Chapter 40
The trip back to the forest washed Beth out completely. She spent most of it trying not to cry, while overthinking the whole conversation with Rick. She shouldn’t have opened her big mouth about Cora. What the hell did she know about his situation? By the time Lucy dropped her back at the farmhouse, she was mentally and physically exhausted. Rose bustled her off to bed with a hefty dose of medication and threatened to set Barbara on her if she didn’t go to sleep immediately. The next morning, she was stiff and sore, and didn’t feel as if she’d slept at all. Stumbling downstairs, headachy and puffy-eyed, she found Barbara, Lucy and Rose in deep discussion across a kitchen table littered with the remnants of breakfast.
Rose shoved a cup of tea and a plate of buttered toast in Beth’s direction. ‘Are you feeling better?’
She nodded, even though it was a lie, aware of a tense undercurrent in the room. ‘What’s up?’
‘It’s the planning permission,’ said Rose.
‘More objections?’
Rose nodded.
‘Maria has let me down,’ said Barbara, her lips compressed into an ominous line.
‘Lord Astley refused to withdraw his objection, did he?’ asked Beth.
‘He always was a slippery little toad,’ said Barbara, ‘even when we were children. If only I had something on him, I’d force him to back down.’
‘Aunty B!’ Rose’s giggle was uneasy. ‘Are you saying you’d blackmail him?’
‘If need be.’ Barbara’s grim expression made Beth very grateful they were on the same side.
‘By the way,’ said Rose, ‘the kitchen inspector is coming today. At one.’
‘You’re kidding.’ Beth’s gaze swept over the accumulated chaos. Layers of coats lurked on chairs; bags and shoes were abandoned just inside the back door; junk cluttered surfaces; piles of dirty crockery waited for someone to discover that the dishwasher could be emptied and restacked. Beth knew that the rest of the house wasn’t much better. ‘What time is it now?’
Rose checked her phone. ‘10.10am. Chill, Beth. We’ve got this.’
Beth failed to smother a whimper.
‘That’s why I’m here,’ said Barbara. ‘Cleaning is just the thing to take my mind off slimy weasels.’
Lucy grinned. ‘I’m here to pitch in, too. While you were sleeping, I dropped Jack and Daisy to the bus stop and took Grace and Hari to preschool. Hazel is with my ma-in-law for a couple of hours. So, I’m all yours.’
‘Grace!’ Beth’s hand went to her mouth. ‘Oh, I’m such a bad mother. I didn’t even notice she wasn’t here. My head just isn’t working properly.’
‘You’ve been doing too much,’ said Rose.
‘Go have a sleep,’ said Lucy. ‘And don’t worry. When you come down, this place will be gleaming.’
Beth’s head was pounding. She gave in, took some painkillers and went back to bed.
*
Two hours later, she came back down the stairs to a house she barely recognised. The hall, stairs and landing were tidy. The floors gleamed. Padding into the kitchen, she was tempted to go out and come back in again, just to make sure she was in the right place. All the surfaces were clear; the general detritus of family life had been swept away as if it had never existed. ‘It’s like a show home in here. I’m scared to touch anything.’
‘You just missed Lucy,’ said Rose. ‘She went to pick up Grace and Hari. Barbara is in the utility room, ironing a tablecloth. I’m just getting her a drink. Do you want one?’
‘Only if it won’t make a mess.’
‘We had a major clear-out while we were at it,’ said Rose. ‘I hope you don’t mind.’
Beth laughed. ‘It was well overdue, if you ask me. What have you done with everything?’
‘Stuff we need to keep is all dumped in the bedrooms to be sorted later. Rubbish got put in Barbara’s camper van. She’s going to take it to the tip tomorrow.’
Barbara came out of the utility room. ‘I won’t be dumping it in the hedge like the phantom fly-tipper, I can tell you.’
‘Oh!’ A bizarre dizzy sensation took Beth’s breath away and her legs wobbled. She shot her free hand out to steady herself.
Rose grabbed her arm. ‘Beth, what is it?’
Beth blinked. ‘I… uh… I don’t know.’
Rose tutted. ‘Sit down. I knew you shouldn’t have gone to London yesterday.’
Beth sat. Something pushed at the edge of her mind. Something she couldn’t quite grab onto. ‘There’s something I… oh no. It’s nothing.’
‘You’ve overdone it, haven’t you? I told you—’
‘No, no. It’s not that. I remembered something.’
‘About your accident?’ Barbara’s excitement cut through the fog in Beth’s head. ‘My Brian said that would happen.’
‘It was only a brief flash.’ Beth concentrated. ‘No. It’s gone again.’
‘What was the trigger do you think?’ asked Barbara.
‘Um…’ Beth racked her brain. ‘You were saying something.’
‘About the fly-tipping?’
‘Yes. That was it. I got this sudden head rush… like a picture. Fly-tipping. How strange. I… Oh.’ Beth felt her jaw go slack. ‘Oh yes. Oh my goodness. Yes.’
‘What?’ Rose’s eyes widened.
‘I need my phone.’ Beth looked, but the counter where she’d left it was bare. ‘My phone. Rose, where’s my phone?’
‘It’s here.’ Rose passed over the handset. ‘Why?’
‘I’m not sure, but…’ Beth hit play on the last video she’d recorded. Barbara and Rose crowded in close. Silent tears tracked down Beth’s cheeks as they all watched in stunned silence.
An arm slipped around her shoulders and Rose hissed, ‘The bastards. They just left you. You could have died. I nearly lost another mother.’
‘Can I see that again?’ Barbara watched the whole video through twice. ‘Is it possible to zoom in? When the van comes close, I think I recognise the driver. Yes. I’m sure of it. That’s the Dixon boy.’
‘Are you sure?’ Rose checked the footage again. ‘You’re right.’
‘The other one will be his dopey cousin. They’re renovating the cottages over past East Field for… Heavens above!’
Beth sat forwards. ‘What?’
‘Those cottages belong to Robert Astley. They’re working for him.’
‘No way,’ said Rose. ‘Are you saying he’s the phantom fly-tipper?’
Barbara shook her head. ‘I wouldn’t have thought he’d be that stupid, but the Dixons certainly are. Come to think of it, the last time this sort of thing happened, they were working on another Astley property.’ Barbara started the video again. ‘There. I’d recognise those awful kitchen units anywhere. They’re definitely from the Astley cottages.’
‘It doesn’t make sense,’ said Beth. ‘The Astley estate is loaded. They can easily afford to get rid of their rubbish legally. Why would he risk fly-tipping?’
Barbara shrugged. ‘I doubt he knows anything about it. In all probability, the Dixons are taking the money for a legal disposal, pocketing it, then forging the paperwork.’
Rose wiped her eyes. ‘We have to call the police.’
‘No, let’s not,’ said Beth.
Barbara stared at her aghast. ‘Why ever not?’
Rose was outraged. ‘We can’t let them get away with this.’
‘I’ve no intention of letting them get away with anything,’ said Beth.
Barbara gave her a keen look. ‘What’s going through your head?’
Beth paused, wondering if she had the guts to follow through with the idea that was currently formulating. Yes, I absolutely do . She’d told Rick that it was better to try something rather than do nothing. ‘Barbara, can you get me through to speak to Lord Astley?’
‘I can. That’s assuming he’s at home, of course.’ Barbara stabbed a number into her mobile and put it to her ear. ‘Maria, hello. Sorry to disturb you. I need a favour. There’s someone here who needs to speak to Robert. It’s important. Might you persuade him to come to the phone and give her five minutes, please? Thank you.’ There was a pause. ‘Ah. Hello, Robert. Mrs Hope from Hope Farm would like a word.’
Beth took the phone. ‘Hello, Lord Astley.’
‘What do you want?’ His supercilious tone made her hackles rise.
‘I’ve got some information here that you’re going to want to get out in front of.’ She stalked over to look out of the kitchen window.
‘What?’
‘I have a video of your staff illegally dumping waste.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘The Dixons are dumping junk from the East Field Cottage renovations.’
‘I don’t believe you.’
‘I’m happy to send you a copy of the footage. It’s definitely your rubbish. I have one witness already who will swear to it. I’m sure there are others.’
‘What witness? No, don’t tell me, it’s that witch Barbara Trenchard, isn’t it?’
‘It isn’t someone you can bribe to keep quiet, if that’s what you mean. The problem is that this video footage not only shows the Dixons illegally dumping waste, but also shows them running me down as they tried to escape.’
‘Why should I care? I didn’t run you over.’
‘I know that, but it won’t look very good for you if you can be linked to this, will it? You know what social media is like these days. Mud sticks. A local lord connected to a hit-and-run on a poor defenceless mother. A mother whose business application he is on record as objecting to. Think about it.’
‘You’re bluffing.’
‘Am I?’
There was a silence and then, ‘What do you want?’
‘Drop your objection to my well-being centre and, while you’re at it, get your friends to drop theirs.’
‘And if I do?’
‘I’ll tell you where the waste has been dumped and give you time to get it cleared up before I go to the police. I’ll even trim the video to remove any footage that incriminates you.’
‘Why would you do that?’
‘Like you say, it wasn’t you that ran me over. If you never intended for the waste to be dumped, that waste is then removed and I have my well-being centre, why would I want to make your life difficult?’
‘Hmm.’ There was a lot of huffing and puffing from the other end of the line. ‘You know that’s blackmail, don’t you?’
‘It depends how you look at it. I prefer to call it giving a neighbour a chance to do the right thing.’
‘I’ll remember this.’
‘Good.’
For a brief moment, Lord Astley sounded like he was swallowing wasps. ‘Tell me where the waste is. I’ll get it picked up.’
‘I’ll tell you when my planning application is approved.’
‘That could take ages.’
‘I’m sure there’s something you can do to speed things along. Now, do we have a deal?’
‘We do. You’ll be hearing from me shortly.’
The line went dead. Beth turned back to the others.
Rose’s eyes were out on stalks. ‘That was… that was…’
‘Very impressive,’ said Barbara. ‘Well done.’
Beth laughed, relief swamping her. ‘I was winging it. Do you think he’ll actually do it?’
‘He’d be daft not to.’
‘You are going to go to the police though, aren’t you?’ asked Rose.
‘I’ll have to find out who to speak to, but yes. Once we get the planning application and the waste is gone, I’ll make some calls.’
‘Angelica,’ said Barbara. ‘That’s who you should speak to.’
A loud knock sounded and Rose leapt to her feet and headed for the front door, calling over her shoulder, ‘Oh yes! Angelica. Good idea.’
‘Angelica?’ asked Beth.
‘My cousin’s girl,’ said Barbara. ‘Police officer. Southampton CID. She’ll know who to pass it to.’
‘Sounds perfect. Thank you, Barbara. What would I do without you?’
Rose returned, a slim white envelope in her hand. She looked like she’d seen a ghost.
‘Rose?’ Beth asked. ‘What is it?’
‘I had to sign for this.’ Rose handed over the envelope.
Beth’s stomach lurched. It was addressed to her in very distinct, uneven, block capitals.