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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Lois said she was sure she would find out. For a blind lady,
Mrs. Blairgowrie seemed very observant.
When she had gone, Hazel thought about that last
remark. It was the way Mrs. M said it, with just a touch of
acid in her voice.
Twenty-Nine
od it! Who s that, Babs? The skinny man heard the
Sknock at the door and shot to his feet, looking around
wildly for a hiding place.
Don t panic! And don t call me Babs. Just go quietly out
of the back door and you ll see an old washhouse on the right.
Go in there and hide behind the pile of rubbish. I ll call you
when it s safe.
He vanished, moving quietly as always. There s nothing to
him, thought Mrs. Blairgowrie as she put on her dark glasses
and took up her stick. She knew what her son would say. A puff
of wind would blow him away. But he wouldn t mean a puff of
wind.
She looked through the spy hole on the front door, and saw
Mrs. Meade. She liked this woman, and opened the door.
Hello, Mrs. Blairgowrie, how are you? It s Mrs. Meade.
I m just making a routine call to see how you are getting on
with Dot Nimmo. Lois noticed for the first time that the old
146 Ann Purser
lady s fingers were nicotine stained. Not exactly lavender and
old lace.
Come in, my dear, come in. I m glad to have company.
I ve been alone all day, so it s nice to see you.
They sat down, and Lois offered to make Mrs. Blairgowrie
a cup of coffee, but she declined, saying it was not long since
she d lunched. She answered Lois s questions positively, said
she was more than satisfied with Dot, who certainly bright-
ened up the house while she was here. Once you get used to
her, Mrs. Meade, she s a ray of sunshine in this gloomy old
house.
Lois remembered Dot s report about the man who d come
in and shouted at the old thing. And before that, a similar
account from Bill. No wonder the poor woman was pleased to
have a ray of sunshine in her life. A gloomy life, of necessity.
She looked out of the window at the sunlit garden. A pity you
can t see the birds, she said. It s obviously the best birds caff
in town! Do you manage to fill up the feeders by yourself?
Mrs. Blairgowrie assured her that she could do most
things by touching and feeling with her stick. So long as
nobody moves anything without my knowing, she said, I
manage very well.
Lois made a mental note to remind Dot to replace every-
thing exactly where she found it, and took her leave. As she
got into her car, she glanced across at the terrace. Nothing
moved. She noticed a vase of flowers on Douglas s window-
sill, and knew that it was the last thing he would think of.
A woman s touch, as sure as eggs is eggs. She remembered
that he and possibly Susie were coming over to Farnden later
on, and sighed. How was she going to put it to Cowgill? She
would certainly have to tell him anything important, what-
ever the young ones said.
Warning at One 147
And another thing. She had noticed two dirty mugs on a
side table in Mrs. Blairgowrie s sitting room. So she had had
recent company. Cowgill would no doubt be interested in
that, too.
The disagreement between Susie and Douglas on the way
over to Long Farnden had turned into a full-scale row by the
time they stopped outside the Meades house. Lois saw them
from the window, and walked quickly to the door. She was
glad Susie had come, too, even though they looked grim. She
watched them get out of the car and come up the drive, Susie
lagging behind.
Hi, you two. Come along in. Go in the sitting room,
Douglas, and I ll get Gran to make us some coffee. She offered
food, but they said they had eaten. Then she remembered that
Gran had gone to see Mrs. Pickering, cleaner Floss s mother.
The two had become good friends, and now that the Picker-
ings were moving house, Gran spent a good deal of time there
helping with sorting and packing.
Lois left the doors open while she made coffee, and could
hear no sounds of friendly chatting. She guessed what had
caused the argument. There was something they had not told
her, and they disagreed about whether they should now. She
put some biscuits and mugs on a tray and went back to join
them.
So how are you now, Susie? she said, and they both looked
alarmed. Lois was puzzled. What had she said? She knew that
the girl had been very upset at the death of her grandfather.
It must have been such a shock for you, she continued.
How did you know, Mum? Douglas said, frowning at
Susie.
148 Ann Purser
Well, of course I knew! What are you talking about?
Poor old Clem. Naturally Susie was upset.
Their faces cleared, but it was too late. Lois pounced. So
you d better tell me what else has happened to Susie, hadn t
you? No good keeping things to yourself. There s been a seri- [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
