Fire When Ready (Manor House Mystery) (22 page)

After all, she'd be perfectly safe. Ray's room was at the Tudor Arms. It was just a matter of slipping up the back stairs, a quick search of the room, then down again.

In any case, she wasn't sure that her suspicions were founded. She just knew that something about Ray's story didn't add up, and she was reluctant to question him about it. If she was right, then she could be dealing with a very dangerous criminal.

Part of her nagged that Earl would want her to go to the constables with her suspicions. But knowing George, he'd hem and haw, tell her she was relying too much on guesses, and perhaps botch things up as he always did, allowing Ray Muggins to slip away unchallenged.

She couldn't let that happen. Two people had died, and someone had to pay for their deaths. She needed some kind of proof, however, before she presented her case, and if her hunch was correct, searching Ray's room just might give it to her.

Ray would be out with Polly this evening. Knowing Polly and her passion for films, they would most likely go to the cinema in North Horsham. That would give her plenty of time to go to the Tudor Arms, conduct her search, and be safely away before Ray returned to his room.

Having decided that, she went down to the kitchen to ask Violet to prepare the evening meal a little early. She wanted to make sure she had plenty of time for her mission.

Polly walked into the lounge bar of the Tudor Arms, wishing she could be anywhere rather than the noisy, smelly pub. Normally she didn't mind the stink of beer and the choking smell of cigarette smoke. But there were times when it got on her nerves.

Thank goodness Sadie couldn't afford to smoke. At least she didn't have to put up with the smell in the manor. Polly glanced around the crowded room. No sign of Ray at the bar, and she couldn't see him at any of the tables. No sign of Sadie and Joe, either, which unnerved her a bit.

Still, there was plenty of time. She sauntered over to the bar, ignoring the comments from both GIs and British soldiers as they jostled each other to get close enough to order their beer.

All the bar stools were occupied, but a pimply faced Yank jumped up and offered her his seat, his face turning scarlet at the sly remarks of his mates.

Polly thanked him and slid onto the stool. Alfie was at
the other end of the bar. He caught her eye and gave her a little wave, then went on pulling pints as fast as he could.

He needed another barmaid, Polly thought, feeling sorry for the bloke. The last one he had turned out to be a German spy, and since then, he hadn't had much luck finding anyone to work behind the bar. Most of the local girls would rather be in front of it, having a good time with the Yanks.

It seemed ages before Alfie paused in front of her just long enough to ask, "The usual, luv?"

She nodded, glancing once more in the mirror that ran the length of the bar. She could see the door from there, and to her relief, she saw Sadie come in, followed by her redheaded boyfriend, second-lieutenant Joe Hanson, United States Army Air Force.

Polly grinned, thinking of the number of times Sadie had given him his full title when she mentioned him. She watched them sit at a table over by the window, and once more she felt a pang of envy. Joe seemed nice. And he was a Yank. How she missed being with an American. But those days were over, she told herself. No more Americans in her life. No Yank was ever going to break her heart again.

Elizabeth waited quite a while before she felt it safe to slip up the back stairs of the pub. Fortunately, the back door had been left unlocked, as usual, so she hadn't had to go through the bar. If all went well she could leave again without even Alfie knowing she'd been there, which would certainly help her to avoid having to answer some awkward questions.

Alfie had once confided in her that he kept a spare set of keys in a drawer in the hallstand. She'd thought at the time that it wasn't a very prudent place to keep keys. Then again, the drawer did blend into the ornate carving on the
front of the hallstand. Most people wouldn't even notice it was there.

Alfie had chosen to leave the keys there to save him going back into his room to get them when someone forgot their own key, which happened far too often in Alfie's estimation. Elizabeth was very glad now that he'd shared that bit of information. Little had she known at the time how useful it would be.

She knew where to find Ray's room. The only one with a view of the ocean, he'd told her. Everyone knew that was room number one. Visitors usually asked for it when they booked a room at the pub.

She had almost reached the top of the stairs when she heard a door open further down the hallway. She paused, praying it wouldn't be someone who recognized her. The rooms were mostly let out to visitors from out of town. Even so, she was quite a prominent figure around the village.

She risked a quick peek around the corner. To her horror she recognized the man strolling toward her. It was Ray Muggins. He had to be on his way to meet Polly.

Immediately she turned and fled for the stairs. He'd had his head down, as usual. The hallway was dark and shadowy. With any luck she could duck out of sight before he saw her.

Leaping down the stairs, she twisted her ankle painfully as she reached the bottom. The outside door was just a few steps away and she raced for it as Ray's footsteps clumped down the stairs behind her. Frantically she tugged the door open and plunged outside. Breathing hard, she walked rapidly away from the pub, expecting any minute to hear him calling out to her.

When she reached the corner without hearing the dreaded shout, she risked a glance over her shoulder. There
was no one there. He must have gone into the lounge bar to meet Polly.

Obviously she'd misjudged the time. Polly's meeting with Ray was later than she'd thought. It was too late for them to go to North Horsham now, so that meant they were probably spending the evening in the pub.

Racked with indecision, she stood poised on the corner. One half of her wanted desperately to go home and wait until tomorrow when Earl could go with her to search the room. Then again, knowing Earl, he'd try to talk her out of it.

Also, if Ray was the gunman, he might know she was on his track. And there was nothing to prevent him from leaving Sitting Marsh and disappearing into the busy streets of London. He could be gone before they found out anything useful.

No, it had to be tonight. Ray and Polly would spend at least a couple of hours in the lounge bar. They might even leave to go somewhere else. Pulling another deep breath, Elizabeth walked cautiously back to the pub.

CHAPTER

15

"Well, there you are!"

Ray's soft voice made Polly jump. She'd been staring at Sadie and Joe so hard she hadn't noticed him come up behind her. She looked at his reflection in the mirror. "You're late," she said, but he wasn't listening. He was too busy trying to get Alfie's attention.

"I'm going to find a table," she told him, sliding off the stool. "Alfie's getting my gin and orange."

She left Ray at the bar and went in search of a table. Most of them had been taken already, but she found one close to the door. No one liked sitting that close to the door in the winter. Every time someone came in, the wind cut into your legs and froze your toes.

Tonight, however, she didn't plan on being there too
long. She'd have one drink with Ray, then tell him it was over. Her stomach churned at the thought.

Anxiously, she stared across the room at Sadie, who was nose to nose with Joe talking about something. You had to get that close in this place if you wanted to say something without everyone near you overhearing it.

Her stomach jerked again when she caught sight of Ray making his way toward her, her gin and orange in one hand and a glass of beer in the other. It was now-or-never time.

She wished now that she'd rehearsed what she was going to say. She'd never done this before. How was she going to tell him without hurting him, or worse, making him angry? She should have talked to Sadie about it. Sadie always knew what to say.

Polly glanced over at Sadie's table again. It was too late now. Sadie and Joe were sitting there waiting for her to finish it with Ray so they could take her home. She'd ridden her bicycle down there, but Joe could throw it in the back of his Jeep. It was better than riding in the dark.

Ray reached the table and put the glasses down. Foam slopped over the side of his glass and spread in a little puddle on the table. Polly watched it, wishing she could just jump up, tell him it was over, and rush out of the pub.

Somehow she got through the next fifteen minutes, though she had no idea what they talked about. It was mostly Ray talking, while she mumbled answers. It usually was Ray who did all the talking, she realized now. They'd never had a real conversation, like she and Sam used to have.

"You wanna another one?" Ray asked, breaking into her thoughts.

"No, thanks." Now was the time, she told herself. Now,
before he bought her another drink. While she still had enough guts to go through with it. She glanced over at Sadie, just to make sure she was still there.

Sadie was watching her, and gave her a thumbs up sign. That made her feel better. Ray started to get up, and in a sudden panic, she said loudly, "Sit down, Ray."

He paused halfway off his chair, his eyes widening. "What?"

She'd never spoken to him like that before, she thought nervously. No wonder he was surprised. "I've got something to say to you," she said. "I want you to sit down so you can listen."

Slowly he put down his glass and lowered himself onto the chair. "What's all this about?"

"It's about you and me." Polly swallowed. Her heart was banging so hard against her ribs she could hardly get the words out. She sent a frantic glance at Sadie, who was still watching her. She saw Sadie say something to Joe and he turned his head to look across the room at her.

Polly drew a deep breath. "I'm not going out with you anymore, Ray. I want to break up with you."

The look in his eyes frightened her. "What's the matter?" he said, in a harsh voice she'd never heard him use before. "Not good enough for you? Is that it?"

Scared now, she shook her head. "No, it's nothing like that. I just don't think we're right for each other, that's all."

He started getting to his feet again. "So you want to go back to being Yankee bait, is that it?"

Tears stung her eyes, but she gritted her teeth and blinked them back. "I'm sorry, Ray, I—"

"Sorry!" He leaned toward her, frightening her even more. "I'll make you sorry, all right, you little—"

"Is everything all right, Polly?"

Joe's voice had cut across Ray's words, and he straightened up. "Mind your own business—" Ray started, but that was as far as he got.

Joe's hand closed around his throat. "This
is
my business," he said quietly. "If I were you, I'd go right out the door. Unless you want to take on that whole squadron over there." He jerked his head at the bar.

Ray dragged Joe's hand from his neck. "I'm going," he said nastily, "but I'll be back. With my own squadron. So watch your step, Yank." With one last baleful glance at Polly, he charged out the door.

One quick look, Elizabeth promised herself, and she'd leave. If she did find something incriminating, it would be a simple matter to go down to the bar and ask Alfie to ring George. He'd be there before Ray knew anything was amiss.

Assuring herself that she had plenty of time, she nevertheless scurried up the steps, her spine tingling at the thought that he could be waiting for her to come back. She reached the upper hallway, and with a quick glance confirmed that she was alone.

She hurried toward the room, unlocked it with the key, and slipped inside. After closing the door, she scrabbled in the dark to find the light switch and turn it on. Bright light flooded the room, making her blink.

She didn't have to look far after all. It was in the wardrobe, more or less where she'd expected to find it. The lethal-looking rifle was propped up in one corner, behind a suit of clothes.

So she was right. Ray Muggins had shot at her this afternoon. If her guess was right, he was the one involved in
the theft of guns. The person whom Jessie Bandini had been foolish enough to blackmail.

She had to get to George's house and bring him back here before Ray realized he'd been discovered. She started to close the wardrobe, but at that moment, the door opened behind her.

Frozen with shock, she could only stare at Ray's astonished face, knowing that whatever she said would not explain her presence there, or why she was looking in his wardrobe.

Already his surprise had turned to comprehension. For once he was staring right at her, and the menace in his eyes was frightening.

He stepped inside the room and closed the door behind him. "Well, well. Very clever, your ladyship," he said, in a voice she didn't recognize. "How'd you know it was me?"

He stepped toward her, and she backed away from the wardrobe in an effort to put the bed between them. "I was looking for Polly," she said, doing her best to sound normal. "I thought she had an appointment with you this evening."

He grinned, and she wondered why she'd ever thought him pleasant and charming. "She did, but she decided to go home early. Too bad you didn't try the lounge bar first. You'd have run right into her."

He moved closer to the wardrobe and she swallowed hard. "Oh, I did look in there and didn't see her. It's so crowded down there tonight."

"A little too crowded I'm thinking." He reached inside the wardrobe and drew out the rifle. "Then again, with all the noise going on down there, no one would hear this if it were to . . . accidentally go off. Right?" Very carefully, he pointed the gun at her and positioned his finger over the trigger.

She stared at the menacing mouth of the barrel, her stomach threatening to return the contents of her hastily eaten meal. A voice shouted inside her head:
Don't let him see you're scared! But it wasn't that simple. All very well
, she thought desperately. Something urged her to keep him talking. Anything to play for time. Maybe someone would come down the hallway and she could yell for help.