Updated 11 Feb 22: Thank you to eyeon for pointing out the mistake in the last paragraph.
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Chapter Twenty-Three
"Mr Norman Price?" Sergeant Bailey asked.
"No, tha' would be m' lad. 'e's out back" The gentlemen turned and shouted "Norman! Visitors." before walking back into the house.
A younger man in a collarless shirt and waistcoat came to the door. "'Ello?"
"Mr Norman Price?" Sergeant Bailey repeated.
"Yes." Norman looked warily at the two gentleman wearing workaday suits.
"My name is Sergeant Bailey and this is Inspector Money" They both flashed their warrant cards "We'd like a word, if you have the time?"
"Yeah, of course." Norman looked nonplussed.
"Somewhere private?" Sergeant Bailey suggested.
"Um, would my bedroom be alright?" He asked a little sheepishly "There's not much space anywhere else"
"That'll be fine" Inspector Money said, and the two followed Norman up the tight stairs into a pokey bedroom above the front room.
"Sorry, but it's better that my Da doesn't interfere wi' whatever you want to ask about, and my Ma is busy in th' kitchen" Norman said as he offered the men a seat on his bed. He took the chair opposite "Wha's this about?"
"Can you confirm for me that you work at the Steel works out east?" Sergeant Bailey asked.
"Yeah, I do. Been there since I wa' sixteen. I was apprenticed as a bookkeeper after two years in the docks with my Da. Much prefer the office work" Norman grinned "An' it pays better"
"I'm sure" Sergeant Bailey smiled to reassure the young man "And can you tell me, have you ever met a man called Larry Grey?"
"Yeah, we met - ooh - mus' be about two year ago? By chance on a train on my way home from work one day" Norman confirmed "Is he alright?"
"Did you strike up a friendship then?" Sergeant Bailey asked
"We got chattin' about something or other an' he invited me for a pint. Turned out we both liked dominoes, so we played a couple a hands. Then we got challenged to a game of 5s-and-3s, so we played a few ends of that. We've played in a Monday night league pretty much ever since." Norman was starting to look concerned.
"I see. You must know Mr Grey quite well then." Sergeant Bailey stated "What can you tell us about him?"
"Look, wha's this about? I'm not goin' a tell tales on him" Norman crossed his arms and sat back.
"Truth is that Mr Grey is missing and we're trying to find him" chimed in Inspector Money "Anything you can tell us will help with that."
"Missin'? 'E hasn't been about for our matches recently, but I di'n't think too much of it. Sometimes 'e 'ad to travel for his work." Normal noted.
"And what was his work exactly?" Sergeant Bailey prompted.
" 'E was a clerk at a bank in the City. I forget which one. 'E didn't like it much, said it were tedious. 'E said 'e had to stay at it because 'e had 'is family to support since 'is old man wouldn't work and 'e didn't want to see 'is Ma starve." Norman pondered for a moment " 'E used to run errands for one of the managers every now and then, which is why 'e was at the Steel works that day, and sometimes 'e would get to travel abroad. 'E said that was always worth it because 'e'd get a bit extra for doing that."
"Did he talk much about what he did at the Bank or where he went when he went abroad?" Sergeant Bailey probed.
"Just recording transa'tions and stuff, I think 'e said. We never really talked about it much. 'E said 'e's always wanted to work in a business, so we talked about the stuff in the office at the steel works. 'E seemed pretty int'rested, when no one else seemed to care what I do." Norman looked at his hands "I enjoyed chatting to 'im about it. 'E could make the deals seem more int'resting and it's really 'elped me get on. My boss likes that I show an int'rest."
"Did he ever ask you about big orders coming up, or negotiations that the company were involved in?" Inspector Money asked.
"Not really, I don't think. Not specially. We might 'ave discussed them, just in the normal way, ya know. We did 'ave such interesting chats." Norman looked a little puzzled "Why does that matter?"
"Oh, nothing for you to worry about" said Sergeant Bailey "Did he ever mention any places he would like to travel to? You know, for the bank? Or on his holidays?"
" 'E said 'is boss once went skiing and 'e'd like to try that. I thought 'e was mad!" Norman chuckled "I said if I ever go' to go on holiday, I'd like to go somewhere 'ot and by the sea" he smiled "I'd like to visit America maybe. Anywhere as long as they speak English"
"What did Mr Grey say to that? Did he speak any languages?" Sergeant Bailey asked.
"I don't think 'e did, tho' 'e did know how to ask for those posh spirits behind the bar. 'Ad me try that 'crom de month' stuff once. Disgusting!" Norman pulled a face "Larry just laughed at me and said I should live a little."
"If he was working to support his family, how did he afford the fancy spirits?" Inspector Money asked.
Norman paused "I dunno. Maybe it was the extras 'e got from 'is boss that 'e spent on 'imself" Norman shrugged.
"And what about his clothes? Was he always dressed well?" Inspector Money asked.
"Oh yeah, 'e was a proper dandy! Always well turned out. I said about it once and 'e laughed. Said 'is boss expected 'im to dress like that." Norman chuckled "If my Da had ever seen 'im 'e'd have thought 'is boss was payin' 'im for favours, if you know what I mean" he winked.
Inspector Money smiled half-heartedly "Did he ever share any of his 'extras' with you? Give you any cash? Anything like that?"
"Nah, we wasn't like that!" Norman scoffed " 'E may 'av' bought more rounds than me, but if 'e wants to spend 'is money that's 'is look out."
"And when was the last time you saw him?" asked Sergeant Bailey.
"Let me see" Norman leaned over and pulled a notebook out of his bedside table. He leafed through a few pages "Umm, beginnin' of August we was at a tournament at the Dog 'n' Duck. I 'ad a 'alf day as it was the Bank 'oliday. Then we played in the league a coupl'a weeks later… yeah, tha' would be the last time."
"Well, thank you for being so open and honest with us" Inspector Money said "We might need you to come down the station sometime to sign a statement, but there's nothing to worry about" He smiled "If you think of anything else, just give us a call." He handed a card to Norman.
"You'd let me know if 'e's in any trouble, won't ya?" Norman queried.
"We think he might be mixed up in something, which is why it's important if you let us know if you think of anything else, or if you hear from him" Sergeant Bailey said kindly. "But in the meantime, we'll let you get on."
As they walked down the street Inspector Money said quietly "Well, that's one way to get your inside information, but it's a lot of time and effort. He can't have been doing it for all his tricks or he wouldn't have a minute of the day to himself."
"No" agreed Sergeant Bailey "And I don't think that lad is involved either. Far too green, either to know or to hide it if Grey was paying him. My gut feeling is he's just been taken in."
"Yes, just happened to be in the right place at the right time for Grey to use the information he had." Inspector Money consulted his notebook "Who shall we try next?"
-TW- -TW- -TW-
Isobel watched the countryside gradually change as the train carried her relentlessly North. She'd enjoyed catching up with old friends and the vibrancy of the City, but as usual she was happy to be returning to the quiet of the countryside. Or she would be if there wasn't a certain house guest waiting for her.
Isobel sighed. She had only ever met Tim a few times and, to be fair to him, he had never been the one to start any difficulty. Well, except for the other night. But he'd never been neutral either, always siding with Larry and his dead Mother. She thought back to the incident at the Ritz: he was clearly drunk and had just been dumped mid-dinner by Julia, but still. Dickie clearly thought he needed help, but how much of that was Dickie just wishing that Tim needed him, rather than a real crisis in Tim's life?
Isobel sighed again. She owed it to Dickie to try and give Tim the benefit of the doubt in the next few days, but she still had reservations. There was so much potential for this to go wrong. She wouldn't hide any of Tim's bad behaviour from Dickie, but she dearly wished there wouldn't come a point where he had to choose between them. She was afraid that she would come off badly, whichever decision Dickie made. All she could do is hope they could all get along amicably.
With another sigh, Isobel opened her book.
-TW- -TW- -TW-
"Welcome home m'lady" Stokes smiled as he met Isobel in the hallway to help her with her coat.
"Hello Stokes, it's good to be home." Isobel smiled at the friendly face "I trust the gentlemen got home alright?"
"Yes m'lady, and everything was ready for them as you requested." Stokes took her hat "Mrs Field was able to procure a joint of pork for this evening and the Abbey have been made aware you will not be dining tonight."
"Thank you. I'd better call Cousin Cora, but first I could do with a cup of tea please" Stokes nodded as Isobel took a deep breath and headed to the drawing room.
As she stepped into the room, Tim rose. She looked around: Dickie wasn't there.
"Hello Lady Merton." Tim began "Welcome home."
"Mr Grey" Isobel followed his cue "I trust you found your room comfortable? Mr Stokes informs me everything was ready for your arrival."
"Yes, it's a lovely room, thank you." Tim paused "And thank you for having me at all. I know I don't deserve your kindness after the way I've behaved in the past. I'm sorry for all the upset."
Isobel appraised the man in front of her and said a little acerbically "You'll forgive me, Mr Grey, if I am reluctant to forgive you so readily. You have your brother to thank for that, when he professed the same sentiment purely to get what he wanted. I am prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt for the time being, but the proof, as they say, is in the pudding."
Tim had winced when she referred to Larry. "I understand. I would like it if you would call me Tim." he said quietly.
Isobel nodded "As we're all adults, I think calling me Isobel would be appropriate, don't you?"
"Yes, thank you" Tim acknowledged as the tea tray arrived.
Isobel moved to sit. "Your room was Matthew's when he lived here. It gets the morning light: he was very much a morning person and liked the brightness of the morning. But there are heavy drapes in there if you prefer a more gentle start to the day."
Tim smiled "I prefer to feel like I'm in the country when I'm here, and somehow bright mornings help."
"Ah! Darling! You're home!" Dickie crossed the room and gave her a kiss in greeting. Isobel felt a little self-conscious with Tim in the room, but Dickie didn't seem to notice. "I was just fetching this for Tim." He passed a book across then sat down to drink his tea. "How was your day?"
"The coffee morning was very interesting. Some lovely young women there and I spoke to one of the administrators about a sponsorship program they are hoping to start to help girls from disadvantaged backgrounds train too. Barbara said she would keep me updated." Isobel sipped her tea.
"And where did you go for lunch?" Dickie asked
"We had an excellent bowl of soup and sandwiches at the Red Lion off Parliament Square, although I must admit I'm feeling quite hungry now. It will be roast pork for dinner: I hope you both approve?" She looked between father and son.
Dickie chuckled "Do you think there will be crackling?"
"I'm not sure. Stokes didn't say what cut the meat was. Why?" Isobel looked at him quizzically.
"When Tim was younger we had roast pork and crackling - which he loved - but as he bit in to a particularly hard piece of crackling his tooth came out! Do you remember Tim?" Dickie was smiling widely, Tim nodded "Tim declared he would never eat crackling again!"
"Rather a knee-jerk reaction at the time I think." Tim shook his head "I seem to remember that after I'd earned a shilling for said tooth, I asked for pork crackling again as it seemed quite the money maker" He looked a little wistful.
"Well, I must ring Cora to let her know we're home, and then if you don't mind, I'm going to go and have a rest before dinner. It's been quite a busy couple of days" Isobel rose. "I'll see you both later."