dissension between her and Alex. To add further fuel to her misgivings, there was last night’s phone call. Alex wouldn’t admit it but she knew it had unnerved him. So much so that he had phoned Adell first thing that morning to tell him of the conversation.
The church clock striking twelve broke her train of thought. Why was she thinking about the damned rose again? She’d promised herself she wouldn’t do that. She just stood there for a moment, forcing her mind to think of something else – anything. She didn’t have much success. ‘Oh, bugger it,’ she said under her breath. It was obviously a good time to take a break. She gathered up her tools and set off for the house.
Kate kicked off her shoes, left them in the small room off the kitchen and walked into the house. The temperature inside was pleasantly cool – not surprising, since the old exterior stone walls of The Parsonage were over one foot thick. A heavy slate roof helped further insulate the house. The limestone floor tiles felt soothing on the soles of her feet. As she filled the kettle, she thought back to their meeting with Adell. Soon, the brochure would be sent out, and everybody and their uncle would know about their rose. Word of a blue rose would travel fast. No doubt it would hit the newspapers and then television. Up until now she hadn’t given that eventuality too much thought. What would happen then?
By the time the kettle had boiled, she knew what she would do. Saddling Alex with further debate about her qualms would only risk touching off more bickering. That was out of the question. The answer was simple: she would unburden herself on Kingston, good old Lawrence. She walked over to the Welsh dresser, picked up the phone, and punched in his number. While the phone was ringing, she reminded herself not to sound too worked up when she told him about what was happening. She was pleased when she heard his now familiar voice.
After exchanging pleasantries, mostly about the garden – and the weather, of course – she told him about the missing file.
‘Alex spoke to Adell again this morning,’ she said. ‘It still hasn’t shown up.’
‘That is strange, I must say, but you know how lost things have a way of eventually showing up,’ he said. ‘There’s probably a perfectly rational explanation. It got mixed in with another folder. Somebody put it in the wrong file, or took it home by mistake. Any number of possibilities.’
Kingston’s words were reassuring, but she knew he could hardly say anything else. He was turning out to be an incorrigible optimist. She was glad that she’d called him, though. ‘That’s true, I suppose,’ she said. ‘But that’s not the only recent development, Lawrence.’
‘What else?’
She told him about the phone call from the American. ‘Alex tried hard to convince me not to worry about it, that it was doubtful we’d hear from him again. But I could tell that he really didn’t believe that,’ she said. ‘At one point, he said the man became almost threatening.’
‘I don’t like the sound of that at all. I think you have every reason to be concerned. But an American, you say! That is interesting. I wonder how he found out it was you who owned the rose?’
‘It has to be the missing file.’
‘I doubt it, Kate. There’s got to be another explanation. Adell predicted this sort of thing, didn’t he? It doesn’t surprise me that the calls have started coming.’
‘I still think it’s the file. It makes sense. He finds out about the auction and then knows who’s handling the whole thing – Adell’s firm. And if he wants to know more about us and the rose, it’s all there in Adell’s files. Addresses, phone numbers, the brochure, everything. He may even know about you.’ She waited for him to respond.
‘Hmm,’ he said, obviously choosing his words. ‘If he did have the file, then he – or they, I suppose – certainly would have the inside track, so to speak. It wouldn’t augur at all well.’
‘What do you mean?’ Kate asked. Suddenly, she felt uneasy.
As if regretting his last remark, Kingston was slow to respond. ‘Well, like you say, they would know everything about you, wouldn’t they?’ There was another pause, then he added, ‘Where you live – and most significant of all, where they can find the rose.’
‘The possibility hadn’t escaped me,’ she said. ‘It’s not a pleasant thought, is it?’
‘Sorry, Kate. I didn’t mean to get you upset. What also concerns me is why the man wanted to remain anonymous. It goes without saying that any legitimate offer to purchase the rose would hardly be presented in such a manner. If, as you’re convinced, the file was stolen then it’s either an inside job or a professional one. More likely the latter, I would say.’
‘It’s all getting very complicated. Alex has told Adell – not that he can do much about it.’
‘Well, all you can do for the moment is to sit tight and, as best you can, ignore all these goings on until the auction. Meanwhile I suggest the two of you keep a close watch on the rose and, in general, be careful.’
‘We will, Lawrence. I’ll tell Alex that we talked,’ she said.
‘Why don’t you ask him to call me tonight, Kate? I’d like to ask him more about this mysterious American chap. It’s all very odd, I must say.’
They talked for another minute or so before hanging up.
‘Hello, Lawrence, it’s Alex. Kate said you wanted to talk to me.’
‘Yes, thanks for calling, Alex. I wanted to ask you about the phone call you got from this American chap. Kate was telling me about it earlier. Do you have a minute?’
‘Of course.’
‘You’re sure he was American?’
‘American or Canadian. I can never tell the difference.’
‘Was there anything in the conversation to suggest that he was representing somebody else?’
‘Yes. He referred to “a syndicate” at one point.’ Alex paused, then said, ‘Oh, and his “partners”.’
‘Did he mention any numbers? How much he was prepared to pay? Did that come up at all?’
‘Only vaguely. I think he used a phrase like “more money than you’ve ever dreamed of”.’
Alex combed quickly through the conversation again. ‘Oh, and he did say that Kate and I would become multi-millionaires.’
‘So, whoever they are, they’re fully aware of the rose’s value, commercially.’
‘He mentioned that, too.’
‘What?’
‘Let me think a moment. He said words to the effect that we must be aware of the impact that the rose would have commercially. I’m pretty sure he mentioned patent rights and royalties, too.’
‘That’s interesting. Anything else that struck you as unusual?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘Well, then–’
‘Oh, wait a minute. Yes, there was. He said that he knew who our lawyers were.’
‘Hmm. If they’ve got the book on you, it’s likely that Kate could be right – that they’re the ones who have your file. It hasn’t shown up yet, I take it?’
‘No, it hasn’t.’
‘Well, Alex, let me mull this over and we’ll talk again soon. Oh, and let me know if he calls again. Correct that –
Three more uneventful days passed with no sign of the file and no further word from the American. The fourth day was Alex’s birthday. To celebrate the occasion, Kate had planned an evening out with friends at one of Alex’s favourite restaurants in Shaftesbury. It was close to six thirty and they were about to leave for the forty- minute drive.
‘You did leave food and water out for Asp, didn’t you?’ Kate said, snapping shut her seat belt buckle.
‘Yes, he’s fine.’
Kate pursed her lips. ‘Did I leave the hall light on? I can’t remember.’
‘You did.’
‘And the back door’s locked?’
‘It is. And the portcullis is lowered and I’ll let the drawbridge down as soon as we reach the end of the drive.’
Kate smiled. ‘Happy birthday, darling,’ she said, for the umpteenth time that day.
