The Winged Witch 2/15

For a completely different reason, P.C. Pembleton had also come to the decision to visit the Smugglers Cave. He was able to alter his beat as he wanted in the interest of his investigations and arrived at the shop the very next day.

“There’s no more trouble is there, constable?” asked the shopkeeper, as the Law strode majestically through the archway into the shop.

“Nothing serious sir I can assure you, but I would like to ask for your co-operation on a certain matter if I may.”

The shop man agreed that he would do his best to assist in any way he could. Charles explained that his duties had meant that he’d been unable to spare the time to apprehend the salesman for the models.

“I’m still convinced that there is something strange about the material that those models are made from. Since he doesn’t appear to work to a strict timetable, I thought I might catch him if we marked the notes that you pay him with. Then I’ll alert the county force and they can circulate the numbers to all the shopkeepers in the area. That way we should be able to trace his movements and eventually find out where he comes from.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you constable, but I’m afraid he insisted that he was paid in gold. I have to make special arrangements and pay him half the value of the model that he’s offering. I’m not supposed to alter the price or he says he won’t supply me any more! He’s been here again since the delivery of the last model and he’s been paid. I don’t know when I’ll see him again, but of course if he does appear I’ll let you know as soon as I can, then perhaps you can apprehend him when he comes back to collect his final payment.”

Bobby went out of the shop muttering the word “gold?” under his breath. He thought for a moment before making up his mind, then headed off towards the offices of the Holmwood Advertiser.

Brian Taylor picked up the telephone as it rang on his desk.

“Constable Pembleton is here sir,” said his secretary, “shall I send him through?”

Brian sighed as he replaced the receiver. Whatever did the old fool want this time. He was only just recovering from the very disagreeable experiences he’d had in the other world. He still found it hard to believe everything he’d seen and heard and was certainly not going to take any risks and publish the story.

The constable took the seat he was offered. “I’ll come straight to the point,” he said, “you haven’t made anything of the story about the ivory models that are appearing in the village. Have you got any particular reason why not?”

Brian smiled. “Once I heard that the material used was human teeth I couldn’t see the point in taking it further. Nobody is going to believe that and I don’t expect you’d like me to publish what appears to be a joke played on you by the public analyst.”

“There has been a subsequent development Brian. The Smugglers Cave assures me that the salesman insists on being paid in gold. He comes about a week after the model is delivered to collect his payment. I did wonder if a story about that might help discover the people behind this operation.”

Brian began finding it difficult to stop himself from shaking. Any thoughts to do with the other world made him worry and he knew now that the salesman’s trail led there. However on the face of it, it was a reasonable request and he couldn’t think of a way to refuse.

“So you want me to publish a story about models made from an impossible material, that are so valuable that they have to be paid for in gold?” A brilliant idea popped into his head as he spoke. “I’m not at all sure I can do that, it would throw the whole credibility of the newspaper into disrepute. I found myself in enough trouble when I published the story about the boats on the disappearing lake. I shall have to ask my financial backers if they want to proceed along these lines, but somehow I don’t think they’ll agree!”

Bobby had to agree to wait for the decision and left the office rather disappointedly. Oh well, he had plenty of other work on his plate, maybe his promotion would come from the successful conclusion of one of his other jobs.