Don't Feed the Rat! Read online

  Jacob pulled a picture out of his other pocket. He held it up for everyone to see. He was enjoying this. If only his students were such a captive audience.

  ‘This is where I first saw the brooch. There are four people in this picture. Parents Rabbie and Fiona Douglas and their two daughters, Brenda and Bonnie. They lived in the Scottish lowlands, just south of Glasgow. This picture was taken in 1947 when Fiona turned forty. If you look carefully, you can see she’s wearing the brooch on the lapel of her dress.’ McDermott snatched the picture out of Jacob’s hand and studied the picture.

  Jacob continued. ‘I did some research online and it turned out that daughter Brenda married a Neil Fraser and daughter Bonnie a man named Allan Ainsworth.’ He looked down at Doug, who was listening with squinted eyes. ‘Brenda and Neil were your parents. They moved to England, to Middlesbrough to be precise, where Neil got a job in the mines. They had two sons, Doug and Ian.

  ‘Brenda’s sister Bonnie and her husband Allan ended up in York. Allan worked at the railway carriage works and they had one son, Godric. Both Godric and his cousin Ian ended up working for the railways in York; Godric in management and Ian as a mechanic. They never really met at work, but they knew each other through the local Scottish St Andrew’s Society. They didn’t, however, know they were cousins.’

  Jacob looked at his audience, who now stood in a semicircle around him. ‘I heard this from Godric’s wife Linda, who I happened to bump into this afternoon. She told me that Rabbie Douglas, her mother-in-law’s father, had disowned his other daughter Brenda and broken all contact with her. He didn’t approve of her marrying Neil Fraser. So the three cousins, Godric, Ian and Doug, grew up not knowing of each other’s existence.’

  Doug fixed a stare at Jacob. ‘Don’t you dare say anything bad about my mother!’

  Jacob shook his head. ‘I’m not saying anything bad about her. No doubt she was heartbroken about losing contact with her family.’

  ‘She was robbed of her inheritance,’ Doug said. He leaned forward. ‘Everything went to Bonnie.’

  Jacob pulled the brooch from his pocket again. ‘Including this brooch?’

  Doug struggled against the ropes that bound his hands. ‘That brooch is mine! I am the eldest son of the eldest daughter and it’s mine. I need that brooch! Give it to me!’

  Jacob said in a calm tone, ‘I guess you need it because you are in debt. That was why Jebediah Chase’s men have been following you around. To put pressure on you to pay him back.’

  Doug sulked and looked at the ground.

  ‘You have been in York for a while now. Did you visit your brother to borrow money from him? Did Ian refuse to give you anything?’

  Doug’s nostrils flared and he spat in the grass. ‘My brother was an idiot. He always had better marks at school, always was the apple of my mother’s eye.’ He strained against the ropes again, as if wanting to get up. ‘Ian should have helped me! Especially as he knew where the brooch was.’

  Jacob looked around at his audience of attentive listeners. ‘Yes. Linda told me some interesting things about that as well. She inherited the brooch from her mother-in-law and wore it to a meeting of the York St Andrew’s Society a number of years ago. It was stolen that same night while she was at the meeting and Linda never saw it again, until I showed it to her this afternoon.

  ‘As I said before, Ian was a member of the society. He was a Scot after all. Like many other people, he came to Godric’s funeral wearing a kilt. Did he steal the brooch because he had discovered that it was the same one that Fiona was wearing in the picture? The brooch his mother Brenda should have inherited, but went to her sister Bonnie instead?’

  Doug took a deep breath. ‘Ian and I found the picture in our mother’s belongings when she died five years ago. Ian took it home and at the St Andrew’s meeting recognised the brooch from it. On an impulse he then stole the brooch from Linda and buried it on his allotment. Don’t ask me why. Perhaps he was afraid of people finding it at his home, but that’s where he hid it.’

  McDermott cleared his throat. ‘Okay, all this reminiscing is all well and good. They were a family with problems, like every family. But why was Godric murdered? And Ian?’

  Jacob ignored McDermott and went on. ‘Doug needed money. Clyde and Hal were putting pressure on him, so I assume Doug started pressuring his brother Ian for money. Whatever money there was.’

  Doug nodded. ‘I searched Ian’s house for money. I didn’t find much, but I did find the picture. It was then that I remembered about the brooch. Ian was angry with me for looking through his stuff and we got into an argument. I told him he always was the goody-goody in the family and had never lifted a finger to help me. He got even angrier and he let slip he knew where the brooch was.

  ‘After I knew about the brooch, I couldn’t let it go again. I pestered Ian into showing it to me, so we went to his allotment to dig it up. It was almost dark when we got there and Godric heard us. He was all curious and came over from his allotment. Stupid nosy parker. Of course he recognised the brooch and started accusing Ian of stealing it. Ian then told Godric that the brooch was rightfully ours. But Godric said that his mother had inherited the brooch, so it was his and went to grab it. I stopped him. Godric then told me to my face that he had no doubt I was the runt of the litter. That made me mad.’

  Jacob stared down at Doug. ‘So you strangled Godric with Ian’s garden hose.’

  Doug nodded.

  ‘And then the two of you carried Godric’s body back to his own allotment.’

  Doug nodded again.

  ‘I’d always known Ian as a tidy and structured man,’ Jacob said. ‘And yet I saw him rolling up his garden hose on Monday morning, two days after the murder. I didn’t realise at the time that Ian hadn’t used the hose that morning. The soil was dry, so if he had used it, it would have been some days before. Then why hadn’t he rolled up his hose earlier, right after he’d used it, as was in his character?’ Jacob looked around, not expecting an answer. ‘Because he hadn’t used it to water his vegetables. He was tidying up the crime scene.’

  ‘But that doesn’t explain why Doug killed Ian,’ Dave said. ‘Was he afraid that Ian was going to confess to the police?’

  Doug now glared at Dave. ‘That idiot Ian didn’t want to tell me where the paintings were. I wanted them as well, so I could sell them.’

  ‘What paintings?’ Jacob asked.

  ‘The paintings in the picture. They looked as if they could be worth some money and I wanted them.’ Doug shrugged. ‘If Ian had the brooch, why wouldn’t he have the paintings?’

  Jacob took the picture back from McDermott and studied it. ‘But the paintings in this backdrop belong to the photographer’s studio where the picture was taken.’

  Doug turned pale. He narrowed his eyes at Jacob. ‘That’s not true! You’re lying. The paintings also belong to us, just like the brooch!’

  Jacob hesitated. His thoughts were going a hundred miles per hour.

  ‘Is that why you started looking for them?’ Jacob asked, deciding to go with Doug’s delusion. ‘Breaking into Godric’s shed and the society shed?’

  Doug nodded. ‘I couldn’t find them anywhere, so I was certain Ian knew where they were. After I searched Ian’s house from top to bottom again, I went to his allotment to look in his shed. He followed me and told me to stop. That idiot had no idea what Jebediah’s men would do to me if I didn’t find some money. They kept an eye on me. They pestered me and hung out in front of Ian’s house, trying to spook me. Anywhere I looked those two men were. I needed those paintings!’

  ‘And Ian tried to stop you finding them, so you smothered him,’ Jacob said. ‘But after that you still didn’t have the paintings. And what’s more, you dropped the brooch when you fled Ian’s allotment.’

  Doug looked from Jacob to Emily. ‘You two were everywhere. On Godric’s allotment, hanging about, asking questions. I saw you with the brooch this morning and it was then that I knew you had the paintings a
s well!’

  ‘But why, Doug? We only found the brooch. Why would we have the paintings as well?’

  ‘Because you were in cahoots with my brother,’ Doug yelled. His face turned red and his eyes bulged. ‘You wanted all the money for yourself! Even Hal and Clyde thought so. That’s why we had to get the girl to talk. Now give me my brooch and my paintings! I need the money!’ He managed to scramble up and strained against the ropes. Tears swam in his eyes. ‘I need the money.’

  McDermott stepped forward. ‘That’s enough.’ He grabbed Doug by the elbow and led him off the allotment, not once looking back at Jacob. Abe pulled up Clyde and handed him over to one of the other policemen. He grinned from ear to ear as he watched them walk away.

  He turned to Jacob and shook his hand. ‘Well done, my friend! There can’t be any doubt now in McDermott’s mind about you being innocent.’

  Jacob smiled back. ‘I sincerely hope so.’

  Abe’s mobile rang and he wandered off to answer it.

  Emily gave Jacob a big hug. ‘Congratulations, professor! I knew you would be able to solve these murders.’

  Jacob smiled at her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. ‘Couldn’t have done it without you.’

  Dave now also shook Jacob’s hand. ‘That was fantastic. Where did you learn how to do that?’

  ‘I know!’ Emily said and grinned. ‘He’s secretly watching Miss Marple on TV every night. Aren’t you?’

  Abe returned to them. ‘That was my colleague. The last remaining henchman still at large has now also been caught. They arrested Hal Simms while he was trying to break in to your house.’ He chuckled. ‘No doubt looking for the missing paintings.’

  ‘Did he get in?’ Jacob asked.

  Abe shook his head. ‘No he didn’t. Mrs Jefferson was keeping an eye on your house and seeing a shady character hanging about, called the police.’ He slapped Jacob on the shoulder. ‘Just be happy that she doesn’t think you’re a shady character any more.’

  ‘Doesn’t she?’

  Abe chuckled. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

  They walked away.

  Priscilla still stood with her dog in her arms and watched them go. ‘But what about those rats?’ she asked. ‘They attacked me and she made them do it.’ She pointed an accusing finger at Emily.

  Emily turned around and looked at Priscilla. ‘There is no rat conspiracy. Just get that out of your head.’

  ‘But there is.’ She looked at them, eyes bulging. She pointed at the rain barrel. ‘They are everywhere and they have a plan.’

  Jacob turned around. ‘Seriously, Priscilla. Are you going to be as crazy about this as Doug is about some non-existent paintings?’ They left Priscilla standing, fuming in the long grass.

  * * *

  Paddy

  All the two-leggeds were leaving, except Mad Maggie. I watched her from behind the rain barrel as she stared at the backs of the retreating two-leggeds. I felt light and happy as if a heavy weight had been lifted off me. Where before I saw a spectre of my past when I looked at Mad Maggie, now I saw just a common two-legged, like there were so many of on the hill.

  ‘Wasn’t that interesting,’ I said, turning to the others. ‘Did you see how Mad Maggie reacted to us in the shed? She was scared to death of us.’

  Pete nodded. ‘Yes, just like Blue Jacket. He was hilarious. Swinging the broom and such.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, Pete.’ Vinnie swatted him around the head. ‘Blue Jacket could have trampled us all with his antics.’

  ‘No, it’s more than that,’ I said. ‘Don’t you see? All this time that Mad Maggie has made our lives difficult, shouting at us for being around and eating the bird food, and threatening to kill us all. I thought she was just being Mad Maggie. You know, the Mad Maggie from Great-grandma Arabella’s ratlore stories. Preparing to destroy us all.’

  I looked at Vinnie, Pete and Eddy. ‘But she wasn’t actually planning these things. Instead she was scared of us and simply didn’t want to see us or even know we were around.’ I pointed at Mad Maggie. ‘She has a rat phobia, but the Mad Maggie from the ratlore would never be scared of us!’

  Vinnie stared at me, slack jawed. ‘So do you mean to say that this Mad Maggie is just a regular two-legged and that ratlore isn’t real?’

  I hesitated. It was so like Vinnie to take my conclusion a step further than I had intended. ‘I do think ratlore is real. I can’t imagine that everything Great-grandma Arabella told me was not true. But I now know that this Mad Maggie is not part of it. She’s just a regular two-legged like all the others.’

  As if she had heard me, Mad Maggie chose this moment to give us one more sideways glance and stalk off.

  Albie and Max, who like good little rats had been listening to what we said, ran forward giggling and nipping at her heels. Mad Maggie shrieked and started running.

  ‘Don’t do that, boys,’ I said. ‘She will get mad at us again.’

  We watched as my nephews completely ignored me.

  ‘They might not be part of Cecil’s posse any more,’ Vinnie said, shaking his head at them, ‘but they do need some discipline to get them back in line.’

  I nodded. ‘I couldn’t agree more.’

  We followed at a distance and made our way off the allotment through the high grass. Back on the path we watched as Mad Maggie put her dog down and egged him on to catch Albie and Max. ‘Get them, Major! You grab them, there’s a good boy.’ My nephews turned about and scampered under a bramble hedge, while Mad Maggie walked off.

  ‘Perhaps that will teach them,’ I said.

  ‘Do you think?’ Vinnie looked at me, scratching the fur on his chin.

  I shook my head. ‘Nah.’

  Clara came running towards us. ‘Where are my little’uns!’

  I pointed at the bramble hedge, from where Albie and Max appeared. ‘I brought them back to you.’

  Clara swatted my ear. ‘You should have never lost them in the first place. Some uncle are you.’

  Pete giggled.

  I knew Clara was right and watched as she took her two babies back down the hill. ‘I hope everything is sorted out now.’

  ‘Why wouldn’t it be?’ Vinnie said.

  ‘I don’t know.’ I thought for a bit as we walked down the hill. ‘I know Mad Maggie is just a two-legged, but there is something still niggling in the back of my mind.’

  Vinnie sighed. ‘You’re never happy. Look at Pete and Eddy. They’re content just looking for food.’

  We watched Pete holding a juicy big snail out to Eddy, who recoiled, but then retaliated by hitting Pete in the eye with a rosebud.

  I wished I could move on as quickly as Pete. I really did.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  They sat at a table for a change. That was easier than sitting at the bar, not only because they were having a pub lunch, but also as there were quite a few of them.

  The Fox & Glove was busy. It was as if the people of Milbury had come out in droves to have Sunday lunch, feeling safe now that the ‘Hoes & Rakes’ murderer was behind bars.

  It had been three days since Jacob pointed out Doug Fraser as Godric’s and Ian’s killer. The whole neighbourhood continued to be abuzz with what happened in the past week and the murders were still the favourite topic of gossipmongers like the Jeffersons. Mrs Jefferson was especially proud of her own involvement of capturing a dangerous criminal and wouldn’t let up about it.

  Jacob, Emily and Dave were joined for lunch by Dave’s wife Judith, Emily’s friend Liz, Abe and Peggy. It was time to celebrate that things were going back to normal.

  Well, what is normal, Jacob thought. Peggy normally didn’t hang out with Dave and him, but today she did. He stole a glance at her. She was looking nice in her frock. Peggy caught him watching her. He felt his cheeks burn and realised he had better say something.

  ‘Um, thank you for helping out with my mother,’ Jacob said. He nodded at the table in the far corner where Dot and her friend Florrie were chatting away whi
le eating their way through a Sunday roast special.

  Peggy looked at them and smiled. ‘Oh, my pleasure. I enjoyed having her around. But I’m also glad she’s settled back in her own house.’

  ‘Yes. She’s glad to be back. No more threat of eviction. She’s back to her old self.’

  Dave and Abe arrived with the drinks.

  ‘A toast,’ Dave said, holding his pint aloft, ‘to the fantastic sleuthing of Jacob, who absolved himself of being a suspect.’

  ‘Hear, hear.’ They all took a sip of their drinks.

  Jacob’s ears had turned red. He was suddenly feeling quite shy and cleared his throat. ‘Well, I couldn’t have done it without Emily’s help.’

  ‘A toast to Emily,’ Dave said. ‘Without whose nagging, Jacob would never have gotten his arse into gear in the first place.’

  It was Emily’s turn to blush. Peggy touched her arm and smiled. ‘Well done.’

  ‘So, Abe,’ Dave said. ‘Has Doug been charged with murder yet?’

  Abe nodded. ‘This morning. And Clyde and Hal Simms were charged with kidnapping and breaking and entering respectively.’

  ‘Good to have them off the streets of Milbury,’ Dave said.

  ‘So sad that a family feud can lead to a double murder,’ Peggy said.

  Dave nodded. ‘Well, we all know that family circumstances can lead to a lot of things...’ His words hung in the air for bit.

  ‘I had a phone call from Magnus Cotterill yesterday evening,’ Jacob said to break the silence. ‘He delved a bit deeper into the origin of the brooch and it turns out that it was worth a whole lot more than a hundred and fifty pounds.’

  All eyes were on Jacob. ‘Apparently the stone is a ruby, cut in a special way. In the current market it could be worth as much as ten thousand pounds.’

  Everyone gasped.