Motives and all are coming up in following chapters. Another eight chapters after this one!
Chapter 9 – Close on His Heals
He had walked the mail down to the village, picked up the post and was on his way back. The beauty of a post box was that he could receive letters and no one at the house would be the wiser. Even the name on the envelope was a mis-direction. The letters arrived care of. There wasn't a trace of his real name. So what if the post box cost a few shillings a year. It was nothing compared to what he had made off the estate. He had a letter from his contact at the Cock and Boar tucked snuggly inside his jacket pocket. When he got far enough out of the village he would give it a quick read.
Half way back to the estate he set the mail down on a large rock beside the road and took a seat. He reached for the letter and ripped it open. The police had been around with pictures of him and another man. Damn! The jig was up! He had to get out of there, so much for his cushy spot. The only problem there were things he didn't want to leave behind. Why hadn't the police come to arrest him? They had been around two weeks ago.
"Calm," he reminded himself. "Stay calm, patience is its own reward." He slowed his breathing and heart rate. Then got up and headed back towards the Abbey with the bundle of mail. "If the police haven't come for you it means they don't have the proof they need to make an arrest," he comforted himself. He'd been sloppy that much was evident. He'd taken out revenge on the feedlot for short changing him. The two goons he'd had doing the thefts weren't bright enough to figure out how to do him out of his share. They must have traced the arson back to the pub. So why were they delaying arrest if they knew he was behind it?
There was still no evidence connecting him to Crawley's death, therefore there wasn't any evidence connecting him to the thefts. A slow smile spread across his face. Evidence could always be redirected. He had proven that in the past. Perhaps it was time to slip away, but there was something he wanted to take with him. He wanted it more than he had ever wanted anything before in his life, except money that is. Well maybe he wanted it as much as money.
The police hadn't made a move, but he was sure they were watching. If he tried to take a train he would be spotted. If he stole a car it would stick out like a sore thumb. No, running off like a chicken with its head cut off wouldn't do. "Planning. It's all in the planning," he told himself. "I think I'll make a trip to his lordship's library when I get back."
-0-
"Where are you thinking about going when you retire, Mrs. Hughes," John Bates asked one evening over dinner.
"I'm not sure," Mrs. Hughes replied. "Not too far a field, I think. I have friends round about. I don't fancy going to a new place and starting all over. It won't be for another year or two yet. Once Mrs. Bates is fully trained I'll think about it more carefully."
"I've always thought I would like to see the town where my mother was born," John commented. "I think I will go there when I retire for a trip anyway." He reached over and squeezed Anna's hand.
"Surely that won't be for many years yet," Mrs. Hughes commented.
"Who knows when any of us will be put out to pasture with that Mr. Branson running things," Miss O'Brien griped. "The next he'll be getting rid of the chauffeur and having everyone drive themselves about."
"Miss O'Brien if you want to learn to drive, why don't you ask Mr. Branson yourself, or walk down to the village on your free day and ask his brother?" Thomas said in exasperation.
"Who says I want to learn to drive one of those dirty smelly machines?" Miss O'Brien groused.
"You did last night," Alfred said calmly. "You said it would be an invigorating experience."
"That's enough out of you," Miss O'Brien snapped at her nephew. Everyone was trying to hide their sniggers.
"I'd be happy to give you some lessons Miss O'Brien," the chauffeur said. "If his lordship agrees to it."
"I'll ask his lordship later," Miss O'Brien said with a slight smile. "Thank you for the kind offer." She batted her eyelashes at the man but it looked more like she was going to be ill.
"What about you Anna, why don't you learn to drive?" John asked.
"What would I possibly need to know how to drive for?" Anna replied. "I have two legs that get me there and back well enough."
"Don't you want to be a woman of the world?" Thomas asked her.
"Not particularly," Anna said.
"I'd learn to drive in a second if they made a car I could fit into," Alfred said.
"I drove in the army," Jimmy said. "There wasn't much to it."
"Well, I for one am quite enjoying the experience of learning to drive," Thomas said. "The new motors from America are getting cheaper all the time. One day soon everyone will be able to afford a car. It won't be just for the rich."
"Then the local mechanic will be the rich one, or in your case the pharmacist selling you bandages for your fingers," Miss O'Brien said.
"I'll have you know on my last lesson, I didn't hurt myself at all," Thomas informed her. "I put the petrol in without any problems."
"Anyone can pump petrol. There's a ten year old boy at the local garage that fills the cars with petrol after school and on weekends," the chauffeur volunteered.
"Yes, well, at least I'm attempting to learn unlike others who refuse to try," Thomas said.
"Meaning?" Anna asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It might be more economical to have an inexpensive car for the household errands. You'll be the housekeeper one day. It might be an advantage if you could drive," Thomas said.
"Alright, already, I'll try, if that is what Lord Grantham wants," Anna said.
"I'll speak to him tomorrow," Thomas said.
"Perfect. I suggest and he swallows it hook, line and sinker. They'll all be so preoccupied with their lessons no one will notice when I make a quick exit. Even better if I could persuade one or two of them come along on the first leg on a group trip into York or Ripon. I can slip off onto the train and be gone before anyone notices. Hopefully, that would keep Branson and the police off my tail for at least a few hours."
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"I'm not sure if an inexpensive car for the staff would be more economical or not," Lord Grantham said the next morning at breakfast when Thomas brought up the topic. "What do the rest of you think?"
"The American cars are certainly cheaper, but there are ways of finding used cars for a good price as well," Tom said.
"I would have to do some cost projections," Rose commented. "Thank you for the suggestion, Mr. Barrow. I will look into it."
"Lady Rose," Thomas said. He was practically bouncing in excitement as he headed back downstairs.
"He's getting marginally better at driving," Tom said with a sigh. "I would like a cheaper car though to teach them all to drive on. Mine is a bit much for a beginner."
"Any word from the police detective?" Robert asked.
"I talked to him yesterday afternoon. They have an informant in protective custody who can positively identify the ring leader. Apparently the leader goes by the name of the Mastermind in the underworld," Tom said.
"Thank goodness. Do you think they'll make an arrest soon?" Rose asked.
"He seemed to think this afternoon," Tom replied. He could see Jimmy's ears practically flapping out of the corner of his eye where he was standing at attention at the side of the room.
"I want the guilty party behind bars. The sooner the better," Robert stated.
"Oh, Jimmy, I forgot you were there," Tom said.
Robert turned to look at Jimmy. "Not a word of this to the others," Robert said sternly.
"Of course Lord Grantham. My lips are sealed," Jimmy replied.
Rose and Tom headed upstairs to get Sybil. She normally went with Rose for the mornings to the stable. Tom had decided to stick close to them this morning to be on the safe side. They had arranged for Robert and Cora to stay with the twins.
"Tom what's going on?" Rose asked on their way to the stables. Sybil was running ahead.
"The police are watching the house. There is no informant. They haven't managed to positively connect him with the arson yet. They were acting on a tip that isn't admissible in court. When he goes for the money he has stashed, they'll have him on money laundering charges. Once they have the money, they can match it to the bank records and then directly back to Matthew's death. They're going to search that pub in London as well and see if they can find anything for a positive identification."
"I'm frightened," Rose said.
"Lord and Lady Grantham are spending the day with the twins. We have Sybil with us. He's not a violet man. That's not his style. He's all smoke and mirrors. When he runs the police will follow."
"You're sure?"
"We're betting everything on it. If it doesn't work we'll throw him off the estate tomorrow. Lord Grantham can't take anymore."
"Fingers crossed, darling," Rose said.
-0-
The servants' hall was a clatter of voices and confusion when Robert Crawley went downstairs to address the servants shortly after breakfast. He spotted Thomas Barrow in the middle of the fray trying to calm everyone and silence the voices with Jimmy standing off to the side with his eyes wide open repeating what he had overheard in the dining room over and over. Robert caught himself before he smiled. The plan was going perfectly.
"Lord Grantham," Barrow said snapping to attention. The rest of the room went silent as well.
"Mr. Barrow, I see my warning to Jimmy to keep quiet fell on deaf ears. Since you've heard second hand you might as well hear it from me. Mr. Branson tells me we are expecting a visit from the police later today. This entire nasty mess should be cleared up shortly," Lord Grantham said.
"Lord Grantham, I want to say on behalf of everyone here, we'll all be glad when the culprit is arrested and brought to justice," Mrs. Hughes said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Hughes. We'll all be relieved when this is done, but it won't change what has been taken from us," Lord Grantham said seriously. "I wanted to reassure you all there is nothing to fear to the innocent parties."
"Of course not, Lord Grantham. We've all been waiting for this day and are glad it's finally here," Thomas said. "I'll be standing by waiting for the police to arrive."
"Thank you, Mr. Barrow. Mrs. Crawley and the Dowager Countess will be out for most of the day. They don't want to be present if there is any unpleasantness. My wife and I will be spending the day with the children," Robert said.
"Very good, Lord Grantham," Thomas replied.
"Good day to you all," Robert said with a slight bow.
"Everyone try to go about your business as normal," Thomas said. "Hopefully, this will all be over with a minimum of fuss."
The crowd in the servants' hall broke up.
"Who do you think it is?" Mrs. Hughes asked Thomas quietly.
"I have no idea," he replied. "I'm just glad it isn't either of us."
Anna pulled her husband to the side once they were out in the hall.
"I love you, Mr. John Bates," Anna said.
"What's brought this on?" John asked.
"On a day like this I don't think you can say it enough," she said.
"I love you, Anna May Bates, with all my heart. I didn't think it was possible to love anyone as much as I love you," John replied. He stroked her hair and the side of her face.
"Do you know what today is?" Anna asked him.
"No idea," John answered.
"It's the anniversary of when we moved into our own place," Anna said.
"Is it? Someday maybe we'll have a place that is truly our own. Maybe in the town where my mother was born," John said. "I've always wanted to see it."
"That's a long way off," Anna said.
"We talked about selling my mother's house in London and opening a hotel. Maybe the time is right."
"A hotel in Ireland?" Anna said with a chuckle.
"Why not? The world is our oyster and perhaps Ireland is our pearl," John replied.
"John, you do go on," Anna said with a smile. She spotted Mrs. Hughes waiting for her. "Duty calls. I'm looking forward to being home tonight. Just the two of us."
"Always," John replied with a smile.