that they agreed by their silence, until Flash spoke his thoughts over the
chugging engine noise.
'But you said it was a four-hour drive. We been on the road since five this mornin'!'
Gripper had an explanation, as he always did. 'Oh yerss, but lookit all the times we 'ad to stop. When that
farmer was goin' t'chuck a rock, when those cows blocked the lane, when we turned inter that farmyard by mistake,
when youse 'ad ter push the motor backwards, when we asked the post office lady the way. It all adds time ter the trip
y'know, all adds time!'
Chunk sighed wistfully. 'I liked the post office lady, she was gonna give me some water. Wish I 'ad a glass
now.'
Flash laughed mirthlessly. 'Worrabout a glass o' beer, that's wot I need. An' a good plate o' steak 'n' kidney pie.
I'm starved, I only 'ad a slice o' toast fer breakfist.'
Chaz dabbed the scarf to his injured nose. 'Yuh, bee too, I'b huggry, you nebber stopped for food, nod once!'
It was rapidly going dark. Gripper clenched his teeth as he bumped over a fallen branch lying in their path.
'Sharrap about food, you lot! Eat, eat, that's all youse think about. One more word outta you, Chaz, an' I'll stop this
motor an' give yer a knuckle sandwich. How'll that do yer, eh, eh?'
'Whoo!'
Gripper did not realize it was a nearby owl that had hooted. 'You, that's who, Chaz. Now, shut yer gob!'
'Bud I nebber said nothig, Gripp.'
Gripper nodded. 'Just as well y'never, loose-lips. Aye aye, is that lights, up on that 'ill ahead?'
Chunk replied, 'That'll be 'Adford, can we get summat to eat when we gets there ?'
Gripper kept his eyes riveted on the road. 'We could if we was stoppin' there, but we ain't. Mister Bowe's
daughter'll be wonderin' where we've gotten to.'
Flash pulled a face. 'Oh, that one, liddle miss snotty nose. My daddy sez you got to do this, my daddy sez you
gotta do that. An' she looks at yer like yer sumthin' she stepped in!'
Gripper sniffed. 'She can look at us anyway she wants to, as long as 'er daddy pays up. Five guineas apiece fer
puttin' the frighteners on some old dame, just so she'll leave 'ome. Not bad money fer a small job like that!'
Chunk's stomach gurgled so loud it could be heard above the growl of the engine. He patted it sorrowfully.
'Don't know about five guineas. I'd settle fer a paperful of fish an' chips right now, wiv salt an' vinegar on 'em.'
'Can't you think of nothin' but yer stummick, y'great lump!'
A further abdominal gurgle almost drowned out Gripper's statement. Chunk gazed mournfully at the passing
countryside. 'Well, I can't 'elp it if me stummick's bigger'n yours, Gripp.'
'Aye, if yer brains was as big as yer stummick, you'd be in charge o' the country, Chunk, doin' the prime
minister out of a job. That's wot you'd be doin', mate!'
'Why, 'as the prime minister got a big stummick, Gripp?'
'The prime min ... Jus' go back t'sleep, willyer, Chunk!'
Flash propped his feet up on the dashboard. 'Kin I 'ave a snooze, too, Gripp?'
Gripper let go of the steering wheel with one hand. He gave Flash a numbing punch on his shin. 'No,
