‘I’ll come over to your place.’
After the incident with Mr Balaclava, I didn’t feel safe with Alison being here. She might get caught up in a second attempt. ‘No, I’ll come to you.’
We agreed to meet at a pub called the Frog and Whistle at nine.
I took Steve’s van and drove home to change out of my work clothes before setting off to see Mrs Fanning. I cut across the evening traffic to Guildford and parked on the familiar street.
She welcomed me in like a long lost friend. I liked the night and day difference in her since the last time we’d met. She looked as if she was coming to terms with her son’s death and possessed the strength to weather the storm of grief striking her. She sat me down in the kitchen after she’d made us coffee.
‘I just wanted to thank you for what you’re doing for Alex. I think the safety fund is a fitting tribute to him. I also want to apologize to you.’
‘There’s nothing to apologize for.’
‘Yes, there is. I wasn’t very friendly to you when you came over last week and I didn’t even thank any of the drivers at the funeral. That was rude. None of you were to blame for my son’s death.’
That was debatable. ‘Apology accepted,’ I said.
Mrs Fanning smiled and we clinked cups.
‘I just wish it never happened,’ she said.
‘We all do.’
‘Eric told me about your parents. It must have been tough on you.’
I didn’t want to go down this road and I shrugged the comment away. ‘It was a long time ago. I was really too young to understand.’
Mrs Fanning seemed to realize I didn’t want to talk about my parents and nodded.
‘I wanted to let you know that I’ll be taking Alex’s place in the Formula Ford Festival. It’s part of the tribute Vic Hancock is putting together for Alex.’
‘That’s wonderful. I’ll let Eric know. He’s away on business at the moment. I’m sure he’ll want to attend.’
I hoped they’d think it was just as wonderful after they saw Hancock’s tactless decals.
Mrs Fanning finished up her coffee. ‘Would you like to see Alex’s things?’
I nodded and she led me to the garage. Amongst the usual clutter was Alex’s racing gear, equipment and tools. He had a comprehensive collection of everything someone embarking on racing needed from setting-up equipment and specialist tools to essential replacement parts.
‘Eric, Jo-Jo, Alison and her father emptied out Alex’s rented garage. Is any of this of use to you? You don’t have to keep it, but I’d like it if you’d take it.’
Obviously, she had a need to be rid of these final reminders of her son’s death. I smiled. ‘If I can’t use it, I know someone who can. Thank you.’
‘Please keep some of it for yourself. You deserve something for your time.’
She opened the garage door and helped me load the stuff into the van. I earmarked items I’d keep for myself. The wheels and tires were a must. Alex’s camber/caster gauge was a more professional one than I owned. The collection of bearings and CV joints would also come in handy.
Just as we finished loading up the van and I’d divided what I’d keep and give away, something occurred to me. ‘Where’s Alex’s petrol can?’
‘I don’t know,’ Mrs Fanning said. ‘I don’t see it. Are you sure we didn’t load it already?’
Another thought struck me, one that unnerved me. ‘What colour was his petrol can?’
‘Red, I think.’
The Frog and Whistle was a gastro pub not far from Alison’s home in Richmond. I arrived at nine p.m. as arranged and she was already waiting outside for me when I pulled up in the van. She smiled and waved. I liked seeing her happy and being responsible for it.
‘You didn’t have to wait outside. It’s freezing.’
‘I wanted to. C’mon.’
The Frog and Whistle was busy and loud inside, which made it easy for me to speak freely. The barman handed us menus. Alison went for the chicken pasta. They had chilli con carne, so I jumped on that. I’d developed a thing for Mexican food when Dad had flown us out to Mexico City for an invitational race the year before he and mum died. We’d gone out there as a family and I’d taken to the food like a burro to hard work. We grabbed a table next to the fireplace from a departing couple. The pub instantly melted the chill I’d gotten from driving the inadequately heated van.
‘Why so serious?’ she asked.
‘Confession time.’
This failed to dampen her good mood. She just eyed me with a you’d-better-tell-me look. I liked this about her. She was simple and straightforward. It made a welcome change from all the confusion that surrounded me.
‘Vic Hancock has asked me to replace Alex at the Formula Ford Festival and I’ve accepted.’
Alison’s expression wobbled, but didn’t fall. ‘Why are you telling me?’
‘The decals he wants on the car mention that the car is in memoriam of Alex.’
She said nothing.
‘His gesture came over as a little insensitive.’
Alison sighed. ‘Vic Hancock isn’t exactly Mr Sensitivity.’
‘So he hasn’t been in contact?’
She shook her head. ‘So you want my approval to go ahead?’
‘I just wanted you to know. If you don’t like it, I’ll tell Hancock.’
‘It’s OK, Aidy. I’m fine with it. You don’t have to ask. Look, you’re a nice guy trying to do the decent thing. That means a lot to me.’ Alison placed a hand on mine. ‘You don’t have to feel guilty about what’s happening. You didn’t kill Alex. Derek did. I’m happy to see something good come out of this.’
Our food arrived. I hadn’t eaten all day and I tucked in. The chilli wasn’t half-bad. Then again, I was half-starved. As I ate, the strange relationship between Hancock and Alex played over in my head and I wondered how far it stretched.
‘Alison, was there anything going on between Hancock and Alex?’
‘Like what?’
‘I don’t know. A rift? An argument? Something like that.’
‘Not as far as I know. Why?’
‘I met with Hancock last week. He thought Alex had told me something about him or his company, like Alex had given away some secret.’
‘Alex never mentioned anything. I know he didn’t particularly like Hancock.’
I could see that. They were very different people. Alex was very self-contained. It hardly matched Hancock’s brash nature. ‘Did anything specific set this feeling off?’
‘I don’t know for sure, but I think something must have happened in the last few months.’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘In the past, Alex played nice with him, but since the beginning of the season, he seemed tense around him. It wasn’t anything most people would pick up on, but I knew Alex. I tried asking why, but he wouldn’t say. He knew I didn’t like the racing world and he didn’t want to bother me with things I didn’t care about.’
‘How did Alex and Hancock hook up?’
‘Through Alex’s dad. Eric and Hancock know each other.’
Mr Fanning and Vic Hancock came over as unusual bedfellows too.
‘You should talk to Jo-Jo.’
‘Alex’s mechanic?’
‘Yeah. He’d know better than I would. He’ll be at the banquet on Friday.’
Suddenly, Alison lost interest in her meal, choosing to chase her food around the plate.
‘Anything wrong?’ I asked.
‘Why didn’t you want me to come over tonight?’
I hesitated too long before deciding on my answer.
‘Has something happened?’
‘It’s probably better that you don’t know.’
‘I’ll make my own decisions, thank you.’
As much as I didn’t want to tell her, she was right. ‘Someone tried to burn down our workshop Saturday night. Whoever it was wanted to destroy Alex’s car.’