SandyandLizziebetweenthemtoldHarveaboutmybitofseasidebathing,Harvelookingincreasinglyhorrified.
"Youmighthavedrowned!"hesaid,exclaiming.
"Mm.b.u.t.thereweare,Ididn"t."IbelatedlyaskedHarvetokeepwatchinthefarmyardforwhatwasleftofthenight-"Dozeinyourownbox"Isuggested,"andphonemetheminuteyouseeanythinG.o.dd Withhispromisetodothatoncehe"dtoldhiswifeandbroughtahotdrinkandablanket,IwentbacktomyhousewithSandyandLizzieandlefttheminthekitchentut-tuttingatlifeoversteamingtea.Asforme,Iwentwearilyupstairs,decidedtoshower,laydowninsteadontopoftheduvetforaminutestillinfleecybootsandpaddedjacket,felttheworldwhirlbrieflyandfellinstantlyandcomprehensivelyasleep.
Ididn"twakeuntilLizzieshookme,hervoiceurgent.
"Freddie!Freddie,areyouallright?"
"Mm."Istruggledfromthedepths."Whatisit?"
"Thepolicearehere."
"What?"
Realisationandremembrancecamebackwithunwelcomeclarity.Igroaned.Ifeltunwell.IinconsequentiallythoughtofAlfred,KingofWess.e.x,whodeliveredhiscountryfromDanishinvadersalthoughsufferingfromhalfthediseasesknowntotheninthcentury.Suchfort.i.tude!AndhecouldwriteandtranslateLatinaswell.
"Freddie,thepolicewanttotalktoyou."
KingAlfredhadhadhaemorrhoids,I"dreadonce.Withallthatonhismind,nowonderhe"dletthecakesburn.
"Freddie!"
"TellthemI"llbedowninfiveminutes."
Whenshe"dgoneItookoffthenight"sclothes,showered,shaved,dressedagaininfreshthings,combedmyhaircarefullyand,atleastontheoutside,begantolooklikeF.CroftEsquire,masterofafewthingshewouldrathernothavesurveyed.
Thesitting-roomlookedn.o.betterintheopallightofdawn,andthesoulhadgoneoutofthetangledheapofmetalthathadbeenmypreciouscar.Iwalkedfromonedisastertotheotherwiththepolicemen,whoweren"tthetwowhohadcometoJogger.Thesewereolder,wearier,hardworkedandunimpressedbymytroubles,whichtheyseemedtosuggestIhadbroughtonmyself.Iansweredtheirquestionsmonosyllabically,partlyfrommalaise,chieflyfromignorance.
No,Ididn"tknowwhohaddoneallthedamage.
No,Icouldn"tguess.
No,Iknewofnoonewhoheldabusinessgrudgeagainstme.
HadIdismissedaworker?No.Onehadrecentlyleftofhisownchoice.
HadIhadanypersonalenemies?NonethatIknewof.
Imusthavesome,theysaid.Everyonehadenemies.
Well,Ithoughtprivately,reflectingonHugoPalmerstone,Ihadnopersonalenemywhocouldbesuremyhousewouldbeemptyattwoa.m.ontheWednesdaymorningofCheltenhamraces.Notunless,ofcourse,they"dtappedmeonthehead...
Whohatedmethismuch?IfIknew,Isaid,Iwouldcertainlytell.
Hadanythingbeenstolen?
Thatquestionstoppedmeshort.SomanythingshadbeensmashedthatIhadn"tthoughtoftheft.Mycarcouldhavebeenstolen.Mytelevision,mycomputer,thechinabirds,theWaterfordvase,allhadhadvalue.Ihadn"t,Isaidlamely,inspectedmysafe.
Theyaccompaniedmeindoorsagain,lookingasiftheycouldn"tbelieveIhadn"tcheckedthesafefirst.
"Thereisn"tmuchinthere,"Isaid.
"Money?"
"Yes,money."
Howmuchwasnotmuch?Lessthanathousand,Isaid.
Thesafestoodinthecornerbehindmydesk,itsfireproofmetalcasingcamouflagedinsideapolishedwoodencabinet.Theunharmedcabinetdoorsopenedeasilyb.u.t.thecombinationlockinsidehadbeenchoppedaboutwiththesameheavycuttingedgeaseverythingelse.Thelockhadwithstoodthea.s.sault,but.i.tsmechanismprovedtobejammed.
"Nothing"sbeenstolen,"Isaid."Thesafewon"topen."
Thefaxmachineontopofthesafe"scabinetwouldsendnomoremessages.Thecopieronthetablealongsidehadcopieditslast.Asimpleblowtoeachhadendedtheirlives.
Myownanger,notblazing,immediateandtearfullikeLizzie"s,butaslowinnerburnoffury,increasedsharplyatthespitefulsplittingoftwomachinesI-andtheinsurance-couldeasilyreplace.Thecrueltygottome.Whoeverhaddoneallthis,whoeverhadthrownmeintothewater,hadmeantmetosuffer,hadmeantmetofeelasIfelt.Iwouldgivenoonetheextrapleasure,Iresolved,ofhearingmescreamandmoan.Iwouldfindoutwhoandwhy,andeventhescore.
ThepoliceaskedaboutmytriptoSouthamptonbutIcouldtellthemverylittle:I"dbeendroppedintowater,I"dswum,I"dclimbedout,I"dphonedmysistertocollectme.
No,Ihadn"tseenwhohitme.
No,Ihadn"tseenadoctor.Noneed.
InthemiddleoftellingthemIdidn"trememberanythingatallofthejourneytoSouthampton,IbegantoknowthatatsomepointorotherIhadhadmyeyesopen.I"dseenthemoonlight.I"devenspoken.I"dsaid,"Beautifulnightforflying."Delirious.
"Ifthisdoesn"tgivehimflu,nothingwill..."
Theyhadknown,Ithought,thatIwasatleastsemi-consciouswhentheytippedmein.
Concussionwasunpredictable,asI"dfoundatothertimes.Bitsofmemorycouldsurfacelongaftertheimpact.Onecouldalsoappeartobeconscious-peoplewouldsayonehadwalkedandtalked-butafterwardsonecouldn"trememberthat.Totalrecallcouldhappenhours,daysorweeksaftertheevent,orsometimesremainblankforever.Icouldrememberthegra.s.s.h.i.ttingmyfaceonetime;IcouldrememberthefenceI"dfallenatinthesecondraceofthedayandIcouldrememberwhichhorseI"dbeenriding.Istillhadnomemoryofdrivingtotheracecoursethatmorning,orofthefirstracewhich,therecordbookstoldme,Ihadwonbysevenlengthshalfanhourbeforethefall.
IhadtravelledtoSouthamptoninthebootofanordinarycar.Theknowledgedriftedin.Ididn"tknowhowIknew,butIwa.s.sure.
Thepolicehadbroughtaphotographerwhotookafewflashshotsanddeparted,andafingerprinterwhostayedlongerbutgavehisopinioninonesuccinctword,"Gloves."
Lizziemoonedroundherhelicopter,strokingitnowandthenandmuttering"b.a.s.t.a.r.ds"underherbreath.ShesaidshewouldhavetoflybacktoEdinburghontheshuttle,a.s.shehadalecturetogivethatafternoon.Shevowedherpartnersinthehelicopterwouldstranglewhoeverhadcrunchedit.
Findhimfirst,Ithought.
Themorningseemeddisjointed.Thepolicewroteastatementwhichputwhatthey"dfoundandwhatI"dtoldthemintopolice-forcelanguage,andIsigneditinthekitchen.Sandymadetea.Theotherpolicemen,sipping,said"Ta."
"Ta,"Isaidtoo.Lightheaded,Ithought.
Oneofthepolicemensaidhebelievedthedamagetomypropertytobeapersonalvendetta.HesuggestedIshouldthinkabout.i.t.HethoughtImightknowwhohadattackedme.Hecautionedmeagainsttakingapersonalrevenge.
"Idon"tknowwhodidit,"Isaidtruthfully."IwouldtellyouifIdid."
Helookedasifhedidn"tbelieveme."Thinkitover,sir,"hesaid.
Istifledaspurtofirritationandthankedhimforcoming.Lizziewalkedintothekitchensaying"b.a.s.t.a.r.ds"quiteloudly.Iwantedtolaugh.Shetookamugofteaandwalkedout.
Whenhiscolleagueshadgone,Sandysaidawkwardly,"They"regoodlads,youknow."
"I"msure."
They"veseentoomuch,"hesaid."I"veseentoomuchmyself.It"shardtofeelsympathyoverandover.Weendupnotfeelingit.SeewhatImean?"
"You"reagoodladyourself,Sandy,"Isaid.
Helookedgratifiedandgavemehisowncommendationinreturn.
"You"rewell-likedinPixhill,"hesaid."Ineverheardanyonebad-mouthyou.Ireckonifyou"dhadenemiesthisbad,I"dhaveheardofit."
"I"dhavethoughtI"dhaveheardofit,too."
"Ireckonthiswasdestructionforitsownsake.Theyenjoyedit."
Isighed."Yes."
"Threetimesthislastweek,"hesaid,"someone"srunasupermarkettrolleystraightintothesideofacarinthecarparkinNewbury.Smashedthesidesofthecarsrightin,allcrumpledandscratched.Notforanyreasonexceptjusttododamage.Peoplecomebacktofinditandit"stheirfrustrationthat"stheworst.Thesupermarketemploysaguard,butnoone"scaughtthevandalyet.Youcan"tdealwiththatsortofvandalism.Andifhe"scaughtred-handedoneday,allhe"llgetisprobation."
"He"sprobablyateenager."
Sandynodded."They"retheworst.Butarsonists,remember,areusuallyabitolder.Anditwasn"tnoteenager,I"dreckon,thatgotintothishouse."
"Whatage,then?"
Sandypursedhislips."Twenties.Thirties,perhaps.Notmucholderthanforty.Afterthatthedrivingforceweakens.Youdon"tgetsixty-year-oldsdoingthissortofthing.It"sfraudthatseesthemincourt."
Iponderedafewthingsandsaid,"YouknowJogger"stoolswerestolenfromhisvan?"
"Aye.Iheard."
"Hehadanaxeinthevan."
Sandystared."Ithought.i.twasmechanic"stools."
"Therewasaslider,andinabigopenredplasticcratehehadahydraulicjack,spanners,tyrelevers,jumpleads,pliers,wiring,agreasegun,cleaningrags,allsortsofoddments...andanaxe,likefiremenuse,thathe"dcarriedeversinceatreefellacrossoneoftheboxes.BeforeIownedthebusiness,thatwas."
Sandynodded."Iremember.Inoneofthosehurricane-likewinds."
"YoumightkeepaneyeoutforJogger"sstuff,inthevillage."
I"llputthewordaround,"hesaidearnestly.
"Saytherewouldbeareward.Nothingfancy,butworthwhileforgoodinformation."
"Yeah,right."
"It"llbeJogger"sinquestatanyminute,"Isaid.
Sandylookedathiswatchinalarm.I"llhavetobegoing.I"venotshavedyet,ordressed."
"Iexpectyou"llphonelater."
Hepromisedhewould,anddroveaway.LizzieyawnedintothekitchenandannouncedthatifIneededhershewouldbeupstairsasleep.Iwouldwakeher,please,ateleven,anddrivehertoHeathrowtocatchtheshuttle.ShehadjustonmybedroomphonetoldoneofherpartnersofthedemiseoftheRobinson22.Hewa.s.speechless,shesaid.HewouldinformtheinsurerswhenhegothisvoicebackandprobablyIwouldbehearingfromthem,astheywereboundtosendaninspector.DidImindleavingmycarwhereitwasuntilafterthat?No,IsupposedIdidn"t.
Shegavemeanabsent-mindedkissonthecheekandadvisedmetogobacktobed.
I"mgoingtothefarmyard,"Isaid."Toomuchtodo."
"Thenlockthedoorbehindyou,there"sadear."
Ilockedthebackdooranddrovetothefarmyard,findingNinatheredrinkingcoffeeinthecanteenwithNigel.TheywerediscussingthejourneytofetchJerichoRich"sdaughter"sshowjumperfromFrance,NinaseemingobliviousofNigel"sdark-lashedeyesandsultrymouth.TheyhadheardfromHarveallaboutthenight"salarmsandwereglad,theysaid,tofindmefunctioning.
Ninabroughthercoffeeandfollowedmeintotheoffice.
"Areyoureallyallright?"sheenquired.
"Moreorless."
"I"vesomenewsforyou,"shesaid,andpaused,"but..."
"Fireaway.Isitthelittlegla.s.stubes?"
"What?No,notthose,therehasn"tbeenareportonthoseyet.No,thisisthatadvertis.e.m.e.ntinHorseandHound."
Ithoughtback.SomuchseemedtohavecrowdedinsinceSunday."Ohyes...thetransportad."Anythingconsidered."
"Yes,that"sright.Patrickgotthemagazinetotellhimwhohadinsertedit.Andit"sratherextraordinary..."
"Dogoon."
"ItwasaMrK.OgdenofNottingham."
"No!"Myeyebrowsshotup."Well,well,thatreallyis.e.xtraordinary."
"Ithoughtyou"dthinkso.Themagazinesaidtheycheckedhimoutthefirsttimeheranthead.Theywantedtomakesuretherewasnothingcriminalinit.SeemstheyweresatisfiedMrOgdenwasharmlesslyofferinghisservicesasanadviserorpersonalcourier,ratheronthelinesofauniversalaunt.Thephonenumberintheadvertis.e.m.e.ntisthatofhisownhouse.Themagazinecheckedit.Theysupposedhemustbegettingworkfromthead,ashe"skeptonpayingfortheinsertions."
"Wow,"Isaidblankly."Hecan"thavebeendoingtoowell,though.Hewaswantedforbouncingchequesandotherpatheticbitsoffraud.Hemighthaveseemedbona-fidetoHorseandHound-andmaybehewasonce-butI"dguesshe"dstoppedworryingaboutthelegalityofeverytransaction,aslongashewasbeingpaid."
Youcan"ta.s.sumethat,"sheprotestedprimly.Standstoreason."Ishrugged."ButI"llgivehimthebenefitofthedoubt.Maybehedidn"tknowthereweresixtubesinthethermos.Justmaybe.Iwouldn"tbetonit.""Cynic."
I"dbecynicalaboutanythingafterlastnight.""Whatdothepolicethinkaboutlastnight?"
"Theydidn"tsaymuch.Theysaiditwasawisemanwhoknewhisownenemies,orwordstothateffect."
"Oh."Sheblinked."Anddoyou?"