Page 23 of A Winter Wish

‘Well, I’m calling the police now,’ storms Lois, grabbing her phone. ‘Mum’s had things taken as well.’

I turn to Irene, who’s been sitting silently up till now, arms folded, looking white as a sheet. She nods, straightening up in her seat. ‘My ruby-studded gold bracelet’s gone.’

‘The one Dad bought you for your first wedding anniversary?’ I stare at her in dismay. ‘Oh, that’s awful. But how did it happen? I still don’t understand.’

She shrugs helplessly, looking small and diminished. ‘The burglar must have been in the house before we realised.’

‘So they were in your room while you were asleep, searching for valuables?’ I shiver with horror. ‘It doesn’t bear thinking about. Thank goodness you’re all right.’

Irene gives me a feeble smile.

‘Right, I’m phoning the police now,’ says Lois, and we all sit silently while she does.

‘They’re coming round,’ she says when she ends the call.

‘I’d better phone Shaun and cancel.’ I sigh, thinking that I really don’t feel like being chatty and good company over lunch after everything that’s happened.

Lois shakes her head. ‘The woman I spoke to said it’ll be later today. So you should still go.’

‘Okay. But you must call me if anything happens?’

*****

Shaun is as mystified as I am about last night’s break-in.

‘You must have been really freaked out when you saw the smashed glass,’ he says, taking my hand across the table. ‘I wish you’d called me. I could have come over.’

‘Thank you for that. But it was the middle of the night.’

‘It wouldn’t have mattered.’ He gives me a rueful look. ‘At least you’re okay.’

I nod. ‘It’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me, I must admit.’ As I say it, I notice that a woman on the table over the aisle has tuned in to our conversation. She was so obviously staring right at me, but as soon as I look over, her eyes slide quickly away, back to her male companion sitting opposite.

I smile tiredly at Shaun, squeezing his hand before waving at Bertha, who’s coming over with her little notepad. ‘Lois was really upset about losing her great-grandma’s rings.’

‘I’m not surprised. They’d have great sentimental value for her, I guess.’

I nod thoughtfully. ‘I didn’t even know about the rings. Lois keeps so much to herself. She’s a lot softer beneath that tough exterior than people think.’ I give my head a little shake. ‘Anyway. Lunch is on me. What do you fancy?’

I’m ravenous suddenly– I didn’t have the stomach for breakfast earlier– so I order the dish of the day, which is moussaka, and Shaun decides to have the same.

‘So are the police involved?’ he asks, as we tuck in, and Mrs Rubberneck’s antennae swings instantly in our direction. She signals urgently to her companion with her eyes and nods over at us in what she clearly thinks is a subtle manner.

‘Not yet.’ I lower my voice, murmuring, ‘Eavesdropper to my right.’

Shaun takes a casual glance over. Then he looks back at me and winks, a smile twitching at his lips.

‘What?’ I mouth, but he shakes his head.

‘So...’ He folds his arms and leans forward, hissing in a stage whisper, ‘Do you think the intruder was after the co-ordinates?’

‘The co-ordinates?’

‘For where the gold bars are buried?’

I stare at him, startled, wondering what on earth he’s talking about and he just looks back at me with this odd, inscrutable expression.

Mrs Rubberneck is pretending to chat normally to her companion, but her smile is as stiff as a board. I catch the twinkle in Shaun’s eye.

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