by Cathy Ace
‘What if we went and confronted the father?’ suggested Annie. ‘All of us go, mob-handed, and put it to him we know he’s done something. If we could get the mother on our side, and the grandfather as well, that might swing it. You know – strength in numbers.’
The women considered the idea. ‘Not much of a mob are we?’ said Christine, voicing the opinion of all. ‘I mean, look at us. This enquiring business was never formulated on our physicality – it’s all about us using our brains, our knowledge and our contacts to ferret out information. All he’d have to do would be slam the door in our faces and we’d be finished.’
‘I could ask Tudor to come with us. And there’s Ian, right, Althea? He’d come, wouldn’t he? And I could bring me dad – though maybe Eustelle would be more frightening,’ offered Annie.
‘I’m not convinced a couple of cars full of a rag-tag group would be a good way to go about it. It would look as though we were threatening physical violence,’ replied Christine.
‘Well …’ said Annie huffily.
‘You can go where you like here,’ said Carol triumphantly, bringing up a map on the laptop screen instead of her face. Her voice continued, ‘The agreement between the Twysts and the Morris family gives clear map coordinates for the land owned by the Twysts, and that remaining in the Morris family. I have outlined the area the Twysts own in green, that owned by the Morrises in red. As you can see, the parcel owned by you, Althea, abuts your other land, whereas theirs is quite close to the main farmhouses, and runs to the road. It’s almost a complete half-and-half situation. If I open up the satellite imagery too you can see where the Morris and Roberts houses are – here and here – as well as the major collection of barns and outbuildings – here.’ Carol remotely moved a little pointer as Mavis pushed her spectacles onto her nose.
‘Got it,’ said Mavis eventually. ‘Look – there’s a narrow track that leads down to Chellingworth Hall through the Morris/Twyst area. And see where it ends? Not far from the New Buttery. Rhys Roberts could have driven along that track to deliver the Anwen Morris packages. He’d not have been seen approaching the hall along the main driveway, which might be why only a couple of people recalled seeing a Land Rover that day.’
‘Well spotted,’ said Annie. ‘I bet that’s what he did.’
‘Now here,’ continued Carol, stretching the image on the screen so that it became enlarged and using the pointer again, ‘is the spot where Aubrey Morris’s van was found. See how close it is, across country, to the Roberts house? Given it was parked out of sight, he might have left it there to go to Ann Roberts’s house on foot. And look, there are a couple of other buildings. Because it’s just an overhead shot I can’t tell you what they are, but, given how close they are to a couple of the stone walls we can see forming a lattice on the hillside, I’d say they might be feed stores or shearing barns, I don’t know. I must admit it’s difficult to get a good sense of scale, but they don’t look very big, and one of them appears to have only half a roof. Maybe they are completely abandoned. Maybe—’
‘Maybe that’s where Rhys Roberts is hiding Aubrey and Ann,’ interrupted Althea. ‘Can we go there without the police? Are they on Twyst land?’
‘They are,’ replied Carol, making the image smaller again so the women could tell that they appeared in the green zone. ‘But as for getting there? It would be quite a hike. As you can see, they aren’t near any visible tracks – which makes me think it’s even more likely they aren’t in constant, current use. If they were, and they were for storage, you’d expect to see tracks for vehicles. You could certainly use the track that leads from Chellingworth Hall for some distance, but then you’d have to cut across country for about a mile or more before you got there. I don’t think I’d be much use, in fact—’
‘Down to me and Chrissie, in’t it?’ said Annie with a sigh. ‘Only two up to it, I’d say – with all due respect Mavis, Althea.’
‘I have absolutely no doubt that Althea and I would be more than capable of undertaking such a hike, Annie,’ said Mavis tartly. ‘On a weekly basis we cover several miles of energetic walks, whereas I’m not sure I’ve seen you do much more than amble from the village to this office.’
Annie pulled a face that spoke volumes.
‘Come on now ladies,’ said Carol. ‘I know I can’t volunteer because, of course, David would go ballistic and I’ve got to admit to myself I wouldn’t be up to it. But, in any case, what are any of us going to do when we get there? If there’s nothing there but abandoned buildings, then, OK, you’d just walk back to Chellingworth Hall again. But what if there’s a situation that demands an immediate response? If Aubrey, Ann, or both of them are there, needing medical attention, or just assistance to get back to civilization, what then? Would you carry them out? It’s just not practical. What if there’s no mobile phone signal there – and it’s likely there isn’t – how would you summon help? See? We can’t, any of us, just go yomping off around the countryside looking for lost souls. It’s silly, and probably dangerous.’
‘What if Rhys Roberts has got a gun?’ said Annie, still looking and sounding sulky. ‘He could have. Farmers do, don’t they?’
‘They’d be allowed to own guns for certain purposes, and with the correct paperwork,’ replied Mavis. ‘But this isn’t the Wild West, Annie, nor Downtown LA in the 1940s. People don’t go about the place with rifles on their hips or revolvers in their waistbands. This is Wales.’
‘We’ve got a lot of guns up at the hall,’ said Althea brightly. ‘We could take some of them with us.’
Mavis leaped to her feet. ‘Now hold your horses, no one’s going anywhere, with or without firearms. Carol’s made a fair point. Those buildings are a good distance from anywhere. We’d need vehicles that could get us there.’
‘There are no tracks shown on the map,’ said Christine simply, ‘but my Range Rover’s pretty good at most terrains, I could take that.’
‘Walls,’ said Carol. ‘There are no gates in the walls. I don’t think even your Range Rover can jump over those dry-stone walls.’
Silence. Annie leaped to her feet as though she’d been electrocuted. ‘Hang on a minute, girls, I think I’ve got the answer. You’re right, Mave – we’d better hold our horses. Let me give someone a quick ring. Don’t talk about it without me – vamp for a bit.’ She took her handbag with her to the far end of the barn and the women could see her searching for her phone.
Sighing and stretching Christine asked wickedly, ‘Will McFli be at the church?’
Mavis glared and said, ‘Ach.’
Althea returned Christine’s impish grin, ‘I did discuss the possibility with Henry, but only because I knew it would send him into a fit. No, McFli will remain with me at the hall until the ceremony, then he’ll be taken to the Dower House. He’s a delightful creature, but there will be hundreds of pairs of feet at the reception, and he could get trampled. Certainly he’d become too excited. It’s best he stays in a place where he’s safe and comfortable, even if he is alone.’
‘Horses,’ announced Annie rejoining the group. ‘Great inspiration, Mave. I spoke to Tudor and he can get us a couple of horses to ride out to the barns or whatever they are, and he’ll come too.’
‘Very clever,’ praised Mavis as Annie stood tall with pride. ‘Though I cannot imagine you’re much of a horsewoman yourself, Annie. Knowing how you feel about cars, how can you possibly be prepared to sit on a horse?’
Crestfallen Annie replied, ‘I’m not one for horses myself – to be honest, I find them frightening, but if we need to get there, that’s the best way. I’m sure I’ll manage. Tudor said I’d probably be very good at managing a horse because they know who’s in charge right away.’
No one said a word. Their expressions did the talking.
Clearing her throat Althea said, ‘Having ridden for half a century, believe me when I tell you a Welsh hillside is not where you want to be when you find out whether you’re a natural horsewoman or not. It’s far too da
ngerous – both for you and the horse. Mr Evans might have every faith in your innate ability on the back of a beast, but beasts they are, and while he might be correct in stating they know instinctively if a rider is in charge, they are equally aware if a rider is nervous. Annie, my dear, I think you’ve had a good idea, but it’s not one I can condone. Maybe we could ask Tudor to undertake the search on our behalf.’
‘I’m a very good horsewoman,’ said Christine. ‘Maybe I could ride up there with Tudor?’
‘Tudor Evans was a sound hunt rider, when we hunted,’ said Althea thoughtfully. ‘Good seat, excellent handling, and I’d trust him to do our bidding. And you, Christine – Irish horses? Bareback?’ Christine nodded and grinned. ‘Good, then you’ll know how to handle pretty much any sort of mount. Since I stopped riding our stables are empty, I’m afraid. All given over to the making of honey, beeswax candles and soap for the little shop at the hall. If Tudor can get you some good steeds, you two would make quick work of the ride there and back. You could take some emergency medical supplies with you, and of course you’d have your mobile phones. Even if they didn’t work at the structures in question they might at other spots. What do you think, Mavis?’
Mavis stood, taking control of the situation. Checking her watch she said, ‘It’ll be dark in half an hour. You can’t go now. Too dangerous, however good the two of you might be on horseback. Annie – do you think Tudor might be able to arrange things for first light tomorrow? If there’s someone out there I hate to think of them having to endure another night in such frigid temperatures, but I cannae see we have any alternative. Could you check with him, Annie?’
Annie nodded. ‘He said he had to pop out for an hour or so – to see a man about a dog he said, so I don’t know what he’s really doing. I’ll drop by the Lamb and Flag on my way back to the cottage.’ Mavis and Althea exchanged a knowing glance.
‘Very good,’ agreed Mavis. ‘So, if this is our plan, what else can we be doing this evening to progress the investigation?’
‘I can write all this up, properly, with photos and such, so our case is as prepared as possible to be put in front of the police tomorrow, depending on what Christine and Tudor find,’ said Carol.
‘I’ll see Tudor,’ added Annie, ‘but I’ll have to make sure I spend some time with Eustelle and Dad too. Maybe I’ll treat them to a bite to eat at the pub.’
‘Good idea,’ said Carol. ‘Your dad would probably like that, and it’ll give Eustelle a chance to have another natter with Tudor. She’s quite taken to him, I understand.’
Annie sucked her teeth by way of a reply.
‘I’ll dig out something to ride in – though I’m not sure what I’ve got here that will do,’ said Christine. ‘There again, I never was one for proper riding boots or anything.’
‘You’ll wear protective headgear at least,’ said Althea. ‘That’s something I am able to provide. Come to the hall with me – we have any number of hats there. Something’s bound to fit.’
Mavis chipped in next: ‘With Althea and myself at the hall again tonight, I could offer to—’
‘You’ll be on dinner guest entertaining duty with me, dear,’ said Althea. ‘The hall is overrun with people. Your parents don’t arrive until tomorrow, Christine, am I correct?’ Christine nodded. ‘Good,’ said Althea, ‘I’m not sure how the Timbers would cope with two more titles at the table. Poor things, they are so completely at sea. Sheila looked terrified at dinner last night – wouldn’t touch the cutlery until I did. It’s all so silly. They are good people with a lovely daughter, and I’m no snob.’
‘I don’t think it’s you they’re worried about,’ said Mavis quietly. ‘Henry can be a bit, you know, sometimes.’
Althea nodded. ‘Stuffed shirt. My fault.’
Mavis patted her friend’s hand. ‘Not your fault, remember? It was the nanny, right?’ the two women shared a smile.
With the meeting at an end, the women took their leave of each other; Althea, Mavis and Christine headed for dinner at Chellingworth Hall, Carol signed off and Annie trudged to her cottage where it was her plan to talk her parents into joining her at the Lamb and Flag for a tasty treat from Tudor’s menu.
All of them tried to push to one side the thought that, somewhere in the chill of the night, a young man and woman might possibly be hoping for release from an unpleasant captivity.
THIRTY
Friday, February 28th
Annie set off the next morning when it was still almost dark, and did as she had promised – she phoned Carol so they could catch up as she walked to the hall.
‘Hiya doll, feelin’ alright?’ she opened.
‘Fine thanks. It was a big help to sit and organize everything last night and get it into one file. I like the sense of control I get from arranging facts in order. That’s not weird, is it?’
‘Nah,’ said Annie, thinking it was. Annie yawned. ‘Sorry,’ she said in a sleepy voice, ‘it’s not that early I know, but I couldn’t sleep. Something’s got up Eustelle’s nose and she’s thrown some sort of wobbly with Tudor. Wouldn’t tell me what. Went off on one at the pub last evening when we all went there for dinner. And for no reason at all.’
‘What was she doing when she “went off”?’ asked Carol.
‘Nothing. Well, getting cutlery from the side of the bar while Tudor went to get our food, that’s all, so as good as nothing. One minute she was all over him, pleased as punch to see him and me dad having a good old natter, then she went weird. Like she couldn’t get us out of there fast enough.’
Carol spoke quietly, ‘Sorry, Annie. Maybe she’ll be alright by this afternoon.’
‘Yeah. Hope Stephanie’s doing alright too,’ said Annie with a sigh. ‘I wonder what it’s like to be a bride. I s’pose she must love him. I dunno, Henry’s nice and all that, and he’s being very kind to all of us, but he’s got the personality of a stick. The sort they shove up your backside at Eton, you know, to keep you upright through thick and thin. He’s so different from Althea. Good old laugh, she is. I can see why she and Mave get on so well. She’s the sort of old bird anyone would like to have as their gran. Jolly, you know. Cor, there’s Tudor – a real sight for sore eyes.’ Annie waved. ‘Gotta go, Car. Phone you later, alright. Sorry you’re missing it all, doll, but keep your feet up, let us know if you hear from Bridgend and look after Bump.’
Just as Annie walked up to the front steps of the hall, Christine arrived looking svelte in a full-length waxed cotton riding coat. Annie wondered how she managed it. She even looked good with the lump of a riding hat on her head. Annie reckoned if she tried it on she’d look like something out of a Thelwell illustration. She sighed. Alexander arrived moments later, perfectly turned out in a country suit that made him look very dashing.
‘Hello, Alexander,’ said Annie shaking his hand warmly. ‘I knew you were arriving today but you’ve managed to get here very early.’
‘He surprised me when I got back to my apartment at the barn after dinner last night,’ said Christine quickly, blushing a little.
Annie let out a raucous laugh. ‘I can imagine what he surprised you with,’ she mugged.
‘Annie!’ chided Christine, nonchalantly walking toward the steed Tudor was leading toward her.
‘I’ll wait here with you, Annie,’ said Alexander easily. ‘Christine assures me she doesn’t need my help with this part of the investigation. Apparently I earned my keep in Brighton.’
‘And how’d you do that, exactly?’ said Annie with a wicked grin.
‘By helping her find the perfect wedding gift for Henry and Stephanie, of course,’ replied Alexander, his eyes sparkling with mystery.
Mavis and Althea arrived next, and they were all joined by Henry and Stephanie, who’d decided they didn’t want to miss out on the proceedings. With everyone present and correct, Mavis handed over the maps she’d printed out from Carol’s emails and Christine assured her she was excellent at using a compass, which she showed Mavis three times to prove s
he was properly equipped. Saddlebags holding basic medical supplies had been prepared and the horses were inspected one last time. Just as the riders were about to set off, Bob Fernley came rushing out of the estate office waving his arms.
‘Don’t frighten the horses,’ said Althea abruptly as she held up her small hand in a most arresting manner.
‘Sorry, Your Grace, I just wanted to bring these out.’ He held something toward Tudor, who, to Annie’s eyes at least, looked every inch the country squire on his large steed.
‘What’s that then?’ said Tudor in his booming voice.
‘They are distress flares,’ said the estate manager. Looking over at the dowager he added, ‘I suggest you only use them far enough away from the animals so as not to cause them concern – they’re silent, in that they don’t bang, but they will make a loud whooshing sound. I suggest you use one if you need us to organize an immediate police presence, and two if you also need medical assistance. If you do, I happen to know we have at least one local paramedic who rides well.’
Tudor looked impressed. ‘You’re very well prepared.’
‘Her Grace told me last night what was planned for this morning. I’ve done all I can think of,’ replied Bob Fernley, ‘given the circumstances.’
‘Let’s not hang about then. Are you ready?’ asked Tudor of Christine. She nodded, and the two set off at a canter.
Annie felt she wanted to pull a hanky out of her pocket and start waving it at Tudor’s receding figure, then she told herself she was being stupid and said, ‘I could kill for a cuppa. I suppose we’ve got time. Any chance I could make one in your office, Bob?’
Bob Fernley hesitated for a second, looked at the duke, then the dowager and said, ‘But of course. Would you all like to come over?’
‘Thank you, Bob,’ said Althea, ‘but I think it’s much better if we all go to the long portrait gallery on the second floor and wait there. I’m sure someone at the hall will be able to rustle up a tea tray. It’s an excellent vantage point. We’ll be able to watch their progress and keep an eye open for flares. Come along.’