Read Online Cherringham--Last Train to London by Neil Richards - Free Book Online Page A

security at his cottage?” said Sarah.
    “It was partly for his beautiful puppets,” said Jayne. “But also he worried the Securitate were getting close. In fact he told me that – just the night before he died – he thought someone had tried to break in.”
    “While he was in the house?” said Jack.
    “Yes. He said nothing was stolen. But he feared the worst.”
    “Jayne – did he ever tell you his real name?” said Sarah.
    “No,” said Jayne. “I think perhaps to protect me. But I didn’t mind. He was Otto. He’ll always be Otto.”
    Sarah sat back and looked at Jack. His face was stern; was he as moved as she had been by Jayne’s story?
    “So I’ve told you Otto’s secret. What will you do with it?” said Jayne.
    “I really don’t know,” said Jack. “All we were doing was a little background check for the school. Now with this – I just don’t know.”
    “Can’t you get his puppets back at least?” said Jayne.
    “We still don’t know who stole them,” said Sarah. “But I guess we can still try – what do you think, Jack?”
    “Sure,” he said. “But what do we tell Mrs Harper? About Otto?”
    Sarah didn’t know the answer.
    “All that I’ve told you, it happened a long time ago in a country far away – isn’t that the saying?” said Jayne. “Maybe it should just stay that way. I don’t think there’s anything in the life of Otto Brendl the German jeweller that should concern Mrs Harper.”
    Sarah walked with Jack back up the High Street to where he had parked in the village square.
    Pretty busy for a weekday he thought, but then remembered – it was the school holidays and the tourist season was in full swing.
    Jack climbed into the little open-top sports car. Sarah leaned against the bonnet.
    “So,” she said. “Where do we go from here?”
    “I don’t know,” he said. “We’re kinda done, aren’t we? We found out Otto’s secret. Seems to me the only question is what we tell Mrs Harper.”
    He could see something was troubling her.
    “But are we done? What about the missing puppets? Don’t you think we should try and get those back – for Otto? For Jayne?”
    “Maybe – but the police are already on the case. And they have far more resources than we do.”
    “Okay. But Jack – come on. Don’t you think there’s other weird things about this? That guy we saw on the road. The Russian chap asking about you down at the boat yard. Well Russian – Romanian – how would they know the difference? You could be in danger.”
    “Why?”
    Sarah pulled back.
    “Something we saw in the cottage maybe? Something else that Jayne didn’t tell us?”
    Jack also looked around.
    “Or maybe it’s just some guy who wants to buy a boat? We haven't seen him since. I can check if he’s been down by the river again. Maybe it’s not even the same guy.”
    But Sarah didn’t let it go.
    “He asked about you , Jack. Why?”
    Jack nodded, then a small smile. “You must think I have all the answers.” Then: “Look, I'll be careful. Remember, I'm kind of used to dealing with bad guys.”
    Sarah shook her head. “As the target?”
    Touché, he thought.
    “Okay, I’ll be very careful. And I will take care of myself. Gotta give Riley a nice long walk. Touch base tomorrow?”
    “Great. Daniel’s got a match. So, I don’t know … If you think we’re finished with Otto then maybe I’ll go watch. Pretty quiet in the office …”
    Jack had to wonder if Sarah struggled to make ends meet. She always seemed to have a few web design commissions. But did she get enough of them? She clearly found being an amateur detective a whole lot more fun. Was that why she didn’t want this case to be over?
    A big SUV drew up next to them. A middle-aged woman with puffy grey hair accompanied by a young woman in summer top, were in the front seats. Mum and daughter out for the day, he guessed.
    “Sorry, are you about to go? No parking spaces anywhere!”
    Jack looked at Sarah. She