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5

Marlowe was sitting on the end of Papa Magellan's bed. It was just after nine o'clock and the old man was finishing a hearty breakfast that Maria had brought to him on a tray. A light drift of rain pattered against the window and Magellan cursed and said, 'More rain, more rheumatism. It's a vicious circle and the whole damned winter still to come.'

Marlowe grinned sympathetically. 'Never mind, Papa,' he said. 'A couple of days in bed will do you a power of good.'

Magellan snorted. 'Nothing doing. That's what Maria thinks I need, but there's work to do and I'm the only one who can do it. This afternoon I've got to go round the market gardeners picking up produce and seeing how the land lies. Who knows what O'Connor is getting up to while I'm lying here in idleness.'

The door opened and Maria came in with a coffee pot and some cups on a tray. She filled two cups, gave one to her father and the other to Marlowe. 'How's Mac managing?' he asked her.

'Oh, fine,' she said. 'He helped me to put a spare bed in your room and I've left him unpacking.'

'What do you think of him?' Marlowe said.

'He's a good boy,' Papa Magellan cut in. 'I can always tell. He's got a good heart, that one.'

Maria nodded. 'I agree with Papa. He's a fine man. I trust him. I felt it the moment I looked at him. He's not the kind who would ever let you down.'

For a moment a feeling that was suspiciously like jealousy moved in Marlowe. He gave her a twisted grin and said, 'Not like me at all.'

An expression of pain appeared on her face. 'Please, I didn't mean it to sound like that.'

He held up a hand. 'It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter at all.' When he turned to Papa Magellan he saw to his surprise, that the old man had a sly smile on his face. 'I'll take that load round the shops now, Papa,' Marlowe told him. 'Put Mac on the coal delivery run. As soon as I get back, I'll give him a hand.'

'Maybe I should get up and go round with the boy myself,' Papa Magellan said. 'He may find it a little strange at first.'

'You'll do nothing of the kind,' Maria said firmly. 'You can stay in bed and do as you're told for a change.'

'But Maria, there's work to be done,' the old man protested.

Marlowe shook his head and grinned. 'I'll leave you two to argue it out.' He grinned at the old man. 'Might as well give in, Papa. She can be pretty determined when she wants to be.' He closed the door quickly as the argument flared up again and went along to his bedroom.

Mac was unpacking his case and he looked up and smiled as Marlowe entered the room. 'Man, it was my lucky day today.'

Marlowe grinned. 'I thought you'd fit in here all right.' He lit a cigarette and went on, 'I'm going out with that load of stuff again. I'll try the retail shops and see what I can get rid of, but I don't feel too happy about it. O'Connor must know what's going on by now.'

Mac frowned and shook his head. 'He didn't exactly take me into his confidence. I hadn't even heard of Mr Magellan until I met you this morning.'

Marlowe nodded slowly. 'You're going to do the coal delivery run for the rest of the day. It shouldn't be too difficult. I'll be back by lunchtime and you can let me know how you're making out.'

Mac smiled and half saluted. 'Okay, boss,' he said. Marlowe grinned and left him to finish his unpacking.

As he drove back towards Barford it disturbed him to realize that in some inexorable way he seemed to be taking control of everything. He was beginning to get involved and he hadn't intended that to happen at all. For a little while he considered the point and then he pushed it firmly out of his mind and concentrated on the job in hand.

Maria had given him a list of the shops Bill Johnson had done business with on the previous day. The first one was on a new housing estate on the very edge of Barford and Marlowe made straight for it.

The shop was a greengrocer's, a fine, red-brick, double-fronted building on the end of a large parade. When he went inside the place was deserted.