Lois Meade 14 - Suspicion at Seven (3 page)

T
he Blacks lived in the rear of their bakery, in an extension they had added years ago, when Aurora decided to set up her bread business in Brigham. They had one very precious child then, and had subsequently tried hard for another to be a companion for her.

Aurora had sadly given up the possibility of it happening by chance, and had secretly investigated the possibilities of success.

Although she did not want to blame Donald, she was pretty sure the fault was with him.

Now it was too late, and in any case, she had a business that required all her time, and as Donald was away frequently at his jewellery parties, she accepted that her life was full enough, and having Milly was a bonus.

She was expecting Lois Meade for supper, and Lois was sure to be full of news of her children and grandchildren, just as it should be. She thanked God, not for the first time, that she had her wonderful daughter, Milly, and had been delighted to hear from her that she hoped to be with them tomorrow for a lightning visit.

*   *   *

“Hi, Lois, come on in. Supper won’t be long, and Donald has made some Pimms for us. It is really summery today, isn’t it? I must say you are looking very smart this evening. Don’t know how you do it . . .”

“What with running a business, having children and grandchildren and keeping Gran happy? Are you thinking on those lines? Then you’re absolutely right, and it is really nice of you to say so.” Lois kissed Aurora on her cheek, and accepted a glass from Donald with a cool nod.

“Shall we have supper first, and then Donald can show you his latest collection? I must say I am tempted myself!”

What a pleasant couple, Lois thought to herself. Maybe I’m wrong about Donald. They seem so well adjusted to each other. None of the arguments that were a daily occurrence at Meade House. She watched as Aurora laid the table for supper, and Donald drew the cork from a bottle of red wine. She thought of Derek, who would be happy with a ham sandwich and a can of light ale.

But then she remembered how much her family actually enjoyed a good argument, a fierce battle of words without giving any quarter.

Perhaps Aurora, who was lively minded and good company, did not find Donald boring, with nothing to talk about but brooches, bracelets and necklaces. Baubles, bangles and beads!

They all helped with clearing the table, and then he produced his collection. Everything sparkled and shone. Lois had to admit that some of it was really attractive, and she picked up a delicate silver necklace with a single pearl drop.

“You could try it on, if you like,” said Donald, and he walked round to fix the clasp at the back of her neck. The pearl nestled between her breasts, and she decided it would be foolish not to buy such a pretty thing. If Josie didn’t like it, she would have it herself.

“How much does it cost?” she asked.

“Trade price to you, Lois. We never know when we might have to call on your New Brooms services to us at a revised special rate! We sole traders must stick together.”

“That’s the last one of those necklaces,” said Aurora.

“Shouldn’t you keep it for the collection? I am sure there’s one with a blue stone set in faux diamonds that would suit Josie’s colouring,” Lois said.

“No problem. I can easily order another pearl one,” said Donald. “It looks so good on you, Lois. Simple and elegant. You must have this one, dear.” He found a box, and the necklace was safe in Lois’s handbag. “Now, how about a pair of matching earrings?”

Lois laughed. “Sorry, no more pocket money this week. I think earrings would be overdoing it, anyway. Thanks, Donald. I shall enjoy this, either on Josie or myself!”

“Shall we have coffee now?” said Aurora, disappearing into the kitchen.

As soon as she had gone, Donald drew up a chair next to Lois’s and spoke in a whisper. “She’s very upset by the murder in the hotel. The woman had some of my stuff in her bag. Not a direct seller, thank God. No, Aurora’s not quite herself. I expect you’ve noticed? We’re so glad Milly’s coming tomorrow. It’ll take her mind off it.”

“Well, natural enough, I should have thought,” said Lois. “You being taken in for questioning, an’ that.”

Donald shook his head. “I was hardly in the police station five minutes before they let me go. Watertight alibi, you see. And I’m not a liar, Lois. All true, and I have proof that I was up north all the time. Can you help me cheer her up? She’s very fond of you.”

At this point, Aurora came back with a tray of coffee and set it down on the table. “What are you two whispering about?” she said lightly.

“Cooking up a surprise birthday party for Lois,” said Donald.

“Now it won’t be a surprise,” Aurora said, and ruffled his dark hair.

“Oh, yes, it will,” he said, smoothing it back again. “Black or white coffee, Lois?”

N
ext morning, the necklace was examined by Gran and Derek, and pronounced very pretty and just the thing for Josie’s birthday. “I’ll get you another one, me duck,” said Derek, seeing Lois’s face. “That Donald Black, I’ll have a word with him. He’s coming over to the village hall, isn’t he?”

“Now, how about this? It’s Josie’s birthday on Monday, so we can ask her and Matthew, if he’s not on duty, to come over for a meal,” Gran said.

“Oh, he’ll be wanting to take her out for a treat, won’t he? What do you think, Derek?”

“What about tomorrow lunch? We can tell her not to open the box until Monday.”

“Fine,” Lois said. “I have to go down to the shop, so I’ll ask her then.”

She went along to her office and set about sorting out her papers and schedules for the New Brooms meeting at twelve. She had rearranged the weekly meeting to be today instead of Monday, because of the birthdays. The girls and one young man would arrive in dribs and drabs, and then settle down to business. Lois’s team was much as it was when she set up the cleaning agency some while ago. One or two had left, and others taken their place, but they were largely the same happy group who respected Lois and enjoyed the work they carried out for clients around the county.

Lois was born in Tresham on a council estate, where Gran and her husband had set up house, producing one beautiful girl. Gran always said that one like Lois was quite enough. Wayward and obstinate, refusing to knuckle down to schoolwork, Lois left when she was sixteen to work in Woolworths, where she caught the eye of the young electrician Derek Meade. He always said he courted her over the confectionary counter, and after a year or so going around together, they persuaded her mother and father to allow them to marry.

Mrs. Weedon knew that if they said no, the two would debunk to Gretna Green and get married anyway. So they agreed, and in no time young Douglas had come along, then Josie, and finally the concert pianist, Jamie. Sometimes Gran looked at him and wondered if he was a cuckoo in the nest. But no, he would always be Lois and Derek’s baby, and success had not changed him. Nor had he tried to shove the others out! At times like Christmas, when the whole family gathered together, it was as if they had never left home.

*   *   *

At twelve sharp, the doorbell rang, and Hazel, who managed the office in Tresham, was first to arrive. The rest came in a bunch, all except Dot Nimmo, who was always last. Dot was special to Lois, having not only shined up many a dusty house, but had also helped out with ferretin’.

Dot, who was the widow of a gang boss in Tresham, had connections with the underworld that proved to be valuable. She had lost both husband and son, and had gone downhill in her lonely terraced house up the street from New Brooms office. Finally, in an attempt to pull herself together, she had asked Lois for a job. Against all advice from Gran and other team members, Lois had agreed. Dot was brash, bossy and totally loyal, and would go through fire to rescue Lois in trouble.

The other team members were Floss, young and newly married; Sheila Stratford, comfortable wife of a retired farmer; and Andrew Young. Andrew ran his own interior-decorating business alongside New Brooms, and had no qualms about scrubbing floors or polishing silver.

After Lois had thanked them for coming along on a Saturday, one by one they went through the work schedules, and then Lois asked for any queries they might have.

“It’s not to do with cleaning, really, Mrs. M,” said Dot. “But I just wondered if you’d heard anything about the goings-on in Brigham? Every house I’ve been to this week, there’s been someone talking about it. They all seem to think the jewellery bloke done it. And ain’t he coming to do one of his parties here in the village hall? Nobody seems to know if it’s safe to go along.”

“What?” said Lois loudly. “Donald Black a mass murderer? I think with a roomful of feisty women he’d stand no chance. No, it is serious, I know, particularly for his wife. But he’s totally innocent. A watertight alibi, apparently. So I think you can all relax and enjoy an evening among the diamonds.”

“So who did do it?” said Sheila. “Any ideas, Mrs. M? My husband said he knew what he’d do with the poncey idiot.”

“Oh dear,” said Lois. “So he’s been found guilty by the gossips, has he? I’ve met him, of course, as has Floss when she’s cleaning there. I have always bought my bread from his wife’s bakery. But I really think we should leave this to the police. Now, can we get on with reports from clients? Andrew, would you make a start?”

“My report is not unconnected with Dot’s contribution,” he said. “I’ve had a request from the Mill House Hotel to redecorate the entire interior of the bedroom wing. And after that, the dining room and reception.”

“Wow! Well done, Andrew. You won’t have much time for New Brooms work, will you?”

“Oh yes I will, Mrs. M. I explained that I divide my time working for you alongside interior decor. They said I could surely combine the two. We could prepare a schedule, they said, and as cleaners were always hard to come by, there’d be no shortage of work. I think they must have been anxious to get me, probably because I undercut other estimates for the decor work.”

“More likely they recognised you as a good interior designer, Andrew. I’m very pleased for you. We’ll get together when you’re more familiar with how it will work out,” said Lois. She was anxious not to lose Andrew, since some of New Brooms clients, particular single lonely bachelors, could be difficult with her girls. If Andrew was not free, she usually sent in Dot Nimmo, who was a match for any overattentive male client.

“I’m next,” said Sheila. “All my clients are happy, I hope. Nothing’s been said, anyway. There’s been talk of the Mill House Hotel affair of course, but I’ve not encouraged gossip.”

Dot made a face. Gossip was meat and drink to her, and she regarded it as an essential part of her job, regardless of what the others thought. It was one of the rules of Brooms that they did not gossip, but got on with their work. Ferretin’ was different, Dot had decided.

Now she raised her eyebrows and said that she had only one client in Brigham, and she was deaf and nearly blind, and though a dear old soul, did not get about much and so did not mention the murder.

“It’s odd, don’t you think, the way we all assume it was murder?” said Floss. She was a sensible girl, not long married, whose parents and husband thought she was too talented to be a cleaner. She ignored their criticism, however, and explained that she loved the job. There was great satisfaction to be gained from leaving a tidy, sweet-smelling house behind her when she had finished. Clients were a varied lot, and always interesting.

“There was a small paragraph in the evening paper, saying she had been found strangled, so I suppose that clinches it,” said Andrew. “Maybe when I start at the hotel, I shall hear more details.”

“Keep your ears and eyes open,” said Dot, and caught Lois’s eye. “But don’t gossip, Andrew; there’s a good lad.” Her wink was obvious to all present, and Lois was unusually pleased when, with a tap on the door, Gran brought in coffee.

*   *   *

The news of Andrew Young’s commission had spread quickly around the Mill’s employees. Some were pleased, and claimed they had suggested refurbishment long ago. Others were depressed, foreseeing disruption everywhere, with rooms out of action and notices of wet paint in all the narrow corridors and stairs.

“I hope he leaves my reception until last,” said an attractive blonde German girl, whose English was better than most, and who had a gift for making guests feel welcome the moment they entered the doors. “Then I shall take a holiday and leave it all to a temp.”