Page 12 of Beatrix

Rob for his part was beginning to realise that, despite the Shacklefords’ collective welcome, his unexpected arrival appeared particularly ill-timed. Clearly the agency was in the middle of something. So far, there had been no time to do more than explain his own reason for being here. In truth, he’d never thought to ask if his presence was inconvenient…

‘If you have something you wish to discuss privately, I would be happy to retire to my room,’ he offered awkwardly.

Henry sighed and shook his head. ‘Please stay where you are Robert. I have a strange feeling that your missing godson and the case we are currently working on with Chief Inspector Hartley may well turn out to be connected, if only distantly.’ He climbed to his feet, ignoring Ben’s sharp look. ‘I think first thing’s first. While we wait for Billy to reconnect with his stomach, and thus provide us with a hopefully accurate version of his busy day, we could all do with a brandy.’

As he went to the sideboard, Peggy arrived with Billy’s bread and cheese. The boy’s enthusiastic reception of the simple repast was ample proof that he was well on the way to recovering from his traumatic ordeal.

‘Have you eaten?’ Bella asked Ben softly. The policeman nodded. ‘A brandy, however, would be most welcome.’

‘Sit here, Ben,’ Rhys suggested, standing up from the sofa. ‘Alex and I will do perfectly well on the chaise longue.’ Clearly in agreement, Alexandra swiftly climbed to her feet. Ben nodded at them both gratefully, following Bella and sitting down with a relieved sigh.

Five minutes later, everyone was settled to their satisfaction, brandy in hand, and Billy was finally able to talk without his mouth full.

Without removing his arm from Aggie’s ruff, Billy took a deep breath, then described everything that had happened since he’d been handed the address of Muriel Pemberton’s whereabouts. For perhaps the first time in his life, he didn’t embellish the story or deviate from the facts. Neither did he attempt to come up with some outlandish excuse for not bringing the information to Cliff House in the first place.

When he finally trailed off, there was a brief silence, then everyone began talking at once… until Rob Noon’s voice rose above the general melee. ‘What did you say the name of the charity was?’

The conversation subsided and all eyes turned to Billy. ‘The Society for the Advancement of Industrious Children,’ the boy repeated dutifully.

Rob’s indrawn breath told Henry all he needed to know. He closed his eyes momentarily, wondering where the devil it would all end. Then he looked back at his oldest friend’s son and voiced his sudden certainty out loud. ‘The same charity that took your godson…’

CHAPTER 7

Naturally an uproar followed Henry’s guess, which only died down when he stood up and bellowed, ‘Quiet.’ The silence was instant, and seconds later he gave a weary sigh, sitting back down heavily. Once in his chair, he lifted his brandy to his lips, finishing it in one swallow and closing his eyes as the liquid burned past his throat.

‘Rhys, would you do the honours?’ he asked a few seconds later, holding out his glass. Charlotte looked on in concern, noting her brother’s white face and tight features, quite unlike the Henry she knew. She felt a sudden, unfamiliar tightening in her stomach. An abrupt fear that this case might actually prove too much for him.

But she knew it was far, far too late to turn back now.

Ordinarily, she’d have immediately responded to his order with something caustic of her own, but for the first time, she hesitated.

‘What, nothing to say, Lottie?’ he commented tartly as Rhys handed him another brandy.

‘Far too much, old man,’ she retorted promptly with her customary derision, recognising it was expected. ‘Most of it unrepeatable in polite company.’ To her relief he gave a tired grin, turning towards the rest of the room who’d miraculously kept a respectful silence and nodded his head in thanks. Turning back to their Australian visitor, he added, ‘I’m certain you have a thousand and one questions, Rob, but perhaps you will indulge us for a little while longer. As you’ve likely guessed, we have been working on a case involving missing children, and I believe that Billy’s tale is the breakthrough we’ve been looking for.’ He sighed and paused, turning to Benedict. ‘But before we discuss what this means, I don’t think you came here this evening on a courtesy call, Ben.’

Ben gave an exhausted grin of his own. Wordlessly, Rhys climbed to his feet and went to refill his friend’s glass. With an apologetic glance towards Arabella, Benedict explained the latest developments, finishing with his sudden, unexpected promotion to the north.

‘Can we assume an unfortunate accident will occur at some point along your journey?’ Rhys questioned drily, handing him the replacement brandy.

Ben nodded. ‘I think that’s a fair assessment of the situation.’

‘Then, clearly you have to refuse it,’ Arabella burst out, unable to stay silent any longer.

Ben took her hand, gripping it tightly, though his words were addressed to the whole room. ‘We still have a month before I’m expected to leave…’

‘…So, we have a month to ensure that Jacob White and his associates are for the morning drop,’ Rhys intervened determinedly.

Ben gave a humourless laugh before agreeing. ‘As you say. The fact that I’ve not been silenced already is a good indication that I’m not considered an immediate threat, but make no mistake, the move is a warning. The ease with which the pack of lies about Drayton were spread tells me that White’s influence within the police force was not simply through Drayton as we initially believed, suggesting that the whole operation is even larger than we thought.’ He ran his fingers through his hair in weary frustration before adding, ‘Fortunately, unless Muriel Pemberton has let the cat out of the bag, White is still unaware of your involvement.’

‘I don’t reckon she’s tattled to anyone,’ Billy interrupted.

‘This solicitor she wants us to visit’ Henry quizzed him. ‘Did she give any indication why?’

Billy shook his head. ‘She wos too far gone by then. But the way she gripped me arm… I reckon it was important.’

Henry sighed, then turned to Rob. ‘We owe you an explanation,’ he declared with a grimace. ‘It would take us all night to explain everything, and unfortunately my staying power is not what it was, so I’ll leave it to Rhys and Benedict to enlighten you.’ He looked towards both men. ‘If you don’t object, gentlemen?’ Taking their head shaking as acquiescence, he got slowly to his feet and turned back to their visitor. ‘Likewise, if there’s anything you haven’t yet shared with us about this society, then I hope you will share it with these two gentlemen. I would trust both of them with my life.’

He paused, straightening himself up, becoming once again the man who had been one of the most respected Detective Chief Inspectors of his generation. ‘Lottie and I, together with Ben, Rob, Arabella and Beatrix, will be on the early train to Bristol tomorrow,’ he declared, his tone brooking no argument. ‘I believe six people should be quite sufficient to search the premises fully. Hopefully, Rob will turn up some information about his godson.’