Chapter 24
24
As Jade got back with Ursula Hargreaves in tow, Finn got up to greet them.
Ursula, whose corkscrew curls were up in clips tonight, smiled and held out her hand. She had twinkly brown eyes. ‘Finn, I think we’ve seen each other at a distance, haven’t we, but it’s lovely to meet you officially.’
Finn added slim fingers to his first impressions as he shook her hand. She was also older than he’d thought, mid-to-late sixties, but something about the energy she exuded reminded him of Dorrie.
‘It’s great to meet you, officially, too. Can I get you a drink?’
‘We’ve just ordered,’ Jade told him. ‘Mike said he’ll get someone to bring them over.’
‘Great.’ They all sat down again.
‘Jade tells me you work for the council.’
‘That’s right. I’m in the planning department. For my sins.’ She laughed. ‘Although it’s quite a good job to be honest. Pays the bills. Gets me out and about a lot – which I love. I’d hate to be cooped up in an office.’
‘Something we all have in common,’ Jade said happily.
‘But to get down to business,’ Ursula began. ‘I understand you’re interested in the ins and outs of developments. Protected species surveys to be precise.’
‘We’re very interested,’ Jade said. ‘I understand bats are a protected species. Is that all bats or just certain types?’
‘It’s all bats and their roosts,’ Ursula said. ‘They tend to roost in old buildings. Are there any old buildings on the site you’re hoping to purchase?’
‘I don’t think there are any old buildings on the bit we’re after but there are loads of old buildings on the site as a whole. Does that mean that planning would be refused on the site?’
‘Not necessarily, but if there were bats some works might have to be delayed. There are, for example, times when bats shouldn’t be disturbed. Building work would need to be carried out either in April or between mid-September and the end of October when bats are least likely to be present.’
‘So it wouldn’t stop the work altogether then?’ Jade said, disappointed.
‘Not necessarily. Although you wouldn’t want the buildings to be demolished, of course, which is what development companies are likely to want to do. The two main rules being that you can’t disturb bats at certain times of year and you must leave them access to their roosts. The million-dollar question would be’ – she leaned forward and rested her chin on her hands on the table – ‘are there any bats in the buildings?’
‘We don’t know,’ Finn said.
‘We could have a look,’ Jade added hastily.
Finn glanced at her, realising she must be planning to sneak over and have a look herself. So much for leaving things be then.
‘What else is protected?’ Jade asked Ursula, avoiding Finn’s gaze. ‘It can’t just be bats.’
A barmaid brought their drinks to the table and put them down, and for a moment the conversation was halted.
‘You’re right. It’s not just bats,’ Ursula continued as soon as the barmaid had gone again. ‘There are a few species that can’t just be culled.’ Her brown eyes grew thoughtful. ‘Barn owls are a protected species. As are badgers and dormice, and certain reptiles. Are there any ponds on the land? Ponds are also the home of several protected species, although depending on the location these might be easier to preserve. Ponds are the homes of Natterjack toads – they’re on the list as well, if my memory serves me correctly. And some newts.’
‘There’s bound to be a pond somewhere over there. This is quite a wet area.’ Jade chewed her lip thoughtfully. ‘So are you saying that any of these species would stop a development going ahead then?’
‘Any of these species, if found on the land, may stop a development going ahead.’
‘So if someone was to find, say, just one stray dormouse running around in the fields over there, even if they were just temporarily over there, and take a photograph of it running around somewhere prominent, then the whole development may have to be called off?’
‘I think I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that question,’ Ursula said, narrowing her eyes and shooting Jade a look of mock horror. ‘But theoretically, yes. Although I’d say it would have to be more than a lone dormouse. Probably more of a family group.’
‘Dormice are so cute,’ Jade said reflectively. ‘They’ve got big ears, haven’t they? In comparison to the rest of their bodies, I mean.’
‘That’s right. The dormouse is one of Britain’s rarest species,’ Ursula said.
They talked on for a while about protected species and Ursula told them how the dormice population had been increased lately, thanks to the work of conservation groups like the Wildlife Trust. ‘The groups put out nesting boxes and monitor populations,’ she said. ‘They shave a little patch of fur from the heads of the dormice they’re monitoring for identification purposes. They’re doing great work. Now then, it’s my round, I believe. Would anyone like another drink?’
While she went to the bar to get them, Finn caught Jade’s gaze.
‘You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?’
‘Of course I am. How about you? Do you fancy coming on a dormouse expedition with me?’
Sighing inwardly, Finn nodded. ‘I’ll support you in whatever you want to do. You know that, Jade. But we will need to tread carefully. We can’t go trampling on too many laws. We’d be trespassing for a start if we went wandering about next door. It’s not like it still belongs to Farmer John.’
‘No one’s going to see us if we go in the dark. I’m an expert on rehoming animals, Finn. Relocating them from one place to another, making sure they’re safe. It’s what I do. It’s what Duck Pond Rescue is here for.’ She gave him a sweet smile, and Finn nodded again.
He couldn’t exactly argue with that logic.
* * *
The following evening, when Jade was doing some research on dormice on the reception laptop, which she’d brought into the back room, Finn sent Thomas O’Leary a message.
He explained he was searching for Bridie Neale, who he understood now lived in Southampton, and that he’d be grateful if Thomas could give him any more information.
The answer came back more quickly than he anticipated. Thomas obviously signed in to his Facebook account a lot more often than Caitlin did.
May be able to help, but let’s speak on the phone. Then I can make sure you’re not a bot or a scammer.
Thomas wasn’t one to mince his words then, Finn thought as he typed in his number and pressed ‘Send’.
His mobile rang about ten minutes later and Finn jumped out of his skin as he saw the unfamiliar UK mobile number. There was no Irish prefix like there’d been with Caitlin. He snatched it up, praying his one bar of signal would be enough.
‘Finn McTaggart speaking.’
‘Hey, Finn, how are ya?’ The Irish accent was even stronger than he remembered from when he’d spoken to Caitlin.
‘I’m good. Thanks for phoning.’
‘What was your connection to Bridie then now? Did you say?’
‘I didn’t but I’m trying to track her down for my dad.’ Finn trotted out the same spiel he’d said to Caitlin, unsure of who he was talking to. ‘They were friends back in the early nineties when she was living in England. We always thought she moved back to Belfast in 1998, but Caitlin told me she stayed in England.’
‘Aye, that’s right, she did. She’s still in England, far as I know.’
Finn hesitated. ‘Do you mind me asking what your connection is to Bridie?’
‘I’m her nephew. One of her nephews, I should say.’ Thomas chuckled. ‘There are a lot of us. I’m one of the ones who left the home country – most of them stayed in Ireland.’
Finn felt a stab of shock. So Thomas was his cousin, or half cousin at least, and by the sound of it there were lots more.
‘Are you Irish yourself, Finn?’
‘Half Irish. My dad’s English.’
‘And where are you living yourself, Finn?’
‘I’m near Salisbury. Wiltshire.’
‘Grand, same as myself. We’re neighbours then.’
Finn felt another jolt of shock. It felt so weird to be talking to someone who was related to him. He’d had the same feeling when he’d spoken to Caitlin, but she’d been far away in Ireland. An untouchable aunt.
This was weirder because Thomas was right here in Salisbury. In touching distance, and he sounded like he was a similar age. He pulled himself back to the moment, remembering what his mission was.
‘I don’t suppose you happen to have a current address for Bridie?’
There was a pause on the line and Finn held his breath.
‘Sure I do. But I should really ask her if it’s all right to pass it on. What’s your da’s name?’
Finn’s heart sank. So near and yet so far. Trust him to be in touch with a security-conscious cousin. ‘It’s Ray,’ he said quietly. ‘Ray McTaggart.’
‘That’s grand. Let me speak with Bridie, and I’ll get back to you, Finn, so I will.’
‘Thanks,’ Finn said, realising the line had already been disconnected.
He felt like screaming. Maybe he’d have done better if he’d just told Thomas who he was, but he was still so wary of throwing a bombshell into a family that possibly didn’t know of his existence. He decided he couldn’t just come out with it. It wasn’t fair.
At least Thomas had said he’d speak to Bridie. So she would know exactly who was looking for her. That was a good start.
He went to find Jade, who was still tapping away on the laptop downstairs. ‘I think I just talked to one of my cousins.’ He told her what had happened.
‘Oh, Finn. That must be so frustrating.’ Her eyes were gentle as she closed the laptop lid. ‘I’m really sorry. Do you think he’ll pass the message on?’
‘I think he will, yeah. He’s probably curious. He was curious enough to phone me anyway.’ He gave her a wry smile. ‘I was worried about the signal holding out for the whole conversation, but that was fine. Turned out to be Thomas who was holding out. Typical.’
‘He’s got your number though, hasn’t he? So Bridie could actually phone you back.’
‘She could. Yeah. Oh, God. I hadn’t even thought about that. I’d better get my phone.’ He ran back upstairs to get it and when he did, it nearly slipped from his hand, his fingers were so sweaty. If this was what tracking down your past felt like, Finn was no longer sure he wanted to do it. He closed his eyes. For the first time since he’d started on his quest to find his mother, he wondered whether he should just call the whole thing off.
Not that calling it off was as simple as all that now. If Thomas did get in touch with Bridie then she’d know exactly who was trying to find her. The whole thing was in Bridie’s hands now, not Finn’s. He’d rolled the metaphorical ball over the crest of the hill and there was no way he could stop it now. The outcome was in the hands of fate. Finn kept telling himself he was happy however it went. He had Ben and Jade and Ray and Dorrie. He would always be a winner in life, no matter what happened with Bridie.