A Dedicated Man

FOUR

After shocking the old ladies in the post office, Jack Barker set off down Helmthorpe High Street. It was only about ten thirty, but already clusters of tourists sauntered along the pavements, cardigans draped over their shoulders to keep off the morning chill. They would stop now and then, holding on to impatient children, to glance at displays of local craftware in shop windows. Crow Scar loomed to the north, and the shadow of an occasional wispy cloud drifted across its limestone face.

Barker hesitated for a moment outside the tiny secondhand bookshop run by Mr Thadtwistle – at ninety-eight the village’s oldest inhabitant – then hurried on and turned into the narrow street of cottages opposite the church. At number sixteen he paused and knocked. Nothing happened. He knocked again. Then he heard stirrings inside and smoothed back his hair as he waited. The door opened a few inches.

‘Oh, it’s you,’ Penny Cartwright said, squinting at him closely.

‘My God, you look awful,’ said Barker. ‘Old man not around, is he?’

Penny began to shake her head but immediately thought better of it.

‘Can I come in?’

Penny stood aside and let him enter. ‘If you’ll make me a strong cup of coffee.’

‘It’s a deal. And I didn’t mean what I said earlier. You look as lovely and fresh as a white rose in the morning dew.’

Penny pulled a face and flopped down on the couch. Her long jet-coloured hair was uncombed and the whites around her blue eyes looked greyish and bloodshot. She had dark puffy bags under her eyes, and her lips were cracked and dry. She held a bottle-green kimono-style dressing gown closed at her throat. A red dragon reared and breathed fire on the back.

Barker busied himself in the small untidy kitchen and soon came out carrying two steaming mugs of coffee. He sat in the battered armchair at right angles to Penny. As she reached forward to pick up her mug from the low table, he could see her lightly freckled cleavage. The folds of her silky gown also revealed a long delightful curve of thigh as she crossed her legs. She seemed entirely oblivious to the way she was making Jack Barker’s pulse race.

‘I suppose you’ve heard about Harry,’ he began, lighting a cigarette.

Penny reached out for one too. ‘Yes.’ She nodded, blowing out a lungful of smoke and coughing. ‘I’ve heard. These things’ll ruin my voice.’ She glared at the cigarette.

‘Have the police been to see you yet?’

‘Why should they?’

‘That chief inspector – Banks his name is – he was at the Bridge last night,’ Barker explained. ‘He talked to us for quite a bit. Anyway, he saw you – at least he saw me glancing over at you and asked who you were.’

‘And you told him?’

‘Yes.’

‘You told him I was a friend of Harry’s?’

‘Had to. He’d have found out sooner or later, wouldn’t he? Then he’d have been suspicious about why I didn’t tell him in the first place.’

‘So what? You’ve got nothing to hide, have you?’

Barker shrugged.

‘Anyway,’ Penny went on, ‘you know how I feel about the police.’

‘He’s not a bad sort. Quite friendly, really. But sharp as a knife. Doesn’t miss a trick. He’s the kind who’ll spend a pleasant evening buying you drinks, then ask you hard questions when you’re sozzled.’

‘Sounds awful.’ Penny pulled a face and ground out her half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray. ‘Still, they’re all much the same.’

‘What will you tell him?’

She looked at him and frowned. ‘What is there to tell?’

‘The old man?’

She shook her head.

‘He’s sharp,’ Barker repeated.

Penny smiled. ‘Well, then, he’ll be able to find out all he wants to know, won’t he?’

Barker leaned forward and took her hand. ‘Penny…’

She shook him off gently. ‘No, Jack, don’t. Not now.’

Barker slumped back in his chair.

‘Oh come on, Jack,’ Penny chided him. ‘Don’t behave like a sulky boy.’

‘I’m sorry.’

Penny gathered her gown around her and stood up. ‘Think nothing of it. You’d better go, though; I’m a bit unsteady on my pins today.’

Barker got to his feet. ‘Are you singing this week?’

‘Friday. If my voice holds out. You’ll be there?’

‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world, love,’ Barker answered. Then he left.