The hood was down; it was already a pleasant morning, which she hoped would bode well for a sunny day. She parked in his garage around the rear of the house and then, armed with a bag of fresh fruit, water, and chocolate ban, they set off toward the M40."This is a great car," she said, above the noise of the engine."Yeah, I've had it for years, but don't drive it in to work as it's too much aggravation. It'll be good to get a long drive, blow the cobwebs off the engine; these old cars need to be driven."The interior smelled of old leather and mildew; the dashboard was a lovely polished wood, with a few bubbles and cracks. Pete drove fast, but was competent and didn't take any risks. It was refreshing to drive into the country after picking their way through the city and onto the motorway.This time, Anna didn't think of the many trips she had made to see Langton in the rehabilitation home. With the wind making her hair stand up on end, she rested back with her eyes closed, the sun on her face, glad Pete had come along. They didn't make much conversation, as they couldn't really hear each other, until they branched off and headed toward the village of Shipston on Stour.Michael Sudmore's antiques shop was on High Street. There were a number of items on a table outside the shop and an antique rocking chair with embroidered cushions. The shop was well stocked, with a lot of spindle-backed chairs, small Edwardian tables, and many prints and cabinets covering the walls; on one table, a large china dinner service was set out with a bowl of fresh flowers. The florid, fruity-voiced Sudmore was sitting behind a small counter, reading The Times. He was wearing half-moon glasses and peered over them as Anna and Pete entered the shop.Anna introduced herself, and left Pete to wander around the shop, as she went over everything they had discussed on the telephone. Sudmore could add litde, apart from a few anecdotes about Julius D'Anton and his notoriously bad checks. He did say that D'Anton had a great charm to him and was always very affable, yet over the years had become rather seedy, and was mistrusted by the other antiques dealers. For all his faults, Julius did have a very good eye and considerable knowledge.Sudmoie then showed Anna the table Julius had put twenty pounds deposit down on. It was an oval shape with cabriole legs and a folding arm, and it resembled a small version of the old hunting tables used by the gentry when they were served drinks after a foxhunt. He had, as he had said on the phone, undersold it."He was a wily old sod, asked me where I had bought it. You know, dealers have this nose—maybe where I had got it from, there could be more bargains—but I told him he wouldn't get anything else. The old lady has an eye for IKEA! She lives in a cottage not far from here. This table was about the only thing left of value and it was in a terrible state, standing outside her kitchen door!"Anna took down the exact dates of Julius's visit and worked her way around to asking about Honour Nolan."Adorable! She used to have her own little shop, but closed it up years ago. Now she just does odd days for me when I am off" buying. As she lives close by, it's convenient for me; sometimes I sell some of her paintings." He raised an eyebrow. "Not what I would call works of art, but very colorful, and she buys some of my old frames. I have a couple of pots she's made. She had a kiln in one of her barns. But they don't sell. Well, anyone coming in here is not after anything modern."Anna glanced over to Pete. He had walked out of the shop and was sifting through the items for sale outside. She could see that anyone standing in the shop had a very good view of the front and road, even over to the local pub and car park where they had left their car."Do you ever socialize with Mrs. Nolan?""No. I have been over to Honey Farm once. I was in the area and I needed to see if she could come in and watch the shop for me. She rarely answers her phone and they don't have an answer machine.""You have met her husband?""Oh yes, he often collects her. Lovely man, very pleasant, but they are a very private couple. In fact, I hardly ever see them, even at the local pub. They keep very much to themselves.""Did you ever meet her sister?" "No, 1 didn't. I know she came to stay once. I only remember because I needed Honour, and she said she had people staying." "People?""Well, her sister. I saw her in the village with Honour but. as 1 said, I didn't really get to meet her.""Did you ever see the black Mitsubishi jeep, before D'Anton turned up in it?""No, and we do get some flash cars. We even had one of those huge Hummer things here the other day—bright orange. Ghasdy."There seemed nothing else to gain from Sudmore, so Anna thanked him and went out to join Pete. He had wandered farther along the road and was looking into a Cancer Research charity shop; he turned and grinned as Anna approached."There's a great hat in the window. I was thinking of buying it for you."It was green velour, with a long pheasant feather sticking out of the side, and a silver brooch."You think that's my style, do you?""It'll keep your head warm on the drive back."She laughed. They crossed the road to find the car, then drove out of Shipston on Stour, heading for Honington and the farm. Even with the map, and even having already been there, they missed the turning. Anna was still unsure they were on the right track until she saw the first cottage covered in ivy."Okay, keep on going and take the right fork," she instructed Pete."That adds up.""What?""The note: there's
RF written—must mean 'right fork'!"Anna nodded, knowing they were correct that the note found in the glove compartment of the Mitsubishi contained scrawled directions to the farm. The old Morgan creaked and groaned as it bounced over the dry cartwheel indentations in the dirt track. They passed the wooded area and came onto the narrow lane with a ditch either side."This is right, we're almost there.""Thank Christ. Any more of this rough track and my back end will collapse. I wouldn't like to do this drive at night—there's no street light. It must get pitch-black."Anna smiled and chewed her lip Julius D'Anton s van—hadn't Sandra said something about him saying the back end had gone, which was why he couldn't take the table? She wondered if the van could have been left in a local garage. She would have to wander around after they left the farm. She didn't mention it to Pete, as he was carefully trying to maneuver the Morgan around the deep potholes."Christ, this is a terrible road," he swore again as they splashed through a deep puddle."We should be there any minute," Anna said as the lane evened out.They drove through the broken gates and parked outside the front door of the farmhouse.Anna got out and looked around. "They don't use the front entrance; we'll walk around to the back. It's down the lane beside the farmhouse."Pete looked over the sides of the Morgan. They were covered in mud."I'll have to take a chisel to get this mud off. Look at it!"Anna did and then smiled. "Take samples—I want them sent over to the lab for testing against the soil from the Mitsubishi tires!"Pete laughed and then took her elbow, helpfully guiding her beside him, as they walked to the back of the farmhouse.The stable door at the kitchen was half open and Anna whispered to Pete that she had seen Honour Nolan's face at the window, so she knew they were there. Could he think of some excuse to get Honour out of the kitchen, as she wanted to look at something.Anna called out, and Honour came to the door, with a look of surprise. "Hi there! You gave me quite a fright."Anna apologized. "I'm sorry to bother you again, but I need to ask some more questions.""More? Well, you'd better come in. Damien is out riding but he'll be back shortly.""It was you I really need to talk to," Anna said, following Honour into the kitchen. She introduced Pete, saying he was a friend who had agreed to drive her. She asked about restaurants, making it seem very casual; Honour said she would jot down a list of some of the best to try. Friday and Saturday nights they might need to book. "Oh, we'll just take potluck," Pete said affably as he sat at the table. Honour offered tea, and more of her homemade scones, but Anna declined, saying they wouldn't be taking up too much of her time.Honour drew up a chair to sit beside Anna, moving away stacks of what looked like exam papers. "So, what do you need to know?"Anna went into the Julius D'Anton scenario, asking if Honour could give her details of when she had served him in the antiques shop."Oh, well, when you said his name 1 wasn't sure who he was, but now ... yes, I remember him.""He was buying a table?""Yes. I work part-time, or whenever Michael needs me, and 1 happened to be in the shop when he came in. I had been warned about him, that he might try to pass off a check, and I was not on any account to accept it as payment.""Just take me through what happened.""Can I ask why?""Yes. He was found dead two days ago, in the Thames near Richmond.""Oh, that's terrible! I'm sorry.""Yes, that's the reason I'm here. He'd been in the water for a while, probably since around the rime you had seen him.""Really? Well, I can't see how I can help you. He came into the shop and asked to collect the table, as he had put down a deposit. As Michael had warned me about him, I asked that he paid the purchase price in cash, as I was not allowed to accept a check.""How did he react?""Well, he sort of shrugged, you know, as if he expected that; he didn't seem put out. He was quite chatty and friendly, and said he would come back to talk to Michael.""Did you see what he was driving?""No, but I suppose he must have had a van or something to fit the table in, as it was quite large.""Did he come here to the farmhouse?""Good heavens, no! Why would he?""Had you ever seen him before?" "No.""So you didn't recognize him?""No, it was the first time I'd ever seen him at the shop."Anna smiled. "Well, that's it, then. I'm sorry to have bothered you." She glanced at Pete.He stood up. "Could you show me to the bathroom, please?"Honour gestured to the hallway. "Straight through, off the hall; it's a cloakroom."Pete hesitated and then walked out. Anna wanted to go into the office room that Gordon had seen, but Honour remained seated, so she kept asking questions."Did your husband meet Julius D'Anton?""No, he was at work.""You have a kiln in one of the barns.""Yes, but I'm a real amateur; it's just something I like to do.""I saw some of your paintings at the antique shop."Honour laughed. She hadn't sold more than one small canvas.Pete returned. "Sorry—I think the cistern is playing up. I couldn't flush your loo."Honour shook her head and walked toward him. "It's tricky—you have to yank it down hard."She walked out and Pete followed as Anna made a quick move to the room off the kitchen. She opened the door and looked in; there was the desk and computer, as Gordon had photographed, but there was no painting on the wall. That in itself was suspicious; they would need a search warrant to explore further."Thanks again," Anna said, when they left a few minutes later. She paused and turned back to Honour. "When 1 was last here there was a young man, blond hair, in your yard?"Honour looked puzzled and then smiled. "Oh, that'll be one of the local farm boys. They muck out the stable and exercise Damien's hone.""Thank you."