DAISY
STORIES
by Crystal Jones
© 1995-2007
a nice little trip
“Daisy, it’s me - Ted,” Detective-Inspector Singleton was
telephoning his favourite private detective. They had met on a case and ever
since they had been going out together, when work permitted. “How are you fixed
for the next few days?”
Daisy had been drinking a boiling hot mug of Ovaltine as it was
still a bit chilly in the office. The first flowers were hesitating at coming
out but there was a bright sun in the sky. “Well, Mr. Floodbridge is coming in
tonight to start whitewashing the office, so I’m free whenever you like. What’s
on, Ted?”
“I’m taking you to France this very evening - to Boulogne, to see
the sights. All right to come back next Tuesday?”
“That’s fine by me.” Daisy was already going through her wardrobe
mentally. “I believe it’s a bit warmer in Boulogne than here in East Anglia.”
“Yes, I believe it is” replied Ted “What if I pick you up at
half past seven? We’re catching the night ferry - the Dovercraft - and we can
have a nice meal on the boat.” Ted paused a moment as he always did when he felt
guilty. “Oh, by the way, I haven’t got my moustache any more. This morning I was
in such a hurry that I cut too much off on one side and decided I’d better start
again from scratch.”
“Oh no, Ted! I can’t imagine you without it! Anyway, I must go
now, because I’ve got some throwing-away to do here.”
Daisy looked at the posters she had put up on the walls - of
Egypt and Israel - and sighed. “I’ll have to make do without them now. They’re
so torn and dirty. But maybe I can get some more from the travel agency. Anyway
I’ll have a nice clean office to come back to.” She made a few phone calls to
clients and one to Mr. Floodbridge, the whitewasher, to make sure he had the
office keys. Then she made her way home to pack her bottle of Opium perfume,
some mid-season clothes and a warm wool-lined raincoat. Daisy had been over to
the Continent several times, but never with Ted. As she felt very peckish, she
fixed herself a bumper tomato and corned beef sandwich.
Detective-Inspector Morris Singleton arrived perfectly on time
for their appointment at 7.30. Daisy stared at Ted: “You know, you look quite
nice without your moustache, but I think I prefer you with it.”
“All right,” promised Ted, “I won’t shave it off again.” As they
made their way to Dover by car it started to rain quite heavily. “Hope it’s not
going to be windy as well,” remarked Ted.
Once on board they had a look round the Dovercraft. The duty-free
shop was full of tourists buying last-minute presents. In a colourful room,
small childen were wide awake being entertained by a magician dressed as a
clown, and their grateful parents were having a ‘quick one’ in the nearby
lounge. There was also a restaurant which had the air of being very expensive
and a much cheaper one full of starving travellers.
The lounge looked pleasant with big comfortable armchairs, and at
the end of it there was a lively bar clinking glasses continuously. “Ted, I’m
starving, can we go for that wonderful meal you promised me?” Daisy pleaded.
Just then the boat rocked sideways and nearly made Daisy fall
over. “Oh Ted, it’s a bit rough, isn’it.”
But Ted couldn’t reply. He was deathly pale and gasping for fresh
air.
“Ted, whatever’s wrong? You’re not seasick, are you?”
Daisy had never been seasick, or even airsick and it had never
entered her mind anybody else could be, or even what it was like. “Ted, let’s go
outside for a bit.” Daisy helped him outside the lounge into the fresh air.
Unfortunately a very strong wind was blowing and they had to go back in again.
“Don’t worry about me Daisy,” Ted was breathing heavily. “You go
ahead and have something. I’ll just sit here by myself in the lounge.”
“No, Ted, I’ll stay with you,” insisted Daisy.
“No Daisy, really, I’d prefer just to sit here quietly and not
talk to anybody.”
“All right, if that’s what you want...I won’t be long.”
Daisy made her way to the self-service restaurant hoping to get
back to Ted as soon as possible, but there was an incredible queue. However, the
staff were efficient and in ten minutes Daisy was having her cod, chips and
peas, followed by Spotted Dick and custard and a cup of black coffee. Daisy
returned to Ted who was now facing the window and had the collar of his
waterproof jacket turned up.
“Feeling better, Ted?” Ted didn’t turn round. “It’s rather hot in
here now, isn’t it?” continued Daisy taking off her warm mac. “Ted, what’s the
matter?” Daisy touched his shoulder, ASnoticing he hadn’t answered.
“Daisy,” hissed Ted still facing the window, “come and sit next
to me! I can’t turn round.” Once Daisy was seated Ted explained: “William Rowles
is sitting at the end of the lounge having a beer!”
Daisy breathed in rapidly. She whispered, “You mean William
Rowles, the violent Soho gangster! But I thought he was in prison.”
“Yes he was, I put him in prison myself for fourteen years.” Ted
was speaking with difficulty and paused every few seconds. “They transferred him
to a Scottish prison and he managed to escape last week! He’s fatter than he
was, but that’s him all right.” Daisy avoided looking towards the end of the
lounge.
Ted continued: “I don’t think he has recognised me because I
haven’t got my moustache any more but if he recognises me he could cause a lot
of trouble. Daisy, he’s very violent and could easily be armed in some way.”
“What shall we do, Ted?” Daisy felt a little scared by now.
“You must help me. I can’t manage the situation alone, I’m too
weak. You must go to the captain, tell him about all this and get Rowles
arrested. I’ll sit here until the officers arrive.”
Daisy tried to move away inconspicuously and walked along the
lounge to the exit. Just then three young men came through the door with cans of
beer in their hands.
Suddenly the ship lurched again and one of the young men fell
against Daisy accidentally pouring beer down her new green silk blouse. “Oh no,
my new blouse” Daisy thought “it must be ruined and I smell of beer now.”
Realising that she might be drawing attention to herself, Daisy quickly absolved
the young man from his responsibility, hurried away along the corridor towards
the officers’ room and knocked on the door.
An officer opened the door at last and stared at Daisy and her
beer-stained blouse. “Can I help you miss?” Daisy had clearly interrupted his
evening meal as he still had a napkin in his hand.
“We need your help, that is Detective-Inspector Singleton does.
There’s a dangerous criminal, an escaped convict, in the lounge having a drink -
William Rowles is his name - and.....”
The officer could smell Daisy’s beery clothes and interpreted it
badly, “Look, Miss, why don’t you go back and sit down a bit. There are no
dangerous criminals on this boat. You clearly fell asleep and had a bad dream.”
“Don’t you dare treat me like that.” Daisy angrily reacted at his
patronising tone. “I’m not dreaming it all up. I’m not drunk either, someone
spilt their beer all over me while I was hurrying to get here.” Daisy’s voice
became even more determined. “There is a police officer in the lounge who is
very seasick and he sent me to get help. If you don’t help him, you’ll be in a
lot of trouble yourself.”
Daisy pushed her way past the man into the room where four other
officers were having their meal and had probably heard what she had said. Before
they could realise what was really happening, Daisy was giving orders: “Come
along, all of you, you have to arrest an escaped convict immediately.”
Daisy was very persuasive when she liked. A tall grey-haired man
got up: “I’m Captain Granger, Madam, what were you saying?”
“Captain, if you come with me to meet Detective-Inspector
Singleton in the lounge he can tell you himself. You must be discreet because if
this Rowles sees my friend’s face he might recognise him as he was the one who
arrested him years ago.”
Back in the lounge Daisy went over to Ted and sat down next to
him. After a few seconds the Captain came by as though he were casually seeing
if everything was all right on the Dovercraft. He bent over Ted who discreetly
showed him his identification and left the lounge. After one minute an officer
had changed his clothes and replaced the barman while three others were entering
the lounge from the three exits. Daisy signalled to Ted that the men had arrived
and he got up shakily. He went over with the men towards Rowles, who was by now
quite merry on beer.
Rowles didn’t recognise Singleton at all without his moustache
but stared at him as though he couldn’t quite place his face. “I’m
Detective-Inspector Singleton and I’m arresting you, William Rowles. Captain,
take him away and lock him up.” Rowles suddenly got up and threw the contents of
his glass into Singleton’s face, broke the beer glass still in his hand, dashing
it against a table, to use as a weapon and made towards the exit near to where
Daisy was still sitting. Daisy had been watching everything from afar. Without
hesitating, she picked up her mac and blocked the exit. As soon as Rowles
realised Daisy was in his way he turned on her and tried to push the broken
class into her face but Daisy ducked sideways and threw her mac over his head.
Rowles fought to get the mac off him and free himself but in doing so cut his
arm with the broken glass and screamed with pain. Singleton and the ship’s crew
quickly arrived, managed to knock the broken glass from his hand and pinned the
criminal’s arms behind him.
Once in Calais, Rowles was handed over to the French authorities
and Daisy and Ted were able to drive off on holiday at last at six o’clock in
the morning.
“You’re looking much better, Ted. But have you always had trouble
crossing the Channel?”
“Yes, I have, but I’ve never crossed it in such bad weather. Oh
Daisy, what an adventure. I’m sorry we always get business and pleasure mixed up
together. The Police Force is going to be so grateful to you!”
“Well to start with they can give me a new mac, as mine is
completely ruined! And a new silk blouse too which was stained all in the line
of duty.”
Ted was so happy not to be seasick any more and hardly noticed
that he hadn’t slept. Daisy was less used to losing a night’s sleep and drifted
off into a dream where dangerous animals were escaping from an ark. |
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