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.We’ll check with Doc Pringle what jabs we should have.In the meantime, phone Mrs Coverdale, will you, Ken, and see if there’s anything else we ought to know.’Jan returned from the phone and resumed her seat by the fire.Miles, who’d been invited for Sunday lunch, regarded her quizzically.‘You’re looking very pensive.Not bad news, I hope?’‘No, just the police with last-minute queries on Peru.They’re flying out tomorrow.’‘Will they be able to contact them?’ Lady Peel asked.‘They could be deep in the jungle.’Miles laughed.‘Believe me, if Webb’s interested enough to go all that way, a bit of jungle’s not going to stop him.’‘But how can Edward help?’ Jan demanded.‘He’s been away the whole time.’‘We don’t even know,’ Lady Peel said, ‘that it’s Edward they wish to question.’‘Rowena?’ Jan stared at her.‘I never thought of that.You think they might want to ask her about the letter?’‘What letter?’ Miles’s voice was sharp, and they looked at him in surprise.Lady Peel explained about Sir Reginald’s withdrawal.‘Ah, that explains it.Webb asked if I’d had one.’‘But you haven’t?’Miles bent and stroked the cat on the rug.Her fur twitched in protest and she flicked her tail.‘No.’‘He also mentioned a book your father might have written.’‘That’s right.Some nonsense about a schoolgirl magazine.’‘They seem to believe it existed,’ Jan said.‘Then he must have destroyed it later.’ He stood up suddenly.‘God, I’m sick of all this ferreting into our affairs.I’ll be glad when it’s over and they leave us in peace.’ He looked down at Jan.‘You’re not having much of a holiday, are you? Let me take you out to dinner, to make up for it.Mario’s in Gloucester Street have a decent menu.’Jan said quickly, ‘That’s kind of you, but I don’t think –’‘Why not, my dear?’ Lady Peel interrupted.‘It’s an excellent idea.Miles is right, this has been a most trying trip for you.Why not take the chance to relax for an evening? The children will be quite safe with Edith and me.’Any further protest would be embarrassing.Jan was aware of the amusement in Miles’s gaze.Damn him! she thought impotently.Aloud, she said, ‘Then thank you.I’d enjoy that.’‘Tomorrow suit you? I’ll call for you at eight.Mondays are fairly quiet, there should be no problem getting a table.’Ken Jackson said, ‘I haven’t any option, love.The Guv says “Jump”, and I jump.That’s the way it is.’Millie shivered, and the baby she was holding stirred sleepily.She was in her dressing-gown, and the warm, domestic picture they presented emphasized the point she was making.‘All the times we’ve sat here by the telly, me with my knitting and you in your slippers, watching people pitting themselves against the elements and taking terrible risks.And I’ve sipped my cocoa, thinking how lovely it was to be safe and snug at home.And now you’ll be out there with them.Oh, Ken!’‘I shan’t be in danger, love,’ he reassured her.‘No more than going after a villain here in Shillingham.And as far as we know, Mr Langley’s not a villain anyway.’‘He might have killed that man,’ Millie pointed out.‘Aye, and he might not, which is what we’ve got to find out.But he won’t kill us, never fear.There’ll be other people about, anyway, the lads who fly us out, and – and the Indians,’ he ended less certainly.‘Indians?’ Millie’s round eyes widened still further, and Jackson made a hasty substitution.‘Peruvians, then.The guides and people.And it will only take a few days anyway.Then I’ll be back, and we can watch telly to our hearts’ content.’She smiled, resting her cheek on the baby’s fluffy red head.He smelt of warm milk and talcum powder.‘Yes, of course.I know I’m being silly – it’s just that it’s so far away.Peru might as well be the moon, for all I know about it.’Jackson grinned [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]