by Laura Walker
'What are you so cheerful about, George? I have a headache after a late night last night and I don’t know how you can touch that stuff.' She said pointing to his plate.
'What are you so cross about?'
'Never you mind.' She said sticking out her tongue at him.
'You seemed intent on what that Hadley chap was saying last night. Fancy him, do you?' He teased.
She shook her head.
'I don’t see that it’s any of your business if I did but anyway, he did tell me an awful lot more than I needed to hear about the criminal mind and such. I switched off after a while. He’s a bit of a bore, like most men.'
'Criminal mind, eh?' George said with a whistle.
'Yes, I think he’s interested in psychology. I however, am not, and nor will I ever be. I noticed something else about him too but I don’t want to tell you about it.'
'What was that, sis?' He said leaning forward with interest.
'I said I don’t want to tell you.'
'Come on sis, I won’t breathe a word.'
'Well, he did seem far more interested than is usual in what was going on around him. He seemed distracted and it made me a little uneasy. I found it almost sinister, in fact.'
'You don’t suppose he’s a criminal, do you?'
'I am not sure but he seemed to know a lot about how they worked.'
'Sounds like an interesting chap to me.'
'How did the meeting with the Earl go?' Aida asked changing the subject.
'Oh, you know. Not much to tell there. He’s no criminal, that’s for certain.'
'Good old father. He can always be relied upon. Where is he by the way?'
'He was up early. Went out.'
'Oh? And Mama?'
'Still in bed I gather.'
'I think I’ll go out riding this morning. It will clear my head.'
*
Mr John Dukesbury, the gentleman whom had quarrelled with Lord Galitzi at the party, sat at his desk on the upper floor of his house in Crown Square. He was deep in thought, his face contorted.
You fool Galitzi. You complete and utter fool. If you think you can mess with me. You have crossed me once too many times. He thought.
He sprang up suddenly from his chair as though a thought had struck him at the last moment and with a quick glance out of the window, rushed out into the street.
*
Galitzi drew back the curtains in the drawing room that same morning at the mansion and peered out into the trees.
There was no sign of the cloaked figure today.
'What are you always waiting and watching for, my love?' Lady Galitzi called from the divan in the corner of the drawing room.
Galitzi let the curtain fall and walked across the room to his wife’s side. He placed his hands upon her shoulders and squeezed them reassuringly.
'It is nothing, Amelia. Don’t you fret.' He said soothingly.
'It is hardly nothing. These diamonds are messing with your head. I wish we had never inherited them.' She lamented.
'How do you know it is about the diamonds?' He asked in surprise.
'I am not a fool.' She replied shaking her head.
'No, you are certainly not that, my love. I am sure it is just paranoia. No more than that, Amelia.' He said taking her hand and kissing it.
'I knew something was up when I saw Inspector Hadley at the party. There is someone interested in getting the diamonds, isn’t there, love?' She asked looking up into his face anxiously.
'We don’t know that. I am not jumping to any conclusions at present and nor is Hadley. It is simply a precaution and it relieves my anxiety a lot to have him there.'
'We are blessed to have a friend in Hadley.' She said warmly.
'We are that, my lovely.'
*
'Sir.' Cried Detective Sergeant Scallop the same morning at the station, as Hadley entered to start work.
'What is it Scallop?' Hadley asked.
'A message from Lord Galitzi for you, Sir.' Said the young red haired officer as he handed him a scrap of paper.
'Thank you, Scallop.' Hadley said taking the paper from him.
His eyes quickly scanned over the writing. It had been written in haste and he could only just make it out. It read:
'In a spot of bother. Meet me at the Starling bridge. LG.'
Somethings odd about this message. L. G.
He’s signed it Lord Galitzi. He would never put his title in a message to me. Was it fear of being found out if the message was read by another? Was it because he had been in haste? He thought.
I suspect foul play. I don’t believe this message is from Galitzi at all. Someone knows I’m on the lookout. Someone from last night. I will go anyway and see if I can find out who sent this.
Scallop waited patiently to see what action he needed to take. He was well used to his boss’ thoughtful moods in their many years of partnership together.
'Right Scallop, we’re going to the bridge. You can wait in the car.' Hadley said throwing him the keys which he caught with one hand.
Scallop parked the car out of sight of the bridge and Hadley jumped out the passenger seat and walked towards the bridge and along it.
As he had anticipated, it was empty. No Galitzi or anyone else in sight. He looked around him and over the bridge to spot anything unusual or suspicious but there was nothing but quiet and calmness.
When he reached the middle of the bridge he heard a screeching of a speeding car and upon spinning around, he saw a black saloon car speeding past him and there was a blaze of gunshots coming from the window of the car.
Hadley fell down on the ground flat to avoid being hit. He stayed in that position until Scallop pulled up in the car and he legged it inside. Scallop then sped off in the direction of the black saloon.
'Are you alright, Sir?' Scallop asked.
'Fine, Scallop. You just concentrate on catching that car.'
'Yes, Sir.'
They drove on a while in silence but there was no sign of the black car.
'I think they’ve gone, Sir. They were going too fast for me to get the registration.'
'Did you see the driver?'
Scallop shook his head.
'The windows were blacked out, Sir.'
'Well, I’m sure about one thing anyway.'
'What’s that Sir?'
'That’s the same car that followed Galitzi. There is definitely a connection to the diamonds and that tells me one thing, Scallop.'
'What is that, Sir?'
'This case is not just Galitzi’s paranoia anymore and someone really does have their eyes on those diamonds.'
CHAPTER FIVE
'Hello, Galitzi.' Hadley called into the phone in his office that afternoon.
'Hadley.'
'Just wanted to fill you in. Someone in a black saloon shot at me on the Starling Bridge this morning. A message which I’d already worked out you didn’t send, told me to meet you on the bridge. Is it the same car you saw following you?'
'That’s the one, too right. I never sent no message neither, Hadley. Your intuition was right there. Did you catch the villain?' Galitzi cried angrily.
'Afraid not. He was going too fast and I had to stay on the ground until Scallop came. Didn’t get the registration neither.'
'Too bad, Hadley. Well, it shows someone is after those diamonds alright.'
'It does indeed. I’m on the case.'
'In light of this, I wonder if I might ask another favour of you, Hadley?'
'Anything Galitzi.'
'Amelia and I are to go into the countryside on Friday night for a long weekend at Lady Edith Chalem’s country estate, Sewsbury Hall. There is a large party of guests staying there. I am going to take the diamonds with me for safekeeping and both Amelia and myself would feel safer if you joined us. I can wangle you in with Lady Chalem, that won’t be a concern.'
'Count me in then.'
'Excellent, Hadley. You have set my mind at rest already and Amelia will be rel
ieved also.'
*
'Honestly Aida. Why you have to bring so much stuff for a weekend is beyond my comprehension.' George Sanderson lamented to his sister beside him in the back seat of their silver car. It was Friday and the family were on their way to Sewsbury Hall, like the Galitzi’s.
'I would imagine it is beyond your comprehension, George. I have to look nice and wear a fresh outfit each day in front of all the guests. I wouldn’t want to be disgraced in front of Lady Chalem.'
'Why ever not?'
'Oh, do be quiet George and stop teasing your sister.' Mrs Rose Sanderson called from the passenger seat. She was dressed in a brown fur coat and hat and to look at her from the back one would think there was a grizzly bear in the car! She was an older version of her daughter to look at and would have been just as beautiful once upon a time. She was a proud lady and strove to keep up with the rich and famous in style and all other aspects of life. She had spoiled her children considerably and was thus paying the price of this in later life.
'Yes, George. Stop teasing.' Aida cried triumphant that her mother had taken her side, as she always did.
George glared at Aida and retreated into a gloomy silence.
Mr Alan Sanderson wisely stayed silent and drove the car as though he had not heeded anything that was being said.
*
Also on their way to Sewsbury Hall were the Dukesbury’s. Celia Dukesbury anxiously wrung her hands in the passenger seat of their red MG convertible sports car. She was usually a bouncy blonde with lots of energy in reserve, not the anxious type at all. She was a good twenty years younger than her husband and wore thick makeup plastered on her face.
'What is the matter with you, Celia?' Her husband shouted in irritation. 'Won’t you keep your hands still.' His wild grey hair blew around the top of his head in the breeze.
'You will behave yourself this weekend won’t you, John?' She asked.
'Whatever do you mean Celia? I always behave myself.'
'The Galitzi’s will be there though, John.'
'Well?'
'Well, don’t be angry with him, dear.'
'Angry? He started it.'
'Never mind that. You must be polite. You must behave in front of Lady Chalem.'
'I will, my dear. If you will stop fussing.'
'Do you promise?'
'Yes.'
*
Upon arrival at Sewsbury Hall, which revealed itself as a beautiful grey castle like structure amongst a forest of pine trees with delightful grounds including a lake in the foreground, the guests all retreated to their rooms to freshen up and change for lunch.
The gentlemen were all assembled in the huge high ceilinged drawing room with a long crystal chandelier, awaiting the ladies, when Galitzi and Hadley joined them.
'Ah, Lord Galitzi. Hadley.' George Sanderson cried moving away from the huge empty fire place he had been propping himself up against when they entered, and shaking both their hands.
'George.' They both said with a nod.
'Mighty fine day, isn’t it?' George said.
'It is grand, yes.' Galitzi said.
'What a bore waiting for these ladies, eh.' George said after taking a sip of his brandy.
'I’m surprised the car would go this morning with all the luggage Aida and Mother insisted on bringing. Is the Lady Amelia the same?' George continued.
'I’m afraid she is, George.' Galitzi said with a chuckle and nudging Hadley who smiled in reply.
'Ladies eh? I want none of them. Confirmed bachelors you and me both, eh Hadley?'
'Indeed, George.' Hadley replied.
'Complaining about me again, George?' Aida said from the doorway.
They both turned to find her stood right behind them as she had edged further into the room.
'I wouldn’t do that.' George said emphatically.
Aida rolled her eyes.
Hadley could do nothing but stare at her as he took in her appearance. She wore a yellow ruffle sleeved dress, with a flowing skirt that came to just below her knees and a blue ribbon tied in a bow around her tiny waist and blue heeled shoes.
'It is good to see you again, Mr Hadley.' She said after waiting for him to speak for what seemed like a good ten minutes.
Still, he didn’t speak but he took the hand she held out to him and kissed it in silence.
With all the ladies then presenting themselves in the drawing room, the guests moved into the dining room and took their places at the table. This time Hadley was seated next to John Dukesbury and he managed to question him discreetly.
'Have you known Lady Chalem long?' He asked to get started.
'Not ever so long. My wife’s known her all of her life.'
'Is that so? Do you get into this part of the country often?'
'Not that often, no. Celia prefers town life actually.'
'And yourself?'
'I’m easy.'
'I find the people much more interesting in the town, myself.'
'Yes, indeed.' He said with a laugh.
Aida watched them from the other end of the table where she sat between her mother and father.
This is so boring. Why couldn’t Mr Hadley sit next to me? I just don’t understand him. He seems distracted again. Is he content to remain a bachelor as George said when I walked in? She was thinking.
'Are you alright, my dear?' Madame Genevieve asked leaning across Mr Sanderson who seemed to be in a daze as usual.
'Yes, thank you.' Aida replied startled out of her thoughts.
'You look a little crestfallen, dear.'
'Do I?' She said feeling her face flush as though Madame Genevieve had read her thoughts.
'Just relaxing after the journey, I expect.'
'I suppose that’s it, Madame Genevieve.'
CHAPTER SIX
After lunch, they all went for a walk among the extensive grounds of Sewsbury Hall. Hadley hung back away from the crowd to observe them without being too conspicuous. He also kept a lookout around the grounds to see if there was anyone watching Galitzi. Aida turned suddenly and noticing that he was alone, went to join him.
'You look lonely, Mr Hadley.' She said smiling.
'Miss Sanderson.'
'Why are you being so mysterious again, Mr Hadley? I cannot work you out.'
'You would do better not to enquire, Miss Sanderson.'
'Are you always so stubborn?'
'Not all the time, no. I..' He broke off as his eyes suddenly rested on a figure stood amongst the trees. On closer scrutiny, he saw that it was the same man he followed from Galitzi’s party. He followed his eyes and it seemed he was focused on Galitzi.
Was it Galitzi or was it one of the others he was watching? It’s hard to tell when they are walking side by side like that. Is he following Galitzi? He thought.
'Mr Hadley.' Aida’s indignant voice broke through his thoughts. He turned to her startled.
'I beg your pardon, Miss Sanderson.'
'You’re doing it again. Do I bore you or something?' She said sulkily. She wasn’t used to not getting what she wanted.
'Quite the contrary, I assure you. I find you most interesting.' Hadley said playfully.
'Do you really?' She said blushing.
'Mr Hadley.' Lady Amelia called turning suddenly and waiting for him to catch up
'Excuse me.' He said to Aida and sprang to Lady Galitzi’s side.
Aida pouted and joined the others.
What is so special about Lady Amelia that he should be so keen to come to her assistance? She thought jealously.
'I want to speak with you about Galitzi, Mikey. The truth is I am terribly worried about him. These diamonds have been the bain of his life. He is so worried about losing them. I can understand that they are precious to him but is it worth keeping them, I ask him. What should I do, Mikey?' Lady Amelia said once they were far enough away not to be overheard by anyone.
'I wish I could tell you, my Lady. I will do all in my power to ensure their safekeeping.'
He replied with feeling.
'I know you will, Mikey. It helps to know you are here. I hope you know that.'
'Thank you, my Lady.'
Hadley had a quick glance around as they joined the rest of the group again. The man in the trees was now nowhere in sight.
I wonder how Scallop’s getting on trying to trace the car he left Galitzi’s party in. It wasn’t the black saloon. Perhaps it was hired. He thought. Galitzi will have to be careful where he keeps the diamonds tonight. I will warn him later.
Hadley awoke from his reverie in time to tune into a conversation John and Celia Dukesbury were having just in front of him. He tried to walk silently so as not to alert them to his being in ear shot. The rest of the guests had moved on up the hill.
'Diamonds? Are they very expensive then?' Celia was saying excitedly.
'I believe they are worth millions. I couldn’t say precisely how much.' John said.
'They? How many are there of them?'
'Four, I think. So I read anyway and they are whoppers.'
'Do you suppose he carries them with him?'
'Oh, I am confident he does, my dear.'
I wonder if this conversation is just passing interest or if there is a lot more to it than that? The diamonds they are discussing may not even be Galitzi’s but it did fit the description. There are other diamonds though. He thought.
*
'What an interesting piece, Aida.' Mrs Sanderson exclaimed in the drawing room after dinner that evening.
Aida was seated in the middle of the purple silk divan alone with her dress draped at either side, looking like a princess with attitude as she watched Hadley having a discreet conversation with her father in the right hand corner of the room. She wore a white silk evening gown with a long flowing skirt and diamantes on the shapely bodice. Her hair was coiled up at the back and coming higher at the forehead. She had not spoken to Hadley since their walk and she was still in a fit of jealousy at being slighted for Lady Amelia.
Mrs Sanderson was stood at the back of her daughter admiring a large portrait of one of Lady Chalem’s relatives. Aida paid no heed to her mother’s enthusiasm for the painting. Lady Chalem however, seemed charmed and joined her by the painting and a lively discussion about its history ensued.