Part   Seven   "Party Frocks"

 
This is the seventh book in the Tamara's Tales (formerly Tommy & Tamara) series. For the whole saga visit Tamara's Tales
 

 
Christmas Eve 2015 (Continued)
 

Joan was just inside the scullery door and did a double take at Finlay's appearance but said nothing. He was just about ready to bolt but Tammy still had his hand as he was led into the kitchen.

"Ah, Tammy, coffee?"

"Please Zara."

"And you must be Finlay, will it be tea, coffee or something else?"

"Err, tea please."

"There's a fruit cake if you fancy a slice?"

Tammy sniggered and Zara blushed. "Oh, sorry, but Tammy's the maddest of the lot!"

"For offering you the job, Zara?"

"Definitely!"

Pru put her head around the door, "there's a call for you, Tammy."

"Thanks Pru, could you give Finlay the tour?"

"Sure."

Tammy shut the study door.

"Hello?"

"It's Iain Brown."

"Hi Iain, how can I help you?"

"I had a call from London and your name came up, then Special Branch started asking me to borrow my staff."

"Well, I don't know how much I can say?"

"Are you looking after two children?"

"Two guests, yes."

"Could they be key to solving their parents' murder?"

"Perhaps, but no-one has interviewed them yet."

"I can provide you with an officer later today?"

"To be honest Iain, that could be a fruitless exercise, one of us will speak to them to find out if there is anything of value. They were in school when the murders took place so they aren't witnesses."

"You're not qualified to interview?"

"I beg to differ, but in any case we have a breadth of expertise here including the Security Service. I'm on attachment to the National Crime Agency so I'm familiar with investigations. If, if there is anything of value we will go through the formal procedure, but I suspect the Met will want to take over."

"Why?"

"There's a possible connection to Russian organised crime and state sponsorship of criminal activities."

"Damn."

"Please don't note that or repeat that Iain, it could cause a diplomatic mess if it gets out, regardless of whether it's proven accurate."

"And the children are key?"

"In the absence of other evidence, yes."

"What physical security do you have in place?"

"You've been here, and to Mrs McPherson's house, so you know we can lock the places down. Once my PA leaves at lunchtime we'll secure all the gates."

"I do not want to hear of bloodshed, Miss Smart."

"If anything happens, we'll try to give you living suspects?"

"I sincerely hope that was an attempt at humour?"

"Well, merry Christmas Iain."

"And merry Christmas to you. How long are you staying in the area?"

"Until the third, or until the risk reduces, whichever take longer."

"I see, I'm the senior officer for the next few days so please make my life a quiet one over the festive period?"

"I'll do my best Chief Inspector."

Tammy walked back into the kitchen, Daisy had arrived there with Alison. "Look, my sister's got a matching dress!"

"Yes, Daisy, but he's still your brother Finlay." Alison looked at Tammy, who shook her head. Daisy seemed to be conspiring to beautify her sister.

"Oh no, she's Florence, mum told me."

"Alison, why don't you take Finlay, or Florence, over to the McPherson house?"

"Once Daisy has seen the pool and the studio, apparently their father had one."

Tammy grabbed her phone and called Dave Brown.

"What if we're not looking for printed reports?"

"That would be obvious, and could be stored on a memory card, stick or portable drive?"

"Yes, but we're assuming a physical device that the parents secreted."

"Indeed."

"Both of the children have told me about a recording studio at the parents' home, could there be recordings?"

"There isn't a studio, are you sure? I've seen the reports of the search and there's nothing extraordinary there, it was just an ordinary house."

"Is the place still secured, it hasn't been sold?"

"Probate is going slowly so we do still have access there. The funeral will be in about a month apparently."

"Okay, thanks for the warning. I think it would be worth another look as they couldn't both be fibbing?"

"Unlikely. I have heard you have the boy in a frock already?"

"I found him like that, in our studio, I've not got to the bottom of it yet. He'll come over shortly."

"Okay, I'll see what I can find out."

"Gently, Dave, gently!"

Eventually Joan found Tammy on her own, so was told the same tale. She wanted to search his case, but Tammy wasn't keen on the idea.

"As far as we know, that dress is the only item of female clothing he has."

"You're referring to him as a male?"

"Yes."

"Why? Wouldn't you want to do a full conversion?" Tammy wasn't sure if her mum was being serious or goading her into a rash outburst, she played the middle ground.

"You make me sound like a Cyberman! No mum, I asked Finlay if he was a boy or a girl and he said he was a boy, in a dress. Daisy seems to know something different but I'll go with Finlay's own version for now."

"Okay, I really don't like the idea of calling out a shrink on Christmas Eve?"

"For who?"

"Me!"

Joan let that hang before continuing. "Do you think it was a good idea for him to go over to Elsie's dressed like that?"

"I don't see why not? He had plenty of opportunities to go and change. He was clean and smart, his hair is a little long but apparently they hadn't received any pocket money from the solicitor handling the probate, or even child benefit? I guess he's not had a haircut since late August or early September."

"I only became aware of that in November, so I queried the child benefit. Apparently no-one had sent the school a death certificate to prove our application, and when we finally received the certificates no-one could read them as they were in Bulgarian. Then we had to persuade HMRC to pay it to the school, backdated to November. We've applied for Guardian's Allowance too, that should all be paid in the next few days, backdated to October."

"Why the disparity?"

"Different departments in the Government, I spent hours this month on the phone to them. Once the money comes through I'll ask them to sort it out."

"So they'll have pocket money soon?"

"Yes, and we'll build up a fund for them that will be available if they need it. In the meantime, probate should conclude. I'm worried what will happen to Daisy, unless there's a bursary, Finlay may have to finish after he takes his exams in May."

"Perhaps that can be covered? When he's eighteen he can become Daisy's legal guardian and she'll be in year 11?"

"That's some time away, and the governors will need to consider where this leaves the school, remember that Daisy's presence was a temporary arrangement.

"Yes, and it's only a year since girls were admitted into the sixth form."

"Indeed.By the way, I'm heading into town with Suzie and Angela shortly."

Pru finished for Christmas at midday, promising to return on Thursday for two days. Zara cleaned the kitchen and bid farewell. "Doesn't look like anyone will need lunch!"

"Going home?"

"No, I've been asked to help out next door. I'll do a few hours this afternoon and I'll be back tomorrow morning to help with dinner."

Tammy quickly changed, she was due at the Castletown Hotel at one and had completely forgotten. In fact she did have second thoughts, but she'd told Debbie she would be there. She looked for someone to run her into town, but neither of her parents were available. She was about to ring a taxi when Helen called.

"We're just leaving!"

"Who?"

"Me, Cathy and Andrea."

"Is there room for me?"

"Jonathon's taking us in the Discovery."

"Okay, give me a few minutes."

"You've got three!"

The car was waiting for Tammy as she locked the front door, she slid onto the rear seat next to Cathy.

"Well, what is going on?" The subject matter was obvious.

"Look, he put on a dress, that's all."

"Is it?"

"Look, it was a surprise to me but I didn't have anything to do with it."

"It just happened while you were around? Nothing like this happened whilst you were in London!"

"Maybe it did happen, but you never heard about it?"

That generated a laugh. "Please, don't mention this to any of the others, I really don't want to give the kids any more reason to worry."

"Okay, Tammy, what's the plan?"

"I didn't have any lunch, so food and maybe a glass of vino in the hotel, then ..... I'm not sure. Debbie was organising everything."

Jonathon dropped them right outside the door, the noise led them straight to a bunch of tables that had been pushed together. Debbie did some introductions, mostly for Helen and Andrea's benefit.

"Okay, Jules, Katie, Sue, Karen, Emily, Kelly, Hannah, Julie and we're expecting a few more. For the benefit of those who don't know this four, Tammy, Cathy, Andrea and Helen. Where's your sister Andrea?"

"Alison's duty nurse. I can't have much to drink as I'll take over at tea time."

A waitress walked over to take their orders. "Oh, hi Fleur."

"Hi Tammy, what will it be?"

"A bottle of Prosecco and four glasses?"

Cathy laughed, "best make that two bottles!"

"Tammy, is she new here?"

"Not really Debbie, I suggested in September she asked for work, but I guess she's not here every day. She's doing the same course that I was supposed to be on. Now, I'm hungry!"

Suzie arrived as Fleur was taking food orders, followed by Tanya.

"I didn't think you were coming?"

Debbie smirked and Tanya blushed.

"Oh, did your mum say something?"

"Look, if you're going to have a go at me I think I'll leave!"

"How did you get here?"

"My brother, David, collected me, I've been in the salon for the past hour."

Fleur came back over, "I'll have a fruit juice and lemonade, please."

Tanya was clearly waiting for someone to mention her drinking choice, but it never came.

The food started arriving whilst the previous night's telly was dissected by a few of the girls. One by one they stopped talking and started eating, except Tanya.

"No-one said we were having lunch, I had a ham and cheese toasted sandwich an hour ago!"

Debbie looked at Tammy and shrugged.

By half past two they had finished food and were nearing another drinks order. A large group of near-eighteen year olds walked in and had clearly been drinking elsewhere. Debbie suggested a move to the Spice Wine Bar around the corner.

"How long has that been there?"

"A few months Tammy, you should really get back here a bit more often."

"I did have a little difficulty and then I was put on a three month secondment."

"Killing that woman was more than a little difficulty!"

Debbie had tried to be quiet but one or two of the group heard her.

"Killing?"

"Oh, that's just Debbie's way with words. I had a bit of a falling out. It's all over now."

That seemed to satisfy Hannah and Emily, the next task was finding a table, or two, in the wine bar.

They stayed for an hour before moving onto the Grove Lounge. It was busy, really busy, so they ended up back at the Castletown.

"It was a bit manic earlier, Frances?"

"Yes, Miss Smart, but only two were over eighteen so we were able to remove them swiftly, unfortunately quite a few real patrons left because of the disruption."

"We might have stayed for one more round, anyway, we're back, what's it to be?"

Andrea was now on coke, she'd stuck at three glasses of wine. A couple of the girls had got lost on the way from the previous stop and Tanya had decided she'd had enough

"I've got heartburn and my legs are killing me."

"How much exercise do you get?"

"Well ......."

"Tanya, you're harming your baby."

"I thought this wasn't a 'bully Tanya' day?"

"Home truths perhaps, look we care." Tammy turned around looking for support from Debbie but Tanya's sister was heading for the loo. Fortunately David arrived.

"Did you know Tanya wanted to go?"

"Sure, she sent me a text ten minutes ago."

The group was disintegrating, it was approaching three thirty and was dark outside. One of the girls approached Tammy from the direction of the loos.

"Do you remember me?"

"Sure, Karen? You were in Guys and Dolls."

"Yeah, why did you leave, so sudden, like?"

"I had some trouble and my employer reallocated me."

"I heard you were arrested?"

"I had a misunderstanding with a police officer who didn't ask the right questions, but that was all sorted out in an hour."

"Did you kill someone, one of my friends was at the funeral where all the shooting happened, she recognised you."

"It's still the subject of an inquiry Karen, so I can't say too much. You see Cathy, by the bar, it was her husband's funeral."

"Oh!"

"Quite, she really doesn't want those memories dragged up."

Tammy walked over the Cathy, who was still waiting to be served. "Time we left, I think. What time are we eating?"

"Six, formal tonight."

"That doesn't give us much time."

"You're right, can you get a taxi, Tammy? I'll grab the others."

As Suzie was going back with them that meant ordering a minibus taxi, Tammy checked the vehicle for the taxi licence before getting in.

"Oh, something happened on Christmas eve last year?"

"Yes, Cathy, it was my fake taxi driver."

"I don't blame you for checking."

Tammy and Suzie hopped out at Dunbankin',the parents and Angela were getting themselves sorted. Tammy went straight into the shower.

By five thirty, they were ready, almost. Joan let herself into Tammy's room.

"Haven't you finished that?"

"No mum, and I almost poked my eye with the mascara."

"Okay, we're leaving soon."

"What's Finlay doing?"

"Alison was looking after him, and Daisy. I think they collected something from the apartment here this morning."

Joan was plainly in a new dress and Angela wandered into Tammy's room in a new frock, holding a pair of earrings. "Mum, can you help?"

Suzie was next, there seemed to be a theme. Each of them was in black, lacy, sheer, glossy or just modest, but black.

Tammy was in red, that came off.

"You never said anything about co-ordinating!"

"Sudden decision, do you have a black dress?"

"Of course, my LBD or .... this." She was holding a black cocktail dress that barely reached knee length.

Richard chose that moment to walk into Tammy's room, but left quickly.

"Look, I'll be a few more minutes!" Tammy shooed them all out and shut the door. She stripped and started again.

They arrived at Elsie's a few minutes before six and met everyone in the lounge. Over in the corner Tammy spotted two girls in white frocks, Daisy and Finlay.

Tammy was not responsible for this!