The Price of Butcher's Meat

1

FROM: charley@whiffle.com

TO: cassie@natterjack.com

SUBJECT: more madness!

Disaster!!

Theyve arrested Mr Godley! I cant believe it-they must be mad- amp; not just for 1 murder but 2! It was in the News this morning-all the details of Lady Ds death-plus another murder last evening. Ollie Hollis-the gate man at the pig farm-who was in charge of the hog roast-killed on Miss Lees treatment couch- amp; the article says Mr Godley was caught in the act-sticking one of Miss Lees acupuncture needles into Ollies back!

Its got to be a mistake. OK-hes a nutter-but his nuttiness is believing he has the power to cure people-not to kill them! But the News piece is emphatic-goes on about the guy in charge-some plod called Pascoe- amp; how we can all rest safe in our beds with brains like his on the police payroll. Must be bollocks-stake my professional reputation on it-when I get one!

But-as usual-Im way ahead of myself.

Significant events since my last.

First-this woman cop turned up to take statements from Tom amp; Mary amp; me-theyre doing everyone who was at the hog roast-natch.

She seemed all right-bit understated-no makeup-drab gear-could be one of the sisterhood-butch end-but Im not sure. Name of Novello-rang a bell-some old b amp;w musical mum once made us watch on the box I think-do you recall?

Anyway-I quite liked her-gave her my statement-using my e to you-hot off the press-to double-check memory- amp; seeing this she asked if she could read it- amp; next thing Im running off copies of all the stuff Ive sent you with my impressions of Sandytown!

Once she went I soon started wondering if it had been such a good idea. She promised for her eyes only-more or less-but I started thinking of all the crime soaps where the cops idea of a good time is lager amp; chips while they drool over the latest confiscated porn videos! But she seemed OK- amp; if us girls cant trust each other-who can we trust?

Pause for mocking laughter!

Anyway-my worries soon pushed to the back of my mind when Mary appeared with a new development. Dear kind Tom had got to worrying about Clara-the poor relation-or maybe not so poor now-who knows?! — down at the hall all by herself. So hed phoned her amp; invited her to stay here at Kyoto- amp; shed accepted. No problem about bedrooms-even with me staying they still have a couple spare-but Mary wondered whether-in the circs-putting Clara into a strange room in a strange house was a great idea amp; it had occurred to her that maybe sharing with someone her own age-ie me-might not make more sense-no pressure on me to agree. Cant say I really fancied it-but-like we all know-theres no pressure like no pressure-so of course I said yes-fine with me-if Clara herself was OK with it.

I was glad Id agreed when she turned up-she looked wrecked! I reckon all the activity around the hall when the police arrived had kept her going-but now she was able to relax amp; take in what had actually happened she was sinking fast through the first stages of shock.

Mary had put her idea to her amp; shed said yes-but I got the impression that if theyd suggested she slept in the greenhouse shed have agreed. I took her up to my room-Id cleared all my junk off the other bed amp; she sat down on it. She hadnt spoken a word on our way upstairs- amp; I didnt know what to say-me-the great psychologist! — so I said Id leave her to sort her stuff out- amp; I did.

Downstairs Tom amp; Mary were deep in conversation-with little Miss Minnie in a corner-pretending to read a book but taking everything in. The other children were already in bed-but Min-whos big on rights-like having her own room-insists on staying up half an hour longer. Tonight-in the excitement-shed drawn it out much longer by keeping a low profile-but Mary finally spotted her amp; said-Minnie you should be in bed.

Looking for a diversion-shes good at diversions-Min burst out-they should have interviewed me amp; Paul amp; the others too-we were there-we were witnesses!

Technically she was right-I thought. Tom amp; Mary exchanged glances-then Tom said-yes-but I dont think you witnessed anything dear-

— yes I did-said Min-loving center stage.-I saw people wandering around during the storm-at least I think I did-

— did you dear? — said Mary-but I dont suppose thats very important-

— that policewoman thought it was! — riposted Min.

That got their attention.

Tom said-she spoke to you? she asked you questions?-

This was in a quiet scary sort of voice I hadnt heard from him before- amp; I began to feel sorry for Novello.

— yes-sort of-said Min-she said Id need to do it again properly-on tape-for the record-

She spoke in a different voice too-a bit subdued-like she recognized her dad was really annoyed.

Mary said-all sweet reason-if Minnie wanted to talk to the young woman-thered be no way of stopping her dear-

— perhaps not-but she should have sent for one of us straightaway-said Tom unappeased. Then in his normal tone with a big smile to Min-all right darling-give me a kiss-time you were in bed I think-

This resumption of normal service was clearly a great relief to Min. She hugged him tight-then her mum-then me-saying-will you come amp; tuck me in Charley?-

I looked at Mary who smiled amp; nodded.

What Minnie the minx wanted-of course-was a chance to pump me-but when I let her see I wasnt in a pumpable mood she changed tack amp; said-I wish I could share your room too Charley-Im really scared being by myself tonight-all plaintive enough to melt a glacier!

I said-thats terrible Minnie-tell you what-Ill ask your mum if you can go in with Paul amp; the others-

That shut her up- amp; I got out-but not before shed made me promise to take her swimming at the hotel tomorrow! Must think Uncle Sid-being a man-is more pumpable! God-they start young these days!

Before I went down I looked in on Clara to see how she was getting on.

She was lying facedown on the bed-long pale legs sprawled wide- amp; Im shamed to admit at first all I could think of was the barts Halloween apple buttocks bob-bob-bobbing between them.

Then I realized she was crying-no-weepings the word-sobs coming up from deep deep down-like Icelandic geysers.

I sat down beside her amp; put my arms around her-thinking I might have been a bit simplistic casting her amp; Lady D as Sara amp; Miss Minchin in A Little Princess. This was real grief. Or if it wasnt-she deserves a barrowload of Oscars!

I said-there there- amp; other subtly consoling phrases known only to us professionals-but it didnt help that pretty soon I was sobbing away too-interesting form of mimetic reaction-remember how we always used to set each other off? — mum too-like that time she took us to see The Bridges of Madison County- amp; we got asked to leave!

Finally we dried up- amp; dried off- amp; with the barriers down-for a moment at least-she told me that she really owed Lady D whod picked her up at a v low point-just been dumped by her boyfriend (that brought loathsome Liam into my mind first time in days!)- amp; not getting on with her mums new partner (dad had done a runner before she was born). Then Lady D showed. Seems Claras grandad had been Lady Ds favourite cousin- amp; when she said come amp; live with me it was one of those offers you cant refuse. Not that Clara wanted to.

She told me-if I hadnt come to Sandytown I think by now Id have been-well I dont know what Id have been but it wouldnt have been good. Im really going to miss Aunt Daph-I owe her everything-

amp; you repaid her by shagging the randy bart-who she was saving up for better things! — I thought-my old mean streak reviving for a moment.

But what the hell-in her shoes-or out of them-Id probably have done the same!

By now we were best buddies-sharing theories about what had happened-hers being that it was down to some extreme animal rights group-mine that someone shed crossed-with Hen Hollis at the top of the list-had finally flipped. Both theories were based on the grotesque circumstances-Clara seeing the body in the hog roast basket as an ideological statement-me as demonstrating advanced dementia.

She told me about the policemen whod interviewed her-a sergeant amp; an inspector-must be that Pascoe-both pretty sharp-she reckoned. I told her about my girl-said Id been impressed too.

Nothing like talking to a trained professional to get you back on an even keel- amp; eventually she felt well enough to come downstairs amp; have some nourishing broth-but it didnt surprise me when she excused herself soon after amp; headed for bed.

When I went up she was sound asleep under the duvet so I wasnt bothered by those long pale legs this time. Thought I wouldnt sleep but went out like a light. Woke early this morning-but not so early as Clara. Met her coming out of the bathroom amp; we dodged around each other-very much back to our old polite acquaintance. Probably regrets opening up to me last night-common reaction.

But all that was scrubbed from my mind when I got downstairs to find Mary amp; Tom staring gobsmacked at the News article. I could see breakfast was going to be delayed-so I rushed back up to my laptop to give you an update.

Sandytown-Home of the Healthy Holiday! — What a laugh! Bet your daily round of death-disease- amp; attacks by passing insurgents-feels really dull now!

God knows what today will bring-Im off to breakfast-need to keep my strength up-but watch this space!

Love

Charley xxxx