Birds Of A Feather Episode 32
Rob picked up Alice’s notes.
“I’ve been through everything. She uses abbreviations a lot, but I can’t remember coming across anyone called S.T.”
“Steven admitted that Briggsy was going to buy Folly Farm cheaply once Maggie was forced to sell.”
Rob nodded.
“According to Alice, that’s how Brigstocke operates. He picks up businesses that are on the point of bankruptcy.
“I wonder if that was what he did with my father?”
“Geoffrey’s bankrupt?” Jess looked astonished. “But I thought his building supplies business was successful?”
Rob hesitated. He didn’t like discussing his parents’ financial situation with anyone. And they’d certainly hate it.
But if he’d been more open when Alice wanted to talk about it, maybe things would have had a different outcome.
“You don’t have to answer that,” Jess said quickly.
“I don’t know,” Rob admitted. “It would explain his involvement with Brigstocke and why my parents left their house and he moved in.”
“Did you ask your mum?”
He shook his head.
“She wouldn’t tell me if he had. And she certainly won’t let me ask my father when he comes round.”
“Paloma was with your parents when he collapsed.
“She’d asked your mum to take over the petition against the redevelopment of the pub.
“They’re planning to pull it down and build a housing development.”
“Let me guess, Kevin Brigstocke owns the pub?” Rob stated.
“Certainly the man who owned it when Steven was there was the one he called Briggsy. It’s got to be him, hasn’t it?”
“What did Paloma say to my mother?”
“I’m not sure. She’s over in the tea room now if you want to ask her. She can be trusted,” Jess assured Rob.
“I’m sure she can. But the fewer people who know who I am the better. If you could ask her for me, I’d appreciate it.”
“I’m on my way there now. I could do with a break.
“And I’ll call Harry, that’s the private investigator I was telling you about. If you still want me to?”
“That would be great.” Rob put Alice’s notes back in the folder. “Do you want to take these with you?”
Jess shook her head.
“Hang on to them for now. I’ll let you know what Harry says. And Paloma.”
Rob sat down at his wheel and centred the clay, ready to throw a pot.
But for the first time ever he found that the rhythmic swish of the wheel and the feel of the clay shaping beneath his hands failed to hold his attention.
In no time, the pot went off centre and collapsed.
He threw the crumpled mess in the clay bin, wiped his hands and took out Alice’s notes again.
Somewhere in there, he was sure, he’d find whatever it was Kevin Brigstocke had over his father.
He was still poring over them when Jess tapped at his door again.
“Paloma says the owner of the pub is Brigstocke, and your mum became very animated when Paloma mentioned his name.
“She said she’d be more than happy to take over the petition and put a stop to his game.
“But your father went mad and told her she would do no such thing.
“That was when he collapsed,” Jess went on. “It sounds as if it was the mention of Brigstocke’s name that did it.”
“It does, doesn’t it?”
The conviction that Kevin Brigstocke had a hold over Rob’s father was getting stronger by the minute.
“And your detective friend?” he asked.
Jess shook her head, embarrassed.
“He says he’s a bit busy at the moment. I’m sorry, Rob.
“I thought he’d be pleased to take it on. It seems I was wrong.”
Rob was relieved. He didn’t know how much Jess’s friend charged, but he couldn’t afford it.
Paying the rent on this place had almost cleaned out his bank account.
“There was one thing, though,” Jess went on.
“I told him about the file you had on Brigstocke and asked if he’d heard of him.
“He told me to leave well alone.
“He said we could get in trouble if we went around harassing innocent members of the public.”
“Then we should take his advice,” Rob replied firmly.
“Alice died chasing up this story. My father collapsed at the sound of his name. I don’t want more tragedies.”
“But I don’t think Kevin Brigstocke is an innocent member of the public.
“The more I think about it, the more I think he’s done something bad to your parents,” Jess argued.
“No, Jess,” he cut in. “Thanks for trying to help, but we have to step back.”
If his father was involved in something dodgy that involved Brigstocke, the last thing Rob wanted to do was bring it out in the open.