Nothing much happened until we’d come off the M5, joined the M4 and were approaching our turn-off at the junction north of Bath. We were using number two car.
‘I think you have a tail, old boy.’
‘What?’
‘Been with us since Bristol.’
‘Well, I am cruising just inside the speed limit.’
‘Looks like a government car to me. I must say this extra mirror for the passenger side, is very good.’
‘Got it from an old driving instructor friend, years ago. However, time passes.’ I started fiddling with the dashboard computer controls. ‘There you go, rear view camera.’
‘Good lord!’
‘So, zooming-in on the number plate, now we just wait a second, there, on the side panel. Now that is one of the restricted codes, is that government? I know it isn’t the code for any of the police forces.’
‘Beyond me old man.’
‘Anyway, let us have a go at zooming-in for facial recognition. Well, blow me, we don’t need the database for that. I know him!’
‘You have some strange friends.’
‘Hark who’s talking! The last time we met, he was running security at Downing Street for one Buffy Trumpton. Acted as a bit of a mentor for Charlie when she was on the inside, during the global summit.’
‘But is he friend or enemy now, that’s what you have to ask yourself?’
‘Or, have he and his mate, just had the same invitation to attend a funeral as we’ve had?!’
As we entered the main village street at Chipping What Not, still being followed, there were vehicles parked all along the church side of the road. We were rapidly flagged down by Melisa, so darkly and formally dressed she reminded me of Charlie. She opened the door for Kenneth. ‘I’m under strict instructions to escort you around today, Ken. Tony, Dad says to drive on to the cottage, he’s reserved the second parking space for you.’
‘Will do.’
Barmy and I walked the couple of hundred yards to the church together; ‘I should tell you; Daphne is in agreement at last to go to your solicitors with her father’s Will, then we bring ours up to date, with trust or foundation arrangements for all our combined assets. Too much for Mel and Bel to handle right now, should disaster strike.’
‘And the cottage?’
‘We’ll hang on to it for now, make a nice holiday home.’
‘Like so many others, here about.’
‘Quite so, you may find Daphne on the war path about your mate Jack, she saw him in the news, no smoke without fire stuff, wondering why Melisa is negotiating with him for a car, Mel even said she quite fancied being a motor mechanic. You can imagine.’
‘Thanks for warning me.’
‘Are we the last?’ Barmy asked Daphne.
‘Last from the list, but there’s half the village in there too, they remember mummy, which is nice.’
‘Chin-up and best foot forward then Daph.’ I spoke.
‘We need to talk about Melisa, simply refuses to look at the universities. Unbelievable, a straight A student, talking about apprenticeships in classic cars, or social care courses for the shelter. And totally under the spell of you and Charlotte. Damn it Tony, we have to explain to the girls about the money within weeks.’
‘Well, she’s showing all the social graces today.’ I quipped, with no Charlie to restrain me.
‘Just, just get inside the two of you.’
As we walked down the nave, Ken seemed to be being acknowledged by many and was happily chatting away. I sat on one side of Daphne, Barmy on the other, whilst the girls twittered away to themselves. I said; ‘If you want to positively-vet Jack, just drop by the club. Henry Walpole successfully defended him about twenty-five years ago on a charge of handling stolen goods, he walked from the court without a stain on his character. It’s just our chief of police who never forgets and is forever thinking two plus two must equal five. And Fiona, our part-time Marketing manager, spends most of her time working for Jack as his front of house, receptionist and admin assistant, at his classic car workshop.’
The service got underway, it was all very right and proper. Significant others giving readings and what I took to be an ex-colleague, talking about a lifetime of public service. All devised by the old man himself, presumably. The tone didn’t change until the end, when the vicar invited us all to join in with the singing of Jerusalem. I was taken aback by the gusto of my fellow attendees as we belted it all out, so inevitably the service concluded with; ‘...In Englands green and pleasant Land.’
At the graveside I found myself in the second row, as it were, amongst a sea of strangers. Suddenly one of the men next to me said, in not quite hushed enough tones; ‘You are Anthony Arlington. My name is Casper Wieck.’
‘I’m sorry, have we met?’
‘You don’t recognise me, that’s good. You’re not one of us then?’
‘I don’t think so. Friend of the family.’
‘Still your face is familiar, never forget a name. Perhaps your file passed over my desk at some time. Retired now, can’t say I know what’s going on anymore. Still, you brought Murchison. How is the old rogue?’
‘He’s my gardener now.’
‘Good lord!’ Heads turned, he shut up.
As we moved on from the graveyard, I caught up with an only too familiar figure; ‘Nice seeing you again!’
‘How are you, sir? Sparkwell not driving you today?’
‘Well, it is only a two-seater and I’m here with another friend of the family. But then you’d know all about that.’
‘Word to the wise, sir. I think you’ll find people aren’t so much curious about you, but the car. Even more than your longstanding association with the secret state’s leading techno-head.’
‘Is that Barmy’s reputation these days?’
‘Very much so, sir.’
‘I suppose there’s no point asking what your job is now, or who you answer to?’
‘We get moved around, sir. Do give my regards to Ms Charlotte.’
Back at the cottage; ‘Thank God you’re here! I’ve no idea what’s going on.’ Said Melisa, sideling up.
‘Well neither have I!’
‘Yes, but you’re at least, normal.’
‘How’s Ken?’
‘Just got him a decent seat and a cup of tea. He looks knackered.’
‘I’m sure. Why don’t you give me a tour of the place, haven’t been here in thirty years.’
When we reached Daphne’s, Daddy’s study, Mel said; ‘The sanctum sanctorum.’
‘You might care to raid his library, don’t imagine your parents will be much interested. And of course, people traditionally love hiding vital and ancient paperwork between the pages of books. Anyway, your mother gave me an ear-wigging about you, seemed to blame Charlotte and myself.’
‘She’s mad. And something about Grandpa’s death has put her in a panic.’
‘Well spotted, look I might as well tell you, I’m not meant to know, but it’ll give you a chance to prepare yourself. Part of his Will jumps a generation, giving monies direct to you and Bel, when you each turn eighteen.’
‘Really? I had no idea. Is it like, a lot?’
‘By the standards you’re used to, yes; but in terms of the bigger picture, your father’s inheritance, peanuts.’
‘How do you know any of this Tony?’
‘I’ve known all the players a long time. Also, I’ve been keeping control of a family fortune out of the hands of others myself, for a very long time. So, to cut a long story short, work for Captain Bob, work for Jack, or both if you care to, just sign-up for a night school class in accounting, you need to know the value of money and it’s not what most people think it is.’
Arriving back in the front room, Kenneth declared; ‘We can go now Anthony. All’s done and dusted.’
On the road home Kenneth was quiet for a while. Then; ‘Well, that was enlightening, most instructive.’
‘It was?’
‘Oh, yes. All up to date now, fully briefed.’
‘You wouldn’t care to enlighten me would you, nothing much about today has made any sense.’
‘Oh, no. That would never do, need to know and all that.’
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