She hugged Tweed, then turned to Paula and hugged her. When Snape appeared to escort them to the lift Tweed walked quickly towards him, followed closely by Paula. When the panel doors opened Tweed walked with Paula to the open door into the library. They were greeted by Leo shouting viciously, 'I'll kill you.'
All the family were there. Crystal stood calmly as Leo rushed at her brandishing a knife. She kicked him hard on the leg. He yelled with pain, fell down. Warner appeared, pressed both hands on his shoulders as he slowly clambered upright. Quietly he ordered Leo to his room. Leo limped towards the lift.
They made a point of shaking hands with everyone. As he reached Snape Tweed smiled as he spoke. `I'm afraid we shan't be coming to protect your treasure, as Mrs Bella expressed it.' `She said that to you!' Snape burst out. `We're leaving now,' Tweed told him, ignoring the strange outburst.
4
Tweed drove down the drive. The gates had opened, and he turned left into another fir-shrouded tunnel. It was cold again. It would always be cold. Paula stared at him. His expression was grim.
She was looking at a man of uncertain age, of medium height and well built inside his smart navy- blue suit. He had horn-rimmed glasses on his strong nose above a determined mouth and well-shaped jaw.
He had changed recently, seemed to her younger and very fit. `You're going the wrong way,' she ventured. 'We should have turned right beyond the gates for London' `You're not as analytical as you usually are.' `What does that mean?' `Bella and Lavinia made a great performance about hiding the address on that envelope, the type of envelope which often contains a will.' `I still don't get it,' she protested. `Hamble, Goodworthy and Richter, well-known solicitors with offices in Threadneedle Street, London. Bella raised her voice to make sure we heard. I do have an advantage over you,' he admitted. 'Watching her leave in her Saab from that window I saw Lavinia turn left beyond the gates.' `This is the way to Gladworth.. `Precisely,' he went on in the same grim tone. 'I signalled to Harry with my lighter. He'll have followed her. When we find him he'll tell us where Lavinia did go to.' `Oh, I see.' `On top of that I don't like people laying plans to kill me, especially when I have you in the car. The attempt on our lives was skilfully planned. Be analytical and you can work it out for yourself.' `I'm lost,' she confessed.
'Think!' he snapped. 'From the moment we left Park Crescent.'
She glanced at him, taken aback. He so rarely snapped at her. She sensed he was concealing a cold rage. `This must be Gladworth,' Paula said as they emerged from the fir-enclosed tunnel into an old street paved with flat stones. 'Now, to find Harry and see if this is where Lavinia was headed for.'
Tweed had slowed to a crawl. A notice warned 20 m.p.h. maximum speed. Paula had her face pressed to the window. She was searching for his brown Ford with its souped-up engine. Both sides of Gladworth's streets were lined with large expensive-looking terraced houses. Residents obviously occupied the first and second floors, which all had stone troughs perched on the outside ledges, packed with spring flowers – crocuses, daffodils and shrubs. The ground floors were occupied by shops Paula had not expected. Expensive, she spotted Escada where a dress cost a small fortune, then Aquascutum and many more in the same price range. `There's loads of money somewhere round here,' she observed. `Probably in big houses hidden in The Forest,' Tweed remarked vaguely. 'What we have to do is to see if Harry is here.' `There's a sign pointing to a car park down a side street,' `We'll check that. 1 don't see cars parked in the street.'
As they turned down a narrow street bordered with grey-stone houses Paula lowered her window. The park was filled with expensive cars neatly slotted in. She saw a Lamborghini and stared at an ancient Lagonda. Tweed found a slot, slipped carefully inside, switched off the engine. He had seen Lavinia's Saab. The number plate was the one he'd memorized while watching her drive off from Hengistbury Manor. `Now, where's Harry?' she called out. `The old mucker's here,' Harry's Cockney voice replied, standing outside her window. 'And,' he went on, addressing Tweed, `if that silver Saab is the one you wanted me to follow you've come to the right place. The girl driving it could drive me nuts. If I put on a decent set of clothes and got educated.' `She'd probably be fascinated by you,' Paula said, grinning. 'Especially when you started telling her East End jokes.' `What did she do when she arrived?' growled Tweed. `Where is she now?' `First -' Harry ticked off the points on his thick fingers – 'she parks her car here. Second, she darts back into the street and pops into a solicitors – Lowell, French and Browne. Small place in the main street with a big window. A thin streak with a pince-nez is sitting behind a desk. She hands him the long brown envelope she's been carrying. Pince-nez scribbles in a small book, tears out a sheet, hands it to her and she's away.' `The receipt,' said Tweed. `Then Pince-nez uses the phone, a short call.' `Telling Bella it's arrived safely,' Tweed commented. `What does she do next?' `Goes into the Pike's Peak, presumably for lunch since she's still there. At least I think so. Not in the dining-room or bar.' `That posh place with white walls and a doorman?' asked Paula. `You've got it in one. Best place in town is my guess.'
Tweed was hurrying out of the car as Paula closed the window. When they joined Harry, Tweed's voice was crisp, that of a man who did not waste time. He looked at Harry. `Guide us discreetly. I'd like to see Lowell, French and Browne without them seeing us.' `Follow me. Slowly. No one hurries in Gladworth. No one except the glorious dish who drives the Saab. We'll cross to the other side of the main street.'
There was no traffic when they strolled after Harry. Among the few pedestrians were elegantly dressed women gazing into the shop windows. This is better than the Piccadilly end of Bond Street, Paula thought. Harry paused, turned round. `Other side of the street. That big window!