‘How do you know I’ve got the wrong name? If you’ve never signed him in, I mean?’
‘Well, because Cynthia said she didn’t know who he was, didn’t she? And she must know him if she’s given him a pass.’ Elizabeth pulled a face at Flora and made a “duh” sound. Flora forced a smile and nodded.
‘I’m not the sharpest tool in the box today, am I?’
‘I guess you’re just worried about your friend. But Joy will be fine, you’ll see. All the residents love it up there once they’ve settled in. All their meals cooked for them, room service twenty-four hours a day. I’d love it!’
Flora doubted that very much, but she kept her thoughts to herself. Instead she said thanks and turned to walk away. Elizabeth called her back.
‘Don’t suppose you’ve got any change on you? I’m collecting for the Six Wishes Foundation and I’ve only got a ten pound note. I suppose it’s a bit mean of me, but I gave last time. I only wanted to put in a fiver.’
Flora dug out her purse. ‘I’ve only got loose change, sorry.’
Elizabeth sighed. ‘It’s for a good cause, I guess.’
‘I’ve heard that name before. Six Wishes – is it some kind of charity?’
‘It was a favourite of one of our residents, Ida Smith. Did you know her? She left her entire estate to the foundation. It’s coming up to what would have been her birthday so we’re having another whip round.’
‘Sweet.’
‘Expensive!’ Elizabeth gave her girlish laugh. ‘But she was a lovely lady. Heart of gold. I don’t mind, really.’
‘Good luck with your date tonight,’ Flora said, winking.
She left the receptionist staring into space and headed back into town, dodging the midday shoppers who barged past with their elbows out, never bothering to say sorry. ‘Don’t mind me,’ she snapped at a fat man with a baseball cap and about thirty carrier bags hanging off his arms. He didn’t even register her existence.
There was no putting it off any longer – Marshall would have to be told about Shakers losing the Maples’ contract. So much for Rockfords not being a threat. But Flora was almost looking forward to wiping the smug smile off Marshall’s face. Getting pally with the enemy might be the transatlantic way of doing things, but it looked like Marshall had a lot to learn about doing business over here.
Chapter 13
‘Hello? Earth calling Flora Lively. I could do with some navigating here.’
‘Sorry.’ Flora shook herself and looked down at the directions Marshall had given her. ‘I can barely read your writing. You write like a five-year-old.’
‘Know many five-year-olds, do you?’
‘Sitting next to one right now.’
‘So funny. It’s down here somewhere, I’m sure of it. Check where it says Tern Hill roundabout.’
‘Reads. It reads Tern Hill roundabout, it doesn’t say it. Directions can’t speak, can they?’
‘I wish they could, Flora, because they’d make a lot more sense than you. Will you ditch the attitude and just read the directions?’
Flora smiled to herself and held the piece of paper up to hide her face. ‘Okay, at Tern Hill take the third exit – I think it’s a three, it might be an eight – and then go about two kilometres. We kind of work in miles over here, Marshall.’
‘Well so do we, miss clever ass. I just wrote what they told me. I thought it was another of your Britishisms, like “roundabout”. What’s wrong with traffic island, anyway?’
‘Well, you go round it. It’s a roundabout.’
‘Ha. Quaint.’
‘I’ve no idea how far two kilometres is, you know.’
Marshall glanced across the cab in astonishment. ‘Really? No idea at all?’
‘Nope. Is it the same as two miles?’
‘You’re just yanking my chain, right? No one’s that dumb.’
A sharp retort died on her lips as Flora spotted the sign for the new housing development. ‘There it is – Cherry Tree Heights.’
‘And that’s another thing,’ Marshall said, steering the pantechnicon into a lay-by, ‘these crazy tree names you give everything. Cherry Tree Heights, the Maples – you Brits are obsessed with nature.’
‘Why have we stopped?’
Marshall tapped the clock on the dashboard. ‘Not supposed to turn up until contracts are completed. It’s only five of eleven.’
‘Five to eleven,’ Flora corrected. Marshall grinned.
‘You still sore that I got us this new contract?’
She was, but she had no intention of admitting it. Marshall’s reaction to the news that Cynthia was pulling the plug on the Maples’ removals had been far from what she’d expected. He’d shrugged and said, ‘No worries. It was a depressing gig anyway.’
Turned out he had his own news – he’d landed Shakers a deal with massive local builders Spearhead Homes, to offer removal packages to new homeowners.
‘We’re doing a trial this morning,’ he’d told her, holding open the office door to shepherd her out. ‘They were let down by their existing firm. It’s a no-brainer for them. We do a good job and we’re in.’
Flora’s feelings were mixed. She was relieved, and not a little impressed, but also mightily pissed off. Marshall always came up smelling of roses, no matter what. Mind you, there was still the Rockfords’ situation to be resolved. She wasn’t letting that go without a fight.
‘I wish you’d tell me what you and David Rockford were discussing on Saturday.’
Marshall smirked. ‘I know you do.’
‘I saw you shaking hands with him. That’s not normal behaviour with our biggest competitor. That’s not how we do things over here.’
‘Now, what confuses me is this – you say you saw me shaking the guy’s hand, but I saw you walking into the car park after he’d driven away. Which makes me think you were spying on me, Miss Lively. Is that the way it was?’
Flora huffed. ‘No, that’s not how it was. If you must know, I was waiting for him to go.’
Marshall waited for her to go on, eyebrows raised.
‘Okay, I didn’t know who he was, but I had seen him before. He … I was spooked one day, walking in from town. He was there, he seemed nice, concerned.’ She stopped when she saw the look on Marshall’s face. ‘Oh, don’t act the innocent with me. You were rubber-necking down at us. And you must have known who he was even then. He’d obviously been to see you.’
She got nothing but another infuriating grin.
‘Will you tell me what you two were talking about?’
‘Nope.’
‘Was it me?’
The minute the words were out of her mouth, Flora could have kicked herself. Marshall was as sharp as one of Elizabeth’s nails, and she’d just given far too much away. She searched around for a change of subject.
‘I wonder why Rockfords didn’t pitch for the Spearhead Homes deal?’
‘Don’t guess they knew about it. I’ve been developing my contact there for a while now.’
‘“Developing your contact”? Is that code for dating the secretary?’
‘Ha, good one. Speaking about dating, how you getting on with your little librarian?’
Flora whipped her head up. ‘How do you know about Heston?’
‘Heston, is it? Real manly name, that. What car does he drive? One of those super-minis, I guess.’
Flora was saved by an incoming text. ‘It’s the Roberts. They’re on their way. Let’s go.’
Marshall fired up the van and pulled out, still smirking. She read out the directions and they arrived at the new development in ten minutes flat.
‘Characterful place,’ Marshall commented wryly.
Flora ignored him and jumped down from the cab. He could scoff all he wanted – there was nothing wrong with new estates. Well-planned, dinky little houses with their own integral garages and postage-stamp-sized gardens. Not that Flora would actually want to live in one herself. She’d be stuck for transport, for one thing. Unless she finall
y passed her driving test, which was unlikely with her record.
Which reminded her. ‘Where’s Richie today?’
Marshall joined her at the back of the van and began unstrapping the doors. ‘He’s busy doing other stuff.’
‘What stuff?’
‘Have you only just noticed he’s not here? You’re losing it, Flora. I’ve been driving all morning and you’ve only just realised that our driver isn’t actually driving.’ He laughed and slapped her on the back. Flora winced, but she wasn’t fooled.
‘He’s skiving again, isn’t he? And you don’t want to admit it. You were purposely changing the subject the whole way here to keep me from asking. Well, come on – what was it this time?’
‘How’s that little dog of yours? Tonto, isn’t it? Getting on okay?’
‘Otto. And don’t think you’re getting away with it so easily, Marshall. Next time there’s any hiring to do, I’m all over it. You’ve proved yourself rubbish at judging someone’s character.’
Marshall jumped into the van, clearing the four-foot gap like an athlete. ‘We might as well let him go now, anyway. Steve can come in as and when, and it’s not like we need to worry about keeping the Maples’ warden happy, right? Not now you’ve lost us the contract.’
‘I didn’t lose it, it just–’
‘But I tell you what,’ Marshall said, grinning. ‘Now you’re back in charge of hiring and firing, you can give Richie the good news.’
Fuming, Flora stalked towards the black car that had just pulled up outside Plot 21. The young couple inside looked exhausted, but radiantly happy. They stepped out and held hands, gazing up adoringly at their little slice of suburbia. Flora’s anger dissolved instantly.
‘Congratulations on your new home. You’d better tell us where you want everything to go.’
The woman smiled and shook Flora’s hand, then promptly sneezed all over it. ‘Sorry. Hay fever. Better grab some tissues.’ She disappeared back inside the car. The man fished out a set of keys, attached to a Spearhead Homes key ring.
‘Lead the way,’ said Flora, wiping her hand on her jeans. She looked back and saw Marshall leaning against the side of the van, watching her. He smiled and stuck out his tongue. Flora’s face creased into a grin. Sometimes she just didn’t know whether to hit him or hug him.
***
‘What are we doing here again?’
Flora whispered in Marshall’s ear. ‘You know perfectly well. Now shut up and look like you’ve got every right to be here.’
They were hovering outside Mr Vasco’s offices in School Gardens. Yesterday, after they’d unloaded the Roberts’ furniture and about a hundred boxes, Flora had told Marshall about the reading of the Captain’s will. He’d pointed out, quite reasonably, that Flora still didn’t know for certain whether Mr Vasco had actually been the Captain’s solicitor, but Flora brushed his objections aside. Somehow, she just knew. The funeral was at two o’clock, and she planned to be outside Vasco’s office by at least two thirty. If she was wrong, she’d be happy to have wasted her time. But if she was right, she wanted to make sure the once-dodgy solicitor had definitely left his shady past behind him.
When Marshall offered to go with her she was stunned into accepting. But afterwards she figured it might be good to have him along for the ride. Marshall was good with people. Not her, of course, but he could turn it on when he wanted to.
For once, he’d dressed up for the occasion: stone-coloured cords, soft at the knees, and a chambray shirt looked the height of elegance compared to Marshall’s usual attire. Flora had swapped her patched jeans for the pair of black linen trousers she’d last worn at her dad’s funeral. This, and the fact that they were now so loose on her, she tried to put out of her mind.
‘What are you doing?’
Marshall was digging inside a carrier bag. He pulled out what looked like a handful of brightly coloured hair and an old man’s tweed cap.
‘Disguises!’ He held out the hair for Flora to take, shaking it at her when she refused. ‘Go on. It’s a brilliant idea. Just in case he recognises you from the Maples.’
Flora took the wig and inspected it. ‘He barely saw me, Marshall. And I am not wearing this. It looks like it’s got fleas.’
‘I resent that. It happens to belong to my mom. That wig was her pride and joy when she was younger.’
‘Oh. Sorry.’ Marshall could be touchy about his mum. Flora lifted it up and gave it a little brush through with her fingers. ‘And the cap’s for you, is it?’
Marshall was already ramming it on his head. ‘Good morning to you, my fine fellow. I’m here to partake in the reading of the last will and testament of my uncle Solomon Wares.’
Flora giggled. ‘Your English accent is dreadful. And I don’t think you should pretend to be his nephew. It’s too close. Make it more distant.’
‘Get your wig on, then.’
‘I’m not wearing it, Marshall. I don’t need a disguise. No one will know who I am.’
‘Really. What about her?’
Marching up the hill towards them was the warden. She’d swapped her usual uniform of combats and walking boots for a pair of black trousers and shoes with heels. Obviously uncomfortable, her gait was uneven over the cobbles. Flora slipped behind Marshall, grateful for his size.
‘Pull your cap down over your face,’ she hissed. Marshall did as he was instructed.
‘If this was a movie, I’d take you in my arms right now and kiss you.’
For a moment, Flora thought she’d heard him wrong. ‘What did you say?’
‘To hide. You know, in movies when the hero and heroine are trying to avoid being seen the guy pulls the girl into an embrace.’ He laughed. ‘Usually she waits until the coast is clear before stepping back and slapping him. Which is why I didn’t try it.’
Flora could feel her face heating up. She was suddenly aware of how close he was standing, of the heat coming off his body. Her heart was hammering.
‘Ha!’ she managed. ‘I bet you did, alright.’
What had she just said? Did it even make sense?
‘Well, at least that confirms we’re in the right place. Let’s go.’ Marshall took a step forward, but Flora held him back.
‘Hold on. We can’t just waltz in there now, can we? Not now she’s here.’
‘I wasn’t planning on waltzing, but if you insist.’ Marshall tried to take her hand in a dance position, but Flora pushed him off, irritated. Maddening man. Why had she let him come? She just couldn’t think with him around.
‘Wait. No. I don’t think it’s a good idea. She’s already really pissed off with me. She thinks I’m a busybody. She thinks I’m interfering, getting in the way.’
‘She’s got a point.’
Flora whacked him on the arm. ‘Shut up. We need to think of another plan.’
But Marshall was already walking towards the Vasco offices. Flora ran after him.
‘What about our disguises?’ he said.
She held up the tatty wig. ‘You really think this is going to fool someone like Cynthia Curtis?’
‘Hmm. Maybe not. Well, let’s try anyway.’
And before she could stop him, Marshall had pushed open the frosted glass door and marched right in.
‘Here goes nothing.’ Flora followed. The Vasco offices were bigger than they looked from the window. There was a large desk in front of a partition, with the main room swelling out behind. Two shabby-looking couches were pushed against the far wall, and on one of these couches sat the warden, deep in conversation with none other than Mr Vasco himself. There were two more people milling around: a woman with wispy grey hair holding a notepad and a man with a bald head so shiny it reflected the strip light overhead. The woman looked across at Flora and smiled. The man ignored them completely. Flora turned to whisper to Marshall, but he was no longer standing by her side. Instead he was crossing the room and holding out his hand to Mr Vasco.
Flora followed, arriving in time to hear the warden’s gasp
of surprise and her sharp, ‘What are you doing here?’
Marshall’s answer was not what they had rehearsed. ‘We’ve come to make sure the Captain’s will is in order, Mrs Curtis. Flora here has some reservations about it and we wanted to reassure ourselves that it’s all being handled properly.’
What the hell did he think he was doing? This wasn’t the time for the damn truth.
‘Oh. She does, does she?’ The warden turned her icy glare on Flora. ‘I suppose that’s what all your snooping around has been for. Not so worried about poor old Joy, after all.’
Flora’s mouth dropped open. The nerve of the woman! ‘Actually,’ she said, thinking on her feet, ‘I’m here on Joy’s behalf.’ She gestured towards Marshall and laughed. ‘My colleague has got the completely wrong end of the stick. Elizabeth mentioned there might be something in the Captain’s will for Joy, who was a close friend. Joy asked me to come along to the reading as she’s too sick to come herself.’
The warden glared. ‘She looked fine to me when I saw her at breakfast.’
‘You’ll be rethinking her move to Special Care then, if she’s fine.’
Marshall cleared his throat. ‘Ladies. Let’s not forget what we’re here for.’ He nodded towards the solicitor, who was staring at Flora through narrowed eyes.
‘Right.’ Flora looked from Mr Vasco to Cynthia and back again. ‘By the way, this is the man I was asking about yesterday. I believe you have met before after all.’
‘No.’
‘Of course we have.’
Flora glanced at Marshall. That the warden had given one response and Vasco another didn’t surprise her at all. These two knew each other alright. The question was, why had Cynthia lied about it?
Mr Vasco stood, and Flora was surprised again by his height. He even towered over Marshall. ‘I’m afraid only designated parties can attend the reading, young lady. But rest assured if there’s anything in Captain Wares’ will for your friend – what was her name?’
‘Joy Martin,’ said the warden quickly.
‘Right. Well, I’ll be in touch with Mrs Martin in due course if necessary. But now, if you’ll excuse us.’ Mr Vasco turned and waved the man and woman over. Flora and Marshall had no choice but to head for the door. But once they were outside in the sunshine, Flora went on the attack.
Murder at the Maples: A Flora Lively Mystery Page 17