‘If we had some idea where they’d strike next, it would help,’ Diamond said. ‘There are far too many big houses stuffed with valuables.’
‘Our best hope is a tip-off.’
‘Always is. But the snouts aren’t helping — which gives point to your theory about Bristol or London.’
‘The gang seem to know what they’re looking for. They take the major items and leave the rest.’
‘And it’s always a clean job. They must have a good look before they go in.’
‘Planning.’
‘But where do they get their information? How do they know who owns the rocks they steal?’
‘Bath People?’ Halliwell said.
‘Which people?’
‘Bath People. The magazine.’
‘I get you.’ The expensive glossy filled its pages with photos of the great and the good at local hunt balls, race meetings and glamorous fundraising events. The pages, that is, that weren’t filled with advertising.
‘All those women in posh frocks sporting the family jewels. Everyone is named. That’s how it sells.’
Leaman spoke up from behind his computer. ‘If you like, guv, I can look through the back issues and see if there’s a connection.’
‘What a good offer,’ Diamond said, resisting the temptation of winking at Halliwell. It was another perfect bum-numbing task for Leaman. ‘And I know where we can lay our hands on a stack of copies. Georgina buys it. In fact, she’s in it sometimes, rubbing shoulders with the lord-lieutenant and the mayor.’
‘Do you read it?’ Halliwell said in surprise.
‘Only at my dentist’s.’ He turned to Leaman. ‘Georgina keeps her copies on one of the filing cabinets in her office. Be sure to ask before you borrow them.’
Halliwell looked at Diamond. ‘Wouldn’t it be better if the request came from you?’
‘Me? I’m keeping my distance this week. She won’t mind. She’ll be tickled pink if we come across her picture.’
‘Wearing the Dallymore tiara?’
‘She’s always in uniform.’
Leaman went off to try his luck with Georgina, never shy of speaking to one of the high-ups.
‘He’ll have my job one day,’ Diamond said. ‘See if he doesn’t.’
‘I believe you, guv. By then, we’ll all be history except him. CID will be one man and his laptop.’
The grotesque fantasy came closer to reality before the day was out. Diamond picked up the phone and it was Georgina.
‘How ready are you?’
‘For what, ma’am?’ His mouth had gone dry.
‘For what we were discussing.’
‘The, em...?’
‘We leave tomorrow morning.’
‘Soon as that? I haven’t made any arrangements.’
‘You live alone like me, don’t you? What arrangements?’
He didn’t like to mention his cat. The neighbour would take over. Raffles spent much of his time in her garden anyway. ‘I haven’t spoken to Keith Halliwell.’
‘Tell him he’s in charge. You’re away for an unspecified time on police business. No need to say any more.’
‘I don’t know any more.’
‘Good thing. I’ve arranged for a driver. He’ll call at my house and pick me up first and we should get to you about ten fifteen. Pack for at least two weeks.’
‘Where are we going?’
‘Peter, there’s a very sensible rule in work of this sort called the need-to-know principle. I’m applying it. When it becomes necessary, you’ll be informed.’
Pompous old trout. ‘As you wish.’
‘Until tomorrow, then. Don’t sound so depressed. It could be quite an adventure.’ Now she sounded like a character out of Enid Blyton.
He broke the news to Halliwell, as much as he knew. ‘I don’t need to tell you, it’s not my choice.’
Halliwell couldn’t hide the smile. ‘You and Georgina? Someone at headquarters has a sense of humour.’
‘It came from the Home Office. She has friends in high places. I’m tagging along as the dogsbody.’
‘Have fun.’
‘Make sure you collar the jewel thieves while I’m away.’
‘Me and whose army?’
‘You’ve got Ingeborg and Leaman and young Gilbert. All good brains. Get them busy and put this one to bed before I’m back.’ He felt marginally better for saying that.
That evening he went for a parting meal with Paloma at the Ring O Bells in Widcombe Parade, almost a local for her. She’d got over her amusement and actually seemed sorry he would be away for a time. But their appetites weren’t affected. They tucked into the char-grilled rib-eye steak with lemon, chilli and parsley butter, fries and salad (his) and vegetarian bake with salad leaves (hers).
‘How long will you be away?’ Paloma asked.
‘It’s open-ended. I expect we’ve got to look at evidence that was heard in court and find out what went wrong, who was lying, and so on. That’s going to take ages.’
‘You’ll get some weekends off, I hope.’
‘I’ll make sure of that. God, I hope it’s not the other end of the country, Durham or some such. She’s not saying.’
‘Is it a state secret?’
‘The story hasn’t broken in the press.’
‘Does it still go on, one police force investigating another?’ ‘Less usual than it was. There’s an independent commission that does the job these days, but certain cases still get farmed out to mugs like me and Georgina. Nobody is comfortable with it. We won’t get a welcome from the locals. It’s a pig of a job.’
‘You’ll see another part of the country. Travel broadens the mind.’
‘Aren’t I broad-minded enough?’
‘No comment.’
‘Right now, Bath offers all I desire,’ he said, nudging her foot under the table. ‘Your place or mine?’
He was at home in Weston next morning when the police Land Rover drew up outside.
‘Don’t let me down,’ he said to Raffles, who had his head in the bowl lapping the jelly off a serving of ocean fish. ‘No fights, no birds, no small mammals. And keep off the street at all times. Oh, and try not to shrink away when Mrs Monument goes to stroke you. Otherwise, it’s life as normal. I envy you.’
He carried his holdall out and nodded to Georgina in the front passenger seat.
‘Is that all you’re bringing?’ she asked.
‘I’ll get by.’
The driver had the hatch door open. It was not encouraging to see two jumbo-sized pink suitcases taking up most of the luggage space. As if this was not enough, various garments in suit covers were hanging inside the vehicle and when he got in he found he was sitting between a vanity case and a set of golf clubs.
Golf clubs ?
‘Don’t sit on my hat. It’s somewhere on the seat.’
They moved off, observed with indifference by Raffles, now perched on Mrs Monument’s front wall.
‘The first time I’ve seen where you live,’ Georgina said. ‘Quieter than I expected.’
‘You should hear it at the weekend when the lawn-mowers are going.’
They joined the A4 and headed towards the city, which he took to mean that their destination wasn’t the West Country. He wasn’t going to ask, even though the need-to-know principle wouldn’t be compromised now they were on the road.
‘I don’t suppose you heard the news,’ Georgina said from the front seat without turning her head. ‘There was another break-in last night. A large house in Upper Swainswick. The people were at the theatre. They got home to find the safe door open and an emerald necklace and matching earrings gone.’
‘Another one? That’s two in a week.’ He could imagine the mayhem in CID.
‘I don’t doubt that this is the same lot. They disabled the security system and got in through a back door. And it seems they knew what they were looking for. I hope DCI Halliwell is up to this.’