Peridale Cafe Mystery 20 - Cocktails and Cowardice

by Agatha Frost

  “Right after this phone call,” Barker said, closing one eye, his finger hovering over the green answer button. “Do you mind?”

  “Of course not.”

  Barker hurried into the hallway, and while he attempted to appease Mrs Morton, Julia changed into her pyjamas. She climbed into bed, her alarm already set to 5 A.M. for their 6 A.M. taxi pick-up. Mowgli curled himself up against her belly, and as she drifted off for a second time that night, she heard the promised rain finally pattering softly against the bedroom window.

  2

  DOT

  A s it had been years since Dot last flew, she hadn’t expected to be so fascinated by aviation. She had barely taken her eyes away from the small window for most of the flight.

  “This is wholly unnatural,” she whispered to her husband, Percy, sitting next to her in the middle seat of the row of three. “We shouldn’t be this high up, and yet here we are.”

  “Marvellous invention, don’t you think, my dear?”

  “Quite.”

  After leaving an England encased in clouds thanks to the sudden influx of rain, they flew over the tip of France, a stretch of uninterrupted ocean, and finally, over mainland Spain. Some of the views were blocked by white fluffy clouds, but when those clouds broke, Dot could see right down to the land below. The view terrified and captivated her in equal measures. As much as she loved her husband, she was glad he hadn’t put up a fight for the window seat.

  Dot’s eardrums told her they had been descending ever since they broke away from the southern coast of Spain to head back over the ocean. The water below was calm and apparently never-ending, the deep navy blue dotted with defined patches so vibrant they glowed turquoise.

  “Tray tables up, please,” the smiley stewardess said as she walked backwards down the narrow aisle collecting any last rubbish in a large bag.

  Dot passed down the small bottle of wine they’d shared from little plastic cups. Quite uncivilised, she had thought when the cabin crew handed them over, especially since she’d upgraded to premium economy. Of course, she’d soon learned ‘premium’ meant only a little extra space for her feet and nothing more.

  “Shame we never got to finish our game,” Percy said as she gathered up the cards from their abandoned poker match. “I was sure I had a winning hand this time.”

  Dot wasn’t. She’d been trying to teach Percy how to play poker for weeks, but he had yet to win a single game. Much to her shock, she was actually growing bored of always winning – but not quite tired enough to tell him about the subtle earlobe-tugging tell every time he attempted to bluff.

  “I glanced at your cards when you went to the bathroom,” Dot said as she fastened the tray against the seat in front of her. “A decent hand, but mine was better.”

  “You’re so good at everything, my dear.” Percy sighed, also tucking up his table. “I fear I may never be a worthy opponent.”

  “We’ve got two weeks of practice ahead of us.”

  “That is true.”

  “I’ll make a poker player of you yet.” Dot winked and patted his exposed knee; he’d changed into his tropical floral shorts at the airport. “Maybe we can get Minnie in on the action and up the stakes a little? I’m tired of playing for chocolate buttons and toothpicks.”

  “Did you used to play poker with her?”

  “Oh, yes.” Dot reached into the carry-on bag tucked under the seat in front of her and pulled out the small, leather photo album she’d recently spent a lot of time poring over. “We had quite the little routine.”

  Dot flicked through the faded photographs of parties, birthdays, and Christmases, mostly covering the early seventies up until her dear Albert’s tragic passing halfway through the decade. Back then, she’d always had a camera in her hand. She’d been as fascinated with capturing every moment as the younger generation seemed to be with taking pictures on their phones. However, she’d never felt the urge to snap a photo of her dinner before eating it.

  “Those were the days,” she said wistfully. “I suppose Albert and I were around forty. Brian had grown up and left the house, and life was settling into a nice rhythm.”

  “And Minnie was a decade younger?”

  Dot nodded. “While her husband, Bernard Harlow, was a decade older than Albert and me, so you can imagine the scandal that caused in the village. They seemed happy enough.”

  “And Bernard is the husband who died recently?” Percy asked, fiddling with his glasses as he examined a photograph of the four of them playing poker around the same dining room table that still took pride of place in her cottage today. “The television director?”

  “Minnie divorced Bernard not long after my Albert passed,” Dot reminded him, having already told the story several times. She could hardly blame him; Minnie’s love life was complicated. “She kept his name, though. Minnie Harlow had more of an actress flair than Minnie South, or whatever her later married names were. She had four husbands, but the most recent was the one she’d settled down with.”

  “Still time to find a fifth.” Percy chuckled. “We’ve proven that.”

  “Bernard promised he’d get me a walk-on part as an extra on Coronation Street.” Dot flicked to another page, showing the four of them on the set of the soap. “All fell through when they broke up. Poor fella. Minnie kept his name and took him to the cleaners in the divorce, but I supposed that’s how she could afford to jet around the world for her modelling and acting jobs. He died not long after from a heart attack. He did like his steaks and red wine.”

  “Oh, dear.”

  “Isn’t Minnie fabulous?” Dot landed on one of the early 80s headshots that had come in Minnie’s annual Christmas cards, all autographed, of course. “I have absolutely no idea what she looks like now. I should have asked her to send a recent photograph. What if I don’t recognise her at the airport?”

  “Perhaps she’ll look the same, as you do, dear?” Percy patted her hand. “As beautiful now as you were then.”

  Dot smiled and pushed up her curls at the back. Her personal style hadn’t changed much. Her hair was still short and neatly curled, and she still favoured simple white blouses tucked into high-waisted pleated skirts.

  Over the years, this had become what Dot liked to call an all-weather outfit. On its own, it was the perfect uniform for spring and summer. An added cardigan and a pair of thick tights, and it was ready for autumn and winter. All that, and comfortable enough to wear in a tiny aeroplane seat.

  “Well, I doubt Minnie is still sporting the giant backcombed hair.” Dot flicked to another picture showing Minnie with bright pink blush and heavily mascaraed lashes that made her crystal blue eyes pop. Albert’s eyes had been the same. “It’s a shame we lost contact for so long. A forgotten Christmas card here, a missed phone call there, and next thing you know, you’ve all lost touch.”

  “We’re here now.” Percy gave her arm a subtle nudge. “Two weeks is plenty of time to get caught up.”

  “But is it enough to turn you into a decent poker player?”

  Percy laughed as Dot glanced back two rows. Julia and Barker were on the other side of the plane, still buried in the books they’d been reading for most of the two-and-a-half-hour flight. She’d tried to have them all sat next to each other, but there had only been two premium economy seats left when they checked in, and they hadn’t seemed too bothered about the upgrade. Perhaps they’d known the extra twenty pounds for a little more foot room wasn’t worth it.

  The plane banked hard left, sending Percy into Dot’s side. When they finally levelled out again, the view was no longer the sprawling ocean. They were heading back to the coast they’d just left, flying the lowest they’d been since take off.

  In fact, Dot was sure they were far too close to the ground, but she kept her concerns to herself. The cabin crew didn’t seem panicked, so she didn’t intend to make a fool of herself

  They continued descending towards the coastline. Dot saw people sunbathing on the beach below. Beyond them, c
lusters of white buildings with terracotta roofs were sprinkled amongst the trees of Andalusia. According to Minnie’s letters, Andalusia was a region of hills, rivers, and farmland bordering Spain’s southern coast. She’d promised it was the most beautiful region of Spain, and even from up above, Dot couldn’t disagree. She hadn’t expected so much greenery, but it was everywhere.

  They whizzed over the beach, and just when Dot was sure they would crash into one the hills and go up in a giant fireball, the traditional buildings became much more modern and corporate-looking. A runway appeared in front of them, easing Dot’s worries.

  “Hold on tight, Dorothy.” Percy looped his fingers through hers. “This bit’s always bumpy.”

  They hovered over the runway for an impossible amount of time before the wheels finally bounced onto the tarmac. Then they zoomed ahead, forcing Dot back into her chair. She glanced back at Barker and Julia again. They were holding hands and laughing, just like she and Percy. A couple of people started clapping, but Dot wouldn’t be partaking in that. She didn’t applaud when a bus arrived on time, so she wasn’t about to start for a plane.

  Premium economy was right at the front of the aircraft, so they were amongst the first off. They thanked the pilot and disembarked, waiting at the top of the tunnel for Julia and Barker to appear.

  “Everything okay?” Dot asked, nodding down at Julia’s stomach as they walked up the tunnel towards the terminal.

  “I think so,” she replied, resting her hand on the pretty little bump. “Didn’t notice anything, actually, and the seatbelt fit perfectly. I think I was more comfortable than Barker.”

  Barker rubbed at his side. “Guy next to me seemed to think my ribs were the perfect place for his elbow.”

  In Dot’s opinion – obviously, the only one that mattered – Julia and Barker were perfect for each other. Not only were they age-appropriate, but they also seemed to want the same things out of life. If Julia had never fallen pregnant, it wouldn’t have ruined her life. Still, Dot knew how desperately her eldest granddaughter had always wanted to have a baby of her own one day.

  Although, thinking back to the photo album, Julia was almost at the age she and Albert had been, and she couldn’t imagine starting over with a new baby at that age. It would have made Albert’s passing far more complicated. The mid-to-late 1970s were still a blur.

  A quick flash of their burgundy British passports was enough for border control to wave them through. Dot had always thought she was too old for the jet-set life, but the flight had been so easy and smooth, she could get used to the idea of annual, or maybe even more frequent, holidays abroad.

  Unlike the semi-rural and natural view that had greeted them on their descent to the runway, the airport looked as though it could have belonged to any country. The ceilings were high, the floors tiled, and the air crisp and conditioned.

  “What are the odds!” Percy cried as they walked to the carousel. “Our cases are already circling around!”

  Barker retrieved all four and loaded them onto a trolley as Dot pulled Minnie’s final letter from her handbag. She’d instructed them to wait in front of the airport, where she’d pick them up and drive them to the small town of Savega, and her hotel.

  After quickly using the bathroom facilities, the four of them made their way to the clearly marked exit. The front doors slid open, and the heat hit Dot like a slap in the face. She’d grown used to the recent heatwave gripping Peridale. Still, even that hadn’t prepared her for the reality of the Spanish summer.

  “Heaven’s above!” Percy cried, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and running it over his glistening bald head. “I think someone’s left the heating on.”

  “Certainly toasty.” Julia fanned at her bright pink face with her passport. “Have any idea what Minnie’s car looks like?”

  Dot scanned the letter. “She simply said she’d be here when we landed. I gave her all our flight information, and we’re right on time, so I suspect she’ll be here any minute.”

  Any minute now turned into five, and then ten. By the fifteenth, Barker and Julia retreated into the terminal to partake of the cooler air. By the twentieth, Percy had sat down on his case – and promptly fell asleep leaning against a post, his canvas hat covering his face. After a full half-hour, Dot began to wonder if the whole thing had been an elaborate prank played by someone who knew about her connection to Minnie.

  “I don’t believe it,” Dot whispered, squinting as a slightly rundown car pulled up in front of the airport. “That’s impossible.”

  “Huh?” Percy jolted awake. “What is it, dear?”

  Dot pulled the photo album from her handbag and turned pages until she landed on a photograph of Minnie, pre-modelling, with curlier and less backcombed brunette hair. Her gaze flicked between the picture and the woman behind the wheel of the car. They looked identical – as if no time had passed at all.

  “Dorothy South?” the woman called, shielding her eyes from the sun as she climbed out of the car.

  “Minnie!” Dot couldn’t help but laugh. “Look at you! You haven’t aged a—”

  “Oh!” The woman laughed, shaking her head as she slammed the car door. “I’m Lisa. Minnie’s daughter.”

  The closer Lisa got, the more foolish Dot felt. Clearly no older than forty-five, this woman could never be mistaken for someone in her seventies. Still, the resemblance was striking, almost eerie.

  “People always tell me I look just like my mum from her younger days.” Lisa pulled Dot into a hug immediately. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Auntie Dorothy. Mum’s told me so much about you. You look as exactly as I imagined you would.” She let go and extended a hand to Percy, who’d pushed himself up from the suitcase. “And this must be Percival. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Percy’s just fine.” He took her hand and gave it a hearty shake. “Dot’s right, you’re the spitting image of your mother! Uncanny.”

  “Where is she?” Dot asked, looking towards the car.

  “Back at the hotel,” Lisa explained. “She’s not up to driving much these days. Doesn’t like the steep roads. So I offered to come and get you. Sorry for the delay. Someone’s chickens got loose and were blocking the road out of town.”

  “Spain has chickens?” Percy tapped a finger against his chin. “How interesting!”

  The airport doors slid open and Julia and Barker re-joined them. After another round of introductions, Barker and Lisa loaded the cases into the car’s large boot, and they set off.

  With all four windows rolled down, they whizzed away from the airport. On the ground, things were even greener than they’d looked from the sky. Perhaps these roads were like the roads anywhere else in the world, but the crystal blue sky and lush trees made everything look so exotic. If the motorways back home looked like this, Dot might not have minded venturing out of the village more often, if only to enjoy the view.

  “Not much farther,” Lisa explained as she pulled off the main road and onto a narrower, more rural looking one. “Savega is in the foot of the Sierra de Almijara mountain range. The view is about to get really interesting.”

  The flat, straight roads became steep and twisting, and Dot was more than aware of how high up they were actually driving. The lanes wrapped around the hills and breaks in the trees showed small settlements here and there. When things eventually levelled out again, Percy tapped her and nodded through the window on the other side.

  “Wow,” Dot gasped, looking down the slope of white buildings amongst the trees, which seemed to go all the way down to the sea. “Minnie wasn’t lying about this place.”

  They vanished into the trees again, and when they came out, they entered a small town, which Dot assumed was Savega. The roads narrowed until they were almost alleyways, twisting every which way. They drove through a crowded backstreet market filled with clothes and food stalls, coming out into a large square with a central water fountain.

  “This is the main plaza,” Lisa explained as they cr
awled along at a snail’s pace to avoid the hundreds of people milling around. “You’re going to find a good mix of locals and tourists here. The hotel is all-inclusive, but if you fancy a bite to eat out one night, I can recommend some great restaurants and cafés.”

  They entered another system of tight alleyways, the white-painted buildings tall on either side as they twisted deeper into the town. There were balconies with clothes hanging over them, and some people high up were even sitting out in the sun. After a couple of minutes, the car slid to a halt and Lisa finally yanked up the handbrake. Dot ducked to see where they were, wondering how the hotel from the pictures could be tucked away down such a shady back alley.

  “Don’t worry,” Lisa said, smiling through the rear-view mirror at Dot as though she could sense her reservations. “Don’t let the entrance fool you.”

  Promising she’d bring their cases in later, Lisa motioned for them to enter ahead of her. The hotel entrance, which looked a little more basic than the stylish boutique hotel she’d expected, was down four terracotta-tiled steps. They passed tall palm tree plants, as well as an extensive menu for what appeared to be a public restaurant within the hotel.

  Julia and Barker entered first, with Percy and Dot following. The softly air-conditioned air hit Dot’s warm face and her misgivings melted away instantly. Lisa had been right, the entrance was deceptive.

  “Look at that view, Dorothy!” Percy gasped, his hand slipping around hers. “Can you believe it?”

  Dot couldn’t. While Julia and Barker lingered by the reception desk, Dot let the view pull her in. She walked through a large dining room and then a sunroom before emerging onto the large terrace. Though she registered the generously sized pool and even a hot tub, neither interested her just then. She walked right up to the black railing, the only thing separating her from the miles and miles of greenery ahead. A valley dipped down away from the railing, sloping up to a tree-covered mountain. There were the odd clusters of white buildings poking out here and there, but the landscape had remained mostly untouched. They were right on the edge of one of the most beautiful views Dot had seen with her two eyes. The plaza and tight streets felt like they belonged to a different place entirely.