Chapter Five: The Detective Chief Inspector Has Some Contacts.
It was now 4.30 pm. Nobody seemed to be in a hurry to move. Various rounds were ordered. I kept to my 'half-pint' rule for now. Liza my wife, would use a bus to get here. The hospital was pretty close by. She could drive but was none too happy with 'Samantha' the car. So I could not pull that excuse to get in a few more beers in a hurry.
Detective Chief Inspector John then came forward with several important contacts he had, that would have a big impact on this whole story.
He had a sister, the academic member of the family, who was now married and a professor of Victorian History at one of the Oxford Colleges, Dr. Amelia Smith. He knew she was friendly with Professor James Hudson, who was a specialist in the Regency period and took a general interest in history and archeology. Another very important contact was Pamela Parsons. She had a central role at the BBC and was involved in programming. Pamela knew the media world inside out.
Detective Chief Inspector John Higgins told Sandra and Kevin to 'sit' on these recordings until, in particular, he had got in contact with Pamela Parsons. He did not doubt the veracity of these recordings, but he knew once these got put out there on the Wild West Web, the implications could well be explosive.
Meanwhile, Lina and Magda had made use of all these intense conversations. James and Justin were pretty peripheral to the rest of these deliberations, so there were ample opportunities to exchange little glances and the chance of a bit of flirtation. Drink and especially pints of beer were being drunk at quite a rate. Little looks, sideways glances, and the 'accidental' touching of hands were very much the order of the day. It looked like Magda and James along with Lina and Justin were starting something.
Notes with cell/mobile numbers along with Facebook addresses were exchanged. Yes, that '60s classic 'The Look of Love' comes to mind.
Both the Detective Chief Inspector and Beryl the Landlady were aware of these developments.
"Well lads I can't control your private lives but be aware that the 'eye candy ' you have been appraising is a good deal more experienced than you two."
"Yes, Detective Chief Inspector." They both chorused.
"This is technically leisure time, however, there is a certain decorum that you need to project."
This was taken in by the brains of the two young lads but their hearts and 'other organs' were somewhere else. This was met by smirks by everyone present. Yes, young love, I thought.
Beryl too was more than aware of all of this. However, given how she had met Sid in this very pub all those years ago, in many ways in very similar circumstances, when she was doing some bar work in London; she felt she had not a strong case to offer.
Here were two fine lads and two very pretty lasses in the full bloom of their lives. Still, she did add a few thoughts of her own, which did echo those of the Detective Chief Inspector.
"Well lasses, they are braw lads, aye, sure enough, ye ken?."
"Och, but they are like wee baa lambs. Maybe all of youse want just a bit of fun. They seem a lot more serious. So no broken hearts and games please and concentrate on youse work, ye ken?!"
This was delivered in a snarling Glaswegian accent. The bar staff had learned to understand Beryl's Glaswegian. Sven noticed several Nordic words peppered about too in Glaswegian English. A legacy of the Vikings in Scotland?
This. however, had fallen on death ears with these young ladies. Maybe something serious had started. Beryl, deep down, sensed this too, having been there herself once.
It was about then that Isabella arrived. She was an infrequent visitor to the pub, although she was known to everyone.
"Sorry I am late love," she said after kissing me on the cheek.
"Understaffed yet again. There was an emergency. But we managed to resolve that okay.
"You are not scheduled to work this weekend?"
"No!" Isabella replied. I am not volunteering yet again if they are short. They have to learn to get more people in."
"Great!" I replied.
"So Isabella, you have the same 'cut back' crap we have to put up with?" The Detective Chief Inspector inquired.
"Yes, John, all for our own good?."
"Or those at the City of London?"
The Detective Chief Inspector added.
Both Percy and Humphrey looked uncomfortable. They had been specialist bankers in the City of London. I decided on a deft Geoffrey Boycott defense, and neatly changed the subject I knew there was quite a range of different political views around the tables, plus backgrounds. There were other pressing matters I wanted Isabella's opinion on
"This is Sandra and Kevin."
I introduced Isabella to Sandra and Kevin. They both smiled. Sandra had never properly met my wife. Schools are a parallel universe for kids where teachers live and have no lives outside.
"I had heard some really good things about you, Sandra."
"Really miss. Mrs. Smith, miss?'
"Please Isabella." my wife replied.
Here we going again I thought. Sandra was going onto the 6th form soon. Her secondary school days would soon be behind her.
"Yes, you seem very 'left field' and pretty creative."
"A nutter!" Sandra replied.
"Nothing wrong with that. What is the point of being a conformist, there would be nothing new."
Both Sandra and Kevin looked chuffed. This summed up perfectly what they were trying to do, to think 'outside of the box'. Sandra's 'Gothness' was her rebellion against all those other 'pretty' girls. She wanted to be and was herself.
This is what had drawn Isabella to me. She loved my quirkiness, Her work was demanding so she needed me as a whole other world. The same applied to me. I needed her discipline. We complimented each other very well.
"So let us see these videos."
Isabella also ordered a sweet white wine. Lina shot over there first to take the order then flirted with Justin.
Sandra and Kevin duly showed Isabella the recordings.
"Amazing!!" Isabella exclaimed.
"But you know the first thing people will say of course?"
"Yes, love?"
"They are fakes."
It was then that Detective Chief Inspector John jumped in.
"This is where Pamela Parsons will be of use from the BBC. She will have techies to fully verify these recordings. This is another good reason to hold back young Sandra and Kevin. We have to be sure of our ground."
"And hold it, Sir!" Percy added.
"Yes Sir, and hold it." The Detective Chief Inspector added.
The clock was moving towards 6 pm. The Lounge Bar was starting to fill up. We were conscious of 'earwigging' or listening in by others that could be a problem. Detective Chief Inspector John told everyone that he would be in touch with the two professors along with Pamela Parsons to see if they could schedule a meeting here the next Friday afternoon. It seemed that the 'Slippery Jake Ghost Committee' had already been set up. The Detective Chief Inspector knew that the Oxford College terms had already started. However, he trusted that especially Professor James Hudson. would find any excuse to go to the Bull. The Bull Public House had good ratings for its real ale. The good professor liked to savour the odd pint.
Adieus were said all around. The young beaus had furtively set up meets after the pub was closed. The Detective Chief Inspector did point out that, although they had the weekend off they would be expected to turn up for an emergency at any time. They both duly acknowledge this in a doleful sort of way.
Isabella followed me over to, Samantha; with a grim look on her face. As we got on she said.
"Look, love, you can easily afford a new car. Your property work is going very well, so why hang onto this old wreck. I nice brand new SUV would do very nicely, especially for the future."
Yes, she had a 'broody look'. More changes to our lives would be coming soon. Exactly on cue the old girl's engine kind of turned over. The engine finally burst into a half-life and we juddered our way home. Isabella was glaring at me all the way. Samantha would soon be going to the great 'old car rest home in the sky.' I better deal with this over the weekend, as I had time, and yes, Isabella, as usual, was 100% right