Cherringham--The Last Puzzle (12 page)

And at that, the glamorous woman, eyes flashing, stood up.

*

“I still get the money.
I
solved the puzzle. And you can bet I will hire the best legal protection I can. Not some village … bumpkin—”

Sarah turned to see Tony take the comment like a smack to the face.

‘Bumpkin’ wasn’t a word she’d normally associate with him.

But Jack turned to Tony as well. “Tony, um, maybe you can explain to everyone about the contest. What happens?”

“Why, yes. You see, the rules as set out by Mr. Andrews were quite clear. Any evidence of collusion by the winner or winners, and the full inheritance goes to Seafarers UK. It is
very
clear on that point.”

“Collusion? But
I
solved the puzzle, and I am the sole—”

Sarah cleared her throat.

She was waiting for this moment, dreading the idea of going head-to-head with the powerful woman.

But now — the moment here — it seemed exactly what she wanted to do.

“It was, I’m afraid …” Sarah started softly, “clearly collusion. You each got an email containing a hint to the last puzzle, one a reference to a hill, the other to ancient stones. With the executor’s blessing, of course — once we had suspicions. Maybe you thought you’d sent them to each other …?”

As she spoke she saw Guard look at Carlisle, his face grim, set — a man who knew when a trap has been spring.

“You see, only by putting those two hints together, could you come to that final place, to Mabb’s Hill.”

“How could you—”

“—where Jack here watched the two of you — you and Mr. Carlisle — tromp up the hill to find the stone from the clue, ‘the stone pointing not right at all’.”

“Got a bit of video of that on my phone, by the way,” Jack said.

Silence.

And Sarah knew — in that silence — that the strange journey of Quentin Andrews, his fortune, his death and his last puzzle … would end here.

With a woman who wanted that money now.

Who had allied herself with Carlisle, someone else equally greedy.

Who would keep an old man from his life-saving pills.

Quite the cold customer
.

And as the dreams of those millions faded into the air for all — and Tony buzzed his assistant to admit Alan Rivers to let the police carry on with this — Sarah looked at Jack.

And she thought …

The two of them had also been on Quentin’s grand quest.

And one more thought …

Quentin Andrews would have
so
loved how this had all turned out.

Sarah dug into a backpack and removed a bottle of champagne. Then very carefully, she took out four flutes, each wrapped tightly in newspaper.

“You know,” Tony Standish said, atop Mabb’s Hill, turning, looking around. “I don’t think I’ve ever been up here. Knew the history, of course. But this
view
.”

“One of the reasons we moved back here, all those years ago,” said Michael, at his side. “You can see half the county.”

Tony nodded. “Makes one appreciate our lovely village all the more.”

Sarah handed Jack the bottle of bubbly. “Jack, do the honours.”

“Oh, I’ve had some mishaps with these things before. Seems most goes shooting out.”

Michael walked over. “Trick is, Jack, just ease the cork out
slowly
, let the pressurised air escape. Not as dramatic — but certainly saves some of the champagne.”

It had — of course — been Tony’s idea to come up here, to the site of the last clue, to raise a glass in honour of the dead puzzler.

And even the weather had cooperated. A hint of glorious spring in the air. Not a cloud in the sky. This winter had been tough, and everyone Sarah knew couldn’t wait until sun and warmth returned.

“You know, Jack … one thing I don’t get.”

Jack unwrapped the foil covering and now was taking his time getting the cork out.

“Ask away, Tony.”

“That last crossword answer. I mean, the clue led up here, to these stones. I can see that. But how did you know the
correct
stone, and how did that give you the bloody answer?”

A small pop and hiss, and the cork was off. Jack reached over and poured some into Sarah’s glass.

“Oh, it had me stumped. For a bit. No puzzler, to be sure. But the clue said the stone wasn’t ‘right’. Means different, hmm? And so — look around—”

Jack waited to pour the champagne until he had done a survey of the ancient stones that circled the site.

“See over there. One stone, flat down. I walked over after Carlisle and Guard left. Come on … I’ll show you. But first—”

Jack poured some champagne into Tony’s glass, then Michael’s.

Then Sarah followed as he led the way to a stone which lay flat on the ground.

Jack crouched down. “See how the stone makes a jagged pointer. Like a compass, right?” Jack went to the pointed tip of the flat stone. “And the direction it points?”

“Northwest,” said Michael.

“Exactly,” said Jack.

“Brilliant,” Tony said.

“Well, Guard and Carlisle got it too. Working together, Carlisle let her submit the prize winner, spoils to be shared later.”

“She tried to make out she wasn’t interested in the puzzle,” said Jack. “But all along her pal was out there gathering the answers for the two of them.”

“You think they were an item?” said Michael.

“Once upon a time, oh yes,” said Jack.

“They both left ‘the service’ in the early eighties under a cloud,” said Sarah.

“And word is that Quentin picked up a medal soon after for clearing out some bad apples,” said Jack.

“So you think they were the bad apples?” said Tony.

“Looks like it,” said Jack.

“They both went off the radar for a while,” said Sarah. “But then they popped up working together as security consultants in the Middle East.”

“Security consultants?” said Michael. “Came across a few of those in my time.”

Sarah looked across at her father. Growing up in an RAF family she’d got used to the postings all over the world. But only now as an adult had she begun to wonder what
his
experience had been during those years.

As a senior officer he must have had access to all kinds of secrets …

“Once a spy …” said Tony.

“So — no love lost between either of them and Quentin,” said Michael.

“Who knows what Tricia said to him that night she visited,” said Jack. “But whatever it was, it was more than his heart could bear.”

Sarah watched her father slowly shake his head at this thought.

“You did well, Jack,” said Tony, patting him on the shoulder.

Jack looked at the flat stone. “We really have Sarah to thank. But then I guess I didn’t do too bad.”

He smiled at Sarah.

Maybe not a puzzler,
she thought
… but he did pretty well with this one!

They stood there a moment, sunlight bathing the top of the hill.

“And Tony,” Sarah said finally. “Good on you for what you did for poor Emma Carter.”

“You always manage to do something good,” Jack said.

“Oh, that was nothing. She didn’t do anything wrong. And as executor of the estate I could allot a certain amount of money for carrying out the terms. The ten thousand — while no fortune — should be of use to her.”

“Certainly enough for her to move away from Marty,” said Sarah.

“Marty will be back inside anyway,” said Tony. “The bribe he took from Tricia makes him an accessory to murder, no doubt about that.”

“Good riddance,” said Sarah.

Tony laughed at that. “So, now that we’re all here … shall I propose a toast?”

“By all means,” Michael said.

Tony ceremoniously raised his flute. “To Quentin Andrews, spy, entrepreneur, and a most puzzling man. May he rest in peace!”

And they clinked their flutes, the delicate glasses making a high-pitched
clink
amid the trees only now starting to bud, eager to get on with spring and summer.

A sip. And the champagne, Louis Roederer — one of the best — tasted delicious to Sarah.

But Tony had one more thing to add to his toast.

“And to Cherringham!”

And with another clink, and another sip, they all turned to look at the village below, shining like a magical place, by an equally magical river.

END

When a big movie production comes to Cherringham, complete with lords, ladies, and flashing swords, the whole village is abuzz with excitement. But when a series of dangerous accidents threatens the life of the young lead, Zoe Harding, Sarah and Jack get involved. Are these really accidents? Or could they be something more sinister — even deadly? Who is trying to destroy the career of the beautiful young star — and why?

Cherringham — A Cosy Crime Series
Final Cut
by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards

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