Chapter 18 #2
Harry clattered around the kitchen as he listened to Leo’s tale of woe.
‘I hope this doesn’t mean you’re losing your nerve, son?’ he said, slapping thick slices of bread onto plates and reaching for the ketchup. ‘I reckon I’ve got one answer to the problem anyway.’
‘Oh?’
‘Don’t say it like that, lad, just listen. I’m really impressed with the way our Josh is shaping up in the business, according to Alex, so I’ve decided to stay here a bit longer, until the opening day’s over anyway.’
Leo swallowed the lump in his throat and blinked hard. ‘But Dad…’
‘Don’t worry, son. I’m sure the boys can spare me, and Josh has really come up trumps lately. The boy done good,’ he said, putting an arm around Leo’s shoulders as Mab came in. She looked over at Leo and then down at the floor.
‘You OK, love?’ Harry asked. ‘You look a bit flushed. Had a hard morning?’
‘Um, yes, quite… er… hard.’ Mab avoided Leo’s amused gaze.
‘Look, Harry, the new cups and saucers and things have come, do you like them?’ Mab had chosen an elegant deep blue design with gold edging, expensive but sumptuous.
Harry looked approvingly at the contents of the boxes that she was showing him, thinking how well Mab seemed to understand Leo’s vision for the place. He smiled.
‘You’ve chosen well, pet. I was just telling our Leo, I’m staying on a bit to help out here, leaving the kid to carry on in the business for a little while.’
‘Oh, that’s great. And Nina will be pleased,’ said Mab, noting that Harry was now the one blushing.
‘Well, maybe she will. By the way, have you heard from Sophie since they got home, lad? You haven’t mentioned her all week.’
Mab left the room rather suddenly and Leo frowned, thoughts of his fiancée clashing uncomfortably with the feverish flashbacks he was still having of Mab in his arms.
‘I guess she’s busy now she’s back at work, Dad. You know what it’s like in the tanning studio when the summer season’s coming up. Everyone wants to get nice and brown ready for their holidays, don’t they?’
‘Hmmm, it seems like a funny sort of job. Why can’t folks just go for a walk if they want to get a decent tan?
Why do they want to go and lie in a sandwich toasting machine?
And those mates of hers, they’re all airheads, if you ask me.
You want to tell her to get her act together and come down here to help us with the business. We could do with a bit of glamour.’
‘Yeah, right, Dad. Like Sophie ever listens to me.’ The two men grimaced at each other.
Neither of them had ever understood women.
Leo had only had two serious relationships before Sophie, and they had both petered out when he had failed to commit himself to flat sharing.
He had to admit things were looking bleak at the moment, even without considering the disturbing interlude with Mab.
But how could he untangle things? He didn’t want to drive up to Northumberland right now, not with so many problems hanging over his head. A glimmer of an idea came to him.
‘Don’t forget the local paper’s due to run a feature about the grand opening of the shop,’ he said, ‘Nina’s there today sorting it out. Maybe Sophie will want to be interviewed for that? She could come down again for a day or two and we could talk.’
‘If anyone’s going to be interviewed, it should be young Mab. She’s put the time and the effort into this, while your lass is up there enjoying herself.’
‘OK, OK, I get the point. But however you look at it, Sophie’s the one I’m meant to be marrying. And anyway,’ he said, trying to face a nagging doubt that had been haunting him for days, ‘maybe Mab’s got other fish to fry.’
Harry raised his eyebrows. ‘What do you mean, other fish?’
‘Did you not see Den slobbering all over her? He’s been emailing, you know. She’s always hanging over the computer last thing at night to see if he’s been in touch.’
‘Is that so? He’s a slippery one, our Den. Should we warn her?’
Leo considered the options. On the one hand, Den’s track record was somewhat eventful.
Apart from his short-lived marriage, Den had been engaged three times, and there was a lady out Berwick way who insisted that her little boy was the spitting image of his elder brothers even if Den flatly denied this.
But to Leo, Den had always appeared to be basically a kind and honourable man.
He had, as far as Leo knew, never broken a promise, and he would give the shirt off his own back to help you, if you were in trouble.
And his flings were usually over in a flash.
‘No, it might not come to anything, with a bit of luck. If we interfere, she’ll just get mad with us. Women don’t like to think they’ve made a mistake.’
‘Talking of women, we’re going to have to get the rest of the team back up here.
Last I heard, the boy was improving. You’ll need Jess and Stan here to get trained up for the shop opening, and the sooner the better.
I should give her a ring, see if you can persuade her to get the doctors to let him out.
He can recuperate here just as well as in Brighton.
Nina’ll help. She’s missed him no end. As a matter of fact, she said something about ringing the Brighton gang herself, but it won’t hurt if you add your bit. ’
Leo strode away obediently to ring Jess.
He was glad of the excuse to go back up to the flat because although Mab reappeared and bustled around with the coffee, she had still refused to look him in the eye and had made an excuse to go back into her room as soon as possible.
He must put things right with Mab, and convince her that he would keep his hands to himself in future.
Leo tried to conjure up an image of Sophie, slim, young and beautiful, dressed in a bridal outfit and walking up the aisle towards him, but was surprised to feel less excitement than panic at this vision of loveliness.
As he mounted the stairs, Leo heard the phone ringing, and Mab’s voice saying, ‘The Chocolate Cake Bookstore, how can I help you?’
Leo grinned. It sounded official, and positive, but the next moment, the sound of Mab calling him dispelled any feelings of satisfaction.
Her voice was high and tense, and he soon found out why; a local catering firm, the one that had been recommended highly by a friend of Nina’s, were returning a call he’d made to them earlier.
Leo had been trying to hurry up the delivery of all the basic food supplies for the café, but the receptionist was now saying that she couldn’t help him as the order was no longer ‘operational’.
Exactly the same thing happened again; it seemed that another order had been mysteriously cancelled.
‘Mab, this is crazy,’ said Leo, running his fingers through his black curls until they stood on end wildly.
‘How can we even think of opening on time if things keep going wrong? I can’t afford any more delays.
And how can two orders have “accidentally” been cancelled?
Is something dodgy going on? And if so, what can it be? ’
As they looked at each other helplessly, a loud knocking came from the main entrance of the shop.
Leo heard Harry open the door followed by voices coming closer, and then there was an ominous silence, as a man in a grey suit and beige anorak entered the living area, with Harry close on his heels.
The man glanced around, taking in the bright new paint and Angelica’s cosy chairs and sofas, before putting down his briefcase on a nearby table and extracting a manila file. He cleared his throat importantly.
‘Mr Leonardo Lamb?’ he asked, holding out a hand.
‘Indeed I am, and how may I help you?’ answered Leo, shaking hands warily.
The visitor had an air of menace about him, even though on the surface he was as inoffensive a specimen as Leo had ever seen.
There was something unsettling about the way that his eyes darted around the group, as if he was trying to decide who was in charge.
‘I’m hoping you can be of considerable help to me, sir.
Let me introduce myself. Here is my card and identification.
’ He handed over a card and flashed a laminated badge.
‘I am Gerald Collingsworth, from the health and safety department of your local council. I am here to investigate some rather… erm… unfortunate reports that have been made with reference to your property.’
There was a short pause as Mr Collingsworth pulled out a sheaf of papers from his file. The little man cleared his throat importantly.
‘It has been brought to our notice that sightings of vermin have occurred around the outer regions of your property. You will realise that this is an extremely serious situation in the case of a prospective food establishment.’
‘Come again?’ said Leo, looking bemused.
‘In a nutshell, someone has reported seeing rats in your back yard, and cockroaches within the trading area of your firm.’
Leo, Mab and Harry stood stock still, gazing at the forms that Mr Collingsworth was brandishing happily. Harry was the first one to recover his voice.
‘Rats? Cockroaches? You’ve got to be kidding, man. We’ve cleaned this place to within an inch of its life. You could eat your dinner off the floors, and as for rats out at the back, I’d like to see them try!’
Mr Collingsworth gave a nervous laugh.
‘That’s as may be, Mr… er…’
‘Lamb… Lamb senior. I’d ask you to call me Harry but I’ve a feeling we’re not going to become friends.’
‘Oh, I’m sure we can sort all this out amicably, Mr Lamb, it’s just a matter of making sure that no trading is undertaken until an inspection has taken place.’
‘No trading?’ gasped Leo, suddenly very clear about what was happening. ‘But where did this report come from? Who says we’ve got rats? Whoever they are, they’re lying. And you can’t stop us opening just because of a ridiculous rumour!’
‘I can assure you that we can and will, Mr Lamb. No establishment should be allowed to endanger the health and safety of the general public, let us be absolutely clear on that point.’
Mab stepped forward, and Mr Collingsworth seemed to notice her for the first time. He took in her flushed cheeks, wild hair and bright, angry gaze and took a step backwards.
‘I think you’ve failed to answer Mr Lamb’s question, Mr Collingsworth, and I’m sure that must have been unintentional.
Who has reported us to the council for having vermin on our premises?
’ Mab spoke loudly and clearly, fixing the little man with a stare that chilled him to the bone.
Leo looked at her admiringly. Why had he not realised how beautiful she was until today?
And Mab was a real woman, one that you would be proud to have by your side for life.
She was brave, intelligent and feisty. Thoughts of Sophie were far from his mind as he said, ‘Ms Millington has made a very good point, Mr Collingsworth.’ It was odd how they had all fallen into this formal way of speaking, thought Leo, they were beginning to sound like the cast of a cheesy costume drama.
Leo shook himself and continued, ‘And it is a point that I would also like clarified. I believe we have a right to know who has made such dreadful accusations about our business.’
Mr Collingsworth coughed again. He seemed rather less confident now, with three pairs of eyes boring into him, but he squared his shoulders and answered.
‘I’m afraid that is where you are mistaken, Mr Lamb. Our first responsibility is to our clients, and confidentiality is essential in these cases.’
‘Are you trying to tell me that someone can make a libellous report about me, and that I am not allowed to know who it was?’ asked Leo, incredulously.
‘That is, unfortunately for you, the case.’
There was a short silence, as the three of them tried to work out where to go next.
Finally, Mab said, ‘So… what happens now?’ She sounded tired and vulnerable, and Leo noticed how pale she was now that the angry flush had died down.
He moved to stand beside her, and she glanced up at him gratefully, leaning against his arm.
He could feel her shaking slightly, and he gently pushed her into a chair, placing his hands on her shoulders in what he hoped was a comforting way.
This rat business must have shocked her to the core.
Leo knew how Sophie felt about rats. Sophie would have been out of the building and up the street by now, and as for cockroaches…
But who could have said such a thing about them?
With a shock, Leo suddenly remembered the angry episode with Edward Crabtree. Aha! He pounced.
‘Mr Collingsworth, if I ask you a question, can you at least give me a yes or no answer?’
‘I can’t promise anything, Mr Lamb.’
‘Well, let’s give it a try anyway. Was the person who reported us named Crabtree, by any chance?’
Mab gasped, and Harry looked shocked, but neither spoke. Mr Collingsworth shook his head.
‘Oh, Mr Lamb, you know I couldn’t possibly answer that question. It’s more than my job’s worth.’
Leo grinned. So people really did say that? Then he remembered the seriousness of the situation and his heart sank. Harry said sternly, ‘Again, a question hasn’t been answered, Mr Collingsworth. What happens next?’
‘Ahem… well, nothing happens for a while, Mr Lamb.’
‘Nothing? We can’t accept that, Mr Collingsworth. We have a business to run here, and our opening day is imminent.’
‘When I say nothing happens, I mean that no trading happens, of course. We will commence investigations immediately, and report our findings to you at the first possible opportunity.’
Mab stood up, shakily. Her face had a clammy, grey tinge, and she seemed to be taking deep breaths to steady herself. Leo moved closer and their hands touched, his fingers closing around hers, warm and comforting.
‘So, you’re telling us that we have no rights at all here?’ said Mab. ‘We’re going to have to just sit around and wait for you to finish these “investigations” of yours, and we’re not even going to be told who has ruined our opening day and put a stop to our business?’
Mr Collingsworth gulped. This lady was a force to be reckoned with.
‘Oh, come, Ms… Middleton…’
‘Millington!’ corrected Mab, Harry and Leo simultaneously, all moving a step nearer to the council official, who looked swiftly over his shoulder, as if checking the exits.
‘Ms Millington – my apologies – but there is no alternative to what I have said. Procedures must be taken when an allegation of such seriousness is made by a member of the public. I will be in touch as soon as is humanly possible, you have my assurances on that matter. I’ll see myself out.’
And out Mr Collingsworth scuttled, before any of the others could stop him.