Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding Page 25

  “A painting?” I asked.

  “Yeah, you know. One of them things in a frame. And he took it into the stables. Why would he be doing that? I just thought you should know.”

  “Thank you, Queenie,” I said. “Very observant of you.” I was tempted to invite her to come to the pictures with us this evening, but that was so against all protocol that I simply couldn’t. I had to assume that she’d be safe, that nobody would have reason to harm a servant and that nobody would want to take a girl of her stature hostage. She’d be too big to lug around. But I wanted her to know what was going on. “Queenie,” I said, “I’ll need you to come up and dress me at six o’clock. I want to wear my black dress to the cinema and it has all those buttons down the back.”

  She went to say something, then changed her mind. “Bob’s yer uncle, miss,” she said and she gave me a wink. Sometimes, I realized, she wasn’t as stupid as I had always thought.

  “It’s turned into a nice afternoon,” I said. “Shall we take a walk around the grounds?”

  “Good idea,” Mummy said. We went out of the front door and paused, admiring the fountains. The pattering of water masked our voices.

  “I’m going to take a look in the stables,” I said. “You two keep watch and let me know if you see anyone coming.”

  “How do we do that?” Mummy asked. “Hoot like an owl or something?”

  “Owls don’t come out during the daylight,” I said. “Try a wood pigeon. They are easy enough to imitate.”

  “Hoo-hoo,” Granddad made the noise. It was so funny that we laughed.

  “Hoo-hoo?” Mummy tried.

  “You are both hopeless.” I was still laughing. “Mummy, why don’t you just call my name? What could be more natural than our taking a stroll in the grounds?”

  “Yes, that’s better,” she agreed.

  Granddad was frowning. “I don’t want you to do this, ducks. It could be dangerous.”

  “But we need to know, Granddad.”

  “But what if they’ve got a bloke stationed in the stables?”

  “I’ll bluff. After all, it is my house, and it would be quite natural that I visit the stables, wouldn’t it? I’ll say something like ‘Oh, hello. Are you one of the new gardeners?’ And I’ll smile sweetly and then babble on about buying a new horse and checking out the facilities.”

  “I still don’t like it,” Granddad said. “What if they want a hostage?”

  “It’s a risk I’ll take. Come on.” We started to walk around the house, giving the west wing a wide berth. We paused on the other side of the yew hedge, where we had a clear view of the French windows and the stable yard beyond. Nothing moved. A real wood pigeon was cooing mournfully from the copper beech tree. Bees buzzed around the roses. It felt like any summer afternoon.

  I took a deep breath. “Here goes, then,” I said and I set off in the direction of the stables. It was hard not to move too quickly or to look around. I reached the stable block that had now been converted into garages. The door of the first was open and waiting for the Bentley. Then I opened the second door and took a step back in amazement. A van was parked there. Its back doors were open and it was crammed full of crates and packages. Several smaller crates were stacked against the wall. It struck me that they were ready to leave and that maybe my telling them I was taking the Bentley that evening might have pushed their departure forward. I would have to try to warn DCI Garland.

  I was just about to come out of the garage when I heard my mother’s voice, “Georgie? Are you out here?”

  And then the answer in a good imitation of my voice, “I’m over here, Mummy. Come and see. There is a deer and a fawn.”

  At the same moment I heard the crunch of footsteps heading my way. I had no alternative but to duck behind the van. If they decided to drive it out now I’d be well and truly caught. The footsteps came closer.

  “You left the garage door open, you idiot,” said a voice I didn’t recognize.

  “I pushed it to. It wouldn’t latch properly,” replied a second strange voice. “And did you hear—those people are out in the grounds. You don’t think they’ve been snooping?”

  “Don’t worry about them. They’re heading for the woods. With any luck we’ll be gone before they get back.”

  “How are we going to get this lot into the motorcar without anyone seeing if we leave soon?” the second voice asked. “Why don’t we wait until dark?”

  “Something to do with the tides; that’s what the skipper said.”

  A van door slamming made me jump.

  “Might as well lock this right now. If we have to leave stuff behind that’s just too bad.” The second door slammed shut. “I’ll drive the car around to load it up when we’re ready to leave. And for God’s sake shut the bloody garage door this time.”

  I was suddenly plunged into darkness. I felt my way around the van, located the door and was pleased to find it was a simple latch that could be pushed up from the inside. At least I wasn’t locked in this time. I waited what I felt was a suitable amount of time, then let myself out, hugged the shadow around the stable yard and then made my way back to my mother and grandfather. They were both looking sick and worried.

  “I told you it was a bad idea,” Granddad said. “We were just about to go and call the police.”

  “We have to call the police right now,” I said. “They’ve a van packed with stolen goods in the garage there and they are planning to leave soon.”

  We made our way back to the front door. Plunkett was hovering. “Been out for a walk, my lady, Your Grace?” he asked.

  “We have, Plunkett. I saw a baby deer in the woods. Isn’t that amazing?”

  “Oh yes. Quite amazing,” he answered. “What time will you be leaving for the cinema?”

  “Well, it starts at seven so we should probably leave just after six. All right, Mummy?” I turned to her.

  “Fine with me. I’ll go and get changed.” She started up the stairs.

  “And Queenie is going to help me change. Would you send her up right away, Plunkett?”

  “Very good, my lady.” He gave a little nod and off he went.

  I glanced at Granddad, then picked up the telephone. I had to assume there was still an extension in the other wing and that someone might overhear what I was saying. But I also had to hope they weren’t close enough to pick up the receiver immediately.

  “Number please?” said the operator’s calm voice.

  “Haywards Heath police station. It’s an emergency.” I tried to keep my voice as low as possible.

  I waited; then a gruff voice said, “Police station. Sergeant Willis speaking.”

  “Oh, hello,” I said in my brightest voice now. “I’m calling for Uncle Garland. I know he’s visiting you from London. I don’t suppose he’s home at the moment, is he? No, I didn’t think he would be. So please give him this message. It’s his niece Georgiana and it’s about the party we were planning. We have to move the time forward, I’m afraid. I really want to have the treasure hunt in the grounds and we can’t do that in the dark, can we? So please ask him to come over to discuss details as soon as he can. And tell him I do look forward to seeing him very soon.”

  “Have you got the wrong number, miss?” the sergeant asked.

  “Oh no. Absolutely not. And you will tell him the moment you see him, won’t you? It means a lot to me.” Then I hung up. I had no idea whether he would work out that I wasn’t a babbling idiot or not, but it was the best that I could do.

  Chapter 35

  THURSDAY, JULY 4

  EYNSLEIGH

  I’m not sure what to do. I can just pray that the policeman at the station didn’t think I was batty. Otherwise we’ve no way of stopping them if they decide to leave early.

  I met Queenie up in my room and tried to think how much to tell her. Then I decided, Damn protocol. I wanted her safe.

  “Look, Queenie,” I said. “I want you to come with us. It may be dangerous to stay here this evening.”

  She shook her head. “Oh no, miss. That wouldn’t look right. If they are intending to scarper they’d get the wind up right away if I went with you. So I’ll stay put. But don’t worry, I’ll keep well out of the way.”

  I looked at her with a fondness I’d never have believed. “You are a brave girl, Queenie, but I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” she said. “If things get too hot around here I’ll slip out into the grounds and hide. They won’t bother about someone like me.”

  “Are you sure . . .” I started to say when Mummy poked her head around my door.

  “A strange van has just pulled up outside the front door.”

  “Not a police van?” I asked hopefully.

  “Not an ordinary tradesman’s van. And a chap got out. He seemed to be heading for the front steps. I couldn’t see much because it was in the shadow of the building.”

  “Come on,” I said, already heading out of my room. “If he’s one of them he’s going to regret it.”

  I ran down the stairs. Anger had now taken over from common sense. This was my new home and these people had spoiled it for me. And they had stolen Sir Hubert’s lovely things. I snatched a silver-topped cane from the umbrella stand in the front hall.

  Mummy was right behind me. “Georgie, you can’t,” she said. “What if he’s an ordinary tradesman?”

  “He would go around to the tradesman’s entrance, wouldn’t he?” I took up a position behind the front door. If he was a bona fide visitor he’d ring the front doorbell. If he had come to help them get away with another van, then I was ready for him. I didn’t stop to think that the whole rest of the gang was still here and outnumbered us. My grandfather appeared at the top of the landing. “What’s going on?” he asked, coming down the stairs. I put my finger to my lips as the front door started to open, slowly. No ordinary visitor, then. I had been right. I raised the heavy cane above my head. Brilliant sunlight flooded in, silhouetting a dark man. He came in, closing the door quietly behind him. Just as I stepped out with my cane poised to hit him, he looked around and called out, “Hello? Anybody home?”

  It was lucky that he did this or he would have been lying on the floor, struck with my silver-headed cane. Instead I dropped it to the marble floor with a loud clatter and flung myself at him.

  “Darcy!” I exclaimed and burst into tears.

  “Well, that’s what I call an effusive greeting,” he said, wrapping his arms around me. “I wanted to surprise you. I hitched a ride from the station in a plumber’s van. And I can see that I’ve surprised you, all right, but you don’t need to cry every time I come home.”

  “You don’t understand,” I managed between sobs. “I nearly killed you, or at least knocked you out.”

  “No,” he said, “I don’t understand.” He held me away from him and looked at my tear-stained face. “Come on, old thing. This isn’t like you. What’s going on?”

  “Morning room.” I took his hand and led him down the hall. There was no sign of Plunkett. I wondered if he had got away while the going was good, like the gardeners. I dragged Darcy into the morning room. Mummy and Granddad followed. Granddad stood at the door, ready for action. Trying to be coherent, I told Darcy everything. His expression became more and more incredulous. “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “Of course I am. Quite sure. And the Scotland Yard detective recognized immediately who they are too.”

  “Why on earth didn’t you leave the place and go back to London?” he asked.

  “Because we’ve only just put two and two together,” I said. “Until now we thought it was all about a deranged old woman living here. The police will be arriving this evening. I just hope they are not too late. It looks as if the gang is all ready to leave and I suspect they plan to take our Bentley with them. I left a message for the inspector in charge but I don’t know if he’ll get it. I had to make it sound as if I was calling my uncle, in case anyone was listening in.”

  Darcy looked at me with concern, but then he smiled. “How do you manage to get yourself mixed up in things like this, Georgie?”

  “I certainly didn’t intend to,” I said. “I was looking forward to enjoying my first real home, not being gassed in my bed or left to die in a vault.”

  “So what do you plan to do now?” Darcy asked.

  “The inspector wanted us all to go to the pictures and be well out of the way.”

  “Good idea. We’ll go now, before they can steal the motorcar.”

  “But what if they leave before the police get here?” I asked. “What if they get away with all the lovely things they have stolen?”

  “You certainly can’t stop them,” Darcy said. “We certainly can’t stop them. They may be armed.”

  “We could slow them down,” I said. “Mummy, you and Granddad can drive off in the Bentley, can’t you? That will make them think that we’ve all gone. And maybe Darcy and I can do something to their van.”

  “Such as what?” Darcy asked. “I’ve read in books about removing the rotor arm or the distributor but I’ve never had to do it myself. Besides, if they are coming out to load up, I think they’d notice that someone had raised the bonnet, don’t you?”

  “I know!” I said excitedly. “The birds!”

  “What birds?”

  “Listen,” I said. “They call him Phil the Birdman and he keeps birds as pets. Maybe he’s fond enough of them to go hunting for them if we steal them.”

  Darcy was frowning as he looked at me. “You want to steal birds from a known criminal?”

  “Yes. It’s the only thing I can think of that might slow them down.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “No. If he’s as passionate about his birds as they say, he’ll come looking for them. With any luck they’ll be in cages ready to be transported.”

  “With any luck?” Darcy asked. “You mean you may want to catch flying birds?”

  “If they are flying we don’t need to catch them. We simply open the French doors and shush them out. And we leave a note to say we’ve taken his birds. Come and find them in the forest.”

  Darcy shook his head. “Georgie, this is not a good idea.”

  “It could be. We could try at least. We presume the French doors are unlocked because they’ve been coming and going.” I reached out and touched Darcy’s sleeve. “At least let’s try. And if we’re spotted they’ll be confused to see you. They may not know if more reinforcements have arrived.” I didn’t wait for an answer. I went over to the writing desk, took out a sheet of paper and then wrote in big black letters: WE HAVE YOUR BIRDS. COME AND FIND THEM.

  Darcy shook his head. “This is stupid, Georgiana.”

  I think it was the first time he had called me by my whole name, and it did make me pause, but I was not about to be deterred. “I’m going to try it. You can come or not, as you choose. At the very least you can keep watch for me.”

  “And you think you can carry a blasted great birdcage to the forest by yourself?” he asked.

  “I won’t know until I try,” I said.

  He sighed. “Very well. I’m certainly not going to let you do it alone. Come on, then, show me where we are going.”

  “And you and I will drive off, Daddy,” my mother said.

  We all walked to the front door together, talking among ourselves about going to the cinema and how long it had been since we saw a film. Then Mummy and Granddad got into the motorcar and Darcy and I crept around the front of the house, hugging the deep shade. Fortunately the lowest windows were above our height. We came around the corner and stopped. Fernando and McShea were coming out of one set of French doors, carrying an ornate clock. I heard a woman’s voice call from the direction of the stables, “Hurry up. We haven’t got all day.” And Joanie came out of the shadows. She was no longer dressed as a maid but in a smart frock and hat. “Is that the last of it?”

  “A couple more bits and pieces,” McShea replied. So much for not being one of them, I thought.

  “But they just drove off in the motorcar,” Fernando shouted.

  “Already? Damn them!” Joanie said. “I thought they weren’t supposed to be going until after six. Well, we’ll just have to leave the rest of the stuff, then. I don’t think we can cram any more in the van.”

  “To hell with the stuff,” Fernando said. “What about us? We can’t cram six of us into the van.”

  “Two of you may have to make your own way to the boat.”

  “Hey, listen, I’ve stuck with Phil through all this. I’m not going to be ditched now,” McShea said. “Leave Plunkett behind. He never was much use anyway.”

  “Of course we’re leaving him behind. He’s played his part. We don’t need him anymore,” Joanie snapped.

  “You’re not leaving us,” Fernando said, his eyes flashing angrily. “You take some of the stuff out of the back to make room for us, okay?”

  “Okay. Keep your hair on.” She turned and walked back to the stables.

  “What about this clock?” McShea called after her.

  “Bring it. I like it. I’ll carry it on my knee,” Joanie said.

  “Where’s Phil?” Fernando asked.

  “He’s with Plunkett. Sorting things out.”

  As they headed for the stables, Darcy and I crept toward the French doors. I thought that the room with the birds had been at the far end of the corridor, therefore the one now closest to us. I turned the handle and the glass door swung open. I peeked inside and pointed with glee. Two birdcages now sat on the table, each covered with a cloth. The birds were indeed ready to travel. Darcy moved past me to pick up the biggest one. I put the note down and picked up the smaller cage, and we made a quick exit. It was all too smooth. We had a brief sprint across a piece of lawn where we could have been seen, but then we were behind the yew hedge and worked our way around to the first of the woods. We had not gone far enough into the trees when we heard the sound of someone coming toward us, footsteps crashing through bracken. Darcy put down his cage and darted behind a tree, only just in time, as the man I presumed was Birdman Phil caught up to me.