The birds were singing when they pulled up to Mrs. Bucket's (or was it Bouquet?) house, it was surprising warm for this early in February and the neighbourhood seemed very quiet and respectable.
"Oh it's started" Sandra said nodding towards number 23, across the road where the net curtains began to twitch. "Seen as it has taken almost two and a half hours to get here, Gerry and Brian see if you can find anything out from the neighbours, see what they know about Hyacinth's father. And then we can see the other sisters later on. Jack and I will talk to Mrs. Bucket."
Gerry followed Brain to the house on the right of the Bucket's and rang the bell. A middle aged woman answered quickly and flashed them a pleasant smile, she anxiously peered over the wall to her neighbour's home before letting the gentlemen inside.
Sandra and Jack had to wait a little longer. When the door finally opened a brunette woman, a little older than the lady she lived next door to, stood facing the detectives. "Yes" she said shrilly.
"Mrs. Bucket?" Before Sandra could show the lady her warrant card the door violently swung back in their faces.
"Someone got out of bed the wrong side this morning" Jack said. Sandra nodded and poked the doorbell once more, already sick of the over the top, exaggerated chimes the doorbell provided.
"I knew it would be one of those areas from the moment the first curtain began to twitch" she said to Jack who laughed in agreement.
A weary looking man, whose stretched grey cardigan was buttoned up wrong, came to the door this time. "Umm, it's actually Bouquet" he said rather with a rather embarrassed tone of voice.
"Oh" Sandra said, edging closer towards the front door, inviting herself inside.
"Try again" Mr. 'Bouquet' said, smiling rather awkwardly before closing the door to.
"It's going to be one of those days, I can sense it" Jack said.
"You are not the only one" Sandra said ringing the bell once more.
The woman appeared again.
"Mrs. Bouquet?" Sandra asked flashing a false smile.
"Yes, I am" the woman said returning the smile, looking satisfied.
"Detective Superintendant Pullman, this is Jack Halford, we are from the Metropolitan's Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad. We are here to ask you some questions about your father."
The woman's eyes widened in horror, she frantically peered out of the door to make sure there were no passersby or that Mrs Barker-Finch from number 23 wasn't watching out of her window.
She quickly ushered the pair of them in taking Sandra's ID badge from her and inspecting thoroughly against the light, she withdrew a dust cloth from her pocket and began vigorously polishing it before handing it back to her. Sandra and Jack stared at each other, bemused.
"Now what has daddy done this time? I hope you aren't keeping that noble old man prisoner" she cried overdramatically.
"Hyacinth calm down, they are from London they said they worked on unsolved crimes" the man replied placing an assuring hand on his wife's shoulder. "Would either of you like a cup of tea? Coffee?"
"Coffee please" they both replied. The man smiled helpfully; clearly he was used to all this commotion.
"Not out of my Royal Doulton with the hand painted periwinkles, Richard that is for invited guests only."
"Yes dear" the man sighed.
"Well I suppose you better go through" she said unenthusiastically "but before you do please wipe your shoes before you take them off, I have only just polished my herringbone woodblock and do remember not to brush up against my walls, I can't abide strangers brushing up against my walls."
Sandra and Jack reluctantly obeyed and went through to the grand lounge being very careful praying they didn't touch a thing.
"Now what is the purpose of your visit?" Hyacinth demanded.
"Well, we are looking into what was believed to be an attempted armed robbery at a London bank ten years ago Mrs. Buck- Bouquet" Sandra said quickly remembering it was not Bucket judging by the appalling face being pulled by Hyacinth as she spoke.
"Well what has this got to do with my daddy?" She asked in rather a worried tone.
"Well you see the culprit is believed to have been in his late sixties, possibly early seventies, we are unsure as he wore a balaclava and an oversized trilby, he claimed he was defending the bank to the last man as it was to be taken by German paratroopers, the man thought the bank manager was a spy and traitor so he tied him up. The reason why were are here is because we understand your father has been involved in similar incidents like this for a number of years-"
"He has not!" She cried interrupting Sandra "Daddy may be a little strange and a touch senile but he is not a bank robber, I will not have you insinuating that my daddy robs banks."
"We aren't insinuating anything Mrs. Bouquet we just would like to know if your father visited London around ten years ago, you see the culprit had a toy rifle and a bayonet and according to police reports it sounds very similar to an incident involving your father not too far from here, a few weeks ago." Sandra explained.
"Well I-I don't know he lives with my sister Daisy, she likes to pretend she is poor due to the startling rise in burglaries these days you will have to ask her. I don't see daddy all that much as when he comes here he slops his cocoa and breaks Sheridan's toys, he's my son you know, he's doing ever so well at university." She said thrusting a photo of an angelic looking boy in Sandra's lap.
"Very nice" she said without any feeling.
"Do you know anyone who may have accompanied your father to London, we are trying to trace down a man wearing an unwashed vest, faded blue ripped jeans, he was wearing battered trainers and a baseball cap with the letters FH on, he also had tattoos on his upper and lower arms and didn't look like he had used a razor that week." Jack tired.
Hyacinth looked startled at this description. "No I do not know anyone of the sort" she said sounding offended.
Her panic was cut short by the ringing of the telephone.
"Hyacinth, it's your sister Daisy on the telephone" Richard said as he came into the room.
"Thank you Richard, do get these people their coffee, they have a long drive back to London and I expect they want to be getting back soon.
"Daisy dear, what is it?" she asked picking up her white slim line telephone with automatic last number redial facility.
"Do I know where Rose is? Of course I don't know where Rose is. She's missing? Daisy, Rose is a grown woman she has being coming and going from gentlemen's houses for as long as I can remember, but why are you worried about her this time? She's gone to London? But why should she want to have gone there? Oh I see, to attend to some unfinished business with an old boyfriend. Look Daisy dear, I wouldn't worry; Rose is more than capable of looking after herself. Right now we have more pressing matters than worrying about where Rose is to deal with. The Metropolitan Police are here they have been asking questions about daddy, yes daddy, they think he was responsible for defending a bank from German paratroopers equipped with a rifle and a bayonet ten years ago. Yes, well look Daisy; I will ring you later dear, yes. Give my love to daddy, how is he this morning? Oh he's gone out; well make sure that he comes back wont you dear, I think I would die if anything happened to that brave old man. Goodbyeeeee."
"Rose, Daisy and Hyacinth now that is too much of a coincidence" Sandra said to Jack referring to Mrs. 'Bouquet's' rather loud conversation with her sister as she pieced it together with what Gerry had told her in the car, about 'his' Rose.
"And this Rose has gone to London to look up an ex" Jack commented.
"So Gerry's latest fancy woman could be the daughter of the prime suspect, Oh Gerry, you sure know how to pick them" Sandra smiled to herself.
"Do you think we ought to tell him?"
"Nah I wouldn't, not yet, not until we are sure it's the same Rose" she replied wickedly.
"Well if it all goes tits up you are taking the wrap."
"With pleasure, she's no good for him anyway."
"And how would you know, this is the chirpiest I have seen Gerry for a while" Jack reasoned.
"I know that's why she's no good for him; he gets on my nerves when he is in one of his unbearable 'life is a cabaret' moods. Anyway Jack it won't last she's got to come back here hasn't she to the sister from hell." Jack laughed at her actuate comment about Hyacinth 'Bouquet'.
"I hope Gerry and Brian are doing better than us." He replied as Richard came in carrying the coffee tray.
"Here you are, sorry about all this."
"Not to worry, listen we are a bit pushed for time I don't suppose you could give us the address of where your father-in-law lives could you?" Sandra asked adding milk to her freshly grounded premium coffee.
"Of course, but if anyone should ask you didn't get it from me." He said tapping the end of his nose.
"Right" said Jack burning his tongue on his hot coffee.
"I am so sorry about that, sister talk, my sister does like to ring me and keep me up to date with what is going on with the family bless her, I am sorry I can't be anymore help, please make sure when you leave if anyone asks don't tell them who you really are, I do so hate being the centre of attention round here." The woman said not all that convincingly.
"Right, well your husband is just giving us some directions so we will be out of your hair momentarily" Jack responded.
"Oh good, Richard is ever so helpful bless his heart, I won't see you out, do remember not to brush up against my walls as you leave, goodbye." She called as they swiftly abandoned their coffee, desperate to get out of this mad house.
"Thanks for the coffee we will be in touch" Sandra said to Richard as they left."
"Well I have never had a visit like that one before."
"I don't think anyone has Jack, and to think we may have to come back" Sandra shuddered.