Ever Increasing Steele Part 24
The topic of Steele's rapid thoughts didn't come up again until after they had dropped Sophie off at Mrs Fraser's place. Steele simply grinned at Laura and said, "We can discuss it now if you like."
"While you can still remember?" Laura said, a teasing gleam in her eye.
"While it still makes sense, if it ever did."
"It was that hesitation, wasn't it?"
"I can't be sure if it was genuine confusion or an indecisiveness about how much to tell us."
"Would she have anything to gain by keeping something from us?"
"Depends on what it is and well how legal it is."
Laura gasped, "What exactly do you think he was dealing in?"
"I can't say for sure but I get a very uneasy feeling, he admits to gardening and lawn maintenance as do those we've spoken to. Perhaps he is involved in something more shady, perhaps he thinks someone will discover that and then panics causing him to get rid of them, or discredit them at least."
"What you're saying makes a great deal of sense."
"Is highly speculative though and could be way off the mark."
"Worth looking into though."
"I agree but with the utmost of caution. Something we're good at that and it's just as well."
"How so?"
"A man's reputation is at stake, although I must say.."
"He didn't care too much about anyone else's reputation."
"Exactly, but then if he is telling the truth."
"How likely do you think that is?"
"Less and less all the time."
Laura was about to reply when she noticed Steele had pulled the car into their parking space.
"We're here", he announced smiling at the look of surprise on Laura's face. "went fast didn't it?"
"Must be either the company or the conversation."
"Probably the later but I prefer the former."
"As do I, let's go and fill Mildred in on your thoughts."
"I daresay she may have a few of her own."
Mildred was waiting to pounce as soon as they walked in, "I think I know the reason for that pause, Boss." she said in a rush becoming quite breathless as she did.
"Well take one now, Mildred and then explain to us just what you mean."
"I know I shouldn't."
"Believe me Mildred", Steele said, "you should, life is quite dependent upon it."
"Oh I mean I shouldn't talk about cases at home, but I promise Boss all I said was we were looking into a man who has a gardening and lawn business, that's all, honest."
"And?"
"That's when Felicia mentioned the people across the road, they have the most beautiful lawns, well had. Their guy has stopped coming around, he's talking about closing his business she said."
"Interesting, Mildred." Laura said.
"But that's not all."
"It's not?"
"No, Felicia said the neighbour and oh I'll never look at him quite the same way again", Mildred looked around and then carried on but now her voice was a whisper, 'he's more upset about the loss of his... his happy plants."
"His happy plants?" Laura said, "Oh.. his happy plants."
"And you think this man was being supplied by his lawn mower man?" Steele said looking from Mildred to Laura and back again.
"I can not tell a lie boss, I'm only repeating what was told to me, but yeah, I do...well it makes sense, doesn't it?"
"Well it certainly fits in with that hesitation Mildred, well done!"
"I'm glad you think so boss, I've rang Ingrid Turner and asked her to return, she'll be here in half an hour."
"I'm beginning to think you could run this place without us, Mildred", Steele said, "Just remember though, no side lines, okay?"
Mildred gasped and then grinned and winking said, "I'll do my best boss but no promises, okay."
"Thatta girl, Mildred", Steele said laughing, "Thatta girl."
"While you can still remember?" Laura said, a teasing gleam in her eye.
"While it still makes sense, if it ever did."
"It was that hesitation, wasn't it?"
"I can't be sure if it was genuine confusion or an indecisiveness about how much to tell us."
"Would she have anything to gain by keeping something from us?"
"Depends on what it is and well how legal it is."
Laura gasped, "What exactly do you think he was dealing in?"
"I can't say for sure but I get a very uneasy feeling, he admits to gardening and lawn maintenance as do those we've spoken to. Perhaps he is involved in something more shady, perhaps he thinks someone will discover that and then panics causing him to get rid of them, or discredit them at least."
"What you're saying makes a great deal of sense."
"Is highly speculative though and could be way off the mark."
"Worth looking into though."
"I agree but with the utmost of caution. Something we're good at that and it's just as well."
"How so?"
"A man's reputation is at stake, although I must say.."
"He didn't care too much about anyone else's reputation."
"Exactly, but then if he is telling the truth."
"How likely do you think that is?"
"Less and less all the time."
Laura was about to reply when she noticed Steele had pulled the car into their parking space.
"We're here", he announced smiling at the look of surprise on Laura's face. "went fast didn't it?"
"Must be either the company or the conversation."
"Probably the later but I prefer the former."
"As do I, let's go and fill Mildred in on your thoughts."
"I daresay she may have a few of her own."
Mildred was waiting to pounce as soon as they walked in, "I think I know the reason for that pause, Boss." she said in a rush becoming quite breathless as she did.
"Well take one now, Mildred and then explain to us just what you mean."
"I know I shouldn't."
"Believe me Mildred", Steele said, "you should, life is quite dependent upon it."
"Oh I mean I shouldn't talk about cases at home, but I promise Boss all I said was we were looking into a man who has a gardening and lawn business, that's all, honest."
"And?"
"That's when Felicia mentioned the people across the road, they have the most beautiful lawns, well had. Their guy has stopped coming around, he's talking about closing his business she said."
"Interesting, Mildred." Laura said.
"But that's not all."
"It's not?"
"No, Felicia said the neighbour and oh I'll never look at him quite the same way again", Mildred looked around and then carried on but now her voice was a whisper, 'he's more upset about the loss of his... his happy plants."
"His happy plants?" Laura said, "Oh.. his happy plants."
"And you think this man was being supplied by his lawn mower man?" Steele said looking from Mildred to Laura and back again.
"I can not tell a lie boss, I'm only repeating what was told to me, but yeah, I do...well it makes sense, doesn't it?"
"Well it certainly fits in with that hesitation Mildred, well done!"
"I'm glad you think so boss, I've rang Ingrid Turner and asked her to return, she'll be here in half an hour."
"I'm beginning to think you could run this place without us, Mildred", Steele said, "Just remember though, no side lines, okay?"
Mildred gasped and then grinned and winking said, "I'll do my best boss but no promises, okay."
"Thatta girl, Mildred", Steele said laughing, "Thatta girl."