The Irwin Case

by Diana Xarissa

  “You’d have to ask Robert that,” Susan laughed.

  “I won’t keep you, then,” Janet said. “Just two quick things. Our guests over the weekend bought a blanket.” She reached into her handbag and pulled out the envelope where she’d put the money she’d received from Harriet.

  “Oh, good,” Susan exclaimed. “There’s a sale on yarn at one of my favourite shops right now. I can go and stock up.”

  Janet laughed. “Maybe you should treat yourself to something wonderful,” she suggested.

  “I’d rather have more yarn,” Susan told her. “But what was the other thing?”

  “Robert asked me to let him know if we had any more trouble with credit cards,” Janet said. “We haven’t, but William Chalmers has.” She told the other woman what William had told her.

  “I don’t know if it matters or not, but I’ll tell Robert the story and he can decide whether he needs to talk to Mr. Chalmers or not,” Susan said. “Thank you for sharing it with me.”

  “You know I always do everything I can to help the police with their investigations,” Janet said. Including sticking my nose in where it doesn’t belong, she added silently to herself.

  She walked back to the car and headed for home. Joan is probably done making lunch and starting to worry about me, she thought. When she reached Doveby House, however, the kitchen was empty. She tapped on Joan’s door and then let herself into her sister’s bedroom.

  “Joan? Are you okay?” she asked softly.

  “Janet? What time is it?” Joan asked from her bed.

  “It’s nearly one o’clock,” Janet replied.

  “Good heavens,” Joan exclaimed, sitting up and switching on the nearest lamp. “You should have woken me an hour ago. You must be starving.”

  “I went into Doveby Dale to do some shopping,” Janet explained. “I only just got back.”

  Joan climbed out of bed and followed Janet into the kitchen. Together, the pair made themselves a quick lunch.

  “Thank you for helping with lunch,” Joan said as she dug into her meal.

  “It was no problem,” Janet said. “I felt bad about waking you, but I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “I’m feeling a lot better than I was this morning,” Joan said. “The headache has gone and I’m not nearly as tired.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Janet replied.

  “I’m still not sure about going out with Michael again tonight, though,” Joan said. “I’m feeling a bit, well, uncomfortable about the whole thing.”

  “If you decide not to go, you’ll have to explain yourself to him,” Janet said. “What will you say?”

  Joan frowned. “Maybe it will be easier to just go to dinner,” she muttered.

  Janet laughed. “Just don’t tell him that that’s the only reason you’re there,” she told her sister.

  Joan managed a small smile. “I’m not sure what I’m going to tell him,” she said.

  While they ate, Janet told her sister about her morning, including everything that William Chalmers had told her about the credit card issue. “Of course, I told Susan the whole story when I went and paid her for the blanket that Harriet Mills bought,” she added.

  “And what did Susan think?” Joan asked.

  “I don’t know. She just said she’d tell Robert about it and let him decide what to do.”

  “What are you planning to do tonight?” Joan asked as they cleared the table.

  “Tonight it’s frozen pizza in front of the telly,” Janet told her. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Then I suppose I’d better go out with Michael,” Joan said. “I’d just be in your way here, urging you to eat vegetables and watch something educational.”

  Janet laughed. “We can’t have that,” she said.

  “No, I suppose not.”

  While Joan was getting ready for her evening out, Janet rang William Chalmers. “I can do either night for dinner,” she told the man. “What works best for you?”

  “Let’s do Friday,” he suggested. “We can celebrate the weekend.”

  Janet agreed quickly before she could change her mind. As soon as Joan was gone, she made her pizza and found something to watch on the telly. She ate and then read her glossy magazines until she began to yawn regularly.

  “I think it’s time for bed,” she told Aggie.

  The kitten looked at her for a moment and then shrugged and headed for the stairs. Janet looked at the clock as she followed. No wonder Aggie had been surprised. It was only nine o’clock, but Janet felt as if she was struggling to keep her eyes open. For the second night in a row, she was in bed before Joan got home.

  Chapter 5

  The next morning Joan was busily preparing breakfast when Janet got downstairs. “What time did you get in last night?” Janet asked her.

  “Oh, before ten,” Joan replied. “I thought you’d still be watching mindless television, but you’d gone upstairs.”

  “I was tired,” Janet told her. “How was your evening?”

  Joan smiled at her. “It was good,” she said happily.

  Janet was relieved. She knew her sister really liked Michael. “Where did you go?” she asked.

  “The French restaurant,” Joan told her.

  “Really? It’s very nice, isn’t it?”

  “It was lovely,” Joan agreed. “And Michael was very apologetic for the way I was treated on Monday evening. I do believe I’m growing rather fond of that man.” Joan blushed bright red and quickly turned back to the counter where she was putting breakfast onto plates.

  “I like him, and I think he’s good for you,” Janet told her “Just make sure he knows that I expect him to ask my permission if he decides he wants to marry you.”

  “Now, don’t be silly,” Joan said. “No one has said anything about marriage. I hardly think it’s likely, not at our age.”

  “Why not?” Janet asked.

  “Because, well, just because,” Joan said, clearly getting flustered. “Breakfast is ready,” she announced, changing the subject.

  The pair talked about the weather and local news as they ate. Janet was just starting to clear the table when someone knocked on the front door.

  “Who could that be?” Joan asked.

  “Why don’t I go and find out?” Janet suggested.

  “Ah, good morning,” the man on the doorstep said when Janet opened the door. “I was wondering if you could possibly accommodate me and my wife for two nights?”

  Janet stared at him for a moment, not entirely sure how to respond. The man looked to be in his mid-forties. He had dark hair that badly needed both washing and combing. His clothes were tattered and his shoes looked as if they were falling apart.

  “We’re just passing through the area, you see,” he added. “We’re heading up to see some family in Scotland, but we thought we’d see some of the country along the way.”

  “Yes, well, I’m not sure if we have any rooms available,” Janet said slowly. “People usually book in advance, you see.”

  “That’s why I thought we should try first thing in the morning,” the man said. “I was hoping we might get lucky. You came highly recommended, you see.”

  “Really? By whom?” Janet asked.

  “My mate, Henry Houston. He stayed here about five years ago and said the place was wonderful.”

  “That would have been under the previous owner,” Janet told him. “My sister and I only purchased Doveby House in the last year.”

  “Oh, but you’re still doing bed and breakfast, right?”

  “Well, yes, but I’m going to have to check with my sister about available rooms. Can you wait here a minute?” she asked.

  “Sure, I’ll just come in, shall I?”

  “Oh, yes, of course, “Janet said, shaking her head. She was so surprised by the man and his request that she’d completely forgotten her manners. “Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

  She walked as quickly as she could into the kitchen. “We have
a potential guest,” she told Joan. “He wants a room for two nights.”

  “I suppose we could do that,” Joan said. “Our next guests aren’t due until Saturday.”

  “He doesn’t really look as if he can afford a room,” Janet said. “But he seems nice enough, I suppose.”

  Joan raised an eyebrow. “I’d better come and meet him,” she said. “Perhaps if I tell him that he has to pay in advance, he’ll change his mind.”

  “He said he’s travelling with his wife, but I haven’t seen her yet,” Janet added as Joan headed towards the sitting room.

  The man didn’t appear to have moved from the couch by the door. When Joan entered the room, he stood up.

  “I take it you’re the sister who’s in charge of rooms,” he said. “I do hope you can accommodate us.”

  “I’m Joan Markham. I believe we can.” She told the man the price for the room and breakfast. “I’m afraid I’ll need payment in advance,” she added. “We’ve only had one guest sneak away without paying, but that was one too many for me.”

  The man grinned at her. “I can understand that,” he said. “The wife carries all the money. She’s waiting in the car, just in case you said no.” He pulled out his mobile and tapped a few keys. “That’ll bring her,” he said.

  A minute later, there was a knock on the door. Janet opened it and smiled at the woman standing there with a large suitcase. “We’re okay, then?” she asked, looking past Janet at the man behind her.

  “Yeah, they can have us for two nights,” the man replied. He told her the price and the woman made a face.

  “That include breakfast?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Joan said. “Full English breakfast, unless you’d prefer something else?”

  “For that money, it better be good,” the woman replied as she walked into the house, dragging the suitcase behind her.

  Janet thought the woman looked at least ten years older than her husband. Her clothes were in slightly better repair, but her hair also needed combing and she had a smear of her bright pink lipstick on her front teeth. She was somewhat heavier than was probably healthy for her, as well.

  “As I said, I’m Joan Markham and this is my sister, Janet,” Joan said.

  “Oh, aye, I’m Charles Irwin and that’s Carla,” the man said.

  Aggie wandered into the room and gave the new guests a long look.

  “And that’s Aggie,” Janet told them. “Short for Agatha Christie.”

  “Who’s that, then?” the woman asked.

  “She’s a rather well-known mystery writer,” Janet said.

  “Oh, I don’t read much,” Carla replied. “Want paying in advance, do you? Don’t think we look trustworthy, eh?”

  Joan smiled tightly. “I ask all of our guests to pay in advance,” she said steadily. “It simplifies things.”

  The other woman shrugged and then pulled a large wallet out of her handbag. When she opened it, Janet nearly gasped. There were rows and rows of credit cards all along both sides.

  “Should I pay cash?” Carla asked her husband.

  “Yeah, that’s probably easier for the women to deal with,” he replied.

  Carla carefully counted out the correct amount from a large pile of twenty-pound notes. She handed them to Joan, who counted them a second time.

  “Thank you,” Joan said. “I’ll just show you to your room, then.”

  She handed the cash to Janet, who took it and put it into the safe in Joan’s wardrobe. It would have been easier to use the safe in the library, but they were still waiting for Edward to get them the combination for that one. He was meant to be heading back to his London base in the next fortnight or so, and he’d promised to find it for them as soon as he was back.

  Once Janet had done that, carefully locking her sister’s bedroom door behind her, she headed back to the sitting room. Joan joined her there a moment later.

  “I suppose we shouldn’t complain about unexpected guests,” she told Janet. “After the quiet winter we had, the extra money is welcome.”

  “Did you see how many credit cards they had?” Janet asked in a low voice. “You don’t suppose they’re involved in credit card fraud, do you?”

  “No, I don’t,” Joan said firmly. “They seem like a perfectly ordinary couple. Anyway, if they were, surely they’d be better dressed.”

  Janet chuckled. “Maybe they’re in disguise,” she suggested.

  “Maybe you’ve been reading too much crime fiction,” Joan shot back. “We’ve had one credit card declined and now you’re seeing card fraud everywhere.”

  “It does happen,” Janet pointed out.

  “Yes, but we’ve no reason to suspect Mr. and Mrs. Irwin of anything at all.”

  The sound of footsteps on the stairs kept Janet from replying. She and Joan both watched as the couple walked back into the room.

  “It’s a very nice room,” Charles said. “I think we’re going to like it here.”

  “It’s nice enough,” Carla sniffed. “But now we’re off to explore the Dales.”

  “You have a key for the front door,” Joan said. “Janet or I will probably be up when you get back, but if it’s very late, we might not be. What time would you like your breakfast?”

  The pair exchanged glances. “Oh, midday works for me,” Charles said after a moment.

  “Midday?” Joan echoed.

  “Yes, I think that will suit us both,” Carla said. “We’ll see you then.”

  The sisters watched as the pair turned and walked out of the house.

  “Midday?” Joan said again as the door shut behind them. “Who eats breakfast at midday?”

  “People who like to lie in,” Janet said. “Which suggests that they’re planning on staying out quite late tonight, as well.”

  Joan sighed. “I should have told them we were fully booked,” she said.

  “You’re terrible at lying,” Janet reminded her. “I should have told them we were fully booked.”

  Joan shrugged. “We’re committed now. At least it’s only two nights.”

  “And I suppose we can lie in as well,” Janet said. “If they aren’t coming down until midday, we don’t need to be up before eleven.”

  “I shall be getting up at my normal time, regardless,” Joan told her. “You know I always do.”

  Janet nodded, choosing not to mention the very recent occasion when her sister had missed her normal time by many hours.

  “What are you planning to do today?” Joan asked Janet before Janet could sneak away to read and play with Aggie.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Janet said. “Why? What needs doing?”

  “I thought we might try sorting through another box or two from the carriage house,” Joan said. “It would be nice to be able to clear it out, really. I’d like to see just how much space we have. We might be able to find a better use for the space than just storing old boxes in there.”

  Janet nodded, but she was worried. When they’d bought the house, the estate agent had suggested turning the carriage house into a small separate accommodation for additional guests. As she wasn’t a huge fan of having any guests, building additional accommodation wasn’t her idea of a better use of the carriage house.

  “And maybe we’ll find something wonderful,” Joan added.

  “I’ll get the key and a torch,” Janet said, feeling resigned. She’d managed to avoid working on the carriage house for weeks. Perhaps if they cleared out a few boxes today, Joan would forget about it for a short while again. She’d only taken a few steps when someone knocked on the door.

  “Ah, good morning,” the male half of the couple at the door said. “We were wondering if you might have a room available for the next two nights?”

  Janet looked over at Joan, who shrugged.

  “You may as well come in,” Janet told the couple, who had two small suitcases at their feet.

  “I’m Gary Doyle, and this is my wife, Roberta,” the man said as they entered the house, each carrying a case
. Gary was tall, with dark hair and eyes. He was probably in his forties, but unlike their other unexpected guests, he was impeccably dressed in what city dwellers probably thought of as “country clothes.” Roberta was of a similar age and she, too, was dressed in spotlessly clean “casual” clothes. Her jewellery was tasteful but looked as if it had been expensive, and something about the couple suggested that they were quite wealthy.

  “We’re just passing through the area and we thought we might stop for a few days to visit some friends,” Gary said.

  “You have friends in Doveby Dale?” Janet asked.

  “Oh, no,” the man chuckled. “We have friends in Derby. But we didn’t really want to stay with them. While you’re a little out of the way, we thought it would be fun to experience life in a small village. That is, if you can accommodate us?”

  “Two nights?” Joan asked.

  “Yes, that’s right,” the man said.

  Joan told him the amount. Gary didn’t even blink.

  “That’s bed and breakfast?” Roberta asked.

  “Yes, and I can do full English or whatever you’d prefer,” Joan told her.

  “Can we see the room?” was Roberta’s next question.

  Joan’s smile faltered slightly, but she recovered quickly. “Of course you can,” she said. “It hasn’t been aired properly, I’m afraid, because we weren’t expecting any guests today.”

  She led the pair up the stairs. Janet grinned as she noticed that they’d taken their cases up with them. Clearly they were hoping that they would like the room. After a moment, she followed, curious to see what the couple would think of the guest room. When they reached the top of the stairs, Joan unlocked the door to the smaller of the two guest rooms and switched on the lights. She stepped back to let the Doyles into the room.

  “It’s awfully small,” Roberta complained.

  “It’s lovely and quaint,” Gary said. “I think it’s perfect.”

  “Is this the only room you have available?” Roberta asked as she walked back out of the room.

  “Yes, unfortunately our other guest room is already occupied,” Joan said.

  “I suppose it will do,” she said, her tone suggesting that she was being incredibly gracious.