Archie's Battleflat Adventures: The Harriman Mystery (16 page)

“
It’s alright to come down now, boy,” Mr Tompkins said,
disappearing to the lower floor to wait for Archie to join
him.

“
Sorry, sir,” Archie muttered, standing before his boss. “My
dad said not to answer any of his questions unless he was
there.”

“
I know, which is why I lied to the man. God knows he will
throw me behind bars if he ever found out, but he won’t,
will he, Archie?”

Archie
smiled secretively. “No sir, definitely not.”

“
Right then. Did you deliver Mrs Humble’s flour as
instructed?”

“
Yes, sir, but there was something really odd,” Archie
frowned, knowing he owed it to Mrs Humble to tell them what he had
seen earlier.

“
Go on then, spit it out.”

Archie
studied Mr Tompkins. Although the order had been brisk, there was
no impatience on the man’s face, and nothing to show Archie that he
was being humoured. Making a decision, Archie sighed.

“
When I was at Mrs Humble’s house, there was nobody there. I
knocked several times and called out to her, but there was no
answer. So I tried the door, which opened.”

“
So? Mrs Humble doesn’t lock her door, Archie. Nobody around
here does. What’s your point?”

“
Well, I didn’t want to leave the flour outside in case it
rained, so when the door opened, I went in.”

Mr
Tompkins sighed. “What did you break?”

“
Nothing!” Archie replied indignantly, hurt that Mr Tompkins
would think he was so clumsy. “It is just that nobody answered when
I called. But as I was walking back down the lane, I looked back at
the house, and the curtain definitely moved. Someone was there, but
they didn’t answer me. Mrs Humble wouldn’t do that.” He lapsed into
silence, watching as a thoughtful look swept over Mr Tompkins’s
face as he studied the ground at his feet.

“
Are you sure you saw the curtain move?”

“
Yes, sir,” Archie replied, his voice firm.

“
Alright then, I’ll send two of the men to check on her.” Mr
Tompkins clapped a hand on Archie’s shoulder. “Tell your dad as
soon as you get home. Also tell him about the Justice. Although I
bought you some time, I am certain he won’t be put off for long and
you will almost certainly get a visit at home tonight.”

Archie
wrinkled his nose in distaste and nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“
Alright then, stack the sacks and then go and feed Bobbin and
Grumpy.”

Archie
scurried off, glad to be given something to do outside. Feeding
Grumpy was one of his favourite jobs of all.

Bobbin
and Grumpy were the mill horses. They were used to draw the
millstones that ground the flour. Bobbin was of an indefinable age,
and a big softie who loved loads of fuss. Grumpy was the same,
although was called his unfortunate name because he always looked
sad, and miserable, and wasn’t inclined to need as much fuss as
Bobbin. Archie loved brushing their soft fur, and spending time
with them in the sweet-smelling hay. There was something about
their gentleness, despite their sheer size, that he felt oddly
reassuring.

First,
though, he went to the second floor and began to tug sacks into a
neat pile. It was dirty and very boring. On one of his several
trips past the window, Archie glanced outside and paused, watching
as Gus and Jim walked to Mr Humble’s house. With a shiver, Archie
glanced around the room, and quickly drew the small piece of
parchment out of his pocket. Despite the dimness of the afternoon,
there was enough light to see several clearly drawn trees, the
cross that presumably marked the presence of a church, and a
winding path that ran through them, at the end of which was
another, much larger X.

Studying
the drawing for several moments, Archie mentally ran through the
layout of the area, wondering if it was the churchyard at
Battleflat. He hadn’t spent any time in the churchyard to know the
layout of the gravestones, and know if they related to what was
drawn on the map. Assuming the map was accurate. He knew that
Edward travelled around the area more through his work at the
bakery, and would probably know if it was anywhere near where they
lived.

It would
help if they could get the second half of the map, and more clues,
but that meant a trip to Mr Harriman’s house.

Bristling with impatience, Archie stuffed the parchment back
into his pocket and finished stacking the sacks before heading
toward Grumpy’s stables at the rear of the mill. He saw Gus and Jim
return to the mill, but there was no flurry of activity indicating
they had found anything amiss. Mrs Humble was probably out and
about on her gossipy travels.

He had
just finished putting the feed into Bobbin’s bucket, when Mr
Tompkins appeared at the stable door.

“
Archie, come here a minute,” he called.

Archie
gave Bobbin a gentle pat and locked the stable door behind him. He
could feel Mr Tompkins studying him closely, and felt his stomach
turn over nervously.

“
Do you remember seeing anything else at Mrs Humble’s house?”
Mr Tompkins’s asked quietly when Archie stood before
him.

“
Nothing, sir.” Archie mentally winced at the small lie. “Is
Mrs Humble alright?”

“
We don’t know, Archie, she wasn’t at home. But Mrs Entwhistle
says Mrs Humble hasn’t been out today.”

“
So where is she?”

“
Nobody knows,” Mr Tompkins replied gravely. “I am sure there
is a simple reason for her being away. Maybe Mrs Entwhistle is
wrong. I’ve sent for your dad, though. I think he needs to know –
you know, just in case.”

Archie’s brows rose and he nodded slowly. He knew that
nothing
in the village
got past Mrs Entwhistle and she was rarely wrong. If she said Mrs
Humble hadn’t been out of her house that day, then the chances were
that Mrs Humble hadn’t left the house. Although Mr Tompkins hadn’t
said as much, he was clearly thinking the worst.

“
I know, Archie,” Mr Tompkins said gently, seemingly reading
Archie’s thoughts. “But, it’s too early to worry just yet. Mrs
Entwhistle is going to ask around. Meantime, if you remember
anything else, tell your dad.”

Mr
Tompkins nodded, glancing at the dark clouds high above. “If this
rain keeps off, the harvesting can begin again the day after
tomorrow, so get as much rest now as you can. We’ve almost finished
what we have in the stores now. Go home for today, and I’ll see you
tomorrow.”

Archie
glanced at Mr Tompkins, surprised to be given two early
days.

“
Take Ben and Sammy with you.”

Archie
nodded, disappearing inside to find his brothers. It was unheard of
to be sent home early once, let alone twice. He knew instinctively
that there was something Mr Tompkins wasn’t saying. Within minutes,
his squabbling brothers running ahead, Archie left the protection
of the mill and headed for home. Having no sooner gone a few steps
than the memory of his return home the previous afternoon came to
his mind.

“
Hey, you two, wait for me,” Archie shouted, taking to his
heels after his brothers. Their delighted squeals rang in the air
as the boys thundered toward home.

Relief
swept through Archie as minutes later, gasping for air, they
tumbled through the back door of home having seen nothing untoward.
Their laughter rang loudly on the quiet within the house, as they
jostled and hustled each other through the door before slamming it
behind them.

Archie
pushed Ben back, “I told you I would beat you, short legs,” Archie
teased, grinning at his younger brother.

“
Only because you are have skinny long legs, like a
spider.”

Archie
cuffed his brother behind the ear, laughing as he dodged the thump
aimed at his arm. He was still chuckling when he stumbled to a stop
in the doorway to the sitting room. All traces of humour left him
in an instant.

“
Hello, Archie.”

The
cultured tones of Lord Brentwood broke the awkward silence. Archie
sensed rather than saw his mum rise awkwardly to her feet, her face
stiff.

Something was wrong.

Archie
nodded cautiously, hating the man there and then for pestering him
and, by the look on his mum’s face, making her feel awkward and
uncomfortable in her own home. He broke eye contact with Lord
Brentwood long enough to glance at the tense features of his
mother, and felt sorry for her. Clearly she hadn’t wanted to allow
the aristocratic man into the house, but had been given little
choice.

“
Come and take a seat, Archie,” Lord Brentwood said, pushing
out a chair. Archie glanced at his mum, who stood before the
fireplace.

Sensing
the rising tension within the room, Sammy and Ben stood silently
beside him, watching the interplay with interest. Despite their
rambunctiousness, they had the wisdom to remain quiet and watchful
when the situation arose.

“
No, thanks,” Archie said, shifting on his feet. It went
against everything he had been taught to go against a grown-up
giving him an order, especially one held in high esteem like the
Justice was, but he wasn’t going to take orders from Lord Brentwood
in his own house. Something about the man annoyed him, and Archie
simply couldn’t ignore his dislike and distrust of Brentwood’s
continued appearance, seemingly to ask more questions. He felt a
protective urge toward his mother and brothers that surprised him,
and it didn’t leave him inclined to be polite to this particular
unwanted guest.

“
Archie.”

He heard
the reprimand in his mother’s voice but refused to listen to it.
The memory of Mr Harriman’s lifeless body lying still and silent in
the cold cellar rose to his mind. He wondered whether Lord
Brentwood was involved in Mr Harriman’s demise. He was certainly
determined enough in his quest to get information out of Archie,
and seemed to know that Archie hadn’t told him everything he knew.
But did that make him a murderer?

“
It’s alright, Mrs Balfour. If Archie wants to stand, that’s
fine.” Although Lord Brentwood’s words were reasonable, the clipped
tone did little to hide his rising annoyance. Archie was intrigued.
Clearly the Justice didn’t like not being able to intimidate Archie
into doing what he wanted.

“
I think it would be best if the boys left us for a while. Why
don’t you take them upstairs, Mrs Balfour? We will only be a
minute.”

Archie
shared a look with his mother, his dad’s words ringing clearly
between them. He could sense his mum’s hesitation and silently
willed her not to give in to the order, mentally sighing in relief
when she stood her ground.

“
The boys can go and fetch their dad, I am sure he will want
to be here to listen to what you have to tell us.”

Archie
watched as Lord Brentwood’s face hardened slightly. Although he
remained seating in a seemingly relaxed and casual pose, the change
in his face was so swift, so sudden, that if Archie hadn’t been
watching him, he would have been certain he had imagined
it.

“
I am afraid I don’t have the time to wait. I think it would
be best if you took the boys upstairs.”

“
I want mum to stay,” Archie declared defiantly, glaring
meaningfully at his mum. He knew she understood when she moved to
stand beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“
Now then, my lord, perhaps you would like to tell us what
this visit is about. Archie has already told you everything he
knows.” He was proud of his mother for the firmness of her voice.
She sounded as though she was about to give him a lecture on
behaving himself and being a gentleman rather than a scoundrel. He
smothered a grin at the flush of temper that rose on Lord
Brentwood’s face.

Archie
knew what a bold move could mean to the family. His mum did the
mending from Brentwood House, and his sister Betsy was a scullery
maid there. If the family offended Lord Brentwood, he could quite
easily cast them off and the entire family would be left destitute.
Although his dad was a constable in the parish, and earned a decent
wage, with five children in the house, every penny counted. It was
enough of a struggle to lose one or two days’ worth of Archie’s
wages, let alone Betsy and his mum’s earnings on a permanent basis.
Still, his mum had stood her ground and refused to be ordered
around in her own house. Archie felt proud of her, and threw her a
grateful glance, straightening his shoulders proudly before turning
his gaze defiantly to Lord Brentwood.

Just
then, the latch on the back door shattered the stilted silence. Not
bothering to take his boots or jacket off as he usually did, Jack
appeared in the doorway, a dark scowl on his face.

“
Lord Brentwood, I had heard you had come to visit us –
again.” The emphasis on the final word wasn’t lost on anyone in the
room. The young boys took a wary step back from their towering
father, who was quite clearly displeased. Even Marjorie looked at
her husband with a mixture of relief and wariness.

“
I wondered if Archie had remembered anything else,
Constable,” Lord Brentwood murmured, reminding Jack of his status
within the village. It wasn’t lost on anyone present that Lord
Brentwood was silently warning Jack that he was also his boss and
wasn’t a man to cross.