‘Mr Doyle feels he should be compensated for his loss,’ Crump went on. ‘He was deeply shocked to find the body and he tells me his children helped to rear the poor thing when it was just a lamb.’
Seebold pursed his lips. ‘The wolf was found near Shoreham,’ he said. ‘Slindon is a devil of a long way away from there.’
‘No distance for a hungry wolf, I’m sure,’ Crump said with a cunning smile.
‘I can’t afford to lose one of my sheep,’ Doyle complained and, as he opened the boot of his car, a rancid smell seeped out, making Seebold turn his head in revulsion.
The photographer got two clear pictures.
‘You needs to cover my loss,’ Doyle insisted. ‘I could’ve had good money at the abattoir for the meat, and the fleece would have brought me at least a couple of quid.’
When Seebold examined the carcass, it was obvious that a knife had been used to enlarge its wounds, something which he did not hesitate to point out.
‘Come now, Mr Flowers,’ said Crump, waving his arms. ‘Looking around, I’m sure you can afford to help out a hard-working farmer. You wouldn’t want this in the paper, now would you?’
‘I reckon twenty quid might be fair compensation,’ said Doyle.
‘Oh, now I see what this is all about,’ Seebold exclaimed. ‘Well, I don’t give in to blackmail. That sheep has nothing to do with me and you know it.’
‘Don’t do something you might regret, Mr Flowers,’ Crump insisted. ‘Think of your reputation.’
‘I think you’d better clear off,’ Seebold retorted, and a moment later they were all having a blazing row.
In the days that followed, the dog settled down in its enclosure where Red Riding Hood peered in through the cottage window. It was a little unfortunate when the dog cocked its leg against the little model in front of a party of children, but otherwise the idea was a success and Seebold was proved right. It was a real crowd-puller.
Agatha closed the sitting-room door. Pearl and her husband were in the house and she wanted privacy. The London papers were spread out on the sofa, all of them filled with the story of a missing wolf, Seebold Flowers and Worthing Wonderland. Agatha had turned the pages with disgust and contempt. The News Chronicle had four whole pages of pictures, no less. Front page, page two and a two-page spread between pages six and seven. The Times didn’t go in for front-page pictures, but the correspondent had virtually filled page three, and the Express and Mail rivalled each other with their level of coverage.
The so-called wolf looked more like a mangy dog. It was big and it had pale eyes, but Agatha reckoned it was no more a wolf than she was the Queen of Sheba. In the newspaper picture, that dreadful gypsy man sat next to its enclosure, feeding it through the wire netting, while that Lena, all tarted up like a dog’s dinner, looked on. Agatha curled her lip. Cheap. Like mother, like daughter.
She reached for the telephone. ‘Number, please,’ said the operator.
‘East Preston six, nine.’
After a few minutes, a male voice answered. ‘Chief Superintendent Davey speaking.’
‘Hello, Reginald. Is that you?’ she said quietly, her voice small and concerned. ‘It’s Agatha, Agatha Shepherd.’
‘Agatha, my dear. How are you? We were sorry to hear about Charles. He was a good man.’
‘One of the best,’ Agatha agreed with a catch in her voice.
They exchanged a few niceties and then he said, ‘What can I do for you, my dear?’
‘I’m not sure how to put this, Reginald, but there’s been a bit of a flap going on in Worthing and I’m worried.’
‘Are you talking about the wolf debacle?’
‘Yes.’ Agatha hesitated. ‘Look, Reginald, you know I’m not one to cast aspersions, but I’ve had dealings with that Mr Flowers, and quite frankly, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.’ She caught her breath noisily. ‘He came to the house and the next thing I knew, Millicent was in his lorry.’
‘Good Lord!’ cried the chief super. ‘You mean he kidnapped her?’
‘Not exactly,’ said Agatha, ‘but Millicent is completely besotted with him. The man is a thief and a liar, Reginald. I’m sure he’s still not telling the truth about that animal, and he has practically the whole county in an uproar.’
‘Really?’
‘It says in today’s paper that he caught the wolf himself and that it had been hiding in the bushes,’ she went on, her voice now becoming shrill. ‘But that can’t be true, can it? I mean, a wolf wouldn’t be sitting quietly in the shrubbery waiting to be caught! Why don’t the police do something? I mean, a man like him wouldn’t know the truth if it bit him on the bottom.’ She stopped as if to gather herself before adding in a more compliant tone, ‘Oh, I do beg your pardon. I didn’t mean . . .’
‘No, no, my dear. It’s quite all right,’ Reginald soothed. ‘You’re upset and worried about your daughter. I quite understand.’
‘You are so kind, Reginald.’ Agatha let out a small sob. ‘It’s just that, with Charles gone, I’m shouldering the responsibility for the girls all alone.’
‘And I’m sure you’re doing an admirable job, my dear. Leave it with me. I’ll get my officers to look into it again, and be assured, if there is any wrongdoing, I’ll throw the book at him.’
Milly decided to bike up to Muntham Court. She was a little nervous, so was almost relieved when she’d knocked on the door, and thought no one was in. The place looked deserted. The gardens were badly in need of weeding, and the fishpond outside the front door was overgrown with algae. She walked around the back and tried the French windows, but they were locked. When she peered through them, the sitting room looked rather bare. Most of the furniture was gone. Her mother must be having the room decorated. Milly turned back to fetch her bicycle. As she reached the front again, a first-floor window flew up and Pearl leaned out. ‘Oh, it’s you. What do you want?’
‘I thought I’d come and see you, that’s all,’ said Milly.
‘What for?’
‘No reason. We’re still family, aren’t we?’
Pearl said nothing.
‘Aren’t you going to invite me in then?’
Her sister’s head disappeared, and the window was slammed shut. A few minutes later, Pearl opened the front door. She looked unkempt and dishevelled. Her hair was badly in need of a wash and, despite the fact that it was four in the afternoon, she was still in her dressing gown.
‘Are you all right?’ Milly asked as she followed her inside.
