The Christmas Mansion Mystery ( Part One )

On a cold December morning in 1971 Jack Rydell, a tall blonde man stood at the corner of Upper Belgrave Road, it was 2.30 am and there was a cold chill on this early morning. Taking out a box of John Players Special from his pocket, then flipping a cigarette from the pack between his lips he then reached for his lighter, once lit he inhaled deeply enjoying the satisfaction it gave him.

Staring over at the window of the big old Victorian house and taking a
puff, he waited for the lights to go on, It felt like he'd been there ages and still there was no sign of life, In actual fact it was nothing for a Private Investigator like himself, to spend weeks watching a house, but it was so cold this night, he could hardly feel his hands and feet. Pulling up the hood on his parka and rubbing his hands together, he watched and waited. A couple of night clubs were just closing. It was kicking out time, he watched as the drunken...wasted revellers made their way along the street. 'Quite a few hangovers tomorrow,' he thought to himself.

Coming back to the reason he was here, he watched as a man and a woman were slowly sauntering along, looking slightly the worse for wear, as they stopped outside the house, the man, in a long leather coat and flared trousers, turned and kissed the woman on the lips very passionately. As they were kissing, a taxi came down the street, it pulled up right outside the house, she kissed him, again staring into his eyes, then pulling her collar up on her suede coat, she turned and walked to the taxi, as she got in, she waved, then the taxi drove off.

The man appeared to be swaying as he walked up the path...stopping
every now and again to find, what Jack presumed to be his keys, but
instead of going to the front door, he walked around the side of the
house, making his way towards the side door. Jack watched as he
entered, leaving the door open, he found this rather strange, but the
man was obviously so drunk he didn't even know what he was doing.

Jack waited for the downstairs light to go on, then crossing the road, to a phone box, on entering...he picked up the phone and dialled a number,
hearing the ringing tone, he waited...a voice on the other end of the phone spoke, “hello!” Jack spoke, “it's done he's home,” there was a pause, then the person on the other end, put down the receiver and so did Jack.

Jack knew his job was done here now, he had nothing else to do but go
home. He walked to the bottom of Upper Belgrave and walked to his car, he had parked in Blessed Street, he opened the door, got in his car and drove away, wondering when he would be paid and what the next day would hold, but most of all he was looking forward to getting some sleep.

To be continued........