eyes. ‘Oh, God! What a laugh. You and Georgie! Oh, my word!’
One customer crept round to the front of the meat counter to get a better view, another put down her basket and abandoned all pretence of shopping to stare, and Jimbo prepared to roll up his sleeves and break up a fight. But they were all disappointed because Dicky, red in the face with rage, drew himself up to his full height, all five feet four of it, and said, while prodding Bryn’s chest with a forefinger, ‘That’s my intention. I want Georgie as my wife and she wants me. And by God, we will be together one day if I have to kill you to get her.’
Dicky stalked out of the door with such dignity that the observers almost clapped their approval, but then they looked at Bryn and saw a frightening mixture of hate and fear in his face which boded ill for Dicky. Poor chap.
Linda had stopped her pretence of counting her stock of stamp books. Mrs Jones, having come out to see the fun, scuttled back to her office in panic. Jimbo heaved a sigh of relief and the customers got on with their own affairs, mindful as they did so to give Bryn a wide berth.
He was rooted to the spot, apparently unaware of his surroundings. Jimbo watched Bryn almost shake himself and focus his eyes on Jimbo himself. Bryn laughed. ‘Did I imagine that or did the little dwarf actually threaten to murder me?’
‘He did.’
‘My God! I’d like to see him try.’ Bryn smoothed the front of his shirt and said, ‘Right, Jimbo. Have you had any more thoughts about what we talked of yesterday?’
‘Come into my office.’ Jimbo jerked his head towards the back of the Store and strode off in front of Bryn.
Jimbo took off his boater and, carefully placing it on a shelf, slowly turned and said in measured tones, ‘The next time you want to have a fight don’t choose my Store as the venue.’
‘Get on with you! You know full well it’s good for trade and that’s what matters to you, isn’t it? They’ll all be in here tomorrow hoping for a further instalment and what does that mean? More money in your tills. It’s your Achilles heel, isn’t it, Jimbo? Profit and more profit. You don’t fool me. This morning’s little episode will do this place no end of good.’
‘Bluster doesn’t impress me. So listen and get the message. I’m going along with the idea of souvenirs because I want to do it. Not because you’ve persuaded me but because it makes sound commercial sense. It’ll be a long time before I see fit to give you a slice of the action. Right. Got that straight. If there is a repetition of this morning you’ll never get a percentage no matter how big it is. That man has a right to threaten you and I’d back him one hundred per cent. Not as far as murder, but certainly where his ambitions for Georgie are concerned. So … watch your step.’ This time it was Jimbo’s forefinger prodding Bryn’s chest.
Bryn looked seriously disconcerted and backed off. ‘OK. OK. I get the message. That’s the trouble with this damned village: everyone thinks they have a right to take sides.’
Jimbo ignored him and moved on. ‘Mm. This is a list of the ideas we’ve come up with and I’m getting organised.’
Bryn studied Jimbo’s list and felt heartened by his enthusiasm. ‘Excellent. Excellent. I like the idea of sweets in Turnham Malpas tins. And the pencils. And the doorstops.’
‘Must press on. Be seeing you.’
‘Can I keep this list?’
‘You can.’
Jimbo watched him walk out of his office and shook his head in amazement. How could the chap dare to return? Attempted murder was the least of the charges the police could get him for. Yet here he was, throwing his weight about and expecting them all to be on his side. Scoffing at Dicky was idiotic and bound to cause bad blood. Only Harriet could settle his ruffled feathers, so he went in search of her.
Chapter 4
The next morning was idyllic. It had been a wonderful spring and now the summer was living up to
One customer crept round to the front of the meat counter to get a better view, another put down her basket and abandoned all pretence of shopping to stare, and Jimbo prepared to roll up his sleeves and break up a fight. But they were all disappointed because Dicky, red in the face with rage, drew himself up to his full height, all five feet four of it, and said, while prodding Bryn’s chest with a forefinger, ‘That’s my intention. I want Georgie as my wife and she wants me. And by God, we will be together one day if I have to kill you to get her.’
Dicky stalked out of the door with such dignity that the observers almost clapped their approval, but then they looked at Bryn and saw a frightening mixture of hate and fear in his face which boded ill for Dicky. Poor chap.
Linda had stopped her pretence of counting her stock of stamp books. Mrs Jones, having come out to see the fun, scuttled back to her office in panic. Jimbo heaved a sigh of relief and the customers got on with their own affairs, mindful as they did so to give Bryn a wide berth.
He was rooted to the spot, apparently unaware of his surroundings. Jimbo watched Bryn almost shake himself and focus his eyes on Jimbo himself. Bryn laughed. ‘Did I imagine that or did the little dwarf actually threaten to murder me?’
‘He did.’
‘My God! I’d like to see him try.’ Bryn smoothed the front of his shirt and said, ‘Right, Jimbo. Have you had any more thoughts about what we talked of yesterday?’
‘Come into my office.’ Jimbo jerked his head towards the back of the Store and strode off in front of Bryn.
Jimbo took off his boater and, carefully placing it on a shelf, slowly turned and said in measured tones, ‘The next time you want to have a fight don’t choose my Store as the venue.’
‘Get on with you! You know full well it’s good for trade and that’s what matters to you, isn’t it? They’ll all be in here tomorrow hoping for a further instalment and what does that mean? More money in your tills. It’s your Achilles heel, isn’t it, Jimbo? Profit and more profit. You don’t fool me. This morning’s little episode will do this place no end of good.’
‘Bluster doesn’t impress me. So listen and get the message. I’m going along with the idea of souvenirs because I want to do it. Not because you’ve persuaded me but because it makes sound commercial sense. It’ll be a long time before I see fit to give you a slice of the action. Right. Got that straight. If there is a repetition of this morning you’ll never get a percentage no matter how big it is. That man has a right to threaten you and I’d back him one hundred per cent. Not as far as murder, but certainly where his ambitions for Georgie are concerned. So … watch your step.’ This time it was Jimbo’s forefinger prodding Bryn’s chest.
Bryn looked seriously disconcerted and backed off. ‘OK. OK. I get the message. That’s the trouble with this damned village: everyone thinks they have a right to take sides.’
Jimbo ignored him and moved on. ‘Mm. This is a list of the ideas we’ve come up with and I’m getting organised.’
Bryn studied Jimbo’s list and felt heartened by his enthusiasm. ‘Excellent. Excellent. I like the idea of sweets in Turnham Malpas tins. And the pencils. And the doorstops.’
‘Must press on. Be seeing you.’
‘Can I keep this list?’
‘You can.’
Jimbo watched him walk out of his office and shook his head in amazement. How could the chap dare to return? Attempted murder was the least of the charges the police could get him for. Yet here he was, throwing his weight about and expecting them all to be on his side. Scoffing at Dicky was idiotic and bound to cause bad blood. Only Harriet could settle his ruffled feathers, so he went in search of her.
Chapter 4
The next morning was idyllic. It had been a wonderful spring and now the summer was living up to
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