CHAPTER-THREE
IN WHICH INSPECTOR FOUNDRY MAKES A LITTLE SPEECH
Carol lay asleep in bed, usually she didn't hear her husband come home, but she sure did this morning; he bumped about tiredly and distractedly. Carol tried not to let herself wake up too much—she was still planning on getting some more sleep, but to her surprise, he came over and shook her arm.
"Carol, Carol, Get up, I need to speak to you and the kids." He said.
Carol, who was more than a little confused by his behaviour, sat up. "What is it?" She asked.
Robert bit his lip, "There's been a murder." he said at last.
"A what?" Exclaimed Carol, springing out of bed.
"A murder, just down the street."
"But, but... who was it?" She managed at last.
"That Insurance fella, Sirius Eridanus." He replied.
"But that's only a few doors up!"
"I know. That's why I want to have a talk with the girls about it." He said grimly.
Lucy had only been home for a few minutes when she heard footsteps on the landing, followed by someone opening her door. She snapped her eyes shut and tried her best to act as if asleep.
"Lucy." She heard her mum whisper urgently, Lucy let her eyes flicker open. "Lucy, we need you to get up."
"Wha— Why?" Asked Lucy feeling curious while trying to act sleepy.
But Carol was already hurrying out of the room, and apparently did not hear her. Feeling even more curious than before, Lucy quickly got up and put on her dressing gown. In the next room, she could hear her mum waking up Rachel, closely followed by a good deal of whining.
Lucy walked out of her bedroom, still trying to look half asleep by staggering and squinting. She was probably exaggerating far too much, and in hindsight it was fortunate for her that her mum and Dad were more worried about the news that they had to break to them.
She made it down to the foot of the stairs first, Hope, her eldest sister, was really tired from the party that she'd been to that evening—from which she hadn't gotten home until late; and Rachel's grumbling was audible from the bottom of the stairs, so she was probably taking a lot longer than she had to out of spite.
Lucy walked into the kitchen to see her dad sitting anxiously at the table, still in his police uniform. He didn't have to tell Lucy to sit down, she had the impression that whatever they were about to be told, it was pretty important, so she slipped into her chair at the table quietly.
A moment later, her mum, Hope and Rachel came in to join them, the two older girls were quickly seated as well and joined Lucy in looking expectantly at their father; Carol remained standing and slowly paced up and down behind them all.
Robert took a deep breath and began. "Your mum and I have brought you down here because of a very serious matter." He paused to make sure everyone was listening before he continued, "There's been a murder in the village."
Lucy could only stare at him as complete shock settled over her. All at once she felt her heart skip a beat, her mouth dry whilst her brain whizzed as she struggled to digest what she had just been told.
"Somebody's been killed?" Hope stammered eventually.
"I'm afraid so."
Even Rachel who usually had something to say about everything was silent.
"W-w-who?" Lucy stuttered at last.
Robert looked hesitant for a moment, but then spoke "Mr Sirius Eridanus. You know, that fellow up in Rose cottage?" Lucy nodded, feeling slightly relieved that it wasn't someone she knew better.
"Who found him?" Carol asked, pausing her pacing for a moment.
"Miss Graves, it appears that she just got back from her trip and went to visit." Robert answered. "Look, we don't really know any more, but I don't want any of you going out on your own for the moment, Okay?" He asked, looking firmly at the three girls. Beside him, Carol nodded in agreement.
Lucy, Rachel and Hope nodded.
After several seconds of silence, a sudden thought struck Lucy. "Can I still go to the Wildlife Festival tomorrow?" she asked, wondering of Allegra had heard the news, probably not. She saw her mum and Dad look hesitant, "I'll be with Xanthe and Allegra the whole time." She added pleadingly.
"Okay," He mum agreed at last, nodding, "But make sure you're with Xanthe and Allegra the whole time." She conditioned sternly.
"I will." Promised Lucy.
"Good." Said her father.
It was a beautiful morning on the second day of the Wildlife Festival. The sun was bright, the temperature was pleasant, and a light breeze blew across the village.
Lucy awoke early, the words of her farther tumbling around her head, she still couldn't believe it—someone on their street had been murdered. Someone, somewhere in the village, right now, was a killer. And they had killed Mr Eridanus.
Lucy couldn't really say she'd liked the man; he'd been absolutely horrible to Allegra and Xanthe when their fish pond had overflowed. Say nothing of the day before, but still, the thought that someone had killed him repulsed her. She sat down at her dresser and brushed her hair with a contemplative expression. She frowned as she saw in her mind a dark shape approaching Eridanus with a knife and raise it high...
"Lucy, Sweetie. Are you awake?" Called her mum, breaking into Lucy's thoughts as she gently pushed the door open.
"Yeah." Said Lucy softly.
"Are you okay?" Asked her mum.
"Who would kill someone, Mum?" She asked. She half knew the answer of course; she herself had almost been killed once, by a dark Spirit named Dan. But she understood Dark Spirits, she had felt the power that they sought; it was intoxicating, it had taken all of her strength of character to not join with Maggie when she had offered. It was a power that some would stoop to anything for, even stealing other people's stardust, or murder.
But in the normal world, things made far less sense, the boarders between good and evil were far less defined, and motives of revenge and jealousy made far less sense to her.
"I don't know, Sweetie." Said Carol Evans, "Maybe we never will, but try not to worry about it." She added absently plaiting Lucy's hair and looping it up. "I'm sure that it's got nothing to do with us, and hopefully your Dad will quickly find who did it and then we won't have to worry about it.
"Mmn." Said Lucy, looking at her hair in the mirror—it had been years since she'd worn it anyway other than loose. Her mum kissed her on the top of the head, "Now, when you get to the festival today, make sure you stick around Allegra and your friends, and don't go wondering off. You're much safer in numbers, and stay where there are lots of people—that's safer too."
"Yes, Mum." Nodded Lucy.
First thing after breakfast, Lucy wasted no time in running around to Allegra's. She quickly knocked on the door, which was opened in an instant by Allegra. "I saw you coming." She grinned warmly, "Nice hair by the way. Do you know what happened up the street last night? We saw all the flashing lights, but Xanthe said we should wait until morning, and that we'd probably find out what happened then."
"Someone was murdered up there last night." Said Lucy.
"What!" Gasped Allegra in shock, "Murdered? Xanthe! Did you hear that?"
"What's going on, Allegra?" Called Xanthe as she breezed into the front hall, "Hi, Lucy." She added as she caught sight of her standing on the door step. She turned back to Allegra, "What's the matter?"
"Xanthe, all that noise and lights in the street last night," Gabbled Allegra rapidly, "Someone was murdered!"
Xanthe's eyes widened in shock, exactly mimicking her daughter's earlier expression. "Who?" She asked.
"Sirius Eridanus." Answered Lucy.
"Oh." She said, "How awful. Do they know who did it?"
"No." Said Lucy, "But Dad's on the investigating squad."
"Then I'm sure that they'll find them before long." Said Xanthe with a reassuring smile. "Do you girls still want to go to the festival today?"
"Yeah!" Nodded Lucy, looking to Allegra for confirmation. Her friend also nodded, "We've got to go anyway, to rescue Robyn." She giggled.
Xanthe smiled, "Let's go then; we'll take the car."
It was only a short drive to the village oval where the Festival was held. Up past Rose cottage which had been blocked off with a blue and white striped tape, and past Hyacinth Cottage where Keely and her family where locking up as if they were preparing to walk to the festival.
"I don't understand why someone would want to kill him." Said Lucy for the second time that morning, looking out the window as they turned the corner out of Flora Avenue.
Xanthe's response though was quite different from her mum's, "Well without gilding the lily too much, he was a partner in a dodgy business, and he was a thoroughly unpleasant person—people have been killed for a lot less."
"Isn't that a bit cruel?" Asked Allegra, "He is dead."
"I wouldn't wish anyone dead." Said Xanthe softly, "But let's just say I would be considerably more upset if it was someone else."
She pulled into the oval car park, and parked under a large oak tree, Allegra and Lucy threw their doors open and sprang out. Looking out onto the oval as people carried boxes and crates into the area as they prepared for the second day.
"Oh, Xanthe!" Called a voice, Lucy and Allegra turned around, and Xanthe looked up to see Joanna approaching them.
"What's the matter, Joanna?" Asked Xanthe wearily.
"I've just gotten a call from Mrs Simpson—her car's broken down on the motorway."
"She was doing the talk on Homoeopathy for animals?" Checked Xanthe, rubbing her temples.
"That's right, she's still keen to come, but I've got the Animal Shelter people coming in five minutes—and I can't leave them—"
"Alright." Said Xanthe, holding up her hand, "I'll go get her. But do keep an eye on the girls, Joanna—someone was killed just up the street last night." She added as she got back in the car.
"Killed? Who?" Called Joanna after her as she began to back out.
"I'm sure the girls will tell you all about it." Called Xanthe as she drove off.
"Who was killed?" Asked Joanna, rounding on Lucy and Allegra.
"Mr Eridanus." Replied Allegra, "He was murdered!"
"Oh," Said Joanna, looking after Xanthe who was just turning out of the park, "Oh dear."
"Where's Robyn?" Asked Lucy.
"Huh? Oh, she's helping set out food hall tables." Said Joanna distractedly.
"Great, we'll go and help her." Said Allegra brightly. The two girls charged off, leaving Joanna behind as they vaulted the fence and sped off towards the large eating pavilion.
"I wonder what upset Joanna so much?" Panted Lucy as they slowed to a walk upon arriving at the food area.
"I'd be upset too, if I'd gone to all this effort and someone died during it." Said Allegra, "I mean the police could stop it from going ahead, couldn't they? And it's certainly not a good press statement.
"I guess." Said Lucy, but somehow she thought there was more to it than that. As they entered the open sided food area they spied Robyn, looking dreadfully formal in a white blouse and knee length black skirt.
"Don't ask." Warned Robyn as they approached her, "Mum's press-ganged me into helping serve today. And so I've got to wear this stuff."
"You look nice in it." Said Lucy placating. Robyn just sighed.
"We've come to help you with the plates and things." Said Allegra brightly, she lowered her voice conspiratorially as she continued, "And we've got something else to tell you too."
Tom and Joyce arrived at the second day of the Festival early, parking close to the entrance as they chatted in the car. "I want to know, Tom, why every time we go anywhere, a dead body turns up within forty-eight hours."
"One of the great mysteries of life." Said Tom as he opened his door, "Along with why only one sock comes out of the wash when you put two in."
"Says you who never does the wash." Muttered Joyce. "When is Ben supposed to get here?"
"He might be here already, for all I know." Said Tom, "He should be if he left straight away."
"Poor Ben, you didn't have to wake him up in the middle of the night you know, Tom."
"Probably not." Conceded Tom. They entered the grounds of the fair—Tom noting that Xanthe Greenwood was not at the gate selling raffle tickets as she had been the previous day.
"There's a talk today on Organic farming." Said Joyce, reading her programme, "How would you like to grow a bit of a veggie garden, Tom?"
"And when would I get the time to do that?" Asked Tom.
"Fine, when you retire then." Amended Joyce. "Just think; I could do all my cooking from home grown produce."
"Remind me not to retire then." Mumbled Tom under his breath. He looked ahead to see a man in his early thirties walk out of a side aisle, eating what appeared to be an egg and bacon sandwich. "Jones!" He called out to his detective sergeant.
"Good morning, Sir." Returned Ben, hurriedly swallowing his mouthful, "Good morning, Mrs Barnaby."
"Hullo, Ben." Smiled Joyce.
"Eating healthily I see Jones." Commented Tom, eyeing the roll in his sergeant's hand.
"Mmph, you should try one, Sir—organic free range egg and bacon roll; they're delicious."
Tom resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"So, what did your hurricane end up being last night, Sir?" Asked Jones.
"The hurricane in question drives a red convertible and has a very, very questionable personality." Muttered Tom.
"Tom's been going on about him all morning." Said Joyce ironically, "Seems he's the DI in charge of the case."
"Uh, so the inspector's already arrived, has he?" Asked Ben, "Seems like I've wasted a trip then."
"Not necessarily." Said Tom, "He seems about as competent as six bricks, so I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for a conviction."
"You think we should investigate the case... unofficially?" Questioned Ben, "We could get into a lot of trouble for that you know, Sir."
"Yes, I know."
Joyce Smiled, "I'll leave you two whilst I explore a bit then." She said, "Then I can just sit back and tell you both how silly you were when something goes wrong. See you later." She said, giving Tom a kiss on the cheek.
"Glad to know your wife is so optimistic about our success." Said Jones as Joyce disappeared into the gathering crowd. "Oh, and before I forget, Sir, I have some bad news."
"Not more bad news." Groaned Tom, "You're DI results haven't come back yet, have they?"
"I s'pose I'll take that as a complement. But no, not yet, Sir." Said Jones edgily, "No, you remember that firearms training that we were required to do a few months back?"
"Yes..." Said Barnaby slowly.
"Well here's yours, Sir." He grimaced, handing his boss a gun in its leather holster."
"Aw brilliant." Whined Barnaby, taking the weapon distastefully. "Just what I always wanted."
"John Cotton made a request that Midsomer be allowed to trial a compulsory firearms policy. You'll be happy to know that he personally asked me to make sure you received yours." Added Ben with a slight grin, knowing how much his DCI hated the 'Wonderboy' as he had nicknamed him.
"Aw thank you, Jones. That makes me feel so much better."
"I thought it might." He looked around the show around them, "So what exactly is all this, Sir?"
"Oh, I don't know, Jones." Sighed Barnaby, "It seems to me that it's for people who have nothing better to do than stand around talking about dolphins all day."
"They're very beautiful things, dolphins."
"Oh, don't go all conservationist on me, Jones." Pleaded Barnaby.
"No, no. Just saying." Said Jones quickly.
"Excuse me, members of the public." A female voice crackled over the loudspeakers. "Could everyone please make their way to the centre stage on the oval immediately please. We have an important announcement from Detective Inspector Foundry in relation to the disturbance that many of you might have noticed last night."
"Oh, goody." Muttered Tom sarcastically.
"He surely can't be that bad, Sir?" Said Jones.
"No?" You come and listen to this announcement then—see if you still say the same thing afterwards."
There were quite a few people gathered at the central food area by the time that Jones and Barnaby got there. At one end of the area, adjacent to the large open side dining pavilion, was a fairly small stage, which invited people were using for talks on various things such as Wildlife Carers and so on. The rest of the twenty-by-fifty yard open area was littered with dozens of picnic tables and around and on them were at least a hundred people.
As he and his DCI picked a spot near the back of the space, Jones noticed six girls sitting at a nearby table, talking animatedly amongst themselves. He scanned the crowd for the Detective, catching sight of an odd trio of police men and woman, who were talking to a woman with long chestnut hair and a man in a smart suit. All of them were standing just to the side of the black stage. "So where's this 'hurricane' of yours, Sir?" he asked.
"That's him, with the sunglasses on." Muttered Tom, distastefully, nodding towards the man that Jones had noticed in the suit.
"Him?" Questioned Jones, "I thought he must have been the local Real Estate agent or something."
"S'not a pretty sight is it."
As they were talking, Foundry, turned his back on the people he was talking to, and climbed up onto the stage, followed by the woman. The police officers stood to the side, showing their presence without standing out. The woman walked straight to a microphone on a stand at the front of the platform, "Ladies and Gentlemen." She spoke—the same voice as the earlier announcement. "Due to a tragic incident during the night, Inspector Foundry from Mid-Devon CID is here to talk to us." She indicated the shaded man beside her.
"Tragic that he showed up." Muttered Barnaby.
"Yes." Said Foundry, pushing himself in front of the microphone, "It came to my attention early this morning that one of the members of this community was burned to death last night."
A tangible wave of shock passed through the crowd as Foundry paused for effect. Jones raised his eyebrows, "Well, he certainly doesn't hold his punches, does he?"
"Heh, no."
Foundry continued, "Now it is my belief that he was murdered by someone staying in the village last night, possibly someone on the grounds at this very moment! Therefore I am putting a police blockade around the village; no one is to enter of leave this dump without my permission.
"Now, if the murder is listening out there; I will catch you, before someone else gets hurt! For the rest of the community, I need your coöperation! I need your vigilance! Don't take anything for granted! Anything that might pertain to this case, no matter how small, I need you to hand in to me! But let it be known, that you should not be paranoid! I need you to BE ALERT, NOT ALARMED! SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED!" He continued grandiosely, raising his hands as if too play to the crowd.
Jones' mouth fell open, "Is this guy for real?" He asked rhetorically.
Foundry continued, "Now, as I'm giving up my valuable time to find this evil in your village, I must demand your complete coöperation! I will be travelling around this community this morning to interview you all! And given the circumstances, I believe that I must commit myself, of achieving the goal, before this day is out, of finding the man responsible, and putting him behind bars!
"To this end, as I said before, everyone must pitch in! You owe it to yourselves; you owe it to your village! You owe it to your country! But most of all YOU OWE IT TO ME! If you do not hand over all relevant evidence at the first, I will assume that you are trying to prevent me from finding the killer, and I shall act accordingly! In other words, if you're no with me! You're against me!"
"My, my." Commented Mrs Thetique, who was standing nearby Tom and Ben, "This young man seems to fancy himself as an American president rip-off."
"More likely he just fancies himself." Said a nearby man with dark curly hair, short beard and a thick Scottish accent.
"Now, now, Mr Achernar." Said Miss Graves, "I'm not really sure that is kind."
Achernar snorted as Foundry continued in the background, "Thare's no way tha' man's going to catch anything 'cept perhaps a cold." he muttered.
"...now," Foundry was saying meanwhile, "As it is common knowledge that members of a small community like this are not as intelligent as other people, allow me to spell out, exactly what constitutes as evidence." He said to a general roar of shock and disapproval from the crowd.
"Who's he calling unintelligent?" Muttered Lucy indignantly to her friends.
"He's going to regret saying that by the end of today." Grinned Allegra, "There are some real smart Alecks in this village."
"At the rate he's going 'round insulting people, he'll be luck to live to the end of the day." Said Ella. Lucy grinned, and was about to reply, when Achernar Muliphein shouted from just across the area.
"Yeh'r a fine one to talk about intelligence!" He said in his Scottish accent, "Most people would agree that it's not a very good idea ta ins'lt those tha'cha want ta help yeh!" This statement was met by a roar of laughter from the crowd.
"Ah, shall we sell tickets?" Asked Barnaby, rubbing his hands together.
"An' while we're about it, why don't yeh go and tell us who et is 'oo topped it las' night; since yeh, oh so intelligent mind neglected to tell us that!" Another round of laughter.
Foundry adjusted his tie awkwardly, "Hmph, I think that you simpletons, are below such knowledge." He grunted out, as Barnaby's smile deepened at the inspector's predicament. "However, since unfortunately, police protocol says you must be told, for your information, the victim's name is Sirius Eridanus."
Lucy watched Achernar's eyes widen in surprise at this bit of information. The curly haired man sat down heavily on an unoccupied bench.
"He seems particularly upset." Whispered Keely to the other girls, "Where they good friends?"
"They were business partners." Whispered Faye back softly.
"They're names are Sirius and Achernar," Added Lucy, "So they called themselves Star Insurance."
"Makes you kind of resent association with stars, doesn't it." Said Robyn, Lucy nodded with a grin.
"Hmh!" Said Inspector Foundry, with the air of someone who had just vanquished a great foe. "Now then, I will make another announcement once I have captured the weevil responsible. That's all for now." He finished, stepping away from the microphone.
"Wow." Said Jones, blinking, "He's very..."
"Detestable." Finished Barnaby, "Yes, I didn't think he'd be any better in the morning."
As soon as Foundry stepped down from the platform, he rounded on Joanna. "Right, we need to talk about this festival of yours." He said.
Joanna frowned, "What about it?" she asked.
"The only reason that I'm letting you keep running this side show is so that we can keep all the village nuts happy." He said with a pained expression, as if he would like nothing better than to shut it down.
"What? This is hardly a side show—this was a very difficult event to organise!" Said Joanna angrily, "And those are my friends that you're calling 'nuts'."
"To each their own." Said Foundry haughtily.
"What's with your problem with villages?"
"I'm the one asking the questions here!" Countered Foundry, "I don't have any problem with villages, they're just not worthy of my attention."
"What? You're saying that a villager's life is less important than a townie?" Asked Joanna in outrage.
"Of course, people in the towns and cities make things happen. Now, what was your opinion of the deceased?"
"Of Eridanus?" Asked Joanna, "I didn't really have much association with him. But from what I have experienced, he was a miserly and unpleasant person."
"Ah ha!" Said Foundry, triumphantly, "So you have motive!"
Joanna frowned, "Look, if I killed everyone that I found annoying, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
It took Foundry a moment to process that insult, but when he did, he gave a look that could have frozen the sun. "I would appreciate it if you could keep your opinions to yourself while we're having a murder interview."
Joanna was going to point out that he was hardly in a position to talk, but thought better of it, "Well, what else do you want to know?" She asked instead.
"I what to know everything you do know about Mr Eridanus. What did he do?"
"What did he do? He was an insurance broker. He had an office here in the village that he ran with Achernar Muliphein."
"And who's he?" interrupted Foundry.
"He's the one that made you look like an idiot." Said Joanna irritably.
"Him? He didn't make me look like an idiot, merely himself." Said Foundry, then he added proudly, "Anyway, I showed him."
"Uh, right." Said Joanna, not quite sure how to respond. "Anyway, Mr Muliphein is the quieter of the pair, I gather he tends to do the behind the scenes stuff, while Eridanus did the talking to people; though I'm not quite sure why they had that particular arrangement..." She finished dryly.
"Hmm, well I'll have to go and teach him some proper manners if nothing else." He said, "Maybe I could arrest him for contempt of the law..."
"Can I go yet?" Asked Joanna impatiently, "I've got a million things to do..."
"Which are more important than assisting me find the murderer? I don't think so. Tell me about this monstrositious waste of time, then?" Asked Foundry, waving an arm at the rest of the festival, "Why are you running it?"
"Oh, it's not a waste of time, Inspector Foundry." Started Joanna, "It's something that myself and several other people have been organising for more than a year.
"Several people that I've met over the years and I were all worried about the increasing carelessness of people—and the effect it was having on the wildlife. So we decided to run an event to raise awareness, and also for people of like-minded views to meet each other and see how other people were going about their goals. Then we decided that rather than a conference in some convention centre, we would have a festival with stalls from groups interested in conservation, it also has the benefits of being more interesting to the public—"
"Yeah, yeah, very interesting." Foundry cut off sarcastically. "So you and a whole lot of other tree-huggers are trying to turn a whole lot of the public into tree-huggers."
"We're not in the business of chaining ourselves to trees." Glared Joanna. "Our goals are to work with people to try and make a difference to the environment..."
"Whatever, the distinction is not relevant to the case, so who cares."
Joanna glared further but didn't say any more.
"Well, I think we're finished for the moment, Jackson, but stick around, I may need to talk to you again." Said Foundry, dismissing her with a flick of his finger.
"I'm afraid my daughter and I are living in the town," Said Joanna, daring him to say that she couldn't go, "But I'll still be needed for the festival for the next few days." Without waiting for him to respond, she turned and walked away.
Allegra watched the man known as Detective Inspector Foundry with derision as she and her friends rode the medium sized Ferris Wheel that had been brought along for the Festival. "Do you think that he's really that dumb, or is he just pretending?" She asked thoughtfully.
"Who?" Lucy frowned.
"Inspector Foundry."
Her friends giggled, "Inspector Doofus." Said Robyn, "I don't think he would be capable of pretending to be that dumb."
"He hardly seems like the acting type." Lucy agreed.
"Unless he's really, really good at acting." Allegra grinned.
"I wonder how he became an inspector?" Asked Ella, "You have to do a whole lot of competency training and all sorts of stuff."
"I suppose he could be good academically." Said Faye quietly.
"It doesn't really make much difference." Said Keely, "We're stuck with him either way."
Their gondola on the Ferris Wheel sunk below a line of stalls, people on the ground waved at them and the occupants of the other gondolas as they neared the ground. "It's so hard to believe, that someone here's been murdered." Said Faye as they waved back, "I couldn't imagine anyone in our town being a murderer.
"You don't see what people get like at The Swan." Muttered Ella, "The amount of people that Mum and Dad have to throw out..."
"Do you live near a pub?" Asked Keely.
"Mum and Dad own the one in our village." Answered Ella, "We live in the apartment above it."
They started climbing again as the wheel kept spinning, and soon where looking out over the festival again. Foundry had teamed up with Rebecca now, and was striding through the festival, smitten with his own importance, while Rebecca followed far more sedately behind.
"Poor Rebecca." Said Allegra, "I'd hate to be in her shoes at the moment; having to follow around after that guy taking notes for him."
"Hey, at least we should be able to find out what's happening in the case." Said Lucy brightly, "We'll just have to listen while she's talking to the other adults."
"What about your dad?" Asked Faye.
Lucy frowned, "He probably won't tell us anything." She said, "He'll just say that we shouldn't worry about it. He never tells us stuff about work usually... Although he did this morning..." She trailed off.
"Your Dad's a policeman?" Asked Keely in surprise.
"Yeah, a police sergeant." Said Lucy proudly, "And Rebecca as well, did you meet her last night? She's a stardust spirit too."
"How many people are in this police station?" Asked Keely.
"Just three." Said Lucy "They're more sort of a presence thing; the main station is in town."
"But nearly all of them are from something to do with Stardust? Weird." Said Keely with a shrug.
"There they go." Said Robyn, pointing out Foundry and Rebecca who were wondering through the festival, Foundry bundling up people for seemingly random interrogations, "I suppose they'll be able to speak to everyone they need to at the festival. Mum did a good job of getting everyone to turn up at least..."
"Do you suppose Xanthe will be able to get back in?" Asked Allegra suddenly, "Doofus said that he'd blockaded the town."
"Well, he couldn't have done it when he said he had." Said Ella.
"Why not?"
"Because all four of them were at the festival."
"Right." Said Foundry as he stalked up to the three uniformed police, "You two." He barked, pointing at the two males, "You go and find out how many people the blockade's stopped."
"Uh, sir, there isn't a blockade." Said Sergeant Evans.
"What do you mean there isn't a blockade?" Exclaimed Foundry, "I told you to set one up!"
"Actually," Said PC Kayle, a somewhat unremarkable young man with light brown hair and blue eyes, "You said to set up the blockade, and then later you said that you wanted us all at the announcement, and the Sarj was telling you about how we couldn't man both, and you—"
"Silence!" Snapped Foundry, "Look, I don't know what you country people think about this, but let me tell you this! A murder is a serious business, and you'd better snap to attention if we're going to catch the man responsible!"
"Or woman."
"What?" Asked Foundry, rounding on Sergeant Evans.
"Or woman. The murderer could be a woman too."
"Pah, women don't have the guts for murder." Rebuffed Foundry, the three other officers looked at each other in bemusement, "I'm not sure whether to be insulted or not..." Muttered Rebecca.
"Right." Said Foundry, continuing, "You two go immediately and set up the blockade." He snapped at Evans and Kayle, "You! He pointed at Rebecca, "You're taking notes for me!"
"Wouldn't I be more useful in the blockade...?" Started Rebecca.
"Are you refusing, PC Chambers?" Asked Foundry menacingly.
"Uh, no. No, no, no. Not at all."
"Good." He said, turning back to glare at the two policemen. With a helpless glance at each other, they both shrugged and headed off towards the car park. "Now," he said, glancing slyly at Rebecca, "Let us go, Sweetie."
"I'm not a Sweetie." Snapped PC Chambers, "I'm working with you because I have to, not because I want to. Come on let's get this over with."
Foundry chuckled conceitedly, "Fine." He said.
He wasn't laughing twenty minutes later, several people had come up to him in that time, talking to him about inane things they thought might be important; like Eridanus having worked on his garden on the morning of his death; or that they had been woken up in the middle of the night by suspicious sounding doof-doof music being played by a passing red car; or that they'd seen someone mouthing off about scary nonsense that didn't seem to make any sense at the festival that morning...
"Is this whole town full of morons?" Whined Foundry as they made their way around an empty Moorland Pony stand. Before Rebecca could answer, he spotted the next victim of his interrogation, "You!" He barked at a man, "What's your name?"
"Adam Avencoft." Replied the man, "I'm the local General Practitioner." He added, forestalling the next question.
"Ah, a doctor." Said Foundry with distaste, "You treat Sirius Eridanus?"
"I might have."
"And being a doctor, you would have done chemistry, and would have a knowledge of how to start fires and all sorts of things."
"I probably would, so?"
"Well, Sirius Eridanus was burnt to death last night. What do you say to that?"
"Well, I could think of more pleasant ways to go."
"Hmm." Muttered Foundry, "Well, did Eridanus consult you?"
"Well, not usually, no." Said Adam, "He usually went up to visit the one in town, but I saw him a dozen or so times a year..."
"Well, I'll need to see all those files." Said Foundry, "I want them within an hour."
"Fine, I guess I could do that. Just pop around when you need them."
"Certainly not! You bring them around to me, I'm a busy person!"
"Well then you'd better bring a warrant around to me then."
"What?"
"If you want to be difficult, then I can be too—I know my rights, and the rights of my patients, you can't force me to hand over any of those records. Not unless you front up with a warrant anyway." Smiled Adam lazily.
"Don't worry, I will." Foundry assured him, not in a nice way. Then before Adam could say something else, he turned around and stalked off, pulling Rebecca behind him.
"Mr Foundry, Sir!" Said a voice behind them.
The policeman rounded on the young man, "That's Inspector Foundry." He thundered.
"Yes, sir." Wilted the man, then brightening up again, he said, "I know where you can find what you seek, Sir!"
"What? You think you can solve my investigation?" Sneered Foundry, moving to turn away.
"No, really, Sir." Foundry half turned back to listen, "I heard that they have brains for sale at that science shop in the town!"
Rebecca tried to disguise a laugh as a cough and failed badly. "Why you little..." Foundry turned back to the man who'd launched the insult. The young man grinned and bolted, Foundry angrily ran after him, but lost him in the crowd after the first turn. "If I ever get my hands on him..." He muttered, shooting Rebecca a withering look as he swept past.
"Let's go," He said without looking at her, "I've had enough standing around being accosted for no reason. It's time to go and see this Eridanus' Insurance business—see if he's better at keeping books than staying alive."
"I can' see a man like that prepared to let us help with the investigation, Sir." Said Jones as they watched Foundry and PC Chambers climb into one of the Patrol Cars and drive off, "Particularly given how he was speaking to some of the people who were, uh, 'helping' him."
"No. In fact he was most displeased about me even taking a statement from the lady who found the body before he got there." Barnaby drawled.
"What did she say?" Asked Jones.
"Couple of leads, said that Sirius Eridanus wasn't the most popular of people, due to some argument he and his partner had with a lady in the village over insurance."
"Sounds promising, does Foundry know?"
"I wouldn't have thought so." Barnaby mused, "He flat out rejected my offer to give him a copy of the statement."
"Do you think maybe we should go and talk to the woman—just as a matter of interest of course."
"You're not suggesting that we should step on Inspector Foundry's toes, Sergeant?" Asked Barnaby, a knowing smile breaking out. "Such a thing would be most un-polite."
"Exactly."
"But maybe we could just happen to speak to her, as a matter of interest of course."
"Do we know where this lady lives?"
"No." Said Barnaby, unphased, "No we don't know where Xanthe Greenwood lives, but I do know who to ask."
"Here we are. Almost there." Said Xanthe as she turned onto the road that would take them into the village. But as they approached the village, Xanthe caught sight of the flashing blue and red lights of a police car, parked across the road. She frowned as she slowed down; the car was right across the road, completely blocking the way into the village.
"What's happening?" Asked Mrs Simpson.
"There was a murder in the village last night." Said Xanthe, trying to see who was manning the roadblock, "But this wasn't here when I came out..."
"A murder? Good gracious." Said Mrs Simpson, "I'm glad I'll be leaving tonight."
"I don't think you've got anything to worry about anyway." Smiled Xanthe reassuringly, "The person was not very well liked in the village." She pulled to a stop, a few metres from the police car, and sat back as the familiar visage of PC Kayle stepped out.
"Good mornin', Xanthe." He said.
"Morning. What's happening?"
"Oh, this? Weren't you there this mornin'?" Asked the Constable
"No, I've been out to get Mrs Simpson." Said Xanthe, indicating the woman in the passenger's seat.
"Aw, right then. Well the Inspector's declared that no one is allowed in or out of the village until the murderer is caught. Which he says is tonight; if you ask me it's going to be more like Christmas, certainly a week, but anyway—"
"A week?" Said Mrs Simpson, aghast. "I've got to be heading back by lunch time!"
"Sorry, Ma'am. But I'm afraid I couldn't let you in anyway, being 'shut down' and all."
"I'm dreadfully sorry about this, Mrs Simpson." Said Xanthe, silently cursing the unknown detective, "Can I give you a lift somewhere, or something, then?"
"Just drop me off in the town if you could. The breakdown lorry is taking my car back to Glastonbury for repairs, so if you can drop me off in town, I'll take a coach back up there."
"Sure." Agreed Xanthe, reversing and turning around. "Will I be able to get in when I come back?" She called to PC Kayle.
"Well, not technically." Said the young constable, "But I may just be on a toilet break about then, you never know."
Xanthe laughed, "Thanks, I'll see you in a bit then."
"Ah, here you are, Anna; I was wondering where you were." Said Miss Graves as she entered Anna's general store on the main street of the village. "I looked over most of the fair for you."
"I only went over to find out what the announcement was about." Returned Anna as she bustled about with a price gun, "I'm sorry I did; it's not like we learnt anything."
"No," Agreed Amelia, "I don't know much about policing, but I don't much like this new younger detective—the DCI that interviewed me last night was much more likable... even if he was from Midsomer."
"From Midsomer? What's a policeman from Midsomer doing down here?" Asked Anna.
"Apparently he's on holiday." Started Miss Graves.
"On holiday? These public servants—underworked and over paid."
"Everyone has to have a holiday sometime, Anna. I had a very nice time up in the Lakes District..."
"I've been working nonstop in this shop for the last twenty years, Amelia." Said Ms Thetique, "And I've never felt the need to take a holiday. Now what was it that you wanted today?"
"Oh, I just need to do a bit of a restock." Smiled Miss Graves, "You never realise how much stuff goes off in two weeks unless you go away, Anna."
"I'll take your word for it." Mumbled Ms Thetique. "I suppose you'll be wanting apples then?"
"Granny Smiths please."
Anna bustled over to where there was a large bin of apples and started packing them into a paper bag, "By the way, when are you going to come and pick up all that junk you've got cluttering up my display cupboard?" She asked as she flipped the bag over a couple of times to seal it off.
"Well, I could come and get it any time." Amelia responded, picking up a loaf of bread and putting it on the counter.
"Well if I'm not there, the spare key's under that broken paving stone."
"The paving stone? What about the one in the letter box?"
"I had to move that one," Anna grumbled, "So that flaming doctor wouldn't be able to find it."
"Doctor Avencoft?" Asked Miss Graves, "He's a very nice man."
Anna snorted, "He keeps refusing to give me stronger sleeping pills; I swear he's trying to get me to die from lack of sleep." She said stiffly.
"But why would he do that?" Asked Miss Graves in surprise.
"He has that practice half way to the next village." Said Anna, "But look at my house, right in the middle of town, perfect for a surgery! If I died, he'd be able to buy it and set up shop there."
"Now, now, Anna, I think you're being paranoid... Doctor Avencoft has always been happy out at his little cottage. He's told me so several times."
"Maybe that's just what he wants you to think."
"I heard you had rather an argument with him yesterday."
"Aw, that." Said Anna, "Who told you about that?"
"Joanna did, the dear. I asked her whether she'd seen you, and she said not since the argument yesterday. Well of course, I just had to ask..."
"Yes, of course." Said Anna dryly as she packed some potatoes into a box.
"Poor, Joanna, I do hope that they're going to let her finish the Festival." Said Miss Graves. "I'll have some of your famous Chocolate Buns too, thank you Anna." She added, pointing to the sticky brown pastries.
"Why, do you think they might not?"
"Oh, well you know how these things are, people get ideas that it's disrespectful to keep running these things when someone dies. And if only you knew how hard Miss Jackson had worked, and some of the other people in the s— in the village too. It's been a big project."
"You seem to know an awful lot about the goings on and people in this village, Amelia. What, are you part of some secret society or something?"
"Ah, Anna, if only you had a little more imagination..." Sighed Miss Graves.
"A minute ago, you were accusing me of having too much." Anna grumbled, "Now how many did you say you wanted?" She added, holding up one of her homemade chocolate buns with a pair of tongs.
"Oh, I think about a dozen will do nicely." Said Miss Graves.
Anna raised an eye brow, "Expecting company?"
"Oh no." Smiled Miss Graves.
Anna looked at her strangely for a moment before continuing to fill up the paper bag. A tinkling of the shop bell caused them both to look around as two men stepped into the shop.
"Ah, Miss Graves, I was told that I might find you here." Said Barnaby.
"Ah, Inspector Barnaby." Said Miss Graves with a smile, "This is Anna Thetique, she's runs this store; for the last twenty years she's just now being telling me."
"Ms Thetique." Said Barnaby, "You're very lucky you know, that Doctor Avencoft didn't press charges."
"Pah, I'm sure he has his reasons." Said Anna stonily as she finished putting Amelia's groceries in her bag.
"Oh, this is Detective Sergeant Jones, also form Causton CID." Said Barnaby suddenly after a moment's pause, Amelia rather thought that he had momentarily forgotten that the younger man was there. "We were wondering if you wouldn't be able to give us directions to Ms Greenwood's house?"
"Oh, that's easy inspector, she lives just next to Sergeant Evans over on Flora Avenue." Said Miss Graves cheerfully, "But I believe she's working with the Festival today, Inspector, so why don't you speak to her over there."
"That—" Started Barnaby and Jones at the same time, they glanced at each other, "...could be problematic." Jones finished at last.
"That Foundry is it?" Asked Anna, "I wouldn't be surprised if he'd block help just to spite."
"Oh, it's like that is it?" Asked Amelia excitedly, "Well, she should be back home by 5 o'clock."
"Right, we'll pop around then. Thank you very much Miss Graves." Said Barnaby before both he and Jones took their leave, stepping out of the shop with the same accompanying tingle as their entrance.
"Right, now then, Amelia, how were you going to pay for all this?"
"Odd couple of people." Said Jones as they stepped out into the fresh air.
"Every village has to have its gossip monger, Jones." Said Barnaby, setting the pace back toward the festival, "And it's always useful to know who it is."
"She didn't like that Doctor Avencoft much."
"No." Tom chuckled, "She pitched a wineglass at his head yesterday, I don't think there's any love lost between them."
Ben winced, "When you said press charges, I assumed that you meant that she'd keyed his car or something—though that might have been worse if he drives a car like most doctors."
Barnaby smiled, "I think, we should go and see the good doctor." He said as they came out of the ally between the shops and the oval behind them, where the festival was. "See if Mr Eridanus had any files with him."
Star Insurance was run out of a little shop at the end of the main street, just next to the church. There was a small waiting room out the front, maybe six feet back, and the width of the building long. To the left was a corridor with two more rooms opening off it, and another door at the end. As Rebecca and Foundry entered, the nearer of the two offices in the hall opened and Achernar Muliphein stuck his head out.
"Uh, ut's you." He said, "Ah thught chuh might show up later."
"Yes, well." Said Foundry, "I would like to ask what you're doing here when your partner's just died and on a Saturday? A bit suspicious if you ask me."
"Do you realise how much work thar is to do in business when som'one up 'n dies?" Replied Achernar, he sighed, "I 'spose yeh bette' com' in." he stepped back, leaving the door open. Rebecca followed Foundry into the office and gave it a look over.
It was all neat enough, with a desk in the middle of the room—stretching most of the way across, a filing cabinet in one corner, and a line of shelves down the other side. On the desk, there were two document trays and a stack of files with a round glass paper weight on it at one end, and a laptop and an ornate lamp with a green shade at the other, as well as two visitors' chairs pulled into it.
Achernar pulled out the visitors' chairs on his way back around behind the desk, "Dreadful business, this." He said, as he flopped into his chair.
"So I've heard." Said a wry Foundry, casting an eye around the office.
Mr Muliphein glared at him, "'Ah meant the murder!" he snapped.
"Mmm, was it?" Asked Foundry laconically. "I've heard that you and Sirius were close. Maybe he was too close, was that why you killed him, Mr Muliphein?"
"Nothing of the sort." Shot back Achernar flatly.
"Good." Said Foundry, "I hate dealing with Homosexuals." He added under his breath. "Right, so who did you know that had a reason to kill him?"
"Pretty much everyone." Said Achernar, opening a draw under his desk and helping himself to a biscuit. He carefully didn't offer one to Foundry. "Sirius had a habit o' rubbing people up the wrong way.
"Lut's see." He said leaning back in his chair and counting off with his fingers, "The ol' biddy down at the local shop; the lass on Flora Avenue wid' the fish pond; the doctor laddie... who else... Tha' banker nut from up in the town; he'd gotten 'imself barred from The Clueless Pig; even I prob'ly had reason to kill 'im, given the fact that he was hopeless with the business finances... Oh, and he went ta try and flog our cover to that Australian lot that just arrived—so he's probably ticked 'em off too, and they've only been in the country a day..."
"Hmph, you're nice for a friend."
"I ne'er said he was a friend, 'e was a business partner, an' I had a working relationship with 'im, bu' I didn' drop 'round on 'is house for lunch on the weekends or noth'n."
"So gimme names of these people that would want to kill him." Foundry pressed.
"Names, Inspector? Have yeh got a month?"
"Well, start with the ones that you already mentioned." Said Foundry impatiently.
"Fine, Thetique o' someth'n, the one in the shop, you can just go in an' talk te 'her anyway; Simon Clett, 'e's the bank manager; an' Greenwood, I mentioned her; I don't know what the Australian lot're called, but they've moved in two up the street from Sirius. Ah yes an' Doctor Avencoft; couldn't stand the man maself, but Sirius spoke highly of 'im. Prob'ly the only thing 'e an' the likes of Ms Jackson ever say aye te aye about."
"What about the doctor couldn't you stand?" Asked Foundry, leaning forward eagerly.
"Put it this way, a few year ago, I went to 'im with a stomach upset, 'h sent me home wi' a Panadol, the next day I wos in 'ospital having my appendix taken out."
Foundry grinned, "I knew there was something off about that doctor." He said.
"If you don't mind me asking, Mr Muliphein, given that as far as I have heard, most of the village isn't insured with you, how are you keeping in business?" Asked Rebecca, a touch hostilely.
"Constable Chambers, I am in charge of the investigation, I am the detective, I will ask the questions." Said Foundry sharply.
"Uh, yes of course sir..."
Foundry leaned a little closer to Mr Muliphein. "So, how are you keeping in business given that the village doesn't insure with you?"
Mr Muliphein smiled slightly as if he had been expecting the question. "The truth is we mostly insure people in the town." He said, "We've got 'bout seventy files all en all—some with multiple policies, which is enough te earn 'us a living.
"And speak'n o' which, if yeh don' mind, I s'pose I bet'r start going through all Sirius' files... U'll never get it so'ted out utherwise." Said Achernar with a sigh.
"Certainly not!" Foundry denounced. "I will be taking Sirius' files and personally going through every one before anyone else is allowed to look at them."
"I think you might regre' that, Laddie." Said Achernar.
"Are you threatening me?"
"Not a'tall." Said Achernar with a slight grin, "Bu' Sirius didn't really have much 'o a filing sustem. Yeh might wont me teh sort some of et out first."
"No." Said Foundry, "I'm afraid that none of it is to be even touched except by me. No one else can be trusted not to lose some it of something."
"So wha' am I 'sposed tell people when they want to make 'eir insurance claims?"
"That's your problem. Now show us Sirius' Office."
"Suit yehself." Achernar grumbled lowly.
The second office in the building was identical to Mr Muliphein's, but where's Achernar's had been tidy and neat, Sirius' was a disaster area. Paper littered everything, there were stacks all over his desk, most of which had toppled over, making it almost impossible to work out what belonged in which pile. The filing cabinets were so chock full that they couldn't shut properly and there was literally paper spilling off the shelves onto the floor.
"Have fun." Grinned Achernar from the doorway before he disappeared from view.
Foundry wondered into the centre of the room and surveyed the scene with a look of disbelieving dismay. "What was this man? A man or a pig?" He asked, eyeing a mess of papers where they had fallen and scattered on the floor behind the desk. It was fairly obvious that they had been run over with the wheelie desk chair several times. "Right, you." He said, rounding on Rebecca, "Go back to the police station—that's just down the road isn't it?—right, well go back there and get all the boxes you can carry, then get ten more and bring them back here." He said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at the mess.
"Yes, sir." Said Rebecca subduedly. She turned to leave.
Foundry stuck out his hand and grabbed her by the shoulder, spinning her back around, "And get me a coffee on the way back."
"Yes, Sir." She nodded as she started to leave again. Again Foundry stopped her, "That's white, three sugars."
She turned again, but then half turned back as if waiting for something else.
"Well come on then. Get a move on! I don't have all day!" Snapped foundry, shoving her towards the door. As he heard the tingle of the front door closing, he sank into a chair and rested his head in one of his hands. Peering out through his fingers with a groan as he surveyed the mess.
It took them two hours to box up all the paperwork, stuffing everything into the boxes that Rebecca had brought down, and then carrying them out to Foundry's car, which they were then going to shift two hundred yards down the road and then unload into the police station. Rebecca couldn't say that it made much sense to her, but Foundry had been insistent that that was how it was going to be done.
"Now I do hope you're going te remember te hand all tha' stuff back when yer finished with it." Said Achernar as he followed them out onto the street.
"We'll see." Said Foundry laconically. "Remember I'm watching you, Muliphein, always watching."
"Fine, Uh'll just direct all my angry customers onto you, then." Said Achernar stonily as he turned and stomped back into his shop.
"What are we going to do now, Sir?" Asked Rebecca.
"What do you think we're going to do, PC Chambers?" Asked Foundry nastily, "We're going to go back to the station where you are going to unload those files while I apply to the CID and get a warrant for that doctor, then we're going to go and start talking to some of these people, like Clett, that Austrian brood, and then we'll go back to the festival—"
"Australian."
"What?"
"They were Australian, not Austrian." Said Rebecca.
"Whatever, they're foreigners, and that puts them pretty much top of my list."
"Yes, sir." Mumbled Rebecca.
"And that's probably all we'll get done today." Said Foundry, "It'll be six o'clock by then."
"Sir, there's been a murder, and you're going to just stop working at six?" Asked Rebecca in shock.
"Hmph, he's just a villager, not worth me wasting my precious time for. And besides, it's not like anyone much is missing him anyway—I'd almost say 'why bother?'. And you can walk." He added, pointing along the foot path while he stroked his car lovingly.
Adam looked up from his papers as Rebecca thumped up the steps, "Hello," He said subduedly. "You come for the files?"
Rebecca nodded, "He got the warrant, sorry."
"Don't be. It's not your fault." Sighed Adam, taking a brief look out of the window at the sky which was beginning to get a pink tinge to it. With a bit of a grunt, he pushed back from the desk and moseyed over to his filing cabinet, rummaging through it to recover a file labelled 'Eridanus S.'.
"There you go, tell the ol' windbag that that should have what he needs."
Rebecca snorted as she took the file, "Aw, it feels good to be able to do that and know that he's not there to hear me." She grinned.
"Yeah, well, hopefully he'll get what's coming to him." Adam said offhandedly. "What about you, you don't look well, this afternoon."
The small smile that had strayed onto her face faded. "I'm not sure, there was something off about one of the people we spoke to today; I just can't put my finger on what."
"Ah'well, it'll come to you eventually." Adam encouraged.
"You know, Adam, just because you're a doctor doesn't mean that you have to solve everyone's problems." Said Rebecca good-naturedly.
"I know, that's part of being a Winter Spirit." Countered Adam.
Rebecca grinned wryly. "I'd better be getting back, or Foundry will start whinging."
"And we couldn't have that." Said Adam dryly, following her onto the stairs outside his consultation room. "Though I would have thought he would either way."
"Maybe."
"See you tonight." He added as Rebecca descended the stairs.
"Yeah." She said, although not completely enthusiastically. Adam frowned as she shut the door behind her. Something really is bothering her... he mused.
Barnaby and Jones arrived at Willow Cottage, the house of Xanthe Greenwood just as the sun was beginning to touch the horizon. Simultaneously, they both disembarked from the car and moseyed up to the front door.
"Can I help you?" Asked the woman with curly blond hair when she answered their knock.
"I'm Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby from Causton CID, and this is DS Jones." Said Barnaby, both of them producing their warrant cards and holding them up for inspection. "May we come in?"
"Oh, so you're the detectives that have locked down the village are you?" Said Xanthe, eyes narrowing.
"No. That wasn't us." Said Jones quickly, "That was the detective from Mid-Devon CID; we're just helping out in the investigation."
"I see. Well I suppose you'd better come in then." She said, opening the door wider and allowing them in. "Come through to the kitchen. Would you like a cup of tea?"
"No thanks." Said Jones politely as they followed behind her. He and Miss Greenwood stepped into the kitchen, but Tom stopped in the hallway just outside, looking into an ornament cabinet; in particular at a badly cracked glass orb that was the centrepiece.
"You're that policeman from the festival." Said a voice.
Tom looked to the side to see a young girl of maybe eleven, standing a metre or so away. With her curly blonde hair, she could only be Xanthe Greenwood's daughter.
"Yes, I am." He agreed, "I'm Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby. And who might you be?"
"I'm Allegra." She said brightly, "Xanthe is my mum."
"I figured, you look very much like her." Nodded Tom. "What's this here?" He asked, pointing at the cracked orb.
"That? Uh, that's a trophy that me and a couple of friends won a few years ago." There was something off about her explanation—but Tom didn't push it, instead he asked, "So what have you heard about what's happening?"
"About the murder? Not much." She replied; sounding put out about the fact, "My friend Lucy—she lives next door— her father is a police sergeant..."
"Sergeant Evans?"
"Yeah, but he won't tell her much about what's happening."
"Unfortunately, we don't know a whole lot yet." Said Tom, "It can take us several days or even weeks to find out who did it."
Allegra made a sour expression. "What a pain." She said.
Barnaby chuckled, "Did you know Mr Eridanus?" he asked.
"Only from when our fish pond overflowed." Allegra scowled, "He was supposed to insure us, but he made some cheap excuse about how it wasn't natural causes, so he wouldn't pay. And then there was yesterday of course..."
"And why did the fishpond flood?"
"See, it's above ground." Said Allegra, walking to the backdoor, and pointing out the window. "One of the rocks fell over and put a hole in the pipe, so there was all the water from the pipe, and everything from the pond itself."
"And what did your mum think about all that?"
"Xanthe was furious!" Said Allegra, "It was the maddest I'd ever seen her, in the end she threatened to take them to court, and Mr Muliphein agreed to pay us, Sirius still wasn't happy about it though."
"What about other people in the village? What did they think about the whole thing?"
"Most people were really upset by it; Xanthe has a lot of friends in the village." Said Allegra, "I don't think anyone much here liked him, except Mr Muliphein... but even he was having some sort of trouble with him." She frowned uncertainly.
"Allegra, you're not pestering the Detective are you?" Called Xanthe, from where she was standing in the kitchen door, Barnaby caught sight of Jones behind her.
"No." Said Allegra.
"She's being very helpful, actually." Said Tom with a smile.
"Good." Said Xanthe, smiling slightly.
"Miss Greenwood," He started, addressing Xanthe, "Miss Graves from up the street said that she was surprised that Mr Eridanus offered to collect her mail for her. Do you know why that would be?"
Xanthe blinked in surprise, "He's never been a very community minded person." She said at last, "Usually he pretty well keeps— kept to himself. Miss Graves usually asked Allegra and I to collect her mail, so I'm not entirely sure why he would have offered... But either way, he did."
"Well thank you very much for your time." He said, giving Allegra a smile, before giving Jones a subtle signal that it was time to leave.
"Yes, if you think of anything else, give me a call." Said Jones, handing Xanthe one of his cards.
"Sure."
Barnaby and Jones walked to the front door with the two Greenwoods right behind them. "By the way, Miss Greenwood," Asked Barnaby as they opened the door, "Nobody seemed to know exactly where you were today. Where were you?"
"One of the ladies coming for the talks at the festival broke down on the motorway, I went to go and retrieve her, but then we couldn't get back into the village anyway, so I took her to the coach station in town."
"How did you get back in?" Asked Jones, Barnaby smiled to himself, much as he hated to admit it, Jones really was ready for the upgrade to Inspector—it would just be a shame to break up the team.
"I reminded PC Kayle that I had a young daughter who was in the village while I was stuck out of it." Said Xanthe, "And he was sensible enough to let me in."
"Yes, the move to shut the town down was perhaps a bit excessive." Agreed Tom, "We'll see what we can do." He turned away, and walked down the path, Jones following just behind him.
"What have I told you before, Jones, about pretty ladies in murder investigations?" Said Barnaby, as they approached the car.
"Sir?" Asked Jones in confusion.
"I saw the way you were looking at her, Jones, I know you far too well. You be careful, 'lright?" Grinned Barnaby as he saw Jones rolling his eyes slightly.
"It was never a problem the previous times." He countered.
"True." Agreed Tom as he and Jones got into the car. "What did you get?"
"She said that this festival thing has been organised by several people in a few of the villages around here and the local town." He said, "I asked her if Eridanus had been objecting to the festival; she said no. I asked if Mr Eridanus had any enemies; she said no one in particular, but he wasn't particularly liked in the village. She didn't know of any other people in his life, he just seemed to work with Mr Muliphein, and that's about all."
"Hmm." Mused Barnaby, "Her daughter told me that he seemed to be having problems with his partner, Achernar. She also told me that he still wasn't very happy about paying up for the fish pond, even after Mr Muliphein agreed to."
"Do you think they could have had a falling out over that?" Asked Jones as Barnaby started the car up.
"Possibly, or maybe, Miss Greenwood herself, everyone I've spoken to says that she was livid about him refusing to pay the insurance, and what with the goings on yesterday."
"With him threatening to blackmail her?"
"Well it sounded very much like that to me." Said Barnaby, driving away from the curb, "By the way, Mrs Barnaby asked me to invite you to dinner with us." He added, sounding indifferent about the statement.
"Be glad to." Smiled Ben, "You know she'll have probably met people who've given her half a dozen other suspects."
Barnaby gave a short smile.
The sky above the festival was bright orange as it wound down for the second day. Most of the visitors had left by now, and it was mostly just stall holders packing up, and securing things away for the third day. In one of the completely deserted aisles, Rebecca shook as she selected Xanthe's number.
"Hello? Xanthe?" She said, her voice quivering.
"Wrong? ... No, it's not that... look it was what I saw when I was going around... yes... look I know who the murderer is!" She hissed. "No, I don't think I should say it over the phone—there are still people around... No, I'm serious... Look I'll meet you at your place at midnight... Yes, we need to talk about it—" She hung up; as she thought she heard something moving nearby. With a quick, frightened look around, she tucked the phone away and left as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, away in the shadows between two tents, a black gloved hand grasped a guide rope as its owner leaned over to look out into the aisle. As the person saw Rebecca leave towards the car park, it retreated back down the gap between the tents, slipping out into a more populous aisle and becoming an anonymous person in the general confusion of packing up.