Free Sewing the Shadows Together by Alison Baillie Page B

Ford, for example. A genius and a gentleman.’ He gave an ironic smile. ‘Well, unfortunately he played for the Jam Tarts, but you can’t hold that against him forever.’ Rory picked up the folder. ‘I just want to get on with this programme. We’ve got a great provisional title –
Kidd down with the Kids
.’
    Sarah smiled, ‘It’s wonderful to see you so enthusiastic.’
    ‘I have to be, because the programme planners aren’t that keen. They don’t see poetry as a great hook, so I have to get another angle to sex it up a bit.’ He looked thoughtful. ‘Anyway, I’m just going to see HJ’s sister, Antonia – or Lady Moncrieff as she is now. A widow, I think. She lives not far from here, in Ann Street.’
    ‘Great if you can get some of HJ’s family to contribute.’
    ‘Yes, I think the family’s a great angle. Actually the idiot researcher was supposed to make an appointment, but she couldn’t pin Antonia down to a time, so I’ll just pop round and dazzle her with my boyish charm.’
    Rory jolted as if something had just occurred to him. He took the folder, patted Sarah on the top of her head, and was making for the door when the phone rang. Rory picked it up as he was passing. Patsy’s high-pitched voice squawked at the other end of the line.
    Rory turned on his charm. ‘Yes, I saw the photo. It was great, well done you!’ He kept walking as Patsy said something else and then he replied. ‘I’m sorry, I’m just going out. Work, you know – no rest for the wicked. But Sarah’s here – she’s not doing anything, so just pop round.’
    Sarah grimaced and indicated wildly to Rory that this was the last thing she wanted, but it was too late. Rory put the phone down. ‘Patsy’s just coming round. She’s a good kid. It’ll be good for you – you spend far too much time by yourself.’ Without waiting for Sarah to reply he continued into the hall and the door slammed behind him.
    Sarah groaned. Patsy was good-hearted, but Sarah wasn’t sure why she was so keen to be her friend – because of her sparkling personality or because she was married to Rory?
    Moments later the door-bell rang and Sarah heard Patsy’s voice on the other end of the intercom and then her heels clicking up the stairs. She arrived, panting and clutching a bottle of Pinot Grigio. ‘I’ve just taken it out of the fridge, so it’s cold.’
    She stopped and looked round. ‘Wow, this flat is lovely. Such high ceilings and all those lovely original features. Could I just have a little nose round? Gavin and I have a few properties so I’m always interested in seeing other people’s houses.’
    Sarah mentally checked that all the beds were made and then showed Patsy the rooms. She was effusive in her praise. ‘Lovely, lovely Georgian rooms, so much character – and in such a great location, too. You’re so lucky!’
    Sarah nodded and got two glasses and some olives from the kitchen before leading Patsy through to the drawing room.
    Patsy raised her glass. ‘Well, cheers. It’s really nice that we can have a drink together like this.’ She took an olive. ‘We didn’t really get a chance to talk the other day because of that horrid news about the murderer, so I thought it would be a good idea to have a catch up now.’
    Sarah sighed. ‘It was so awful. I can’t stop thinking about it and wondering who could have done it, if it wasn’t Logan Baird.’
    ‘We don’t want to talk about that now. It was terrible but it’s such a long time ago and, as Captain Kidd said, they’ll probably find out that it was one of those serial killers. Anyway, we don’t have to worry. It’s not as if we have a murderer in our midst.’
    Sarah shuddered. The killer had thought he was safe for all these years. What might happen now the case had been reopened?
    Patsy was oblivious to her mood. ‘Let’s talk about something more interesting. I still go out with some of the girls from the class sometimes. We have such a laugh and