The Irwin Case

by Diana Xarissa

  “Well, one of us did,” Charles snapped at her. “You heard what the man said, our card was declined. That means we’re over our limit again. I told you the last time that happened that I was going to take your card away, didn’t I? Maybe I should follow through.”

  “I didn’t buy anything,” Carla repeated herself. “I haven’t bought anything other than petrol on that card in the last three months. I’ve been using the debit card for everything else.”

  “We’ll see,” Charles said. “I’ll ring them in the morning and see who’s been buying what.”

  “Good evening,” Janet said from her chair in the corner.

  “Ah, um, good evening,” Charles replied. “I, um, didn’t see you there.”

  “Yes, well, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation,” Janet said. “There have been some issues in the Derby area with credit cards lately. Our last guests had their card details stolen. The thieves bought several items at a shop in Leeds before they realised it.”

  Charles glanced at Carla. “We’ll see when I ring them tomorrow,” he said.

  “Why not ring them now?” Carla asked. “Someone should answer whatever time you ring.”

  He used his mobile to ring the number on the back of his card. While he talked, he wandered into the television room, leaving Janet and Carla in the sitting room. When he returned, his face was red.

  “I suppose I owe you an apology,” he told Carla. “Someone got our card details and had a shopping spree in Manchester on us.”

  “Manchester?” Carla repeated.

  “Yeah, but they’re going to send us some forms to fill out and we’ll be able to get the money back,” Charles said. “In the meantime, they’ve cancelled the card. They’ll send us new ones soon.”

  “But what about our holiday?” Carla asked.

  “We’ll have to use the other card and hope it’s okay,” Charles said with a shrug.

  Janet suggested that they might want to watch some television, with tea and biscuits, but the couple agreed that they were too upset to do so.

  “We’ll go up and get some sleep,” Carla said. “I’m sure we’ll feel better in the morning.”

  “Breakfast at eleven?” Janet asked, hoping that their early night might mean an earlier start the next morning.

  “Yes, that sounds good,” Carla replied.

  Janet had only just opened her book again when the door opened a second time.

  “Ring them now,” Roberta said as she and Gary walked into the house. “Something must be wrong.”

  “I’ll ring them when we get home,” Gary replied. “Good evening,” he added, nodding at Janet.

  “Good evening,” she replied. “Is everything okay?”

  “Everything is fine,” he told her. “We’ll see you around eight.”

  Janet wanted to ask them if they were having credit card issues, but that seemed far too personal a question, even under the circumstances. They disappeared up to their room before Janet could work out a polite way to broach the question. Now she only had to wait up for her sister.

  She could simply go to bed. Joan wouldn’t forget to lock the front door or go rummaging around the kitchen for a late-night snack. But Janet was determined to get a copy of Alberta’s book before she turned in for the night.

  When the door opened an hour later, Janet was pacing back and forth, annoying Aggie, who was stretched out on one of the couches.

  “I meant to be home hours ago,” Joan said as she locked the door behind her. “But we were talking, and then we started watching a movie, and I couldn’t resist watching it until the end. What time do you think the guests will get back?”

  “They’re all back and tucked up in bed,” Janet told her.

  “You weren’t waiting up for me, were you? You know you don’t need to do that. Michael always walks me home and makes sure I get in safely.”

  “I know, but I wanted to get a copy of Alberta’s book, you see,” Janet said. “And I didn’t feel right going into your room while you were out.”

  “Alberta’s book? Why?”

  Janet told her the story as succinctly as possible.

  “Interesting,” was Joan’s verdict. “But I still don’t think we should read the letters or diaries. I suppose I can’t object to you reading her book, though.”

  Janet followed her sister through the kitchen and into her sister’s bedroom. Joan dug out the box of books and handed the top copy to Janet. “There you are, enjoy,” she said.

  “I’m only going to read one or two pages tonight,” Janet said. “I can still have a fairly early night.”

  “I’m surprised both couples were back so early again,” Joan said. “They both seem like the type to enjoy late nights out.”

  “There isn’t really anywhere in Doveby Dale for a late night,” Janet pointed out. “Anyway, Charles and Carla had credit card troubles, and I think that Gary and Roberta may have as well.”

  “Really? You’ll have to tell Robert about it, assuming you haven’t already.”

  “No, I thought I’d ring the station in the morning,” Janet said. “It isn’t urgent, after all.”

  Janet called Aggie, and the pair headed up the stairs to Janet’s room. Aggie curled up on her pillow and went to sleep while Janet got ready for bed. She crawled under the duvet and propped herself up with some pillows.

  “Okay, Alberta, let’s see what you wanted to say so badly,” she said.

  The dedication page was the first surprise. It read “I blush at my boldness as I dedicate this work to Lord R.” Was that a reference to the man she was meant to marry, rather than the gardener she’d fallen in love with, Janet wondered. She turned the page.

  “An Ode to Love

  I watch

  I wait

  I wonder

  I love

  I am invisible

  I am too visible

  I am sad

  I am happy

  Falling in love is too easy

  Being in love is too difficult

  The stars are out of alignment

  My world is askew

  Why

  Why

  Why

  Janet looked at Aggie. “Well, I don’t like it,” she said. She shut the book and switched off the light. “I’ll read more tomorrow,” she said. “I think I need to be wide awake and in a good mood in order to appreciate Alberta’s talent.”

  “Merrew,” Aggie agreed.

  Chapter 10

  As Janet began to drift off to sleep, her brain began to replay various scenes from throughout the day. She recalled Charles complaining about his stolen credit card and Roberta talking about the need to ring someone. She shut her eyes tighter and rolled over. Her brain replayed Ted discussing their sudden increase in credit card payments. When she rolled over again, Aggie protested.

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t believe that Todd or Ted are involved in anything criminal,” Janet said.

  “Meeeooowww,” Aggie replied.

  As Janet shut her eyes again, Molly’s face appeared in her head. “Molly?” she exclaimed.

  “YOOOWWWWWW!” Aggie shouted.

  Janet sat up and switched on the light. “Molly? But she seems so sweet,” Janet said.

  “Yooowwww,” Aggie replied.

  “Not Todd?”

  “Meerow.”

  “Not Ted?”

  “Meerroowww,”

  “How about Jacob Mills?”

  Aggie blinked at her and then put her head down on her paws.

  Janet named a few other random people and got nothing but yawns from her pet. “Molly McDermott?” she asked.

  “Yooww,” Aggie replied.

  Janet sat and thought about it for a minute. It made perfect sense, even if the suggestion was coming from a cat. The trouble with the credit cards started around the same time as Molly arrived. Ted had said she was the niece of a friend, or something like that. How well did anyone actually know her? Janet sighed and flopped back on her
pillows. She’d ring Robert in the morning and tell him what she was thinking. He could investigate discreetly and he probably wouldn’t laugh at her, at least not to her face. With that decision made, Janet snuggled back under her duvet and fell asleep.

  She and Joan had their breakfast at seven. While they were eating, Janet told Joan about her late-night idea. She didn’t mention Aggie’s reaction to the woman’s name. It would best if Joan didn’t laugh at her either, she thought.

  “As I’ve not met the girl, I can’t possibly comment,” Joan said. “Didn’t Robert say he thought the trouble was coming from outside Doveby Dale, though?”

  “Yes, but he could be wrong,” Janet told her. “The thing is, both couples who are staying with us went to the café on Wednesday night, and they both had problems with their credit cards on Thursday. That seems like too much of a coincidence to me.”

  Joan nodded. “I suppose you may be right,” she said, surprising Janet. “You go and ring Robert while I get breakfast started for our guests.”

  Janet was pleasantly surprised when Robert answered the phone at the police station. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be there or not,” she said.

  “I have to spend the day in Little Burton,” he told her “But I stopped in here on my way. What can I do for you?”

  “Both of our guests ate at the café on Wednesday evening,” Janet said. “And both of them had credit card problems yesterday. I know it could be a coincidence, but I was wondering about Molly McDermott, the young waitress who’s working at the café at the moment.”

  Robert was silent for a moment. Eventually he sighed deeply. “I was going to ask her to have dinner with me on her next night off,” he told Janet. “She’s lovely and she seems very sweet.”

  “Yes, and she may be,” Janet said. “It’s probably just me adding up two and two and getting five.”

  “It’s an interesting theory,” Robert admitted. “I’m going to have to do some digging around to see what I can find out. At the moment, we’ve no reason to suspect her of anything, though. Please don’t repeat your idea to anyone else.”

  “Joan is the only one I’ve told,” Janet assured him. “And she won’t say a word to anyone.”

  “I’ll let you know what I find out,” Robert said on a sigh.

  Janet disconnected, feeling guilty. She hadn’t realised that Robert was interested in the young woman. Now she had to hope that she and Aggie were wrong.

  Gary and Roberta were right on time. They arrived in the kitchen with their suitcases. “We’re going right after we eat,” Gary told them. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

  While Joan cooked, Janet studied the couple. There was clearly something bothering them, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask them about it.

  “I was wondering,” Joan said in a casual tone as she served breakfast. “How did you two come to hear about Doveby House?”

  Gary looked at Roberta and then at Joan. “Paul Nichols is a friend of mine,” he said. “Or rather, his father is. I saw him a few days ago and he couldn’t say enough good things about the time he spent here. Roberta and I had been talking about sneaking away for a few days, so we just impulsively jumped into the car and came.”

  “I hope Paul is doing well back in London,” Janet said.

  “He seems to be,” Gary said. “And he seems to have grown up a great deal during his time here. His father is already giving him additional responsibilities in his company.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Joan said.

  Janet walked them to the door while Joan cleared away their dishes. “Thank you for staying with us,” she told them as the door.

  “We had a wonderful time,” Roberta said. “I think we may be back.”

  Janet found one of the brochures about the house that Margaret Appleton had had printed. “If you plan to come again in spring or summer, you should probably ring and book in advance,” she told them. “Not only are we already getting busy, we’re going away for a short while, as well.”

  “We’ll book next time,” Roberta told her. “It’s quite unlike us to do anything on impulse.”

  Janet watched as they walked to their car and then drove away. She locked the door behind them and returned to the kitchen. Charles and Carla joined the sisters only a few minutes later.

  “I know we’re really early,” Charles said. “But my brother has just rung and he wants me in Edinburgh today if we can manage it. If you can’t do breakfast now, we understand.”

  “I don’t,” Carla snapped.

  Joan and Janet exchanged glances and Janet swallowed a smile.

  “Breakfast isn’t a problem,” Joan assured them. “Have a seat. Janet can get you some coffee while you wait.”

  The pair were silent while Joan cooked, and they said little while they ate beyond complimenting Joan on the food. They went back to get their bags and were gone before Joan had finished the washing-up.

  “Well, that was quick,” Janet said after she’d seen the pair out. “And the house is all ours again, at least until tomorrow.”

  “We just have to clean their rooms,” Joan said.

  Janet made a face. “And wash all of the bedding,” she sighed. “And towels. Maybe the next time we get surprise guests, we should turn them away,” she suggested.

  “I was thinking, since we weren’t expecting them, the money they paid is something like a bonus,” Joan said. “Maybe you’d like to take half of it and buy yourself a little treat.”

  “I could get more than a little treat with half of that money,” Janet said. “Are you sure?”

  “Of course I’m sure,” Joan said. “I thought I might take the other half and get myself something nice.”

  Janet stared at her sister. Joan never bought herself anything other than what she absolutely needed. “Like what?” she asked suspiciously.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Joan said airily. “I was thinking that I might like some new clothes, maybe. Everything I have is from when we were teaching, and sometimes I think it might be nice to not dress like a primary schoolteacher.”

  Janet nodded slowly. “I think that’s a great idea,” she said, wondering exactly how much impressing Michael played a part into Joan’s desire to shop.

  In spite of Janet’s complaints, it didn’t take the sisters long to get the rooms clean and tidy. The washing machine took care of the sheets and towels, and because the weather was dry, Janet hung everything outside to dry rather than using the tumble dryer that had been in place when they bought the house. She and Joan preferred to use it as little as possible, really.

  The weekend was busy with two very demanding couples, both of whom preferred to stay out late and rise early. Janet stayed up one night for them and Joan took the second, but both sisters were tired and a bit grumpy by the time they’d all left on Monday morning.

  “If all of our guests were like that, I’d quit,” Joan said after they’d stripped the beds again.

  “If all of our guests were like that, I’d move out,” Janet told her.

  They were carrying all of the laundry down the stairs when someone knocked.

  “Oh, goodness, you get it,” Joan said. “I’ll take everything through to the utility room and come right back.”

  Janet headed for the door. She was about to open it when Joan stuck her head back in the room.

  “And if anyone asks, we’re fully booked for tonight,” she told Janet.

  Janet laughed and pulled the door open.

  “Good morning,” Robert greeted her.

  “Good morning,” she replied. “We’ve just been cleaning guest rooms and we could use an excuse to have tea and biscuits. Please come in.”

  He laughed and followed Janet into the kitchen. Joan was just emerging from the utility room as they entered.

  “Just the excuse we need for a break,” she greeted the man.

  When they all had cups of tea and plates of biscuits in front of them, Janet grinned at the man.

  “You know you’
re welcome to come and have tea and biscuits whenever you have the time,” she said. “Was there something else you wanted today?”

  Robert nodded. “You were right about Molly,” he said.

  “Oh, I am sorry,” Janet exclaimed.

  “She was stealing credit cards?” Joan asked.

  “No, not stealing the cards, just the card numbers,” Robert explained. “Apparently, whenever anyone used their card in the café, she’d copy the numbers and expiration date while she was putting the card through their card machine. Then she’d ring up a friend who was able to make a fake card with the number on it. Her friend would go on a shopping spree and shop until the card hit its limit. Because she had a whole network of friends around the country, she didn’t think anyone would ever trace it back to her.”

  “She shouldn’t have stolen details from both of our guests on the same night,” Janet said.

  “Yes, that was a mistake,” Robert agreed. “You were able to spot the connection that no one else had made.”

  Janet thought about giving some of the credit to Aggie, but she decided that the kitten wouldn’t mind if she didn’t. As Aggie was upstairs, fast asleep in Janet’s bed, Janet wasn’t worried that she’d overhear them, either.

  “I’m sorry that Molly turned out to be a criminal,” Janet said as she walked Robert to the door a short while later. “Maybe you should look for a girl closer to home.”

  “I wish there were girls closer to home,” Robert sighed. “But I can’t seem to find anyone who’s interested in getting involved with a lowly police constable.”

  “Have you ever thought about asking the girl in the coffee shop out?” Janet asked.

  “Stacey?” Robert said in surprise. “I can’t imagine she’d be interested.”

  “You might be surprised,” Janet told him.

  Back in the kitchen, Joan was still sitting at the table, eating biscuits.

  “Are you okay?” Janet asked.

  “I’m fine,” Joan replied. “But I must say, I’m looking forward to our holiday next month. I think we need to get away.”

  Janet studied her sister for a moment. “I know those last guests were awful, but I thought you loved having the bed and breakfast.”