Driving Force Part 19

SandyandLizziebetweenthemtoldHarveaboutmybitofseasidebathing,Harvelookingincreasinglyhorrified.

'Youmighthavedrowned!'hesaid,exclaiming.

'Mm.b.u.t.thereweare,Ididn't.'IbelatedlyaskedHarvetokeepwatchinthefarmyardforwhatwasleftofthenight-'Dozeinyourownbox'Isuggested,'andphonemetheminuteyouseeanythinG.o.dd Withhispromisetodothatoncehe'dtoldhiswifeandbroughtahotdrinkandablanket,IwentbacktomyhousewithSandyandLizzieandlefttheminthekitchentut-tuttingatlifeoversteamingtea.Asforme,Iwentwearilyupstairs,decidedtoshower,laydowninsteadontopoftheduvetforaminutestillinfleecybootsandpaddedjacket,felttheworldwhirlbrieflyandfellinstantlyandcomprehensivelyasleep.

Ididn'twakeuntilLizzieshookme,hervoiceurgent.

'Freddie!Freddie,areyouallright?'

'Mm.'Istruggledfromthedepths.'Whatisit?'

'Thepolicearehere.'

'What?'

Realisationandremembrancecamebackwithunwelcomeclarity.Igroaned.Ifeltunwell.IinconsequentiallythoughtofAlfred,KingofWess.e.x,whodeliveredhiscountryfromDanishinvadersalthoughsufferingfromhalfthediseasesknowntotheninthcentury.Suchfort.i.tude!AndhecouldwriteandtranslateLatinaswell.

'Freddie,thepolicewanttotalktoyou.'

KingAlfredhadhadhaemorrhoids,I'dreadonce.Withallthatonhismind,nowonderhe'dletthecakesburn.

'Freddie!'

'TellthemI'llbedowninfiveminutes.'

Whenshe'dgoneItookoffthenight'sclothes,showered,shaved,dressedagaininfreshthings,combedmyhaircarefullyand,atleastontheoutside,begantolooklikeF.CroftEsquire,masterofafewthingshewouldrathernothavesurveyed.

Thesitting-roomlookedn.o.betterintheopallightofdawn,andthesoulhadgoneoutofthetangledheapofmetalthathadbeenmypreciouscar.Iwalkedfromonedisastertotheotherwiththepolicemen,whoweren'tthetwowhohadcometoJogger.Thesewereolder,wearier,hardworkedandunimpressedbymytroubles,whichtheyseemedtosuggestIhadbroughtonmyself.Iansweredtheirquestionsmonosyllabically,partlyfrommalaise,chieflyfromignorance.

No,Ididn'tknowwhohaddoneallthedamage.

No,Icouldn'tguess.

No,Iknewofnoonewhoheldabusinessgrudgeagainstme.

HadIdismissedaworker?No.Onehadrecentlyleftofhisownchoice.

HadIhadanypersonalenemies?NonethatIknewof.

Imusthavesome,theysaid.Everyonehadenemies.

Well,Ithoughtprivately,reflectingonHugoPalmerstone,Ihadnopersonalenemywhocouldbesuremyhousewouldbeemptyattwoa.m.ontheWednesdaymorningofCheltenhamraces.Notunless,ofcourse,they'dtappedmeonthehead...

Whohatedmethismuch?IfIknew,Isaid,Iwouldcertainlytell.

Hadanythingbeenstolen?

Thatquestionstoppedmeshort.SomanythingshadbeensmashedthatIhadn'tthoughtoftheft.Mycarcouldhavebeenstolen.Mytelevision,mycomputer,thechinabirds,theWaterfordvase,allhadhadvalue.Ihadn't,Isaidlamely,inspectedmysafe.

Theyaccompaniedmeindoorsagain,lookingasiftheycouldn'tbelieveIhadn'tcheckedthesafefirst.

'Thereisn'tmuchinthere,'Isaid.

'Money?'

'Yes,money.'

Howmuchwasnotmuch?Lessthanathousand,Isaid.

Thesafestoodinthecornerbehindmydesk,itsfireproofmetalcasingcamouflagedinsideapolishedwoodencabinet.Theunharmedcabinetdoorsopenedeasilyb.u.t.thecombinationlockinsidehadbeenchoppedaboutwiththesameheavycuttingedgeaseverythingelse.Thelockhadwithstoodthea.s.sault,but.i.tsmechanismprovedtobejammed.

'Nothing'sbeenstolen,'Isaid.'Thesafewon'topen.'

Thefaxmachineontopofthesafe'scabinetwouldsendnomoremessages.Thecopieronthetablealongsidehadcopieditslast.Asimpleblowtoeachhadendedtheirlives.

Myownanger,notblazing,immediateandtearfullikeLizzie's,butaslowinnerburnoffury,increasedsharplyatthespitefulsplittingoftwomachinesI-andtheinsurance-couldeasilyreplace.Thecrueltygottome.Whoeverhaddoneallthis,whoeverhadthrownmeintothewater,hadmeantmetosuffer,hadmeantmetofeelasIfelt.Iwouldgivenoonetheextrapleasure,Iresolved,ofhearingmescreamandmoan.Iwouldfindoutwhoandwhy,andeventhescore.

ThepoliceaskedaboutmytriptoSouthamptonbutIcouldtellthemverylittle:I'dbeendroppedintowater,I'dswum,I'dclimbedout,I'dphonedmysistertocollectme.

No,Ihadn'tseenwhohitme.

No,Ihadn'tseenadoctor.Noneed.

InthemiddleoftellingthemIdidn'trememberanythingatallofthejourneytoSouthampton,IbegantoknowthatatsomepointorotherIhadhadmyeyesopen.I'dseenthemoonlight.I'devenspoken.I'dsaid,'Beautifulnightforflying.'Delirious.

'Ifthisdoesn'tgivehimflu,nothingwill...'

Theyhadknown,Ithought,thatIwasatleastsemi-consciouswhentheytippedmein.

Concussionwasunpredictable,asI'dfoundatothertimes.Bitsofmemorycouldsurfacelongaftertheimpact.Onecouldalsoappeartobeconscious-peoplewouldsayonehadwalkedandtalked-butafterwardsonecouldn'trememberthat.Totalrecallcouldhappenhours,daysorweeksaftertheevent,orsometimesremainblankforever.Icouldrememberthegra.s.s.h.i.ttingmyfaceonetime;IcouldrememberthefenceI'dfallenatinthesecondraceofthedayandIcouldrememberwhichhorseI'dbeenriding.Istillhadnomemoryofdrivingtotheracecoursethatmorning,orofthefirstracewhich,therecordbookstoldme,Ihadwonbysevenlengthshalfanhourbeforethefall.

IhadtravelledtoSouthamptoninthebootofanordinarycar.Theknowledgedriftedin.Ididn'tknowhowIknew,butIwa.s.sure.

Thepolicehadbroughtaphotographerwhotookafewflashshotsanddeparted,andafingerprinterwhostayedlongerbutgavehisopinioninonesuccinctword,'Gloves.'

Lizziemoonedroundherhelicopter,strokingitnowandthenandmuttering'b.a.s.t.a.r.ds'underherbreath.ShesaidshewouldhavetoflybacktoEdinburghontheshuttle,a.s.shehadalecturetogivethatafternoon.Shevowedherpartnersinthehelicopterwouldstranglewhoeverhadcrunchedit.

Findhimfirst,Ithought.

Themorningseemeddisjointed.Thepolicewroteastatementwhichputwhatthey'dfoundandwhatI'dtoldthemintopolice-forcelanguage,andIsigneditinthekitchen.Sandymadetea.Theotherpolicemen,sipping,said'Ta.'

'Ta,'Isaidtoo.Lightheaded,Ithought.

Oneofthepolicemensaidhebelievedthedamagetomypropertytobeapersonalvendetta.HesuggestedIshouldthinkabout.i.t.HethoughtImightknowwhohadattackedme.Hecautionedmeagainsttakingapersonalrevenge.

'Idon'tknowwhodidit,'Isaidtruthfully.'IwouldtellyouifIdid.'

Helookedasifhedidn'tbelieveme.'Thinkitover,sir,'hesaid.

Istifledaspurtofirritationandthankedhimforcoming.Lizziewalkedintothekitchensaying'b.a.s.t.a.r.ds'quiteloudly.Iwantedtolaugh.Shetookamugofteaandwalkedout.

Whenhiscolleagueshadgone,Sandysaidawkwardly,'They'regoodlads,youknow.'

'I'msure.'

They'veseentoomuch,'hesaid.'I'veseentoomuchmyself.It'shardtofeelsympathyoverandover.Weendupnotfeelingit.SeewhatImean?'

'You'reagoodladyourself,Sandy,'Isaid.

Helookedgratifiedandgavemehisowncommendationinreturn.

'You'rewell-likedinPixhill,'hesaid.'Ineverheardanyonebad-mouthyou.Ireckonifyou'dhadenemiesthisbad,I'dhaveheardofit.'

'I'dhavethoughtI'dhaveheardofit,too.'

'Ireckonthiswasdestructionforitsownsake.Theyenjoyedit.'

Isighed.'Yes.'

'Threetimesthislastweek,'hesaid,'someone'srunasupermarkettrolleystraightintothesideofacarinthecarparkinNewbury.Smashedthesidesofthecarsrightin,allcrumpledandscratched.Notforanyreasonexceptjusttododamage.Peoplecomebacktofinditandit'stheirfrustrationthat'stheworst.Thesupermarketemploysaguard,butnoone'scaughtthevandalyet.Youcan'tdealwiththatsortofvandalism.Andifhe'scaughtred-handedoneday,allhe'llgetisprobation.'

'He'sprobablyateenager.'

Sandynodded.'They'retheworst.Butarsonists,remember,areusuallyabitolder.Anditwasn'tnoteenager,I'dreckon,thatgotintothishouse.'

'Whatage,then?'

Sandypursedhislips.'Twenties.Thirties,perhaps.Notmucholderthanforty.Afterthatthedrivingforceweakens.Youdon'tgetsixty-year-oldsdoingthissortofthing.It'sfraudthatseesthemincourt.'

Iponderedafewthingsandsaid,'YouknowJogger'stoolswerestolenfromhisvan?'

'Aye.Iheard.'

'Hehadanaxeinthevan.'

Sandystared.'Ithought.i.twasmechanic'stools.'

'Therewasaslider,andinabigopenredplasticcratehehadahydraulicjack,spanners,tyrelevers,jumpleads,pliers,wiring,agreasegun,cleaningrags,allsortsofoddments...andanaxe,likefiremenuse,thathe'dcarriedeversinceatreefellacrossoneoftheboxes.BeforeIownedthebusiness,thatwas.'

Sandynodded.'Iremember.Inoneofthosehurricane-likewinds.'

'YoumightkeepaneyeoutforJogger'sstuff,inthevillage.'

I'llputthewordaround,'hesaidearnestly.

'Saytherewouldbeareward.Nothingfancy,butworthwhileforgoodinformation.'

'Yeah,right.'

'It'llbeJogger'sinquestatanyminute,'Isaid.

Sandylookedathiswatchinalarm.I'llhavetobegoing.I'venotshavedyet,ordressed.'

'Iexpectyou'llphonelater.'

Hepromisedhewould,anddroveaway.LizzieyawnedintothekitchenandannouncedthatifIneededhershewouldbeupstairsasleep.Iwouldwakeher,please,ateleven,anddrivehertoHeathrowtocatchtheshuttle.ShehadjustonmybedroomphonetoldoneofherpartnersofthedemiseoftheRobinson22.Hewa.s.speechless,shesaid.HewouldinformtheinsurerswhenhegothisvoicebackandprobablyIwouldbehearingfromthem,astheywereboundtosendaninspector.DidImindleavingmycarwhereitwasuntilafterthat?No,IsupposedIdidn't.

Shegavemeanabsent-mindedkissonthecheekandadvisedmetogobacktobed.

I'mgoingtothefarmyard,'Isaid.'Toomuchtodo.'

'Thenlockthedoorbehindyou,there'sadear.'

Ilockedthebackdooranddrovetothefarmyard,findingNinatheredrinkingcoffeeinthecanteenwithNigel.TheywerediscussingthejourneytofetchJerichoRich'sdaughter'sshowjumperfromFrance,NinaseemingobliviousofNigel'sdark-lashedeyesandsultrymouth.TheyhadheardfromHarveallaboutthenight'salarmsandwereglad,theysaid,tofindmefunctioning.

Ninabroughthercoffeeandfollowedmeintotheoffice.

'Areyoureallyallright?'sheenquired.

'Moreorless.'

'I'vesomenewsforyou,'shesaid,andpaused,'but...'

'Fireaway.Isitthelittlegla.s.stubes?'

'What?No,notthose,therehasn'tbeenareportonthoseyet.No,thisisthatadvertis.e.m.e.ntinHorseandHound.'

Ithoughtback.SomuchseemedtohavecrowdedinsinceSunday.'Ohyes...thetransportad.'Anythingconsidered.'

'Yes,that'sright.Patrickgotthemagazinetotellhimwhohadinsertedit.Andit'sratherextraordinary...'

'Dogoon.'

'ItwasaMrK.OgdenofNottingham.'

'No!'Myeyebrowsshotup.'Well,well,thatreallyis.e.xtraordinary.'

'Ithoughtyou'dthinkso.Themagazinesaidtheycheckedhimoutthefirsttimeheranthead.Theywantedtomakesuretherewasnothingcriminalinit.SeemstheyweresatisfiedMrOgdenwasharmlesslyofferinghisservicesasanadviserorpersonalcourier,ratheronthelinesofauniversalaunt.Thephonenumberintheadvertis.e.m.e.ntisthatofhisownhouse.Themagazinecheckedit.Theysupposedhemustbegettingworkfromthead,ashe'skeptonpayingfortheinsertions.'

'Wow,'Isaidblankly.'Hecan'thavebeendoingtoowell,though.Hewaswantedforbouncingchequesandotherpatheticbitsoffraud.Hemighthaveseemedbona-fidetoHorseandHound-andmaybehewasonce-butI'dguesshe'dstoppedworryingaboutthelegalityofeverytransaction,aslongashewasbeingpaid.'

Youcan'ta.s.sumethat,'sheprotestedprimly.Standstoreason.'Ishrugged.'ButI'llgivehimthebenefitofthedoubt.Maybehedidn'tknowthereweresixtubesinthethermos.Justmaybe.Iwouldn'tbetonit.''Cynic.'

I'dbecynicalaboutanythingafterlastnight.''Whatdothepolicethinkaboutlastnight?'

'Theydidn'tsaymuch.Theysaiditwasawisemanwhoknewhisownenemies,orwordstothateffect.'

'Oh.'Sheblinked.'Anddoyou?'