Chapter 4

“This is all hardly police business, chasing someone’s lost underclothes,” grumbled Inspector Charles when the two women settled in his office. He also resented the remark by Matilda that she hoped their tandem would be safe in the police station yard. “So many thieves around these days,” the woman in pale blue had said, innocently enough, and the younger one in the long pink dress had chuckled loudly.

“You do know I am busy, don’t you?” The man grumbled, jabbing his finger at a piece of paper on his desk. “Things like providing a uniformed copper to be on duty at Lady Carden’s mansion while they shoot some film or other. That means overtime and that means my budget.”

The man grabbed his pipe and lit it, which he did whenever he was irritated. “Now this ... not the sort of thing I want to land on my desk. You know, I also don’t see how guests leaving a respectable hotel by the backdoor” (there had been no mention of bondage or suspected kidnapping to the man) “or how a milk lorry has anything to do with this man losing some sample of a ... well, a foundation garment.” The man coloured up a little at mentioning the unmentionables but cleared his throat before continuing. “Carelessness with one’s own property is hardly a reason for the police to be involved. I strongly suspect however, Mrs Minerva, there is much you aren’t telling me.”

“And much that I could speculate on, but trust me, Inspector, there is some connection.”

The man puffed his pipe, eyes narrowed. “Hmmm ... I take it that you suspect theft, fraud and or kidnapping. I should hope not a murder. In any event as you know withholding information is a crime which I would cheerfully prosecute anyone for. Just as I am keen to charge people with wasting police time.”

“I trust it is not any sort of illegal mayhem, too, inspector. You would be the first to know if there was the slightest hint of such evil. Nor do I want to take up more than a few moments of your time. But I have been asked to find this, shall we say, unique girdle. No don’t blush, Inspector. I suspect Mrs Charles wears one.”

The man coloured up a little more. “Be that as it may, Mrs Minerva, I must know why you need details of this vehicle.”

“I believe someone was in the vehicle who had no right to be there.” Matilda made no mention of the churn or the possibility that inside the large polished steel object was a woman bound and probably gagged. “I am of the opinion this person may know something of the missing item’s whereabouts.”

“I confess I do not grasp how your mind works,” said the man somewhat wearily, putting down his pipe. “You manage to see the strangest connections. But if someone is riding in a vehicle, and they are not driving without the proper licence or permission, it is not a crime for them to be in there.”

“No,” said Matilda pleasantly. “It is not, but I have reason to believe the woman left the Harvest Hotel deliberately by the back door and then, disguised, chose to be travelling in the lorry. I need to ask her why.”

Charles narrowed his eyes at the woman once more. “Something is afoot, I can tell. Very well. I will ask the sergeant on the desk to call the county licence office and get the details of this vehicle.” The man stood to say the meeting was over. “I will call you as soon as I get it. Tomorrow, probably.”

“Tomorrow is fine,” said Matilda, standing and smoothing down her skirt. “By the way, you haven’t said hello to Eleanor. She’s my cousin’s girl, staying with me. Helping me out.”

“I know, you told me before,” said the man, looking at the younger female. “As she never speaks to me I am somewhat cautious in my approach to her.”

“Oh, she’s merely shy. Go on, Eleanor, say hello to the Inspector.”

“Good afternoon, Inspector,” said Eleanor with her pretty face lit up by a smile. She even bobbed a curtsy to complete the charm.

“Good afternoon, young lady. I have no idea what you do to help Mrs Minerva here, but sometimes I wonder just what goes on behind the closed curtains and locked doors of this sleepy town,” the man shook his head.

“Nothing untoward, Inspector, I can assure you,” said Matilda, smoothly. “I await your call, and thank you most kindly again.”

Eleanor giggled, and followed the older woman out of the Inspector’s office. “Christ on a bike, there’s something not quite right there,” the man muttered as he closed his office door and went back to his paper work and his pipe.