by Alan Cooke
Why was it she was always right? He knew Sumi was the strong one in the family. Her clear thinking had helped guide them this far although she had registered her doubts about the Company in the early days.
‘I’ll deliver on Friday as usual and let Steve or Anthea know the result, then we’ll just get on with our lives. How’s that?’ It was remarkable how Sumi could make him relax, without her he would be lost and he knew it.
‘That’s about as far as we can go today, I think we had better be on our way Anthea. You don’t mind if I have some time on my own with my future wife do you Arif?’ Steve grinned as he put his arm around Anthea’s waist. ‘Thanks for listening to us and being supportive. We’ll get to the bottom of this don’t worry.’ At that moment he knew the only way forward was to find and open the secrets locked in Simon Colbourne’s computer, and he had no idea how to do it.
Sumi stood up and laughing waved her arms at Steve. ‘Go on you love birds, you need time on your own before you get married. You don’t want to be stuck with an old married couple like us all afternoon. Isn’t that right Arif?’ She looked lovingly at her husband before reaching for his hand.
‘She’s right as always, off you go now. I’ll be in touch if anything happens.’ Why had he felt so upset earlier, he could look Steve and Anthea in the eye and know he was with friends. They were all under pressure, but an attempt had been made on Steve’s life. He had not been approached by anyone so far and he had to convince himself that this was a good sign.
‘We haven’t got all that much time together, I have to catch a train back to Manchester and Anthea promised her parents she would have dinner with them tonight.’
He shook hands with Arif and kissed Sumi on her cheek. ‘Thanks for everything, we’ll keep in touch no matter what happens. If we end up half as happy as you two I’ll be content.’
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
By eight p.m. Steve was back in Manchester advising Carol of the day’s events. Conversation was interrupted when Carol’s mobile phone played her signature tune from the depths of her handbag. After fumbling for it amidst the formidable collection of items usually held in a woman’s bag she picked it out.
‘Hello. Oh hello Diane, I wasn’t expecting you tonight. What a nice surprise.’
‘Can you talk at the moment Carol because I may have found a solution to your problems?’ The idea had come to her earlier in the day but this was the first time she had available to communicate it to her friend. She tried to sound calm but the excitement she felt was there in her voice. The audacity of her plan might just work. Carol would soon either be equally excited or find a flaw which she had missed.
Carol put her hand on Steve’s arm as he got up to leave the room motioning him to stay. ‘You sound as though you’ve come up with something.’ Her pulse was racing, if Diane said she might have a solution, then it was a certainly good news.
‘It does mean another trip to chez moi even though I’ll be seeing you on Wednesday. There would have to be rehearsals and other plans before you do it.’ She was going too quickly, everything was clear in her mind but Carol could not know what she was talking about.
‘Can I start at the beginning? Well, the caretakers at Somerston Manor, Simon Colbourne’s place, are an extremely likeable couple and seem to adore Simon. They think he might be in Switzerland, which is not the case, and once they hear that concern is going to grow. They can’t contact Simon’s parents who are away cruising in the West Indies and if they do ring the Swiss house they will get the same response as I got. Now comes the tricky bit. If Steve together with either yourself or Anthea call on them posing as detectives, there is a possibility that they might give you access to the computer. What do you think?’ Had she covered everything? No this was only a sketch of part of her plan but to reveal it all might put Carol off.
‘When you mentioned rehearsals I didn’t know what you were talking about but now I do. I don’t know what Steve will think of it but it sounds brilliant to me and I would love the role you suggest, my mother always said I should have been an actress although I don’t think she was being complimentary at the time.’ First thoughts on Diane’s idea were positive, but would Steve agree, and could he act?
‘Really it sounds brilliant and the more I think about it the more excited I get.’
It was a happy Diane who picked up her gin and tonic, taking a sip before responding. ‘Shall we say either Friday night or Saturday morning at my place for a meeting?’ Her plan was brilliant, Carol was right, now all they had to do was tidy it up a bit, set the stage and rehearse. With a modicum of luck it could succeed.
‘You’re a gem Diane, we can discuss it tomorrow night when you arrive. By that time I will have talked it over with Steve, and he will of course have to talk to Anthea. If there are any questions I’ll give you a ring. Are you at home now?’
‘Home is somewhere I don’t see as often as I would like. Once again I’m away but you can get me on my mobile.’ She usually went to sleep thinking about the manufacture and sale of reproduction antique furniture, dreamt about it and it was the first thing on her mind when she awoke. Tonight that would change, she had found something far more exciting to think about.
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
The previous delivery had not been collected. Once again Arif could tell from the sound of his first package landing on the floor after being put through the letterbox. Certainly there would have been unsolicited mail but from his previous visits the sound he heard was quite different. Posting the remaining packages confirmed his suspicions, there was a build up behind the door. He decided to do something he would never have even thought about before. Approaching the door of the adjacent flat he rang the doorbell which was answered by an elderly lady.
‘Excuse me, I’m sorry to bother you but I have delivered something to your neighbour and I had hoped to catch him in. Has he been in today?’ He smiled and she smiled back at him and raising her hand waved her index finger at him.
‘I know you young man, I’ve seen you come here every Friday. I can’t get out so much now, arthritis you know, so I watch the world go by and can almost set my clock by your visits. The other young man who comes doesn’t live here, oh no. Like you he calls once a week carrying his big briefcase, spends a few minutes inside and then leaves. If he comes by car he never leaves it outside. I did try to talk to him one day but as soon as I opened my door he was off like a scalded cat. Funnily he didn’t come last week, I was going to get him before he opened his door but he didn’t turn up. Pity really, I do miss not getting out, having a few words with someone breaks up my day.’
‘Well you can have a chat with me and tell me what you know about your neighbour. I’ve never met him either but it would be nice if I did. Is he always on his own?’ From the name on her door he now knew she was Mrs. Bronowski, she was diminutive and had very fine bone structure and would have been a beauty in her younger days.
‘Always, in and out, on his own every time. All I know is that he’s tall with dark hair and is very well dressed. You wouldn’t buy his clothes in Marks and Spencer, more like Saville Row I would say. Apart from that I don’t know anything about him. I came here five years ago when my husband died and he started to visit the flat the same time you did. You must think I’m a bit of a nosey parker young man but I haven’t always been crippled. When I met my husband he was a pilot with the Free Polish Air force flying Spitfires in the Battle of Britain, while I was a ballet dancer with Sadler’s Wells. You wouldn’t think so today would you?’
She was lonely, Arif could tell that. Lonely, but certainly interesting. What a life she must have had dancing in front of large audiences while worrying about her man fighting the enemy high over the home counties. ‘If you had asked me to guess your occupation in the past I would have said ballet dancer. You look every inch a dancer and I can see why your fighter pilot husband was attracted to you.’ This lady must have so much to pass on to younger generations. If Sumi could talk to her, she might
be able to help.
‘That’s very nice of you to say so but ...’ She paused, wiping a tear from her eye. It was wonderful having someone to talk to, she had been too proud to accept help from the Council, perhaps she had been a little hasty in her refusal. This young man had made her day, she needed that human contact and with a few words he had made life bearable.
Suddenly an idea came into his mind. ‘My wife Sumi helps out at a Summer School for children and some of the girls go to ballet classes. It would be marvellous for them if you could give a talk about your career. If it wouldn’t be too much trouble we could pick you up and bring you back again.’ He looked at her and watched as her eyes sparkled. He had pressed the right button, suddenly her back was straight and she already looked younger.
‘Do you really think they would be interested? I still have some of my old costumes and hundreds of pictures I could show them although I doubt they would recognise me.’
‘Give me your telephone number and I’ll ask Sumi to give you a call. I know she would be pleased if you would talk to the children.’ The day had not been wasted, there was information on the package collector, not much but enough and he had met a delightful old lady.
Travelling back on the train, he relaxed. Like Steve he now thought that the possibility of the flat owner, Simon Colbourne and his Regional Manager, Mr. Crichton all being one and the same and that he was dead. The thoughts were still going round in his head when he got off the train and walked towards the flat. Sumi would not be home yet, the children were putting on a play for the residents of a care home and she was in charge of their costumes. Approaching the flat he noticed a man looking at the shop window and then appearing to try the door handle. He didn’t recognise him and some sixth sense warned him to be on his guard. This might be someone who might not be friendly.
As he approached the door he smiled at the man. ‘Hello, can I help you?’ He wanted to appear as casual as possible so the stranger would not be aware of his underlying suspicion.
‘Yeah. These names here, I’m looking for someone who works for one of them.’ He looked at him suspiciously not returning Arif’s smile.
The inner warning had been right. Arif recognised trouble when he saw it, past experience had left its mark. He didn’t like this individual, if he wanted someone from the Company, who did he represent? The accent and intonation had made the man’s question sound threatening, and thinking quickly Arif prepared himself to handle the situation.
‘Sorry mate can’t help you there. I just live in the flat above. Someone just comes and collects mail that’s delivered here. Well lots of people really, not always the same one. Probably messengers of some sort. If you want to leave a note for the Company, I can put it with their mail.’ There was something evil about this character and Arif wanted to get inside the building and lock the door. He was pleased Sumi and the children weren’t there.
‘Is there anything there now to be collected?’ The smell of stale beer and cigarette smoke was strong as the man moved nearer.
He wouldn’t put the key into the lock until this character had gone, he looked as if he would charge into the building and start searching for the packages. ‘No, they’re always collected about midday. Someone slips me twenty quid a week for keeping them, can’t be bad can it?’ He smiled again but there was no response from the visitor.
‘So you’ll get some more tomorrow then?’ The voice had not softened at all and his body language indicated trouble to Arif.
‘No, Monday is the next delivery. They have an agreement with the Post Office I think. It doesn’t worry me, all I get are bills and circulars and I can do without both. If you give me your phone number I’ll get the chap who collects the mail to ring you. Which Company was it for?’ Would he learn anything about the man?
The question was ignored. ‘What time does the post come on Monday?’ His head thrust forward as he spoke. It was a question not asking for an answer but demanding it.
For a second Arif thought he was going to be head butted. Everything about the individual gave him the feeling that he was very unstable. ‘No set time, you know the Post Office one day it’s eight o’clock the next it’s eleven.’ He hadn’t been given the man’s telephone number and sensed it would be unwise to pursue it. Just knock on the door on Monday after eleven and I’ll see if I can help you. How’s that?’ His feeling of unease was getting stronger, all he wanted to do now was get inside and lock the door behind him.
There was a grunt as the man moved from the doorway. ‘I’ll be back. Don’t tell the messengers anything, it wouldn’t be good for your health.’ With that he turned and walked towards a red BMW parked nearby.
Arif made a mental note of the car number and as it drove away he sighed with relief. What on earth was happening? Could this be a Company man after all? Could the theory that Simon Colbourne was working alone be wrong? Before Sumi got home he had to talk to Steve in Manchester. He needed help to overcome the confusion in his mind.
Double locking the door he went upstairs and picked up the phone. When Steve answered he told him about his mysterious visitor, details of the BMW and the conversation they’d had. ‘What do you make of it Steve, and how do you think I should handle it when he comes back on Monday?’ Steve did not respond immediately. ‘I’m worried, really worried, this is not a very nice man. I think the slightest thing would tip him over the edge then he would turn very nasty.’
‘I don’t like the sound of this at all Arif. Can I have a word with Carol and ring you back?’ This was so unexpected Steve couldn’t even think how to respond to Arif’s obvious concern. Two heads were better than one, they would try to work this out before getting back to Arif.
‘You don’t like it Steve I can tell.’ Carol’s face showed her concern too. ‘I think he’s at risk. They have to get away from there, at least for a few days. This character is a threat, there’s no doubt in my mind from what you’ve told me. I think you should suggest in the strongest possible terms that he takes the family away before Monday. With someone like that individual the whole family could be at risk. Don’t you agree?’
Things were not going well. From a feeling of hope following Diane’s visit on Wednesday and agreement on her plan, he now felt dejected. Was the Company still in existence with a new management, or was this someone picking over the bones of the corpse? He picked up the phone.
His call was answered immediately, ‘Arif you’ve got to get away from the shop with the family before Monday. Have you anyone you can stay with for a week or so until we can sort something out?’ He didn’t want to panic him but had to show firmness and resolve in his approach.
What had Sumi planned for the children the following week? Would this upset her and the children? Thoughts of the family flooded through his mind, they were his first priority.
‘God what a mess Steve. Who do you think he is? My experience of the Company so far has been with Mr. Crichton or should I say Colbourne, you and Anthea. This fellow is from a totally different planet. If he was part of the Company management surely he would have known the collection system. Coming back on Monday he’s going to expect to get at least some of the mail. I told him a courier would be calling for it, if he was part of the system he would know that I was lying and react accordingly. I think he accepted what I said as fact which makes me think he’s either a Company competitor or a Company renegade. Either way is not good news.’ While waiting for Steve’s call he had calmed down before approaching the problem rationally. It hadn’t solved the problem but the feeling of panic had gone. He was back in control, or at least he was holding tight on the reigns of his nervous system.
‘I’m inclined to agree with you on your visitor. Have a chat with Sumi and then I hope you do as I suggest and go away for a few days. It’s not worth taking risks, he might just turn out to be violent. Look, we have a meeting in Surrey tomorrow, see if you can arrange anything and I’ll give you a call tomorrow night. Is that O.K.?’
‘Thanks St
eve, I’m sure we can arrange something. I’ll let you know what we’re up to when you ring. We are in all evening as far as I know unless Sumi has reorganised things, as women do. Oh! But you don’t know about that yet do you? Never mind, you’ll soon learn.’ Arif had recognised strength in Anthea on her first visit, she would be the family organiser, just like Sumi.
When he finished his conversation, Steve gathered up his jacket and followed Carol out of the office. She had patiently waited although they had hoped to get away early to beat the rush hour traffic. They wanted to get to Anthea’s flat reasonably early, update her with the news and then take her out for a meal. On Saturday they would travel to see Diane.
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
The time had passed quickly, the early morning light heralding the start of a perfect summer’s day. The roads had been reasonably clear and they arrived at Diane’s flat at ten o’clock as planned. When Diane opened the door the smell of coffee percolating drifted through from the kitchen. Once they had exchanged greetings, the visitors were ushered into the sitting room while Diane collected a tray with scones, jam and cream to compliment the coffee.
‘You said ten o’clock arrival and you were bang on target. Not bad planning.’ Diane laughed at the figures relaxing in her sitting room.
‘Looking at the tray of goodies and coffee Diane, we are amateurs at planning. This is the professional touch.’ Carol gestured at the coffee table.
After coffee Carol stood up and thanked their hostess for her generosity and then said, ‘Now let’s remind everyone of the things that have happened since Wednesday night. Over to you Steve.’
He shuffled uncomfortably as the girls looked at him expectantly. Only Diane needed updating as Anthea had been briefed the night before, but often things were missed and new information might emerge. Arif’s predicament was discussed and a break from the flat was considered vital. Once he had moved the family, they would discuss the problem again. When he had finished there were no questions. There was general agreement that they all understood the present situation.