two people from Trading Standards,’ said Amaryllis with an appearance of confidence she didn’t entirely feel.
‘But the dog…’
‘Look, Charlie, this is what it’s like being a civilian and trying to find out something,’ she said, irritated. ‘Remember it the next time you tell me and Christopher off for poking our noses into something.’
‘I haven’t done that for a while. And I probably won’t get the chance again.’
‘Don’t be silly. That attitude won’t get you un-suspended. If you really want to get back to work. I’m not sure you do.’
‘Of course I do! What else would I do for a living?’ he snapped.
They stood there in silence for a while. As the young man walked back towards them, a piece of paper in his hand, they heard a noise. As he reached them, the brewery delivery lorry turned back into the yard and came to a halt in the middle of the space with a great screech of brakes, and the driver jumped out.
‘So, are these the names and addresses we asked for?’ said Amaryllis, focusing with difficulty on the young man and the piece of paper. She reached out for it. He held it up out of her reach.
‘Can I see your ID again?’
‘Hey!’ called the lorry driver, advancing on them faster and faster. The dog sat up and barked once, loudly.
‘Watch out – that dog’s trained to defend them,’ said the young man with the piece of paper.
‘If you believe that, you’ll believe anything,’ said the driver. ‘He’s a cop! What’s he doing here?’
‘I’m not…’ Charlie began, but Amaryllis’s brain worked faster than his.
She grabbed the piece of paper out of the young man’s hand and said to Charlie, ‘Run like hell.’
They took off, past the driver, who didn’t quite manage to turn round quickly enough, past the lorry, and out of the yard. Running feet pursued them.
‘Don’t look round,’ said Amaryllis. ‘Quick – this way!’
She dived through a gate and into somebody’s garden. Amaryllis was accustomed to making a speedy getaway so she had earmarked this as a possible escape route while they climbed the hill in the first place. She had seen that the whole row of gardens had a lane running along the back of them, and there was an open gate leading to it. She dived through and flung herself along the narrow path. She didn’t wait to see if Charlie and the dog were following, but she at least one of them breathing behind her, louder and louder. If either of them collapsed now she would be very cross.
‘We’ve blown our cover,’ he puffed.
‘Sometimes you just have to get away,’ said Amaryllis, slowing down slightly to look behind them. There was no sign of any pursuit. ‘We’ve got their names anyway.’
She waved the piece of paper in his face. It had an Aberdour Breweries logo at the top but it was completely blank apart from that.
Charlie Smith started to laugh, and even the dog looked as if it might break into a grin.
‘What a waste of time,’ he said.
Even when they got on the train, he was still indulging in intermittent bouts of silly laughter. Oh well, thought Amaryllis, at least I’ve cheered him up a bit.
Chapter 14 Christopher has his methods
Christopher smiled to himself as he made his way home from the Cultural Centre at the end of the day. It was pouring with rain and he knew if anyone saw him they would wonder why he looked so happy, but he didn’t care. Amaryllis had phoned to tell him about the Aberdour fiasco, and he had something to show her. He knew she would be furious, but that was part of the fun.
He vaguely hoped Charlie Smith would cook something for his tea. He was getting bored with bacon and egg after eating it morning, noon and night. Well, morning and night at least. He usually took a packed lunch to work with him.
She met him at his front door.
‘It’s all on their website! The names of their employees. And pictures.’
‘Yes,’ said Christopher, only slightly disappointed that she’d spoiled
‘But the dog…’
‘Look, Charlie, this is what it’s like being a civilian and trying to find out something,’ she said, irritated. ‘Remember it the next time you tell me and Christopher off for poking our noses into something.’
‘I haven’t done that for a while. And I probably won’t get the chance again.’
‘Don’t be silly. That attitude won’t get you un-suspended. If you really want to get back to work. I’m not sure you do.’
‘Of course I do! What else would I do for a living?’ he snapped.
They stood there in silence for a while. As the young man walked back towards them, a piece of paper in his hand, they heard a noise. As he reached them, the brewery delivery lorry turned back into the yard and came to a halt in the middle of the space with a great screech of brakes, and the driver jumped out.
‘So, are these the names and addresses we asked for?’ said Amaryllis, focusing with difficulty on the young man and the piece of paper. She reached out for it. He held it up out of her reach.
‘Can I see your ID again?’
‘Hey!’ called the lorry driver, advancing on them faster and faster. The dog sat up and barked once, loudly.
‘Watch out – that dog’s trained to defend them,’ said the young man with the piece of paper.
‘If you believe that, you’ll believe anything,’ said the driver. ‘He’s a cop! What’s he doing here?’
‘I’m not…’ Charlie began, but Amaryllis’s brain worked faster than his.
She grabbed the piece of paper out of the young man’s hand and said to Charlie, ‘Run like hell.’
They took off, past the driver, who didn’t quite manage to turn round quickly enough, past the lorry, and out of the yard. Running feet pursued them.
‘Don’t look round,’ said Amaryllis. ‘Quick – this way!’
She dived through a gate and into somebody’s garden. Amaryllis was accustomed to making a speedy getaway so she had earmarked this as a possible escape route while they climbed the hill in the first place. She had seen that the whole row of gardens had a lane running along the back of them, and there was an open gate leading to it. She dived through and flung herself along the narrow path. She didn’t wait to see if Charlie and the dog were following, but she at least one of them breathing behind her, louder and louder. If either of them collapsed now she would be very cross.
‘We’ve blown our cover,’ he puffed.
‘Sometimes you just have to get away,’ said Amaryllis, slowing down slightly to look behind them. There was no sign of any pursuit. ‘We’ve got their names anyway.’
She waved the piece of paper in his face. It had an Aberdour Breweries logo at the top but it was completely blank apart from that.
Charlie Smith started to laugh, and even the dog looked as if it might break into a grin.
‘What a waste of time,’ he said.
Even when they got on the train, he was still indulging in intermittent bouts of silly laughter. Oh well, thought Amaryllis, at least I’ve cheered him up a bit.
Chapter 14 Christopher has his methods
Christopher smiled to himself as he made his way home from the Cultural Centre at the end of the day. It was pouring with rain and he knew if anyone saw him they would wonder why he looked so happy, but he didn’t care. Amaryllis had phoned to tell him about the Aberdour fiasco, and he had something to show her. He knew she would be furious, but that was part of the fun.
He vaguely hoped Charlie Smith would cook something for his tea. He was getting bored with bacon and egg after eating it morning, noon and night. Well, morning and night at least. He usually took a packed lunch to work with him.
She met him at his front door.
‘It’s all on their website! The names of their employees. And pictures.’
‘Yes,’ said Christopher, only slightly disappointed that she’d spoiled
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