The Main chance

22

Climbing the steps to the terrace they saw that all the lights at the front of the manor were on. Standing in the open left-hand door was Leo. His yellow hair was all over the place and he was wearing his usual T-shirt and jeans. He had a silly grin on his face. `I opened the gates for you,' he said gleefully as they followed him into the dimly lit hall. `You're not allowed to,' called out Snape, standing at the foot of the staircase. 'I'm allowed to and so is Lavinia. Not you…' `And you're nothing but the friggin' butler,' Leo yelled at him. 'The one who disappears for hours, so push off.'

As Snape, furious, went back up the staircase Tweed was aware that Mrs Grandy was standing near the entrance to the corridor leading to the kitchen. `You're too late for dinner,' she said with a nasty smile. 'It was served at six. This is my evening off to visit my sister in Gladworth. Best I can do for you two is shepherd's pie and one of Lavinia's fruit things. Ready in a half-hour. Served in dinin' room.' `Sounds appetizing,' Tweed replied with a smile. 'But what about Marshal?' `Tried to get 'im on the phone. No reply. So 'e'll 'ave to fend for 'is self…'

As she disappeared Leo tugged at Tweed's arm, guiding him towards the library. `Got something to tell you. Someone you'll want to go and see urgently.' `What about closing the entrance gates?' Paula suggested. Leo had closed the door into the hall as soon as they were inside. `Shut them while you were coming up the drive, didn't I?'

Tweed and Paula walked into the library, sat down in armchairs at the round table. Leo, exuding excitement, came bustling in after hanging up the coats he had taken from them. He closed the door carefully. `Mind if we sit at the far end?' he requested. 'Then if Snape listens at the door he won't hear nothing'

They stood up, went to a square table near the far end, sat down in tapestry-covered carver chairs with cushions on the seats. Leo sat in the third chair, his long legs in constant motion, his hands clasping, unclasping, then clasping again. Can't he ever keep still for a minute? Paula wondered. `Where is everyone?' Tweed asked. `They had dinner quickly, didn't they. Then they trooped off upstairs to their apartments. Lavinia had a pile of papers and said she didn't want to be disturbed. Mr Warner had a big briefcase and told me on no account was he to be disturbed.' `So what did you want to tell us?' Tweed said impatiently. `Don't suppose you've ever heard of a Mrs Mandy Carlyle?'

The shock registered with both listeners. Tweed managed to keep his expression blank. Paula clenched her teeth. `Who is she?' Tweed asked. `Better go see her and find out for yourself. Here is her address.'

He produced a sheet of folded paper from his back pocket, straightened it, pushed it across the table so both could read it. The words were written in an educated script. Baron's Walk, Dodd's End. `You've visited this place?' Tweed suggested. Not me. It's this side of Tunbridge Wells.' `Who told you all this?' `Can't tell you that. It's a secret…' `You think so?' Tweed's fist crashed down on the table. It made Leo jump up half out of his chair, then he sank back. 'I'm investigating the brutal murder of your own grandmother. So you will tell me now!' `Well -' Leo's restless hands were performing a variety of movements – if you'll promise not to tell a soul…' `That's it. I'm sending you up to Scotland Yard.' `Oh Lord, not that. It was Crystal.'

Where did your sister get her information from?' `I don't know. If you don't believe me you can send me up to your bloody Scotland Yard.' `All right.' Tweed relaxed. 'Now we'll have Crystal down here for a chat.' `She's not here. She left after dinner to visit a boyfriend in Gladworth, or maybe outside the village. And, before you ask, I don't know his name! And I don't know where he lives.' He quietened down. 'She can be very secretive about her own life.' `You do realize, Leo, this whole conversation is absolutely confidential? Not a word to Crystal.' `She'd kill me if I told her. I thought I was being helpful, telling you what I have.' `You have been. So, not a word to Crystal…' `I've told you. She'd kill me. You've never seen her when she goes really wild. I'd like to go upstairs to my rooms to sleep. I'm fagged out.' `Good idea. Get some sleep.'

When he had gone Tweed looked at Paula, who looked back as he spoke. `Mrs Carlyle – or Mrs Mandy Carlyle as he said. What do you think of that?' `Casts a new light on the whole situation.'

Tweed checked his watch. 'Good Lord, it's 8.30 p.m. Where did the time go?' `Driving carefully back from Seacove, which is a long way off. And it's 9.30 p.m. Your watch has stopped. No sign of our meal. Mrs Grandy has stormed off without bothering to feed us. I'm not hungry anyway.' `So where is Marshal? He should have been back at least an hour ago. Strange.'

The mobile started buzzing. He answered it. He listened and made very few comments, glancing now and again at Paula. `We actually interviewed her,' he said at one point. `Yes, we interviewed her recently. Tell you about it later. I want to leave now.'

He closed the call, sat staring up at the ceiling for a minute. Then he looked at Paula. `That was Roy Buchanan. Think you could stand a drive across country? Not too long.' `Something has happened?' `You could say that. Mrs Mandy Carlyle has been murdered. Same technique as used on Bella. Professor Saafeld is on his way down to Dodd's End.' `Now that is strange,' Paula said as she stood up. `After what Leo told us. So soon afterwards.' `That occurred to me.'