Free The Cauldron by Colin Forbes Page B

met him when I was driving into Mawnan Smith. Nearly knocked down his wire-haired terrier, which appeared suddenly. I saved it with an emergency stop and apologized, and he was very grateful. So grateful he invited me to tea at his house. He'd left his car parked in the village.'
    'What happened next?' Tweed enquired with an odd smile.
    'He got in his car and led the way to his house overlooking a creek. Actually, it's a two-storey thatched cottage. He gave me tea, which he prepared himself.'
    'No one else there? You took a chance.'
    'I had my Browning in the special pocket inside my shoulder bag. And I'd already assessed him as a very nice man.'
    'Some of the most famous murderers were nice-looking men,' Tweed chaffed her. 'Learn anything about him?'
    'He said he'd had a good job in London - then he went on to say he got out of London before London got him. I told him I was with an insurance company and he smiled strangely. I still don't understand that particular reaction. I had the funny feeling I'd seen him somewhere before.'
    'He'd seen you before.' Tweed told her at last.

    Paula stared at him. Then she burst out laughing and playfully punched his arm.
    'You devil. Letting me chatter on without saying anything. Who is he?'
    'Maurice Prendergast, ex-Special Branch officer. You saw him a couple of years ago when I was driving with him by my side in London. You caught only a glimpse of me - I certainly didn't think you'd seen him. And I was driving fast. He's just one reason why I'm down here - to see him. He can tell me what's going on round here. A strange coincidence you two should meet.'
    'Not really. He told me he took three long walks a day with his dog round this area. I think he's a very lonely man. His wife died about a year ago ...'
    'I didn't realize that. Knowing him, he'll be pretty down.'
    'He doesn't show it. He's very cheerful, jokey. Made only a brief reference to it and changed the subject.'
    'Maurice would do that. He's good at bluffing, at concealing his feelings from the outside world. We'd better go and see him now.'
    'I'll drive - it's a tricky route.' Paula suggested. 'We're going to a place called Forth Navas on the Helford River - but it looks like a creek higher up. Daphne du Maurier country - at least she lived there in her earliest days.'
    'I'll drive, you navigate.' Tweed said firmly. 'I had a nap on the way down while Pete took the wheel. I'm fresh as the proverbial daisy. I wonder what Maurice will have to tell us c'

    Leaving the hotel, they walked past Bob Newman, sitting in a chair in one of the lounges. Tweed strolled past him as though they'd never met before and Newman hardly glanced up from a magazine he was reading.
    Paula guided Tweed into Mawnan Smith, where they turned left in a sharp fork past the Red Lion. Later they entered a narrow lane, the high banks of hedgerows on both sides barely giving room for the car and no room at all for two vehicles to pass each other. Tweed made his comment as they descended a steep hill.
    'I know these Cornish lanes - they're like rabbit warrens. All right for a visit but who would want to live here?'
    'At the bottom where the road levels out you have to take a very sharp turn to the left and proceed along the edge of the creek. Apparently a very interesting character runs an oyster farm at the point where the road comes to a dead end.'
    'Oysters!' Tweed said with relish. Tm going to enjoy myself down here.'
    'Yuck.' said Paula in a tone of disgust. 'Some people have perverted tastes.'
    'Just look the other way when I'm eating them. Here we go.'
    A truck was corning in the opposite direction. Here and there they had passed setbacks in the hedges but the previous one was way behind them.
    'Now we play a game of poker.' Tweed said with enthusiasm. 'We stop here, see what he does, let him work it out.'
    After a minute of deadlock the truck driver began reversing until he reached a passing place. He waited until Tweed drove slowly past, acknowledging