In the morning Nell and Angus got ready to meet the people from the council. Their own engineer arrived at the big house first, so that they could fill him in on the background. Sam Thompson was an older man, with a thin, intelligent face.
He snorted when they finished their explanation. ‘If Hedley Preece says the houses are safe, they are. He’s a stickler for the truth. Not that I won’t check things out for myself. But I don’t expect to find any problems.’
Russell Alexander arrived soon afterwards and they introduced him to Thompson. He stopped to study the row of houses. ‘They don’t look tumbledown to me.’ He looked questioningly at the engineer.
‘You can’t tell for certain until you’ve done some checks, but my first impressions are good. You’re a lucky guy, Denning, to own all this property.’
‘I know. But it’s a big responsibility and has all sorts of problems, not just structural.’
‘I know: developers and greedy councils. Seen it all before. People always wanting to dip their fingers into other people’s pockets.’
‘Or take the whole pocket away,’ Nell said grimly.
They showed the two men the first house and the hidden room.
‘Should we reveal this, to show them how important this house is?’
‘If they don’t need to know something, don’t offer the information at all,’ the lawyer said. ‘They aren’t the sort of men to be impressed by history.’
‘I’m glad you said that. We’re afraid Dorling might send someone to destroy this room in the hope of making the house worthless.’
‘He won’t get a chance if you don’t tell the guy from the council,’ Thompson said. ‘What a treasure this is! I’m coming back again when they open it up to the public.’
‘So am I,’ Russell said softly.
As they were leaving Number 1, a large silver car drew up. Hobkins and another man got out and stood looking at the houses, muttering to one another and not even attempting to exchange greetings with the proprietor.
‘Hobkins’ manners used to be better than this,’ Thompson said with a frown. ‘What’s got into him?’
‘Arrogance, I should think,’ Nell said. ‘He thinks he holds all the winning cards.’
‘Don’t go across to them,’ the lawyer murmured. ‘Let them come to you.’
It was a few minutes before the newcomers moved across and Hobkins looked at them sourly as he at last introduced his companion. ‘This is John Grantby, a structural engineer who advises the council sometimes.’
The other man nodded, not cracking even a hint of a smile.
Angus frowned. ‘Just a minute. Are you not employed by the council?’
Hobkins answered for him. ‘Mr Grantby is a consultant we bring in sometimes.’
Thompson stepped forward. ‘Haven’t seen you for a while, Grantby. Who are you working for now?’
‘I run my own consultancy.’
‘You were with Dorling and Cavendish last time I heard.’
‘Well, I’m not now.’
Hobkins had been scowling at the lawyer. ‘There is no need for a lawyer to be here. You’re wasting his time and your money.’
‘I’m not letting you into the houses without him being present.’
Grantby looked at his watch. ‘Nothing a lawyer says will change the state of the houses. Can we just get on? I have another appointment to go to.’
Angus resolved to check that Grantby really had left Dorling and Cavendish, then reluctantly showed them inside Number 1. Thompson and the lawyer followed, saying nothing.
He didn’t open the secret door and was surprised when Grantby didn’t even think of asking to see the rest of the attic. Indeed, the fellow seemed to be giving the house a very cursory examination.
‘Needs a lot of work. Hardly worth it,’ was all he said.
When they came out, Hobkins would have walked straight into Number 2, but Nell moved to bar the way.
‘We’ll need to knock. This house and Number 3 are occupied.’
‘What?’ Hobkins glared at them. ‘You haven’t been given permission to rent them out.’
‘He doesn’t need it,’ the lawyer said quietly. ‘These are not council houses.’
‘He surely told you that we considered them unsafe?’
‘He has a structural engineer’s advice that they are perfectly safe, and Mr Thompson is here to give a second opinion on that.’
Angus noticed Grantby shoot the lawyer a quick frown at that, so added pointedly, ‘I shall have two expert opinions on my side after today and that should settle the matter.’
‘You’re assuming a lot,’ Hobkins snapped.
Grantby’s frown deepened but he didn’t comment.
The front door opened and Stacy stood there. ‘I couldn’t help overhearing what you were saying because the window is open. I can’t see how these houses could possibly be unsafe. They’re in better condition than any of the rentals I’ve lived in recently.’
‘That’s none of your business, madam, and faults don’t always show to amateurs,’ Hobkins snapped. ‘We need to come inside to check the structural safety, so kindly move out of the way.’
She didn’t budge, looking questioningly at Angus.
‘We have to show them round, but if this time is inconvenient, we can come back later.’
Hobkins opened his mouth and Nell said savagely, ‘Be quiet please, Mr Hobkins. We prefer to deal politely with our tenants, and with everyone else we encounter.’
The lawyer had opened his mouth to speak, but with a faint smile he shut it again.
Stacy’s eyes danced as Hobkins turned dark red and glared at them. She addressed Nell. ‘It’s in a mess, I’m afraid, because I’ve not finished unpacking yet, so be careful where you tread.’
‘I’ll show them round, if that’s all right.’ Angus turned to see that Thompson had already moved across to the hall table where the little animal was standing on a small table.
‘That’s an attractive ornament. Is it one of yours?’
‘Yes.’
‘I must bring my wife. She loves things like that.’
‘Will you please stop delaying this?’ Hobkins said loudly. ‘I have work to get through today, even if you don’t.’
He said nothing further as they went round the house and Grantby measured or took photos on his phone.
Angus got out his own phone and took shots of whatever Grantby photographed, which had Hobkins glaring at him even more viciously.
Thompson smiled slightly as he watched them. He already had his phone out but was taking his own photos, not copying the others’ choices.
If it hadn’t been so important it’d have made a good comedy scene, Angus thought.
But it was important. Very.
When Grantby said he’d seen enough, Angus thanked Stacy and took his group round to Number Three.
Hobkins stood tapping his foot impatiently as it took a while for Elise to answer the door.
She was leaning on a stick, looking tired.
‘Is it all right for us to look round?’ Angus asked.
‘Of course. But I’d like to know who these people are first.’ She got a notebook out of her pocket.
Russell smiled at her. ‘Here’s my card. I’m Mr Denning’s lawyer.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Why do you need to know, madam?’ Hobkins looked aggressive. ‘You’re only a very temporary tenant. You’ll be moving out as soon as the houses are demolished.’
Angus was recording the conversation, so didn’t comment on a decision to destroy his property being assumed before it had even been examined.
The lawyer was looking more and more angry.
Thompson looked at Hobkins in surprise. ‘Why are you saying that? Not only have you only seen two houses, but as far as I could see, those houses were well built and have been recently modernised to a high standard.’
‘Mind your own damned business.’
‘This is my business. I’ve been employed to survey the houses and that’s what I’m doing. Though as far as I can see, this is all completely unnecessary and if a suspiciously unrealistic report is put in, I shall be taking it up professionally.’ He stared pointedly at his fellow surveyor and Grantby flushed slightly.
‘I too am a little concerned by your attitude,’ the lawyer added quietly.
When they’d finished, Angus again apologised to Elise for disturbing her and turned round to see Hobkins already getting into the car.
‘Probably one of the rudest officials I’ve ever had to deal with,’ Thompson said mildly.
The lawyer watched the car drive away. ‘He wasn’t like that before. I wonder what’s changed him? There’s definitely something fishy going on.’
‘I agree. And we’ll no doubt find out soon enough.’
‘They won’t have a legal leg to stand on, I’m sure.’
‘Unless they pull some other tricks. I wouldn’t put anything past them. I think I’m going to sleep in one of the empty houses for the next few nights.’
‘Sadly, I think that would be a wise precaution,’ the lawyer said. ‘There have been rumours in the past about sudden, unexpected problems to property that had been checked and declared sound structurally. Better safe than sorry.’
‘I’ll just take another set of photos of the row and dictate my findings, while things are fresh in my mind,’ Thompson said.
‘Come and have a cup of coffee at the big house before you go.’
‘I can’t, I’m afraid. I have wall-to-wall appointments today. I’ll send you a summary of my findings this evening. I think you should definitely keep a good watch over the houses.’
‘I too have to go,’ the lawyer said. ‘I’m glad I was here to see for myself how you were treated.’
Angus strode back up to the big house, feeling more worried than ever about what Hobkins would try to do next. Today he’d acted arrogantly, as if sure he’d get what he wanted. Why would he think that?
Just before teatime Angus and Nell took a stroll round the grounds and he called in on Elise and Stacy to let them know he’d be sleeping in Number 1. That seemed the most appropriate place to station himself because anyone wanting to get to the houses either had to climb over the perimeter wall or walk past the first house, and though the wall wasn’t all that high, it was dangerously unsteady in parts.
He intended to place movement sensors outside the two houses at the far end and at the entrance to the street, to wake him if anyone passed by from either direction.
But was he doing enough? He felt sure he’d missed something.
After Hobkins had driven away from Saffron Lane he stopped and turned to the structural engineer. ‘You know what to say at tonight’s emergency council meeting?’
‘It won’t be believed. There is no sign of weakness.’
‘There will be by tomorrow. And I believe Bryce Dorling has been assured of your co-operation.’
‘Yes, damn him. Don’t set off yet. I prefer to get out and walk, rather than ride with one of his toadies.’
‘Pot calling the kettle black. Don’t forget to email me your report summary.’ Hobkins grinned as he added, ‘We don’t want those two women to live in dangerous buildings, do we? Their moving in gives me an excellent reason to call the meeting as an emergency.’
‘You’ve got the report already. Dammit, you’re the one who wrote it.’
‘But we need it to be seen to come from you, so please make sure you email it to me as soon as possible.’
Grantby walked away without another word.
Darren had been to check out the arts village a couple of times, watching people come and go, because he had a feeling this place would lead him to her. But there had been no sign of Stacy.
He got into conversation with one of the men working there, on the pretext that he was looking for somewhere to rent. ‘Will these houses be rentals or for sale?’
‘They’ll be for renting, but only to artists.’
‘Artists? What do you mean?’
‘It’s going to be an Arts and Crafts Village. I overheard the owners talking. They’re hoping it’ll become a tourist attraction. The first two tenants are moving in tomorrow. One’s a woman who does welding and makes ornaments out of scrap metal. Seems a funny thing for a woman to do. And who’d want a pile of scrap metal sitting on the mantelpiece?’
‘Not me.’ Darren hoped he’d hidden his elation. ‘What about the other artist who’s moving in at the same time? What does he do?’
‘It’s an old woman and she’s a painter, but I don’t know anything about her because the owners moved out of my hearing just then.’
‘Well, I’d better carry on looking elsewhere for somewhere to rent. Thanks for telling me about the artists. It’s saved me wasting my time here.’
He smiled as he drove away. Gotcha, Stacy!