A Servant of the Company (29 page)

Carol had estimated the drive to Diane’s flat would take two hours, allowing for the odd delay and she was right. They arrived within minutes of her calculation and parked in front of the imposing Victorian house surrounded by impressive gardens. Her early morning call to Diane had found her friend awake and having coffee. The response to the request for a visit later in the morning had been accepted graciously. Once she had put the telephone down she remembered that she had forgotten to include Anthea and Steve in the equation.

‘Well, your friend does seem to be doing well, this is luxury living.’ Anthea turned to get a better view of the house. ‘The rooms must be enormous with those really high ceilings. As agreed Steve and I will stay in the car Carol. Once you see how Diane reacts you can play it by ear, it would help if we all got together but only you can judge if the timing and her reaction are in our favour.’

Carol picked up her bag and opened the car door before turning to her friends. ‘Believe me she is a super person and if she can help, I’m sure she will. With luck I’ll be back in five minutes.’ It was a less confident Carol who checked the names at the front door of the house and finally rang the bell indicating Miss Diane Adams. Her worry was that Diane would have too much to lose if things turned against them, and getting involved with their plight might destroy her life too.

The rooms were enormous as Anthea had predicted. Diane had furnished them with antiques, or were they reproduction. Carol couldn’t tell. She did know however that the cost of furnishing the flat must have been considerable. After their initial greeting, Diane looked out of the window, ‘I noticed you have friends in the car, why don’t you invite them in, they’re more than welcome. The coffee is on and I have enough goodies to go around.’

‘Before I ask them to come in Diane I must tell you something. If you want me to stop talking and show me to the door I will understand.’ All her words had come out in a rush, not at all as she had planned. It was going to be difficult, the friendship was going to be on a knife edge and all she could do was hope that Diane would understand. ‘You told me about a friend of yours, Simon Colbourne.’ She paused, the plan she had made to introduce their predicament evaporated, her lower lip quivered and then she burst into tears.

‘Carol, Carol.’ Diane’s arms were around her shoulders offering comfort. ‘Look, trust me don’t get upset. What is it about Simon? I won’t be annoyed, he’s history.’

After a ten minute discussion, with Diane asking questions when she was unsure of the flow of events, she held Carol close to her. ‘Somehow I felt something was wrong on Wednesday but I couldn’t put my finger on it. My God Carol it’s a nightmare. How on earth have you put up with it?’

The tears had stopped, Carol was calmer now having unburdened herself of all of the terror she had experienced. ‘It hasn’t been easy. Do you think there is any possibility of your Simon Colbourne being our man?’ She reached for her friend’s hands, longing to hear a positive response.

‘There are some likenesses, the nodding and the voice, but it is difficult for me to reconcile the picture of a fanatical killer with the man I know. He just wasn’t like that, but if you want I will call his office and if that fails I have another idea. But let’s try his Company first. On Saturdays they have someone in the office, I remember him telling me that. But before I ring, please ask your friends to come in, they must be wondering what on earth is going on.’

Following the introductions and Diane pouring coffee, she reiterated what she had been told by Carol just to make sure she had the facts right. She could not believe Simon was their man.

‘Well here goes.’ Picking up her leather bound Filofax, she found the number which she quickly keyed into her telephone.

Following a brief conversation she thanked the member of the Colbourne staff for their help and replaced the telephone. ‘Well there’s a thing.’ She remained standing, looking towards the window, avoiding eye contact with her friend, then turning she looked at them all in turn.

‘He asked me to tell Mr. Simon to contact the office when I found him. Apparently he normally speaks to the Financial Director each week, but this week he didn’t, and they have been unable to get hold of him.’ The faces were eager for more news from the phone call but that was all she had. ‘We have to solve this one, I have to prove you wrong. Somewhere I have his address and directions to get there. Give me a couple of minutes and I’ll find it, my filing system is good, not perfect but good.’ Leaving the room she set off to retrieve the information.

She returned waving a foolscap sheet. ‘From Simon’s own hand. Now tell me what you think of this? I’ll drive down to his manor house, call at the gatehouse and check there. There are a lovely couple who look after the house and grounds on a full time basis, they should know where he is.’ The reply was immediate.

‘You’re a gem Diane, his absence is another pointer in the right direction but I know we must get concrete evidence. Are you sure we are not messing up your weekend?’

Carol was acutely aware of the value her friend gave to leisure time which for her was a rare commodity.

Her hands were up in the surrender position. ‘No problem, no problem. We have to sort this out, and if I can be of use that suits me. Now, before we go, anyone want the bathroom?’

‘I’ll lead the way and once we get near I’ll signal for you to stop. I’ll go on my own to see them. Is that alright by everyone?’ There was total agreement.

The day was warm and sunlight penetrated the trees casting shadows on the roads leading to Somerston Manor.

‘My, this is the place to live. Have you seen some of those properties?’ Anthea was captivated by the beauty of the area and the charm of some of the houses they passed. ‘I can see why Diane was doubtful about Simon being a baddy, who in their right mind would sacrifice this for some madcap scheme.’ Everywhere was fresh, clean and ordered and looked like it had been so for centuries.

Diane signalled them to turn into a lay-by, Carol followed and parked behind her. Getting out of her car she briefed them to wait until she returned. It had taken her some time to remember the names but her memory did not let her down and she just hoped Mr. And Mrs O’Brien were at home.

She could hear the doorbell ringing and the door soon opened and Bridget O’Brien stepped on to the porch steps. Diane smiled. ‘Good morning Mrs. O’Brien, I’m sorry to bother you, but you may remember me, I’m a friend of Simon’s.’

The morning sun was in her eyes and she had to shield them with her hand to see the face in front of her. Looking closely, the face was familiar but it had been some time since she had seen this girl. Then she remembered, the girl had called once before and she had directed her to the Manor.

‘Of course I do my dear, I’m not very good on names but I certainly remember your face.’ Bridget had been impressed by this young woman when she had called that Friday evening looking for the manor, and had remarked to her husband that the girl had the look of a future Mrs. Colbourne. ‘What can I do for you? He’s not home I’m afraid but how can I help? Oh! Do come in, rude of me keeping you standing on the doorstep.’ She stepped back to allow Diane to enter the hall.

‘Thank you, I hope I’m not disturbing you. It’s just that I don’t seem to be able to get hold of Simon anywhere. I have to contact him, it’s just business not personal this time. His office didn’t know where he was either, and then I thought of you. I know how close you are to Simon. He calls you his second Mother.’ Diane made that up knowing Mrs. O’Brien would be pleased to hear it, and it might make her more amenable to parting with information. It would also help if Mrs. O’Brien realised that she wasn’t chasing Simon on personal grounds.

‘I don’t know what I’m going to do with that young man. He was due home last week. His meal was ready as usual but he didn’t come home. Dan, my husband, reckons he’s gone off to Switzerland to see a young lady. His parents apparently are quite keen to see him settling down and wanted him to meet someone in Geneva. That’s all I know.’ Dan was her man and usually right on things to do with Mister Simon.

‘Would you have his parents’ address and telephone number in Switzerland Mrs. O’Brien, it really is very important that I speak to him?’ So far things were going well, with the information the trail could continue. He couldn’t just disappear from the face of the earth. Or could he?

The girl was obviously upset and it must be urgent. If only Dan was here, he would know what to do, but he had gone to the nursery for plants. The decision was hers and she would make it.

‘Right now his parents are on a yacht with friends somewhere in the West Indies. I believe it’s a three month cruise but they contact their home in Geneva for news as well as speaking to Simon. If you ring, you’ll get their housekeeper and she will be able to tell you if Simon is there. I’m afraid that’s all I can suggest. If he turns up here I’ll get him to ring you if you leave your number.’ It was all very strange, she had never known Simon to alter his arrangements to come home without ringing her well in advance.

‘Thank you so much for your help Mrs. O’Brien. There will be a message on Simon’s computer to contact me when he gets back. I’m really sorry to have bothered you.’ The smell of baking coming from the kitchen told Diane that work was in progress to feed Simon. ‘I’ll ring Geneva once I get back to the office. Now, I can tell you’re busy so I’ll head off and leave you with those lovely smells coming from the kitchen. Someone is going to be pleased once the cakes are ready.’ She smiled at Bridget offering her hand before turning towards the door.

‘If you get hold of him, would you ask him to ring me so I can plan my week? Do you know, he’s never done this before, never.’ She shook her head, puzzled at Mister Simon’s unusual behaviour.

She had to get back to the car, the news she had received now made her think that maybe Carol was right. There were too many coincidences. A call to Geneva was imperative, but if he wasn’t there would it be conclusive enough?

With a wave she left the Gate House. ‘Bye Mrs. O’Brien, thanks again.’ Walking quickly out of the main gate she almost ran to the car parked in the lay-by. She was playing detective, it was exciting and if it helped her friend she would follow the lead until a solution was found.

Relating the result of her meeting with Mrs. O’Brien took only a few minutes. There were no questions because the only answer they had was a telephone number in Geneva. There was however a rising excitement because he hadn’t turned up at the Manor as expected. The growing belief that Simon Colbourne was their man had yet to be disproved.

‘What about your weekly shop Diane, it’s nearly three o’clock and you should have cleared Sainsbury’s shelves by now.’ Carol was acutely aware of her imposition on her friend’s time and felt guilty that Diane’s weekend was being ruined.

‘Do you know, I’m beginning to enjoy this, don’t get me wrong I know you could still be in danger, but I think we might be getting somewhere, don’t you?’ Now she must get back to the flat, there was a phone call to be made. ‘I don’t want to hurry you but we have work to do. Don’t worry about the shopping, every night is a late night at the supermarket. Just follow me and we’ll head back to my place.’

The journey back to Diane’s flat took a little longer and in both cars the tension was rising. They all wanted the phone call to Geneva, but problems were looming whichever way the call went. If Simon Colbourne was there, it would make Diane look very foolish particularly if he answered the phone. If he wasn’t, what would be their next move?

‘Carol would you mind putting the kettle on while I try the number. Sorry to be such a bad hostess but I know how important this call could be.’ Not waiting for a reply she picked up the telephone and keyed in the number given to her by Mrs. O’Brien.

A female voice answered and Carol recognised the number spoken in French. It had taken all her concentration, the last time she had spoken French was in the sixth form at school. Hoping the person could speak English she asked ‘Could I speak to Mr. Simon Colbourne please?’ The response came back immediately in perfect English.

‘I’m sorry he is not here and I’m not expecting him. You might get him at his home number in England or through his office. Do you have those telephone numbers?’

How was it that most Europeans other than the British, seemed to be able to switch from one language to the other with such ease? The thought passed through Diane’s mind as she listened to the voice in Geneva. ‘Oh! I thought you might be expecting him in Geneva, I must have the wrong information. Has he made any plans to come over do you know?’ Diane knew what the answer was going to be.

‘No, as far as I know he hasn’t any immediate plans to come here. His parents are away for three months, he might come when they return.’ The voice was positive, she had appeared surprised at the question.

‘Well thank you very much for your help, I’ll try the other numbers. Sorry to have bothered you. Goodbye.’

‘No problem at all.’

Diane replaced the handset and looked at the expectant faces. ‘You will have gathered from that conversation our man isn’t there nor is he expected. Now what do we do?’

Carol came into the room carrying mugs of coffee on a tray. ‘I found the sugar and milk, there are some sweeteners in my bag if anyone wants them. Now tell me what’s happened, nobody’s talking which is a bad sign.’ She laughed trying to lighten the atmosphere which had invaded the room.