Page 35 of Old Girls Behaving Badly

As they headed out along the banks of a river and across to what Leonard called the Great Wood, Dorothy thought about Philip and what he would have made of all this. He would have been impressed – it would be hard to find someone who wasn’t – but the way his relationship with Leonard had soured, Dorothy knew Philip wouldn’t have wanted to accept an invitation to visit. He wouldn’t have wanted to have given Leonard the opportunity to show off his superior collection. Perhaps Leonard wouldn’t have wanted Philip to see other things he might have stolen. She let that thought roll around her mind for a moment. Of course! It couldn’t just be Philip’s painting. Leonard was someone who took what he wanted. There must be more to find and that thought made her smile.

She settled into the ride and watched the landscape roll past. The Great Wood had beautiful dappled sunlight sparkling down through the canopy of the trees. The distinct and resinous scent of pine was crisp and it combined with the damp earth and the musty smell of the woody debris. Gina had dropped back a bit and let the others get a little further ahead so the noise of their machines didn’t distract too much from their peaceful setting.

‘I’d like to stop and walk about,’ she called out to Dorothy. ‘These quad bikes are spoiling the atmosphere.’

‘I agree,’ Dorothy called back to her, ‘but I am having a lot of fun too.’

‘Keep up, stragglers, at the back. We’re going down across the park and past the tower before we head into the village for lunch. You don’t want to get lost.’

Leonard’s voice came through the radio at them and Dorothy held on a little tighter as Gina picked up her pace again.

‘Yes we bloody do want to get lost,’ Dorothy said. ‘Can he hear me through that thing?’

‘No, don’t worry. It’s only when I press the button on the side.’

‘Shame,’ Dorothy said and Gina laughed.

‘Do you know, Dorothy, I think you’re amazing,’ Gina called out as she took a corner at quite a speed and Dorothy whooped with delight from the back.

They caught up with the others at the tower and Leonard had no history for it, which made Dorothy a little cross. Another example of the man not realising what he had, not appreciating what was right in front of his face. This made her think about the thief not taking the best pieces from her home. An amateur burglar, or someone with specific instructions about what to take.

‘There would be a wonderful view from the top of the tower,’ said Gina quietly to Dorothy. ‘I assumed that it would originally have been built as a viewing platform for a previous wealthy inhabitant of the estate. Perhaps to watch racing or similar.’

‘No idea what it was used for originally, but I had it tarted up and it’s now a holiday let. So remember that if you fancy a few days away from it all. I give good family and friends rates.’ Leonard chuckled into the radio and then shut it off and carried on.

‘Do you think the painting could be hanging in there?’ Gina asked.

‘No,’ Dorothy said firmly. ‘It will be where he can see it all the time. I really do believe it will be hidden in plain sight. It’s in his nature to win, to covet and to then have at any cost. He won’t have it tucked away like a guilty secret. He would almost want someone to stumble across it. That would be a game he’d like to play – you can be sure.’

‘Woe betide the man who stands in his way,’ Gina quoted from when Leonard caught her snooping in the library. ‘I absolutely agree with you, Dorothy. The painting is definitely in that house.’

Leonard continued to tell them about the careful management of his land by park rangers and also the partnership with his tenant farming community. Dorothy noted that he might not care about the history of the place, but he was careful with what and who bought him money.

They came down off the higher ground and stopped in the small village at lunchtime. Leonard directed them down a long track and into the back end of the pub car park.

‘They’re expecting us at The Swan and you’re all to have whatever you’d like for lunch because it’s on me. I won’t tolerate drink driving, though, even if it isn’t on the public road, so go soft on the drinks – literally.’

Dorothy climbed off the quad with help from Gina and stretched out her back. Then she noticed that Harry’s car was parked up. She was pretty sure she recognised the old, battered vehicle.

‘What’s he doing here?’ she asked Gina who shrugged.

‘Maybe he’s here to see if anyone has had enough. Maybe he always trails Leonard around like a bodyguard. Perhaps he thinks that us two old ladies would give up at this point and need a lift back.’

‘Well, he’s completely off the mark. I’m loving it,’ Dorothy said, and then followed Gina inside and they headed for the bar to get a coffee. The pub was old-fashioned and cosy. The bar was a solid hunk of mahogany and looked well worn and as if it had been the propping place of many a lonely drinker for a number of years. The seats were upholstered with a tapestry-style fabric and the wall lights, set to low, all had little velvet shades. Horse brasses and paintings of hunting scenes peppered the walls and the leaded windows told of an historic setting.

There didn’t seem to be any sign of Harry, and Dorothy now wondered if she’d mistaken the car.

They found a quiet corner to tuck themselves into and, once they had sat down, Juliet joined them carrying a bottle of Coke and a packet of peanuts. She pulled over a chair from another table and folded herself into the small space between the two women. Once she’d sat down she ripped the packet open with her teeth and proceeded to pour the contents into her mouth.

‘Really, Juliet, manners,’ Dorothy scolded her.

‘Sorry,’ Juliet said with her mouthful. ‘Did you want some?’

‘No, thank you.’

‘Have you thought any more about what we were discussing yesterday?’ Gina asked her after checking who was in earshot. It seemed that the rest of the group had settled in a small room off of the main bar. Dorothy could see Leonard’s recognisable tweed trousers through the gap in the door and his signature move, jiggling his leg up and down; impatient, excited or just keen to always be moving on to the next thing, she couldn’t tell which. She felt that if she could keep her eyes on those tweeds, they were safe for a moment.

‘I really think that Grandpa’s painting won’t be the only thing Leonard has stolen,’ Juliet said in a whisper. ‘I’d be well surprised if he doesn’t have a secret hiding place with lots of stuff hidden. I was reading about this bloke who had a false wall in his home and he was growing weed in the space behind it. The police found it because they had a helicopter overhead with an infrared camera that could see the heat lamps. Clever.’