Spider Light(47)

‘How do you do.’ It was said with the slight impatience of someone paying lip-service to the conventions. The tone was still challenging. ‘I’m Oliver Remus.’

Godfrey’s professor. The half-academic, half-dynamic gentleman who had sounded like the most positive force in Godfrey’s gentle life. There had not really been anyone else he could be, and through the still-lingering fear, Antonia registered that he was not in the least as she had pictured him. But by way of establishing her own credentials, she said, ‘You’re just back from a buying trip, aren’t you? Dr Toy mentioned it.’

‘Did he?’ He took a step nearer. ‘I’m sorry if I was sharp just now, Miss–Mrs?–Weston, but there are several quite valuable things in here and one or two have recently vanished, so you’ll appreciate that I’m always suspicious of anyone wandering in after hours. We’re considering a proper alarm system, but until then—’ He did not sound especially annoyed about any of this or particularly apologetic at having spoken sharply to Antonia.

‘In that case I’m sorry to come in when the house is closed to the public,’ she said, trying to match his formality. ‘But there’s been a–I think there’s been an intruder at Charity Cottage, and I’m not sure what I should do about it, so I thought I’d have a word with Dr Toy—’ Infuriatingly her voice wobbled treacherously on this last part of the speech, and she broke off, frowning, because of all things to do–of all people to break down in front of…

Oliver Remus did not appear to notice the wobble. He said, quite sharply, ‘What kind of intruder? A burglar, d’you mean? In that case you should definitely call the police. I can give you the number of the local station if you don’t want to invoke a dramatic 999 response. Not that anyone ever behaves particularly dramatically in Amberwood.’

‘It’s not an ordinary burglar,’ said Antonia, ignoring this last part. ‘It’s some freak who’s getting into the cottage and playing sick jokes on me. I’ve just encountered the latest example, so I’m a bit off-balance.’

She had his full attention now. ‘Did you say, “getting into the cottage”?’

‘Yes. Even when it’s all locked up.’

‘How?’

‘If I knew that,’ said Antonia angrily, ‘I probably wouldn’t have run so wildly across the park just now to get help from Dr Toy.’ This was the most bizarre discussion to be having in the unlit passageway of Quire House with this unfriendly stranger who was still regarding her with suspicion. She said, ‘I don’t know how he’s getting in, but he’s certainly been there this afternoon!’

‘Is anything missing?’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘Then how d’you know someone’s been in?’

‘I’ll explain it to the police,’ said Antonia, feeling awkward and consequently sounding aggressive. ‘Did you say you had the number of the local station?’

‘It’s in my flat. I’ll go up and get it for you.’

‘Please don’t bother. I’ve got a mobile phone, and I can as easily get it from Inquiries or something.’

Antonia turned to go, but he stopped her.

‘You’re not going back to the cottage, are you?’

‘Yes.’ Where else did he think she was going?

‘Don’t be stupid,’ said Oliver Remus impatiently. ‘If there’s an intruder around you can’t go back across the park on your own and you certainly can’t go inside the cottage until it’s been properly checked.’

‘I’ll be perfectly all right.’

‘Yes, but I won’t be perfectly all right if I hear afterwards that you’ve been mugged or raped, or knocked out and left for dead. You’d better come up to my flat; we’ll phone the police from there and then I’ll walk back with you.’

Without waiting for her answer, he went through to the main hall, and up the wide curving staircase, clearly assuming she would follow him. Since there did not seem to be anything else to do, Antonia fought down her annoyance and did follow him.

The main stairs wound up to the first floor where Godfrey Toy had his flat, and a narrower flight went up to the second floor. Oliver Remus unlocked a door at the top, and went in ahead of Antonia, switching on lights. The flat was surprisingly large; it apparently took up the entire second floor of Quire, and the rooms were high-ceilinged with an elegant fireplace in the big sitting room and several nice old pieces of furniture. There were a great many books, some on shelves, some spilling onto the floor, and there were brass lamps on side tables, and scatterings of pens and sheaves of notes. In one of the window recesses was a large Victorian desk, with a computer and a fax machine on it. A battered suitcase stood in the centre of the room, with two large boxes of books propped against it.

‘Gleanings of the trip,’ said Oliver Remus, seeing Antonia glance at the boxes. ‘A house that belonged to a former headmaster of a minor public school. I picked up two quite nice first editions and a Rex Whistler book plate. Oh, and a set of Ruskin’s books but only what’s called the Waverley editions which aren’t particularly valuable. Would you like me to phone the police for you? It’d probably carry more weight.’

‘Because they know you?’