“It seems they are having contract cleaners. Would our budget stretch as far as offering her a few hours to clean and help around here?”
“If not and you have no objection I will pay her myself, I did think of asking her to do a few hours for us, seems in Tarporley everyone has a cleaner”.
“I see no problem with that, stick her on the pay roll as an assistant rather than a cleaner, that’s it Jack I am off, bye”, he was gone.
Jack made no mention of the petition against his glass house but was surprised to hear his old friend Woodcock had also signed, just goes to show.”
He thought of a story
“At the time of the Falklands war when British Sovereign territory was invaded, the Americans announced they would remain even handed.”
“An American TV newsreader at the end of the bulletin announcing this when he closed his papers looked into the camera and said.
“Who is the closest friend of America, stood by us when all others criticise us, who always sends their young men to support ours in times of need and despair, not the Argentineans, but the British.”
“Perhaps eventually the British people will have cause to reflect when their time of need came, who amongst their friends was only even handed”.
Maybe he thought one day Woodcock might have cause to reflect.
Doris and May arrived back, drinks in hand, he leaned over took his drink and said.
“I am sorry May you lost your post next door, if you fancy it, the Inspector and I could use a little help around here, a bit of cleaning, answering the phone to take messages, making sure no tourists snoop around thinking we are part of the museum and of course keeping the pot on”.
“That would be wonderful”. She said
“Right well I am going for a look around the rest of this building. May you take your instructions from Inspector Scott-Ling, she will I am sure update you on the rules and do`s and don’ts of this little world inside here”.
He stood replaced his cup and saucer and left the room.
Arriving down stairs it was busy, tourists and school children visiting the old cells and the dummies dressed up as Victorian prisoners.
Some were boisterous and on passing the birching room and stool, he looked stopped and thought, a session in here would give you miscreants a taste of old justice when the rule spare the rod and spoil the child was in operation.
He was joined by Doris who informed him they had a woman prisoner next door at the police station and she was required there to search the lady and sit in on the interview.
“Ok”, he said, “I will spend the day just contemplating how to tackle these cases, I will give you a call as and when things will kick off”.
As he toured around, he met Sergeant Reg Large. He was on this occasion, dressed in an old type uniform and armed with a Sergeants walking stick.
Such a stick had not seen by Jack since he had attended the Grand National at Aintree years ago when all the Scouser sergeants carried them on the course.
More as a traditional dress than for practical use, the days of the Sergeant tapping his stick on the pavement edge to signal constables he was about had long gone, even before his time.
“Hello again Mr Richards. Just having a look around are you?”
“Ah, yes, it is very interesting; the children seem to enjoy it in particular putting on the old helmets and tunics.”
“Yes,” replied Large “Very good police public relations, this museum is”.
“Yes indeed” replied Jack, then added, “Since the cops on outside patrol don’t seem to stop and speak with the public these days I would agree it is a good police public relations exercise”.
Large hesitated, realising what Jack had said was the truth but a little taken back by its saying.
Large hesitated and said “Oh I am interested in this enquiry in to these deaths, some think it is a waste of time and money, a senior officer’s bloody fad for a good night out. Still money is money better to get paid for that than having to do real police work”.
Jack smiled and replied, “Well I must get on", he turned and walked away then after a few steps he stopped, looked back and said.
“Oh, by the way, I am not getting paid I am just looking into the case for old times sake. You know what they say, once a copper always a copper”.
PART EIGHT
LOOK OUT, JACK’S ABOUT
The next day in Tarporley, Anne had just finished baking and preparing a host of cakes to take with them to her sisters for a family party in the offing, her sister Megan’s grandson was having his third birthday and as normal Anne was the mainstay to provide refreshments.
Jack meanwhile had spent the whole day contemplating in his study.
“Are you alright in here Jack?”
“I haven’t heard a murmur from you since breakfast.”
She put down a drink on the table together with a piece of carrot cake, one of his favourites. He was sitting staring through the window.
“A penny for your thoughts Jack?”
“I was just contemplating” he replied
“What is that hun?” She said
“My” he thought, “She hasn’t called me that since we were courting”.
He always thought but dared not ask if the phrase was short for honey or if she thought he was German, he certainly wouldn’t dare ask her now”.
“Give me a clue Jack what is on your mind?”
He looked then replied, “I have been thinking over the many possible issues in this case I have been lumbered with.”
“There does seem some strange elements but not a smell of a crime”
“All the medical evidence says it is a nothing, but like Woodcock I am suspicious that it all stinks but why I have not a clue. I may well have egg on my face here I fear”.
“Not egg on your face Jack not after all these years, I can’t see Woodcock setting you up or throwing the old banana skin down whilst you are carrying a tray of glasses.”
“So I thought but as you came in I digressed, can you believe this, Inspector Scott-Ling who has been allocated to assist me and lives nearby.”
“She admits she signed the petition against my glass house going up.”
“She qualified it of course by saying she signed it blind not knowing anything of who or what, but she added she saw Woodcock’s name on the sheet as having signed”.
“Really Jack that does surprise me and he never mentioned a word”
“Exactly, well neither will I, not yet anyway but it does seem like a friend in need is not a friend in deed, the bloody green house was only a small lean to on the house measuring 8 feet by four feet”.
The next day at 8. 30am there came a knock on the door, Anne answered it to find a uniformed policewoman Inspector standing there.
“Good morning, Mrs Richards.”
“Yes, Miss Scott-Ling, I take it?”
“Yes, I thought I would give Mr Richards a lift in to work, it may be difficult to park today. There are some demonstrations going on so a lot of the city is closed.”
“There will not be much parking space at the museum due to the additional parking required for police vehicles so I thought we could travel in together”
“A very good idea. Please step inside, if you wouldn’t mind waiting in Jack’s study, I will tell him you have arrived”.
They went through and once inside Doris was standing alone in the study come office. She looked around; it was a modern with a desk, chairs, some filing cupboards, a computer and printer.
There was a hat stand in the corner it appeared to be old and constructed of oak and yes it was years old, there was a variety of hats and coats hanging on it, all appeared well used nothing new and posh.
The rear wall had a large French window leading to a small patio and garden with a very bright green lawn beyond. There was a really over bearing sight of a conservatory from the house behind.