It had been a morning for rushing about, first working with Hazel at the hall, then meeting Cowgill, and now getting back in time for the weekly meeting. As she ran into the kitchen, her mother – happy to be back from Tresham – said that the rest were in the office, waiting. “Here,” she said, handing her a mug of coffee, “I’ve given the others theirs. You’ll have to slow down a bit, Lois,” she added, “else you’ll be the next one in the General.”
“Don’t nag, Mum,” said Lois ungratefully, and went to the join the team. As she walked in, conversation ceased. “Sorry I’m late,” she said. “Morning all. Shall we make a start?”
There were no major problems, and Lois noticed Gary sat very quietly for once, not making his usual witty comments as the girls gave their reports. He looked pale, and kept his head down, not looking at Hazel at all. She, on the other hand, looked at him frequently. Worried about him? And if so, why? Lois tried to concentrate.
Bridie was saying something about the vicar. “He’s quite worried, actually,” she said. “I hope you don’t think I’m gossiping, Lois, but he does follow me about and natter on. Seems the schoolmaster has put him in a fix, handing in his notice. Nobody seems to know in the village, so I’ve kept it to myself, like you said, Lois. I told him, whatever we hear at work don’t go no further, I said. He looked pleased. I don’t think he should’ve told me, actually.”
Sheila Stratford looked annoyed. “Mrs Betts hasn’t said anything to me,” she said. “She must know I wouldn’t pass it on.”
“No, well,” said Lois, “we must all remember that. Had you heard, Hazel? From Prue, perhaps?”
Hazel coloured, and muttered something that Lois could not hear. She asked her to repeat it. “No…that is, Prue did say something about them not being in a boring little village for ever…something like that.”
“Right,” said Lois. “Now, if we’re all done, I’m starving. Any questions, anyone?” There were none, and Sheila rushed off, saying her husband would be waiting for his dinner. Gary sloped off finally, leaving Hazel and Lois together. Hazel started for the door, and Lois said, “Hazel, can you spare another couple of minutes? Just a word or two, if you don’t mind.”
Hazel’s expression was mutinous. “Got to get going,” she said.
“Sit down,” said Lois firmly. “This won’t take a minute. Now then,” she began, as Hazel reluctantly sat on the edge of a chair, “I want a straight answer from you. Did you know that Prue Betts was pregnant?” A brief nod from Hazel. “And did you organize that abortion?”
“Christ, no!” said Hazel loudly. “What the hell d’you think I am? I tried to get her to tell her parents, but she went off on her own and did that stupid thing.”
“In that case,” said Lois relentlessly, “who did fix it for her?” She waited, but Hazel did not answer. “Was it Gary?” Lois said finally.
Hazel shook her head. “Well, not directly,” she said slowly. “But he knew somebody.”
“And that somebody was?” No answer. “Was it Joanne Murphy?” said Lois.
Hazel had never seen Mrs M like this before, and she wriggled on the chair, as if to get away from that icy glare. But there was no escape, and she muttered that yes, it had been her and her lousy friends.
Lois walked to the door and opened it. “You can go,” she said, and Hazel left in silence. Lois lifted the telephone and dialled Gary’s number. “Yes,” she said, “it’s Mrs Meade. I know Gary is not home yet, but when he comes in, please tell him to ring me…straight away. And yes, it’s urgent,” she added, and slammed down the receiver.
? Terror on Tuesday ?
Thirty-Five
It was no more than half an hour later that Gary returned the call. “You wanted me, Mrs M? Mum said it was urgent…hope there’s nothing wrong.”
“So do I,” said Lois. “I need to talk to you, Gary. Can you come over as soon as possible?”
“Um, like tomorrow? After surgery?”
“No, like this afternoon. Let’s say half past three. And don’t be late.”
“Well, I was going…”
“Half past three, Gary. Goodbye for now.”
Lois put down the phone and walked through to the kitchen, where her mother was making a chocolate cake, her speciality. Lois sat down at the table and sighed deeply. Her mother slid the cake tin into the oven and turned around to look at Lois.
“What’s up? No bad news from the hospital, I hope?” She wiped her hands on her apron and sat down on the opposite side of the table.
“No, no, it’s nothing. Just feeling a bit tired, that’s all. I’ve got Gary coming back soon for a talk, and then I must get in to see Derek. There might be good news about him coming home.”
“Sooner the better, if you ask me,” said Gran. “You need him here at home.”
“He won’t be doing anything at all for a while, Mum!” said Lois, bridling.
“No, but he’ll be here, for you to talk to and to give you advice. You won’t trust me, and I don’t blame you. I’ve no experience of running a business.”
Lois looked at her mother’s kindly face and felt terrible. “Mum, don’t be silly,” she said. “Of course I trust you. And I wouldn’t have been able to manage without you here, helping with the kids and the cooking, and generally bein’ indispensable! But, yes, I do miss Derek. He keeps me straight. You never know how much you rely on a person until they’re not around, do you?”
“True,” said her mother, and Lois could have kicked herself. Her parents had been inseparable, and she knew how much her dad was missed. “Anyway,” Gran continued, “if you’ve got that lad coming back, you’d better have something to eat right now. I’ll make you a sandwich…chicken or cheese?”
“Cheese please, with pickle. I’ll be in the office. Got to get some papers together. And thanks, Mum. Thanks a lot.”
¦
Gary was on time, and looking apprehensive. He took a mug of coffee from Gran, and Lois noticed that his hand was shaking. The afternoon sun streamed through the window and fell full on to Gary’s face. He was pale, as usual, but Lois noticed new dark shadows under his eyes. Was he using something? She hoped the little fool knew better, but he kept the wrong company, she was sure of that. If only she’d listened to Derek, she wouldn’t be faced with this problem character sitting in front of her right now. Still, there he was, and she was going to get some information from him…or else.
“You’re in trouble, aren’t you, Gary,” she said baldly. Shock tactics might work. She knew from past experience that polite handling was useless.
He started, and looked straight at her for the first time for weeks. “What on earth do you mean, Mrs M?” he stuttered.
“Exactly what I said. You are in trouble, and I know some of it. But I need to know more, and you’re going to tell me.”
“But I really don’t – ”
“Shut up, and listen to me. I know you’re up to something in that Tresham theatre, and it involves an evil woman named Joanne Murphy…” She noted his choking fit with satisfaction. First dart right on target. “Drink your coffee,” she said coldly. “Now, where did I get to? Ah yes, an evil woman named Joanne Murphy, and her unsavoury minder whose name I don’t know. That’s one thing you can tell me. No, don’t say anything yet. I know you are friendly – no, perhaps familiar would be better – with Ms Murphy, because you’ve been seen talking to her. You can tell me where she is now, and what has happened to that car that nearly did for my Derek. No, not yet…I haven’t finished. The next thing you can tell me is who fixed Prue Betts’s abortion and nearly killed her.” She paused then, and when he said nothing, she added, “There’s been far too much killing, hasn’t there, Gary? Or nearly killing, in the case of my Derek and silly little Prue.”
The silence lengthened, and became a pressure that Gary could not bear. He opened his mouth, coughed, and then said, “All right. There’s not much I can tell you that you don’t know already. Yes, I met Joanne Murphy at the theatre. She was cleaning and her minder, as you rightly call him, got a caretaking job there. When Prue discovered she was pregnant, Joanne Murphy heard about it somehow and offered to help. Help! That was a joke…except that it wasn’t.”
