***
They made their way separately to City airport on Saturday morning, in case someone saw them together. Frankly, Catherine no longer cared whether anyone saw them or not. Not after dinner on Wednesday. No peck on the cheek when they had parted then, but a proper, if hesitant, embrace.
They picked up their car from Gatwick, and headed for Petworth, to collect the spent ammunition.
“Do you know Sussex?” Bill asked her.
“Not at all,” she replied. “Never been here in my life before.”
“Well,” said Bill, “you’ll find it a bit different from the Fens of your childhood. There’s not much flat in this county, apart from the water meadows and flood plains around the rivers that flow into the sea – rolling, wooded down land, narrow winding lanes, and picturesque villages mostly. I’ll show you around properly one day, when we have more time,” he promised.
“Meanwhile, I think we should go to Petworth first to collect the ammo, then that’s the business side of our trip taken care of, more or less. You’ll like Petworth. Plenty of old antique shops, and Petworth House is a stately home well worth a visit one day. After that, I thought we could head for Worthing to meet the old man, if that’s all right with you, and then that’s over, too.”
“Whatever you like, Bill. I’m more than happy just being here.”
“Dad’s only got a small flat, so we shan’t be able to stay there. It’s on the front, overlooking the sea, and just right for him. Then, I thought we would head to Fittleworth this evening, and see my old aunt tomorrow. There’s a lovely old Inn at Fittleworth – The Swan – where we can get a good dinner and spend the night, if they have rooms. I’ll ring them from Worthing.”
“All that sounds perfect. But how come you know Sussex so well?” she asked.
“Born and bred in the county,” he replied. “This is home, for me.”
They found the Police station in Petworth without too much trouble, and the Detective Inspector in charge of the case was expecting them. He handed over the ammunition in a sealed plastic bag, and confirmed that they still had no idea who had killed Edward Benbow, or why.
“Two shots fired at close range,” said the Inspector. “There was a chap fishing just below the bridge who heard the shots, and saw two men on a motorbike speeding off towards Bognor. We assume they were the killers, but the man was too far away to be anything like a witness – no description of the men, or anything. It’s all very odd,” he continued. “Things like that just don’t happen around here.”
The couple managed to park in the town square, and had time for a quick look round, including the antiques market where Edward Benbow had picked up the clockwork keys. Bill managed to buy a map of Sussex in the newsagents, so that he could show Catherine where they were and where they were going.
“See?” he said. “Fittleworth is only a short way down the road from here, and we shall pass it on our way to Dads’ place. But we won’t stop; there’ll be plenty of time for a look round tomorrow, but it is a lovely little place.”
They got to Worthing quite quickly, and parked in the forecourt of the block of flats, to the west of the town centre, where the General lived.
“We used to live a bit further along the coast, that way,” said Bill, pointing west. “Village called Ferring; I was born there.”
Catherine wasn’t sure she was altogether looking forward to meeting Bills’ father. She didn’t have a great deal of experience of Generals, and certainly not socially. As it happened, she needn’t have worried – they hit it off immediately.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, my gal,” he said, “and I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. Bill’s not usually wrong about people,” he added. “Come on in, and make yourself at home.”
He turned to Bill. His booming voice wouldn’t let him whisper, but he did his best. “You were right, boy. Damned good looking.”
Catherine was surprised and flattered that Bill had even mentioned her at all.
Bill asked if he could use the phone. “I thought we could put up at The Swan tonight, if they have rooms free,” he said.
“Excellent place,” enthused the General. “Stayed there m’self.” He turned to Catherine. “Just sorry I can’t put you up here,” he said. “It would do me good to have you around the place. But you’ll probably be more comfortable at The Swan, and it’s handy for visiting my sister Edith tomorrow. She’s still a bit cut up about Edward, of course, but like me, can’t wait to meet you.”
Bill came back from using the phone in the hall.
“They don’t have any single rooms tonight,” he said, “but they’ve got a twin, with en suite and everything, so I said we’d have that, if it’s OK with you, Catherine.”
“Of course it’s all right with Catherine,” boomed the General on her behalf. “Something wrong with the gal if it’s not!”
Catherine grinned.
“Your father’s quite right, of course,” she said, “I shan’t mind a bit.”
“Told you so,” the General beamed.
“I’ll take a turn round the block while you’re using the bathroom,” announced Bill.
The General looked at Catherine, raised his eyes to heaven, and went in to the small kitchen to put the kettle on for tea.
“Any clues yet about Edward’s murder?” he asked Bill, later. “If you want my opinion,” he continued without waiting for a reply, “you can blame the bloody Arabs for that. Been poking around in Libya, by all accounts, and no doubt he was on to their illegal arms trade.”
“As a matter of fact,” said Bill, “There could well be a connection.”
He explained why they were there, and about the mystery surrounding his uncles’ envelope. They chatted on for ages, and Catherine became more and more relaxed in the company of the two men.
Eventually, Bill looked at the old carriage clock on the mantelpiece.
“We really must get going, Dad,” he said. “They will have closed the dining room at The Swan if we’re not quick.”
The General walked with them to the car park.
He put his arm round Catherine’s shoulders. “I can’t tell you how nice it’s been to meet you,” he said to her quietly. “Bill’s a changed man since I last saw him – much more like his old self again. He’s very fond of you, y’know.”
They parted already the best of friends.
“I know we haven’t got all that time, if we’re going to eat this evening,” he said, as they were on their way, “ but we’ll go into Fittleworth from a different direction so I can show you bridge over the river were my uncle was shot.”
They drove along the coast, passed a sign to Ferring, and eventually went through Arundel, with its castle on the hill, and north up the A.29. They turned off up the road signposted to Fittleworth, and Bill pulled over as they approached the river. They leant over the little bridge.
“I wouldn’t mind a quid for every time I’ve scrambled over that stile next to the bridge when I was a kid,” he said. “I used to go fishing down there quite often with my father and uncle Edward. And now he’s dead. Murdered at the very spot where we used to have such fun.”
Catherine put her arm through his.
“Come on,” she said. “Buy me dinner.”
Neither of them noticed the two men on the motorbike.
They booked in at The Swan, but went straight into the dining room while the chef was still on duty. They lingered over an un-hurried meal, and it was quite late when they eventually gathered their bags and climbed the stairs to their room.
Bill opened the door, and groped for the light switch.
“Oh, look”, said Catherine. “A four-poster! How romantic – I’ve never slept in one of those.”
“Romantic perhaps,” said Bill, “but the man said this was a twin room, not a double.”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Catherine, softly.
“Well, it’s too late to do anything about it now, anyway,” said Bill, “I’ll just have
to sleep on the floor.”
In an instant, Catherine decided to gamble everything.
“You’ll do no such thing,” she said, moving closer to him.
She started to undo his tie.
“This could turn out to be the happiest day of my life.”
There was barely a pause.
Bill put his arms round her, and pulled her close.
“Mine, too,” he whispered, “if you’re sure.”
Suddenly, the barrier that had kept them at arms’ length from one another for so long was gone, and they were at last free to express their true feelings towards one another.
There was no doubt that they were both very much in love.
They nearly missed breakfast, and there were kippers on the menu.