‘Good night for housebreaking,’ Hugh murmured in Alex’s ear.
She gave him a questioning glance. ‘Weird thing to say.’
‘Think about it. There’s nobody home. They’re all here.’
Alex smiled. If her mum had shown up or called, she could have coped with anything. Lily still hadn’t checked in again. ‘Ha, ha.’ She hadn’t been in the mood to smile for what felt like forever. ‘Good night for us if it keeps on as it’s started out.’ The bar was full and so was the up-room – the overflow area one step up from the main saloon bar where customers often ate at high-backed wooden banquettes around scarred tables. Ceaseless ringing came from the slot machines in another room.
‘The roads are too bad to encourage people to go far,’ Hugh said. He swiped a cloth along the counter, took an order and started pulling pints.
‘What will you have?’ Alex asked Kev Winslet, gamekeeper at the Derwinter estate.
‘What I always have,’ Kev shouted over the din. ‘Pint of the best, please. Where’s your mum? Not feeling good?’
Her mother rarely ventured far from the pub on nights like this when it was busy. Especially in bad weather. ‘She’ll be in soon enough,’ Alex said, silently praying she was telling the truth. ‘There you go.’ She slid Kev’s beer in front of him.
‘We heard there was a swanky Bentley out front earlier. Don’t see many of those around here. Tell me it’s yours, Alex. I’d love to spread that around. Major Stroud takes whisky, right?’ When Alex nodded, Kev said, ‘Make it a double. He’s an interesting sod and I like having the familiar bunch around me. And a half of black and tan for Frank Lymer – the big drinker. He’s waiting for Gladys to show up. All he talks about is what a whizz she is at cooking breakfasts. We’ll all have to come and give it a try.’
She pulled fresh glasses from overhead and smiled at him. ‘You must be short of gossip, Kev.’ Alex grinned up at him. He was florid, big and getting bigger. ‘Sorry I can’t oblige on the Bentley, although I wish I could,’ she said to him.
‘A Bentley Mulsanne, was it?’ A young man wearing a heavy wool overcoat leaned to put an elbow on the counter beside Kev. ‘White?’
Kev looked at him. ‘I reckon it was. Don’t tell us it’s yours.’ He guffawed.
‘I think it’s my mother’s friend, Lady Mekins’s,’ the man said, unruffled. A green paisley silk scarf hung loose around his neck. ‘I haven’t seen another one like it in the area – or anywhere in the sticks come to that. I’m Grant Hill.’ He stuck out a hand and Kev changed his beer to his left hand to shake.
Of course. Now Alex recognized him and remembered Hugh talking about the Bentley. ‘I’m glad you made it back to us,’ she said. ‘Your mother and her friend were in earlier.’
Grant smiled and she could see strong signs of his mother’s good looks. The girl with him didn’t look old enough to be in the bar but Alex waited for a less conspicuous moment to check.
‘My sister, Carmen,’ Grant said. ‘And she’s nineteen even if she does look about nine.’
His sister punched his arm lightly and slid her driving license out. They had the same chin and mouth but Carmen was fair and very feminine.
Alex glanced at the license and immediately remembered Esme Hill saying her daughter was nineteen.
‘We came on a mission,’ Grant said. ‘We risked life and limb to get here rather than keep on listening to Ma and Pa nag. I’ll have half of Guinness – I’m driving – and Carmen likes a Babycham.’ He made a face and got a harder punch to the arm for his efforts.
Major Stroud, red faced and doing his customary roll from heels to toes, butted in and took his whisky from Kev. ‘Thank you, old man,’ he said, slurring a little. ‘Awfully good of you, I must say.’
Alex got the Guinness and looked under the counter for a Babycham. It used to be one of the most popular drinks with the ladies, or so they said, and it was coming back, also so they said. She found the green bottle with the blue label and a picture of a stylized golden doe on the front, and poured the popping champagne-style liquid into a matching glass. ‘There you go.’ She smiled at Carmen. It was rather sweet to see a youngster choose such an innocent drink. Alex still liked it herself.
‘So what brings you here on a ghastly night like this?’ she said to Grant.
Hugh served steadily but she felt she needed to be hospitable.
‘We have to decide on a name for the pub at the new village. I’m hoping some customers here may have given their ideas. The prize is a good one.’
She smiled at Grant. He remained straight-faced as he looked around the room. Then he caught her eye and grinned.
‘Juste Vidal, our helper extraordinaire, did pass out the entries,’ Alex said. ‘And he left some extras out. Let’s see if anyone brought them back.’
A couple came into the bar and she barely remembered not to stare. Bill Lamb ushered Radhika, Tony’s Indian assistant, across the room. Alex started coughing and took a drink of water. This was a first.
With his hand at Radhika’s back, Bill guided her to the table by the fire where Harriet and Mary Burke sat with their one-eyed cat, Max. She watched the interchange when Radhika got there. Bill bent over the sisters to say something and they smiled as if delighted. He pulled a chair from another table for Radhika to sit with the ladies. Gold threads in her purple sari glinted. When she looked at Bill her lovely eyes shone. The light touch he passed over her hair made Alex’s tummy turn. Bill was heartless, right? A mean-mouthed clod who could make anyone feel guilty, even when they’d never done anything wrong.
He came to the bar. ‘Could I have two Harvey’s Bristol Cream sherries and an orange juice please?’
‘Of course,’ she said, smiling at him.
‘Perhaps I could have a rum and coke for myself. I’ll come back for it shortly.’
‘Will do, Bill.’ She made sure her face showed no particular reaction. ‘Busy days for you, I expect.’
‘No rest for the wicked. But that’s the way I like it.’ She had put the juice and sherries on a tray and he carried them away.
Hugh rang the bell on the counter and raised his voice. ‘Any entries for naming the pub at the new village near Winchcombe?’ Obviously, he had heard what Grant said and wanted to do his share. He knew how much Alex disliked announcing anything.
People started to leave their tables and come forward. Folded entries were placed on the counter. Even Frank Lymer, bundled in a hand-knitted muffler and a tweed cloth cap, surreptitiously approached and added an entry.
‘I’m surprised,’ Hugh muttered. ‘I thought they’d all ignore it.’
‘A thousand pounds will buy more than a fish and chip dinner,’ Grant said.
Alex stared at him, wondering if he was making a dig at the Black Dog’s clientele. ‘Not much is better than a good feast of fish and chips,’ she said. She didn’t look at anyone else when she said it.
At last the entries stopped coming. ‘Read some of them,’ Grant said. ‘Entries don’t close for a few days. These will inspire competition.’
‘You do it,’ she told him. ‘It’s your contest.’
The way he leveled a stare at her was odd. ‘Evening, everyone.’ He raised his voice and the din quieted. ‘I’m Grant Hill. We’re the ones building a pub over at our new village near Winchcombe. This is great. Lots of you have given your ideas. I’ll read a few of them and then you’ll know what you have to beat by the time the contest closes in a few days.’
The shift in the bar atmosphere didn’t feel comfortable.
‘This is clever,’ Grant said. ‘Through a Beer Glass Darkly.’
From the silence, Alex got the impression that the effort fell flat.
‘Winchcombe Arms,’ Grant read loudly. ‘And here’s a lovely one. Certainly brings some images to my mind. Horse and Bottoms.’ He sniggered and was joined in the laughter. ‘Bottoms Up. Now that’s good.’
Even Alex thought that wasn’t bad.
She suddenly wanted him to wait until the competition closed. This felt painful.
‘The Dancing Squire. The Lords’ Revenge. Fish and Pickle. Now there’s a show stopper.’
Applause followed and cries of, ‘That’s it.’
‘The Cork and Bottle,’ Grant continued. ‘The Happy Cow. The Badgers’ Retreat. The Cats’ Meow.’
Immediately Alex looked to the Burke sisters who smiled and averted their eyes. Her traitorous dog had wheedled a place on Bill Lamb’s lap. Bogie had a soft spot for policemen.
‘For Those Who Serve. Very nice,’ Grant said with a sly glance at the major who tried to look detached.
‘And Blithely Blunder Inn. Ooh, I like that, don’t you?’
The crowd applauded and Alex concentrated on the beer she was pulling.
‘You?’ Hugh said in her ear.
‘Might be,’ she said. ‘Might not be.’
He started to laugh but stopped abruptly. ‘Well, look who’s here. Is this what you were hoping to see, or do you wish they had used their heads and avoided coming into the bar like this? Just wait for the gossip now.’
Lily walked from the kitchens with Dan O’Reilly at her shoulder. Tony was only steps behind and Katie almost tripped him up when she made a dash for the bar room, weaving through legs to get to the fireplace and Bogie.
The glass in Alex’s hand started to slip and she set it unsteadily on the counter. Grant Hill’s was the first face she saw clearly and his half smile could have been knowing – or it could just have been a smile. ‘Don’t forget your Guinness,’ she said in the most level voice she could achieve. He drank, his gaze never leaving hers.
The crowd at the bar pressed in, calling orders. There wasn’t time to speculate. Alex worked steadily until she felt Tony beside her. He squeezed the back of her neck gently. ‘Take it easy,’ he said quietly. ‘You look anxious. I drove into the car park behind Lily and Dan. He came in his own vehicle. There was no chance to ask what was going on.’
‘Why doesn’t my mum come and say something? Why doesn’t she help out? She’s been gone all day.’
‘I know she has but I’m a pretty good pair of extra hands,’ he said, leaning toward the next customer who ordered something Alex didn’t hear. ‘Two gin and orange coming up,’ Tony said.
‘If Lily’s got a lot to tell you, she won’t want to make any fuss in front of everyone,’ he said, reaching for clean glasses. ‘Especially Dan. Give it a chance to calm down a bit and the two of you can talk on your own.’
Alex set out a long breath. ‘You’re right.’
‘Has something happened, Sweetheart? Even Hugh looks wound up.’
She rubbed his arm. ‘I’ll tell you later. It’s been strange although I could be imagining things. I hope I am. Almost forgot, Bill brought Radhika in. They’re sitting with the sisters. That’s a first.’
‘I’m damned.’ Tony avoided looking toward the fireplace. ‘We both know there’s something going on between them, but you don’t see them anywhere together. I never expected to see them in here – or should I say, I wouldn’t expect Radhika to agree to come with Bill.’
‘See all these?’ Alex tapped the pile of entries Grant Hill had left on the counter. ‘This name contest puzzles me. I’m trying to convince myself the Hills are just trying to be nice because I helped Bob Hill during the fire. I don’t know, though, Tony. A thousand pounds prize for coming up with the name of a pub seems a bit much.’
‘Yeah. A bit ridiculous, but I think they can afford it.’
She stared up at him and raised her brows.
‘OK, they seem keen on being best friends with you. Could be something devious about it – maybe not. I don’t know.’
‘That’s Mr Hill’s children, talking to Fay Winslet. Grant and Carmen.’
‘I didn’t think the Hills lived around here,’ Tony said.
‘They don’t. They’re from Temple Guiting, or that’s where the family has a home. I doubt they’re there all the time. Esme Hill and her friend were in here earlier. Hugh heard them asking me questions. He wondered if Esme was looking for a tame witness to be on her husband’s side. Makes me feel strange, but she honestly didn’t say anything obvious.’
‘That doesn’t mean she wasn’t fishing,’ Tony said. ‘Look, I’ve been wanting to say this so I better spit it out. I wish the Hills would stay away. I wish they would never come near you again.’
She bowed her head. ‘Because you think they could spell trouble.’
‘I suppose. I can’t help wondering what the story is behind the two deaths the police are investigating. And the Hills are connected somehow, even if only because the dead man worked with Robert Hill.’
‘I can’t argue with a word you say.’ Alex looked up in time to see Dan accompanying her mother toward the snug – or beyond. ‘Damn. I want to talk to Mum on my own. It doesn’t look like that’ll be in the offing too soon. Dan’s sticking to her like a limpet.’
Dan paused to speak to Bill who immediately got up with a kiss to Radhika’s cheek that brought Alex’s eyes and Tony’s together.
‘Well, well,’ Tony said. ‘He’d better not be about to pinch the best assistant I ever had.’ His smile was decidedly artificial.
Dan, Bill and Lily went through the archway toward the snug and the restaurant.
‘I did think my mum would want to tell me what’s been happening as soon as she got here.’ Alex turned her back on the bar and faced Tony. She blinked back tears. ‘This is getting really weird.’
Not more than half an hour passed before the detectives and Lily returned. The men appeared relaxed. Lily smiled, but Tony could feel Alex’s tension.
Lily was the only one of the three to join the group at the bar. ‘My,’ she said lightly, although Tony didn’t like the dark patches under her eyes or the drawn lines around her mouth. ‘I obviously chose a wild day to go AWOL. Forgive me, Alex. Just needed some hours away and I couldn’t know this place would turn into Piccadilly Circus while I was gone.’
‘Everything’s gone beautifully.’ Alex put an arm around her mother’s waist. ‘Let’s hope we get lots more days like it. Preferably without snow storms.’
‘Kev Winslet was going on about the contest for a pub name. Apparently, a lot of people are determined to win that thousand.’ Lily leaned toward Hugh. ‘Don’t tell Doc James but I think I’m going to have a Dubonnet. It’ll help me sleep.’
‘Coming up,’ Hugh said and turned away to find the bottle on a high shelf. ‘And Doc would approve.’ He poured a large glass and gave it to her.
Lily shook her head. ‘This should be enough to knock me out. Thanks, Hugh.’
He gave her a broad grin and went into the kitchens.
The Hill brother and sister had left, Tony noted, although he hadn’t seen them go. ‘The Hills seem like a nice family, Lily. It’s too bad they’re going through hard times.’
‘Yes.’ Lily didn’t sound interested. ‘Gladys gave you my note, Alex?’
‘She left it for me. She was bubbling with excitement over the breakfast success. Liz says she’d like to help her out every day. She’s got an assistant at the dress shop to open up and I gather the early mornings are very quiet.’
‘Is it worth it?’ Lily, ever the pragmatist, asked. ‘For Liz or for us?’
‘I think it might be,’ Alex told her. ‘Let’s give it some time to make up our minds. Is it OK if I ask what Dan and Bill wanted?’
Lily appeared surprised. ‘I thought Dan would have mentioned it to you. Seems they are really busy with the case near Winchcombe. Dan said it’s proving a lot less localized than they’d thought at first. They haven’t had any luck finding accommodations they like elsewhere and they’re used to us, so they’d like rooms here. Since we’re very quiet at the inn, I agreed.’ She gave Alex a worried frown. ‘Did I do the wrong thing? I could just say it’s not possible.’
‘Oh, no,’ Alex said with a quick glance at Tony. She knew he didn’t like it when Dan stayed at the Black Dog – the man’s powerful interest in her was too obvious to Tony. He and Alex had never discussed the subject but they didn’t need to.
‘Mum, are you all right?’ Alex said. She clasped her mother’s wrist. ‘You seem anxious about something.’
With a somber and direct look at her daughter, Lily said, ‘I’m not all right, sweetheart, but I intend to be. You and I have a lot to talk about but first I need to unscramble my brain and decide the best way to approach it all. I wouldn’t be honest if I said I hadn’t had a shock. But I’ve learned a lot I didn’t know before and it’s time I shared it with you. Can you be patient?’ Lily caught at Tony’s sleeve. ‘I can’t explain how glad I am for Alex to have you in her life. We both need good people around us.’ She sipped at her Dubonnet.
How he’d like to hear Alex say those words to him. He set his jaw, trying not to wonder how much longer he could just be Mr Wonderful and not need more.
Alex’s strained expression said she couldn’t be patient, or she didn’t want to be. She put her arms around her mother. ‘Yes. It won’t be easy to wait, but I can. I love you, but you know that.’ She pulled away to see Lily’s face. ‘Is Doc coming for you or are you going home alone? If you’re going alone, I’m coming with you.’
‘James is coming. The boys’ aunt is home for a couple of days so they’re at their cottage in Underhill. James and I have Naruto and we’ll take good care of that sweet cat. Don’t you worry about us.’
Her mobile rang and she answered, smiled and said a few words. ‘Off we go,’ she told Alex. ‘James is out front with Naruto. He won’t leave her at home alone – or in the car, of course. Too much responsibility when Kyle’s not there. We’re going to babysit.’ Her smile lighted her eyes and she slipped away to get her coat and leave.
Alex scrubbed at her face and felt Tony pull her into a hug. ‘I’d like to invite you on a holiday,’ he said. ‘Don’t you dare say, no, without thinking. We’ll wait until things cool off here. Your mum and my dad make a lovely couple, don’t they?’
She nodded, yes.
‘We do, too,’ Tony added. He was too cautious to remind her how much he wanted her, and not just as a best friend and lover. His restraint was getting very thin.
‘Yes, we do,’ Alex said. ‘And we’ll make an even lovelier couple if the stinking disasters stop falling on our heads. I’m going to help Hugh close up, then we’ll leave.’
The Burke sisters had gone, driven home by Major Stroud in one of his benevolent moods. Radhika was nowhere to be seen although Tony didn’t know when she’d decided to leave. Dan was not around and neither was Bill. The bar was empty.
‘Best time of the day,’ Alex said, raising her face to Tony’s who gave her more than a peck of a kiss. She kissed him back fiercely and pushed her hands beneath his sweater.
Hugh cleared his throat.
Tony hugged her closer. ‘Ignore him. He’s only jealous.’
‘You’ve got that right,’ Hugh said seriously. ‘Did you know Radhika’s bought a property not far from Green Friday?’ he asked.
That got their attention. ‘Really?’ Alex said. ‘That’s fabulous. She’s stayed in that little cottage too long and I never felt comfortable about it after she was attacked there.’
‘Neither did I,’ Tony said.
Alex wanted to know everything about this major move for Radhika. ‘Seems a long time ago all that happened, but it’s not really so very long when you think about it. Is this place somewhere we know?’
‘I didn’t,’ Hugh said. ‘And it’s practically next door to me. The property is heavily wooded. I looked at it after she told me.’
‘She didn’t tell me,’ Tony said, sounding vaguely put out.
‘The sale only just went through so she probably didn’t want to let everyone know how much it means to her. But like I said, Green Friday is almost next door so she probably thought I’d see her coming and going and think it was strange if she didn’t tell me something.’
Alex raised her shoulders. ‘I’m excited. I’m not going to play dumb about it. Tomorrow I’ll barge in and ask for an invitation to see the place. Is it big? What’s it called?’
‘It’s not small. It’s been empty a long time apparently and she’s having it completely redone, including the gardens. She mentioned she may live in a couple of rooms there during renovation. And she mentioned deciding on a name.’
Tony made a face. ‘She’s not going to want to continue being a vet’s assistant, is she?’
‘Yes,’ Hugh said. ‘She is. And if she wasn’t, she’d have told you. She’s the kind of woman who doesn’t fool around – she comes right out with the truth. She told me one of the reasons she fell for the property was because it wasn’t too far from the clinic. She’s buying a car, too, and learning to drive.’
Alex gave a breathy whistle. ‘Oh, dear, I can’t imagine that.’
‘Well, start imagining it,’ Hugh said. He stopped and inclined his head, looking out into the room. ‘Excuse me?’ he said. ‘Um, we’re closed, sir. I didn’t see you there.’
Alex swung around and saw Frank Lymer emerge virtually from the cover of a long, heavy curtain behind the door. He stood up and nodded. ‘Just me,’ he said, sounding awkward. ‘I’m waiting for my Gladys. It’s too nasty for her to ride home to Underhill on her own. I can put her bike in the back of my pickup.’
Tony clamped a restraining hand on Alex’s shoulder but she was rigid. ‘She’s coming here from somewhere else, is she, Frank?’ she asked.
Frank shifted from foot to foot. He took off his cap and his thin hair clung to his head. ‘She said things went really well and she thought there would be more work for her to do than you all thought at first. I expect she’s still doing dishes in the kitchen.’
Alex looked at Hugh who shook his head slightly.
‘Frank,’ Tony said. ‘Did Gladys know you were coming to pick her up?’
When the man shook his head, no, they all sighed with relief. ‘Have you called her?’ Hugh said.
‘I just thought she must be busy, so I’ve been waiting in the corner here,’ Frank said. His face had grown pale and he wound his cap between his fingers. ‘She was coming home this afternoon but when she didn’t, I thought I ought to wait for her to let me know when I should come, this being a new job. She shouldn’t ride her bicycle home in this weather – not when it’s dark.’
‘She’s not here,’ Hugh said.
Frank looked from one of them to the other and rushed from the pub. Alex caught up with him outside and about to get into a small pickup. ‘Hold on, Frank. Don’t go off like this. She’ll be all right.’
‘I knew I shouldn’t let her come here. There was nothing wrong with her job at the Strouds. She loved it there until you suddenly asked her to work for you. She hasn’t been the same since.’