Now that I'm busy writing spreadsheets, in an attempt to help turn failing businesses around, there's not much time for writing. Anyway, here's the next 1,000 words in the story of Arthur Bayly, continued from the previous blog ...
"Absolutely, Arthur, that's what we thought," said Lord Atkinson. "But a few year ago a chap from Hamilton, in New Zealand, invented a car battery that never went flat. He needed money to manufacture them, couldn't find any investors and eventually sold his patent to Mitsubishi for a tidy sum. And we've never heard of the Never Flat battery again - Mitsubishi had no intention of manufacturing them for who can make money from a product that never wears out?"
Oh gosh, obviously," said Arthur.
"So, what we're saying, old chap, is that nowhere is safe but, in a large place like Europe, it may be easier to be a little more anonymous," said Lady Atkinson.
"Ah, I've just got it!" said Arthur, as a light went on in his brain. "You had the plans, or the motor, and they were stolen in the burglary?"
"Absolutely, Arthur, a rotten blow to our plans," said Lord Atkinson, quietly, as the butler refreshed his cup of tea.
"But I still don't see where I come into all of this," said Arthur, if you don't mind me asking."
Yes, a perfectly reasonable question and the truth of it is that you're just a pawn in the whole game, as are we all," said Lord Atkinson. "Initially, I didn't let on to Sam, or anyone else, that the plans had gone and we submitted it as a normal insurance claim."
"And so I got the job and, later, Mr Lord found out the full implications of it," suggested Arthur, as pieces began to fall into place.
"Absolutely, old chap!" said Lord Atkinson, suddenly smiling. "They did say you were good at puzzles … you know, piecing things together."
"Anyway, we had to tell Sam, eventually, 'fess up as the Americans would say," said Lady Atkinson. "There was nowhere or no one else to turn to so we entrusted Sam with the information."
"And then things really started to go haywire," said Lord Atkinson. "The word got out …"
"You think Mr Lord leaked the information?" asked Arthur, thinking that the explanation didn't go with his gut feelings.
"Good heavens no!" said Lord Atkinson. "We don't know who but the chief suspect is Sam's rather dotty … pretty but dotty secretary who may not be as dotty as we all suspected. We're not sure …"
"So, Sam had you on the case and he wanted to make you safe so he fired you, hoping the heat would come off you," said Lady Atkinson.
"Oh gosh!" said Arthur. His mind went blank after thoughts of the enormity of the situation and thoughts of gratitude to Mr Lord flashed through. His brain was now full and it was all a bit much.
"So, the plans were gone, Sam disappeared and we were desperate for the investigation - any investigation - to continue," said Lord Atkinson. "Sam had appraised us of your loyalty, discretion and ability with puzzles, as he put it."
"Oh gosh!" said Arthur. This phrase was becoming an automatic response and all he could mutter right now.
"So we prevailed upon Mary, Sam's deputy, to have you back on the case," said Lady Atkinson.
"Mmm, prevailed might be an understatement," said Lord Atkinson. "She was most insistent that you not be put in any danger so we put rather a lot of pressure on her and, being in the House of Lords, I can do that. I exercised my royal prerogative, if you like, for what we considered the common good."
"Oh gosh!" said Arthur, wishing he could form new words.
"So, Arthur, old chap, you now know why you're here - it's a conspiracy to keep you out of trouble!" said Lady Atkinson, happily. "A nice conspiracy."
"A nice conspiracy," Arthur mused, not feeling totally out of trouble.
"Mmm, a nicely intentioned conspiracy that may have somehow backfired, dear," said Lord Atkinson gravely.
"Yes, dear, I daresay you're right," said Lady Atkinson, blushing a little as she looked at her husband. "We all volunteered for this mission, so to speak, but you, Arthur, seem to have been volunteered by accident. Oh dear, we are sorry we've somehow got you into this mess."
"Yes, hmm," was all Arthur could manage, knowing he should really say something gracious but not sure what it was.
"Anyway, here we are, all probably being followed and Sam and the plans gone … oh, my gosh!" said Lady Atkinson, with a stark realisation. "What a time for Belinda and John to be here! I do hope they'll be safe …"
"I daresay they'll be safe, dear, they're holidaying in Scotland and it's unlikely anyone knows it was he who brought the plans to England a few years ago … I hope," said Lord Atkinson, with the conviction in his voice fading noticeably.
"Look, what you don't know …" said Arthur.
"Oh Arthur dear, please tell us," said Lady Atkinson interrupting. She started to look very tired.
"Well, it's nothing much but my son and Mr Lord's daughter are both on the lookout for Mr Lord as well," said Arthur, "and I've got two of my best repo agents … repossession agents, look for him too. The agents have their ears in all sorts of devious places we'd never know about …"
"But can we rely on them?" asked Lord Atkinson, interrupting.
"Oh yes, I've used them for years and, of course, Martin, Emily and the agents know nothing of the burglary or of Sam's connection to it," said Arthur. "They're just looking for a man who has disappeared."
"So, Arthur, can you piece together any of this?" asked Lady Atkinson.
"No m'lady …"
"Oh, Arthur, please call me Sarah," said Lady Atkinson, smiling. "We know each otjer well enough now, don't you think, George?"
"Oh yes, absolutely, my dear," said Lord Atkinson. "No need for titles and all that. We have a job to do!"
"Oh, thank you m'lady … Sarah, oh, no, I have no ideas on where things or people are or who took them or even why," said Arthur, clearing his brain of all the drama and clutter. "But it does seem to me we have two alternative courses of action open."
Oh gosh, obviously," said Arthur.
"So, what we're saying, old chap, is that nowhere is safe but, in a large place like Europe, it may be easier to be a little more anonymous," said Lady Atkinson.
"Ah, I've just got it!" said Arthur, as a light went on in his brain. "You had the plans, or the motor, and they were stolen in the burglary?"
"Absolutely, Arthur, a rotten blow to our plans," said Lord Atkinson, quietly, as the butler refreshed his cup of tea.
"But I still don't see where I come into all of this," said Arthur, if you don't mind me asking."
Yes, a perfectly reasonable question and the truth of it is that you're just a pawn in the whole game, as are we all," said Lord Atkinson. "Initially, I didn't let on to Sam, or anyone else, that the plans had gone and we submitted it as a normal insurance claim."
"And so I got the job and, later, Mr Lord found out the full implications of it," suggested Arthur, as pieces began to fall into place.
"Absolutely, old chap!" said Lord Atkinson, suddenly smiling. "They did say you were good at puzzles … you know, piecing things together."
"Anyway, we had to tell Sam, eventually, 'fess up as the Americans would say," said Lady Atkinson. "There was nowhere or no one else to turn to so we entrusted Sam with the information."
"And then things really started to go haywire," said Lord Atkinson. "The word got out …"
"You think Mr Lord leaked the information?" asked Arthur, thinking that the explanation didn't go with his gut feelings.
"Good heavens no!" said Lord Atkinson. "We don't know who but the chief suspect is Sam's rather dotty … pretty but dotty secretary who may not be as dotty as we all suspected. We're not sure …"
"So, Sam had you on the case and he wanted to make you safe so he fired you, hoping the heat would come off you," said Lady Atkinson.
"Oh gosh!" said Arthur. His mind went blank after thoughts of the enormity of the situation and thoughts of gratitude to Mr Lord flashed through. His brain was now full and it was all a bit much.
"So, the plans were gone, Sam disappeared and we were desperate for the investigation - any investigation - to continue," said Lord Atkinson. "Sam had appraised us of your loyalty, discretion and ability with puzzles, as he put it."
"Oh gosh!" said Arthur. This phrase was becoming an automatic response and all he could mutter right now.
"So we prevailed upon Mary, Sam's deputy, to have you back on the case," said Lady Atkinson.
"Mmm, prevailed might be an understatement," said Lord Atkinson. "She was most insistent that you not be put in any danger so we put rather a lot of pressure on her and, being in the House of Lords, I can do that. I exercised my royal prerogative, if you like, for what we considered the common good."
"Oh gosh!" said Arthur, wishing he could form new words.
"So, Arthur, old chap, you now know why you're here - it's a conspiracy to keep you out of trouble!" said Lady Atkinson, happily. "A nice conspiracy."
"A nice conspiracy," Arthur mused, not feeling totally out of trouble.
"Mmm, a nicely intentioned conspiracy that may have somehow backfired, dear," said Lord Atkinson gravely.
"Yes, dear, I daresay you're right," said Lady Atkinson, blushing a little as she looked at her husband. "We all volunteered for this mission, so to speak, but you, Arthur, seem to have been volunteered by accident. Oh dear, we are sorry we've somehow got you into this mess."
"Yes, hmm," was all Arthur could manage, knowing he should really say something gracious but not sure what it was.
"Anyway, here we are, all probably being followed and Sam and the plans gone … oh, my gosh!" said Lady Atkinson, with a stark realisation. "What a time for Belinda and John to be here! I do hope they'll be safe …"
"I daresay they'll be safe, dear, they're holidaying in Scotland and it's unlikely anyone knows it was he who brought the plans to England a few years ago … I hope," said Lord Atkinson, with the conviction in his voice fading noticeably.
"Look, what you don't know …" said Arthur.
"Oh Arthur dear, please tell us," said Lady Atkinson interrupting. She started to look very tired.
"Well, it's nothing much but my son and Mr Lord's daughter are both on the lookout for Mr Lord as well," said Arthur, "and I've got two of my best repo agents … repossession agents, look for him too. The agents have their ears in all sorts of devious places we'd never know about …"
"But can we rely on them?" asked Lord Atkinson, interrupting.
"Oh yes, I've used them for years and, of course, Martin, Emily and the agents know nothing of the burglary or of Sam's connection to it," said Arthur. "They're just looking for a man who has disappeared."
"So, Arthur, can you piece together any of this?" asked Lady Atkinson.
"No m'lady …"
"Oh, Arthur, please call me Sarah," said Lady Atkinson, smiling. "We know each otjer well enough now, don't you think, George?"
"Oh yes, absolutely, my dear," said Lord Atkinson. "No need for titles and all that. We have a job to do!"
"Oh, thank you m'lady … Sarah, oh, no, I have no ideas on where things or people are or who took them or even why," said Arthur, clearing his brain of all the drama and clutter. "But it does seem to me we have two alternative courses of action open."
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