The Lottery Ticket (11 page)

He did not want to drive the van back to the city whilst waiting for the transfer of cash to the garage and so he asked the manager to take him home in his new car so as to test it. The only other thing he needed was for the car to be delivered to his address as soon as the moneys had been paid. To this the manager agreed.

After the completion of the car task Rogers mind was on the next priority on his list. He made his way back to town and called in the phone shop. In total confusion at the selection on offer he came out with a suitable machine that would serve his purpose. He would ring Lizzy as soon as it was fully charged.

He was satisfied with his afternoons work and was beginning to feel peckish. He had as yet had no food or drinks at home so he decided he would eat out this evening and do the other tasks on his list another time.

He walked into a dimly lit Indian restaurant and decided he would order a curry. The waiter showed him to a corner table and left him to read the menu. Once he had grown accustomed to the lighting he browsed through the menu and ordered. He sat with his back to the wall looking at the door he had entered. As he was finishing what he considered to be the best meal he had had for a long time he noticed a couple walk in. Nothing strange about that he thought until he saw the man escorting a woman to a table.

The face was familiar to Roger and so was the name. It was none other than Keith Davis and he guessed the woman to be his wife. This was not what he wanted right now. If he was recognised he would be pulled in for questioning at the very least. This would put a spanner in his plans. Thankfully the dimness was to be his saving grace. Before the couple could acclimatize themselves to the lighting he had paid the bill and slipped out unnoticed.

He stopped off at the off-licence and picked up a pack of beers and made his way back to the flat. He would remain there until morning and revisit his plans for the forthcoming day. He opened the box containing the phone and plugged the charger in, tomorrow he would ring Lizzy.

His main concern now was to move from this area as soon as possible. He was beginning to go off the idea of moving abroad. He felt certain that this country could hide him once he had totally dumped his old identity, for White is a popular name all over the country, he thought. His day complete, he went to bed. He was quite please with his day with the exception of the restaurant encounter, but other than that he was well satisfied.   

Chapter 10
 

The plan moves on
 

Wednesday morning found Roger in buoyant mood. His plans seemed to be moving on smoothly. Today he would shop for clothes and accessories and take the train to Birmingham to look for properties in that area. Once he had found a place that fitted in with his new lifestyle he would taxi over to the hotel that Lizzy worked at.

The shopping took up most of the morning and while he was in town he would buy his rail ticket. Arriving back at the flat he dumped his purchases and walked to the station. He reached Birmingham by mid afternoon and took a taxi to the centre. He peered into several estate agent windows until he found the one that had the kind of houses he was looking for.

The six bedroom mansion advertised in the estate agents window was just what he was looking for and he took an instant liking to it. The house was situated between Birmingham and Coventry. When he inquired of the girl sitting at the first desk whether the property was still on the market the owner of the agency immediately took over the inquiry. He was not going to lose this kind of commission due to any shortcomings of the junior staff. The agent would take him to look at the property and bring him back after the viewing. When asked for details of himself he gave them his proper details, as he was growing in confidence that he was not going to get found out.

On arrival at the property the estate agent had to type in the entry code before the ornate gates swung open of their own accord. This certainly impressed Roger who had not even attempted to enter a place as grand as this even when house breaking. His other thought was that with his new found wealth the police would not even think of looking for him in a place as palatial as this.

They drove down a winding gravel drive, through lawns big enough to put football pitches on either side. These were dotted with trees and bushes of every kind. At the house the drive looped back on itself with a fountain in the middle made of what looked like marble. It had a swan with wings fully spread on top of a globe with the water cascading down from beneath the bird’s feet.

The steps ran up to the front door which had stain glass panels to the upper half. As Roger walked in behind the assistant a gasp caught at his throat. He was becoming overwhelmed by what he saw as the tour progressed. Each room had features that most people could only dream of, himself included.

As he walked around his thoughts turned to Lizzy. He began to wonder if she would like to live in a place like this. He would have no qualms about inviting her to come and live with him. His only concern was what she would make of him having taken on a new identity. He would have to think carefully what he would tell her and already he had some idea of the reasons he might give.

As the tour came to a close he knew this was the place for him. He would go back to the agents and put in a firm offer as long as it was taken off the market that day.

As the tour continued through each room the agent continually asked him how he liked the property. Roger replied by saying that the property was very nice. He was not going to give his enthusiastic reaction at this point and needed to clear up some question he had thought of on his tour. He would like Lizzy to see it before committing himself to buying the property. He also needed to know if she would be willing to share in his good fortune. He would meet her in the evening to discuss these things over dinner.

The manager of the hotel informed Roger that Elizabeth did not work at the hotel as he had assumed but was with the agency that was bought in to organise the function put on by the Lottery people. He did however have a second motive for ringing the hotel and that was to reserve a table for two for the evening.

Close by the estate agents office was a small tea shop. He popped in for a bite to eat and the opportunity to ring Lizzy. When she answered he could here a great deal of background noise. He guessed she must be at another function. His invite was taken up enthusiastically. He would meet her at the hotel at seven that evening and would put his proposal to her as well as tell her about the house.

He spent the rest of his time looking around the shops in the city centre. At around six o’clock he hailed a taxi to take him to the hotel. He would have a drink before Lizzy arrived to give him some Dutch courage.

He remembered that the new car was being delivered the following afternoon and that he needed to be back at the flat to receive it. Even so he planned to stay at the hotel overnight and maybe Lizzy would be willing to stay the night too. Whatever she decided he would show her the house the next morning. He could show her an appetiser by showing her the glossy brochure that the agency had given him.

At the hotel reception he made his overnight reservation and inquired as to a possible second room. He did not want his new found relationship with Lizzy to be soured because of a misunderstanding. The girl behind the desk assured him that a room would be available should he need it. He thanked the receptionist and made his way to the bar. A couple of large whiskies would calm his nerves.

Elizabeth was directed to the bar by the porter and spotted Roger at a corner table. A peck on the cheek by Roger was the greeting which was reciprocated by Lizzy. This seemed cordial and gave Roger hope that thing might move forward between them.

The waiter was called and drinks were ordered. It was announced that dinner was ready and so they made their way across the lobby to the dining room.

Each told the other of the events that had taken place since they had met at the presentation. When Roger mentioned that he had assumed she worked at the hotel and that he had rang there first she seemed a little nervous. Her explanation was taken by Roger as her embarrassment at what she did for a living. He reassured her that it mattered not one jot what she did for a living. He explained that what he did didn’t mount to a lot but that now he did not need to worry about status now or ever again.

He had told Lizzy that he had a surprise for her after dinner and took the opportunity to ask if she would stay overnight so that he could elaborate on his forthcoming surprise. She hesitated for a second or two before answering in the affirmative. Roger, not wanting to put her off or offend her told her he had provisionally booked a room for her. This seemed to put the relationship back on track.

They returned to the bar after dinner and Roger reordered drinks. Once they were settled in the easy chairs of the lounge bar he pulled out the brochure of the house. As he described the missing detail to Lizzy she seemed memorized by what she saw.

“Would you come with me in the morning to second view it”? Roger asked, almost pleading.

“I’d love to see it, if this is a nibble of the whole thing”, answered Lizzy with the excitement of a young child about to visit the local sweet shop.

“I have another proposition to put to you which is of a more intimate nature”, Roger continued nervously. “I would like us to live together in this house if you say you like it as much as I do. Although I am separated from my wife I am still married and so I can’t offer you a permanent arrangement at present.  I will quite understand if you turn me down”, He told her earnestly.

“I appreciate your honesty and I can say that I have very few hang-ups and living with you for the future is not one of them. I would see it as a pleasure”, Lizzy replied, as she stretched out her hand to meet his across the table.

They decided on one more drink before going to bed. Roger rose to go to the desk and order Lizzy a room.

“Is your room a double”? Lizzy asked, pulling him back to the table.

Not wanting her to think he had planned for them to sleep together he hesitated. “I think so”, he replied.

“Don’t bother with the other room”, she suggested with a wink. “However there is one thing I must do before we go up. I will have to ring work and tell them about tomorrow and get my makeup bag from the car”, she added.

“I’ll go up, its room 118”, he informed her.

She went out to the car and made her phone call. The man on the other end was pleased for her as she told of the forward plans. He wanted to make sure though that she would return to work sometime in the near future. He also warned her of the dangers of relationships with unknown people. She assured her boss that all would be well.

The night passed without embarrassment and the following morning they had breakfast before leaving in Lizzy’s car to the estate agents. The manager was quietly pleased to see Roger again and volunteered to take them on the second tour of the house.

The impression that Roger had on the first visit was surmounted by his second and as he and Lizzy went from room to room he could feel she was equally impressed. The agent returned to the car knowing that he could do no more to influence their decision.

Roger and Lizzy stood in the hall and admired the alabaster ceiling decorations when Roger posed the Question.

“Will you do me the honour of living with me here”?

Her answer was an emphatic, “yes”.

The conversation on the return trip to the agents was about price and surveys and all the necessary details that go with buying a property. All of this was new to Roger but he wasn’t going to let on. With all the paperwork done and the house now in Roger’s name they left the agency. Lizzy ran Roger to the railway station. He assured her he would be back within the next few days after winding things up at home.

Roger gave Lizzy permission to buy whatever she wanted for the house and that if she wanted she could hire a design agency to guide her. He would pick up the tab for any expenses. Because he had paid for the house outright the agency would have the building surveyed before the end of the next day. How money talks thought Roger.

They kissed and said their goodbyes on the platform with the arrangement that Roger would return as soon as all loose ends were tied up at Pederston. 

Chapter 11
 

Finding new evidence
 

A couple of days after the arrest of three of the gang members for the warehouse break-in Sergeant Davis sent his side kick Constable Williams to White’s house to interview Roger on his whereabouts on the Sunday evening. Part of the constable’s two part remit was to interview White and if possible to look over the house for anything that might incriminate him in the break-in or any other criminal activities.

Before leaving the station Sergeant Davis took Williams to one side in the car park and asked him to obtain a couple of items of clothing if able, such as a jacket maybe or if not perhaps a smaller object like a button. Williams knew Davis well enough not to question his strange request.

On arriving at White’s house Williams sat for some time in the car and observed the activities going on in the neighbourhood. It was the time of day when the school children were beginning to leave their homes. One thing Williams did not want to do was to interview White in a house full of people.

A few minutes passed and from the house came the two girls on their way to school. Standing at the front door stood Sandra White in her overall as if ready to set off for work. This would be the time to make his move he thought.

Before Sandra had shut the door Williams walked down the short path to the still open door.

“Is your husband in Mrs White”, the constable inquired?

“Why are you asking and who are you”?

“I am detective constable Williams of Pederston Police”, came the reply.

“If he is he will likely be in the front room I expect”, came the reply from Sandra.

“May I Come in”? Asked Williams.