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 But why . . . how . . . ? How come you re still cleaning at
Braeside? You are still cleaning, aren t you? And why don t
you go straight to the police? This is very serious, Dot.
 A Nimmo go to the police? You should know me bet-
ter than that, Mrs. M. An don t you go tellin your friend
Cowgill. I can handle this. Then Dot told how she had faced
them, threatened to tell unless they left her alone, and was
confident she had the upper hand.
 Oh, my God, Dot, Lois said, and covered her face with
her hands.
Dot waited, and then said,  I was worried that they d go
286 Ann Purser
for you, Mrs. M. Do you want me to tell you what I think
their racket is? It s only guesswork, mind.
Lois nodded.  Can it get any worse? she said.
 Might do. The way they talked, this place they were
takin me wasn t the house across the road, where that for-
eign woman lives with Alastair. I reckon he was just givin
her instructions when I escaped. We were goin on somewhere
else. If you ask me, Big Al s not big at all. I reckon he s a small
part of something big. I bet you a pound to a penny that he s
in the white slave trade. Bringin in illegals and findin them
jobs. Jobs that you wouldn t want your daughter to do. An
there s a sort of clearinghouse somewhere, where they re kept
until they move on.
Lois was reeling under all this, and for the moment could
only say that the woman he had in his own house was black,
and so it couldn t be the white slave trade. But what Dot had
said could certainly explain Alastair s offer to find cleaners for
her. Why hadn t she thought of it herself?
Dot ploughed on.  You know Alastair used to work up
the Job Centre years ago? He got the push under mysterious
circumstances, so they say. But if you think about it, Mrs. M,
he d have some good contacts for gettin people jobs.
 Did you see the woman who lives with him? Lois said.  I
did mention her to Josie, but she says she s never been in the
shop. He goes to the supermarket, like most people, and uses
the shop just for toothpaste or a newspaper. What about the
day you escaped? You said he went in through the back gate
of the house.
 I didn t see her at all. I reckon he keeps her chained up in
the cellar.
Lois laughed.  Don t let your imagination run away with
you! Is that all, then?
Warning at One 287
 Yep, Dot said.  Except that now I don t hear nor see
nothin at Braeside. But I reckon something happened that
stirred  em up last time I was there. There was a phone call,
an then a dirty white van drew up outside and Mrs. Blair-
gowrie rushed out no stick or dark glasses, mind an I
saw her look into the back. Then they drove off an she came
in and ran upstairs to the bathroom an was sick as a dog. I
called to her but she said she was all right. Then all the doors
was shut and it was quiet as the grave as usual.
 Did anybody visit while you were there? Any do-gooders
to bring Mrs. Blairgowrie s shopping? Nobody like that?
Dot shook her head.  Nope. Nobody except me. Anyway,
Mrs. M, she said, looking at her watch,  I must be going, else
I ll be late for me next client. I ll see you at the meetin . But
for God s sake be careful. An tell your Josie. There s robbery
with violence in a lot of village shops these days. I wouldn t
trust that Alastair round the corner.
 I ll tell her, Lois answered.  After all you ve said, I ve a lot
to think about. Still, thanks, Dot. You ve been a huge help,
as always. But please be careful yourself. Maybe I should take
you away from Braeside?
 No, don t do that. It d look too suspicious. Then they d
know I told you, and might be driven to do somethin really
stupid and dangerous. No, don t worry about me, Mrs. M.
It d take more than the likes of Big Al to frighten a Nimmo.
If I hear or see anything else I ll report back. And don t for-
get, this is between us two.
Fifty-Four
early dark, Lois noticed. She had been so preoccu-
Npied since Dot s revelations, she had almost forgotten
Jeems s customary last walk of the day. Now she walked with
her dog through the quiet lane at the back of the houses in
Blackberry Gardens, and looked over the fence at the Picker-
ings new house. Not a new house, but new to them. Jeems
stopped to produce a couple of neat turds and Lois dutifully
bent down with a Dogpoo bag to pick them up. Suddenly
Jeems pulled on the lead and began to bark. Lois turned
around to see what had started her off, and saw too late a dark
shadow behind her. Then Jeems yelped as a boot caught her
in the side. She collapsed on the path and Lois fought like a
tiger to release herself. But there were hands holding her in
an iron grip whilst others tied a hateful-smelling gag around [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]