Chapter Five – Home Base

"Gina," Jo said happily as she walked into the deserted pub, after all, it was before opening time.

The barmaid looked over her shoulder as she was facing the kitchen doors with a swab in hand. "Hey there, Jo," Gina replied. "What brings you over?"

"I have the day off and I figured we could go for a small shopping trip, you, me and Katie," she said.

"You know, check out the latest…," she trailed off with a smug look on her face.

"I would have loved to, it was such a long time ago," Gina said longingly. "But I just had a call from Lord Ashfordly and he would like for me to run a beer tent at the estate."

"At the foxhunt?" Jo asked skeptically. "I thought only high people where invited. Besides, on those hunts you usually have punch."

Gina chuckled. "Yeah, but this year's for the public too and for the land owners on which the hunt takes place on. "Old Jeremiah Hanley usually gives Lord Ashfordly a bit of trouble. May be he's trying a different approach." she added.

"Blaketon used to say it's all in the name," Phil hollered as he caught on to the conversation, coming through the door.

"Well then," Jo said, slightly disappointed. "Is there anything I could do to help out?"

"You might regret having uttered those words," the barmaid returned. "I tell you what, why don't you help out with the orders. Katie can come along too, I have some things for her upstairs to play with."

Jo nodded and then turned to Nick's colleague. "What brings you around Phil?" she asked curiously.

"Crime prevention," he let on. "You know, knocking on doors, trying to find out something new about the antiques gang."

"Sorry, Phil, I haven't heard or seen anything," Gina said.

"I was afraid of that," he returned wearily. "Well, then I guess I see you later. I'm off to Pickering," he added as he turned around with a half-smirk on his face and walked through the door.

Jo found it hard to keep a straight face as she turned to face her friend.

"What?" Gina demanded, not too amused.

"Can't you see he's sweet on you," she asked smugly.

"Of course I can, but some women like to play hard to get," she returned with a twinkle in her eyes.

OOOOOO

Nick looked at the file in front of him, on his desk, and slumped back in his chair with a deep sigh. The criminal in the photograph had a wicked quirk on his lips and it seemed like he stared at him through the paper.

DI Shiner had managed to get his hands on the file through the CID archives and it had been sent up to Ashfordly as soon as possible. The man on the picture was actually deceased but the resemblance to the man who had been in their custody until one hour ago was striking. Nick straightened and turned to look at the name displayed beneath the picture one more time before closing the file.

"Denny Jones," he mumbled gloomily.

There was a knock on the door and the minute later Alf Ventress walked through with a cup of tea in his hand. "Hello, Sarge, I thought I bring you a cup of tea," he said kindly.

"Thanks Alf," Nick said softly, knowing Alf was interested in what the CID had brought over.

"So," the old copper began and nodded toward the file on the sergeant's desk, "is there anything interesting?" he asked casually albeit curiously.

A quirk crept over Nick's lips as he handed over the material to his former equal. "It seems our Ted Jones has an older brother…," he made a face and corrected himself, "…had an older brother, who had a bit of trouble with the law."

"Well, well," Alf returned as he too studied the photograph. "Seems you did the right thing to have Mike shadowing him for a while."

"I can only hope he's as bright as he let's on and leads us to the hornets' nest," Nick said.

OOOOOO

Claude Greengrass beamed happily as he got out of the grocery store with a bundle of pounds in hand. He nodded at Alfred who waited patiently by a pollard just outside. "Come you naughty dog," he said jovially. "Let's get home."

One of the Aidensfield districts goat farmers walked past him, on his way to the post office and cast a jealous glare at the old crook.

Greengrass waved his hand, knowing full well it would infuriate the man, and made sure the money was visible as he gently tugged at Alfred's leach with the other hand and began to whistle, making his way toward the lorry.

Albert Alsop walked into the post office with his back first with a glare in the direction of Greengrass, his hands turning into fists.

Oscar Blaketon frowned as he walked behind the counter. "Good afternoon, Albert," he greeted. "Is there something I could do for you?"

The farmer turned to face the former police sergeant, his jaw set and his eyes dark. "You could start by wiping that smug of off Greengrass' face," he replied.

"As long as he hasn't done anything illegal…" Blaketon began.

"Oh, he has done something illegal, I'm sure of it," Albert cut him off. "For starters he got those goats at a too convenient prize back at the auction. I was there, tried to buy them."

"I hate to say it but unless you can prove anything, there's nothing that can be done," Oscar returned in a friendly manner, trying to get the other man to calm down a bit.

The goat farmer sighed. "I guess you're right, he just gets on my nerves every now and then," he let on.

Blaketon looked down at the paper in his hand. "Stamps?" he asked.

"What?" Albert asked and then followed Oscar's gaze. "Yes, of course."

"You know, I could have a look into it if you'd like," the former sergeant offered. "See what I can come up with."

OOOOOO

Bradley eased off the throttle, careful not to be spotted as he drove his motorbike down the dwindling roads outside Ashfordly, following their previous prisoner. After what seemed like an eternity the man pulled up in front of an old office complex at the center of the larger village called Pickering.

Mike carefully drove around the corner, killed the engine and got off, reaching for the radio.

"Delta-Alpha-two-four to control," he said.

There was a crackle and then Nick's voice came on the line. "Delta-Alpha-two-four this is control receiving."

"Sarge, Jones just pulled up outside an old office complex down in Pickering. The same address that Charlie Chadwick's office is supposed to reside in," he explained.

"Understood, I'll have Phil rendezvous with you, he's down there now, at the police station," Nick said. "And, Mike, you don't go in before he arrives, is that clear?" he added.

"Yes, Sarge," he promised.

OOOOOO

"Oh, I'm totally bushed," Gina complained lightly as she stretched to work out the kinks in her back.

Jo glanced over her shoulder from where she sat at a table, near the fireplace at the pub, and smiled in amusement.

"At least I think we have everything ordered for the upcoming foxhunt by now," the barmaid added happily.

"I have to admit," Jo began, "I didn't think it would be this much work."

"I understand Uncle George was pretty busy placing orders, making sure everything was cared for and paid for and that the customers were happy with the service," Gina let on as she walked over to sit down next to Jo, casting a glance to the teacher's right to see little Katie silently playing with one of her dolls.

"She's so easy, she hasn't been complaining at all while we have been sitting here, almost completely ignoring her," Gina said, impressed with the young girl. "My niece is anything but this calm and happy."

"I think it's time we better start thinking about going home," Jo said softly following Gina's gaze to look at Katie. "By the way, you better get ready for the thirsty horde that's going to burst in here any minute, considering it's almost after work hours," she added with a twinkle in her eyes.

Gina rolled her eyes. "The same old thing you know, someone trying to buy me a drink, flirting with me and another refusing to pay, the latest gossip…" she trailed off.

Jo chuckled. "Why don't you go out more with Phil?" she asked.

The barmaid sighed. "He's a nice bloke but…I don't know Jo, I don't really think he's my type and by the way I'm a licensee and he's a copper. It just wouldn't work."

"You don't know until you've tried. I never imagined being a sergeant's wife and my mother definitely didn't," Jo reasoned. "Keep in mind that he was a widower and the father of a little child," she added.

"Come on Jo," Gina began with a smart look on her face. "It's Nick we are talking about here. He's got the looks, the charm and pretty much everything. You should see how many of the female visitors around here turn their head when he's around," she teased.

"I really hadn't thought about it that way, maybe I shouldn't let him go to the pub alone," Jo replied with a smile.

The door opened and the district nurse walked in. She spotted the two of them sitting comfortably next to the fire with Katie not too far away and walked over to them.

"Well, what's going on here? Are you sitting around gossiping?" she asked with a cunning smile.

The corner of Gina's lips quirked upwards. "Guilty as charged," she let on.

"Then I wish I had come sooner," Maggie said as she sat down next to them.

"I don't think you've missed much," Jo explained and glanced at Gina and then turned back to Maggie. "We were just discussing the men in our lives."

Maggie made a surprised face with a twinkle in her eyes. "I didn't know Gina had something going," she said curiously.

"I don't," the barmaid protested.

"She's sweet on Phil," Jo teased, clearly enjoying the moment.

"I'm not," Gina returned slightly annoyed. "Well, maybe a little."

"And he's sweet on you," Jo continued.

"I think we better help them in the right direction," Maggie said cunningly.

Gina cast them an indignant look as she got up to head behind the counter.

Jo and Maggie burst out in a restrained laughter.

"Well, then we better get going," Jo said sobering up. "Katie needs something to eat and I need to do the dishes before Nick gets back home."

Maggie glanced at the clock hanging behind the bar. "Yeah, I better finish up my rounds for today. I'm off to see old Mrs. Wilkinson," she explained as she got up from the chair.

"I forgot to ask; how's it coming with Doctor Bolton?" Jo asked as she gently lifted Katie and the doll.

Maggie sighed. ""Don't ask," she said unenthusiastically. "At least now I'm going to someone who actually shows that I'm appreciated company."

OOOOOO

To be continued

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