It Started at Sunset Cottage

by Bella Osborne

  “That’s good, then. Hopefully he’ll turn up soon.” Sarah picked up the wine glasses and turned to leave.

  “You won’ get away wiv it, ya know that don’t ya?” Sarah paused for a moment but chose to ignore Irene’s goading and took the drinks out to the garden. Amy was busily unwrapping another of Nanny Irene’s presents.

  “So what have you got from Nanny Irene?” asked Sarah.

  “Err, there’s a man with no clothes on, a book of scary monsters…”

  “How to draw mythical beasts,” added Andy, trying to help.

  “And this.” Amy held up what looked like a doll attached to a kitchen-roll holder. Andy handed Sarah the box and she read out what it said.

  “Polly the Pole Dancer, watch her twirl to the rhythm. Requires four AA batteries. I bet she does,” smirked Sarah. “Let’s see this man, then. Do they come as a pair? Has he got miniature ten-pound notes to put in her…”

  “Sarah!” cut in Andy, “I think the man is meant to be Tarzan. There’s pictures of chimps on the packaging.”

  “Course its bleedin Tarzan,” croaked Irene as she appeared behind them, puffing on a recently lit cigarette.

  “Sorry, Irene, we’ve got young children arriving any minute. Please could you go down the side of the house or, better still, not smoke at all.” Irene huffed grumpily, but left the garden by the side gate as requested.

  As if arriving by bus, all of Amy’s friends descended in the following five minutes, all carrying neatly wrapped gifts, cards and broad smiles. Sarah was a little surprised that all the parents waved their children off without even offering to stay, or providing a phone number in case there was a problem. Look-e-likey Tarzan was soon forgotten once Amy started opening the latest toys, games and stationery. Kate did her first successful squash round and the children settled down for Steve to start the animal entertainment.

  As it turned out, Steve was actually very good with the children. He told them interesting facts about the animals before he brought them out for them to have a closer look at. There was a gecko, a chameleon and a small bearded dragon, which held their attention well. Next up was a Dumbo Rat, which was quite simply one of the cutest things Sarah had ever seen. He was very unimaginatively called Dumbo and was very pale brown in colour with ears the size of chocolate buttons. Kate, on the other hand, was now wishing that she hadn’t put her plastic chair in such a good viewing spot, as she was now only a small rodent’s hop away from the action. Dumbo was handed around and was happy to be stroked by everyone and caused a simultaneous round of “ahhhh” when he decided to wash his face. An African hedgehog was up next and she was called Honey and was quite small and very blonde. Steve held her up to Sarah’s face.

  “There’s a definite resemblance,” he joked, looking at the two spikey blonde-topped females. Honey got a little scared of the children, who were now a little overexcited, and kept turning herself into a ball, so it was time for her to go back to the safety of her box. Last up, and the grand finale of the show, was a milk snake. One of the girls started to cry as soon as she saw him, but Steve was very gentle with them and within three minutes the same little girl had the snake proudly wrapped around her sleeve. Andy took a picture of each of the children holding the snake and one of the braver boys even had it wrapped around his neck like a tie.

  Irene slinked back into the garden while the photos were being taken and stood on the grass near Kate’s chair, breathing heavily. Kate looked over and smiled at Irene, who glared back at her. The children were all ferried into the house to wash their hands after handling the animals, and then back into the garden to have the food picnic-style. Andy insisted on humming the Jaws theme tune as he brought out the shark-infested fruit salad, but only the adults got the joke.

  Sarah was busy sorting out party bags when there was a loud bang on the front door. She was in two minds whether to answer it or not but, deciding it was probably an over-eager parent, she opened it and was very surprised to see the police sergeant who had searched the house previously, standing there looking rather serious as only police officers can. The difference this time was that he had two other stern-looking policemen in tow and a small army of them coming up the path.

  “Good morning, Mrs Greasley. This is my colleague, Inspector Chauvin, who would like to talk to you down at the station, whilst my colleagues here do some more detailed investigations of your property.”

  “But it’s my daughter’s birthday party. It’s happening now.” She stumbled over the words as the officers pushed past her. “Am I under arrest?”

  “No madam, not at all, just helping us with our enquiries,” said Inspector Chauvin, as he came into the hall and shut the door behind the last officer.

  “Then please can you wait just 20 minutes whilst my daughter hands out the party bags? These children have been left in my care by their parents. I can’t just leave.”

  “I quite understand. Twenty minutes is fine. Sergeant, tell the men to wait in the garden.”

  “No, not the garden!” Sarah followed them hastily outside to see the policemen moving the plastic chairs and tables off the patio and the children all standing open-mouthed.

  “Can I have your attention, team? Mrs Greasley and her family will need just 20 minutes. So if you’d all like to just wait over there,” said the Sergeant, indicating to where Steve was hastily packing up his boxes. Andy was putting his camera away when one of the boys came over to him, “Please can I have a photo with the policemen?” he asked, looking longingly at the row of uniformed men.

  “I don’t know if they’re allowed to,” said Andy, looking at the sergeant for some guidance.

  “That’s fine. Come on, stand in the middle,” said the sergeant, and they all grouped together around the child for a photo. This set in motion a string of requests from the other children, which the officers kindly obliged. Amy had her photo taken, too, the birthday girl surrounded by smiling policemen. She was very keen to see their handcuffs, which caused almost as much excitement as the snake. The inspector stuck to Sarah like a bad smell and followed her back into the house.

  Sarah waited by the front door in her desperation to stop any parents seeing the police, although the fact that there was a large police van outside and her neighbours were hanging out of their front doors was a bit of a giveaway. As the parents arrived, Sarah called out the child’s name and Kate whisked them away from the police and through the house. She then thrust a party bag at them and away they went. When the last child finally went, Sarah realised that she was shaking like a leaf. Andy appeared and pulled her into hug. “It’s okay, just tell the truth and it’ll be fine.”

  “But I don’t think it will ever be fine again,” she spluttered. Andy gave a nervous smile at the inspector and they all went outside, where the sergeant was in a huddle with his team and Irene was puffing happily on a new cigarette. She grinned a yellow-toothed grin at Sarah and Andy as they came outside.

  “Mummy, that was the best party ever!” said Amy, hugging Sarah, “It was just like the TV programmes Andy lets me watch sometimes when you’re at work.”

  “Sorry,” said Andy, as he gave Amy a pretend glare.

  “Whoops, sorry Andy,” she giggled.

  “We need to go to the station now while my men work out here. Everyone else will need to leave,” the inspector said to Sarah.

  Kate stepped forward. “I’ll take Amy and her presents back to mine in my car. Andy, you can take Sarah’s car and one of us will pick you up from the police station later.” Kate was stroking Sarah’s arm as she said it.

  “Won’t you need someone to stay and lock up?” Andy asked the inspector, as two of the others appeared through the gate carrying shovels and a strange instrument with a long handle and set them down next to the patio.

  “No, you can leave the keys.”

  “If you’re taking the patio up, please let me give you a hand. This cost a lot of money and when you find nothing, you don’t want to have to pay compensation.” Ire
ne snorted in the background. “I can help you take them up quickly, without damaging them, and I promise to keep out of the way.” The inspector was clearly torn by Andy’s reasonable request; he looked to his sergeant, who shrugged.

  “Okay, but if my sergeant says leave, you leave or you will be looking at a charge of obstructing the course of justice. Got it?”

  “No problem, Inspector, you’re the boss. Thank you.” And he went over to the officers who had brought in the equipment to see what they were planning to use.

  “Right, let’s get these ladies out of here then, please,” said the sergeant, indicating Sarah, Kate, Irene and Amy. Amy set about putting her presents into bags, Kate put a supportive arm around a stunned-looking Sarah and Irene stalked over to the sergeant.

  “Carn’t I stay, I am his muvver.”

  “Sorry, Mrs Greasley, I don’t think that’s wise,” and he ushered her to the side gate. Irene looked furtively over her shoulder before speaking in a hushed voice to the sergeant.

  “If ya find him, do I get a reward or somethin’, for like givin’ you the information?”

  “No, sorry, Mrs Greasley, but I’m sure it has helped with our enquiries, so thank you.”

  “But you are arresting her, ain’t ya?”

  “No, Mrs Greasley, but we will be questioning her. If you’d like to leave now,” he indicated the gate.

  “But I told ya, she confessed it all to me, so what d’ya want to listen to more of her lies for?” said Irene in a whisper, but Irene’s whispering skills were not as good as she’d thought. Sarah lurched forward and Kate failed to grab her. Thankfully Andy was quicker off the mark and took the full force of Sarah as she launched herself at Irene, fists clenched,

  “You utter cow I’ll…”

  “No, Sarah!” shouted Andy over the top of her, to drown out the threats, “Sarah, think! For God’s sake, think. This is what she wants!” Sarah wrestled against Andy, but held her tongue and soon lost her impetus and slumped against Andy, her whole body shaking. All the policemen were now standing a lot closer and the inspector, in particular, was looking as though he was on red alert.

  “See? I told you she was a psycho, din’t I?” sniffed Irene, as she sauntered out of the gate, being careful not to step on the patio as she did so.

  “What’s the matter, Mummy? Has Nanny Irene upset you?” asked Amy. Andy pulled Amy into a cuddle with him and her mother, as Sarah was struggling to speak.

  “Yes, she has a bit, but it’s going to be oksy. Mummy is going to have a chat to the policeman and sort it all out.” He tilted Sarah’s head up so he could make eye contact with her, and she nodded. “I’m going to help the policemen here and Kate and you are going to play at her house. Okay?”

  “Okay,” said Amy, looking suddenly not very okay at all. “I didn’t get a birthday cake,” she said, her lip starting to wobble,

  “The rabbit is in my bedroom,” said Sarah, and all the policemen suddenly looked interested again.

  Chapter 20

  Kate and Amy were both silent all the way back to Kate’s house. A couple of times Kate opened her mouth to speak to Amy, but each time she judged that what she was about to say was totally banal and it was better just to smile at Amy in the rear-view mirror and keep quiet. Halfway home she switched on the radio, which helped a little. As Kate turned into her driveway and trundled up the gravel, she saw a hunched figure of a man sitting on her front- door step. Kate stopped the car a little abruptly until she registered who it was. She was still expecting Shaun to appear from nowhere, at any time. Kate recognised the figure and felt an instant spike of anger.

  Tim looked up as he heard the car and jumped to his feet. Kate left the car in front of the garage and walked around to let Amy out of the car. Tim was now walking round in very tight circles and the look on his face was changing between a big, welcoming grin and a worried scowl; it was rather disconcerting. Thankfully, Amy came to the rescue and ran over to Tim, and they exchanged hellos while Kate gathered the things from the car. Whatever he was here for, Kate didn’t need this right now.

  “Would you like a hand with those?” Tim said, as he strode purposefully towards her.

  “No, I’ll manage, thank you,” Kate said curtly, as she struggled to retain her grip on Tarzan. Tim registered the still-open boot and headed over to Kate’s car anyway.

  “I’ll bring the rest,” he said cheerfully. Kate shook her head in annoyance and walked up the steps to the front door. She could hear the phone ringing inside. She fumbled with the key, but eventually managed to unlock the door, and she and Amy tumbled inside. Kate set down the armful of detritus in the living room and Amy settled down next to the pile and started going through her new things. Kate reached for the phone just as it stopped ringing. If it is important they will call back, Kate thought. Tim came in and shut the door behind him. Kate stood in the hallway and stared at him, cross at his presumption that he was actually welcome inside.

  “Interesting,” smiled Tim, looking at the pole-dancing doll.

  “Birthday presents. Amy is six today.”

  “Happy birthday, Amy!” said Tim. “Here, have this in lieu of a present,” he said pulling a 20-pound note from his pocket. Amy appeared at his side in a second.

  “Thank you, Tim. This is cool! I’d rather have this than a loo present.” She turned to Kate, “I can have the money, can’t I, Kate?”

  “Of course,” said Kate, slightly puzzled by the question.

  “It’s just that Tim is a bit like a stranger.” Amy whispered the last bit and Kate smiled.

  “I see. Good girl for checking, but even if you don’t know Tim very well, I do.” She paused as she thought about this statement because she didn’t actually know him well at all, but she wasn’t going to explain all that to Amy. “So, yes, it’s fine for you have the money.”

  “You look like you’ve got loads of presents there, Amy.”

  “I have and I had the best party ever.”

  “Great! Was there jelly and ice cream?” asked Tim.

  “Yes, but there were lots of policemen and a snake!”

  “Wow! That’s exciting.”

  “We all had our photograph taken with them and they want to talk to Mummy.” She lost her excitement and went quiet again.

  “So a police raid at your sixth birthday party! She’s starting early,” laughed Tim. Kate did a slow, meaningful blink for Tim’s benefit, handed the things she’d taken from him to Amy, who went to the living room. Kate held her position in the hall and regarded Tim expectantly. Tim was still watching Amy, until he became aware of Kate’s intense glare.

  “I, err… I’m not sure why I’m here.” Tim shoved his hands into his pockets, which made his shoulders hunch up and give him the look of a naughty schoolboy in front of the head teacher.

  “Sorry, I can’t help you there, I have absolutely no idea why you are here, either. Frankly, Tim, now is not a good time for me.”

  “Sorry. Why did the police raid her party?”

  “I don’t really think that’s any concern of yours.”

  “No, you’re right.” There was a painfully long pause, during which Tim studied the neat black and white diamond-shaped tiles that covered the hall and Kate studied Tim. “I guess I just wanted to say sorry. Again. Make sure you understood that I meant it. Oh, and check you got the flowers,” he said, scanning the rooms from the hall and not finding a single flower in sight, which made him blink involuntarily a few times. Kate had to admit that Tim did look as though he meant it. He looked dejected, not his usual commanding self, and definitely less self-assured.

  “Okay.”

  “Okay?” said Tim, searching Kate’s face for any signs of a reaction.

  “Yes. Okay. I believe that you are sorry,” Kate said with a shrug, unsure of what else he was expecting from her. “You know, that was a really low thing to do. You knew I’d got the names mixed up and still you…” Kate felt a pang of anger and stopped herself. She was not about to start s
houting at Tim. Amy had witnessed enough drama for one day. She went to pull her cardigan around herself and realised she wasn’t wearing one, so ended up crossing her arms instead.

  “You are completely right. I’m not here to defend what I did, only to say that I deeply regret it and I know I’ve messed things up, but if there’s any way we could still be friends…” Tim ran out of words and just looked hopefully at Kate. She found it was very hard to stay cross with Tim even if you really, really wanted to.

  “Tim,” she started, but she was interrupted by the phone. It was a welcome intrusion as she had no idea what she was going to say. “I’d better get that,” she said as she went to answer the phone and noticed that Tim followed her into the living room and sat down on the floor next to Amy and started having a closer look at Polly the pole dancer.

  “Hello,” said Kate as she sat down in the neighbouring armchair so she could watch Tim and Amy.

  “Kate, you are alive. You have not been abducted by aliens or sold into white slavery. Fantastic!” declared Didi.

  “Didi!” exclaimed Kate with horror. “Oh, my goodness, I am so sorry!” How could she have forgotten about taking Didi home? Kate’s brain raced ahead at high speed, trying to find a solution to the dilemma she now found herself in, but nothing came to mind.

  “I take it there’s a problem?”

  “It’s a long story involving a police raid at a birthday party, which I’ll explain later, but I’m sure we can sort something out.”

  “Ooh, sounds like my kind of party. It’s just that they’re getting a bit twitchy here. There’s already someone in my room, you see, so there’s no room at the inn, as it were,” explained Didi, so Kate’s first solution of taking her home tomorrow was knocked out of the ball park. “I could see about a train?” offered Didi half-heartedly.

  “Didi, can you give me five minutes? Just five minutes and I promise I’ll come up with a solution and I’ll call you straight back. Okay?”

  “Okay,” said Didi, brightening up. Kate put the phone down and surveyed the two pretty faces that were awaiting her update.