by Wendy Gill
“Nobody knows anything about bringing up a child when it is their first. You will have Jackson and your mother to help you. I don’t think I would be much good at it either or I would offer you my help. At least you know how to hold a baby, did you see the way I was struggling with him?”
“Once the baby has arrived, I shall appreciate any help offered. We can learn together. The experience will come in handy for you when you have a baby of your own.”
Charlie walked in and seeing Blanche rocking a small bundle in her arms he said, “I can’t turn my back on you for two minutes before you go having the baby. That was quick work Blanche.”
Blanche laughed and said, “It’s not mine silly. We think it is Melvin Keyser’s grandchild. His mother is with Jackson, up in the sickroom.”
“Is she now? Where did they spring from?”
“Ella found them.”
“Why am I not surprised? What is it with you and stray bodies?” Charlie shot out of the kitchen and up the staircase.
“Charlie, just in time, as soon as PC Keyser saw this young woman his memory came flooding back. Good news eh?”
“Good news indeed. How are you feeling?” Charlie asked the patient.
“A lot better than I was. Now I have my Ruth here I shall soon be up and about again and back at work. I can remember what happened to me now. You are Inspector Blurr, aren’t you? I have a vague memory of being introduced to you.”
“I am. Are you up to telling me how you came to be shot?”
"It was my day off and you have a reputation for being a good policeman, so I was making my way to see you. I needed some help well advice really, so I came to see if you could advise me on how to proceed.
"I was in the wood making my way here when I came across these two men burying something in the ground. One of them saw me and before I could say anything to them, damn me if he didn’t fire a pistol at me. The first shot caught me in the shoulder, so I ran off. I heard a second shot and felt another bullet lodge in my leg.
“I came out of the wood and saw some buildings across a meadow, so I headed straight for them. I tried the first door I came to and it was unlocked, but once inside I could see nowhere to hide and by this time I was becoming faint. I saw a trunk and I thought I would just hide inside there to give myself a rest. That is the last I can remember.”
“What was it they were burying?”
“I am sorry I cannot tell you that because I did not see what it was. One minute I was strolling along, minding my own business and the next, I had two bullets in me, it all happened so fast.”
“Can you remember whereabouts in the wood you were when you saw them?”
“Not really, for I have never been in that wood before. I can remember passing a big overhang with a couple of trees teetering on the edge of it. I remember this because I thought how dangerous it was, a good downpour and I could imagine a landslide, taking the trees with it. Not long after that all hell broke loose.”
“I know the exact spot you mean. I must go and check this out. I shall leave you in the capable hands of Jackson and your daughter. I am glad to have you back with us PC Keyser. I take exception to a fellow police officer being shot at. We will talk when I get back.”
Jackson told PC Keyser’s daughter, "I have been sleeping in this put-me-up bed, but you are welcome to it if you wish to stay with your father.
“I will go and get you one of the drawers from a cabinet in the workshop and we can put some blankets in the bottom and the baby can sleep in that.”
“Thank you, I would appreciate that for I have nowhere else to go and have no money to find lodgings so the put-me-up will be fine for me and I would very much like to stay with my father until he is better.”
“What did you say your name is?” Jackson asked.
“Ruth Houseway and my baby’s name is David.”
“I will go and tell Blanche you will be staying.”
In the kitchen Blanche was still rocking the baby who was by this time contentedly asleep.
“I hope ours sleeps like that,” Jackson said eyeing the silent infant.
“I hope so too,” Blanche smiled at him.
“I have just come to tell you Ruth and baby David will be staying until her father is better and they can all go home together. Ruth is having the put-me-up and I am just on my way to get one of the big bottom drawers from one of the cabinets in the workshop to make a cot for the baby.”
“Ruth is too old to be sleeping with her father Jackson, what are you thinking of. She must have your bed and you will just have to make do with the put-me-up for a few more days, until PC Keyser can go back home,” Blanche told him.
“Alright, I’ll sleep in the put-me-up if I must. I will go and get the drawer for the baby. It is damned uncomfortable in that put-me-up I’ll have you know. I was looking forward to my own bed tonight,” Jackson grumbled as he went out.
Mr Grundy and Jackson crossed in the hallway.
“You haven’t got a spare bed at your house, have you?” Jackson asked him.
“I am afraid not, no,” came the reply.
“Oh well, if I can’t walk down the aisle on Friday, you will all know the reason why.” Jackson mumbled and carried on outside.
“What has gotten into him?” Mr Grundy wanted to know.
“He was complaining about having to sleep on the put-me-up,” Ella told the flustered Mr Grundy.
“Is everything alright Mr Grundy? You look a bit flushed,” Blanche asked.
“I say Blanche, if you are going to breast feed the baby, you would be better off in the privacy of your own room. When did you have that? Nobody told me you have had the baby. That was a bit quick, wasn’t it?” Mr Grundy asked.
“It is not mine Mr Grundy, it is yours,” Blanche informed him.
“It damn well isn’t though,” exclaimed a shocked Mr Grundy.
“Ella found him and his mother waiting on your doorstep in West Street. She wanted to see you. What have you been up to Clarence?”
“Ella is too damn free at finding people she knows nothing about. One of these days she is going to land us all in deep trouble. I do not know where she gets it from. Her Aunt Fran was a very restful person; Ella must take after her father. Take it back to where you found it. We have enough on our hands with the trunk man.” Mr Grundy looked at the sleeping infant over the top of his glasses.
“The baby turns out to be our patient’s grandson Mr Grundy. I found them sitting in the exact place where you found me, in your alcove waiting to see you, so I brought her and the baby here.”
“Waiting to see me. Why was she waiting to see me? It isn’t my baby. If that is what she is saying, she is telling lies.” Mr Grundy was still looking over his glasses at the infant.
“No Mr Grundy she is not saying it is your baby. When she told me her maiden name was Keyser, and her father had gone missing, I brought her here to see him. She said she had a letter for you and that is all I can tell you. I gave her tea and biscuits at the office, I think it was the first meal they’d had this morning.”
“So, it was you in the office. You have a damn funny way of doing the filing Ella. What were you thinking of. You will never follow that sort of filing system. Each file must contain the relevant paperwork. You cannot go throwing them all up in the air and hope for the best. And while we are talking about the office you must remember to lock the door behind you when you leave.”
“What on earth are you talking about? I did not get a chance to do any filing and I certainly did not throw it all up in the air.”
Mr Grundy looked suspiciously at the infant and asked, “Did he do it?”
Ella could not help laughing, “The baby can’t even walk yet, how could the baby do it?”
“Children tend to run amok and scatter things about or, so I have been told.” He still had his eye on the child.
“How many files are on the floor?” Ella wanted to know, “I can assure you there were none when we left.”
&n
bsp; “How many files are on the floor? How the devil should I know? I did not stop to count them all. When I saw the mess, I came straight here to see what you were playing at.”
“Was there a window open, could a gust of wind have done it?” Ella enquired.
“Did you open a window?” Mr Grundy asked.
“No, I was about to unlock the door when I saw Ruth and the baby. I made us a cup of tea and whilst we were drinking our tea, I found out who they were, so I brought them straight here. I can assure you there were no files on the floor when we left, and I certainly locked the door behind me because I remember putting Ruth’s carpet bag down on the doorstep while I did so.”
“Then there was no window open if you did not open one, that is one thing I have never done, open a window just in case I forgot to close it when I went home. Anyway, it would have had to have been a very strong gust of wind to have scattered all those files all over the floor.”
Mr Grundy took his eyes off the infant and looked across at Ella. “Somebody must have been in after you left. You locked the door behind you, you say?”
“Yes, of course I did. Are you sure the door was unlocked when you arrived?”
“Not just unlocked but wide open, I thought you were inside.”
“Was anything taken?”
“There is nothing there to take only my paperwork, and that is scattered all over the floor. I leave no money at the office. Who could have done it and what could they have been looking for?”
Blanche joined in, “I bet it has something to do with PC Keyser.”
“What can they possible think to find there?” Mr Grundy was puzzled.
“Those two thugs might have found out that you have an office in West Street and think you might be hiding the man they are looking for there.” Blanche said logically.
“You might well be right Blanche,” Ella agreed, “It makes perfect sense.”
“I had better tell Charlie then,” Mr Grundy decided.
“He is not here, as soon as Ruth walked into the sickroom PC Keyser remembered everything, so Charlie has gone off detecting,” Ella informed him.
“He has no right to be going off detecting when there are idiots going around throwing all my paperwork in the air. If he wants to do his detecting, he should look nearer home.” Mr Grundy’s eyes went back to the infant.
Jackson came back carrying the drawer.
“Want to come and sort this out with me, to make it into a cot for the baby?” Jackson asked Blanche.
“Lead on, White Knight for there are more dragons to slay,” Blanche said dramatically.
“More dragons to slay, what the devil are you talking about? I hope you haven’t been giving her port to drink, Ella?” Jackson said.
“As if I would, being aware of you objecting strongly to Blanche partaking of anything stronger then milk.”
“Is it your hormones?” Jackson asked Blanche.
“No, it is Mr Grundy’s wind. I will tell you all about it while we get the cot ready.” Blanche started to push Jackson towards the door with one hand while holding the baby with the other.
“Clarence’s wind, have you been breaking wind in the presence of the ladies Clarence? I thought you knew better than to do that,” Jackson asked him.
“It is not my wind, I do not have wind,” defended a shocked Mr Grundy.
“Really Clarence, everybody has wind. But you must think about where you are before you release it. In the company of the fair sex is not one of them,” reprimanded Jackson.
Ella and Blanche burst out laughing at the look of disbelief on Mr Grundy’s face.
“Take no notice of them Mr Grundy,” Ella said wiping away her tears, “they are teasing you. While they are sorting out sleeping arrangements, shall you and I go into the sitting room and I will pour you a brandy. Then I shall go back with you to the office and see what sort of mess we have to deal with.”
“I would certainly like a drink before we go but I think it would be best if we waited until Charlie gets back and accompany him. You never know, those two scoundrels might be there waiting for us next time we go. If it was the two who came to the house of course, we have no way of knowing. I did not like them before and if it is the same two that have been sneaking about in my office, I certainly do not like them now,” Mr Grundy told her.
While drinking his brandy Mr Grundy said, “I have been thinking Ella, there is only another day then it is the wedding day. Do you think it would be best if Jackson and Blanche spent the first couple of weeks on their own?”
“I think it is a brilliant idea Mr Grundy but where are they going to live?”
“They can sleep at the office. There are a couple of spacious empty rooms upstairs and there is everything they will need downstairs. The kitchen is big enough and they can always come here during the day if they want to. I have only one more case to deal with then we can get everything sorted out and make it into our home like we said. But that was before the break-in. I am not so sure that it is such a good idea now.”
“I don’t think the break-in will put, Blanche and Jackson, off. After all those two men entered our house without your permission and we are still living here. I think Jackson is more than capable of looking after Blanche if a situation arose. Don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. Heaven help them if they so much as look at Blanche.”
“But where are they going to sleep?”
“I have thought about that too. Charlie, you and I will all put together and buy them a bed for a wedding present. What do you think of that?”
“I think Mr Grundy that you are a very special man, and I am very proud to be your niece. That is a wonderful idea and instead of going to the office this afternoon you and I shall go shopping for a bed. Spend some of Charlie’s money for him.”
Mr Grundy’s face was flushed with embarrassment and pleasure, but he added, “And I my dear, am very pleased that you and I get on so well together and you have decided to stay with me. You have made an old man very happy. That filing is never going to get done at this rate.”
The bed was bought and was going to be delivered before Friday evening. Mr Grundy had to pay extra to have the bed delivered but he paid up without complaint.
Ella and Mr Grundy made their way back home, happy and content in each other’s company.
On arrival they found Charlie, sitting in their kitchen eating bread and cheese.
“Hello,” he greeted them, “where have you two been? I went home but I could hear Jackson and Blanche upstairs in Jackson’s bedroom, so I thought it was more prudent to come here. I made myself something to eat Clarence, for I was devilish hungry, I hope you don’t mind.”
“You are welcome to anything we have got Charlie, you know that. Ella and I have been spending your money for you.” Mr Grundy explained about the bed.
“Thank God for that. To be truthful, I did not relish listening to those two on their wedding night. The walls are very thin, as you well know.”
Mr Grundy laughed at this and said, “The bed is coming tomorrow but first Charlie, you have to come and have a look at my office.”
“I have seen your office Clarence it is quite suitable for them to stay for a couple of weeks, if not longer.”
“Charlie, I have had a break-in.”
“The devil you have. When was this?”
“Sometime this morning after Ella had left the office with that young baby that Blanche has stuck to her breast.”
Charlie looked across at Ella and her eyes sparkled.
"It’s true Charlie. There were no files on the floor when I left with PC Keyser’s daughter, but when Mr Grundy got back to the office later this morning, the door was left wide open and some files had been scattered on the floor. I know I locked the door behind me when we left.
“Somebody has gained entry between Ruth and me leaving the office and Mr Grundy arriving there. I have not seen the mess, I said I would go back with him and have a look, but Mr Grundy would have none of it,
he said we should wait until you came back.”
“He did the right thing. I will certainly want to have a look at what they did. Was anything stolen?”
“There is nothing to steal. I never leave any money at the office, only paperwork and all this paperwork was scattered over the floor. Not just some of the files like Ella has just stated, but all of them. Blanche thinks it is those two thugs that pushed their way into my house looking for the trunk man. Have you found anything out about them or why they were going around shooting at people and pushing their way into someone else’s house?”
“I am not sure, so I don’t want to be putting ideas into your heads if they turn out to be false, let’s say for the sake of it, it might be the same two men still looking for PC Keyser. He saw two men burying something in the wood and they shot at him. That is about all I can tell you now. I have no need to tell you to keep it to yourselves the fewer people who know about it the better. Come on, let’s go and have a look at your office.”
On arrival at Mr Grundy’s office Charlie walked round the room trying to see if he could find anything that might help him to identify the culprits.
“What do you think?” Mr Grundy asked.
“I think Clarence, it is a warning. They are letting you know that they have been here and what they can do if they are threatened.”
“Can I start to tidy this lot up?” Ella asked.
“Yes, I suppose so, there is no damage done that I can see. What about you, Clarence, can you see anything out of the ordinary besides the scattered files?”
“No, nothing that stands out anyway.”
“I do not want you here on your own Ella, so until we get this thing sorted out I want you to keep away, they may come back, and I should hate for my fiancé to be hurt.”
“How long do you think that will take, and what about, Blanche and Jackson, if they are coming to live here?”
"I will tell Jackson that Blanche is not to be left here on her own. If these two men do come back, I can assure you Jackson can take care of himself. He didn’t get his medals for nothing. As for how long it will take, there is no way of knowing.
“A few files scattered around on the floor will not stop Jackson and Blanche moving in on their wedding day, after all, they will be upstairs most of the time. Don’t you think?”