the telephone and tapped in a number.
“Deirdre? Can you get down here for a coffee with me and Roy. I can rustle up Gus as well. Something important has come up. What did you say? Well, now, at once, you silly girl! Coffee’s on its way.”
“Really,” she confided to Roy, “you’d think my cousin was the busiest woman in Barrington from the way she goes on. She can spare half an hour, she says. Huh!”
Gus was in the kitchen chatting up Katya as she made coffee and prepared trays for residents who were staying in their rooms. He offered to carry one up to Miss Beasley, and noticed there were two cups.
“Mr. Goodman is visiting her,” Katya said. “Will you be a visitor, too? Shall I put on extra cup?”
Gus thought how delightful was her version of the English language, and set off carrying the tray. He met Mrs. Spurling, who sniffed. “I have given up, Mr. Halfhide,” she said as he passed her. “I have nothing more to say.”
“Splendid!” said Gus, and turned his head to smile as she passed. Unfortunately, his foot caught in the rug, and he tripped, sending the tray load flying in her direction.
“Bloody hell!” she screamed, and fled to her office to write to the board of management to submit her resignation. Before she could begin, Gus’s face appeared round the door.
“Get out!” she said.
“Just wanted to apologise,” he said. “I’ll be gone tomorrow. Your tender loving care has worked wonders, and I’m quite restored. Bless you, my dear,” he added, hardly able to believe that this was the smooth, sophisticated Gus Halfhide speaking.
They were finally settled, all four, in Ivy’s room, with a fresh tray of coffee brought up by a mortified Katya. “Mrs. Spurling says one more mistake, and I’m out on my ear. Is this right, or did I mistake her saying?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Gus said quickly. “She’ll soon forget all about it.”
He gently escorted Katya to the door and shut it firmly. “Now, Ivy,” he said, reminding himself he was senior partner in this outfit, “perhaps you’d like to tell us what is so urgent?”
Thirty-six
“TWINS!” SAID DEIRDRE. “Are you absolutely sure, Roy?”
He nodded, pleased that his excellent recall had produced such a marked effect on the others. Deirdre was frankly disbelieving, saying he must have been dreaming last night and thought it was a genuine memory. Gus was not so hasty in his judgement. For one thing, his mind was focussing more on his scalded ankle than Roy’s revelation. He dare not mention it to Mrs. Spurling. Perhaps Miss Pinkney would be more sympathetic and find a soothing balm. He would go looking for her after this meeting was over.
“You’re quiet, Augustus,” said Ivy. “Do you see what this means, if Roy’s recollection is correct?”
“Of course,” said Gus, snapping to attention. “It means our Beattie Beatty Bentall has got a brother. I wonder what he called himself? Maybe he kept his real name, and there’s a mysterious Joe Bentall lurking in the shadows somewhere?”
“Miss Beasley has an idea for what we should do next,” Roy said, and Gus looked enquiringly at Ivy, who said that she thought it was probably time for one of them to go to Oakham and do some asking around.
“Oakbridge,” Roy corrected her. “I’ll go, if you like?” he offered.
There was an embarrassed pause, and then Deirdre said gently that she thought perhaps one of the younger members of the agency should take on this particular assignment.
“On the other hand,” Gus said, “Roy does know that area well.”
“So do I,” said Deirdre. For goodness sake, what was the silly man thinking of? Roy Goodman was very old, and totally unlikely to be able to trudge round a town, possibly in the rain, ferreting out snippets of information-or not, as was quite likely.
Ivy shifted in her chair. “If you ask me,” she said, “Roy and me should stay here and keep our eyes open for what’s happening here. Miss Pinkney had a chat with me this morning, and she was full of a story going round village about Mr. Roussel. He’s been seen in the pub, apparently, and then out and about with young Budd. The gossips are having a fine time, as you can imagine.”
“Well I never,” said Deirdre, looking smug. “Amazing how people can change, isn’t it?”
“Yes, well,” Ivy said, frowning at her, “let’s just get back to how you’re going to start when you get to Oakbridge. Tomorrow, d’you think, Augustus?”
“Yes, certainly,” said Gus. “Which brings me to an announcement.” He smiled at Ivy, and reached across to pat her hand. “Much as I appreciate your offer to support me in my convalescence here,” he said, “I am so much better now, really restored, and have told Mrs. Spurling that I shall be going back home tomorrow. Then Katya can have her room back. Whippy will be so pleased to see me. I’ve missed her a lot, and I get the impression that Mrs. Spurling will not be too sorry to see me go!” he added, but did not elaborate.
Deirdre said that was fine, and she would pick him up tomorrow morning, take him and his things back to his cottage, and then they could set off for Oakbridge straightaway.
“Good,” said Ivy. “That’s that, then. Now, I must be going.”
“Where?” said Deirdre.
“To the shop,” Ivy said. “I don’t really need anything, but I make sure I have a short walk every day.”
Roy Goodman cleared his throat. He said sadly, “So no more pontoon, then, Gus?”
Ivy looked at him. All the light had gone out of his eyes, and she realised he saw himself back in the lounge, staring at the telly with the others, this wonderful interlude finished.
“
Thirty-seven
GUS LOOKED ABOUT him at his neat and tidy sitting room. “I didn’t leave it like this!” he said.
Dierdre shook her head. “No, you didn’t. But the fairies have been in and cleaned it up for you.”
“It was you, I suppose,” Gus said, and he leaned forward to give her a peck on the cheek. “Thanks a lot. Now, can I offer you a coffee before we start?”
Deirdre said she thought they should be off straightaway. “If we sit down now with coffee, you can bet someone will arrive or the telephone will ring, and we shall be delayed. Come on, lad. Best foot forward.”
Gus wondered whether to tell her about his scalded ankle, but it was much better today and he decided not. He had to reclaim his status as senior partner. A scalded ankle should be nothing to invincible Augustus, scourge of the criminal fraternity!
As they went back to the car, which Deirdre had parked outside the cottage, Gus turned and looked along the terrace. A curtain twitched in the window of his next-door neighbour, and he saw Miriam’s face peering out. On an impulse he waved, and to his amusement the face disappeared. Now she had seen he was back, he must expect a visit sooner or later.
Oakbridge was about thirty miles from Barrington, and in the big limousine they seemed to be there in no time. “I could get used to one of these,” Gus said to Deirdre. “It’s like riding in a feather bed.”
“That dates you,” said Deirdre. “How many feather beds have you slept in?”
“In this country, none,” he said severely, “but overseas, I have slept in every kind of bed you can imagine. Feathers, straw, rough blankets on concrete, you name it, I’ve slept in it or on it.”
Deirdre looked at him closely. “D’you know, Gus, I’m never really sure whether to believe you or not. What exactly was your work?” Gus gazed into the distance, as if to a far-off land where things were very different. “I’m afraid I am not able to say. You will just have to take me on trust, Deirdre. So let’s look for somewhere to park and get on with our search.”
