Blue Christmas by Emma Jameson

Author:Emma Jameson [Jameson, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lyonnesse Books

Chapter 23

Less than a minute after Cy Smythe departed, Priya came through from the kitchen. Spread across the tray in her hands was a teapot, five cups, and a plate of Mr. Kipling Viennese Whirls. Paul’s stomach rumbled appreciatively. Apparently, his cardiovascular system had successfully neutralized the morning’s fat and sugar, and was ready for onslaught number two.

“Sorry it took me so long.” Smiling apologetically, Priya placed the tray on the coffee table and sat down in Cy’s abandoned chair.

“You were hiding, admit it,” Ollie said, going straight for a biscuit.

“I was. I don’t like that man. And did I hear him asking about Nathan?”

“The red toolkit,” Ollie said. “He knew it went missing. Wanted to know if it had been found. Oh, and he claimed he might know of a job for me.”

Priya, who’d began pouring for everyone, sighed. “Talk about a quandary. Ordinarily I’d say that nothing good could come from his suggestions. But as long as the job isn’t actually on Holywell Street, perhaps you should give it a look, my love.”

“I realize this might not be part of the inquiry,” Paul said, accepting a cup of tea. “But may I ask why you don’t care for Mr. Smythe?”

“Other than the fact that he’s loud, overbearing, and a bit vulgar,” Kate said, smiling. “I feel comfortable making those accusations because I’ve been told off for being all three, from time to time.”

“I can’t quite say,” Priya demurred, though her tone suggested she had the words, and only wanted to water them down a bit before sharing. “Ollie’s probably told you our eldest, Nathan, does odd jobs here and there for pocket money. For the last few years, he’s done this and that at Mr. Galen’s place. Nothing major, just enough to keep him in prawn crisps and fizzy drinks. Then Cy started, I don’t know, trying to befriend him. He’s seventy-five years old if he’s a day, and Nathan’s eleven. It didn’t feel right.”

“We’re not making an allegation,” Ollie hastened to add. “Isn’t that right, Priya? We’re not trying to give Scotland Yard the impression Cy is the type who interferes with boys.”

Priya shrugged. “I said what I said. He’s too old, in my opinion, to befriend an eleven-year-old. Mr. Galen certainly didn’t. He was as rude to Nathan as he was to poor Ollie. It was just a job, and I thought if Nathan was willing to take a few lumps to earn pocket money, then good for him. But Cy? Cy shouldn’t even know where we live, as far as I’m concerned. He’s the reason I forbid Nathan to go back to Holywell Street, or do any more jobs for Mr. Galen. Which is probably why the house’s plumbing failed. It might even have something to do with Ollie getting sacked.”

“Losing Nathan as his handyman annoyed him, but that wasn’t why,” Ollie said.

“What reason did he give?” Tony asked, accepting his cup from Priya.

“It all started with the audit.” Having demolished his fancy biscuit, Ollie sipped his tea.

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