Lois Meade 14 - Suspicion at Seven (6 page)

W
ednesday was market day in Tresham, and Lois went in every week to shop from the local stalls, including butchers, fishmongers (fresh fish, though they couldn’t be farther from the sea), and homegrown vegetables. There were also several stalls selling home-baked goodies, and the fragrance of homegrown herbs alone made them impossible to resist.

If she arrived home with her bags full, she knew Derek and Gran would both be offended. He had a productive vegetable garden, and Gran prided herself on her baking. “I like to have a change, that’s all,” she usually protested. Today, she bought only veg and fruit not grown by Derek, and coconut biscuits not made by Gran.

“Anything for a peaceful life,” she muttered, and then turned round swiftly as she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Morning, Mrs. Meade,” said Cowgill, smiling sweetly at her.

“Don’t
do
that!” she said. “Heavy hand of the law, an’ all that. Are you shopping too?”

“Sort of.”

“Well, don’t let me keep you.”

“I’ve done it all, anyway. Fancy a coffee?”

Lois hesitated. Cowgill might have some further information on Donald Black.

“Okay, then. But it’ll have to be a quick one. Gran puts lunch on the table at one o’clock precisely, whether there’s anyone there to eat it or not.”

Lois chose a table in the corner of the café, and sat with her back to the door. Well trained by Cowgill, she did not want to obstruct his view of the marketplace. His eyes flicked from corner to corner while they had coffee, and he seemed distracted when Lois asked him about Donald Black.

“Oh, he’s a charlatan, Lois. Nothing serious, as far as we know, but we keep an eye on his jewellery parties. Those things can end up bankrupting perfectly innocent people.”

“Such as Gran?”

He snapped instantly to attention. “Gran, did you say? Good heavens, I hope she hasn’t been taken in by his pretty ways!”

“She’s pretending not to have been, but I know my mum. She gets an idea into her head, and won’t let it rest until she’s cracked it.”

“Just like someone else I know. But you must not let her get involved, Lois. She is exactly the sort of intelligent person who thinks she can back out whenever she chooses, and then finds that she can’t.”

“It’s all very well to say that. You should try changing my mum’s mind when she’s decided on something. And she’s very touchy about the family interfering with her savings. Says she’s earned every penny and intends to spend it her way.”

Cowgill could see that his Lois was really worried, and reached across the small table to take her hand. Lois immediately withdrew it, and said what would people think if they saw them sitting hand in hand in a public place?

His laughter caused heads to turn, and he shook his head. “My dear Lois,” he said, “what can I say? I will certainly keep an eye on Black for you, but if I were you I would enlist the help of Aurora. She works closely with him running the bakery, and can sound the alarm if Gran is getting in too deep.”

“What do you know about his past?”

“Only that he had a job with the local chiropodist, who terminated his contract after trouble with the tax inspector. Nothing came of it, and then he began publicising his jewellery parties. He knows the law, and skates pretty close to it, but so far, so good. If you do find any connection between him and the Fountain case, I’d be glad to hear from you.”

Lois drained her coffee cup and said that she must be on her way. “Good hunting, Cowgill. Nothing but good news from my daughter and your nephew. Josie seems in good spirits, and the two of them are off on holiday next week. I must say they are welcome to the crowds. It’s school holidays, and Marbella would not be my choice.”

He rose to his feet, but after she had gone, he ordered another coffee and sat down to think. It was certainly surprising that Gran Weedon had been so taken in by the golden-voiced Black. He would have said she was proof against any erosion of her savings. Perhaps she was genuinely interested in knowing how the scheme worked, and would see off Black in her characteristically forthright way.

“I
’m glad to see you haven’t wasted our housekeeping money on fripperies, anyway,” said Gran, after she had examined Lois’s purchases.

They had decided long ago that they would have a joint housekeeping account, where each would make a one-third contribution each week. It worked reasonably well, and Lois kept a separate wallet with her own money in case she spotted something Gran would disapprove of.

Sometimes, Lois would feel like a child at the mercies of her mother’s wrath. But most of the time she maintained a tactful silence to keep the peace. Now she felt virtuous, and on reflection realised how ridiculous the whole thing had become. Still, as they sat down to lunch, Gran’s mind was on other things.

“What are we doing this coming weekend?” she asked. “It’s the County Agricultural Show in Waltonby, and Joan and I thought we might go. We can catch a bus at two, and another to come home around five. It’ll give us time to look around the stalls, and see what’s going on in the show rings. Joan loves the horses, and I favour the cattle. Especially the great bulls! You wouldn’t happen to be going, either of you? Then we could have a lift.”

“Don’t think so, Gran,” said Derek. “I shall have to work on Saturday to get a job finished. How about you, Lois? You three could be girls together?” Joan was Gran’s best friend and lived just around the corner from Meade House. Lois approved this friendship warmly, as Joan was brilliant at keeping Gran from some of her more serious excesses for brightening their lives. The show might take Gran’s mind off jewellery, with any luck.

“Thanks and no thanks! I really don’t know, Mum, but if I do go, I’ll certainly give you and Joan a lift.”

Lois was immediately suspicious. Gran usually steered clear of the big shows, saying her old feet were too tired to be tramping round fields.

“Has Josie got any programmes of events and exhibitors in the shop? She does sometimes sell them in advance, so you don’t have to wait in a queue at the gate. I’ll pop down this afternoon and see. Anything you want, Mum?”

“I should have thought you’d done enough shopping for one day! Still, if you’re going, we could do with more milk.”

*   *   *

The shop was busy when Lois arrived, mostly due to a gaggle of women who had the local paper in their hands. Lois could see the front page with a banner headline, POLICE BAFFLED BY FOUNTAIN CASE.

“The cops don’t have far to look!” said one.

At this point, Josie said in the nicest possible way that if the ladies had no more shopping to do, perhaps they could carry on talking outside. Looking huffy, they reluctantly stepped outside the shop and dispersed.

“Hi, Mum, I’ve kept the local for you. As you saw, it’s a popular newspaper today! Have you come to shop or chat?”

“Both,” said Lois. “Milk for Gran, and I was wondering if you have any programmes for the County Agricultural Show on Saturday?”

Like a conjurer, Josie delved behind a pile of chocolate bars and came up with a handful of programmes.

“Compliments of the shop,” she said, handing one to Lois.

“No, for heaven’s sake, Josie. It’s ten pounds to go in if you pay at the gate.”

“Only five pounds at this shop,” Josie said.

“How much of that goes to you, then?”

“Half. Two pounds fifty. The charge at the gate includes parking round the rings. Anyway, why so interested in the show?”

Lois put a five pound note on the counter, and took a programme.

“It’s a good day out, usually. Are you going? Is Matthew on duty there?”

Josie shook her head. “I’m here until four. Matthew may go, but off duty.”

*   *   *

Back home, Lois went straight to her office and opened the programme. She flipped through lists of agricultural-machinery manufacturers and clothing for the countryman and -woman, and came to a section for the craft marquee. Albrights Liquor Store, followed by Brigham Bakery—that would be Aurora—and then, yes, there it was, “Brighten Up for Summer with Brigham Luxury Jewellery.”

So, was this the reason Mum was so keen to go?

Lois had planned to work all day in her office, updating her accounts, but now decided the best way to find out would be to offer Joan and Mum a lift, and then keep an eye on them.

T
he rest of the week, Lois had spent working on her accounts, until she threw up her hands in despair and put all her invoices and receipts in an old attaché case and dumped it on a friendly Tresham accountant’s desk.

Derek said he didn’t know why she didn’t save herself all that frustration and time, and take it to him in the first place. She replied that she used to be good at maths at school, but that was not apparently enough. Every year the whole horrible subject of tax returns became more complicated.

Derek replied that her consequent bad temper lasted at least a couple of weeks, and he offered to pay the accountant’s fees if that would solve the problem.

Now it was Saturday, and the County Agricultural Show day. The village had been woken by a head-to-tail queue of moving cars, horse boxes and vast trailers carrying machinery as high as the bedroom windows.

“Shall we go up this morning instead of afternoon?” Lois said. “I would say most of the interesting things happen in the morning.”

Gran shook her head. “No, Lois. Joan has to go to the hairdresser’s this morning. We’ll go at two as planned.”

Lois’s suspicions were growing. When they drove into the show ground, and parked some way from the rings, Gran said she and Joan would go off by themselves, as she didn’t want an argument with Lois about what they should look at. They would meet in the refreshment tent at four. Would that suit?

There was no reason to disagree, so Lois loitered round the first few stalls, until she could no longer be seen by Gran, then began to follow at a distance. She looked at the map of the show ground, and saw that the craft marquee was directly opposite the entrance gate. Taking her time, she sauntered past grain traders and the National Farmers Union tent, where members were quaffing free drinks. It was hot and crowded, visitors making the most of the spring weather, and the ice cream van was doing good business. Small girls and their mothers kitted out for pony classes picnicked on the grass by their horse boxes.

A former client called out to Lois to join them on their seats at the ringside. “Haven’t seen you for
ages,
Mrs. Meade!”

Lois shouted thanks, but sauntered on. She approached the craft marquee cautiously, deliberately turning her face away as she entered. Standing behind a crowd at the home-brewing stall, she glanced quickly around. Her heart lurched, as she saw the big sign advertising Brigham Luxury Jewellery. Busy talking from behind the display was Gran, her face flushed and excited. Behind her, Joan was wrapping up a purchase. Neither of them saw her, and she slipped away, walking rapidly to sit on a straw bale at the ringside to consider what she should do next.

“D
id you have a good time, girls?” said Derek, as they sat down to a sandwich supper. “There’s still show traffic going through the village. The trailers and horse boxes hold them up, going slowly. You’d think they’d reroute them.”

“I reckon it was the biggest show so far,” said Gran. “Me and Joan won a bottle of wine on the lottery, and lost money on the lucky dip. I thought the craft marquee was rubbish this year. What did you think, Lois? We didn’t see you.”

“I missed it,” she lied. “Spent most of my time talking to old friends and clients. It’s a great day for meeting people. I loved the parade, and the foxhounds with the master. It was a shame one of the hounds turned nasty with a young boy, but no great harm done, apparently. Dogs are dogs, and even Jeems can turn savage with black Labradors.”

Gran looked relieved. She had been prepared to brazen it out if Lois had come into the marquee, but now she knew she could relax. She had thought she caught sight of the back of her head, but it obviously wasn’t Lois. It had been so exciting, and she had taken a respectable amount of money for Donald. He had confirmed that her own supply of jewellery would be arriving soon. She and Joan had agreed to sign up as members on a trial basis, with an opt-out clause if they decided against it. If they went ahead, they would each recruit a couple of friends from other villages. It was so easy! She had decided not to tell Lois and Derek until their jewellery arrived, when it would be too late for a fuss. Donald suggested that as he had so recently had a party in the village, they should perhaps go farther afield. He would be on hand to help throughout.

“So what else did you and Joan see, Mum?”

Gran shrugged. “Oh, all the usual things. I saw some very pretty little bantams, and nearly bought a couple for you.”

“I’m pretty well up to capacity, thanks, Mum. Did you see the bulls, your favourites? I saw that beautiful Hereford got first prize again.”

Gran nodded. “He certainly deserved it,” she said, without actually admitting to not having seen it.

Lois had hoped to catch her out, knowing that the red rosette had gone to a glamorous-looking creamy beast, nothing like the Hereford. But Gran was a match for her. She knew exactly how to avoid committing herself, and Lois gave up.

Derek, however, asked a number of questions, wanting to know if his many farmer friends had been there and if Gran had chatted to any of them. It became obvious that she hadn’t seen a single one, and Lois’s suspicion that she and Joan had spent the whole time on the jewellery stall was confirmed.

Later on, when Gran had retired to her own room, obviously quite exhausted by her afternoon’s adventure, Lois told Derek what she had seen, and to her surprise, he said he knew already. One of his friends had stopped his car on the way home from the show, and said he had seen his mother-in-law in the craft tent.

“What did you say to him?” said Lois.

“Not much. I asked if he was sure, and he said there was only one Mrs. Weedon, and he knew Joan, too. Shall we have to find out what they are up to, before it goes any further?”

“It’d be better to wait until Gran tells us herself, and then we can always get her out of trouble, if necessary. She looked like she’d had a new lease on life, chatting to customers at the stall. And, by the way, I saw something else a bit odd.”

“Don’t keep me in suspense,” said Derek.

“There was a huge refreshment tent, and in one corner, behind a great palm tree in a pot, I saw Donald himself, cosying up to a redhead who looked as if she wouldn’t be seen dead at an agricultural show, wouldn’t know one end of a cow from the other. She was familiar, and might have been the model who was at the jewellery party, but I couldn’t see her very well.”

“Where was Aurora? Wasn’t she at the show?”

“I don’t think so,” said Lois. “The bakery is open until half past five as usual. Oh dear, that Donald Black is even more of a fool than I thought. Obviously, we say nothing.”

“What do we say nothing about?” said Gran, appearing at the door with her hair in a hairnet and her face shining with moisturising cream. “Have you seen my book? Barbara Taylor Bradford’s best. I want to read it again.”

Lois found the book and wished her mother a good night’s sleep. “You’ll know how it ends, won’t you?”

“Perhaps this time she goes off with the rogue and lives happily ever after?” said Derek.

“And goodnight to you two, too!” said Gran crossly, and disappeared.

The truth was that she was sure she would not be able to get to sleep, her mind whizzing round the afternoon’s events. She settled back into bed and opened her book. Five minutes later, she was fast asleep and snoring contentedly.

*   *   *

“We’re nearly out of bread,” said Gran, as Lois and Derek appeared for breakfast. “We had a bit of a run on it for sandwiches yesterday. We could get a loaf from Josie. She’s open until twelve. I shall be going to the morning service with Joan. It’s a shortened matins, so I could go straight down after, if you like?”

“I thought of going over to Brigham this morning,” said Lois. “I need to chat to Aurora about a New Brooms client, so I can get bread at the same time. Her shop opens for a couple of hours, and I’m sure she will have a spare loaf for me. Lunch at the usual time?”

“One o’clock prompt.” Gran was uneasy. Would Lois be going to pump Aurora about the jewellery? She had asked Donald if they could both keep quiet until she was ready to tell the family herself. She knew Lois and Aurora were good friends.

*   *   *

Six miles away, in the warm kitchen of the bakery, Aurora was listening to an account from Donald of yesterday’s show. He seemed very pleased at the result of the day’s takings.

“Our stall,” he said, “was the only decent one in the craft marquee. And Elsie Weedon and her friend Joan were amazing! I had chosen fairly unglitzy stuff, guessing they would attract the older women, and they shifted a very respectable lot. Of course, they knew a lot of the farmers’ wives and so on. I should think they are in for a good career! And they won’t want to do it forever, so we won’t have any difficulties, with luck.”

“I’m not so happy about it, as you know, Donald. Lois Meade is a good friend of mine, and I wouldn’t want to cause her any worries. They must be in their early seventies at least. And you know as well as I do that there is a lot of work in organising a jewellery party.”

“But I shall be there, helping them all the way, and once into the swing of it, I am sure they’ll be fine. After all, they can recruit younger people to help.”

After that, they did not talk for an hour or so. Aurora was busy in the bakery, and Donald disappeared into his office to work. When the phone rang, Donald picked up the house phone.

“Good morning! Can I help you?”

“Ah, Lois here, Donald. Is it okay if I pop over this morning for a couple of loaves? We seem to have run out earlier than usual. But do say if it’s not convenient.”

“It’ll be fine, Lois. Never turn away customers; that’s my motto. How’s your mother this morning? Oops, I forgot! You’re not supposed to know. But anyway, she and Joan did a brilliant job yesterday. They offered to help, and in no time at all, they had taken over, and I left them to it.”

And I hope that’s all there was to it, thought Lois. She feared this was not so, but said she would be there in half an hour, and looked forward to hearing more about the show. She supposed she had better not mention the redhead.