False Alarm by Veronica Heley

the name of Carmela Lessbury.
    â€˜Lucy thought it might be our caretaker because he disapproves of what he calls “those nasty goings on”. Then one of Sir Lucas’s cars was vandalized, not the Rolls of course, but the sporty one, and we knew the caretaker wouldn’t ever have done anything to it because he worships those cars. Spends hours cleaning and waxing and polishing them. No, he wouldn’t harm those cars. But Tariq, now. It was Them Upstairs who brought in the Noise people and confiscated his music equipment, you see, and that caused the break-up of his marriage or whatever you like to call it—’
    â€˜Careful, dear. Don’t let the Thought Police hear you being so un-PC. But it’s quite true. Sir Lucas was the one who complained—’
    â€˜No, no. It was Lady Ossett. But we know it was really him who got her to do the complaining, and I’m sure she was very sorry about having to do so.’
    â€˜And Tariq was let go from his job with Sir Lucas’s firm the week after.’
    They both nodded.
    â€˜What happened to Sir Lucas’s car?’ said Bea, trying to keep up.
    â€˜I think they call it “keying”,’ said Carrie. ‘You take your keys and scrape the paintwork. And the hood had been cut with a knife. It’s a what-do-you-call-it? A convertible. Very expensive, I’m told. I don’t keep a car nowadays.’
    â€˜I know nothing about cars,’ said Lucy, grandly. ‘Sir Lucas kept his in the sub-basement. You won’t have seen the entrance to the garage, perhaps? It’s round the back. You have to pay extra for a bay down there. Tariq has had to sell his car already.’
    â€˜Sub-basement?’ said Bea.
    â€˜The lift goes right down to it. The basement level is partly at ground floor level at the back, but not at the front. Mr Pancko has his flat there, and his cleaning cupboards and workshop. There’s also the washing and drying machines for the whole complex, only we don’t use them because we’ve got our own up here.’
    â€˜His name isn’t
Pancko
, dear. It’s not Poncho, either. I can’t think exactly what it is, but it’s not Pancko. He comes from Yugoslavia, I think.’
    â€˜It’s called Croatia nowadays, isn’t it? All I know is that he’s not the most obliging of men. No, it wasn’t him. It was Tariq, I’m sorry to say. So he’ll be leaving, and I suppose his flat will be coming on to the market, if you’re interested.’
    Carrie lamented, ‘It means the decorators will be coming in again. It’s never ending in this place. Upstairs, downstairs. Everywhere. Banging and crashing just when I want my afternoon nap.’
    Bea’s mobile shrilled, and she dived into her bag to rescue it.
    Surprise! It was Lady Ossett’s sweet tones on the phone. ‘Mrs Abbott, I’m afraid I was a little short with you yesterday—’
    â€˜Not at all,’ said Bea, glad that her faux pas about the toy boy was to be overlooked.
    â€˜Such a misunderstanding about my husband’s glasses, which he was going to send someone round for, but I understand that your protégé Oliver – such a pleasant young man – will deliver them for me this afternoon. So I’m wondering, I’ve been thinking about your offer of someone simpatico, as you might say, someone who would fit in with our circle of friends, who might perhaps take pity on me in my hour of need.’
    Bea felt the two elderly ladies’ gaze on her. Lady Ossett’s crystal clear tones could probably be heard throughout the whole flat. ‘May I ring you back when I’m free?’
    â€˜My nerves are shredded. If you could just give me a tiny ray of hope?’
    â€˜Er, yes. Of course. I’m sure I can arrange something but . . . I’ll pop in to see you later, shall I?’ Bea cut the call off.
    Lucy and Carrie switched their