Keppelberg Read Online Free Page B

information.’ He replaced the flask into his coat pocket and, satisfied that the work had been completed on my car, left the garage. He knew, at least, that shortly I would be able to leave the village in my vehicle and he could report back to my sister that I was safe. But, as Robbie Burns wrote: ‘The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley.’ And that was indeed the situation!
    * * *
    To complete his mission, Wayne returned to his car and changed his clothes to come on to the scene dressed as one of the villagers in Victorian clothing, merging in with them as though he had the right. I had noticed that the style of dress worn by the inhabitants of the village was that of the late nineteenth century. The men tended to wear black suits, white shirts and black shoes while the women wore dark brown blouses, black skirts, neat bonnets and brown shoes.
    In the meantime, I returned to the police station to complain about the destruction of my car at which the Desk Sergeant shrugged his shoulders aimlessly.
    â€˜We don’t have any crime in this village,’ commented the man curtly.
    â€˜Well you do now,’ I spat angrily. ’Someone vandalised my car. I want them punished for it. They stole my wheels, smashed my radiator and destroyed the distributor.’
    The policeman shrugged his shoulders again as if he didn’t really care. ‘Unless it’s repaired quickly you’ll have to find another way of leaving.’ he explained indifferently with a grim expression on his face.
    â€™Aren’t you going to do anything to find out who did it?’ My patience was at breaking point.
    â€™The damage has been done. You can’t go back on it,’ he stated adamantly. ’I’m not wasting police time on a wild-goose chase with a pointless task of looking for a vandal. For all I know, you did it yourself to stay here in the village.’
    I almost exploded with rage and turned, stalking out of the police station with frustration. What kind of a police force allowed criminals to destroy property belonging to other people and not do anything about it. The situation was utterly shameful! I returned to the cafeteria and ordered something to eat. The menu wasn’t particularly enticing but I order steak and chips which seemed to be the best meal available. On this occasion, there were two women sitting at a nearby table and they were close enough for me to overhear their conversation.
    â€˜There’s the stranger behind you,’ stated one woman in a loud whisper. ‘Just be careful what you say.’
    â€˜I know, I know,’ concurred the second woman. ‘There’s a meeting in the village hall about him later on.’
    â€˜Yes... at eight o’clock. Everyone will be there.’ Returned the first woman.
    â€˜Did you see what someone did to his motor car?’
    The first woman shrugged her shoulders. ‘Downright stupid if you ask me. How’s he going to leave here if he hasn’t got transport? I’d like to get my hands on the person who did it!’
    â€˜I know who did it,’ declared the second woman. ‘He always spoils it for the rest of us just to make a little money.’
    They continued their conversation in low tones, our of earshot, but what they had to say to each other was of interest to me. I had the information I needed... a meeting at the village hall at eight o’clock. I leaned across to interrupt them as I realised that I had nowhere to sleep that night.
    â€˜Excuse me,’ I interrupted. ‘Do you know of a hotel in the village?’
    At first, it seemed that neither of them was going to reply to my question then the second woman lowered her teacup and responded.
    â€˜There are no hotels here,’ she told him flatly. ‘And I don’t know of any of the other place to accommodate you.’
    â€˜I don’t have anywhere to sleep tonight,’ I bleated lamely.
    â€˜The next