I would enlist the help of Aurora. She works closely with him running the bakery, and can sound the alarm if Gran is getting in too deep.”
“What do you know about his past?”
“Only that he had a job with the local chiropodist, who terminated his contract after trouble with the tax inspector. Nothing came of it, and then he began publicising his jewellery parties. He knows the law, and skates pretty close to it, but so far, so good. If you do find any connection between him and the Fountain case, I’d be glad to hear from you.”
Lois drained her coffee cup and said that she must be on her way. “Good hunting, Cowgill. Nothing but good news from my daughter and your nephew. Josie seems in good spirits, and the two of them are off on holiday next week. I must say they are welcome to the crowds. It’s school holidays, and Marbella would not be my choice.”
He rose to his feet, but after she had gone, he ordered another coffee and sat down to think. It was certainly surprising that Gran Weedon had been so taken in by the golden-voiced Black. He would have said she was proof against any erosion of her savings. Perhaps she was genuinely interested in knowing how the scheme worked, and would see off Black in her characteristically forthright way.
F OURTEEN
“I ’m glad to see you haven’t wasted our housekeeping money on fripperies, anyway,” said Gran, after she had examined Lois’s purchases.
They had decided long ago that they would have a joint housekeeping account, where each would make a one-third contribution each week. It worked reasonably well, and Lois kept a separate wallet with her own money in case she spotted something Gran would disapprove of.
Sometimes, Lois would feel like a child at the mercies of her mother’s wrath. But most of the time she maintained a tactful silence to keep the peace. Now she felt virtuous, and on reflection realised how ridiculous the whole thing had become. Still, as they sat down to lunch, Gran’s mind was on other things.
“What are we doing this coming weekend?” she asked. “It’s the County Agricultural Show in Waltonby, and Joan and I thought we might go. We can catch a bus at two, and another to come home around five. It’ll give us time to look around the stalls, and see what’s going on in the show rings. Joan loves the horses, and I favour the cattle. Especially the great bulls! You wouldn’t happen to be going, either of you? Then we could have a lift.”
“Don’t think so, Gran,” said Derek. “I shall have to work on Saturday to get a job finished. How about you, Lois? You three could be girls together?” Joan was Gran’s best friend and lived just around the corner from Meade House. Lois approved this friendship warmly, as Joan was brilliant at keeping Gran from some of her more serious excesses for brightening their lives. The show might take Gran’s mind off jewellery, with any luck.
“Thanks and no thanks! I really don’t know, Mum, but if I do go, I’ll certainly give you and Joan a lift.”
Lois was immediately suspicious. Gran usually steered clear of the big shows, saying her old feet were too tired to be tramping round fields.
“Has Josie got any programmes of events and exhibitors in the shop? She does sometimes sell them in advance, so you don’t have to wait in a queue at the gate. I’ll pop down this afternoon and see. Anything you want, Mum?”
“I should have thought you’d done enough shopping for one day! Still, if you’re going, we could do with more milk.”
* * *
The shop was busy when Lois arrived, mostly due to a gaggle of women who had the local paper in their hands. Lois could see the front page with a banner headline, POLICE BAFFLED BY FOUNTAIN CASE.
“The cops don’t have far to look!” said one.
At this point, Josie said in the nicest possible way that if the ladies had no more shopping to do, perhaps they could carry on talking outside. Looking huffy, they reluctantly stepped
“What do you know about his past?”
“Only that he had a job with the local chiropodist, who terminated his contract after trouble with the tax inspector. Nothing came of it, and then he began publicising his jewellery parties. He knows the law, and skates pretty close to it, but so far, so good. If you do find any connection between him and the Fountain case, I’d be glad to hear from you.”
Lois drained her coffee cup and said that she must be on her way. “Good hunting, Cowgill. Nothing but good news from my daughter and your nephew. Josie seems in good spirits, and the two of them are off on holiday next week. I must say they are welcome to the crowds. It’s school holidays, and Marbella would not be my choice.”
He rose to his feet, but after she had gone, he ordered another coffee and sat down to think. It was certainly surprising that Gran Weedon had been so taken in by the golden-voiced Black. He would have said she was proof against any erosion of her savings. Perhaps she was genuinely interested in knowing how the scheme worked, and would see off Black in her characteristically forthright way.
F OURTEEN
“I ’m glad to see you haven’t wasted our housekeeping money on fripperies, anyway,” said Gran, after she had examined Lois’s purchases.
They had decided long ago that they would have a joint housekeeping account, where each would make a one-third contribution each week. It worked reasonably well, and Lois kept a separate wallet with her own money in case she spotted something Gran would disapprove of.
Sometimes, Lois would feel like a child at the mercies of her mother’s wrath. But most of the time she maintained a tactful silence to keep the peace. Now she felt virtuous, and on reflection realised how ridiculous the whole thing had become. Still, as they sat down to lunch, Gran’s mind was on other things.
“What are we doing this coming weekend?” she asked. “It’s the County Agricultural Show in Waltonby, and Joan and I thought we might go. We can catch a bus at two, and another to come home around five. It’ll give us time to look around the stalls, and see what’s going on in the show rings. Joan loves the horses, and I favour the cattle. Especially the great bulls! You wouldn’t happen to be going, either of you? Then we could have a lift.”
“Don’t think so, Gran,” said Derek. “I shall have to work on Saturday to get a job finished. How about you, Lois? You three could be girls together?” Joan was Gran’s best friend and lived just around the corner from Meade House. Lois approved this friendship warmly, as Joan was brilliant at keeping Gran from some of her more serious excesses for brightening their lives. The show might take Gran’s mind off jewellery, with any luck.
“Thanks and no thanks! I really don’t know, Mum, but if I do go, I’ll certainly give you and Joan a lift.”
Lois was immediately suspicious. Gran usually steered clear of the big shows, saying her old feet were too tired to be tramping round fields.
“Has Josie got any programmes of events and exhibitors in the shop? She does sometimes sell them in advance, so you don’t have to wait in a queue at the gate. I’ll pop down this afternoon and see. Anything you want, Mum?”
“I should have thought you’d done enough shopping for one day! Still, if you’re going, we could do with more milk.”
* * *
The shop was busy when Lois arrived, mostly due to a gaggle of women who had the local paper in their hands. Lois could see the front page with a banner headline, POLICE BAFFLED BY FOUNTAIN CASE.
“The cops don’t have far to look!” said one.
At this point, Josie said in the nicest possible way that if the ladies had no more shopping to do, perhaps they could carry on talking outside. Looking huffy, they reluctantly stepped
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