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Maggie saw about half a dozen pairs of sturdy knickers pinned at the front end of the washing line. They didn’t look at all delicate. It was the items at the back of the line which surprised Maggie. She moved closer to get a better look.
There were three pairs of light-brown canvas trousers on the line, and next to them were three T-shirts in a darker brown. The treasure hunters at the café had been wearing similar items. The size of the clothes made Maggie surmise these were women’s clothes. Who did they belong to? Not Delia, surely? She had told Maggie she didn’t like treasure hunting. So, who did these clothes belong to?
Confused, Maggie let herself into Delia’s house via the back door. The washing basket was on top of the washing machine. Maggie picked the basket up and returned to the back garden. She touched one of the T-shirts. They were dry. She quickly unpinned the items and placed them in the basket. The neighbour’s delicates were put on top.
Maggie noticed a gate in the fence which separated Delia’s garden from the woman next door. Using that, she went into the neighbour’s garden and to the back door. The door opened before Maggie knocked on it.
Maggie held the basket out, and said, “All done. Everything’s dry too.”
“Good. Would you mind coming in and putting my delicates on the kitchen table?” She turned around and headed back into the house before Maggie could answer.
Maggie followed her and found the woman in the kitchen sitting at the table. The woman tapped the table. “Just pop them there. Thank you.”
Maggie took the top items out of the basket and placed them on the table feeling a little embarrassed to be handling someone else’s underwear. The woman didn’t seem bothered at all.
Maggie took the opportunity to bring up the subject of Harvey. “It’s such a shock about Harvey, isn’t it.”
The woman sucked her breath in. “He had it coming if you ask me. I never got on with him. I always stayed out of the way whenever he paid Delia a visit. Far too free with his opinions, he was. Whenever I had the misfortune to talk to him, he’d do nothing but criticise.”
“Oh? What did he criticise?”
“Anything and everything. Politics. The weather. That treasure-hunting group of his. He even had a go at me. He had the nerve to tell me I should cut my grass more often.” She leaned forward on the table. “Once, he had the bare-faced cheek to tell me I was planting spring bulbs at the wrong time of the year. I told him exactly where I would like to plant my spring bulbs! That shut him up, I can tell you.”
Maggie nodded. “I imagine it did. What did he tell you about his treasure-hunting group?”
“I can’t remember the details, but it was something to do with the people who did the hunting. I don’t know why he kept going if he didn’t like the people. I think he liked the drama of it all.”
“How did he get on with Delia?”
“She has the patience of a saint, that woman. She listened to all his complaints, and I think she went to a few of those meetings of his. Poor love. But she never complained about him.”
Maggie pointed to the washing basket. “Are these Delia’s clothes?”
The woman peered into the basket. “I shouldn’t think so. I’ve never seen Delia in anything other than a skirt or a dress before. They were on Delia’s washing line, were they?”
Maggie nodded. “Has Delia got anyone staying at her house? Maybe someone from the treasure-hunting group?”
“I haven’t seen anyone. But it wouldn’t surprise me if she was doing someone else’s washing. Maybe that brother of hers asked her to do it. Though why she’s still doing it now is beyond me. But that’s what she’s like. Always put Harvey’s needs before her own.”
“I don’t suppose she mentioned Harvey planning a celebration?”
“A celebration? Harvey? He barely smiled, a right misery he was. I doubt he’d plan a celebration of any kind. Unless it was to gloat over something he’d done. Delia didn’t tell me anything about a celebration. And it’s not their birthdays for a while either. Why are you asking about a celebration?”
Maggie waved her question away. “It’s not important. I’ll take these clothes in to Delia’s house.”
“Don’t forget to pop her key through my letterbox when you’re done.”
“I won’t.”
The woman suddenly declared, “The jewellers!”
Maggie jumped in shock. “The jewellers?”
“Yes, the jewellers. Delia was asking me about jewellers yesterday. She wanted to find a good one which would give her a decent price for some second-hand items she had.”
“Did she say what those items were?”
“She didn’t. But I assume it was something belonging to Harvey. He had some fancy watches that he liked to brag about. Maybe she wanted to get rid of them.”
Maggie asked, “Did you give her the name of a jeweller?”
“I did.” She gave Maggie the name of a shop which was located on The Headrow in Leeds. “I wonder if she’s gone there now. She might be doing a bit of shopping in Leeds while she’s out too, even though she hasn’t got her bags for life with her.”
Maggie was wondering about Delia’s visit to the jeweller too. Perhaps Maggie could pay it a visit.
“Well, I’d better put these in Delia’s house,” Maggie said. Her good manners got the better of her again. “Would you like me to do anything for you? Put the kettle on? Make you a cuppa?”
“That’s very kind of you, but no thanks.” She winced as she got to her feet. “I need to sleep for a bit. See if I can get rid of this pain in my left hip. Can you see yourself out?”
“Of course.”
Maggie left the house, quickly placed the washing basket in Delia’s kitchen, and then drove back to Leeds.
It was only when she was parking in a multi-storey car park later that she realised she’d forgotten to return Delia’s key to the neighbour. She smiled to herself. It would give her the perfect excuse to go back to Delia’s house later.
Maggie headed to the jewellery shop. The bell tinkled as she opened the door.
“Can I help you?” a young man behind the counter asked.
Maggie’s eyes widened when she saw who the man was. “Yes, Elliott, I think you can help me.”