PART 27

"I'm going to call crimestoppers" Lexie exclaimed as she sat bolt upright in bed

"what Lex?" a bleary eyed Archie asked

"Crimestoppers, I'm going to call them"

"what are you going on about its 3 o'clock in the morning"

"oh Arch" Lexie said rolling her eyes "you know about Dan"

"but you know nothing about Dan"

"that's just a technicality, we know there is something odd going on, I mean last night in the pub, and that money he gave Mandy"

"Lex, the only odd thing going on in the pub last night was you making us move tables left, right and centre so you could follow his every move!"

"fine, throw scorn on my idea, but when I receive a reward for apprehending a criminal"

"look Miss Marple, don't you think you're getting just a wee bit carried away here, and as much as I'd love to listen to your theorising, I really want to sleep" Archie said as he slid back down under the covers.

Lexie though stayed where she was thinking about Dan and the pub, and trying to work out exactly what was going on. What was puzzling her was how exactly he was making cash on the side, which she assumed is what he was doing. Then it hit her maybe he was selling alcohol illegally, not acquired from the brewery, but maybe from abroad. That's it she thought, she turned to tell Archie but he was fast asleep again. "Typical" she muttered. So if that was the case, when was it delivered?

Lexie thought about this for sometime and decided the most logical time was first thing in the morning, when the pub was closed and therefore quiet. As she drifted back off to sleep she decided to go out early the next morning, and see if she could catch Dan in the act.

The early morning sun streamed in through the window as Archie woke up yawning. He glanced at the clock, 6am, early, then he looked over at Lexie who was still sleeping peacefully. He smiled as he remembered her middle of night exclamation. He leant over and affectionately kissed her cheek as he eased himself out of bed. He decided to go out early to the village shop come post office come bakery for some fresh croissants for a special Sunday breakfast.

As he walked up the lane, Archie pondered Lexie's theory about Dan and wondered if her hunch was right. He figured there was a strong possibility she was, she had a knack of being right about these things, that was one of the things he loved about her. There were so many layers to her personality, a bit like the layers of an onion and he just loved peeling them back and discovering new things about her. Sometimes his feelings and love for her were so overpowering, so all consuming it scared him.

He felt sure that in comparison he must be a little dull, but then he thought Lexie doesn't think that, but she had made him more himself. What an odd thought he pondered, how was that possible. He reflected his stifling public school education and all that battling with his father especially after Jamie's death. Somehow though, Lexie made everything seem so much easier and brighter, she'd shown him not be afraid of his feelings or afraid of expressing his emotions. Then he wondered what he had given her in return, his love? Was that enough, he knew Lexie would be horrified to know he was thinking like this, it is so much easier to see the good in others than in yourself, but then he rationalised there was more to him, after all if there wasn't she wouldn't love him like she did.

He smiled to himself as he thought about their plans for a family and tried to visualise a mini Lexie running around or maybe even a mini him. He tried to imagine what it would be like to be a father, it was difficult but he felt sure it would be a powerful and wonderful experience.

Archie snapped out of his reverie as he realised he was passing the pub. He noticed an unmarked white van parked outside the pub, very similar to the one they had seen the previous morning parked in the lay by next to Dan's van. Curiosity got the better of him and he slowed trying to see if anything suspicious was going on. Just as he was telling himself not to be so silly, listening Lexie's ramblings, he heard Dan call out to a stocky man climbing into the driver's seat

"ok then Bob see you Tuesday and double the order for red and white, I have a contact down in South Shields who wants a few cases for a party, and am hoping to flog him some beer from the brewery as well"

"will do Dan, see you Tuesday then"

Archie hurried up the lane before Dan saw him and realised he had over heard. He tried to work out what it all meant, was Dan dealing in contraband alcohol, surely he wouldn't be so stupid, to do that from a pub? But then Dan wasn't exactly the most intelligent man on the planet, Archie reasoned.

"Morning Archie, you're up bright and early" Bill greeted him as he entered the village shop

"yes, its such a beautiful morning, thought I'd pop up here get the papers and some of your fresh croissants and Lexie and I could enjoy a leisurely breakfast outside."

"great idea, just croissants you want or pain au chocolat as well or pain au raisin?"

"um a couple of croissants and one of each of the others, Bill I've just seen something very odd outside the pub"

"oh yes" replied Bill a little hesitantly

"mmm an unmarked van delivering crates of wine" Archie decided to stretch the truth slightly to see what reaction he got from Bill, who he knew was a mind of information about the village

"ah, look Archie, I think we both know that the words Dan and honesty do not go together, and there are some things best left alone"

"but if he's breaking the law..."

"yes but what proof do any of us have"

"yeah I see what you mean" Archie replied, thinking though about the exchange he had overheard and that maybe just maybe he did have some evidence "well thanks for these" he said waving the bag of breakfast goodies.

When he got home the house was silent so he assumed Lexie was still asleep. He wandered upstairs to wake her. He wandered into the bedroom and knelt on the bed

"Lex, wakey wakey" he called as he lent over and gave her a gentle kiss

Eventually Lexie stirred and reached out to him "Arch you're dressed, come on back to bed it's only quarter to seven" she said as she pulled at his hand

"but Lex it's a beautiful morning, I've just been out to buy fresh croissants and we can have a leisurely breakfast, and start on the garden before it gets too hot, I know how the heat affects you" he said winking

"but Arch I want to stay in bed, come join me" she said as alluringly as her sleepy head would let, as Archie switched on the radio with a teasing expression on his face to help wake her

"come on Lex" he said pulling away from her

"Archie Macdonald are you telling me you'd rather have a bowl of cornflakes than me!"

"no Lex um" Archie stumbled for words as Lexie looked at him with a questioning expression on her face

Archie was saved from answering as the music on the radio changed, "oh I love this song" Lexie commented as Ronan Keating started to sing "The Way You Make Me Feel" then with an expression of cunning on her face she continued "come on Arch, you want me to get up well dance with me to this song"

"dance, dance to this I'm not dancing to Ronan Keating" Archie responded

"oh Arch you and your Athlete and Maroon 5, don't be such a music snob, dance with me or you'll be gardening on your own and sharing this bed with a bowl of cornflakes" Lexie said as she threw a pillow in his direction.

Knowing he was defeated Archie grabbed both her hands, hauled her onto her feet, moved one hand round her back as they began to dance. As the song continued they leaned in closer and closer to each other, as the song ended Lexie pulled Archie's face towards her and kissed him intensely. As she pulled away, she smiled at him and said

"now tell me that was better than a bowl of cornflakes!"

"mmm I suppose so" Archie replied grinning

"Archie" Lexie said, as she hit him playfully

"just kidding" he said kissing her

"mmm, you go and lay out this breakfast delight, and I'll go and get washed and dressed."

"so you're saying then" Lexie said waving a knife with a blob of strawberry jam on it in the air "that Dan is selling contraband alcohol in the pub without the brewery's knowledge" she asked as Archie filled her in, on what he had observed

"exactly that"

"but that's illegal, haha there must be something we can do"

"yes but what?"

"and that would explain the cash he gave to Mandy, maybe he needed to get it off the premises quickly or didn't what to have to explain it away to the tax people"

"yes" Archie responded a little distractedly as he tried to work out what they could do

"so Arch do we just phone the police or the brewery then?"

"well I'm not sure it's as simple as that Lex, I think maybe we need to talk to Margaret, Mandy and Lucy, after all we don't want Lucy implicated if she works there, and Mandy for accepting that money"

"mmm I see what you mean, so I guess we should go and see them later."

"...so you see that is what we've stumbled upon and the conclusion we've come to" Archie said as he and Lexie finished explaining to Mandy, Lucy and Margaret what they had discovered.

"and well we were wondering what you knew?" Lexie asked

The three women looked at each other, as if trying to decide who should speak first, eventually Lucy began

"well, I've had my suspicions for a while, pretty much since I've been working at the pub, but I didn't know what to do, I told Mum" she said looking at Margaret

"yes she did and I told without proof there was nothing we could do, I know he's my nephew but he can't be trusted, but Mandy I knew nothing about the money he gave you"

"I know I'm sorry Margaret I guess I was scared and just didn't want to say anything, I wish I had now"

"so" said Archie looking around the room "are we all agreed that between us we probably have enough information to now involve the police?"

Everyone murmured agreement "so Arch do we phone or go to the local police station, where is that by the way?" Lexie asked

"well the nearest manned station is in Berwick, I guess we could phone and get someone to come out to us?" Margaret suggested

"I think I'd be happier with that" Mandy said

"but probably best they don't come here, as we don't to arouse Dan's suspicions" Archie said "so the best thing is if we meet them at our house"

"good idea Archie" Margaret said "I'll get the phone and we can call them now, before we change our minds"

"Well thank you very much Mr and Mrs Macdonald, Mrs Mason, Miss Mason and Mrs Shaw, you have been most helpful and we will be in touch. You will probably all need to come down to the station to make formal statements." the police inspector said as he left.

"phew, well that's it we've done it, not sure about the rest of you but I could do with a cup of tea" Lexie said, everyone agreed as she went off to make the tea

"I wonder how quickly they will act on our information" Mandy said

"no idea, but I guess they'll contact the brewery and probably follow up what I heard this morning about next Tuesday" Archie said

"I hope nothing awful happens, I mean supposing when he finds out its us he might try to get some sort of revenge, I'm so glad I didn't use any of that money he gave me" Mandy said worriedly

"Don't worry I'm sure it will be fine, remember we're all in this together and he deserves what's coming" Margaret assured her

"Margaret's right Mandy, he won't be able to do much to any of us if anything at all" Archie added

"here we are then tea, oh and home made coffee cake, don't about everyone else but my nerves are shot to pieces and I felt the need for a sugar hit" Lexie said as she placed a loaded tray down on the table.

After she had passed round the tea and cake, Lexie raised her mug "well I propose a toast to us, our crime fighting exploits and to Dan Shaw finally getting his comeuppance"

"hear hear" everyone agreed as they all raised their mugs to join Lexie in the toast.