Chapter Thirty Four
"Which train are we planning to catch today?" Dickie asked at breakfast.
"The one-forty: it's a fast train" Isobel looked up from her letters "Why?"
"I need to pop over to Cavenham. I could do it when we get back, but that just delays everything another week." Dickie took a last sip of tea "I should be back well before luncheon."
"Would you like me to come with you?" Isobel asked.
"No, no" Dickie smiled at the offer "It will be quite straightforward I think, although I might like to chat through things later. No, you finish the packing and have your morning coffee with Violet. I'll see you later" Dickie leant over to kiss her before heading into the hallway to look for Stokes.
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"Come!" Chief Inspector Whittaker answered the knock on his door.
"If you have a moment Sir, I just wanted to update you on the Greenall's case as you requested." Inspector Money stepped up to the desk.
"Ah, yes! Good!" Whittaker pointed to a chair "Take a seat. Where are we?"
"Well, the accountants are still working on some of the finer points, but it's clear that tens of thousands have gone. Lord Merton was true to his word in helping spread word of what had happened, and we've got useful information from a number of cheated investors, but that just helps us confirm what we already know." Money began "The search of Timothy Grey's flat turned up fake contracts and share certificates that have helped piece more of it together, so that was a stroke of luck. As was the letter we found in his possession."
"Ah yes, the letter. Have those leads turned up anything?" Whittaker asked.
"We've requested the Foreign Office ask the Brazilian Embassy to check up on properties in Minas Gerais, but we have no idea when they may get back to us. It's almost a moot point anyway, as we know Brazil won't extradite." Money informed him.
"No." Whittaker mused "Shame that."
"We've got a man in Mill Hill watching the PO Box address that was given, but so far no one has attempted to access it. We're going to keep on with that. It's my gut feeling that there's someone else involved in all this, and that PO Box pickup may lead us closer."
"Yeees." Whittaker shuffled through some papers on his desk "You will be interested in this. My mate got back to me about that description we gave him. Was much easier once I could give him the date and location that letter came from. Anyway, he thinks they were travelling under the name of Speke. Ring any bells? (Money shook his head) Clearly false documents, so he must have contacts somewhere. Do some digging will you?"
"Of course Sir" Money made some notes.
"What about charges?" Whittaker asked
"We can frame a fair few already, but without Grey we have no one to charge." Money shrugged "We've issued a warrant and circulated his details, but unless he comes back in to the country, that's as much as we can do. If it wasn't for this other party I think is involved, I'd say we give up on it."
"Follow up on the documents and keep going on the other leads for the time being." Whittaker nodded "If he does come back sometime, I want a full case ready to throw at him. But, we do have other cases to follow as well. What about that counterfeit operation you were running last week?"
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Dickie studied the report from the insurers. It didn't make for good reading. From what he could tell almost everything that was worth any decent money was gone. All sold legitimately, even if the insurers hadn't been informed of it at the time. Dickie sighed and placed the report on the desk.
He looked out of the window at the familiar view, and thought how strange it was that in just a few short years he had become so much happier somewhere else rather than here, the place he had lived nearly his whole life.
There was a knock at the door and Dickie called for the person to enter. Mr Stevens greeted him with a smile and a cheery hello. They exchanged pleasantries, but then Dickie got down to brass tacks.
"So, how bad is it?" He asked.
"Bad." Was Stevens reply. "The estate is effectively broke. Since you last visited, we've helped most of the house staff find jobs elsewhere and dramatically reduced the outgoings, but we're still operating at a loss. All the profit from last year's harvest is gone, so we will need investment in the spring to make next year in any way profitable. All-in-all, it's a mess."
Dickie sighed. "Right. Let's look at this dispassionately as we can. Is the estate saleable?"
"Yes, technically, but you wouldn't get anywhere near what its' worth and there would undoubtedly be ramifications for the tenants." Stevens informed him.
"So, if we don't sell what are our options?" Dickie asked.
"There are a number, but all of them would require investment." Stevens pulled some papers from his briefcase. "I did briefly consider letting the house and running the estate separately, but no-one really wants places like this these days. We wouldn't get a rent decent enough to help us. These are some of the other options I've considered. There may be others you have thought of?"
"I'll be honest Stevens, I've had other things on my mind." Dickie admitted as he started to leaf through the options "You've put a lot of work into this. I'm very grateful."
Stevens shrugged "It's my job! But more than that, it's not often someone in my position gets the chance to maybe do something like this with an estate."
"So, of all these options, which do you prefer?" Dickie asked. "Cards on the table, man to man."
"The farms, in the main, are profitable and well looked after. They will need investment to keep up with farming changes, but if we manage them carefully they can afford that themselves. We need to get the tenant farmers to work together and share machinery, and after many of them thought they may have lost their farms, I think they will be more amenable to working together to keep them." Stevens shuffled forward in his seat, getting into his stride "The house is the bit that would need the most work. When we were looking at possibly letting the place, people wanted the country experience, but didn't want to be saddled with the expense of a house they hardly saw. We could offer that. Maybe look at separating the house into a number of well-appointed apartments that can be hired for a period of time. Offer fine-dining, riding, shooting, fishing - including instruction for those who have never done them before. It would take work, but I think we could make a go of it."
"Have you discussed this with anyone else?" Dickie queried as he leafed through the proposals looking for the one closest to what Stevens was talking about.
"Not exactly" Stevens admitted "But I have given it a lot of thought. I think Mrs Pearce would be up to the job of managing the changes and making a go of it."
"Hmm, I can't see Hargreaves being on side" Dickie smirked.
"No, probably not. But in changing the way the house is utilised, I think we should look at staffing structures too. Hotels have managers that oversee everyone, not Butlers and Housekeepers. Designating roles by ability would mean we can reduce the staffing bill."
"Rather radical Mr Stevens. Have you been discussing this with my wife!" Dickie chuckled "I understand what you mean though. Let me have a look through these while I'm in London and we'll set up a meeting for early next week to decide."
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"He actually cornered you at home?! And waited until Dickie had gone out?!" Violet was incredulous "That boy is far more trouble than I ever could have imagined!"
"Really? I get the impression you're enjoying watching this drama unfold" Isobel commented "Anyway, Stokes made sure to keep an eye on him, but to my surprise he didn't cause any trouble. In fact, quite the opposite."
"Oh?" Violet tried not to sound as interested as she really was after Isobel's insinuation. "I suppose he came to admit his folly and beg forgiveness, did he?"
"Actually, he was quite heartfelt, I thought." Isobel admitted "We had a long chat - well, he did most of the talking - and apologised in full. He was trying to explain, to himself as well as me I think, why he was the way he was and how ashamed he felt."
"Don't say you've forgiven him" Violet was shocked, considering everything she'd heard in the last few weeks.
"I don't know." Isobel took a sip of her coffee "I think it was the most real version of Tim that I've seen. I certainly didn't make any promises."
"Will you see him in London this week?" Violet asked.
"There's nothing planned." Isobel admitted "I don't know what he expects. He hasn't apologised to Dickie yet, so he can't have thought we would see him."
"Hmm" Violet wasn't so sure.
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Nancy sat on the edge of her seat as the train began to move out of the station. She hadn't travelled by train very much, and never so far. It was exciting and scary at the same time. She wanted to remember everything, but as Downton slid out of view, she felt a pang of fear too.
"Don't worry, it'll still be there when we get back" Stokes said good-naturedly. "Sit back and enjoy the rest. We will be busy once we get to London."
Nancy tried to sit back, but still appeared tense.
"Have you been to London before?" Anna asked her in a friendly way.
She shook her head "No, never. Is it ever so big?"
"It is, but don't worry - we all stick together. There's so much to see and do in your time off." said Phyllis "Is there anything you'd really like to see?"
"Will we get much time off?" Nancy asked Stokes "I'd love to see Buckingham Palace" she looked like an excited child and Stokes smiled at her.
"I'm sure we'll get some time. Her ladyship is very generous and quite self-sufficient during the day. I think they have lots planned, so should be out quite a lot. There's some shopping I need to do for his lordship too, so you can join me for a trip to Burlington Arcade" Stokes said "We'll make sure to check the plans with her ladyship in the morning."
"I doubt we'll get so much time to ourselves" Anna mentioned "Lady Mary likes things 'just so' when she's in Town. You'd think we were coming for a month with all the luggage she's brought."
"I know what you mean. And no doubt there will be lots of shopping too" Phyllis agreed.
In another carriage, that was exactly what was being discussed.
"I desperately need new dresses for the winter. I wonder if there are any shows we can get to last minute" Mary mused.
"If not, I'm sure there will be plenty of choice at the fashion houses." Cora mentioned "I can't wait to see what the new styles are. I feel like I haven't been to London in an age!"
"We've arranged with Tim to see The Lodger on Wednesday evening, and I'm hoping we can get to see "It" as well. Everyone is raving about the little black dress that Clara Bow wears." Mary added.
"Have you anything to get back for?" Henry asked "We could always stay the weekend."
"Let's see how things go. I'd rather not be away from the children too long." Mary smiled at him.
"Tim's been in touch, has he?" Dickie asked, trying to sound uninterested.
"Yes, he telephoned on Thursday last week to make that arrangements" Henry answered. "He said he was looking forward to seeing us all. We're going for dinner beforehand at Simpson's. Will you be joining us?"
Dickie looked to Isobel briefly "Moving pictures are not really my thing, I'm afraid. We might join you for dinner though, depending on how the week is going" Isobel replied. "I don't quite know what Margaret and Hugh have planned yet."
"I know they're coming for dinner this evening" Cora chipped in "Rosamund said she had arranged it with them so we can all be together."
"That was kind of her" Dickie smiled "I think you'll like Hugh. He talks a lot of cricket." he added to Robert.
"Well, at least I will get some sensible conversation that's not about dresses!" Robert quipped.