9

“Hello, I’m not going to try that.” The cabby stopped his vehicle and nodded toward the narrow alleyway between two small warehouses, where Raheem’s greengrocer vehicle just barely eked through.

Berdie and company were in the heart of Slough’s industrial area, littered with warehouses, outbuildings, and cargo-shipping containers the size of mobile homes.

The fellow spoke over his shoulder. “Besides, just three streets over and not over a week ago, a cabby was relieved of his cash at knifepoint.”

“I see,” Berdie retorted. “That’s fine—we’ll walk from here.”

Lillie reared. “Walk?”

“You know: two legs, one foot in front of the other, that sort of thing.”

The cabdriver laughed.

Lillie didn’t. “Is that wise?”

Berdie got out of the cab, industrial odors assaulting her nose, and handed the driver his promised thirty pounds, plus the fare.

“Are you coming, Lillie?”

Lillie wore a face Berdie would only describe as vexed, but nonetheless, her dearest friend gave a quick glance about and exited the cab.

Berdie knew the untidy litter in the area, stained and broken objects on the verges, windblown papers, to say nothing of the nearby factory odors, wouldn’t appeal to Lillie. But these things were a part of their tracking process. And so be it.

“Want me to send a copper round in a bit?” The cabby closed his window halfway.

“Yes,” Lillie clipped.

“No, but thank you.” Berdie began forward progress into the alleyway.

“It was a doddle, you know, not the chase I imagined,” the fellow yelled from the window opening and rocketed off into traffic.

Lillie watched the retreating cab.

“Come along, Lillie. The more swift we are, the more likely to catch Sundeep up.”

Lillie looked wistfully in the direction the cab had taken, and then stepped after Berdie. “You’ve had some half-witted ideas, my dear Sherlock, but this one takes the biscuit.”

“Look. He can’t be going far now. It looks as if the alley is blocked just beyond us. You see?”

Several yards past the opening where they now walked, a huge metal shipping container sat at a rather awkward angle. Berdie could see the work van pull to the side of it and stop.

“That was hardly an exciting chase,” Lillie mumbled. “Sundeep drove like my granny.”

“When a nineteen-year-old lad drives like that, it tells us he’s into something dodgy. He didn’t want to call attention to his movements because he’s in some sort of trouble. Speeding would be too risky.”

“Didn’t he realize he was being followed?”

“I shouldn’t think so. Our cabby was quite clever about staying covert, and I daresay Sundeep would have put on a bit more speed if he noticed.”

Berdie grabbed Lillie by the arm and pulled her flat against the nearby wall of the warehouse.

Sundeep emerged from the van with a carrier bag, the logo for the Jewel of the Eastern Wind printed on it. He strode to the door of the brown metal storage container and easily opened it, entering without showing any concern.

Lillie took a quick breath. “He’s been living in a cargo box?”

“Give him a moment to settle.”

Berdie deftly began her forward movement and noted that the tire tracks the van had made were the only ones in the area. There were clangs and bangs from nearby factories, but nothing especially close.

“Are we just going to knock at the door?” Lillie asked in a whisper as she followed.

“Oh yes, and to think we didn’t bring a housewarming gift.” Berdie half laughed under her breath. “Most of these containers have locks that can’t be opened from the inside. Obviously, Sundeep comes and goes, so the lock must be disabled. That’s what we’ll assume.”

“You’re not suggesting we barge in.”

“Lillie, would I do this if I thought we were in real danger?”

Lillie swallowed.

“We just want the element of surprise on our side. You pull the door open in one go, and I’ll step inside. Oh, and let me do the talking.”

Lillie paled. “What if he’s armed?”

“Perhaps a plastic knife from his takeaway? Surprise, Lillie, is a one-up factor.”

“Right.” Lillie didn’t sound convinced. She opened her bag and silently rummaged, producing a fingernail file that she slipped into her skirt pocket. “Right.”

Berdie moved to the non-hinged side of the door. “Lord have mercy,” she whispered, and motioned Lillie forward.

Lillie grabbed the handle with both hands.

Berdie nodded.

With pulling momentum that rivaled a plow horse, Lillie swung the metal door open, being carried backward with it.

Bag over her shoulder, Berdie thrust herself through the opening, anchored her feet, and stood her full five-foot-six height, plus two-inch wedge heels. “Hello, Sundeep.”

The clatter of a plastic fork hit the metal floor and echoed round the container as the stunned teen jumped to his feet. Eyes wide, he gaped in astonished silence. Then he found his voice when recognition dawned. “You’re the vicar’s wife.”

“Mrs. Elliott, yes.”

With one swift glance about, Berdie took in the tatty metal lanterns that provided a pittance of light. It revealed several boxes, including one on which lunch balanced, and an open sleeping bag sitting atop a large wooden pallet. She returned her gaze to the young man. “It’s OK, Lillie, you can come in,” she called out.

Lillie appeared in the doorway, holding her shoulder bag against her chest like an ancient military shield, with one hand in her pocket. She frowned. “Did you try to do in the commander with that bomb blast?”

Sundeep jabbed his index finger toward her. “You see?” he yelled. “Do you see? That’s exactly why I did a bunk, yeah? Profiling, that’s what it is.”

Berdie drove her palms forward. “It’s OK, Sundeep. You needn’t lose your rag. Stay calm,” she soothed with an even, quiet tone. “I’m not here to accuse. Now, why don’t you just continue eating your lunch, and let’s have a chat.”

“How did you find me?” His voice was ragged.

“We went to lunch at the Jewel of the Eastern Wind.”

“We didn’t actually eat lunch,” Lillie murmured.

“We came upon Amol, and then we saw the van. We followed you.”

Sundeep threw his head back, almost as if in disbelief, and slumped back into the folding garden chair from which he had stood. “Bloo—”

“Ah,” Berdie cautioned. “Ladies present.”

“Right, here in the Palm Hotel tearoom.” His words dripped with sarcasm.

“If you’re not guilty, why are you hiding here?” Lillie asked, still clinging to her designer shield.

“It’s the ambiance, yeah?”

“OK,” Berdie interjected. “Lillie.” Berdie pointed to a large wooden crate, big enough to sit on, near the door. “If you please.” Berdie then pulled another sturdy box closer to Sundeep and sat down on it.

Lillie edged her way to the crate Berdie had ordained and sat tentatively.

“Sundeep, I’m here because your aunt and uncle are worried sick about you.” Berdie used her disgruntled-mother voice.

The lad dropped his head. “I’m sorry about that.”

“And your parents don’t know where you are.”

He shook his tousled hair.

“Why did you leave the way you did?”

He gave a terse nod toward Lillie. “Did you hear her accusation?”

Lillie lifted her chin.

“Tell me, Sundeep. I’m here to listen. Why did you run off?”

“Straight up?”

“Out with it.”

“When I went to your home, it just felt weird: some nutter going ape on the phone…”

“Go on,” Berdie urged.

“There were people in and out, everything seemed all go, and when I heard the blast, I panicked, yeah?” Sundeep took a deep breath. “My aunt and uncle are established in that village, but I was the new kid, an outsider. I knew the Old Bill would target me. I’ve had a slight tangle with them here before, yeah?” He looked down. “And I’m not a grass,” he barely mumbled.

“What?” Lillie coaxed.

Ignoring Lillie, he gazed at Berdie. “The further away I got, the further I had to go.”

Berdie looked into Sundeep’s dark brown eyes. “Innocence usually stays and pleads its case.”

Sundeep shifted his eyes downward. “Yeah, well, it didn’t this time.”

Berdie tilted slightly forward. “Is there something that you’re not telling us?”

“And then there’s your mobile,” Lillie interrupted.

Sundeep sat up in the chair, looking almost relieved. “My mobile? You found it then?”

Berdie glared at Lillie and then directed her conversation to Sundeep. “No, we’ve not found it. You’ve lost it?”

The lad nodded.

“When did it go missing?”

“That day, I had it in my pocket when I left my uncle’s shop.” He jammed his hand into the pocket of the leather jacket he wore. “In here, yeah, but when I went to ring up my uncle, just before I got to your house, it wasn’t there anymore. It must have fallen out. And I’ve searched every inch of the van. Nothing.”

“You lost it doing your deliveries that day?”

Sundeep shrugged. “Must have done.”

“A likely story,” Lillie snapped. “You do realize the call that sent Reverend Elliott on a wild-goose chase was made from your mobile.”

Sundeep knotted his brow. “I’ve never rung the vicar.” He paused. “You mean the call at the vicarage? That crazy call? It was made from my mobile?”

Berdie nodded.

“But I was there, right there in the hall. You were there. You saw me.”

“Yes, Sundeep, I know you didn’t do it, but someone used your mobile to make that call.”

Sundeep groaned and put his hands to his head. He looked at Berdie, his eyes pleading. “They’re going to try to pin this on me somehow, aren’t they? The golden boy from London.”

Berdie wanted to say something comforting, but “Yes, you’re the main suspect” wasn’t exactly fitting. “Things can work out, Sundeep.”

The young man leapt from his chair. He kicked the edge of an empty box, sending it through the air until it crashed against the side of the cargo container.

Berdie heard Lillie slightly gasp.

“I think we should go,” Lillie squeaked.

Sundeep turned to face Berdie. “I didn’t blow anyone up. I have nothing to do with any of it, I promise you.”

Berdie silently nodded. “Try to calm yourself.”

Sundeep closed his eyes, as if to block out all the dark injustices of the world, and gradually reopened them. He stuck his hand in his trouser pocket. “Please tell Aunt Sharday that I’m sorry about all this. And let Uncle Hardeep know I’ll pay him back for the petrol.”

He pulled a small, shiny object from his pocket and handed it toward Berdie. It was a key. “I know it’s a cheek, but would you take the van back to my uncle, like?”

Berdie stood. “Why don’t you drive it back and apologize yourself?”

Sundeep held the key forward in his palm.

Berdie took a deep breath.

The distressed lad pointed to a cardboard box. “That was part of your delivery order, Mrs. Elliott. I’m afraid I’ve eaten most of it. I’m short of readies, but I’ll make it right.”

“Sundeep, I’m not concerned about you paying me for what you’ve eaten of my order. You’re welcome to it. But I really think you’d be better off going to the police. Tell them what you’ve told us.”

He fumbled the key in his fingers. “Mind your driving. It accelerates a bit slow off the mark, yeah. The left rear light is dodgy, and the window on the passenger side sometimes sticks.”

He extended his palm, the small, shiny object nestled in it.

Berdie pursed her lips. It would be far better if Sundeep were to return the van himself, which would be cake with icing on it. But on the other hand, if she returned with the van, the entire family would have a modicum of relief and they’d get their vehicle back. Better a cake without icing than no cake at all. She grasped onto the key tightly.

Lillie jumped up and was at the door. “Leaving is a splendid idea.”

“She’s going to grass me up?”

Berdie heard Lillie rummaging through her bag, and it prompted Berdie to open her own shoulder bag. She removed a St. Aidan of the Wood Parish Church business card and gave it to Sundeep. “If you remember where you might have lost your mobile, try to ring me. If there’s anything I can do to help, you know where I can be found.”

Lillie was already out the door when Berdie took her first steps toward it.

There, near the box on which Lillie had perched, a ten-pound note lay on the floor. Berdie half grinned and turned toward Sundeep. “And I shouldn’t think Lillie will grass on you, tell the police where you are.”

Sundeep didn’t appear convinced, but he saw Berdie to the nearby door.

She noticed a wire-coat-hanger-DIY lock of sorts. “You made this?”

“Got a book at the library that explained how to do it. Not bad, yeah?”

Berdie didn’t have the heart to say a gnat could break it open. “Very resourceful.”

“You have to be when you live in the Ritz.”

“Yes. Well, God go with you.” Berdie offered it as a prayer as much as an admonition for the lad as she stepped outside and he closed the door behind her. She could hear him fiddle with the lock and push an object against the door. “Safely circle him, Lord,” she prayed.

She and Lillie went to the van.

Lillie paused. “It’s not going to blow up, is it?”

“Oh, Lillie,” Berdie stormed. She got in and started the engine.

Sheepishly, Lillie got into the passenger seat.

****

“I had my mouth set for a vindaloo. Fish and chips lack that curry wow factor.” Lillie pushed a couple more chips in her mouth as Berdie drove the van amongst the vehicles about them on the motorway.

“The chippy was handy, Lillie, and I wanted to push on.” Berdie glanced at the nearly empty takeaway container in Lillie’s lap. “Yes, I can see it was a real struggle for you to eat the lot.”

“You’re doing rather well driving this beast.” Lillie licked her fingers. “Our cabby wouldn’t attempt that narrow passage back at Sundeep’s, but you maneuvered it with skill.”

“I’m practiced.”

“Yes, I suppose you are.”

Berdie sighed. “Lillie, you don’t still think Sundeep planted that bomb now, do you?”

Lillie looked ahead out the front windscreen. “He’s got guilt written all over him.”

“Oh yes, I agree there. But for what?”

Lillie took a deep breath.

“I saw the money on the floor near your perch back there, the ten-pound note.”

“Oh?” she said feebly and shifted in her seat.

Berdie laughed. “Lillie, how many mad bombers ask you to return their uncle’s work van with apologies and promise of reimbursement? Do they offer to pay for the food they’ve eaten from your grocery order? He’s not responsible for the blast.”

Lillie sighed. “OK, I doubt he did it,” she snapped.

“Lillie?”

“It’s just that, well, I usually love the excitement of a good nose-about. But this situation is different. I hoped it would be all over, done and dusted, when we returned home. The commander’s still critical, those starchy investigative fellows are still all over our village, and gossip and rumors swirl about like North Sea winds.” She pursed her lips. “I had hoped we’d corner Sundeep, he’d confess, and then the village would be one step closer to life as normal. As it is, we’ve caused more questions than answers.”

“Oh, Lillie, I’m sorry you feel that way.” Berdie removed a hand from the steering wheel and gave Lillie’s arm a quick squeeze. “I know it’s not easy. There’s no one in Aidan Kirkwood who doesn’t want this to be resolved. And it will be, soon, I should think. Good people are working hard to crack it.”

Lillie nodded.

“We’ve narrowed some things down. Think of it as forward progress.”

“Berdie”—Lillie sounded cautious—“just how fast is our forward progress at the moment?” She pointed at the speed indicator.

Berdie glanced downward. “I’m just barely over.”

Lillie nodded at the passenger-side mirror of the van.

Berdie glanced in the mirror on her own side.

Red and blue flashes of light whirled.

She could just make out the edge of a police vehicle directly behind. “Do you suppose they want to pass?” Berdie asked with little hope.

Lillie lifted her brows. “If wishes were fishes, we’d have a feast.”

Berdie slowed. The police car slowed. Berdie felt a grumble in her stomach. “This could be awkward,” she breathed as she pulled to the verge of the motorway. She brought the vehicle to a stop.

The police car stopped behind and another pulled up in front of the van.

Berdie looked at Lillie, who looked at Berdie. “Oh dear” was all Berdie could think to say.

“Armed police. Turn the engine off, and get out of the vehicle,” a loudspeaker blared. “Keep your hands in plain sight, in the air.”

“Berdie, what’s happening?” Lillie pushed her empty takeaway onto the floor and raised her hands above her shoulders.

Armed police? “I’m not sure, Lillie, but do exactly what they say and don’t make any sudden moves. Lord have mercy,” Berdie breathed.

****

The officer in charge gave a snappish nod with tightened lips toward Berdie and Lillie. “We’re done with them.”

The harsh glare of ceiling lights, combined with gray walls, made the reception room of the police station completely uninviting. The wood bench that Berdie and Lillie occupied could have been stone, for the comfort of it. Despite the flourishing potted plant by the lone window, nothing really appealed, and especially now.

“They’re all yours, Chief Inspector,” the officer said. “Must admit, we’ve not had a vicar’s wife terrorist before.” The uniformed policeman clucked as if scolding and left the area.

Chief Inspector Kent folded his arms. “Well, well, well.”

Berdie felt an odd mixture of relief and stomachache.

“Chief Inspector Kent, please accept our deepest apologies for this to-do,” Berdie offered.

His jaw tightened slightly.

“Did you travel all this way”—Lillie cleared her throat—“just for our situation?”

“Your situation, as you call it, caused a national alert.” Jasper Kent was prickly. “They thought they were onto an insurrectionary.”

Berdie worked to calm the blush she felt rushing to her cheeks.

“And no, I was already here on other business. Just as well for your sakes.”

“Why a national alert?” Berdie realized the answer as she said it. “It’s the van. You’ve reported it as missing, driven by a dangerous suspect, approach with caution.”

Kent lifted his chin.

“Has Mr. Raheem reported it missing?” Lillie asked.

The chief inspector uncrossed his arms. “He didn’t have to.” He looked at Berdie. “It doesn’t take an Einstein to twig it when the Raheems are observed making shop deliveries in their family car, knowing their nephew is ‘somewhere off visiting friends in London.’”

“No,” Berdie admitted, “I shouldn’t think it would take an Einstein.”

The investigator’s right eye went into a squint. “A lecture and lunch, you said when you left. Why didn’t you tell me you were contacting Sundeep as well?”

“As well?” Berdie’s shoulders tightened.

“We didn’t know for certain that we would find him,” Lillie blurted. “It was a stroke of divine intervention, really.”

“Find him?” Jasper Kent wore a hint of a smile. “That implies intentional searching, doesn’t it, Miss Foxworth?”

“Wait a moment,” Berdie interrupted. “Let’s go back a step. What do you mean by ‘contacting him as well’? How do you know we indeed did attend the lecture or even saw Sundeep?”

“You had the van.” Kent made a quick glance out the window and tapped a finger against his thigh.

“You followed me from the village, the whole time,” Berdie exclaimed.

Lillie’s jaw dropped.

“Not me personally, per se.”

Snap! “The chum Goodnight deposited at the train. You had me followed then—what’s the difference?”

“Us followed,” Lillie corrected.

“You know any inspector worth their salt would have done the same. It’s procedure,” Kent said unapologetically.

As much as she wanted to carry on, Berdie reined in her displeasure. He was right. He was doing his job. Even though there was a certain professional friendship between them, and even if there was a sense of personal intrusion, he was right to do what he had done, and she, for whatever reason, had not considered the possibility of him doing it. “Point taken,” she miffed.

“Now, permit me to ask,” Kent said in a mannerly tone, “why the clandestine snooping?”

“Snooping, as you call it, is second nature to Berdie.” Lillie went on. “If you know her at all, you know she’s rather gifted, rather good at it.”

“It’s OK, Lillie,” Berdie calmed. “And it wasn’t snooping,” she defended, “and it wasn’t so much clandestine as confidential. More related to church work actually.”

The inspector appeared to be amused. “I can’t say I’ve ever known anyone to use that line of reasoning before. Nosing round being church work.”

“It’s all a bit tricky.” Berdie took a deep breath and came to her feet. “I was asked by a parishioner, who was aware of my past detection background, to see if I could locate Sundeep. I was not aware of his being a suspect in your investigation when I agreed to do it, and certainly not a primary one. And as a church representative, there’s a certain confidentiality in these matters.”

Kent put the matter in a non-confidential nutshell. “So the Raheems asked you to locate their nephew, and you didn’t tell me what you were about.” Jasper Kent glanced aside, as if in thought. “Well, as you say, church matters are in play. You would have told me on your return, I assume. Anyway, as it turns out, you led us right to him.”

Berdie pursed her lips. Sundeep would no doubt think she and Lillie “grassed him up.”

Kent looked Berdie in the eye. “I know you’re a woman of character and above board on making sure there’s no withholding of evidence?”

Berdie glowered. “I would not withhold anything I considered pertinent to your investigation, and you know that.”

Now Lillie stood. “I can tell you absolutely that Berdie respects the law,” she snapped. “And she trusts your skills. She’s told me that more than once.”

“Right.” Inspector Kent paused. “You can take the woman out of investigating, but you can’t take the investigating out of the woman. It takes a certain amount of guts, going off like that on your own to locate a suspect that had done a runner.”

Berdie straightened. “Run he did, but he didn’t plant any devices, Chief Inspector Kent.”

“No? What makes you so sure?”

Berdie held her stance. “He told me he didn’t.”

Kent looked at Lillie. “There’s a new one, hey?”

“And I believe him,” Berdie finished with zest.

“Do you? Would you still say you believe him if I were to tell you he spent three months in northern Pakistan recently?”

Berdie tried to hide her surprise. She studied Kent. “All that really tells us is that he traveled outside this country.”

“Perhaps.” Kent tipped his head. “Or perhaps not.”

“He’s guilty of something,” Lillie burst out. “We don’t know what it is, but he’s hiding something.”

Berdie glared at Lillie.

“Now, that seems helpful,” Inspector Kent crowed. “I’m sure we’ll find out all about it. Local officers should have him in tow by now.”

“You will give him a fair hearing?” Berdie admonished as much as asked.

“A fair hearing.” Berdie heard an all-too-familiar voice say, only to turn and see Hugh, who had just entered the room.

Loren was with him, face like thunder.

“We have a bit of fair hearing of our own to do when we get home, don’t we, Berdie?” Hugh’s left eyebrow skyrocketed as a flushed pink danced at the edge of his white collar. “Chief Inspector Kent, I appreciate your time and trouble on this matter. With your permission, we’ll take the remorseful parties home. Please accept my assurances that nothing like this will happen again. Ever.”

Kent’s face wore a doubtful expression. Still, he tipped his head to Hugh. “As it turns out, your wife and her friend have assisted our investigation.”

Hugh’s blue eyes steeled as he glowered at Berdie. “Have they now?”

“Hugh.” Berdie knew her husband could hear the tension in her voice. “It’s all perfectly simple. I can explain.”