A Shocking Affair by Gerald Hammond

Author:Gerald Hammond [Hammond, Gerald]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Endeavour Media
Published: 2019-06-12T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

We all escorted the Professor to his four-by-four. So much authority seemed to be vested in the pompous little man that we felt we could hardly do less. Or perhaps it was the thought that some day any one of us might finish up under his knife and perhaps, if we treated him with the greatest courtesy, he would be gentle with our poor remains . . .

As the vehicle vanished through the archway, Enterkin said to me, ‘I find that my wife will be away this evening. So I’m unable to confirm my tentative invitation. It seems that we shall have to have you for dinner some other evening. I trust that you can face another evening here?’

‘Was that why you deferred answering my invitation?’ Calder asked me.

‘It was. Is it still open?’ I asked.

‘Certainly. You too, Ralph, unless you’d rather frequent the hotel?’

‘And miss Molly’s cooking? Never!’ the solicitor cried gaily, clearly in a good mood now that he had been relieved of embarrassment.

‘What about you and Deborah?’ Calder asked Fellowes.

‘I’m sure we’ll be delighted,’ Fellowes said. ‘But hadn’t we better see what my mother-in-law says first?’

‘I suppose so.’ Calder seemed surprised that anyone could doubt Molly Calder’s ability to cope with sudden guests, but he took the hint. ‘If I may, I’ll go in and phone both Molly and Deborah.’

He vanished into the house.

‘Now perhaps might be the time for that drink?’ Enterkin suggested.

‘We have things to do,’ Fellowes said. ‘Another time. If both ladies agree, we’ll pick you both up, shall we, at around seven-thirty?’

‘But I have a perfectly good car of my own,’ I protested.

‘Which you would be ill-advised to drive after enjoying Calder hospitality. I speak from experience. Fortunately, while she has a two-year-old to manage, my wife is almost teetotal. I would hate it if duty obliged me to breathalyse myself. I just hope that Deborah can get hold of a sitter at such short notice. Otherwise we may have a fractious infant in the car with us.’

Calder came out of the house. ‘Molly says that she’ll be delighted to see all of you.’

‘In so many words?’ Fellowes asked.

‘Near enough,’ said Calder.

‘Until seven-thirty, then,’ said Fellowes.

They made their departure. Seen through the back window of the car, they seemed to be arguing.

‘We may as well have that drink,’ I said.

Enterkin seemed to be on the point of agreeing but he looked at his watch. ‘Is that the time? I have one last client to visit. I’ll leave you to drink alone. But not too heavily. Our Detective Inspector was correct when he warned you about Calder hospitality. But I must rush. I shall return in the morning.’

‘We’ll meet this evening,’ I reminded him.

‘So we shall, so we shall. Until then!’ He eased himself into his car and rushed very slowly away.

I returned to the house and told Mary Fiddler that I should be dining out. She seemed to have started work already on the evening meal but she took my defection cheerfully. No doubt Ronnie would benefit to the tune of my portion.

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