Beverly: Chapter 5
My mind flew into overdrive as I walked back to Beverly’s house. I still had a few hours to kill before Rob arrived but with this tiny hint of a break in the case I felt re-energised. For the second time that day I knocked on Claire’s front door and waited. This time I only knocked once, knowing that it would take Claire a few minutes to get to me, and my patience was rewarded with a smile.
“Charlie! Back so soon? Are you coming in?”
I followed her back into her sitting room and waited while she hooked herself up to her oxygen supply. It took all my self-control to wait and when she eventually turned her attention back to me, I could barely contain my excitement.
“The dog lives inside at the moment doesn’t she? Because it’s so cold?”
Claire nodded. “That’s right. Beverly’s got a lovely space set up for her. Have you seen it?”
“Not yet. She’s promised to show me around when she gets back from work later.”
“You’ll love it. It’s very impressive.”
“Sounds great. Tell me Claire, do you spend a lot of time in this room?”
She smiled. “I’m afraid so.” She gestured to the window. “At least the view’s not too shabby.”
I had to admit that, as street views went, I’d definitely seen worse. “Is it a busy street? Lots of people coming and going?”
“It’s not too bad. Busier at rush hour I guess.” She gave me a look. “Why’d you ask?”
I shrugged. “Just making conversation really.”
“Ha! I don’t believe that for one second Charlie Diamond. You’re sniffing for information. I can tell.”
I felt a giggle rise and catch in my throat. “Maybe I am.” There was something refreshing about Claire’s directness.
“What do you want to know?”
“How about I make us both a cuppa first? Kitchen through here is it?” I stood up and started heading for the door.
“Wait!” Claire’s tone was sharp. “Tell me what you want to know first.” She smiled. “And then we can make the tea.”
I sat down again and took a deep breath. “Have you seen anyone hanging about? Maybe a car you don’t recognise or someone wandering around?”
“Thank you.” She stood up and unhooked herself from the oxygen supply. “This way.”
Before I could say any more, she’d left the room and I was forced to hurry to catch up to her. When we arrived in her kitchen I watched as she hooked herself up to an oxygen tank on a little trolly then she filled the kettle.
“Tea or coffee?”
“Coffee please. Milk, no sugar.”
She bustled around the kitchen gathering mugs and a teaspoon. “Pass the milk would you?” She gestured behind me where a large American style fridge stood.
I did as I was told and passed her the milk.
“Thanks.” She poured milk into the two mugs. “There was a man. But I wouldn’t exactly call him suspicious.”
“Oh?”
“More like ‘drop-dead gorgeous’ actually.”
“Oh.” I waited but she didn’t elaborate. “How old?”
“Dunno, late forties maybe. Hard to say. You know how George Clooney has that ageless quality that makes him sexy even though he’s old enough to be your dad?”
“I’m certain George Clooney isn’t old enough to be my dad.” I smiled. “But I know what you mean.” A thought occurred to me. “Did you ever see him visit Beverly?” I watched as colour flooded Claire’s cheeks. Oh Beverly, you saucy minx! It was obvious from Claire’s reaction that Beverly and I had a lot more than just her dog to talk about. I couldn’t wait.
A couple of hours later I was outside Beverly’s house again waiting for Rob. Claire hadn’t been able to tell me any more about Beverly’s mystery visitor, other than that he arrived at very random times. Despite my probing, Claire wouldn’t be drawn on the nature of the man’s visits but she confirmed that she’d seen no-one else hanging around and the only cars that parked on the street tended to be her neighbours or the occasional delivery driver.
I glanced at the time on my phone as Rob pulled up. “You’re late.”
“Nice to see you too.” He unlocked the passenger door. “You getting in?”
It had started to drizzle and Beverly wasn’t due home until after six so I climbed in. “You owe me a coffee!”
“Sorry Charlie. Work. You know how it is.”
I did know how it was. I also knew when he was being evasive. “Anything you can tell me about?”
He shook his head. “Not a lot to tell. Got a few jobs on and one of the boys wanted me to go with him to lean on a scroat.”
“Sounds like an excuse straight out of NYPD Blue.” I laughed. “What really happened?”
“Why can’t you just accept it when I tell you it was a work thing? Why does everything have to be shrouded in conspiracy?”
“Woah, calm down Rob. I was only teasing.” It wasn’t like him to overreact.
“What did you want anyway? You said you had a lead?”
I nodded and gave Rob what I hoped was my most winning smile. “I do. What would you say if I told you our missing dog had gone missing from inside a locked house?”
“She wasn’t out in the garden?”
“Nope. Too cold.”
“Damn!” He rubbed his temples. “Our boys just assumed …”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself, I did the same.”
“I take it she’s searched the house? The dog couldn’t have got stuck inside somewhere?”
“They like to burrow but no, I don’t think in the house.”
“Any signs of a forced entry? Finger prints?”
“None that she mentioned. But that’s why you’re here. I was hoping you’d take a look around, give the place the once over with your expert eye.”
“I should probably get a couple of the boys down here.”
“You’d do that?” Rob was usually reluctant to get his colleagues involved in my investigations.
“Of course. She came to us first. We have a certain duty of care, even if it is only a missing dog.”
“Stolen dog,” I reminded him.
He smiled. “Okay, sorry, suspected stolen dog. They should be finishing soon but one of the boys owes me a favour.”
He picked up his phone and I listened as he gave Beverly’s address to the person at the other end of the line. As he spoke I felt a niggle return to my insides. Rob was being very helpful. Too helpful? whispered a voice in my head. I had to trust him, he was my friend, but he was a police detective first and I knew where his loyalties lay if it was a choice between me and the job. I returned Rob’s smile and did my best to quieten the voices in my head.