Mrs Swift Talks

Mrs Swift Talks

              ‘Where’s the new guy Petty, Sarge? Said I’d take him for a beer.’

              ‘Naffed me off.  I’ve sent him to see Mrs Swift.’

              ‘Harsh Sarge, harsh.  What did he do?’

              ‘Lets just say he got right up my derriere. So a couple of hours with Mrs Swift should put him right. Know not to offend the desk.’

              ‘Too right. She been on the phone then?’

              ‘You wouldn’t believe it. Whoever gave her the direct line to the front desk needs to be shot.  Five times today. Five times. Something about neighbours not being right. Just want to get off the phone as quick as possible. She can talk.’

              ‘Reckon Petty will be there for two hours?’

              ‘Bound to be. At least.

              ‘Two?  He’s been round, knows the score.  He’ll be out in under an hour?’

              ‘£20? Says not.  You on?’

 

‘Oh, Officer-Constable. Thank you for coming.  You have come about my calls.  Come in will you?’

              ‘Well, Mrs Swift isn’t it?  I have got other visits to do so if you can...’

              ‘That wont do, no, I’ve got to show you.  It’s upstairs, see. So will you come in then?’

              ‘I can’t spare long, Mrs Swift.’

              ‘I understand Officer or is it Constable, I never know which? Follow me through to the kitchen.’

              ‘But Mrs Swift you said upstairs.’

              ‘There’s things I need to explain first. Best done over a cup of tea. Won’t take a mo, Officer-Constable...?’

              ‘It’s Petty, Mrs Swift. Constable Petty.’

              ‘That’s good Officer, no, Constable Petty.  Here, take a seat anyone will do but not the one near the door if that’s OK.  I try and keep that free for Denis. You’re new aren’t you.  Has taht nice Sargent White sent you?  You know he used to call. I did appreciate it even if he did try and slip away without really listening.  You will listen won’t you Officer...Constable...’

              ‘Petty, Mrs Swift.’

              ‘Petty, that’s right, Constable Petty. And you will listen won’t you?’

              ‘Yes, Mrs Swift.’

              ‘Good then. See kettle’s boiled – how do you like your tea?’

              ‘But I can’t stay for long Mrs Swift.’

              ‘I understand dear. Oh, what a host – can I take your coat?’

              ‘No, that’s fine, Mrs Swift, won’t be stopping that long.’

              ‘Of course, I understand, I do. Constable Petty.  Or can I call you by your given name?’

              ‘No Mrs Swift, I’d prefer Constable Petty if that’s alright with you.

              ‘Oh yes, keep it professional. No favourites. Very sensible. Wouldn’t want gossip to start. And I know that Mrs Roberts would just love to cause trouble.  I know she calls the police just to get them do things round the house.  Imagine that. And there was the complaint. Poor Terry.’

              ‘Complaint? Terry? Mrs Swift is this why you wanted an Officer?’

              ‘He was a nice police man was Terry. One of your predecessors.  Always had time.  Dark hair.  Lovely smile. Looks like my Neil. Have you seen a picture my Neil?  That’s him on the wall behind you.  Neil, not Terry of course, that would be daft wouldn’t it. Travels a lot.  Neil not Terry. (Though Terry might travel of course. Would you know. Of course not you’ve never met Terry.) Neil’s in sales.  Done very well for himself.  Two children and Liddy his wife. That’s them in the picture.  Turned out better than I expected. I know, you shouldn’t say that being his Mum and all. They make their own choices and you live with it. That’s what I said to Denis. But he’d be here now, wagging his finger, telling me how wrong I’d got. And he’d be right too.’

              ‘Mrs Swift I really need to know why you’ve called.’

              ‘Shame they live so far away. Just don’t get to see them.  I try to explain but it’s like the Hutchins. They upped sticks to be near their grandkids.  We thought about it seriously we did. But Denis has is allotment and   bowls and the Conservative Association. And I’ve got my WI, flower arranging. And to leave and start over. At our age.’

              ‘Mrs Swift, I’m really sorry but...’

              ‘And him that moved into the Hutchins, it’s him I’m worried about. Something not right if you know what I mean.’

              ‘Is that why you called Mrs Swift?’

              ‘Well that and the girl. Now, will you look at me; world of my own: tea. Now how do you take it Constable? Straight from the pot?  If I do it now it will be fine.  You don’t want builder’s tea do you? Denis was all against that, stand you spoon in it. And so sweet. Oh, no not like that not at all. Now Julie, Julie Richardson (met her, down at number 37, rose bushes in the front? No? Well be careful.) Her tea, well it stands for 10 minutes that’s a quick brew.’

              ‘I really am sorry Mrs Swift I’ve got to go.  I can come back if there is something but...

              ‘No, now Constable I think you need to finish your tea.  And I’ve not explained.  I’m serious. I’m worried. If you’d seen what I’ve seen. I’m doing my civic duty, that’s what Denis would say.’

              ‘I understand Mrs Swift.  Whilst I finish my cuppa, (very good it is too, Mrs Swift), you tell me what it is.

              ‘Well it’s the Hutchins.  Not them exactly, but him who moved in after they’d gone to be near the grandkids. Did I tell...’

              ‘Yes, moved away to be near family, you said Mrs Swift.’

              ‘Did I? I did. Well that’s good.  You see I took him a cake, you know to welcome him and it was... You’ve not got cake Constable. What would you like? Let me see what’s in the cupboard.’

              ‘Mrs Swift, you really don’t need to...’

              ‘What kind of host would I be? If that got back to that Julie Robinson... Now I’ve got a cherry Bakewell, Victoria sponge, chocolate brownies, or a rock bun.  I know, I know a bit out of fashion but I do like a rock bun, better than a scone. Do you agree?

              ‘Mrs Swift, the man...’

              ‘Oh, the cherry Bakewell’s all gone.  How can that be? Let me see, of course it was Janice’s boy, she’s down the road, on the corner. It was her son, Darren.  He had the last bit when he came to fix the bird feeder. It had got knocked down in that storm.

              ‘You know that girl, pretty thing, that’s been missing these past five years?’

              ‘Sorry Mrs Swift I don’t follow. Something to do with Darren?’

              ‘Goodness gracious me no, Darren, lovely boy but you know he’s not all there. No, not that at all. There was a bit on the news couple of days ago.  They did one of those photo-fit reconstruction things. How she’d look five year’s on, after she was taken.  Will you have some cake then? Brownie?

              ‘No I really shouldn’t Mrs Swift.  Tea when I get home and all that. Wife wouldn’t be thrilled, if you get my drift.’

              ‘Surely not Constable. If anything you need feeding up in my opinion. Go on.’

              ‘No, I really mustn’t but...

              ‘You really sure? I suppose it makes sense. So, what are you going to do Constable Petty?

              ‘Do Mrs Swift? I, I, ...’

              ‘Do Constable. My call.  The Hutchins’ house. The girl.’

              ‘I’m sorry Mrs Swift, I’m not clear what you mean. It’s been nice to meet you and you’ve talked about some concerns. The tea’s good and the offer of cake, very kind. But...’

              ‘Just like Denis. Men, eh. Say they listen but do they? Well perhaps best if I show you. Come on then, follow me. Follow me.  Finished the tea?  Pop it in the sink and I’ll get to it. We need to go upstairs. Sorry to ask but can you keep to the runner please – you’ve got your boots on and I’d really rather not having to hoover again. That’s right straight to the top Constable.  Need to be at the back of the house, so turn left and it’s second door on the left.’

              ‘Ok’

              ‘Oh, don’t turn the lights on. You might frighten them’

              ‘Frighten them Mrs Swift?’

              ‘Yes, Constable.  Turn the lights on and all the birds well go.’

              ‘Birds Mrs Swift I thought this was about the man in the Hutchin’s’

              ‘Well, when I come and sit and watch the birds I can see his garden.  See I have an excellent view of the garden.  There’s the feeder that Darren fixed for me.  You see this is where I sit and watch. I’ve got my binoculars and my book’s here. That’s where I record what I see.  Do ‘twitch’ Constable?

              ‘Sorry Mrs Swift?

              ‘Twitch, Constable. It is what they call serious birdwatchers. I’m not. Just happy to sit here and watch.  But my Neil he used to. Less so now, family and all that.  But before he met Liddy, he’d think nothing of getting up at four in the morning to drive across the country to see a lesser brown what’s it, blown in from Africa.  Well, I’m not like that. Quite happy to sit here and just see what flits by. It was Neil’s idea. He was worried, bless, so he suggested I do it.  Keep the notebook because that’s useful.  I send in stuff to the RSPB I do.  Got a lovely letter the last time.  Oh, it’s not in the book.  It should be.  I know it’s on my bedside table, shall I get it? Would you like to see it?’

              ‘Very kind of you Mrs Swift, another time.  Really, I need to be getting on so if this is it…;

              ‘Here, have a look at the book. You can see what I’ve seeing. See, pictures: I’ve got my guide here and if I’m not sure I describe it to Neil and he sends me a picture from his internet.  I paste it the book.  And I always record the date, time and so on plus the weather cos all that helps.’

              ‘But how does it help us here Mrs Swift? I really don’t understand what this is all about. I should be going. I’ve got a ton of paperwork to get done and my wife really doesn’t like my home late on a Friday when I’ve done a full shift over the week.’

              ‘Sit down, Constable Petty. Sit!  It’s about now.  There, its always the same time. Look at the Hutchin’s garden. Here try the binoculars, can you see? The little girl. See? See? She only ever comes out late in the afternoon.  You walk past the house during the day and all the curtains are drawn.  I told when he moved in, it was him no-one else and there’s never been any visitors.  But suddenly there’s this girl.  I’ve asked. Darren, well his mum is Liz and she works at the school in the office.  No one with that address goes to the school.  (Oh, should I have said that?  Will she get into trouble for sharing that.  I hope not, please don’t mention that.) And I know she could be going to a school further away but I’ve seen her, face pressed at the window, just for moments, when she should be in school. Can you see her Constable?’

              ‘Yes, Mrs Swift I can but I’m really not sure…’

              ‘Take a look at my note book Constable.  Last page at the back. I glued some pictures in.  That’s the girl Ellie that went missing. See? Well that’s her in the garden.’

 

‘Petty not back Sarge?’

              ‘Came and been. And no I think the bets are off.’

              ‘What do you mean Sarge?’

              ‘You not seen the news? Where you been?  They’ve found that girl Ellie Watson, the one that disappeared.  Kidnapped turns out.’

              ‘Good on Petty.’

              ‘Well, turns out it was down to Mrs Swift.  It is worthwhile listening when she talks sometimes.