Castlewick Crag

PART THREE: Beth and Joe may be growing closer, though they’re no nearer to finding Bill – but then they get a lead…

Going down the mountain was a lot harder than going up. As they reached a part where the stony path narrowed and wound around a boulder, Beth’s foot slid from under her and she would have fallen if Joe hadn’t put his hand out to stop her. “Go on, say it,” she said.

“Say what?”

“You’re dying to have a go at my unsuitable shoes aren’t you?” With a rueful smile she looked down at her thin soled slip ons that had so infuriated him earlier.

He shook his head and smiled as he took her hand. She went to pull away but he held it even harder. “Just keep hold of my hand and you’ll be fine.”

And she was. In fact she quite enjoyed holding his hand as they made their way down the mountain. For a brief moment she allowed herself to forget the disappointment of not finding Bill and to pretend they were just a couple of friends enjoying a morning walk in the glorious

Beth took off Joe’s fleece and handed it back to him. “Thank you so much for this. I shan’t make the same mistake again. Can I make you a coffee to make up for it?”

“Another time? Right now I’m going to pop in to the Mountain Rescue HQ and see if anyone there knows anything. You can buy me a pint later. How about that?”

“You’re on,” she said. “Now, let’s get this dog some food, shall we? He can’t live on scrambled eggs for ever.”

The dog stretched, enjoying the warmth of the fire on his still sore shoulder and, for the first time in a long while, the feeling of a full belly.

Then he gave a deep sigh. He’d been so sure. When he’d caught the scent earlier, he’d thought he was going to find the man.

But all he found was his hat. The one he always wore. It smelt of him but something else as well. Something that made the dog uneasy. It smelt of blood.

He’d searched the area all around where he found the hat, just like he’d been trained to do. But there was no other scent. At least, not the scent he was searching for.

He gave another deep sigh. When he was rested, he’d try again. But now, he was so tired. He needed to sleep.

Haven’t seen you in a while, Joe,” John Marsh, the team leader at Mountain Rescue said. “How are you?”

“All good thanks, John. It’s Bill I’m worried about. No one seems to know where he is or what’s happened to him.”

John checked the record book but there had been no call out for Bill. He rang around but no one seemed to have any idea where he was.

“What about his next of kin?” Joe asked. “That must be on file somewhere.”

John sorted through the files and eventually found Bill’s.

“It’s years since he was on the team and the next of kin on our records is his wife,” he said. “And she died quite a few years ago. I’m afraid we’ve lost touch with Bill since Nesta banned climbers from the pub. I hope you find him.”

As Joe headed back to Castlewick, he thought how disappointed Beth would be about the dead end. He’d been totally

wrong about her. How could he ever have thought she was anything like Tara, his ex-wife? Tara would never have run out onto a mountain after a dog. She’d have just shrugged her elegant shoulders and said “good riddance”.

His phone rang and he pulled over to take the call. He groaned when he saw the caller ID. Talk of the devil.

“I’m just calling to see if you’ll have Harry for a while,” Tara said.

“Of course.” Joe’s heart gave a leap of joy at the thought of seeing his young son again. “When ? And how long for?”

There was a pause. “I’m not sure. I’ve landed a really good job in London and my parents can’t have Harry. The timing couldn’t have been worse but Dad’s got to go into hospital for some tests and Mum doesn’t think she can cope with that and Harry as well.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said. Tara, typically, was more concerned about how it impacted on her plans than on her father’s health.

“He’ll be fine,” she said dismissively. “My mother’s making a fuss about nothing, as always. Could you come down and get him at the weekend?”

“Of course. But what about school?” “It’s almost the end of term. So he won’t be missing out on much. And he was adamant that he wanted to come to you. It’s important for him to have contact with both parents, you know.”

Joe bit back a retort. He’d been saying that to Tara ever since they split up. But now, when it suited her, she suddenly decided a boy needed his father.

“How long is this job in London going to last?” he asked.

“Who knows? But I couldn’t possibly turn it down. The money they’re offering is quite ridiculous.”

“Shall I see about getting him into the local school, then?” he asked.

Tara’s casual “If you like,” confirmed Joe’s suspicion that Harry’s stay could well be longer than a few days, or even weeks. He’d always thought that sooner or later Tara would tire of playing the “perfect mother”, especially now her mother wasn’t able to help. And nothing, not even their son, would ever be allowed to come in the way of Tara and her precious career.

As Beth went out into the garden to take Amy’s call, she made sure the back door was safely shut this time. But Monk, who’d now been fed, was asleep again. The sun was shining as brightly as ever, but there was a chill wind. As she shrugged her fleece on, she remembered how wearing Joe’s had seemed like Joe himself was giving her a warm hug.

Getagrip,Beth, she told herself. You’re actinglikeasillyschoolgirl.

“Amy?” Beth said as she called her sister back. “Sorry. The signal in the cottage is really bad. How are you today?” “I’m fine, Beth. No problems, honest.” “Then what’s wrong? Something’s worrying you, I can tell.”

Amy sighed. “You know me too well.

But it’s not really wrong. It’s exciting. But I’m not sure what you’ll think…”

“Just tell me.”

She heard Amy draw a long breath and braced herself for what was coming.

“Daniel and I have been talking and we think it would be best for everyone if we sold the house and split the proceeds between you and me. Then Daniel and I will be able to have a place of our own. His parents said they’ll help us out financially if we need it. What do you think?”

Beth sat down heavily on the garden bench. This time, she was blind to the stunning view down the valley that had captivated her earlier. All she could see was the house she’d grown up in, all the memories of her mother and the times when they were a proper family.

Amy wanted them to sell it?

“Beth? Are you still there?” Amy’s voice was anxious. “Look, it was just something to think about. Obviously, we don’t want to do it if it’ll upset you. But – ”

“I’ll think about it, Amy,” Beth said. “It’s just come as a bit of a surprise, that’s all.”

After the call ended, Beth paced about in the garden. Amy’s news had unsettled her. It seemed as if she didn’t belong anywhere anymore.

She heard Monk bark and went back into the cottage. She was delighted to see he was barking because Joe was at the front door. She hoped he had some news of Bill’s whereabouts. It would take her mind off Amy’s bombshell.

Joe was surprised – and more than a little pleased – by the warmth of Beth’s welcome. Monk, too, looked better for his good meal and sleep.

“Any news?” Beth asked.

He shook his head. “It’s so long since Bill was a member of the team that the next of kin on his record was his wife, who died some years ago. Nobody knows where he is and there’s no record of any call out to him, so that’s something.”

“Maybe the couple in the pub will know a bit more,” Beth suggested.

“Is that your way of saying you fancy a pint?” he said with a laugh. “Or don’t you drink beer?”

“I’ve never tried it,” Beth said.

“Then now’s your chance. Ready?” “What about Monk?”

“He’ll be fine here. He’s home.”

Beth bit her lip. “But he can’t stay here. I’m only booked until the end of the week. Then what’s going to happen to him?”

“He can come to me. Harry will be delighted.” Joe was looking forward to

www.myweekly.co.uk

telling her about Harry. She looked as if she’d understand his worries about him.

When they walked around to the pub, the place was still shut up. The curtains were closed and there were no cars in the car park. Joe began to get a very bad feeling about it, particularly when he saw the back door was not closed properly.

“Do you think they’ve been burgled?” Beth asked.

“Stay here. I’ll go in and have a look.” As Joe stepped in to the pub’s dim interior, he heard footsteps behind him.

“Don’t you ever do as you’re told?” he said to Beth who was standing close behind him.

“Not very often.”

As they went into the bar, his worst fears were confirmed. The place was empty and most of the bottles of spirits had been taken. It was the same when he went down into the cellar. All the valuable stock had gone. Back in the bar, he opened the till. That, too, was empty.

“So where are Steve and Anna?” Beth asked, puzzled..

“Same place as the missing stock and money, I shouldn’t wonder,” Joe said. “I’ll check upstairs then I’d better see if I can get hold of Nesta. I’ve got her number somewhere. That is, if she’s in a part of the world where she can take a call.”

“Shouldn’t you call the police?” Beth suggested.

“I’d rather speak to Nesta first. In case Steve and Anna are friends of hers or something like that and she doesn’t want the police involved.”

The search of upstairs showed no signs of anyone living there. There were no clothes in the wardrobes, no personal items lying around.

“It seems the birds have flown,” Joe murmured. “I should have realised last night when the place was in darkness. I thought it just meant they’d closed the pub and gone to bed early.”

“So what do we do now?” Beth asked. Before Joe could answer, there was a tap on the front door.

“Are you going to open any time today?” A loud voice demanded.

Joe let him in. He recognised him as one of the old regulars. “Hi Roger. We’re not really open at all,” he said.

“Come on Joe. I only want a quick pint and to check about tonight.”

Joe went behind the bar and tried one of the pumps. He pulled a glassful and looked at it.

“Looks fine to me,” Roger said. “I was drinking it only yesterday.”

Joe handed him the pint. “There you go

www.myweekly.co.uk then. On the house. What do you know about the couple who were here?”

“Were here?” Roger asked. “You mean they’ve gone?”

“Looks like it. And they’ve taken most of the stock with them, as well as the cash from the till.”

Roger shook his head. “There won’t be much cash to take, that’s for sure. They hardly ever opened. A pair of lazy good for nothings if you ask me.” He glanced around the bar. “Look at the place. Filthy. And there’s a darts match on tonight. That’s what I came in for, to make sure they’d remember to open up.”

“I suppose you’d best tell them all it’s