Chapter Forty Seven
"I don't know how you manage it" Violet sagged back in her chair.
"What do you mean?" Isobel took a sip of her coffee.
"You make me exhausted just trying to keep up with everything going on in your life these days" Violet grumbled "Every time you come here there's more intrigue afoot!"
"I think that's going a bit far!" Isobel objected.
"Do you?! I don't" Violet sat up and reached for her cup "If it isn't the mercurial character of your stepson it's women's politics, or financial ruin and it's effects" She took a sip "And now you're hosting your combatant potential in-laws for the weekend" She shook her head.
"Marjorie assured me it's all some sort of misunderstanding..." Isobel didn't look entirely convinced herself. Violet huffed.
"Well I think you're mad!" Violet stated "It would be one thing to host such a weekend at the Abbey where you can separate the parties if necessary, but the idea of having you all under the same roof at Crawley House seems a recipe for disaster, if you ask me."
"I think it will create a family atmosphere to plan the wedding" Isobel replied. "Besides, the children will only be up for two nights as they have work on Monday morning. I'm sure we can all remain civil for that long." She refused to look at Violet as she took another sip of her coffee.
"Tell me" Violet wondered "Will you be dining at the Abbey during the weekend at all?"
Isobel narrowed her eyes as she regarded her friend "There are no plans at present." She sighed "But I'm sure Cora will keep you informed if that changes."
"I'll only be there for moral support my dear!" Violet tried to look innocent. Isobel was not fooled for one moment.
-TW- -TW- -TW-
Miles made sure he looked ragged and tired as he arrived in work on Wednesday morning. He knew he wasn't the best actor in the world, and he just hoped the long hours he'd spent in the archive added to the allusion.
"Crikey mate! You look dreadful" Constable Jones commented.
"Thanks" Miles nodded "You know how to cheer a chap up, don't you"
"You look like you're headed to your own execution" Jones grinned.
"Don't look so pleased about it!" Miles huffed "I have another interview with the Chief this morning" He let his shoulders sag.
"Can I have your desk?" Jones asked.
"What?" Miles looked puzzled.
"You know, when you get shuffled out to regular duties: can I have your desk?" Jones repeated, with a grin on his face.
"You already have a desk! Why do you want mine?" Miles was not impressed.
"It's nearer the window, so has better light, and it has a clear view of the corridor to warn of impending doom" Jones tapped the side of his nose and gave a knowing look.
Miles sighed "Fill your boots. Well, I'd better go and face the music."
-TW- -TW- -TW-
"Grandpa!" George shouted happily as Dickie entered the nursery.
"Hello George" Dickie smiled and ruffled the boy's hair. "Are you still busy with your lessons?"
"We went for a walk with Donk this morning" Sybbie reported "And now we have to draw pictures of things we saw and did"
"Shall I join you?" Dickie asked "I'm sure I can help mix colours or something equally helpful?"
"I'm trying to draw a fish we saw in the lake" George's brow furrowed in concentration "But it doesn't look right."
"Do you know what kind of fish it was?" Dickie asked.
"A big brown one" George said seriously. Dickie tried not to laugh. Then followed a lesson about the different characteristics of fish, and the importance of taking note of features of things so they can be identified later. When Isobel arrived, the children were still so engrossed she was barely acknowledged.
"What are you all talking about that is so interesting?" Isobel asked the children as she joined them at the table.
"Grandpa has been talking about all these amazing things to notice about different animals and plants!" George said excitedly.
"Did you know there are different types of camels?" Sybbie added "They're not all the same! The number of humps can be different!" Isobel smiled at the amazement in the girl's face. Just then Nanny arrived with John.
"Come ma wee ones, it's time for tea!" She started to round up her charges.
"Oooww" George whined "I want to talk more about the different types of colourful birds!"
"We can talk about them here" Dickie said "Or I can show you the books in the library that record all the different types so that you can explore them for yourselves. I'm sure Donk will enjoy showing you some of the books in his library you might be most interested in."
"Let's go!" Sybbie eagerly led the way downstairs.
-TW- -TW- -TW-
"So, I looked at over twenty unsolved cases from the last ten years or so" Miles began "And at least twelve of them are clearly linked and probably at least another four"
"Twelve!" Money was shocked "How did we not notice before?"
"More importantly, how do you know they are linked?" Whittaker asked "Can we prove it?"
"I don't think a barrister would have any trouble proving it in court" Miles confirmed "There's such a clear operating pattern once you know what to look at. Over time the process has become more professional as experience has allowed them to smarten up their operation, but there are still clear hallmarks."
"What about a name?" Whittaker pressed.
"Ah" Miles shook his head "That's part of the puzzle. It seems there is always a go-between. There are no names, plenty of insinuation and, later on, usually threats of various types. But this guy is canny. The only person who ends up getting caught is the operator."
"So, we know they're linked, but we're still no closer?" Money slumped in his chair.
"From the interviews already taken, I have a good description of at least two of the guys who act as go-betweens." Miles added "We might be able to spot these guys, but I think they're probably pretty good at hiding themselves as necessary. They're probably laying low at the moment, though."
"What makes you say that?" Money asked.
"If these cases are all linked, then there's a pattern in when they occur as well. This could be because we're too active after a scheme is discovered, so they lie low to avoid detection. Or it could be that it takes time to set up the next target." Miles continued "But another interesting point is that the time between schemes has been getting shorter. Now that could be that they're getting over confident, or it could be that they need the cash"
"Is there any link to the time of year, even?" Money asked.
Miles shook his head "But if the pattern holds, he should be looking to start another scheme any time around now. I would probably say he's looking to target one of the middling banks or a business which is successful but only five to ten years old. We don't know how much he made from the last job, or how much Grey stole from him."
Whittaker nodded "This gets easier and more difficult by degrees." He mused "If we circulate the description and there is a mole, we'll warn them off before they even start." He tapped his chin in thought "What about potential targets?"
"The names we have of those often involved is a good starting point, but some of them will be quite dry by now so I think it's unlikely they'll be targeted again so soon" Miles commented.
"We need someone we can use as bait" Money added "Someone with enough to invest and who the establishment might think is a bit of a soft touch. Someone we can trust to help lead us to the sting."
"Yes" Whittaker nodded "I might have a candidate for that. In the meantime, keep your eyes and ears open." He nodded to them both "Thank you Miles, you've been a great help"
After Miles had left, Whittaker turned to Money "If you can, see if you can get your snout to keep his eyes and ears out for these chaps Miles has described too. If he gets a whiff of anything, I want to know"
"What about the bait?" Money asked.
"I think I know someone who may be an option, but I'll need to give it some thought before I approach him" Whittaker rubbed his forehead "I don't want to go off half-cock with this one. I want to catch this blighter!"
-TW- -TW- -TW-
"Look how pretty the birds are Granny!" Sybbie was entranced by the colourful pictures in the book.
"They are Darling" Cora smiled "I remember seeing birds like these in the zoo."
"What's a zoo?" George asked
"It's a place where there are collections of birds and animals so that you can go to have a look at them, rather than having to travel around the world" Donk explained "Maybe later in the year, if you're very good, we can all go to London and see some of the animals they keep there?"
"Can we!" George's eyes lit up.
"Maybe, if your Mummy agrees and you're very good." Donk said seriously.
Dickie smiled from where he sat next to Isobel "I love seeing them so interested and enthusiastic."
"Yes, and hopefully this will help get George more interested in learning to read." Isobel agreed. "And what about you little man? Hmm?" She lowered John onto the floor to sit and play with his blocks. As Dickie leant forward to help him build a tower so he could knock it down, John reached forward for something out of his reach. Isobel put her hand on Dickie's leg and held her breath. As they watched, John transferred his weight to his hands and knees. He was so close to crawling, but then got the momentum wrong and landed face first in the carpet. As Isobel lifted the shocked little boy and calmed his crying with a few well placed kisses, she looked across to Dickie who had the most beautiful smile on his face. He'd just watched his grandson almost crawl and it felt amazing.