Woolfe and McClaw - Punultimate Chapter......

Hi Folks,

Last time we found out about Dave Woolfe's and Frank Fox's pasts and their grudging respect for each other. Would this affect Dave's level-headed judgement? This week, in our penultimate chapter, Dave and Brian draw a blank with Frank, and with his wife Felicity, as well as the Tumbles. So what next....? Well talking of drawing blanks, last week's chapter inspired no new pictures (Sad emoji face). Next week will be the final chapter, where all will be revealed and we get to the bottom of this eggsplosive plot!

So if you don't fancy drawing, why not give some thought to which actors you think would be great for our characters (and we'll see if they're free for casting!).

Have a happy and healthy week.

Here's Chapter 7.

Chapter 7 – Strange eggs-planations

 

Dave pulled up outside Frank Fox’s house, a rather large new build. What it had lacked in taste it made up for in size. They got out of the car and marched up to the front door. Brian rang the bell. The bell was a carved dragon from marble, with the dragon’s eye being the doorbell. “That’s rank” shrieked Brian. As he did so, the door opened and Frank walked out on to the porch. “Afternoon gentlemen, I see you’ve met Delia” signalling to the Dragon doorbell, “How can I help?” “I take it you know why we’re here?”, said Dave. “Well long time no see Lieutenant Woolfe”. “Lieutenant? Asked Brian quizzically. “Yeh, Frank and I served together in Iraq, but we’re not exactly on each other’s Christmas card list”.

“I take it you’re here about the goings on at the Hensworth farm?” suggested Frank. “That’s right” said Brian, “What do you know about it?” “Only what Tom Tumble told me” remarked Frank. Brian and Dave remained quiet so that Frank could fill the silence and hopefully incriminate himself. “Yes Tom said that a bunch of eggs had been stolen and

fingers were being pointed in my direction”. “So where were you between 11pm and 7am on Monday night/Tuesday morning” demanded Brian. “Well the lads and I had been out at the casino until around 1 am and then I got a taxi home and straight to bed”. “Can anyone vouch for you?” asked Brian even more aggressively now. Frank remained calm, although he was probably tempted to give the young apprentice a good clip around the ear. “Felicity!” he shouted inside the house. Soon afterwards, came the unmistakable click, click, click click of a pair of high heel shoes on a hard wood floor. “Hello boys” smiled Felicity, “What seems to be the trouble?” “This is Dave, Felicity, he’s an ex-copper, working on that egg robbery case”. “The Dave?” she asked excitedly. “That’s right, this is the muppet who nearly got me killed in Basra”. Felicity was smiling. “Oh you mean the Dave that saved all of your lives in Basra” she said.

“Enough of the pleasantries” interrupted Dave, “We’re not here for a trip down memory lane- except for your movements over the last 48 hours, that is”. “Not very exciting detective, but I’ve only been out to do some shopping yesterday and nothing else” smouldered Felicity. “As for this one” pointing to her husband, “who knows where he’s been? Just kidding Dave, he was out until about midnight/1 am and then cuddling up with me in bed.” “Will there be anything else mate?” asked Frank “Its just I’ve got rather a lot on this afternoon.” Dave thought that this must be a stitch up. “Can anyone else verify your movements?” “You can ask the Casino or take a look on their CCTV – I’m sure you’ll see me on it” suggested Frank. “We may well do Frank, but we don’t know for sure – apart from your stories – where you were between 1am and 7am – you could have easily slipped through the fence and stolen the eggs”.

Dave felt that he was closing in on Frank – and this time, no second chances. He would have to do time, this time. ‘Time’ is also another term for doing a stretch. But before Dave could begin to get his phone to ring the police, Frank threw an almighty spanner in the works. A spanner in the works is quite literally a very unhelpful thing, when you are working on a case and trying to wrap it up by dinnertime. “Listen Dave” said Frank, deliberately ignoring Brian, “You’re not going to believe this, and I can’t prove it, but I was given a hundred eggs by a chicken”. “You’re right Frank, that is completely unbelievable” said Dave “Why on earth would a chicken give you any eggs unless you were extorting them” although Dave was a bit rough around the edges, he did like the use of words that made him sound clever. Extort, by the way, is when you, well you know, extort something from someone. “Eggs-tortion” laughed Frank “Now that’s good, very very good” barely able to contain a giggle. “Listen, one of the chickens came round on Monday, quite early with a big basket of eggs. She wasn’t selling them, but giving them away – which I thought was a bit odd – but mine not to reason why. Never look a gift chicken in the mouth I always say” Frank was making a rather bad reference to a ‘gift horse’ which means that you don’t turn away a good thing when it comes your way. “Do me a favour, Frank, what chicken in their right mind is going to give you a bunch of eggs – for free!?” “I told you might not believe me” said Frank. “That’s an understatement” confirmed Dave, “And how do you explain the hole in the fence?” enquired Dave. “Well I can only assume that the chicken came from Foghorn Farm, and had come though the fence as a shortcut” justified Frank. “We’ve still got some interviews to do, but I have to tell you Frank that unless we can get some corroborating evidence, it’s not looking good for you.” Explained Dave disbelievingly.

“Right Brian, back to the farm” as Dave got into the Jag. “What about the Tumbles, Dave?” asked Brian getting in to the passenger seat as they drove away. “I don’t think we’re going to get anything useful from them either. In any case they are all in Frank Fox’s pocket”. The Tumbles weren’t actually in Frank’s pocket, although small enough, but they were pals of the Fox family and unlikely to do or say anything that contradicted what Frank was saying. “One thing that is a bit odd” said Brian with a furrowed brow, “When I was examining the fence earlier, it was clearly cut from the Foghorn side” “So do you think Frank might have been telling the truth?” asked Dave. “I’m beginning to think that he might be” shrugged Brian. “What I’m pretty sure of, is that, he didn’t start the fire”. “Oh great Brian, now I’ve got Billy Joel playing in my head” “Don’t worry boss, I’m sure if I switch the radio on in the Jag, we’ll no doubt get Lewis Catpaldi, and that’ll really get in ya heid!”

 

Dave and Brian arrived back at Foghorn Farm, to find that the fire had been egg-stinguished (sorry) and the fire engines were away. “Bit of a mess Mr ‘ensworf” offered Dave, more as an observation than anything of real meaning. “Yes Agent Woolfe, it has been a very bad week. We hope that you can apprehend the perpetrator quickly and give us some small consolation for our considerable loss.” “We’re doing our best, but to be honest this fire hasn’t helped. But don’t worry as soon as we know anything, you will too”. “Before we go, do you mind if we have a look at your van?”

“Help yourself” offered Richard throwing Dave the keys. “Cheers” said Dave appreciatively. Agent Woolfe had a look inside the van and then in the back. Nothing untoward. No real evidence of chickens, eggs or recent tracks in the mud. This wasn’t the van that Alice Woolsey had heard. Dave handed back the keys, thanked Richard for his cooperation and reminded him to ask Sophie Benedict to get in touch when she was able.

Dave and Brian then walked back to the car, and headed back to town. “Don’t know about you Brian, but I could really use a mint”. Brian dutifully pulled out the small tin, and passed a mint to Dave. “Don’t know about you boss, but I could really use the big tin right now” said Brian increasingly frustrated. “Calm down, Brian, at the moment we don’t know who to shoot!”