Chapter 12

Eddie said, “I saw that lady smile at you. You got some hidden charm I don’t know about?” They were walking down the street heading back into town.

“Nope. I just looked her in the eyes, kind of cowboy style. You know the way they look at the other fella. Fix their stare and it says all the words that need to be said.”

“Except this was a lady.”

“That’s it. I gave her the old Mike cowboy stare I reserve for the good looking ladies. You want me to teach it to you?”

“Nope, I don't need charm lessons. I’ve a built-in charm machine. I just fire it up and away I go.”

“Is that located in the same bullshit talking part of your brain? The bit you leave running most of the time.”

“Ha ha very funny….So boss, what's the plan?”

“You’ve got the room number?”

“Yup 210. Second floor room 10.”

“So we’ll head round the block, give them time to forget us then get back here and up to her room. See what happens.”

Walking down to the beginning of town where the posh houses started, Eddie said, “Look at that place there. That looks like a proper old fashioned villa….From your Georgian era, eh?” 

Mike said, “Yeah a big old Georgian drum alright. The steps up the front with the ground floor up a bit over the lower section that’s below ground a bit. The servants quarters were down there. With the steps going up like that it looks a bit like Appomattox Court House except the steps there went right up to the first floor.”

“So what’s that then history man? That Appomattox thing.”

“Probably one of the most important places in America but no one knows of it. Everyone’s heard of the White House or the Alamo but not Appomattox Court House.”

“So why’s it so important?”

“It’s where Lee surrendered to Grant. One of those fundamental events in history but the place is forgotten.”

“Very interesting. What're we doing for lunch?”

“And that is why the place is forgotten. Lunch today happens if it happens. Besides, you'll get fat; sugar and no gym workouts….Let’s get back to the hotel.”

Eddie said, “We’ll try and avoid the doorman eh? With luck he’ll have gone off to find a door to open.”

As they walked back up the driveway they saw Henry hauling luggage out of a big blue Mercedes sticking a couple of small ones under his arms and grabbing two heavy looking big ones that made him stumble through the door.

“Look at that guy,” Eddie said, “He’s a big boy but not fit. He’s sweating already.”

“He’ll make it to the check in alright,” said Mike.

“Yeah then have a rest then change his shirt then have a heart attack.”

 Slowing down a bit they watched Henry disappear inside then stepped up the pace and quickly through the doors. Saw Henry slump at the desk, stand up straight and arch his back while talking to Paul the check in fella. They took the stairs to the second floor, doubling the steps. Double timing up the two flights. Through the fire door and saw the maid in the corridor next to her trolley with arms full of white towels. She was down a bit from room ten facing away from them. A white apron covering a light blue tunic. Fifty something with her perm dropping out. Singing under her breath some sort of country and western song.  

Mike looked at Eddie and nodded. He grabbed the door handle and kicked the bottom of the door so it sounded like it had just slammed shut then started to twiddle the handle a bit.

“What’s the problem,” Eddie said quite loudly. The maid looked round. Her creased face creased some more in a sort of questioning scowl.

“Left the bloody key card inside. You got yours?”

“Nope. That’s in there as well.”

“Well what good’s that? Leaving it there.”

“Don’t blame me you dummy. I asked you, didn't I? What did I just say to you? I’ll tell you what I said. I asked if you had a key. You said, ‘I've got a key.’ Just as clear as that.” Eddie with his voice raised and sounding annoyed. He looked round and saw the maid looking through wide eyes, “my mate’s locked us out and I’ve forgotten my camera.”

“You’ve forgotten the camera and you have a go about a key. You’re bloody priceless.”

“Excuse his language will you. Any chance you could please let us in before he blows a fuse and war starts? Save the hassle with reception.”

“I’m not supposed to….” and she saw the look on Eddie’s face. Kind of exasperation and frustration rolled into one, “....But as you’ve just come out,” the maid said and Eddies smiled

“You’re a lifesaver. Thank you so much,” said Eddie. Then to Mike, “Get in there will you and pushed him through the door.” Then looked back with a shrugging smile at the maid who looked hard then went back to her trolley.

Inside they saw the room had already been made up. The curtains pinned back. The bed neat. Tidy piles on the dressing table.

“Nice room,” said Mike, “We should’ve stayed here.”

“What and miss the chance of banging pipes and meeting a depressed hotelier. Surely not,” said Eddie.

Starting with the drawers they carefully went through the contents. Looking at everything but disturbing nothing. Then Mike opened the empty wheelie case. The tote bag was there resting up against the dressing table.

“That’s the bag,” said Eddie.

“Nothing much here. Just girly stuff.”

Eddie opened the mustard folder on top of the dressing table. “Old photos and letters in here and a couple of sheets of A4. Not our package though. Look at this stuff it comes from the war. Look at this photo with two GI’s and two girls, Say that one the taller lady she looks just like our Jane Somerton. Her grandmother? What d’you think?”

“I think that’s nothing to do with us so we don’t pry.”

Eddie opened the wardrobe and flicked through the hanging clothes. Felt in pockets. Looked through the shelves and the laid flat tops. “Nothing here. There’s a room safe. Electronic. We won’t get into that quickly.”

“Well it’s not here. If it’s anywhere it’s probably in that safe. We’ll have to do this the hard way. Catch up with her and appeal to her.”

“You can give her your cowboy charm. How about that?”

“Sure but I think we’ll need more than that. Let’s talk to her and see where we go. Come on let's get out of here.”

“Sure everything’s in its right place?”

“Mostly but the maid’s been in and she’ll have shuffled stuff about anyway”

Mike opened the door and looked down the corridor. The maid had moved to the end. Apart from her it was clear. They walked down the corridor towards the stairs passing an open room with the maid just coming out. “Thanks,” Mike said as they walked past and back down the stairs and out through the revolving door. Passing Henry who watched them walk down the drive then went inside for a word with reception. 

“So what d’you think about the hotel business?” Eddie said then took a bite out of a thick cut cheese, ham and pickle sandwich. They were in a pub in town. Lunch and beer but Mike had white wine. The old one right in the middle. Dark oak tables and a long dark wood bar. Glass shelves and mirrors behind trying to reflect the always on lights. Lighten the place up and failing. It was mid afternoon. The two bar staff slack as it cooled down after the lunch time rush. Just a few people left, mostly finishing up. Three old guys sat at the bar on the high stools propping it up. A bit apart, not talking. Staring into their half empty glasses. They looked like all day fellas and wobbling.

“Dark in here, isn’t it,” Mike said. “Low ceilings, black beams and dark red wallpaper. The place must be four hundred years old. Why’d we come in here? You bring the torch? They need more lights.”

“Quit the moaning will you. We came in because I’m hungry. That’s why. Friendly place though. I liked the way the lady behind the bar smiled. Kind of angled at you but she was looking at me.”

“Surprised you can see anything through this gloom. You know your problem, you see things that don’t exist. She was just nice. She smiles at all the customers. It’s what they do, the happy ones.” 

 “She’s not smiling at those old guys,”

“She won’t, will she? They are the three depressed guys that all pubs have sitting in the depressed guy row at the part of the bar reserved for suicidal blokes. She smiles at them they'd have a heart attack.”

“You paint a pretty picture sometimes. Sounds like she might do them a favour if she smiled eh?.….Oh oh look that table’s freeing up by the window. We’ll move there. Stop you moaning some more.”

Mike said, “Daylight at last….That sandwich OK? You’re getting stuck into it like you’ve not eaten all day. And the beer?”

“Sure the beer’s good and the sandwich is real good. Fresh white bread, the crusty sort that crunches when you bite and hand cut ham, none of that slimy packet stuff and a strong tangy cheese the sort that seems to have small salt chunks in it. Kind of gritty and that proper cheese smell. Strong cheese. The sort you get from a deli. Oh and loads of pickle.”

“I see that. How can you eat that brown pickle junk? It stinks and tastes like….well I’m not going to say what it tastes like I might offend the ladies.”

“You’ve got no style. Are you really liking that prawn salad? And with white wine….?”

“Healthy food. You should try it sometime. The wine’s cool but a bit acidic. Not the best.”

“A bit acidic is it? Well there’s a thing. Healthy prawn salad and acidic wine. Anyway, I like my diet. Nothing wrong with ham or cheese or pickle.”

“And ice cream and chocolate and don’t forget breakfast for four. At least four.”

“That’s it. It’s called a balanced diet. You want my healthy garnish?....Anyway like I was saying. What d’you think of the hotel business?”

“Long hard hours and loads of moaning people. That’s what I think.”

“And a chance to make money and break a dead end mould.”

“You think we’re in a rut?”

“Sure we are. We’ve done the same thing for ten years. Mostly sneaking about snapping all those cheating people.”

“And a bit of other stuff.”

“Oh yeah. What other stuff’s that? Tracking down lost relatives and the like. That’s hardly exhilarating, is it?”

“Maybe not. There’s this thing we’re on at the moment. That’ll be a good earner and it’s different.”

“Sure it’s different. I get to whack a fella and we chase around the Devon countryside. We’re up for losing a packet. Not my idea of a good earner. You’re supposed to be the one with the brains. Do you really think we’re onto a winner?”

“Might be but you’re right it’s not looking too good at the moment.”

“Well I fancy a change. What about you?”

“Could do I suppose. It has a certain appeal. A hotel….I’d need to think on that but like I say it has an appeal.”

“We could call it Corduroys you know after the new slick trousers you’ll be getting. Corduroys Hotel. You could change your name. Mike Corduroy. How about that?”

“I think the whole idea has just lost a bundle of charm. You’ll need to work on the name a bit harder.”

“So shall I have a word with Gary?”

“There’s no harm in that. OK see what the story is and we’ll take it from there.”

Mike was pushing what was left of his salad around with his fork and chewing the last of a chunk of crusty brown and at the same time looking out of the window. Then he stopped chewing and put down his fork, “Look there,” he said to Eddie, “See that fella there, the one with the navy jacket and short blond hair. He look familiar?”

“He sure does. That’s our friend the pickpocket. What’s he doing here I wonder?”

“Dunno but it’s sure to be no good. Come on….let’s go.” Mike threw two twenties on the table and yelled a thanks at the barman then they were out of the door.

“There,” said Eddie, “right down the street. Navy jacket and a grey sports bag. See him?”

“I see him,” said Mike, starting to move that way as fast as he could.

Andy Cronin was slowly pushing his way through the crowds, his grey sports bag hanging by the shoulder strap and swinging as he walked. A Sunday in a tourist town was always busy and the narrow streets compressed the afternoon strollers into bunches. The slower ones sauntering abreast blocking the street and slowing it down. He passed a large lady and a tall thin man and the lady yelped and tried to hang onto the man then gripped a shop front sill to rub her shin.

Coming quickly out of the pub caused a slight disturbance. A kind of ripple that spread a way through the crowds as people slowed some more as Mike and Eddie pushed past a group of strollers. Andy was way down the street by now. They saw him look round and saw him up his pace and push past people to head inland towards the back of town. They saw him glance behind then their view was blocked momentarily losing sight of him. A large lady and a tall thin man were straddling the pavement.

“Did you see where he went,” said Mike.

“No. Lost sight of him for a moment. Too many people. I sort of saw a grey sports bag disappear down that side street but where after that ....”

“Yeah. He was too far ahead anyway and could be anywhere.”

“What d’you think he’s doing here? Followed us? Why would he do that after the tickle I gave him? You’d have thought he would’ve learnt something.”

“Well like I said, it’s sure to be no good. It must be that package but why would he be after that. He doesn’t know what’s in it, does he? He can’t be sure it’s got any value. Surely that’s just another snatch for him. He can do that as many times as he likes without being noticed. He’s that good.”

“Unless he has an agenda. Maybe he thinks if he can get it back he can sell it to us.”

“No I don’t buy that. He doesn’t know the value, does he? Why take the risk?”

“What if he saw the switch and just thought there might be value?”

“No, I don't think so. He still does not know the value. Risk versus reward. It doesn’t work. Unless he’s working for someone. How about that? Maybe he’s working for our Mr Bennet. Mr Bennet wants the last payment but never intended to give up the last package. Maybe he thinks he could collect, hand over the package then get it snatched back. Risky but this is a very greedy man. The whole thing’s a risk. He knows he’s going to get exposed anyway and wants maximum return. Perhaps he thought he could get more. Snatch it back then offer it again. Turn us over. That’s got to be it. Why else would that pickpocket risk another beating unless there’s cash involved and enough cash to not be put off. That works much better. Anyway it’s all irrelevant. The fella’s here and he’s sure to be after that package. The why doesn’t really matter. We’ll find out soon enough if we can catch up with him.”

“You could be right. That all sounds real plausible.” said Eddie.

“And if that’s right that lady, our Jane Somerton, could be in big trouble.”

“Sure. Dangle cash and the stakes rise. The stakes rise and the degree of persuasion rises. You're right. She could be in big trouble.”

“Let’s get back to our hotel and regroup. We’ve a plan to hatch.”

“And a hotel owner to tap up about a sale,” said Eddie.