They climbed into the rear of the vehicle, the seats of which were more plush than they had ever seen.

Once the luggage was loaded Doris sat by Carl in the front of the vehicle. She was impressed with the very nice summer dress Anne was wearing and smiled to see Jack was wearing his work raincoat and trilby hat but said nothing, but thought a lot. Such as for instance when they arrived at Manchester airport and later at Daram dressed like that he would be rather a spectacle.

The vehicle was soon moving, Jack was impressed with the silence, no engine noise at all, the silence was interrupted when Carl announced on an internal speaker.

“Madam, Sir, On behalf of British China Aero Industries I welcome you and I hope you have a very pleasant journey to Manchester airport.

Doris smiled, turned and said, “I had a word with father in view of the short notice. He agreed to let us use one of his drivers and cars.  I have arranged the flight so nothing for you to do just sit back and think of the very warm weather in Daram”.

Having done so well so far, Jack and Anne now had no fears that Doris had in fact arranged the flight at short notice and they hoped, at reduced cost as she had initially indicated.

As they drove through the village Jack nudged Anne as they passed Mrs Delwright’s meetinghouse, it had a sign closed for refurbishment and renaming, as Delwright’s Pantry”.

She nodded and smiled, “Pantry, yes why not we are in Cheshire after all what better than having a pantry.

They arrived at the airport; the car stopped outside the main entrance but there was a delay whilst Carl left the car to walk inside presumable to make some enquiry.  He arrived back after ten minutes with two porters and trolleys. He then supervised the removal of the luggage from the car for onward transmission into the airport building

As Anne, Doris and Jack, still wearing his Trilby hat entered the building there were the usual long queues at the check in desks.

“Heavens”, said Anne spontaneously. “Look we will be here for hours, oh no it is Mrs Delwright and several of her cronies from the coffee shop and look, the Golf President and his wife whatever their names are”.

“They must be going away whilst the alterations are being done. Let us hope they are not on the same flight as we are,” replied Jack, also noting he had seen Miss Sun Flower Pym amongst the group of Cheshire common travellers.

“They won’t be, don’t worry” replied Doris “just follow me”.

As they arrived at the rear of the seemingly never ending queue, the Delwright brigade looked and there was a jeer expression on their faces that they should be travelling with the common folk.

Mrs Delwright if one could lip read, and Jack could, was saying, “Those common people, look the old policeman and his wife”.

With that, Doris led her party along the queue and then veered to the right eventually stopping at the door marked VIP lounge and Carl showing their passes they, all save him were soon inside. Jack just could not resist a turn of the head in the direction of the long regular queue and on seeing all the Cheshire faces, he removed his hat in a gesture of either a well mannered good-bye or in more common circles an unfriendly “up you”.

It was all new to both Anne and Jack, sitting in a VIP lounge with its lush and luxury fittings.  The other passengers were all wearing designer summer wear or business clothes and carrying brief cases

“Jack please take off that damn trilby and rain coat, there isn’t a hope of rain today and certainly not here” whispered Anne.

“What, what, oh yes very well” mumbled Jack who clearly had not noticed the difference in the standard of attire between himself and his fellow travellers. Well that or he was not bothered.

 Doris had momentarily left them but soon arrived back accompanied by a waiter seeking to know if they wished any complimentary drinks and or something to eat.

It was not long before a voice on the loudspeaker announced,”Attention, will passengers travelling to Daram on the private flight of British China Aero Industries please report to gate B”.

“Come on” called Doris who was already in full flow heading for the gate.

“Well I never” said Anne “a private flight, good gracious”

Jack said nothing but thought, “This girl has some pull, why the hell does she want to be a cop and worse, put up with Striker and Co?”

Once on the plane they were greeted by a very handsome man, thought Anne, not to mention what Jack was thinking as he saw the glint in Anne’s` eye when she gazed at the very handsome flight attendant. It reminded him of Mrs Delwright and good old Rojaa.

The seats were spacious and very comfortable, nothing in the same world as their last flight when they had travelled tourist class and squeezed into the seat then unable to move a limb for over three hours.

They were soon seated and safety belts fastened when a very handsome blonde lady stood and went through the usual flight safety drill. Anne looked to see if Jack was ghouling but it was no surprise that he was not; he just sat looking either at or through the handsome speaker towards the pilot’s cabin door, no doubt wondering if he should ask if the pilot did actually know the way to Daram.

The plane taxied off and it being smaller than the large commercial jets Anne could feel the speed and steep rise of the plane as it took off.

Jack meanwhile was sitting back eyes closed pondering that if anyone other than Doris new the real reason for their journey even possibly Wrexham Sid, they may well have taken some pride that, Jack The Hat had been given the chop or in more polite terms, the axe and he had been run out of town. He opened his eyes looked and seeing no tar and feathers had been daubed upon him consoled himself that no one did in fact know the real reason for their visit to Daram and he would soon be back.

The four-hour flight was soon over, mainly due to Jack falling asleep for most of the journey. The plane landed without a hitch.

Arriving in the airport, they could see Craig standing waiting as they approached the arrivals lounge. It seemed a formality going through immigration presumably, because it was the Sultan’s staff who were waiting with Craig.

Once outside it was once again in a limousine only this time it was flying a royal flag, and it was away, soon leaving the airport behind and into semi desert country.

They arrived at the Palace and the car veered to the right and stopped outside some very nice looking apartments.

“Here we are folks”, said Craig.

Once inside the building they were amazed to see how large was Craig’s apartment.  Two bedrooms, a well-designed and fitted kitchen is what took the eye of mother Anne; it would, thought Jack as he saw her smile. There were two large bedrooms and large lounge, a swimming pool outside and a very spacious bathroom including shower.

The evening passed by everyone getting up to date mostly from Anne, Jack as usual appeared distant. He was in fact awaiting a reply to his text to Doris in the hope of ascertaining where she had been billeted. He was not too concerned for in view of the fact, her father and seemingly her benefactor had a fleet of chauffeur driven cars and at least one private jet, a first class hotel was bound to be her destination and he would be proved to be correct.

 A text eventually arrived stating Doris had a suite at the aptly named, Daram Palace hotel and Spa, located as Jack would learn, just across the road and only five minutes walk from the Sultan’s place and Craig’s apartment in its grounds.

Morning soon arrived in the guise of 6am, Jack was up and on looking through the bedroom window saw the blue sky and bright sunshine.  There were several workers tending the gardens outside and others watering plants and washing off the paths.