Found Guilty at Five by Ann Purser

now very much bound up with her feelings for Jamie, but she knew better than to mention an English boyfriend.
    “Ah, there you are. You look much more rested and happy,” said Nakamasa. “More like my little Akiko.”
    “Yes, well, Papa, I am not so little anymore. This is what we have to talk about. You see, my career is all-important to me. I am doing well, making progress, and becoming known for being a fine cellist.”
    She wondered whether to mention the stolen cello, but decided not. Her father would immediately arrange for her to have another equally good one, but that would come with more strings attached.
    “The life of a solo player is a peripatetic one,” she continued. “We must go wherever the opportunities are, and this means concert halls all over the world. This does not trouble me. I love travelling and do not find it at all onerous. This I must have inherited from you! You are a much-travelled man, Papa. So you see, it is not worth you risking a setback by trying to follow me around the globe.”
    Nakamasa frowned. “That is for me to decide, Akiko,” he said, a stern note creeping into his voice.
    “Of course, Papa. But for me, I must return to London and take up my cello again. I am committed to concerts almost straightaway, and I must not let people down.”
    “Including one James Meade, pianist of distinction?” said her father, his voice growing stronger by the minute.
    Akiko coloured. “Including my accompanist,” she agreed. “So I will catch the train in the morning. I will telephone you every day to make sure you are keeping up the improvement.”
    There was a long silence, and then Nakamasa said, “There will be no need for a train. Parsons can take the Bentley, and you will travel in comfort. Please send him to me.”
    “But I am perfectly happy to take the train, Papa,” Akiko protested.
    He sighed and put his hand once more to his heart. “Do this for me, daughter,” he said. “I shall know you are safe with Ezekiel.”
    Akiko shivered, though the room was very warm. “Very well. But please speak to him about his attitude. You are his boss, after all.”
    *   *   *
    W HEN SHE HAD LEFT THE ROOM, AND P ARSONS WAS SENT FOR, Nakamasa covered his eyes in despair. He had done his best, would always do his best for his daughter, but felt that he had not this time succeeded.
    “You wanted me?” said Ezekiel Parsons, coming in as silently as a rat.
    “Sir,” said Nakamasa.
    “You wanted me,
sir
.”
    “Yes. We shall take Miss Akiko in the Bentley back to London tomorrow morning. We leave early.”
    “We? I thought you were nigh unto death? Sir.”
    “The car is very comfortable, and you will drive carefully. Please do as I instruct.”
    “Yes, sir,” said Ezekiel, turning on his heel and leaving as quietly as he came.

F OURTEEN

    L OIS HAD SPENT YESTERDAY EVENING LOSING HERSELF IN New Brooms paperwork. The business had grown to a point where she would soon have to start looking for a new cleaning member of the team. She seldom advertised the job, but relied on recommendations from her regular cleaners, and from friends in other villages. This had worked well so far, and only once had she taken on a bad apple, and he wasn’t very bad.
    For all her hard work yesterday, this morning there was still a huge pile of filing waiting on her desk. She decided to tackle it today, and endeavour once more to forget all about lost cellos and stolen Japanese girls. Or the other way round, she thought, and smiled.
    *   *   *
    G RAN CAME INTO THE OFFICE EARLY, AND ASKED L OIS WHAT SHE would like for lunch.
    “I don’t think I’ll be in for lunch, thanks,” Lois replied. “You can have a rest. You certainly deserve it, what with one thing and another!”
    “Huh! Well, I’m glad somebody appreciates me. And I might as well say now that I just hope you know what you’re doing,” said Gran. “If he was my son, I’d be worried sick.”
    “Which son?” Lois said in a