Nothing Ventured

14

‘I’m in real trouble,’ said William as he turned on the ignition.

‘With the Hawk or Lamont?’ asked Jackie, as she fastened her seatbelt.

‘Far worse. With Beth. I told her I’d be back in time for supper this evening, and now I’m on my way to Barnstaple with another woman.’

‘I think this calls for a dozen roses,’ said Jackie. ‘And I know just the person to solve your problem.’

As they passed through Earls Court, Jackie said, ‘Pull over.’

‘But it’s a double yellow,’ said William, ‘and we’re always fair game for traffic wardens.’

‘We’ll only be a couple of minutes. And in any case, it’s official police business.’

Jackie got out of the car and William reluctantly followed her into a flower shop.

‘A dozen roses,’ said Jackie, ‘and make sure they’re fresh or I’ll arrest you for impersonating a florist. And we need them delivered.’

The florist took his time selecting each rose before asking for a name and address.

‘Beth Rainsford, the Fitzmolean Museum, Prince Albert Crescent,’ said William.

‘Rainsford... Rainsford... Why does that name ring a bell?’ said Jackie.

‘Do you want to add a message?’ asked the florist, handing William a card and a biro.

‘I thought you liked this girl,’ said Jackie, tearing up the card. ‘Sounds as if you’re writing to your sister to let her know you’ve got the mumps. Try again.’

‘Not a lot better, but I’ve just spotted a traffic warden, so we’d better get moving.’

‘That will be two pounds,’ said the florist.

William handed over a couple of pound notes.

‘Thank you, Mike.’

‘My pleasure, Jackie,’ said the florist as they ran back to the car.

‘So what’s the plan once we get to Barnstaple?’ asked William, when they joined the traffic on the motorway heading west.

‘First, we find out where Carter lives, then check into a one-star hotel or guesthouse nearby.’

‘And what are we looking for?’ asked William, as he’d never taken part in a stakeout before.

‘Visitors, especially those who obviously aren’t locals. Not that I think Mr. Big is likely to come down to Barnstaple just to please us. But we’ll need to take photos of everyone who goes in or out of the house, and when we get back to the Yard we’ll check to see if they match up with anyone in our rogues’ gallery.’

‘Anything else?’

‘Number plates of every car parked near the house, or any suspicious-looking vehicles. We can check them out on the police national computer later. And don’t assume the person we’re looking for will park right outside Carter’s front door. Police work isn’t that convenient.’

‘Do we split up or work as a pair?’

‘That will depend on whether we can watch the house from the car without being spotted. Either way, it will be hours of patient surveillance, with no certainty of anything to show for it.’

‘Do you think we’ll find out what he’s up to?’

‘Unlikely,’ said Jackie. ‘But you can bet there’ll be a surprise or two, when we’ll have to think on our feet.’

‘Who decides when we go back to London?’

‘Lamont.’

‘Then we could be stuck down there forever.’

Jackie laughed. ‘I don’t think so. Don’t forget he expects you to accompany him when he visits Pentonville to interview Eddie Leigh. And you’ve also got to take the copy of the Rembrandt back to Faulkner’s home in the country.’

They drove on for some time in companionable silence.

‘Does Lamont have any family?’

‘He’s a triple disaster,’ said Jackie. ‘Three ex-wives, and five children. His first three marriages lasted six years, three years, and one year, and I’m not sure the latest will survive for much longer. God knows how he can afford the alimony. It would be cheaper to take the occasional lover, like the rest of us.’

William laughed. ‘What about the Hawk?’

‘Married to Josephine for over thirty years. Three grown-up daughters, who’ve got him wound around their little fingers.’

‘I’d like to see that,’ said William. ‘But then you have a daughter,’ he said, hoping Jackie was feeling relaxed enough to exchange confidences, but she didn’t respond. He glanced to his left to see that she had fallen asleep. Always catch some kip whenever possible, wherever possible, she’d advised him often enough.

Jackie hadn’t wanted to answer any more questions, so she closed her eyes. She had known within days of William joining the team that he was destined for higher things. Far higher than she could ever hope for.

Reporting an inspector who’d placed a hand on her thigh when she was a young constable hadn’t improved her chances of promotion. And taking six months off after her daughter was born only ensured that when she returned to work she found herself once again back on the beat. It hadn’t deterred her.

However, when Ms. Roycroft was named as co-respondent in a senior officer’s divorce, the local commander suggested that perhaps the time had come for her to consider early retirement. She didn’t point out that she was only thirty-four, and had no intention of giving up the job she loved, well aware they couldn’t sack her. She clung on, but accepted that detective sergeant was probably the highest rank she was likely to attain.

William was different. He may have been naive and a little too smooth, but after she’d introduced him to the real world, where criminals didn’t say please and thank you, she was sure he would progress quickly through the ranks. But she’d still have to watch his back whenever he came across less capable colleagues who would be only too happy to let him carry the can for their mistakes and, being a public schoolboy, he wouldn’t sneak.

When William eventually became the commissioner, Jackie wondered if he would even remember her name.

William stuck to the middle lane and kept a steady speed so as not to wake her. It wasn’t long before his mind drifted back to Beth. How long would she tolerate a boyfriend who was so unreliable? He would call her the moment they arrived in Barnstaple and explain why he wouldn’t be joining her for supper.

Old silver, a missing Rembrandt, and how to get into Faulkner’s house and meet his wife continued to occupy his mind, although Beth was continually trying to butt in.

The moment William turned off the motorway, Jackie woke up and immediately began to check the map on her lap. ‘Head for the town center,’ she said, as if she’d never been asleep. ‘It will be a left turn for the street Carter lives in. I’ll warn you in good time.’

After a couple more miles Jackie said, ‘Take the next turning on the left, and slow down when you pass number ninety-one. Then first right, and make sure you park well out of sight.’

Jackie took a close look at the modern semidetached house with its pocket-handkerchief garden as they passed number 91 Mulberry Avenue, but it wasn’t the house that caught her attention. William turned right and parked behind a large van.

Jackie got out of the car, stretched her arms, and scanned the horizon. ‘Do you see what I see?’ she said.

William looked in the direction she was pointing. ‘Do you mean that large house up on the hill?’

‘The Romans would have occupied that position and built a fortress so they could keep a close eye on their enemies.’

‘But it’s a long way away.’

‘True, but it has a panoramic view of the town, including Carter’s house. But as we’re not Romans let’s hope it’s a hotel,’ Jackie said as she climbed back into the car.

William kept the building in sight as he wound his way slowly up the hill until he spotted a sign announcing SEA VIEW HOTEL, with an arrow pointing up a long drive.

‘All we need now is for the room with that big bay window at the front to be available for the next few days,’ said Jackie. ‘You do the talking. I’ll try and look meek.’

‘That will be a first,’ muttered William as he parked the car.

‘Good afternoon,’ said the young woman at the reception desk. ‘How can I help you?’

‘We were wondering if the room overlooking the bay was free,’ said William.

‘The Queen Anne suite? Let me check, sir.’ She took a moment to look at the register, before saying, ‘Yes, but only for a couple of nights. The room’s already booked for Wednesday.’

‘How much?’ asked William.

‘Thirty pounds a night, breakfast included.’

William hesitated. ‘We’ll take it,’ said Jackie, and whispered, ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith,’ before he signed the register.

‘The porter will take the bags up to your room, Mr. Smith,’ the receptionist said, handing him a key.

William wondered how many Mr. and Mrs. Smiths had occupied the Queen Anne suite over the years. Certainly none to do what he and Jackie had in mind.

They took the lift to the top floor, where they found the porter already standing by an open door carrying their bags.

‘Will there be anything else, sir?’ he asked after showing them the room.

‘No, thank you,’ said William, handing him 50p that he was certain Mrs. Walters wouldn’t be reimbursing.

By the time the porter had closed the door, Jackie was already looking out of the window through a pair of binoculars.

‘A professional hitman couldn’t ask for a better sight line,’ she said as she focused in on Carter’s front room.

‘Isn’t Lamont going to kick up a fuss about the cost of a suite?’

‘Only if we go back to London empty-handed.’

‘I’ll sleep on the couch,’ said William, looking enviously at the double bed.

‘No one’s going to sleep on the couch,’ said Jackie. ‘We’ll work in shifts, night and day, so we can both get some kip, while never letting Carter out of our sight. Now, you keep your eye on the house while I go and report to the local nick and let them know what we’re up to. And don’t eat all the biscuits, because we won’t be ordering room service.’

William settled into a comfortable chair and focused the binoculars on Carter’s house. He could just make out the number plate of a Volvo parked in the drive, and made a note of it. He shifted his attention to a large shed in the corner of the garden, then back to the house, where he spotted someone in the front room. A solitary figure, whom he assumed must be Carter, was sitting by the fire reading a newspaper. A woman entered the room and began vacuuming. Was she Angie? After he’d read the back page, Carter folded the newspaper, stood up, poked the fire, and left the room. A few moments later the front door opened, and he crossed the lawn, unlocked the shed door, and went inside. Once again, William lost sight of him.

William swung quickly around when the door behind him opened. He knew it couldn’t be Jackie.

‘I’m so sorry, sir,’ said a maid. ‘Would you like me to make up the room?’

‘No, thank you,’ said William, who quickly stood up, making sure the binoculars were out of sight. When the door closed, he disobeyed Jackie’s orders and began to nibble on a biscuit, before returning to his post. He turned his attention back to the shed and could just make out what looked like a workbench, and a crouched figure working on something, but on what?

About an hour later, Carter emerged from the shed and made his way back into the house. He’d only been inside for a few moments before he reappeared in the front room and once again settled down in the armchair.

William was beginning to understand what Jackie had meant when she’d said there would be endless hours of tedium, with little to show for it. He’d only spent a couple of hours keeping an eye on Carter and he was already bored. When Carter dozed off in his armchair, William felt like doing the same.

The door behind him opened a second time and he turned round to see Jackie, holding a carrier bag.

‘Seen anything worth reporting?’ she asked, as she stared at a plate of biscuit crumbs.

‘Carter left the house to go into his shed, and spent an hour there. I think he was working on something, but I couldn’t make out what it was.’

‘Then it will be our job to find out tomorrow. I’ve briefed the local intelligence officer on what we’re up to. Good lad, if a little sensitive about the Met straying onto his patch without warning. He’s well aware of Carter’s past record in fact, he’s a pro now. But to date he’s given him no trouble. A model citizen in fact. He does a bit of engraving for one or two of the local schools and sports clubs, although he claims he’s retired.’

‘“Criminals never retire,”’ said William, ‘“they just get more cunning.”’

‘The Hawk?’

‘No, Fred Yates. So, are you going to take over up here, while I go down and have a closer look?’

‘Sure. If Carter comes out of the house, follow him. But if he drops into his local, don’t join him. You’ll stick out like a sore thumb.’

‘And when do you want me to come back?’

‘Around midnight, then you can catch some sleep while I do the night shift. I left some sandwiches in the car for you, but now I wish I’d eaten them,’ said Jackie, once again glaring at the biscuit crumbs.

‘Sorry,’ said William. ‘I’m sure there must be something in the fridge.’

‘Which will only be added to our bill, and I don’t have to remind you, detective constable, that we’re not on holiday.’

William slipped out of the room, drove back into town, and parked between two cars on the far side of Mulberry Avenue, from where he had a clear view of the house. Just after eleven, he saw the light on the ground floor go off and moments later an upstairs light was switched on. Twenty minutes later the house was in complete darkness.

He took his time munching the sandwiches, feeling more guilty with every bite. Fearing he would fall asleep, he tried various ways of staying awake, including reciting Tennyson’s Morte d’Arthur, singing ‘Nessun Dorma’ out of tune, and recalling the top ten Test batting averages of all time — Bradman 99.94, Pollock 60.97, Headley...

At midnight, he drove back to the hotel to find Jackie already up and ready to take his place.

‘Anything of interest?’ she asked.

‘He watched television, had supper, watched some more TV, and went upstairs to bed just after eleven. Twenty minutes later the lights went out.’

‘It doesn’t get much better than that,’ said Jackie. ‘And the midnight shift is by far the worst one. It’s so easy to fall asleep, and if you do, you can be sure that Volvo won’t be in the drive when you wake up.’

‘Doing nothing is exhausting,’ said William as he handed over the car keys.

‘You’ll be on the midnight shift tomorrow, so make sure you get a good night’s sleep,’ were Jackie’s final words before leaving.

William got undressed, took a shower, and climbed into a warm bed. It made him think about Beth. Hell, he hadn’t called her, and now it was too late. Moments later he was fast asleep.