"Notme,hewouldn"t."Shewasdefinite,butIwondered.
"We"llseeifatripcomesup,"Isaid."Asfortomorrow,wewon"tbeverybusyhere,weneverareinCheltenhamFestivalweekbecausetherearen"tmanyothermeetingsheldonthosethreedays.We"llbebusyagainonFridayandit"llbehecticagainonSat.u.r.day,ifwe"relucky.CanyouworkSat.u.r.day?"
"ItlooksasifI"dbetter."
"Mm."Ileanedforward,pickeduponeoftheremainingtwotubeslyingonthepaperplateandaskedherifshe"dseenanythinglikeitbefore.
"Idon"tthinkso.Why?"
"Theywerebeingcarriedinoneofmyhorseboxes,hiddeninsidethisthermosflask."
Shecametofullalertness,allthetiredlinesshed.
"Whatarethey?"
"Idon"tknow.But.i.t"spossible-possible"sthestrongestI"dput.i.t-thattheymightbewhatthemaskedintruderwaslookingforinthecabofmynine-box,becausethat"swheretheywere,inthecab.Inacarrierwiththeseuneatensandwiches,inthisthermosfullofundrunkcoffee."
Shetookthetubefrommeandheldituptothelight.
"What"sinside?"
"Idon"tknow.IthoughtPatrickVenablesmightbeabletofindout."
Sheloweredthetubeandlookedatme,smotheringexcitementandsaying,"They"rethefirstconcretepieceofevidencethatanythingsgoingon."
Ipickedupthepacketofsandwichesandshowedherthelabels.
"Brett,thedriverwhotookthenine-boxtoNewmarketlastThursdaywiththetwo-year-olds..."
"Andwhohasleft?"
Inodded."Brett-IthinkprobablyBrettbecauseDavehaddiarrhoea-anyway,oneofthemboughtsandwichesliketheseonthatjourney,becausetherewasanemptypacketjustlikethisinsomerubbishthatcamebackinthecab.TheythrewtherubbishawayonFridaymorningwhentheycleanedoutthebox.Anyway,supposeBrett"ssandwichescamefromtheshopintheSouthMimmsservicestation,andsuppose...well,whynotsuppose...thatthesesandwich.e.s.h.erecamefromthesameplace...?"Ipaused,butshesimplylistened,notcommentingordisagreeing.Iwenton,"DavepickedupourhitchhikeratSouthMimms.So...well...whatifthesesandwichesandthisthermosweretravellingwithKevinKeithOgden?"
Giventhesupposition,herreasoningfollowedthesamepaththatminehadandcameupwiththesameobservations.
"Ifthetubesbelongedtothedeadpa.s.senger,theycan"tberelevanttothecontainersunderthelorries.Theymightwellnothaveanythingtodowithyouatall.Themandidn"tknowhewasgoingtodie.Heprobablymeanttotakethesetubeswithhim."
"Iwasafraidyou"dsaythat."
"Allthesame,veryinteresting.And..."Shestoppedpensively.
"Yes?"
Shetoldmeheremergingconclusions,andInodded."Makesyouthink,doesn"t.i.t?"
"Youdon"tneedme,really,doyou?"shesaid.
"Ineedyoureyes."
Harvefinishedhisch.o.r.esandjoinedusintheoffice,askingNinahowshe"dfaredandwhethershehadanyquestions.Shethankedhim,cuttingdown,Inoticed,onthepurityofherblue-bloodedvowels,butnottoaninsultingextent.IwonderedhowoftenandhowregularlyshetransformedherselfforPatrickVenables.
ThephonerangandIansweredit,findingSandyontheline.
"InquestonJogger,"hesaid."It"sjustcomethrough.Wednesday,tena.m.,WinchesterCoroner"sCourt.Allthey"lldoisopentheinquestandadjournitpendingresultsofenquiries.Normalforaccidentcases.Iaskedifthey"dneedyoub.u.t.theysaidnotyet.They"llwantHarve,ashefoundhim,andDrFarway,ofcourse.AlsotheinquestonKevinKeithOgden,theywantDavetoattend.I"llbriefhimaboutwheretogo.OK?"
"Yes,thanks,Sandy."putdownthereceiverandtoldHarvehe"dbeneededbrieflyonWednesday.Harvemadeafaceofdisinclinationandshrugged.Thephonerangagainatonceasifincontinuationofthesameconversation,butinfacttherewasastrangenasalvoiceinmyear,fullofself-importanceandbusy-busy.
"JohnTigwoodhere,"hesaid.
"Oh.Yes?"
"MaudieWatermeadtoldmetogetintouch."
"JohnTigwood.FriendofMaudie"ssister,Lorna?"
Hecorrectedmebriskly."DirectorofCentaurCare."
"Yes,Iknow."
"JohnTigwood,"Harvemuttereddisapprovingly."Pottylittlepipsqueak.Alwaysonthecadge."
"WhatcanIdoforyou?"Iaskedthephonetemperately.
"Collectsomehorsesforme,"Tigwoodsaid.
"Certainly,"Iagreedwithwarmth."Anytime."Businesswasbusinessafterall.WhateverIthoughtofJohnTigwoodpersonally,Iwasallfortakinghismoney.
"AretirementfarmisclosinginYorkshire,"hetoldmegravely,makingitsoundportentous."We"veagreedtotakethehorsesandfindnewhomesforthem.TheWatermeadshaveagreedtoputtwointheirbottompaddock.BenjyUsher"stakingtwoothers.I"montoMarigoldEnglish,eventhoughshe"snewhere.Howaboutyou,yourself?CanIropeyouin?"
"Sorry,no,"Isaidfirmly."Whendoyouwantthemtransported?"
"Tomorrowdoyou?"
"Certainly,"Isaid.
"Good.Lornaherselfwantstogowithyourbox,actingasgroom."
"Allright,fine."
HegavemedirectionsandItoldhimthefee.
"Oh,lookhere,Iwashopingyou"ddoitforcharity."
"Sorry,no."Iwasfriendlyandapologeticasfarasitwent.
"But.i.t"sforLorna!"heinsisted.
"Idon"texpectMaudiesaidIwoulddothejobfornothing."
Afterapausehesaidgrudgingly,"Shedidwarnme."
"Mm.Sodoyouwantmetofetchthem,ornot?"
Ashadehuffilyhesaid,"You"llgetpaid.ThoughIdothinkyoumightbemoregenerous.Afterall,it"sagoodcause."
"Youcouldasksomeoneelsetofetchthem,"Isuggested."Youmightgetsomeoneelsetodoitfornothing."
Hissilencesuggestedthathe"dalreadytriedsomeoneelse.Severalsomeones,perhaps.ItwasalongwayfromPixhilltotheplaceinYorkshirefromwherehewantedmetocollectsevengeriatriccases,shakyontheiroldlegs,todeliverthemtotheirnewhomes.
WhenTigwoodhadgoneoffthelineIhandedthedirectionstoHarve.Nina,havinglistenedtomysideoftheexchange,askedwhat.i.thadbeenabout.
Harvetoldherdisgustedly,"There"sthiswackyhomeforveryoldhorses.ThisJohnTigwood,heboardsthemoutallovertheplace.Hechargestheownersoftheoldhorsesforlookingafterthem,buthedoesn"tpaythepeoplewhogivethehorseshomes.It"saracket!AndthenhehasthecheektoaskFreddieforfreetransport,inthenameofcharity."
Ismiled."It"soneofthelocalgoodcauses.Peopleorganisefundraisers.Theytwistalotofarms.IdaresayIoughttohaveofferedthetransportfornothingb.u.t.tobehonestIdon"tlikebeingpressuredorconned,andasI"llbettheownersofthehorseswillhavetopayTigwoodtogettheiroldpensionersbroughtdownhere,Idon"tseewhyheshouldn"tpayme."
"Thepointis,"Harvesaid,"who"sdoingthejob?"
"Whoevergoes,takesLornaLipton,MrsWatermead"ssister,asgroom,"Itoldhim,lookingoverthechart."We"llhavetosendanine-box.Thenewdriver,Azizwhat"shisname,willbedrivingBrett"snine-boxfromnowon.Hemayaswellstartwiththegeriatrics."
"Whatnewdriver?"Harvesaid.
"Iengagedhimthismorning,afteryou"dgone.Bestoffivewhocameforinterviews."
IwroteCentaurCareinthechartsquareforthenine-box,andput"Aziz"attheheadofthecolumn.
CentaurCare,thenameofTigwood"soutfit,soundedsolikeCentreCarethatforyearsI"dthoughtthatwashowitwa.s.spelled.Atinyinst.i.tutionofitskind,theCentaurCareofficeoccupiedasmallone-storeyeconomicallybuilthut,forwantof.a.granderword,ontheedgeofatwo-acrepaddockontheoutskirtsofPixhill.Adjoiningramshacklewoodenstables,capableofholdingsixpatheticcustomerswithlowexpectations,justaboutpa.s.sedcountyregulationinspections,thecharitablestatusoftheenterpriseshieldingitfromblastsofillauthoritarianwill.JohnTigwood"spublicmannerelevatedthisset-upinPixhill"scollectiveconsciousnesstomajorgoodworks:Iwa.s.surethatmanywhogavetothen.o.blecausehadn"tseteyesonitsheadquarters.
Therewere"CentaurCare"collectingboxesscatteredthroughoutPixhill,roundtinswithslotsintowhichonewas.e.xhortedtopour"longlifeforoldfriends".JohnTigwoodcameroundregularlytoemptythecontainersandwritefulsomereceipts.He"dleftonetininourcanteenbuthadfumedtofindgiftsinitofb.u.t.tons,biscuitsandanout-of-datecondom."Begladithasn"tbeenused,"I"dsaid,whichhehadn"tseenasfunny.
Harvewaslookingoverthewholechart,andshruggingphilosophicallyatthenewsthatthecomputerwasn"tworking.Likeme,hestillpreferredawrittenchart,thoughheinclinedtotheblackboardonawallwe"dhaduntilIgotridofit.Toomuchchalkdustintheair,oncewe"dinstalledthecomputer.
ItoldHarvethatallthetoolshadbeenstolenfromJogger"svan.Hesworebrieflybutsawnogreatsignificanceinit.Wewouldneed,Isaid,anothersliderforinspectingtheundersidesoftheboxesandHarve,nodding,suggestedIaskNigeltomakeone.
"Allheneedsisabitofplasterboardandsomecasters,"Harvesaid."He"sgoodwithhishands,I"llsaythatforhim."
Ismotheredasmile."Hecandoittomorrow,then,"Isaid.Iponderedbrieflyandcametoadecision."OnWednesdayNigelcangotoFrancetocollecttheshowjumperforJerichoRich"sdaughter.Nina,here,willgowithhimasaseconddriver."
Harvegaveherastartledsidewaysglanceandraisedhiseyebrowstomecomically.
"Ididwarnher,"Isaid."Shesaysshe"sNigel-proof."
"Shedoesn"tknowhim!"
"She"s.e.xperiencedwithhorses,"Iexplained."Jericho"sdaughterwantsustosendanattendanttotravelbackwiththehorse.Ninacandoublethatwithdriving."
"ButyousaidDavewastogo,withPhildrivinghissix-box,"Harveprotested.
"I"vechangedmymind.Nina"sgoingwithNigel.Theycantakethefour-boxNinawasdrivingtoday.Itwillbebetter,moreeconomical."ToherIsaid,"You"llneedovernightthings.OK?"
Shenoddedand,whenHarvehadgoneouttomeettheother incomingbox,said,"You"llwantoneofustosleepinthebox,won"tyou?"
"Ithasthattubeonitsunderside,"Isaid,agreeing.
"Yes.Well,hangoutthebait.LeteveryoneknowthatthatparticularboxisgoingtoFrance.Someonemightbite."
"Um,"Isaidhesitantly."Nooneexpectsyoutodoanythingdangerous."
Shesmiledslightly."Don"tbetoosure.Patrickcanbeb.l.o.o.d.ydemanding."Sheseemedunconcerned."AndIwon"texactlybeparachutingintooccupiedFrancebehindGermanlines."
Shewas,Isaw,exactlythetypeofwomanwhohaddonejustthatinWorldWarIIand,asifreadingmythoughts,shenoddedandsaid,"Mymotherdidit,andsurvivedtohavemeafterwards."
"Thattakesabitoflivingupto."
"It"sintheblood."
"Doyouhaveanychildren?"Iasked.
Shewiggledlongfingersinthedismissivegestureofunsentimentalnanny-a.s.sistedmothers."Three.AllgrownoutofPonyClubage,allflownthenest.Husbandlongdead.Lifesuddenlyempty,boring,nofurtherpointinshowingoreventing.So...Patricktotherescue.Needanymore?"
"No."
Iunderstoodherdeeply,andsherealisedit,moveddespiteherselftoaninternalwaveofemotionandself-knowledge.Sheshookherheadasiftodisownthemomentandgottoherfeet,tallandcompetent,ahorsewomanforwhomhorsesultimatelywerenotenough.
"Ifyoudon"tneedmetomorrow,"shesaid,I"lldeliverthetubestoPatrickinLondonanddiscussthingswithhim,andbebackonWednesday.Whattime?"
"You"llneedtosetofffromhereatseven.You"llcrossfromDovertoCalaisandreachyourFrenchdestinationataboutsix.ReturningonThursday,you"llhavetogotoJerichoRich"sdaughter"splace,ofcourse,todeliverthehorse.You"llbebackherelate,perhapsteno"clock."
"Right."
Shewrappedthetwoambertubescarefullyinahandkerchiefandstowedtheminherhandbag.Thenwithabriefnodoffarewellshewalkedouttohercarandinconspicuouslydeparted.
Retrievingthefourothertubesfromthedeskdrawer,Iwrappedeachoneinatissueandputtheminmyjacketpocket.ThenIpouredthemug"scontentsbackintothethermos,screwedontheinnerstopperandtheoutercapandrestoreditwiththesandwichestothecarrierforonwardtransporttomyhouse.
Theworkdaywasending.Therewerestillboxesoutontheroad,thoughIwouldn"twaitfortheirreturn.Thedriversneverexpecteditandmighthavetakentoomuchclosecheckingasalackoftrust.Therehad,however,beenphonemessagesduringthedaybothfromthenine-boxI"dsenttoIrelandwithbroodmaresandfromtheboxinFrancethatwasbringingthetwotwo-year-oldsovertojoinMichaelWatermead"sstable,allthecallstotheeffectthatneitherboxwouldbearrivingbackuntiltwoorthreeinthemorning.
Forus,thatwasquitenormal.ForMichaelWatermead,itwasboundtobeanintolerableinconvenience.Ihadalreadyarrangedwiththedrivertocomestraightbacktohomebaseandtokeepthetwoyounghorsesinthefarmyard"sstablesuntilmorning,butrememberedI"dforgottentotellMichaelhimself.
Stiflingayawn,Ipressedhisnumbersandfoundhimathome.
"Twointhemorning!"heprotested."YouknowIdon"tlikeit.Itdisturbsthewholeyard,noiseandlightswhentheotherhorsesareasleep.Theydoneedagoodsleep,youknow."
"Ifyoulike,wecouldkeepyourtwo-year-oldshereinthefarmyardstablesuntilmorning."IsuggesteditasifI"djustthoughtofit."They"dcometonoharm.They"retravellingwell,mydriversays.They"re-calmandeating."
"Youmighthaveorganiseditbetter,"Michaelgrumbled,gentlyreproving,asusualconvertinganystrongfeelingintogood-manneredrestraint.
"There"sbeenahold-upwiththeferryinCalais,"Iexplained."Yourhorseswon"treachDoveruntilabouttentonight,theysay.I"mverysorry,Michael,but.i.t"soutofourhands."
"Yes,yes,ofcourse,Idosee.Butblast.i.t,it"sb.l.o.o.d.yirritating.Still,yes,Isupposethosetwo-year-oldswon"tcometomuchharm.Bringthemoverfirstthing,though.Six-thirtyorsoonafter,whenmyladscometowork.Eh?"