The Mystery of Fitzjames Manor

©2015 Richard Humphreys

The Find-Outers visit Fitzjames Manor and are very quickly embroiled in a new mystery that has its roots in the distant past. With the help of a couple of old friends, Fatty and the Find-Outers piece together the clues and are led finally to an astonishing discovery.

Chapter 16: The Mystery Comes to the Boil

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Fatty was up early next morning. He was eager to get everything sewn up. Before breakfast he went down to his shed and having read through his notes, made a lot more. He looked at his watch and saw that it was seven-thirty. He knew the Superintendent started work early, so went back to the house and rang up the Police Headquarters. He asked for Superintendent Jenks and waited.

'Hallo Frederick, my word you're an early bird. I take it you must have some news for me,' the Superintendent said in his usual jovial voice.

'Yes, Sir,' Fatty said slightly breathlessly. 'I do. I think you ought to arrest Robbie Harris, he's an assessor and valuer for the auction house in Maidenhead.'

'And on what grounds?' the Superintendent asked.

'Well, Sir, at the very least, he made serious threats against my friend, Eunice Tolling last night. He held her against her will and has also damaged some property at Fitzjames Manor,' Fatty said quickly.

'And where will I find this man?' the Superintendent asked.

'I don't know,' Fatty said. 'But probably the auction house will. Oh yes, and he stole my bicycle, as well.'

'Eunice Tolling, I seem to know that name,' the Superintendent said. 'Have I met her?'

'Yes, Sir, she's the daughter of a friend of my fathers and was staying here when we were involved in that missing man mystery,' Fatty said. 'She's a perfectly reliable person and above reproach,' he added.

'And she is making a complaint against this man?' he asked.

'Yes, Sir, she is,' Fatty said. 'And what's more I believe he's responsible for the thefts at the manor and the auction house.'

'Well, we could bring him in for questioning, I suppose,' the Superintendent said cautiously, 'but your friend will need to make a formal statement.'

'I understand that, Sir,' Fatty said. 'And if you can contact me when you've found him, I'd appreciate it. You see, I'd like us all to meet up at the manor where I hope to clear up this whole business.'

'All right, Frederick,' the Superintendent said. 'I'll call you when we have him, which shouldn't be long. Stay by the phone.'

He rang off and Fatty rubbed his hands. Eunice appeared at the top of the stairs. She looked quite recovered from her experiences of the previous evening.

'How are you this morning?' Fatty asked.

'Oh, you know me,' she said coming down the stairs. 'I bounce back like a ball. Have you spoken to the police?'

'Yes, I have,' Fatty said as they went into the dining room. 'I've told the Super that Robbie Harris threatened you and caused damage to Lady Fitzjames property.' They sat down at the table. 'You'll have to make a statement.'

'I'm looking forward to it,' Eunice replied, starting on her porridge. 'That beastly man deserves everything that's coming to him. Really, Frederick, I don't know what he would have done if he'd caught me escaping, he was that angry.'

'Well, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,' Fatty said with a smile. 'You're safe now and before long the police will have him.'

Straight after breakfast, Fatty telephoned Larry and Pip to ask them to come to an urgent meeting of the Find Outers. As Larry lived the closest to Ern, he said he would collect him on the way. Within seconds of Fatty hanging up, the telephone rang again. It was Superintendent Jenks.

'Hallo Frederick,' he began. 'Well, we've managed to find Mr. Harris. He was renting a flat in Maidenhead. When we arrived, he was in the middle of packing his bags and says he was going on holiday. He's got a nasty bump on his forehead which, he claims was inflicted by a girl he found vandalising the fountain in the maze yesterday evening.'

'Good heavens,' Fatty said not quite believing his ears. 'The cheek of the man!'

'Anyway,' the Superintendent continued, 'we'll all go up to the manor and you can explain what all this is about. I've been in touch with Lady Fitzjames and she will be in all day, so how does eleven o'clock suit you? We almost pass your house on the way, so perhaps we can give you a lift. How many will you be?'

'A lift will be much appreciated, Sir,' Fatty said, his excitement growing, 'especially as Mr. Harris seems to have taken my bicycle as well. There'll be seven of us, that is the Five Find Outers and Ern Goon and Eunice. Oh, and Buster, of course. Can't miss him out.'

'Ern Goon,' the Superintendent said. 'Is he involved in this as well?'

'Yes, Sir,' Fatty replied, 'his uncle nearly arrested him!'

Superintendent Jenks laughed when he heard this. 'Oh dear, poor Ern. I expect you'll want Constable Goon there as well?'

'That would be good,' Fatty said, 'especially as he helped us solve a very important clue.'

'Did he, by George?' Superintendent Jenks said. 'Does he know he helped you with a very important clue?'

'Er, well, no, Sir,' Fatty said, 'I don't think he does. Oh, and can Mr. Pippin be there, also?'

'Both Constables?' the Superintendent said. 'Well, let's hope the good people of Peterswood behave themselves for an hour or two. Yes, that should be all right. Goon and Pippin can go up on their bicycles, but it'll be a bit of a squeeze for the rest of you as I can only spare two cars.'

'We won't mind that, Sir,' Fatty said. 'The others are on their way over here now, so we'll meet you at the front gate at around eleven, if that's all right?'

'Yes, of course,' Superintendent Jenks said. 'I'm rather looking forward to another of your classic denouement, Frederick.' He rang off.

Mrs. Trotteville came into the hall. 'Did I hear you speaking to the Inspector on the phone, Frederick? I do hope you're not involved in another of your mysteries.'

'He's a Superintendent now, Mother,' Fatty said and gave her a hug. 'And yes, I am involved in another mystery, but it's nothing for you to worry about. It's all but solved.'

Mrs. Trotteville sighed. 'Oh dear, and your father was so hoping that you would grow out of all this detective business.' She gave Fatty a kiss on the cheek. 'But you are your own man Frederick and I love you for it.'

Fatty felt pleased that he had his mother's approval. She was immensely proud of him and trusted his judgment.

He gave her another hug. 'Thanks, Mother,' he said. 'That means a lot to me.'

Larry and Daisy arrived first with Ern right behind them on a very small girl's bicycle. 'It belongs to my cousin Glad,' he explained. 'It's a bit small, but I managed all right. Got some funny looks on the way, though.'

Fatty laughed. 'Good old Ern,' he said, patting him on the back. 'Don't ever change, will you?'

Ern looked at him and a very serious expression came over his face. 'But I'd like to change, Fatty,' he said earnestly. 'I want to be more like you.'

'Well, that's one of the best compliments anyone has ever paid me,' Fatty said.

Pip and Bets arrived and they all went down to the shed.

'Right, everyone,' Fatty said. 'Superintendent Jenks will be along at eleven to take us all up to the manor.'

'Really?' Daisy said and looked around at the others.

'Yes, Eunice went up to the maze last evening on a hunch and was caught by Mr. Robbie Harris from the auction house,' Fatty explained. 'He was looking for something he thought had been buried in the maze and was particularly nasty to Eunice and she had to escape in the dark. Not a pleasant experience for her.'

They all looked at Eunice. 'Gosh, how did you find your way out of the maze in the dark?' Bets asked in admiration. 'I don't think I could have done. I'd have been too scared.'

'Luck, really,' Eunice said feeling pleased that the others seemed to be taking her seriously at last. 'I just kept running up and down the pathways until I found the way out.'

'Did you have a torch?' asked Larry, 'to help you see where you were going?'

Eunice shook her head. 'No, it was pitch dark and all the time I was running, I thought that awful man was chasing me.'

'It sounds just like a particularly horrible nightmare,' Bets said. 'I think you're very brave, Eunice,' and the others agreed with her.

'So you think this Robbie person is the burglar, then?' Larry said to Fatty.

Fatty nodded. 'Yes, I'm sure of it. He'll be coming with us up to the manor. The Superintendent detained him this morning. Apparently, he was packing his bags for a getaway.'

'Well, I hope I don't have to sit next to him,' Eunice said quite startled at the thought of having to be so close to the man who had terrified her the night before. 'I would simply hate that, Frederick.'

'Don't worry, Eunice,' Fatty said reassuringly. 'The Super is bringing two cars, so you won't have to travel with him.'

She breathed a sigh of relief.

'Robbie's also saying that he found you in the maze and that it was you that attacked him!' Fatty said.

Eunice's mouth dropped open and it was moment before she could speak. 'Well,' she said aghast. 'What a terrible fibber, as if I would have done that.'

'Don't you worry,' Fatty said. 'He'll be found out, all right.' He looked at his watch. 'We might as well go down to the front gate, I told the Super we'd meet him there. It's twenty to eleven already.' He picked up a satchel and swung it over his shoulder before leaving the shed.

The seven, plus Buster, made their way down the drive to the gates eager for the Superintendent to arrive, and just before eleven, two large black cars swung into the lane and stopped outside the gate. Superintendent Jenks climbed out of the first car.

Bets immediately ran to him. She was very fond of the big burly policeman and he was fond of her also. He picked her up by her hands and swung her round. 'My word, Bets,' he said putting her down. 'I'm not sure I'll be able to do that for much longer, you've grown so.' He turned to the others. 'It's nice to see you all again,' he said, 'and to see Ern and Eunice again as well. I hear you've been helping the Find-Outers,' he said.

'Yes, Sir,' Fatty said, 'they've been enormously helpful.'

'I'm very glad to hear it,' the Superintendent said bending down to pet an excited Buster.

'And what about Buster?' he asked.

'Invaluable,' Fatty said. 'It was Buster who helped Eunice discover a very important clue.'

The Superintendent turned to the two cars.

'Mr. Harris is in the second car,' he said, pointing. The children peered at him through the window. 'I expect Eunice would prefer to travel in a different car,' he added and Eunice nodded her head vigorously. 'So I suggest Ern sits beside the driver and Daisy and Larry squeeze in beside Mr. Harris in this car and the rest of us can pile into the other.'

The seating arrangements having been made, everyone managed to get into the two cars and they set off for Fitzjames Manor. Thankfully, the journey only took ten minutes and soon they were driving down the long drive of the manor and turning onto the forecourt where Mr. Goon and Mr. Pippin were waiting at the foot of the manor steps.

Everyone tumbled out of the cars. Buster was overjoyed to see Mr. Goon, his old enemy, but Fatty very quickly clipped on his lead. Lady Fitzjames appeared with Mrs Chivers at the top of the steps, and the Superintendent went to speak to her.

'What's going on?' Goon asked Fatty. 'I've almost solved this case, what you lot doin' here?'

'Wait and see, Mr. Goon,' Fatty said irritatingly. 'Wait and see.'

He went up the steps to the Superintendent. 'There's just one thing I need to double check,' he said. 'Lady Fitzjames, can I just go inside to check something in the painting of Sir Henry?' Lady Fitzjames looked a little bemused. 'It'll only take a couple of minutes,' Fatty assured her.

'Very well, Frederick,' she said. 'It's just that all this is so very surprising.'

Fatty disappeared into the manor.

'What's he looking at?' Larry asked Pip.

'I've no idea,' Pip replied. 'But you know what he's like. He doesn't open up until he's sure of all the facts.'

Robbie Harris had remained in the car with the police driver looking extremely sulky, not wanting to mix with these interfering children, and certainly not wanting to see Eunice.

Superintendent Jenks was explaining things to Lady Fitzjames. 'Frederick has told me that he can wrap this whole business up this morning,' he said. 'And if I know Frederick, he certainly will.'

'It's very unusual to have children solving crimes,' Lady Fitzjames said, a hint of doubt in her tone. 'After all that's what the police are for.'

'Well, Your Ladyship,' Superintendent Jenks said, 'it is unusual, yes, but these are unusual children and Frederick Trotteville has something of a genius for solving mysteries.'

Just at that moment, the door to the manor opened and Fatty stood at the top of the steps looking very pleased. 'Everything is now clear,' he announced grandly. 'We must now all go the centre of the maze where I will explain everything.'

A scowling Goon looked at Pippin. 'The cheek of the boy. That toad, that pest, who does he think he is? I ask you, WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS?'

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