which wound off from the main street on either side.
“I’m so tired and hot and sticky,” mourned Maggie.
“I wonder,” said Fell. “I just wonder.”
“What?”
“We’ve been assuming he would live in a modest house. But what if he was in on the train robbery and sat on the money for years? He would buy somewhere big.”
“I can’t see any big houses.”
“There are usually some just outside a village like this.”
“Then we’ll take the car,” said Maggie. “I can’t walk any more.”
They walked back to Maggie’s car and drove out of the village. “There’s a couple of gate posts,” said Fell. “Drive in there, Maggie.”
“This would be too grand, surely,” said Maggie.
“But someone grand might not be as close-mouthed as the people in the village,” said Fell. “In fact, the farther we get away from the village, the better chance we have of someone talking. There seems to be a sort of conspiracy of silence in the village itself.”
“This
“We’ve come this far,” said Fell. “You stay in the car if you like.”
Maggie nodded.
She saw Fell go up to the main door, which stood open. A man came round the corner of the house and shouted to Fell, “What do you want?”
Fell went up to him. Maggie’s heart lifted as she saw the man begin to answer Fell’s question and then point to the west.
Fell came back. “I’ve got it,” he said excitedly. “Johnny Tremp lives in a large bungalow on the other side of the village. It’s called Beechwood.”
“Great,” said Maggie. “Although I am so tired and hot and hungry, I’ll be glad when we finally see him and then we can get a cold drink and some late lunch.”
As they drove back through the village, some people were standing outside the village stores. They turned and stared at the car as it went past.
Maggie giggled. “It’s like one of those American smalltown horror movies. All we need now is the corrupt sheriff.”
“Maybe it’s like the Stepford Wives and they’ve all been taken over by aliens,” said Fell and began to laugh. Maggie laughed as well, delighted that Fell seemed to have risen out from whatever gloom had plagued him.
On the other side of the road, Maggie drove slowly until they saw a large new bungalow up on a rise. It was surrounded by a high fence. Two large steel gates at the entrance to a short drive stood open, but Fell noticed with surprise that the gates were electronically operated. He pointed this fact out to Maggie and said, “We’re lucky they’re open.”
“Should we park outside?” asked Maggie nervously. “And walk up?”
“No, just drive in. I say, Maggie, it’s a big, very new building. Surely it must have taken a lot of money, and for those fences and electronic gates.”
The car windows were open and Maggie could hear dogs barking. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” she said.
“Then stay in the car.”
“No, I think I should be with you on this one.”
They parked and got out. The cold glass eye of a video camera over the door stared down at them.
Before they could ring the doorbell, it jerked open. The man facing them was old and squat and burly. He had very thick lips.
“Mr. Tremp?” asked Fell.
“Who’s asking?”
“I’m Fell Dolphin. I believe you knew my father.”
“So what?”
“I wondered if we could have a talk.”
“I’ve got no time for you. I was expecting a delivery. Get the hell out of here or I’ll set the dogs on you.”
“But – ”
He turned and walked back into the house. “Get to the car. Quick!” said Fell. “I think he really is going to set the dogs on us.”
They jumped into the car and slammed the doors, just as two large Alsatians erupted from the house. Maggie sped off, the great dogs bounding on either side of the car. Only when they were out on the road and well clear of the house did the dogs fall back. Maggie drove on a little and then stopped the car and leaned her head on the steering wheel.
“All right?” asked Fell anxiously.
“I was frightened to death,” said Maggie, raising her head. “We’ll find a pub and have lunch.”
“But don’t you see, we’re on to something at last!” said Fell excitedly. “How could he afford a set-up like that?”
“Maybe we should tell Dunwiddy.”
“That inspector? I don’t think so, Maggie. I didn’t like the way he asked about Andy Briggs. I tell you what, we’ll come after dark and watch the house and see who goes in and out.”
“You forget, I’ve got a date.”
“Oh, yes, him. Well, tomorrow.”
“Maybe tomorrow, we could try to find that other one.”
“You mean Fred Flint? There wasn’t a number for him in the phone book.”
“Maybe we can look at the voters’ role in the library and find him. Or I’ll ask Peter.”
“No, don’t,” said Fell sharply. “I don’t want that reporter to know anything we’re doing.”
They had lunch at the White Hart Royal in Moreton and then drove back to Buss.
Fell had fallen silent again. “I’ve got some housekeeping to do,” said Maggie. “What about you?”
“I think I’ll go out for a bit,” said Fell.
“Where?”
“Just out,” said Fell crossly.
Melissa again, thought Maggie bitterly.
Fell went upstairs and washed and changed into a clean shirt and jeans. He could hear Maggie working in the kitchen. Ashamed of his bad temper, he called out, “I’m going to the bank before it closes. We don’t want the neighbours to see us digging up the cash box any time we want money.”
“Right,” called Maggie.
Fell did go to the bank and drew out a substantial sum. He planned to give a good part of it to Maggie. She never asked him for money. Then he stood, irresolute, feeling the sun beating down on his head. Dreams and fantasies were essential to a man like Fell. They were what kept reality at bay. He wanted the Melissa dream back and in his heart cursed the lawyer. Surely Melissa had her pride and didn’t want everyone to know that her business venture had failed. Perhaps he could advise her. Perhaps he could buy the remainder of the lease from her and start that bookshop, he thought, forgetting that the bookshop had been Maggie’s idea. He had a sudden rosy dream of poetry readings in the evenings, with himself reading to a small audience and Melissa gazing on him with admiration.
He set out for the health shop. He hesitated outside the door. Melissa was sitting at the back of the shop at a desk, buffing her nails. The shop was dark and there was a soft lamp behind her. She looked quite beautiful.
He smiled and opened the door.
“Why, Fell!” she exclaimed. “How nice.”
“Quiet day,” said Fell, looking around.
“Oh, one gets days like this from time to time. What brings you?”
“I thought perhaps we could discuss business, go through the books together.”
“You don’t need to bother about fusty old ledgers. It wouldn’t mean anything to you. I mean, dear, you’ve not
