DrivingForce.
d.i.c.kFrancis.
CHAPTER1.
Ihadtoldthedriversneveronanyaccounttopickupahitchhikerbutofcourseonedaytheydid,andbythetimetheyreachedmyhousehewasdead.
ThebellbythebackdoorrangasIwasheatingupleft-overbeefstewforafairlyboringsupper,consequenceoflivingalone,andwithbarelyasighandnopremonitionIswitchedoffthehotplate,putthesaucepantoonesideandwenttoseewhohadcome.Friendstendedtoenteratoncewhileyellingmyname,asthedoorwa.s.seldomlocked.Employeesmostlyknockedfirstandenterednext,stillwithlittleceremony.Onlystrangersrangthebellandwaited.
Thistimeitwasdifferent.ThistimewhenIopenedthedoorthelightfrominsidethehousefellyellowlyonthestretchedscaredeyesoftwoofthemenwhoworkedforme,whostooduncomfortablyonthedoormatshiftingfromfoottofoot,agonisedlyandobviouslyexpectantofwrathtocome.
Myownresponsetotheseclearsignalsofdisasterwasthefamiliaradrenalinerushofalarmthatnoamountofdealingwithearliercrisescouldprevent.Theoldpumpquickened.Myvoicecameouthigh.
"What"sthematter?"Isaid."Whathappened?"
Iglancedovertheirshoulders.Thebulkofoneofthetwolargestinmyfleetofhorseboxesstoodrea.s.suringlyintheshadowsoutonthetarmackedparkingarea,thehouselightsraisinggleamsalongitssilveryflank.Atleasttheyhadn"trunitintoaditch:atleastthey"dbrought.i.thome.Allelsehadtobesecondary.
"Look,Freddie,"DaveYatessaid,adefensivewhinedeveloping,"it"snotourfault."
"Whatisn"t?"
"Thisfour-eyeswepickedup..."
"Youwhat?"
Theyoungeronesaid,"Itoldyouweshouldn"t,Dave."
Inhimtheanxietywhinewasalreadyfull-blown,sincewrigglingoutofblamewashisfamiliarhabit.He,BrettGardner,alreadyonmylistforthechop,hadbeenhiredforhismusclesandhismechanicalknow-how,thewhingingnatureatfirstunsuspected.Histhreemonths"trialperiodwasalmostup,andIwouldn"tbemakinghimpermanent.
Hewasacompetent.w.a.tchfuldriver.I"dtrustedhimfromthestartwithmybiggestandmostexpensivewagonsbutI"dhadrequestsfromseveralgoodcustomersnottosendhimtotransporttheirhorsestotheraces,ashetendedtosowhisowndissatisfactionslikeavirus.Stableladstravellingwithhimwenthomeincubatinggrouses,totheiremployers"irritation.
"Itwasn"tasifwehadanyhorsesonboard,"DaveYateswa.s.saying,tryingtoplacate."JustBrettandme."
I"dtoldallthedriversoverandoverthatpickinguphitchhikerswhiletherewerehorsesonboardinvalidatedtheinsurance.ItoldthemI"dsackanyoftheminstantlyiftheydidthat.I"dalsotoldthemnever,ever,togiveanyliftsatalltoanyone,eveniftheboxwasemptyofhorses,andeveniftheyknewthelift-beggerpersonally.No,Freddie,ofcoursenot,they"dsaidseriously;andnowIwonderedjusthowoftenthey"ddisobeyedme.
"Whataboutthefour-eyes?"Isaid,myannoyanceobvious."What"sactuallythematter?"
Davesaiddesperately,"He"sdead."
"You...stupid..."Wordsfailedme,drownedinanger.Icouldhavehithim,andnodoubthesawit,backingawayinstinctively,frightrising.Allsortsofscenariospresentedthemselvesinrapidsuccession,noneofthempromisinganythingb.u.t.troubleandlawsuits."Whatdidhedo?"Idemanded."Trytojumpoffwhileyouweremoving?Ordidyourunhimover..."AnddearChrist,Ithought,let.i.tnotbethat.
Dave"ssurprisedshakeoftheheadputatleastthosefearstorest.
"He"sinthebox,"hesaid."Lyingontheseat.WetriedtowakehimwhenwegottoNewbury,totellhimitwastimetogetoff.Andwecouldn"t.Imean...he"sdead."
"Areyousure?"
Theybothreluctantlynodded.
Iswitchedontheoutsidelightstofloodthetarmacwithvisibilityandwentoverwiththemforalook-see.Theyskitteredoneeachsideofme,crabbingsideways,makingunhappydeprecatingflappingmovementswiththeirhands,tryingtoshedtheirguilt,tojustifythemselves,togetmetounderstanditwasunfortunatebutnot,definitelynot,asDavehadsaid,theirfault.
Dave,ofaboutmyownheight(fivenine)andage(mid-thirties)wasprimarilyahorsemanandsecondarilyadriver,usuallytravellingwithanimalsthatforsomereasonweren"tbeingsentwithenoughattendantsoftheirown.I"dseenhimandBrettoffthatmorningtopickupninetwo-year-oldslocallyforaone-waytriptoNewmarket,theirownerbeingintheprocessoftransferringhisentirestringfromoneperfectlygoodtrainertoanotherinatypicalbad-temperedhuff.Itwasn"tthatman"sfirstexpensiveacross-countryflounce,andnodoubtnothislast.I"dshippedhisthree-year-oldcoltsforhimthepreviousdayandwasbookedforfilliesonthemorrow.Moremoneythansense,Ithought.
Iknewtheninetwo-year-oldshadarrivedsafelyintheirnewhomeasBretthadmadethecustomarycallstomyofficebothwhenhereachedhisdestinationandatthestartofhisreturnjourney.Alltheboxeswereequippedwithmobilephones:theregularreportingcallswereausefulroutine,eveniftheolderdriversthoughtonefussy.FussyFreddietheymightwellcallmebehindmyback,butwithafleetoffourteenboxeszig-zaggingroundEnglandmostdayscarryingmulti-millionfortunesonthehoof,Icouldn"taffordignoranceornegligentmistakes.
Thefrontcabsofbighorseboxeswerealwaysprettyroomy,havingtoaccommodateseveralattendantsbesidesoneorsometimestwodrivers.Thecabsofmynine-horserigscouldholdeightpeopleatapinch,notinpullmancomfortbutatleastsittingdown.Behindthedriverandthetwofrontpa.s.sengerseatsalongpaddedrea.r.s.eatusuallygavesupporttofourorfivenarrowbottoms:onthisoccasion,itsentirelengthwasoccupiedbyonemanlyingonhisback,feettowardsme,silentandnolongerworriedabouttime.
Iclimbedintothecabandstoodlookingdownathim.
I"dexpected,I"drealised,somesortoftramp.Someonewithastubble,smellyjacket,grubbyjeans,downonhisluck.Notaprosperous-lookingmiddle-agedfatmaninsuit,tieandgoldonyxsignetring,withleather-soledpolishedshoespointingmutelytoheaven.Notamanwholookedasifhecouldhaveboughtothermoresuitabletransport.
Hewascertainlydead.Ididn"tattempttofeelforapulse,norclosethesaggingmouthorthehalf-openlidsbehindthethick-lensedgla.s.ses.Arolleduphorserughadprovidedhimwithpillow.Onearmhadfallenbyhisside,thehandwiththeringrestinglaxlyonthefloor,nearbutnottouchingablackbriefcase.Ijumpeddownfromthecab,shut.i.tsdoorandlookedattheworriedfacesofmymenwhowouldnolongermeetmyeyes.
"Howmuchdidhepayyou?"Iaskedbluntly.
"Freddie!"Davewriggledinembarra.s.sment,tryingtodenyit,happy-go-luckyalways,likeable,butofvariablegoodsense.
"I"dnever..."Brettbegan,fakeindignationalwaysready.
Igavehimadisillusionedstareandinterrupted,"Wheredidyoupickhimup,whydidhewantaride,andhowmuchdidheoffer?"
"Davefixedit,"Brettsaidaccusingly.
"Butyouhadyourcut."Itookitforgranted;notaquestion.
"Brettaskedhimformore,"Davesaidwithfury."Demandedit."
"Yes,well,calmdown."Ibegantowalkbacktowardsthehouse."You"dbettersortoutwhatyou"regoingtotellthepolice.Didhegiveyouaname,forinstance?"
"No,"Davesaid.
"Orareasonforwantingalift?"
"Hiscarhadbrokendown,"Daveexplained."HewasattheSouthMinimsservicestation,pacingaboutandsweatingroundbythedieselpumps,tryingtogetthedriverofanoiltankertotakehimtoBristol."
"So?"
"So,well,hehadafistfulofreadiesb.u.t.thetankerwasgoingtoSouthampton."
"Whatwereyoudoingbythedieselpumpsanyway?"Iasked.
They"dhadnoneedtotakeonmorefuel,notjustgoingtoNewmarketandback.
"We"dstoppedthere,"Davesaidvaguely.
"Davehadastomachache,"Brettenlarged."Thesquits.Wehadtostoptogethimsomethingforit."
"Imodium,"Daveconfirmed,nodding."Iwasjustwalkingpastthepumpsonmywayback,see?"
BleaklyIledthewayintothehouse,goingthroughthebackdoorintothehallandthenwheelingleftintothebigall-purposeroomwhereIcustomarilyspentmuchofmytime.Idrewbackthecurtains,revealingthehorseboxoutonthetarmac,andstoodlookingat.i.twhileIphonedthepolice.
Thelocalconstablewhoansweredknewmewell,aswe"dbothspentmuchofourlivesintheracingcentreofPixhill,abigvillagevergingonsmalltownsprawlingacrossafoldofdownlandinHampshire,southofNewbury.
"Sandy?"Isaidbriefly,whenheanswered."ThisisFreddieCroft.I"veaslightproblem...Oneofmyboxespickedupahitchhikerwhoseemstohavediedonthejourney.Doyoumindcomingover?He"soutsidemyhouse,notalongatthefarm."
"Dead,doyoumean?"heaskedcautiously,afterapause.
"Imeandead.Asinnotbreathing."
Heclearedhisthroat."You"renothavingmeon?"
"Sorry,no."
"Well,allright.Tenminutes."
Pixhill"stokenpoliceforceconsistedofSandyalone,aWildWestoutpostonthefrontiersoflawandorder.Pixhill"spolicestationconsistedofanoffice-roominSandy"shouse,wherehischiefactivitywaswritinguprecordsofhisdailypatrols.Outofhours,likenow,hewouldbewatchingtelevisioninscruffyclothes,drinkingbeerandcasuallycuddlinghischildren"smother,aplumpladyperenniallyinbedroomslippers.
Inthetenpromisedminutesbeforehespedimportantlyontomytarmacinhisofficialcarwitheveryavailablelightflashing,Ilearnednotmuchmoreaboutourunwelcomedeceasedguest.
"HowwasItoknowhe"ddieonus?"DavesaidaggrievedlyasIputdownthereceiver."Dosomeoneafavour...Yeah,wellIknowyoutoldusnotto.ButhewasgoingonsomethingchronicabouthowhehadtogettoBristolforhisdaughter"sweddingorsomething..."
Ilookedathimindisbelief.
"Yeah,well,"Davesaiddefensively,"howwasItoknow?"
"ItwasallDave"sidea,"Bretta.s.suredme.
"Didyoutalktohim?"Iaskedthem.
"Notthatmuch,"Davesaid."Hechosethatseatbehindus,anyway.Didn"tseemtowanttotalk."
"ItoldDaveitwasallwrong,"Brettcomplained.
"Shutup,"Davesaidangrily."Youcouldhaverefusedtodrivehim.Ididn"tnoticeyousayingyouwouldn"t."
"Andneitherofyounoticedhimdying,either?"Isuggestedwithirony.
Theideadiscomfitedthem,butno,itappeared,theyhadn"t.
"Thoughthewasasleep,"Davesaid,andBrettnodded."Sothen,"Davewenton,"whenwecouldn"twakehim...Imean,yousawhowhelooks...well,we"djustpulledoffthemotorwayattheNewburyjunction...weweregoingtodrophimattheChieveleyservicestationtheresohecouldgetanotherliftontoBristol...well...therehewas,dead,andwecouldn"trollhimoutontotheground,couldwe?"
Theycouldn"t,Iagreed.Sothey"dbroughthimtomydoorstep,likecatsbringinghomeadeadbird.
"Davewantedtodumphimsomewhere,"Brettwhinedvirtuously."Davewantedto.Itwasmesaidwecouldn"t."
Daveglaredathim."Wediscussedit,"hesaid,"that"sallwedid."
"You"dhavebeeninrealtroubleifyou"ddumpedhim,"Isaid,"andnotjustfromme."
Sandy,stillb.u.t.toninghimselfhastilyintohisdarkblueuniform,arrivedatthatmomenttotakechargeintheslightlypompousmannerhe"ddevelopedovertheyears.Onelookatthecorpsesethimsummoninghelpoverhisradio,resultingpresentlyinadoctorandahostofunanswerablequestions.
Thedeadmandid,itseemed,atleasthaveaname,discoveredviaawalletfulofaddressesandcreditcards.Sandybroughtthewalletdownfromthecabandshowedittome,whereIwaitedonthegroundoutside.
"K.K.Ogden.KevinKeithOgden,"hesaid,pickinghiswaythroughthecontentswithstubbyfingers."LivesinNottingham.Meananythingtoyou?"
"No."Ishookmyhead."Neverheardofhim."
Hehadn"texpectedanythingelse.
"Whatdidhedieof?"Iasked.
"Astrokemaybe.Docwon"tsaybeforethepost-mortem.Nosignoffoulplay,ifthat"swhatyoumean."
Thearchaicwords"foulplay"hadalwaysseemedfaintlyridiculoustome,butinthiscaseIwasgratefultohearthem.
"Ica.n.u.setheboxtomorrow,then?"Iasked.
"Don"tseewhynot."Hethought.i.toverjudiciously."Youmightwanttocleanit,like."
"Yup,"Isaid."Alwaysdo."
Helookedatmesideways."Ithoughtyouhadarulenevertogivelifts."
"DaveandBrettareinbigtrouble."
Withaglimmerofsympathyforthetwomen,helookedacrosstowheretheywaitedbythehousedoorandsaid,"Youdidn"tgetyouriron-fistreputationfornothing,Freddie."
"Whataboutthevelvetglovebit?"
"Uhhuh.Thattoo."
Sandyatfortyhadthickenedroundthewaistandsoftenedtopuffinessofcheekandjaw,b.u.t.theresultingairofrusticunintelligencewasmisleading.HissuperiorsatonetimehadpostedhimawayfromPixhill,inaccordancewiththeirbeliefthatapolicemanbecametoocosyandforgivingiflefttoolonginonesmallneighbourhood,andhadsentcruisingcarsinfromoutsidetodohisrounds.InSandy"sabsence,however,thepettycrimerateofPixhillhadsoaredwhilethedetectionrateplummeted,andafterawhileP.C.SandySmithhadbeenquietlyreinstated,totheoveralldismayofthemildlywicked.
SmartyoungDrBruceFarway,arecentPixhillarrivalwhohadalreadyalienatedhalfhispatientsbypatronisingtheminsufferably,climbeddownwithagilityfromthecabandtoldmebrusquelynottodisturbthebodybeforehecouldarrangeforitsremoval.
"Ican"timaginewhyIshouldwantto,"Isaidmildly.
Heeyedmewithdisfavour.We"ddislikedeachotheronsightafewmonthsagoandhe"dnotforgivenmefordisagreeingwithhisdiagnosisononeofmydriversandpayingforaprivatesecondopinionthathadprovedhimwrong.NohumilityandpreciouslittlehumanitycouldbediagnosedinBruceFarway,thoughhecouldbenicetosickchildren,I"dheard.
Leavinghimissuingbriskinstructionsoverhiscarphone,SandyandIwentacrosstothehousewherehetookbriefstatementsfromDaveandBrett.Therewasboundtobeaninquest,heinformedthem,but.i.tshouldn"ttakeupmuchoftheirtime.
Toomuch,Ithoughtcrossly,andtheybothunerringlyreadmyexpression.ItoldthemI"dseetheminthemorning.Theyweren"tcomforted,itseemed.