He knew of the axe warning it was an old East End of London gang warning, He had every gut feeling this axe had been left not by an East End gang but something nearer home possibly North Wales.

He continued his walk and on return made no mention of its finding to Anne.

It was eleven am Doris answered the phone thinking it was Striker yet again he had already called last night and again that morning.

“Hello” she said, “Doris here”

“Hello Doris its Jack Richards I am dreadfully sorry to interrupt your week-end but something has come up and it can’t wait”

“Oh dear it sounds ominous”

“I was going out this morning and on the door step I found an axe”

“God gracious have you called it in,” asked Doris.

“No” said Jack,” I have preserved the axe in case we need to get it examined.  I don’t intend to do anything else immediately, I suspect our friend Wrexham Sid left it”

Very likely” replied Doris, “what do you intend to do next?”

“Well”, said Jack, “the important thing is, I really ought to get Anne away from here for a short while, just in case.”

“We have a son Craig who lives in Daram he is a schoolteacher educating the son of the Sultan. We have not seen him for a while so as you are away this week I thought to take a few days off and visit Craig.”

“I would leave Anne there, return myself and sort this dead cops thing and Sid out on my return, with your help of course.”

“Well as you mention it, Striker has been on again and doesn’t require me after all, seems it involves interviewing and he doesn’t think I am up to the job.”

 “If you are taking the week off I will see if I can take some leave as well”

“Right” said Jack, “I will ring Craig, see if I can arrange it and take Anne as a surprise visit not to mention anything of the axe incident”.

“Ok”, said Doris” I will see if I can get leave and I will come back to you”

The call ended, Jack picked up the phone, it was some time since he had spoken to Craig, it would be nice to catch up on things.

“Hello Craig, is that you?”

“Yes who is that? Is it you Dad?”

“Yes I have been thinking of bringing Mum over to visit you Craig”.

“Why yes it would be great to see you both, if you could get here for the weekend you will be able to come to the Sultan’s family wedding”

“Oh I don’t know about that, I was thinking of coming over to bring Mum for a break, I would have to return as I am in the middle of something. When I have finished the job I will return for a few days and pick up Mum”

“That would be great Dad”

“I wonder if you might assist me?” Said Jack.

“If I can,” replied Craig.

“I wonder if you might just call Mum back and you invite her here, I can’t go into why at the moment but later, I will tell you”

“I see Dad. Sounds like a mystery cop thing, I thought you were retired?”

“I am but have got involved with something, I will explain later”.

The call ended but then within moments it rang Jack answered.

“Hello Craig. I forgot to ask before are you well?”

“Yes very well. The job out here in Daram is great. Living in a palace with perpetual sunshine, what better could one ask?”

“Hang on I will put you through to mum”.

“Anne, its Craig, he wants a word.”

“Hello Craig I was meaning to ring you today what a coincidence”.

Jack left the room and sat in the lounge awaiting the storm.

It was all of thirty minutes later when Anne arrived and said, “You will never guess what?”

“I never would my love”, he replied.

“Craig has asked us to Daram.  Seems there is a wedding and we will be able to attend. What do you think of that Jack?”

A wedding in a Palace and with a Sultan”.

“I see, well the problem is I am in the middle of this job but I tell you what, I will take you over there, stay a day or two, then come back finish this enquiry I am doing and then return for a few days and bring you back”.

“Well Jack I don’t know, how will you manage?”

“I will manage” he replied, “never fear”.

The telephone rang again, Jack said, “it is probably Inspector Scott-Ling I will take it in the study”.

He picked up the handset and carried it as he spoke, “Jack Richards here”

“Hello Mr Richards I got the leave”

“Great”, he replied, “there have been developments here I have managed to get Craig to invite us to Daram, I will take Anne, stay a day or two then return, finish our enquiry and then continue the holiday”.

“Great, it will be better she is not around after the axe business. This Sid sounds a real cop hater and Looney”.

“Right” said Jack “I will ring the airport and arrange a flight”

“Ah now” said Doris, “I may be able to help here”.

“You help?” Said Jack.

“Yes, Mr Richards, get your bags packed tonight. I will arrange the flight and give you a lift.  I have often wished to visit Daram so if you do not mind, I have good contacts for cheap air flights.

“Well that is very kind of you but the hotel?”

“Don’t worry about me; I will book one from here. I suppose you will stay with your son?”

“Yes I suppose we will. This is very quick and unusual but yes, thanks I will then settle up for the cost of the flights.

Doris laughed and said, “Yes of course, get packing and be ready for a breakfast time call from me”. She was gone

Anne arrived in the room and Jack updated her, he assumed she would object but far from it, she turned and went upstairs and in moments, he could hear her moving about

He went upstairs and his assumptions were correct. Cases on the beds, clothes everywhere including the regulation shorts and short sleeve shirts.

“Passport Jack, passports, find the passport”

He could see she was very excited far from what she would have been had she had known about Wrexham Sid and the axe.

PART TEN

JACK GETS THE AXE

The following morning, Anne and Jack were up early, all was packed and ready for the off.

“Are you certain this Inspector Scott-Ling will have been able to arrange a flight for us in such a short space of time?” Asked Anne, she had overcome her initial excitement.

Before Jack could offer a word of consolation that Doris always seemed efficient in spite of what her police colleagues appeared to think and said about her he hesitated. Still, he thought although he hadn’t said anything he had laid in bed wondering if he had done the correct thing permitting the organisation of the event to be taken from him and resting with Doris.

He was about to speak further when there was a knock on the door,

“Who heavens might that be at this hour” said Anne, wishing she herself had made the arrangements. “Will you please answer the door Jack?” She called.

Jack could see she was agitated so made post haste to answer the door. On opening it, he saw Doris, the first time he recalled seeing her out of uniform.

“Are you ready? The flight is booked. Your car awaits you sir”, she said with a laugh.

Jack looked up, his mouth gaped open, he hesitated then replied, “Yes, Yes of course Inspector”.

“Doris please". We are off duty after all”.

“Of course I am sorry” he replied.

At that instant Anne arrived, “Who is it?” She enquired.

“It’s Doris with our car”.

Anne looked outside, her mouth opened as wide as his had done. At the front of the house was a maroon Rolls Royce, the driver of which was dressed in a grey suit and cap. He was standing with doors and boot open awaiting the arrival of his passengers.

He walked to the house, the passenger’s suit cases picked up and all were now arriving at the car. The Chauffer said.

“Good morning madam and sir, my name is Carl; I am your driver for today”.