The Supra came to a silent halt and the near side window slid down. I squatted on my heels so that my face was level with it and Dewhurst leaned across.
'What's happened? Has something happened?' he asked. He sounded agitated.
'No, Mr. Dewhurst, nothing's happened. I'm sorry to startle you like this. I just called in to see you, but when I tried to start the car again it wouldn't work. I sent for a mechanic and he's just fixing it.
He won't be long. Have you heard anything?'
He hadn't. I asked him if Maggie had spoken to him today. I knew that she rang him early every morning and tried to see him in the evening.
He was full of praise for her and said he was grateful for the support she was giving Mrs. Eaglin. After a few minutes Jimmy joined us. He did well.
'It's fixed, Mr. Priest. Will there be anything else?'
'Not for now, Jimmy. Thanks a lot. Will you send me a bill, please?'
'It'll be in the post tomorrow. Will you, er, be needing a VAT receipt or will it beer cash?'
Cheeky sod. He moved his van and the Supra turned silently into the drive, as if driven by electricity. The garage door swung up and Dewhurst drove straight in. When he joined me again he was carrying a fat briefcase. After a few flashes and beeps the garage door closed itself and we went into the house.
Dewhurst hung his jacket on a hanger, filled the kettle and flopped into an easy chair, gesturing towards another for me.
I sat down and said: 'I thought I'd come to tell you that Barclay's bank are holding the money for us. As soon as you hear anything else we can have it over here.'
'The full half-million?' he asked.
'Yes.'
'Genuine money?'
'The real stuff. It's being secretly marked, but otherwise it's kosher.'
'Heavens. So if this money is handed over, who pays?'
'We do. The state.'
'But you'd expect to be able to follow it? You'd want to make the han dover yourselves?'
I shook my head. 'Not because of the money. We'd want to handle it because we'd stand a better chance of getting Georgina back.' I stopped myself from saying 'alive'.
He was quiet for a while, then he said: 'I have to tell you, Inspector, that I'm making efforts myself to raise the money.'
I said: 'That's not necessary,' but he wasn't listening.
He went on: 'Six months ago I received an offer for Eagle. I turned it down, but I've just asked them if they're still interested. I'm trying to sell the house, too.'
'We already have the money, Mr. Dewhurst. It's imperative that as soon as you hear anything you let us know. We can handle it best.
You'll be involved every inch of the way. Understand?'
He nodded. Beyond him, through the window, I could see the Nissan, its shape distorted by the rain running down the glass. I wondered if Jimmy had managed to obtain a sample for me. I was painfully aware that I was floundering with this one. All we had to go on was the fact that we had nothing to go on.
'There is one other thing,' I said. He looked at me. 'The ransom note. The forensic people have found a spot of saliva or sweat on it.
They can tell a person's blood group from something like that. Trouble is, it could be yours or mine. I've already given a sample. I wonder if you could make an appointment with Dr. Evans he's near Heckley nick in the next couple of days. Just for elimination purposes. I'll give you his number.'
In the kitchen the kettle clicked off as it came to the boil. I didn't stay for a cup pa with him. I might be a bastard, but I've got my limits. I climbed straight into the car and drove home. If I hadn't been in so much of a hurry I'd have heard the wind, soughing in the treetops.
Chapter 5
It was the earliest I'd been home for months. First thing I did was ring Jimmy Hoyle. The rain was bouncing knee high off the garden, so I hadn't bothered to have a look in the boot to see if he'd collected anything for me.
'Hi, Catfish. Thanks for coming out. Did you manage to get me a sample.'
'A sample? I nearly donated one myself when you shouted,' he said. 'I scraped some mud into the bag you gave me, but when he came I just stuffed the whole lot in and put it in your boot. He'll notice that his spare wheel isn't wrapped up any more.'
I could tell from his voice that his adrenalin was still high. He'd enjoyed the whole thing.
'Never mind. He'll just assume the cover blew off when he was doing a ton on the motorway. I'll send it to the lab tomorrow. Well done.
You'll have to let me know what I owe you.'
'It's OK. Buy me a pint sometime.'
I'd known he'd say that. I'd drop him a bottle of whisky when I got the chance.
I was sick of takeaways, so I cooked for a change. I had turkey, with stuffing, chipolata, sprouts, potatoes, carrots and gravy. It only took six minutes in the microwave.
For pudding I rang Annabelle.
'Hello, Charles,' she said warmly, 'this is a pleasant surprise.'
'I just thought I'd better ring now and again, before you forgot my name,' I told her.
'I don't think there is any chance of that,' she replied, 'but it is still nice to talk to you. I know how busy you must be. Are you any nearer the end of it?'
'No, we're batting in the dark, swiping at shadows. Our luck will change, though, hopefully.'
'I saw the appeal on television. It was heart-rending listening to that poor man, her father. How can he ever recover from something like this?'
'He can't.' As soon as the conversation was back on a less traumatic level I said: 'I'm not eating too well, and I've been hungering for a nice, man-sized T-bone. Would you care to join me over the weekend?
You could have a juicy tenderloin, grilled to your own taste and served on a bed of lettuce with half a tomato, two onion rings and seventeen sharply pointed chips.'
'Mmmmmm,' she replied, 'sounds deeelicious. You really know the way to a girl's heart.'
'Is that an affirmative?' I chuckled.
'I'm sorry, Charles. Now it is my turn to back out. I've arranged to go to Northampton over the weekend. It's a long-standing arrangement and I don't really want to cancel it. You won't be too disappointed if I decline, will you?'
'Yes. Terribly. If we ever do meet again we'll have to compare diaries, but I wouldn't dream of expecting you to cancel. Never mind; the main thing is that you still remember me.'
'Of course I still remember you, dumbo. You are the short, bald one with the walking stick, aren't you? Aren't you?'
'That's me.'
'Listen, Charles, talking about food, I'm worried about how well you are eating. You will make yourself ill if you don't look after yourself. What have you had tonight?'
'I've done well tonight. I had turkey and vegetables and all the trimmings. Christmas dinner.'
'Frozen. That's awful! It's not good for you. What do you have for lunches?'
'Bacon sandwich in the canteen. Very streaky bacon. Followed by a cream bun and a quart of strong tea. Frugal but nourishing.'
'Just as I thought. Oh, Charles, what are we going to do with you? I'm busy the next couple of days, but I will be at home on Friday. Will you be able to make it here for lunch then?'
Try to stop me. It was nice being bossed about by a beautiful woman, although I knew I'd never understand
