‘And now?’
‘In a way, I wish the inheritance would go away, except …’
‘There are questions about your past that might be answered only there, within the walls of Cardiubarn Hall?’
Amanda shivered. Gwendolen immediately deposited her own cup and saucer on the table and put her arm around her young friend.
‘Now, my dear. I don’t mean to ask you things that will upset you. Perhaps you’re right. And it will be months before you need to be involved at all.’
‘Oh, Gwendolen, the truth is that I have had thoughts. Troubled thoughts about it all. Over the years, from time to time, I have wondered what it would be like to go back to Cornwall. Experience what I’ve only ever seen in photographs or in films, you know?’
‘Of course.’
‘But now … once I cross the Tamar …’ Amanda’s heretofore securely dammed anxiety began to leak out and flow. ‘What if I bump into one of the Cadabras and they won’t talk to me? Because of Grandpa eloping with a Cardiubarn and me being half Cardiubarn. And then what if there are still Flamgoynes hiding who will be out for blood, for revenge? And what if there are Cardiubarns left who want to bump me off to get the inheritance? Wouldn’t it be better if I just don’t go to Cornwall?’
Gwendolen patted her hand. ‘My dear, those are rational concerns. Have you expressed them to the inspector?’
Amanda shook her head as though this was a new thought. ‘Well… no… it’s not his job … the case is solved … hes got a life in Cornwall to go back to now. I couldn’t … I mean, he’s not my bodyguard. I wouldn’t want him to think I’m helpless and can’t look after myself.’ A defiant note entered her voice. ‘If I have to go there, I shall, and I’m sure it will all be fine. But this is just speculation. I won’t have to do anything for months and months, and I may not have to go there at all.’
‘Indeed. It’s up to you, naturally. But I would, at least, mention your concerns to him. I’m sure you can trust him to offer you some reassurance and sound advice. You’ll see him at the ball. Or perhaps you could call Michael Hogarth?’
‘I’ll see,’ replied Amanda, having restored herself to her usual sense of calm. She picked up her cup and saucer with a steady hand. ‘There’s really no need to bother him — them. Not for a long time.’
Later, at home, Amanda kept up her resolve not to think about it. She made toad-in-the-hole, the most comforting comfort food available to one with sausages in the fridge and batter mix in the cupboard. Together with Tempest, who had deigned to join her in consuming the animal protein component of the meal, Amanda sat on the sofa and did her best to enjoy The Ladykillers.
At about the same time that the film was rolling the end credits, Trelawney was taking a refreshing sip of Hogarth’s Aardberg ten-year-old single malt. He sat, slowly turning the tumbler in his hands. Finally,
‘All right, Mike. Let’s say this is a good idea.’
‘Yes, let’s.’
‘How would it work with … Miss Cadabra?’
‘You would, of course, no longer be in the detective-witness holding pattern. You would be colleagues, partners.’
‘Just the two of us?’
‘You would also be able to call on Baker and Nikolaides. You seem to work well with them, and by all accounts, they actually enjoy working with you!’
Thomas grinned. ‘Wonders will never cease.’
‘And as colleagues, it would be an advantage in your successful collaboration if you and Amanda could allow yourselves to become friends. You have, after all, been operating on a friendly basis, have you not?’
‘Friends? Yes … I suppose, within limits, of course ... I think.’
Hogarth could see the idea was gaining ground. He waited patiently for the next objection.
‘I don’t know. I have had partners before but not one like … I mean, talk about secretive! And she seems incapable of walking from one end of the village to the next without tripping up on some dead body or other. Then she behaves like a law unto herself and includes me on a need-to-know basis like some office junior.’'
‘'I think Amanda has not wanted to put you in any awkward situations. Besides, I’'m sure if you were equal partners, without the old Cardiubarn case over her head —'’
‘Not that it ever seemed to bother her,’ Thomas remarked.
‘Well, anyway, if you were equal partners it would be a very different situation. You’d be on the same side, same page, same agenda. A unit. Great things could come of it. Maybe put an end to whatever murder magnet exists in Sunken Madley, at least make some progress there.’
‘I must admit, it is a good cause. And it could work, I suppose.’
‘You were right when you said that it wouldn’t be quite like your previous partnerships. There will be times when Amanda will not be able to go where you lead. And vice versa. There would have to be a greater degree of autonomy on both your parts than in a normal setup.’
Hogarth said it regretfully, knowing full well that this would have some appeal.
‘Hm …well, I’m sure I could work with that,’ came the cautious reply.
This sounded hopeful to Hogarth’s ears. Thomas, however, had at least one last fight in him.
‘What about Miss Cadabra’s trust issues?’ he insisted.
Mike laughed. ‘Trust issues? And you don’t have any, naturally,’
‘I've told her everything I know about my past. But she’s never once let me see what she really does in her workshop,’ Thomas protested
‘Have you told her about the lines of light you see? How your intuition works?’
‘Well … no.’
‘Any reason why not?’
‘No reason to. It’s just personal, very personal. I’ve kept it a secret from —’
‘And that’s different from Amanda, how exactly?’
Thomas had to be fair. He smiled. ‘I suppose it isn’t.
