Free Cherringham--The Secret of Combe Castle by Neil Richards Page B

Rufus …”
    “Edwina — she hates living there.”
    “And — let’s not forget Odysseus … Could be a big payday for him!”
    “I doubt he can find his way to bed most nights — let alone sabotage the museum.”
    “True,” said Jack. “But we can’t discount him.”
    “The buyer might be just that — a buyer. Or they might be a treasure hunter. But either way, if they’re not behind the threats — then they’re nothing to do with us.”
    “You’re right,” said Jack. “We should stay focused.”
    “Of course, I’ll take a look at the 3D model in the morning. Just in case there’s something obvious on there.”
    “Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
    “But apart from that — what do we do now, Jack?”
    She watched him ponder that.
    He took a breath. “We could wait for something to happen. We’ve stirred a lot of pots. Think … we see what all that does. And if nothing happens, we go through all the evidence we have, all over again.”
    “Okay,” she said. “But you have another idea?”
    He laughed at that. “That transparent am I? You mean, in addition to waiting?”
    “Yes.”
    “I think … I do. Pudding?”
    “Why not? New Year’s weeks away.”
    And she reached out for the menu. “And that will give you a chance to tell me your idea.”
    A big laugh from Jack.
    He is so much fun, Sarah thought.
    “That it will,” he said.

13. Jack’s Plan
    Headlights off, Sarah watched Jack steer his Sprite off the gravelly road that led to Combe Castle, parking tight against a large bush before he killed the engine.
    “You okay with this?” he said.
    She took a deep breath. With the engine and heater off, the car quickly turned cold. And that chill added to the spookiness of what they were doing.
    Sure — they could have waited for things to happen.
    They had — as Jack said — stirred a lot of pots. Like putting a stick into a wasp’s nest, everyone who had an interest in seeing the FitzHenrys gone would be agitated — all of them feeling the icy net of suspicion.
    But she knew that — for Jack — that wasn’t going to be enough.
    So here they were, hiding down the road from the manor house, the castle building and ruins in sight. But invisible to anyone in the manor house who might look out the window.
    Jack had a plan.
    But now she also had some ideas.
    “Jack, I get that you want to see how easy it is to break into the castle …”
    “Right. I mean, that might tell us more about who did it, yes? And best Oswald knows nothing about it. Be just like the night they were vandalised. Is it easy, could anyone just walk in — or would it have to be someone who knows the place cold?”
    “Like Odysseus?”
    “Precisely.”
    “Okay.” Sarah looked up at the lit windows of the manor house. She had called Chloe and told her to tell Daniel she’d be back late.
    Not a big deal … the pair of them were pretty independent these days.
    “But if it is Odysseus, he might not be too happy with you prowling around?”
    “True fact. And?”
    “So — keep your phone connected to me. I’ll keep watch and can let you know if I spot anything. Just to be safe.”
    “You got it.”
    Now she watched as Jack looked up at the house. “So while we wait for the wonderful FitzHenrys to go to bed, you think you can show me how to work the 3D model of the place on your iPad?”
    “Sure. Hey. Wait a second, you’re—”
    “Looking for anything odd about the building? Why not? If there’s a treasure, those lost doubloons could be … if I explore a bit, might find somewhere where the quickly departed Basil might have hidden them.”
    She laughed. “Okay. Better you than me walking around that place. You have a torch?”
    He held a pencil-sized light up. Clicked it on, then as quickly off.
    “So I won’t be in the dark. At least in the house. As to who is threatening Oswald; well that’s a different story.”
    Sarah pulled up her bag and took out her iPad mini.
    She slid her fingers across the