Driving Force Part 8

Hecouldsee,ofcourse,thatshehadn't,buthisangerwasallforme.

She'smydaughter,'heinsisted.

IglancedovertowardsCinders,nowsomersaultinghighwithexuberance.

'Ofcourse,'Isaid.

'Isawherborn.She'smine,andIloveher.'

IlookedregretfullyatHugo'sfuriousgreeneyes.HeandIwerealmosttotallyunalikeinnatureasinlooks.Amiddle-rankCityexecutive,hehadanincandescenttemperasfieryas.h.i.+shair,alliedtoastrongstreakofsentimentality.Ourlackofaffinitywitheachotherhadproved,untilnow,anaturalbarriertomygettingtoocloseandtoofondofmydaughter,andIsawclearly,evenifhedidn't,thatallowingmyselftobedrawnintoafightwithhimwoulddestroywhatshouldneverbetouched.

Hewasclenchingandunclenchinghisfistsbutwithstilladegreeofcontrol.

Isaid,'YouwonthegirlIwanted.You'veadaughterandtwosons.You'relucky.You'dbeafooltolightabonfire.Whatgoodwoulditdo?'

'Butyou...you.'Hesplutteredwithhurtincoherentrage,wantingmedead.

'Hatemeifyoulike,'Isaid,'butdon'ttakeitoutonyourfamily.'

Iturnedawayfromhim,morethanhalfexpectinghimtohaulmebackandhitme,b.u.t.tohiscredithedidn't.Ithoughtuneasily,allthesame,thatifhecameacrossalessdirectandphysicalwayofdoingmeharm,hemighttakeit.

IwalkedbackthroughthegardendoorandMaudie,bythewindow,said,'Whatwasthatabout?'

'Nothing.'

'SusanPalmerstonelooksscared.'

'Yes,well,IhadadisagreementwithHugo,butforget.i.t.IntroduceLornatoBruceFarwayanddon'tputmenexttoheratlunch.'

'What?'Shelaughed,thenlookedthoughtful.'IfIdo,inreturnyoucandetachTessafromBenjyUsher.Idon'tlikeherflirtingwithhim,andDotislivid.'

'Whydidyouaskthem?'

'Theylivepracticallynextdoor,dammit.WealwayshaveBenjyandDot.'

Ididmybestforher,butdetachingTessafromBenjyprovedimpossible.Tessawasagreatwhispererandthoughtnothingofturningherbacktopreventpeoplehearingwhatshewa.s.spillingintoBenjy'sear.Igottheturned-backtreatmentacoupleoftimesandleftBenjyalonetohisfoolishness.

BruceFarwaywastakinganinterestinLorna,thedelectablyprettysisterfullofgoodworks.SusanstoodwithherarmthroughHugo's,talkingbrightlytoMichaelabouthorses.Intrigueandwoventhreads,typicalofracingvillages.Changepartnersanddance.

WeateMaudie'ssplendidribsofbeefwiththecrunchingroastpotatoesandhoney-walnuticecreamafter.IsatbetweenMaudieandDotandbehavedwithpropriety.

Theyoungerchildrenchatteredabouttherabbitruninthegardenwherethefamilypetshaddoubledthemselvesinnumberwithinthepastyear.'They'llgotothebutcheroneofthesedays,'Maudiemutteredtomedarkly.'Theygetoutandeatmydahlias.'

'Oneofthebunniesismissing,'heryoungerdaughterwasinsisting.

'Howcanyoupossiblytell?'Michaelasked.'Therearesomanyofthem.'

'Therewerefifteenlastweekandtodaythereareonlyfourteen.Icountedthem.'

'Probablythedogsateone.'

'Daddy!'

LornatalkedtoBruceFarwayaboutpensioned-offsteeplechasers,oneofhercurrentcharities,andhelistenedwithinterest.Unbelievable.

ThetalkturnedtoJerichoRichandhisdesertionofMichael'sstable.

'Ungratefulbeast,'Maudiesaidvehemently.'Afterallthosewinners!'

Ihatehim,'Tessasaidwithenoughintensitytoearnasharpglancefromherfather.

'Whyespecially?'heasked.

Sheshrugged,tightmouthed,denyinghimananswer.Seventeen,fullofunspecifiedresentments,shewasoneofthosechildrenwho'dneverlackedforanythingbutcouldn'tsettleforbeingoneoflife'sfavouredmortals.Shewasahead-t.o.s.s.e.rbesidesawhispererandshedidn'tlikemeanymorethanIlikedher.

Ed,herbrother,sixteenandprettystupid,said,'JerichoRichwanteds.e.xwithTessaandshewouldn't,andthat'swhyhetookhishorsesaway.'

AsaconversationstopperitwasofOscar-earningcalibre,andinthebreath-heldaghastsilencethefrontdoorbellrang.

ConstableSandySmithhadcalled.ApologeticallyhetoldMichaelthatheneededDrFarwayandalsoFreddieCroft.

'What'shappened?'Michaelasked.

SandytoldMichael,BruceFarwayandmyselfprivatelyoutinthefrontentrancehall.

'Thatmechanicofyours,Freddie.ThatJogger.He'sjustbeenfoundalongatyourfarmyard.He'sintheinspectionpit.Andhe'sdead.'

CHAPTER4.

Jogger'sneckwasbroken.

Westoodlookingdownathim,thesidewaysangleofhisheadtohisbodyimpossibleinlife.

'Hemusthavefallenin,'Farwaysaidasifstatingtheobvious.

FromtheothersideofthepitHarvemetmyeyes,clearlythinking,asIwas,thatforJoggertohavefallenaccidentallyintoaninspectionpithewouldhavetohavebeenreelingdrunk,andeventhenIwouldhavebetonhisinstinctstosavehim.

Asifcatchingthethought,oratleastthefirsthalfofit,SandySmithsighed,'Hehadarightskinfullastnightinthepub.Ravingonaboutaliensunderthelorries.Lonerangers,stufflikethat.Itookhiscarkeysoffhimanddrovehimhomeintheend.I'd'vehadtoarresthimforbeingdrunkincharge,otherwise.'

BruceFarwayaskedhimofficiously,'Haveyouinformedhiswifeofthis?'

'Notmarried,'Sandysaid.

'Nonext-of-kinatall,'Iamplified.'Ihavenext-of-kinlistedforallmyemployees,andJoggersaidhehadn'tany.'

Farwayshrugged,climbeddownthemetalladderboltedtotheinspectionpitwallandbentclinicallyoverthecrookedbody,lightlytouchingthebentneck.Then,standingupright,nodding,hereportedtomealmostaccusingly,'Yes,thisone'sdeadaswell.'

Twocorpsesfoundonmypropertyinfourdays,heseemedtoimply,weresuspiciouslyexcessive.

MichaelWatermead,whohaddesertedthetail-endofhislunchpartytofollowmealongtothedisasterinthefarmyard,askedcuriously,'Aswellaswhat?'

'Thehitchhiker,'Isaid.'Thursday.'

'Ohyes.Ofcourse.Iwasforgetting.OnthewaybackfromtakingJericho'stwo-year-olds.'ThethoughtofJerichobroughtascowltothenaturallypatricianfeatures,hissonEd'sappallinglycasualrevelationasyetundigested,unprocessed.

Michael,Iguessed,hadbeenpromptedtobepresentnowinmybarnbyamixtureofstraightforwardmorbidinterest,supportivefriendlinessandthetypicalfuzzyoverallsenseofresponsibilityinthecommunitywhichkeptmuchofruralEnglishlifewithinsaneparameters.HebroughtanywayaweightofauthoritytotheproceedingswhichHarve,Sandy,Farwayandmyselfmighthavelacked.

'Howlonghashebeendead?'Iasked.'Imean...hours?Lastnight?'

BruceFarwaysaidhesitantly,'He'sprettycold,butI'dsayfairlylatethismorning.'

Weunderstood,allofus,thatacloserguesswasimpossibleatthatpoint.Thepit.i.tselfandtheairtemperaturewerecoldalso.ThedoctorclimbeduptheladderandsuggestedthatheandSandyshouldagaincallfortheultimateinremovers.

'Howaboutphotographs?'Isaid.'I'veacameraintheoffice.'

Everyonesolemnlyagreedonphotographs.Iwalkedthroughtheyard,unlockedtheoffices,collectedmyNikonandreturnedtothebarn.TheotherswerestillwhereI'dleftthem,standingroundthepitlookingdownatJoggerwithunreadablethoughts.

Althoughtherewasacertainamountofdaylightinthebarnfromawindowlookingintothefarmyardwealwayshadtotopitupwithelectricityforwork.Theoverheadlightswereallon,butevensoIusedflashforthepictures,takingseveralshotsfromroundtherimofthepitandseveralothersfromitsfloor,downbesidemypoormechanic.

Ididn'ttouchhim,thoughIbentneartophotographhishead.Helayintheanglebetweenwallandfloor;roughgrease-streakedconcretewalls,oil-blackenedfloor.Heseemedtobelookingatthewallsixinchesfromhisnose,hiseyes,likethoseofsomanysuddenlydead,stillopen.Theyellowteethshowedintwounevenrowswithinhismouth.Heworetheoldarmyjersey,thedirt-cloggedtrousers,theoldcrackedboots.Hestillsmelled,extraordinarily,ofoilanddust;ofearth,notdeath.

Thepitwasfivefeetdeep.Standingupright,mydirectlineofsightwasroughlylevelwiththeanklesofSandy,HarveandMichael.BruceFarwaywasbehindme.Forapetrifyingsecond,aprimitiveinstinctwarnedmeagainststandingupwithmyneckstickingoutofaholeinthegroundandIturnedquicklybutsawFarwayharmlesslywritinginasmallnotebook,andfeltfoolish.

IhauledmyselfuptheladderoutofthepitandaskedHarvehowhe'dhappenedtofindJoggeratthatparticulartime.

Harveshrugged.'Idon'tknow.Ijustwanderedroundtheyard,likeIoftendo.Theboxesworkingtodayhadallleft.Iwashereearliercheckingthemout,see,tomakesure.Thentowastetime,sortof,whileIwaswaitingforlunchtobeready,Iwalkedroundagain.'

Inodded.Harvelikedtobeonhisfeetalways,andonthemove.

'SothenInoticedthelightswereoninthebarn,'hesaid,'andIthoughtImightsaveusabitofelectricitysoIwalkedoverherethinkingthatIhadn'tseenanyonecomeoverhereearlier.Nooneneededto.Iwasn'tworried,see,onlyIjustcameoverforalookaroundand,likeIsaid,toswitchthelightsoff.'Hepaused.'Don'taskmewhyIgotasfaroverasthepit.Idon'tknowwhy.Ijustdidit.'

Thepitinfactwaswellovertothefarsideofthebarn,expresslytostoppeoplesteppingoveritsedgeunawares.Alargeroll-backdooratoneendofthebarnmadeitpossibletodriveahorseboxstraightinoverthepit.Thesmalldoornearestthefarmyard,whichpeopleonfootused,openedintoageneralworkshoparea,withtoolskeptinalargelockedstoreinonecorner.

Iasked,'DoyouthinkJoggerwaslyinghereallthetimewhiledriverscameintoworkandtooktheboxesout?'

Harvewastroubled.'Idon'tknow.Hecouldhavebeen.Givesyoutheshudders,doesn't.i.t?'

Thepost-mortemwilltellus,ehBruce?'Michaelsaid,andBruce,Preeningslightlyattheintimacyoftheuseofhisfirstname,agreedthatspeculationcouldbesafelyleftforthatevent.

MichaelcaughtthesatiricalglanceIgaveinhisdirectionandcameveryclosetoawink.Thewinningoverofthedoctorwasclearlysucceeding.

FarwayandSandybetweenthemproducedtheirmobilephonesandsummonedthenecessarycohorts.Michaelaskedifhecouldusethephoneinmyoffice.Helpyourself,Isaid,it'sopen.HesaunteredoffonhiserrandandwhenHarveandIfollowed,feelingupsetandinsecure,Michaelwa.s.saying,'d.a.m.nedshameforpooroldFreddie,'intoIsobel'sphone,thefirstonehe'dcometo,and'Oh,accidental,undoubtedly.Mustgonow.Seeyou.'

Herangoff,saidthanksandgoodbyeandleftsmilingwithuniversalbenignity,happyintheknowledgethathewouldn'thavetofeelanypersonalrepercussionsfromJogger'sdeath.

'Whatdoyoureckon?'Harveaskedaswereachedourjointly-usedsanctumandpausedforconsideration.

'Doyoubelievehefellin?'Iasked.

'Don'twanttothinkofthealternative.'

'No,'Iagreed.

'Butifhedidn'tfall...'

Heleftthewordshanging,andsodidI.

Isaid,'WhowasinthepublastnightwithJogger?'

Harvebeganansweringautomatically,'Sandy,ofcourse.Davewasboundtobe...Iwasn't...'Hebrokeoff,aghast.'Doyoumean...whowasinthepubtohearhimtalkingaboutaliensunderthelorries?Youcan'tmean...youcan't...'

Ishookmyhead,thoughhowcouldonehelpwondering?

'We'llwaitforthecause-of-deathreport,'Isaid.'Ifit'sprovedheskiddedonapatchofoilandfellandhithisneckontheedgeofthepit-whichispossible-we'lldecidethenwhattodo.'

'b.u.t.thatcashboxhiding-placewasempty,'Harveinsisted.'NoonewouldkillJoggerjustbecausehe'dfoundanemptythinglikethat.Theywouldn't.Itcan'tbeanythinglikethat.'

'No,'Isaid.

Harvestaredworriedlyoutattherowofhorseboxes.

'WhenIfoundhim,'hesaid,'Iwentbackhomeandphonedyourpersonallinefromthere,butIgotyouransweringmachinesayingyou'dphonebacksoon,likeitdoeswhenyou'reonlygoingtobeawayanhourortwo.But,well,Ididn'tthinkitcouldwait,soIphonedSandy.Wasthatallright?'

'Theonlythingyoucoulddo.'

'Wedidn'tknowwhereyouwere.IntheendwetriedIsobelandshesaidshethoughtyou'dbeattheWatermeads',asNigelhadtoldheryouweregoingtolunchtherewhenhephonedtosaythedaughterhadmixedupthedeparturetime.ItseemsTessatoldNigel.SoSandysaidhe'dgoroundandfetchyou.'

'Mm.'NewstravelledinPixhillindizzyingspirals.

Harvebeganshowingtroubledsignsofindecision,whichfromourlongproximityIidentifiedimmediatelyas...o...b..overwhetherornotheshouldtellmesomethingImightnotwanttohear.

'Spit.i.tout,'Isaidresignedly.

'Oh!Well...NigelsaidTessawantedtogotoNewmarketwithhim,withthefillies.Sheclimbedintotheboxandsatreadyinthepa.s.sengerseat.'

'Ihopehedidn'ttakeher.'

'No,buthewasflummoxed.Imean,hehadyouononesidethreateningthesacktoanyonegivinglifts,andherontheotherside,thetrainer'sdaughter,wantingaride.'Hepaused.'She'saproperlittlemadam,thatgirl,andNigel'sas.e.xyhunk,somywifesays,and...don'ttakemewrong...Ithoughtyou'dbetterknow.'

'I'mgrateful,'Isaidwithtruth.'That'samesswecandowithout.Idon'twanttoloseMichaelWatermead'sworkjustbecausehisdaughterfanciesoneofourdrivers.We'dbetternotsendNigelthereagain,thoughit'sd.a.m.nedannoying,tosaytheleast.'

Lewis,ofcourse,wasMichael'sdriverofchoice,butveryoftenWatermeadhorsesneededmorethanonebox.NotbeingabletosendNigelcutdownmyoptions.