Episode 20 - The white witch

Tuesday cont.

“We’ll need to talk to you again, Miss Knowles,” said Gary, “but if I’m not mistaken, Miss Cartwright made a fool of you and she was trying it on with us.”

Episode 19 - God from the Machine (Deus ex Machina)

Tuesday October 9

Dorothy made sure that the chorus rehearsal had been cancelled for that evening, but she would go along to the church hall anyway to make sure that everyone who had come not knowing about the chorus director’s appendix operation went home.

Episode 18 - Barbarella Knowles

Monday cont.

Gary’s ‘chat’ with Knowles was delayed until Cleo arrived. He was relieved when she turned up in his office after an uncomfortable few minutes with someone he could not fathom at all,  alone except for Nigel, who was sure the chat would be noteworthy in the true sense of the word.

Episode 17 - Even more about Eve

Monday cont.

Gary’s day included letting Ed Fargo stew in his arrest cell, probably trying to convince a defence lawyer that he had not done anything wrong. Staying at home was a luxury Gary appreciated. Monday mornings did not really allow for it, but Chief Inspector Gary Hurley was the boss of his department, after all, and there was the admin to see to.

Episode 16 - Fish 'n chips

Monday cont.

Gary rang the cottage doorbell and stood behind his rose bouquet waiting. Cleo was already home and came to the door without delay.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to upset Dorothy.”

“Then you’d better take her the roses,” said Cleo.

Episode 15 - All about Eve

Weekending

After that mammoth meeting at Cleo’s cottage, Dorothy did her weekend shopping and was glad to be home. As usual, she would cook and eat lunch, making sure that her cat Mimi got her share, and then put her feet up for an hour before devoting herself to one of Beethoven’s trickier sonata movements.

Episode 14 - The effigy

Saturday October 6

It would be too easy just to have a crime or two to solve. A phone-call from Greg woke the Hurleys very early on Saturday morning to say almost as much.

“Didn’t you mention a corpse in the freezer at the villa at some point, Gary?” he started.

Episode 13 - Visits III

Still Friday

A message from Nigel was waiting for Gary when they reached the cottage, telling him that the Fargos had turned up at the villa.

“So they are back. They probably think there’s no danger now,” said Gary.

“How did Nigel find out?” said Cleo.

Episode 12 - Visits II

Friday cont.

A phone call to the hospital in an official capacity revealed Kate Crow’s current address. Gary decided to go there himself immediately. He did not want her forewarned. An interview with the Norton brothers could wait.

Episode 11 - Visits I

Friday cont.

Gary’s morning was stressful, not least because he had had to go to the hospital to ask questions about the two deceased women.

The ward sister was visibly distressed by the visit of a police detective.

“If I had been on night duty it would not have happened,” she sniffed.

Episode 10 - In remembrance

Friday cont.

Cleo did not want to have any more contact with Robert. One reason was his continuing resentment of Gary and the children, though he had not wanted any.

Episode 9 - More soup

Thursday cont. then Friday October 5

Dorothy had made rather a fuss when Jane Barker was discovered nearly unconscious on her sofa, TV blaring, artificial electric fire full on. That was in truth partly because she had recently rather neglected her neighbour, who went on and on about ‘dear Jim’ although her husband had most of the time been referred to as ‘that dratted man’ when he was alive.

Episode 8 - Toni

Thursday cont.

As Gary stood waiting for the London Intercity, it occurred to him that he had no idea whether the person he was meeting was male or female. It was a good idea to hold up a sign to say who he was, even if he had previously thought it was silly.

Episode 7 - Speculation

Thursday cont.

Cleo's phone call from the new au pair was a surprise. 

"It's Toni. I can't be in Middlethumpton till three-o-four, Mrs Hurley. Is that all right?"

"Sure," said Cleo. "I'll let my husband know. He'll be there."

"I'm sorry about arriving late," said the girl.

"That's OK, Toni, but don't be surprised if my husband is expecting a guy. I'm not going to tell him."

".A guy?"

"Yes. We've been speculating about your name. See you later."

***

Episode 6 - Soup

Thursday, October 4

It was the link Dorothy eventually made between the tramp’s poisoning and the lethal soup that made it all so awful. She and Cleo had definitely been in danger. Chris’s newest report was credible. Even if only small amounts of toadstool poisoning were consumed, it would cause severe illness and possibly death. Who could have done such a thing deliberately?

***

Episode 5 - Deathcap

Wednesday cont.

It was no wonder that Cleo’s trip to Middleton library to look at back numbers of the Gazette did not reveal much. Bertie Browne, editor in chief and owner of the twice weekly freebie, published all sorts of stuff that was long on padding, but short on information and  often devoid of accuracy. Hot air and fake news were good enough to fill the pages that were not devoted to price-slashing (if you can believe that) offers of cars, cats and cucumbers. The Fargo family did not merit a single mention.

***

Episode 4 - The tramp

Wednesday cont.

Cleo decided to find out more about the Fargo family herself before regaling Gary with Dorothy’s advice. It was just possible that the tramp had genuinely been mistaken for the deceased relative.

Episode 3 - Night Rider

Tuesday cont.

Edith Parsnip had allowed Robert to leave and was getting was ready for a lonely night when Brass banged the vicarage gargoyle against the solid oak front door, so she answered the door in her negligée, a flimsy garment that revealed more than it hid.

“I’m sorry to wake you,” apologised Brass. “I just need to know what you saw and heard behind the church hall, Mrs Parsnip.”

Episode 2 - Marigolds

Tuesday October 2

Fred Bradley, known to everyone as Brass, was one of a rota of cops who ran the sub-police station in Upper Grumpsfield. It was really only a room with a counter and IT equipment, a coat stand, a loo and a tiny kitchen, but it served the purpose admirably and was a welcome addition to village life, since many residents regarded it as a sanctuary where they could air their grievances.

Episode 1 - Lisa calls the tune

Monday October 1

Cleo Hartley-Hurley wondered how Gary would take the news that she was planning a project that was a far cry from what he used to call snooping. She would probably have less time to air her theories on the current cases that beset the Chief Inspector who had, despite himself, become quite reliant on his wife’s Agency and her wise comments, and been put on the straight and narrow more than once by Dorothy’s hunches.

***

Preamble - Old and New

The day Lisa Keys came to introduce herself to Dorothy Price in Upper Grumpsfield should have been one of rejoicing and gladness. At least that’s what Mary Baker, who was now established at St Peter’s parish church as its lady curate, said later when she realized how crestfallen Dorothy had been. There was nothing diplomatic about getting Lisa to take over the chorus.