'Notme,hewouldn't.'Shewasdefinite,butIwondered.

'We'llseeifatripcomesup,'Isaid.'Asfortomorrow,wewon'tbeverybusyhere,weneverareinCheltenhamFestivalweekbecausetherearen'tmanyothermeetingsheldonthosethreedays.We'llbebusyagainonFridayandit'llbehecticagainonSat.u.r.day,ifwe'relucky.CanyouworkSat.u.r.day?'

'ItlooksasifI'dbetter.'

'Mm.'Ileanedforward,pickeduponeoftheremainingtwotubeslyingonthepaperplateandaskedherifshe'dseenanythinglikeitbefore.

'Idon'tthinkso.Why?'

'Theywerebeingcarriedinoneofmyhorseboxes,hiddeninsidethisthermosflask.'

Shecametofullalertness,allthetiredlinesshed.

'Whatarethey?'

'Idon'tknow.But.i.t'spossible-possible'sthestrongestI'dput.i.t-thattheymightbewhatthemaskedintruderwaslookingforinthecabofmynine-box,becausethat'swheretheywere,inthecab.Inacarrierwiththeseuneatensandwiches,inthisthermosfullofundrunkcoffee.'

Shetookthetubefrommeandheldituptothelight.

'What'sinside?'

'Idon'tknow.IthoughtPatrickVenablesmightbeabletofindout.'

Sheloweredthetubeandlookedatme,smotheringexcitementandsaying,'They'rethefirstconcretepieceofevidencethatanythingsgoingon.'

Ipickedupthepacketofsandwichesandshowedherthelabels.

'Brett,thedriverwhotookthenine-boxtoNewmarketlastThursdaywiththetwo-year-olds...'

'Andwhohasleft?'

Inodded.'Brett-IthinkprobablyBrettbecauseDavehaddiarrhoea-anyway,oneofthemboughtsandwichesliketheseonthatjourney,becausetherewasanemptypacketjustlikethisinsomerubbishthatcamebackinthecab.TheythrewtherubbishawayonFridaymorningwhentheycleanedoutthebox.Anyway,supposeBrett'ssandwichescamefromtheshopintheSouthMimmsservicestation,andsuppose...well,whynotsuppose...thatthesesandwich.e.s.h.erecamefromthesameplace...?'Ipaused,butshesimplylistened,notcommentingordisagreeing.Iwenton,'DavepickedupourhitchhikeratSouthMimms.So...well...whatifthesesandwichesandthisthermosweretravellingwithKevinKeithOgden?'

Giventhesupposition,herreasoningfollowedthesamepaththatminehadandcameupwiththesameobservations.

'Ifthetubesbelongedtothedeadpa.s.senger,theycan'tberelevanttothecontainersunderthelorries.Theymightwellnothaveanythingtodowithyouatall.Themandidn'tknowhewasgoingtodie.Heprobablymeanttotakethesetubeswithhim.'

'Iwasafraidyou'dsaythat.'

'Allthesame,veryinteresting.And...'Shestoppedpensively.

'Yes?'

Shetoldmeheremergingconclusions,andInodded.'Makesyouthink,doesn't.i.t?'

'Youdon'tneedme,really,doyou?'shesaid.

'Ineedyoureyes.'

Harvefinishedhisch.o.r.esandjoinedusintheoffice,askingNinahowshe'dfaredandwhethershehadanyquestions.Shethankedhim,cuttingdown,Inoticed,onthepurityofherblue-bloodedvowels,butnottoaninsultingextent.IwonderedhowoftenandhowregularlyshetransformedherselfforPatrickVenables.

ThephonerangandIansweredit,findingSandyontheline.

'InquestonJogger,'hesaid.'It'sjustcomethrough.Wednesday,tena.m.,WinchesterCoroner'sCourt.Allthey'lldoisopentheinquestandadjournitpendingresultsofenquiries.Normalforaccidentcases.Iaskedifthey'dneedyoub.u.t.theysaidnotyet.They'llwantHarve,ashefoundhim,andDrFarway,ofcourse.AlsotheinquestonKevinKeithOgden,theywantDavetoattend.I'llbriefhimaboutwheretogo.OK?'

'Yes,thanks,Sandy.'putdownthereceiverandtoldHarvehe'dbeneededbrieflyonWednesday.Harvemadeafaceofdisinclinationandshrugged.Thephonerangagainatonceasifincontinuationofthesameconversation,butinfacttherewasastrangenasalvoiceinmyear,fullofself-importanceandbusy-busy.

'JohnTigwoodhere,'hesaid.

'Oh.Yes?'

'MaudieWatermeadtoldmetogetintouch.'

'JohnTigwood.FriendofMaudie'ssister,Lorna?'

Hecorrectedmebriskly.'DirectorofCentaurCare.'

'Yes,Iknow.'

'JohnTigwood,'Harvemuttereddisapprovingly.'Pottylittlepipsqueak.Alwaysonthecadge.'

'WhatcanIdoforyou?'Iaskedthephonetemperately.

'Collectsomehorsesforme,'Tigwoodsaid.

'Certainly,'Iagreedwithwarmth.'Anytime.'Businesswasbusinessafterall.WhateverIthoughtofJohnTigwoodpersonally,Iwasallfortakinghismoney.

'AretirementfarmisclosinginYorkshire,'hetoldmegravely,makingitsoundportentous.'We'veagreedtotakethehorsesandfindnewhomesforthem.TheWatermeadshaveagreedtoputtwointheirbottompaddock.BenjyUsher'stakingtwoothers.I'montoMarigoldEnglish,eventhoughshe'snewhere.Howaboutyou,yourself?CanIropeyouin?'

'Sorry,no,'Isaidfirmly.'Whendoyouwantthemtransported?'

'Tomorrowdoyou?'

'Certainly,'Isaid.

'Good.Lornaherselfwantstogowithyourbox,actingasgroom.'

'Allright,fine.'

HegavemedirectionsandItoldhimthefee.

'Oh,lookhere,Iwashopingyou'ddoitforcharity.'

'Sorry,no.'Iwasfriendlyandapologeticasfarasitwent.

'But.i.t'sforLorna!'heinsisted.

'Idon'texpectMaudiesaidIwoulddothejobfornothing.'

Afterapausehesaidgrudgingly,'Shedidwarnme.'

'Mm.Sodoyouwantmetofetchthem,ornot?'

Ashadehuffilyhesaid,'You'llgetpaid.ThoughIdothinkyoumightbemoregenerous.Afterall,it'sagoodcause.'

'Youcouldasksomeoneelsetofetchthem,'Isuggested.'Youmightgetsomeoneelsetodoitfornothing.'

Hissilencesuggestedthathe'dalreadytriedsomeoneelse.Severalsomeones,perhaps.ItwasalongwayfromPixhilltotheplaceinYorkshirefromwherehewantedmetocollectsevengeriatriccases,shakyontheiroldlegs,todeliverthemtotheirnewhomes.

WhenTigwoodhadgoneoffthelineIhandedthedirectionstoHarve.Nina,havinglistenedtomysideoftheexchange,askedwhat.i.thadbeenabout.

Harvetoldherdisgustedly,'There'sthiswackyhomeforveryoldhorses.ThisJohnTigwood,heboardsthemoutallovertheplace.Hechargestheownersoftheoldhorsesforlookingafterthem,buthedoesn'tpaythepeoplewhogivethehorseshomes.It'saracket!AndthenhehasthecheektoaskFreddieforfreetransport,inthenameofcharity.'

Ismiled.'It'soneofthelocalgoodcauses.Peopleorganisefundraisers.Theytwistalotofarms.IdaresayIoughttohaveofferedthetransportfornothingb.u.t.tobehonestIdon'tlikebeingpressuredorconned,andasI'llbettheownersofthehorseswillhavetopayTigwoodtogettheiroldpensionersbroughtdownhere,Idon'tseewhyheshouldn'tpayme.'

'Thepointis,'Harvesaid,'who'sdoingthejob?'

'Whoevergoes,takesLornaLipton,MrsWatermead'ssister,asgroom,'Itoldhim,lookingoverthechart.'We'llhavetosendanine-box.Thenewdriver,Azizwhat'shisname,willbedrivingBrett'snine-boxfromnowon.Hemayaswellstartwiththegeriatrics.'

'Whatnewdriver?'Harvesaid.

'Iengagedhimthismorning,afteryou'dgone.Bestoffivewhocameforinterviews.'

IwroteCentaurCareinthechartsquareforthenine-box,andput'Aziz'attheheadofthecolumn.

CentaurCare,thenameofTigwood'soutfit,soundedsolikeCentreCarethatforyearsI'dthoughtthatwashowitwa.s.spelled.Atinyinst.i.tutionofitskind,theCentaurCareofficeoccupiedasmallone-storeyeconomicallybuilthut,forwantof.a.granderword,ontheedgeofatwo-acrepaddockontheoutskirtsofPixhill.Adjoiningramshacklewoodenstables,capableofholdingsixpatheticcustomerswithlowexpectations,justaboutpa.s.sedcountyregulationinspections,thecharitablestatusoftheenterpriseshieldingitfromblastsofillauthoritarianwill.JohnTigwood'spublicmannerelevatedthisset-upinPixhill'scollectiveconsciousnesstomajorgoodworks:Iwa.s.surethatmanywhogavetothen.o.blecausehadn'tseteyesonitsheadquarters.

Therewere'CentaurCare'collectingboxesscatteredthroughoutPixhill,roundtinswithslotsintowhichonewas.e.xhortedtopour'longlifeforoldfriends'.JohnTigwoodcameroundregularlytoemptythecontainersandwritefulsomereceipts.He'dleftonetininourcanteenbuthadfumedtofindgiftsinitofb.u.t.tons,biscuitsandanout-of-datecondom.'Begladithasn'tbeenused,'I'dsaid,whichhehadn'tseenasfunny.

Harvewaslookingoverthewholechart,andshruggingphilosophicallyatthenewsthatthecomputerwasn'tworking.Likeme,hestillpreferredawrittenchart,thoughheinclinedtotheblackboardonawallwe'dhaduntilIgotridofit.Toomuchchalkdustintheair,oncewe'dinstalledthecomputer.

ItoldHarvethatallthetoolshadbeenstolenfromJogger'svan.Hesworebrieflybutsawnogreatsignificanceinit.Wewouldneed,Isaid,anothersliderforinspectingtheundersidesoftheboxesandHarve,nodding,suggestedIaskNigeltomakeone.

'Allheneedsisabitofplasterboardandsomecasters,'Harvesaid.'He'sgoodwithhishands,I'llsaythatforhim.'

Ismotheredasmile.'Hecandoittomorrow,then,'Isaid.Iponderedbrieflyandcametoadecision.'OnWednesdayNigelcangotoFrancetocollecttheshowjumperforJerichoRich'sdaughter.Nina,here,willgowithhimasaseconddriver.'

Harvegaveherastartledsidewaysglanceandraisedhiseyebrowstomecomically.

'Ididwarnher,'Isaid.'Shesaysshe'sNigel-proof.'

'Shedoesn'tknowhim!'

'She's.e.xperiencedwithhorses,'Iexplained.'Jericho'sdaughterwantsustosendanattendanttotravelbackwiththehorse.Ninacandoublethatwithdriving.'

'ButyousaidDavewastogo,withPhildrivinghissix-box,'Harveprotested.

'I'vechangedmymind.Nina'sgoingwithNigel.Theycantakethefour-boxNinawasdrivingtoday.Itwillbebetter,moreeconomical.'ToherIsaid,'You'llneedovernightthings.OK?'

Shenoddedand,whenHarvehadgoneouttomeettheother incomingbox,said,'You'llwantoneofustosleepinthebox,won'tyou?'

'Ithasthattubeonitsunderside,'Isaid,agreeing.

'Yes.Well,hangoutthebait.LeteveryoneknowthatthatparticularboxisgoingtoFrance.Someonemightbite.'

'Um,'Isaidhesitantly.'Nooneexpectsyoutodoanythingdangerous.'

Shesmiledslightly.'Don'tbetoosure.Patrickcanbeb.l.o.o.d.ydemanding.'Sheseemedunconcerned.'AndIwon'texactlybeparachutingintooccupiedFrancebehindGermanlines.'

Shewas,Isaw,exactlythetypeofwomanwhohaddonejustthatinWorldWarIIand,asifreadingmythoughts,shenoddedandsaid,'Mymotherdidit,andsurvivedtohavemeafterwards.'

'Thattakesabitoflivingupto.'

'It'sintheblood.'

'Doyouhaveanychildren?'Iasked.

Shewiggledlongfingersinthedismissivegestureofunsentimentalnanny-a.s.sistedmothers.'Three.AllgrownoutofPonyClubage,allflownthenest.Husbandlongdead.Lifesuddenlyempty,boring,nofurtherpointinshowingoreventing.So...Patricktotherescue.Needanymore?'

'No.'

Iunderstoodherdeeply,andsherealisedit,moveddespiteherselftoaninternalwaveofemotionandself-knowledge.Sheshookherheadasiftodisownthemomentandgottoherfeet,tallandcompetent,ahorsewomanforwhomhorsesultimatelywerenotenough.

'Ifyoudon'tneedmetomorrow,'shesaid,I'lldeliverthetubestoPatrickinLondonanddiscussthingswithhim,andbebackonWednesday.Whattime?'

'You'llneedtosetofffromhereatseven.You'llcrossfromDovertoCalaisandreachyourFrenchdestinationataboutsix.ReturningonThursday,you'llhavetogotoJerichoRich'sdaughter'splace,ofcourse,todeliverthehorse.You'llbebackherelate,perhapsteno'clock.'

'Right.'

Shewrappedthetwoambertubescarefullyinahandkerchiefandstowedtheminherhandbag.Thenwithabriefnodoffarewellshewalkedouttohercarandinconspicuouslydeparted.

Retrievingthefourothertubesfromthedeskdrawer,Iwrappedeachoneinatissueandputtheminmyjacketpocket.ThenIpouredthemug'scontentsbackintothethermos,screwedontheinnerstopperandtheoutercapandrestoreditwiththesandwichestothecarrierforonwardtransporttomyhouse.

Theworkdaywasending.Therewerestillboxesoutontheroad,thoughIwouldn'twaitfortheirreturn.Thedriversneverexpecteditandmighthavetakentoomuchclosecheckingasalackoftrust.Therehad,however,beenphonemessagesduringthedaybothfromthenine-boxI'dsenttoIrelandwithbroodmaresandfromtheboxinFrancethatwasbringingthetwotwo-year-oldsovertojoinMichaelWatermead'sstable,allthecallstotheeffectthatneitherboxwouldbearrivingbackuntiltwoorthreeinthemorning.

Forus,thatwasquitenormal.ForMichaelWatermead,itwasboundtobeanintolerableinconvenience.Ihadalreadyarrangedwiththedrivertocomestraightbacktohomebaseandtokeepthetwoyounghorsesinthefarmyard'sstablesuntilmorning,butrememberedI'dforgottentotellMichaelhimself.

Stiflingayawn,Ipressedhisnumbersandfoundhimathome.

'Twointhemorning!'heprotested.'YouknowIdon'tlikeit.Itdisturbsthewholeyard,noiseandlightswhentheotherhorsesareasleep.Theydoneedagoodsleep,youknow.'

'Ifyoulike,wecouldkeepyourtwo-year-oldshereinthefarmyardstablesuntilmorning.'IsuggesteditasifI'djustthoughtofit.'They'dcometonoharm.They'retravellingwell,mydriversays.They're-calmandeating.'

'Youmighthaveorganiseditbetter,'Michaelgrumbled,gentlyreproving,asusualconvertinganystrongfeelingintogood-manneredrestraint.

'There'sbeenahold-upwiththeferryinCalais,'Iexplained.'Yourhorseswon'treachDoveruntilabouttentonight,theysay.I'mverysorry,Michael,but.i.t'soutofourhands.'

'Yes,yes,ofcourse,Idosee.Butblast.i.t,it'sb.l.o.o.d.yirritating.Still,yes,Isupposethosetwo-year-oldswon'tcometomuchharm.Bringthemoverfirstthing,though.Six-thirtyorsoonafter,whenmyladscometowork.Eh?'