Simmy suggested.
‘Right first time! That was it.’
‘That’s where Ben lives. It’s just along here.’
They found the car and Kathy waited twenty minutes while Simmy went back to her shop to gather bouquets for the early morning deliveries, and switch to using her van. Then she followed Simmy back to Troutbeck and a promised meal. When they eventually drew up at the white-painted cottage, it was eight o’clock. ‘What an adventure!’ Simmy said. ‘I’m sorry it all went wrong, though. It wasn’t much of a guided tour.’
‘I’m sorry I landed on you when you’re so busy. I must say it’s all amazingly efficient.’
‘Don’t say that. I’ve got a nasty feeling I’ve forgotten something vital. Melanie planned it all out for me, so it ought to work, but I should check with her that there wasn’t anything new after I’d gone.’
‘She’d have told you, wouldn’t she?’
‘I didn’t stop to look for a message. I’ll call her now.’
Melanie answered quickly, even breathlessly. ‘Simmy! What happened to you? Moxo called here and said there
was
another dead man in Coniston, and he wanted you to ID him. I’ve been waiting for you to call and tell me about it.’
‘That’s it – the whole thing. We were on the way to the pub in Near Sawrey and Moxon phoned me, so we had to dash to Coniston. We never did get a drink, and now we’re starving hungry. I’ve got those three orders with me for Troutbeck, so I can do them first thing tomorrow. Was there anything new?’
‘But who
was
he? Was he murdered? Why are
you
involved?’
‘I’ll tell you tomorrow, Mel. I have to keep my mind on the job. So do you.’
‘All right, then. And no, nothing new came in. Only Ninian Tripp. He was sorry to miss you. And he said the price I charged for his vase was just right. He’s bringing one or two more at the weekend.’
Simmy experienced a pang of regret at not seeing Ninian. Her mental image of his long fair hair and clay-stained clothes was a sweet one. ‘Thanks, Mel,’ she said with a sigh.
Chapter Seven
Reminiscing with Kathy occupied the rest of the evening, assisted by a bottle of red wine, followed by a glass or two of brandy, which had been a habit of theirs in former times. Kathy’s life had always been very different from Simmy’s, but the divergence now was stark. She had earned promotion in her department, suffering resentful reactions from a close colleague, which had made her working days far from pleasant. ‘I’m thinking of making a complete change,’ she confided. ‘Especially seeing what fun you’re having, working for yourself. It’s a completely different world. Nobody looking over your shoulder all the time, and always something new to do. I mean – that amazing model tower in your window, for a start. Such creativity! I feel only semi-human compared to you.’
‘That was Ben,’ Simmy said. ‘His idea, and mostly his work. And it’s really been there for too long now. It’sgetting stale, and bits are starting to fall off. I don’t think we gave it enough varnish.’
‘But what a lovely idea!’
‘He borrowed it from some museum in New York. No – a botanical garden. The Christmas display or something.’
‘He seems quite a special kid. And Melanie’s impressive as well.’
‘I know. We’re a real little gang.’ Simmy laughed. ‘Even though I’m old enough to be their mother.’
‘Well, I’m jealous.’ Kathy drained the brandy glass and looked at her watch. ‘Must be time for bed. I guess you’ll want to start early tomorrow. Leave me here and I’ll have a quick explore of Troutbeck before setting off to find my daughter.’
‘Go and see the church. It’s got very famous windows.’
Kathy pulled a face. ‘I think I’ll pass on that. I’d rather go and find a good waterfall or dry stone wall. It’s all about the outdoors up here, after all.’
‘Not in February.’ Simmy shivered. ‘It’s dangerous on the fells in winter.
‘Right first time! That was it.’
‘That’s where Ben lives. It’s just along here.’
They found the car and Kathy waited twenty minutes while Simmy went back to her shop to gather bouquets for the early morning deliveries, and switch to using her van. Then she followed Simmy back to Troutbeck and a promised meal. When they eventually drew up at the white-painted cottage, it was eight o’clock. ‘What an adventure!’ Simmy said. ‘I’m sorry it all went wrong, though. It wasn’t much of a guided tour.’
‘I’m sorry I landed on you when you’re so busy. I must say it’s all amazingly efficient.’
‘Don’t say that. I’ve got a nasty feeling I’ve forgotten something vital. Melanie planned it all out for me, so it ought to work, but I should check with her that there wasn’t anything new after I’d gone.’
‘She’d have told you, wouldn’t she?’
‘I didn’t stop to look for a message. I’ll call her now.’
Melanie answered quickly, even breathlessly. ‘Simmy! What happened to you? Moxo called here and said there
was
another dead man in Coniston, and he wanted you to ID him. I’ve been waiting for you to call and tell me about it.’
‘That’s it – the whole thing. We were on the way to the pub in Near Sawrey and Moxon phoned me, so we had to dash to Coniston. We never did get a drink, and now we’re starving hungry. I’ve got those three orders with me for Troutbeck, so I can do them first thing tomorrow. Was there anything new?’
‘But who
was
he? Was he murdered? Why are
you
involved?’
‘I’ll tell you tomorrow, Mel. I have to keep my mind on the job. So do you.’
‘All right, then. And no, nothing new came in. Only Ninian Tripp. He was sorry to miss you. And he said the price I charged for his vase was just right. He’s bringing one or two more at the weekend.’
Simmy experienced a pang of regret at not seeing Ninian. Her mental image of his long fair hair and clay-stained clothes was a sweet one. ‘Thanks, Mel,’ she said with a sigh.
Chapter Seven
Reminiscing with Kathy occupied the rest of the evening, assisted by a bottle of red wine, followed by a glass or two of brandy, which had been a habit of theirs in former times. Kathy’s life had always been very different from Simmy’s, but the divergence now was stark. She had earned promotion in her department, suffering resentful reactions from a close colleague, which had made her working days far from pleasant. ‘I’m thinking of making a complete change,’ she confided. ‘Especially seeing what fun you’re having, working for yourself. It’s a completely different world. Nobody looking over your shoulder all the time, and always something new to do. I mean – that amazing model tower in your window, for a start. Such creativity! I feel only semi-human compared to you.’
‘That was Ben,’ Simmy said. ‘His idea, and mostly his work. And it’s really been there for too long now. It’sgetting stale, and bits are starting to fall off. I don’t think we gave it enough varnish.’
‘But what a lovely idea!’
‘He borrowed it from some museum in New York. No – a botanical garden. The Christmas display or something.’
‘He seems quite a special kid. And Melanie’s impressive as well.’
‘I know. We’re a real little gang.’ Simmy laughed. ‘Even though I’m old enough to be their mother.’
‘Well, I’m jealous.’ Kathy drained the brandy glass and looked at her watch. ‘Must be time for bed. I guess you’ll want to start early tomorrow. Leave me here and I’ll have a quick explore of Troutbeck before setting off to find my daughter.’
‘Go and see the church. It’s got very famous windows.’
Kathy pulled a face. ‘I think I’ll pass on that. I’d rather go and find a good waterfall or dry stone wall. It’s all about the outdoors up here, after all.’
‘Not in February.’ Simmy shivered. ‘It’s dangerous on the fells in winter.
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