Warning! This story contains material of an adult nature and is intended for mature readers and for personal use only. No copyright infringement is intended.
CHAPTER 13
The 'Pilgrim's Retreat' was a quiet country pub, so quiet that Angelica and Mike were its only customers, at that time of the early evening. Her high-heels clicked on the tile floor, as they walked up to the shiny, wooden bar. Pewter tankards hung from a row of hooks above their heads and several traditional beer pumps along the bar, dispensed the various draft ales. "Good evening! A half of bitter, and..." Mike gave Angelica a questioning look.
"And a dry, white wine!" she finished for him, smiling at the ginger-haired, bespectacled barman, who was starring at her, goggle-eyed.
"We've only got sweet white, Miss!" replied the highly impressed barkeeper.
"Sweet then!"
When he returned with their drinks, Mike handed him a fiver. "Keep the change! By the way, we're looking for the Arnie Sidebottom place!" he volunteered. "You wouldn't happen to know where it is, would you, old chap?"
The barman pushed his wire-framed spectacles back on his nose, and scratched the back of his head! "There's some rich gent moved into 'The Grange', a year or so ago, but he don't have nothing to do with the rest of the folk 'round here! He could be the bloke you're looking for?"
"How does one get to this 'Grange'?" Mike asked, placing another matching note on the counter.
"Why thank you, Sir!" The barman grinned, as he picked up the money, and stuffed it into his hip pocket. "Go out of the front door, turn left, and about three hundred yards down the road, there's a narrow lane, leading off to your left. About a quarter mile down the lane, is a large mansion, set back in its own grounds, with a high wall around it. That's The Grange!"
Mike glanced at Angelica, his face alive with excitement, then he turned back to the barman. "Thanks a lot! I much appreciate it!"
They quickly downed their drinks, and said their hurried goodbyes, before rushing out to the hired Renault Clio, parked in the adjoining car park. Mike gunned the engine, and the small car shot away, with a loud screech of the tires. "This is our lucky day!" he chortled, as he turned left onto the main road through the village. "Hey, there's the turning!"
-oOo-
He pulled off the narrow lane, onto the grass verge, about twenty yards beyond a set of large, wrought-iron gates. "Wait here!" he hissed, giving her knee an affectionate squeeze. "I'm going to go check the place out!"
"Be careful, Mike!" she whispered, then on a sudden impulse, leant over and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
"I will!" He grinned and slipped out of the car, and casually strolled back toward the gates.
Five minutes later, he was back. He slipped behind the wheel. "I think this might just be the place, babe!" he informed her, excitedly. "They've got remote controlled gates and security cameras, and there's some nasty-looking spikes on top of that wall!"
"So, what's the next move, Sherlock?" she asked, frowning.
"We wait until it gets dark, Ms Watson!" He glanced at his watch. "That should be in about an hour's time! Then we slip over the wall, and check the house out!"
"That easy, huh? How are we supposed to get over the wall, Einstein? It must be all of ten-feet high!"
He grinned. "I'll maneuver the car alongside, then we climb onto the roof, and I'll give you a boost over! You could've worn something a little more practical though!" He glanced over at her tight, blue minidress and matching high-heels, and she automatically tugged the hem of her skirt down an inch or two, over the vast expanse of exposed flesh.
"I didn't expect to be going on an assault course!" she grumbled, pulling a face.
-oOo-
Mike pressed the button that illuminated the dial of his analogue quartz watch. "Time to go!" he muttered. He switched on the engine, and slowly maneuvered the unlit vehicle right up against the perimeter wall, at a point where a tree partially overhung it, from on the other side.
He climbed up onto the hood, then onto the roof, before helping Angelica up beside him. She had sensibly taken off her heels, and was holding them in one hand. He reached up and gripped two of the spikes sticking out of the top of the wall, then hauled himself up on top of it, grunting with his efforts, before wrapping one arm around an overhanging branch, and holding out the other, to the girl below.
"Give me your hand!" he hissed, urgently.
"I don't know if this is a good idea!" she muttered, dubiously, starting to have second thoughts, but grabbing hold of his proffered hand, never-the-less.
