Dotty Dreads a Disaster

by Diane Ezzard

  She walked into the modern bar and saw the back of Dave’s head. Immediately, she breathed a sigh of relief. He remained seated when she strolled over and kissed his cheek.

  “Do you want a drink, Dave?” she asked. Dave declined and didn’t offer to get hers, so she went to the bar. She needed a stiff drink after her previous encounter, but she was driving so any ideas of a double vodka would have to wait for another time. She glanced at her handsome partner and smiled. He looked even nicer than usual in his tightly fitted T-shirt and skinny jeans. The man at the next table gave Dave a doe-eyed look, and Dave blushed. Dotty thought that was sweet. She re-joined him.

  “I just bumped into Millie’s ex, Royston in the King’s Arms. What a horrible man he is.”

  “Oh, what were you doing in the pub?” Dotty felt her cheeks glow. She couldn’t let Dave know she was meddling in police business.

  “I went in to see if they had any jobs going. I could do with some extra money.”

  “And did they?” Dave pursed his lips in thought.

  “Did they what?”

  “Have any jobs?” Dave frowned at Dotty’s lack of concentration.

  “Err, no, not right now.” The way the little white lies rolled off Dotty’s tongue was becoming something of a habit but when she thought about it, she may enquire about work there. She could do with some extra money if she were going away with the girls. They hadn’t booked anything yet, so there was still time to get her act together and get saving.

  “So, how are things with you? You look a bit stressed.” Dave was too perceptive for his own good.

  “I’m worried about money. I’m skint right now and need to be earning more. My problem is I’m too fond of spending it.” She laughed and gazed into his eyes. She wished he would lean over and kiss her. “Plus, I had a nasty encounter with Wayne earlier. He wasn’t very nice to me.”

  “Do you want me to have a word with him and tell him to leave you alone?”

  “No, if you get involved, that will probably rub him up the wrong way. You know what he’s like.”

  “Okay, but the offer is there.”

  By the time Dotty went home, she felt totally miserable. She should have left her car at home so she could have had a few drinks and a bit of a blow-out. Bumping into Wayne had affected her, so had her encounter with Royston. She was about to go up to bed when she stopped in her tracks. Something had struck her. She wanted to dismiss it, but it was hard to forget what Delphinia had said. She told Dotty that she would have a problem with someone whose name began with the letter R — of course, Royston.

  Chapter 28

  Another day, another dollar. Dotty woke up feeling refreshed and now glad she hadn’t got drunk the previous evening. Part of her was upset that Dave still hadn’t kissed her. Maybe she would have to make the first move. She wouldn’t let Wayne’s words deter her from what she needed to do. It was time to call and see Judith again. Dotty still had one or two questions to ask and she wanted to see Judith’s reactions when Dotty told her about the blackmailing. Judith was as charming as ever.

  “I’m glad you didn’t bring that mongrel with you this time.”

  “Winnie isn’t a mongrel. She’s a poodle with a pedigree.”

  “Whatever. Take your shoes off before you come through. I don’t want muddy footprints trampling through my hall.” Dotty did as she was told. Judith’s mood has changed since the last time they met. Dotty decided she preferred the tearful version to the grouchy person stood in front of her.

  “I’ve some news about Nigel’s finances.”

  “Oh, do sit down, dear but take your jacket off first. I don’t want mud getting on my sofa. I’ve only just had it cleaned.” There was no mud on Dotty’s green Barbour jacket, but she obeyed the woman, after all, it was her house. Dotty coughed, feeling parched. A drink would have gone down a treat, but Judith didn’t offer.

  “As I say, my friends and I have been doing a bit of delving and have found out some very interesting facts.”

  “Hurry up, dear. I’ve got my bridge club in half an hour.” Judith looked at her watch.

  “It seems that Nigel or at least the organisation he belonged to was being blackmailed.”

  “Blackmailed? Oh gosh.” Judith put her hand over her mouth. “Who by?”

  “We don’t know that yet. I wondered if you had any ideas who it could be.” Judith frowned and looked up at the ceiling.

  “Why would anyone want to blackmail Nigel?” Dotty thought there were a few reasons, such as his affair with Edna, but she kept her lips sealed for now.

  “Your guess is as good as mine. It was the White Brethren Society that was being blackmailed and Nigel appears to have been funding them. We know his friends Fred Peterson and Julian Cranford were members of that organisation. I just wanted to ask you what you knew about them?”

  “Fred was also found murdered, wasn’t he? Golly, so you think there’s a connection?”

  “It’s beginning to look that way. Have the police spoken to you about it?”

  “No, they haven’t said a dickey-bird. It’s all very intriguing, my my.” She shook her head.

  “Did Nigel ever talk about the group?”

  “No, Nigel never spoke about anything to me. He was a closed book. The only thing we had in common was our interest in all things horticultural. He had his friends and I have mine. When I think about it, I didn’t know half of what went on in his life.”

  “But I hear you broke up over him seeing Edna?” Judith’s face turned a puce colour.

  “That woman is incorrigible. She had a nerve. She was as nice as pie to my face, the two-faced hussy.” Judith pulled an expression like she was chewing a lemon. It seemed to Dotty that all these women were as bad as each other, gossiping about one another behind their backs.

  “I need to ask you something.” Dotty thought for a moment, choosing her word carefully. “When you looked after Millie’s stall for a short while, did anyone approach the stand?”

  Judith shot Dotty a dirty look.

  “You believe I put something in the soup, don’t you?”

  “No, not at all.” It had crossed Dotty’s mind, but she wasn’t about to accuse Judith. “I just wondered if you saw anyone else who may have had the opportunity?”

  “The police have also been here asking me all these silly questions. It’s all very well for someone to add poison to the soup but how the blazes did anyone know Nigel would ask for it? I didn’t know. I hadn’t even seen the rotter since our day in court over the divorce. It wasn’t good for my blood pressure, so I stayed well away from him. No, it did me no good being in his company, no good at all.” She shook her head and Dotty thought she had a point, but she still hadn’t answered her question.

  “So, did anyone else approach the stand?” Dotty repeated.

  “All you need to know is it wasn’t me who did it. I wasn’t jealous of Nigel even if he made me look a fool. I was the laughingstock of the village — the only one who knew nothing about what was going on for ages, by the sounds of things. In fact, now you’ve come here telling me all this about his life, I didn’t know Nigel at all.” She shook her head. “All this debt he left me with. It’s like he’s punishing me from the grave.” Judith was more bothered about the money than catching Nigel’s killer.

  Judith still hadn’t answered Dotty’s questions and her stomach quivered as she asked one final time.

  “So, no one else approached the stand while you were minding it?”

  “No, for the millionth time, no one.” Dotty left the woman in peace with just one thought on her mind. Judith Hastings couldn’t count.

  Later that evening, Dotty attended the first night of Christine’s plant food course. She had persuaded Rachel to come with her which wasn’t hard. Rachel was on the verge of turning vegan. She recently went vegetarian and said she felt so much better for it. Kylie was another matter. She wouldn’t be talked into healthy eating. The idea of eating nuts and seeds made her want to puke. The
only way she would eat nuts was in a chocolate bar. Strawberry gateau was about as healthy as she could muster. She didn’t mind eating fruit, so long as it was in a cake.

  Dotty picked Rachel up. Her face beamed with happiness and Dotty didn’t think it was because she would learn about beans and lentils. She waited for her friend to tell her. Rachel couldn’t contain herself and had the words out before she fastened her seat belt.

  “Harry’s moving in with me.”

  “So soon.”

  “I know we’ve only been seeing each other a short while but when you know, you know. I see him every day at work, and I feel we really connect. He asked me, and I was delighted. We’re picking all his stuff up at weekend.”

  “Well, I hope everything goes well for you. He’s a nice guy and you deserve to be treated well after the way your ex-husband behaved.”

  “Yeah, I’m well shut of that no-good cheat and I’ve never felt happier.” Rachel’s face bloomed.

  They got to the garden centre where the event was taking place. There were about a dozen other women there and two blokes. The girls were shown to the back room, and they took their seats. Everyone politely clapped when Christine introduced herself and read out her achievements which included a master’s degree in culinary techniques in plant-based ingredients. Dotty thought what an obscure course to do. She couldn’t understand why she deserved a clap for that, but she reluctantly tapped her hands together.

  “Tonight, I will outline the course content and explain the basics and principals of plant-based dietary requirements.” Christine stood in front of a whiteboard and wrote up a few notes.

  Everyone busily copied down what she said so Dotty followed suit.

  “Psst, my pen’s run out. Have you got a spare?” She nudged Rachel who passed one to her. By the end of the evening, Rachel had written several pages of copious notes whereas Dotty’s didn’t even fit on one page. Rachel tucked her pad into the large holdall she brought.

  Dotty nudged her and whispered, “I’ll have a word with Christine.”

  Rachel’s eyes widened, and she nodded. Two other women hung around to speak to Christine. Dotty waited until they finished then approached her.

  “I enjoyed that, Christine, thank you. I’m glad you suggested that I attend.”

  “Yes, your friend seemed to get a lot out of it as well.”

  “Oh yes, Rachel is into plant food. By the way, I bumped into Edna Salcombe the other day.”

  Christine was packing her stationery away. She looked up at Dotty.

  “Oh?” She anticipated more was coming.

  “She said that you were the one who encouraged Nigel to try the mushroom soup.”

  “Did she now.” Christine’s mouth narrowed. She continued packing her bag, trying to keep her cool.

  “Is that true?” Christine stopped what she was doing and stared at Dotty. Unable to contain herself anymore, she spoke in a raised voice.

  “That woman is a nasty, vindictive jealous trollop. She never liked how close Nigel and I were.” Some of the class who hadn’t yet left, turned around when they heard Christine’s outburst.

  “So, was it true you mentioned it to him?”

  “I may have done. I can’t remember. It wasn’t as though he could have eaten any other variety anyway.”

  “Oh?”

  “He was vegetarian, you see. The other soups on sale all had meat in.”

  “I see.” Dotty nodded and left Christine to finish packing away.

  Chapter 29

  Dotty and Kylie met at the Strawberry tea rooms for their weekend treat. Rachel couldn’t make it because she was helping Harry move into her flat. Bernadette had recently taken over the running of the café after her mum took ill. Together with her two sisters, they had given the place a new lick of white paint. It already looked spotlessly clean but touching up the paintwork to go along with the pink interior, gave it that extra pizazz. Bernadette was keen to try some new ideas so brought over a sample of salted caramel and cappuccino cheesecake.

  “So, you like the shortbread base?” Bernadette asked.

  “It’s sublime,” Dotty’s eyes were closed as she licked the spoon slowly.

  “I’ve died and gone to heaven.” Kylie swooned. She gave the thumbs up to the new manager who stood behind the counter with her two sisters who also worked there. They had been waiting for the verdict and they all smiled. That was the feedback they hoped for. Bernadette’s ambitious new menu was to be let loose on the public the following week, so this early approval was a good sign.

  Her and her sisters, Michaela and Rose didn’t intend to make any major changes. Michaela hadn’t finished her cake making course at college yet, but when she did, the girls hoped to make more wedding and celebration cakes to order. Rose wasn’t formally trained in catering, but she had done a business course. They had some big ideas for expansion. Their mum ran the place for seven years and it had a steady stream of loyal clientele who the new team didn’t want to lose. They intended to break them in gently with their new products and recipes.

  Kylie poured her and Dotty a coffee out of the cafetière they shared. Her movements were short and jerky like she had something on her mind. Dotty couldn’t help but notice her friend’s unease.

  “Is everything okay, Kylie?” Dotty asked. Kylie took a large gulp of air in and went searching in her handbag. She bit her lip and wouldn’t look at her friend. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “I’ve got a confession to make.” The tone of her voice lowered. All the quick-witted banter had disappeared. Dotty had never seen Kylie look so serious.

  “Oh.”

  “I’ve something here for you.” Kylie passed an envelope to Dotty.

  “What is it?”

  “Open it and see.”

  Dotty tore open the grey envelope and inside was a voucher for a spa treatment. She frowned.

  “What’s this for? It’s not my birthday.”

  “No, it’s a peace offering.”

  “Why? What have you done?”

  For a horrible minute, Dotty thought Kylie had slept with Dave behind her back. If that was the case, then a measly spa voucher wouldn’t compensate. She waited. Dotty now felt as anxious as Kylie whose movements hadn’t calmed down. Kylie tapped on the side of the coffee mug. She took an eternity to answer. She cleared her throat and adjusted her sitting position.

  “I… I don’t think I better accompany you to any more fairs,” she stuttered. Kylie still avoided eye contact with her friend.

  “Why not? What’s wrong?”

  “Your chocolates are so nice that when you leave me alone with them, I can’t stop eating them. I’m addicted to chocolate. You think you’ve been doing well with sales when all the while, the reason they are disappearing is because I’ve been eating them all.”

  “Oh, I see.” Dotty was secretly relieved. She had imagined Kylie coming out with something far worse.

  “Will you forgive me?” Kylie looked across at her friend. “It’s been bothering me because I know it hasn’t just been one or two chocolates that I’ve helped myself to. I just can’t resist when I’m near them. I’m sorry, Dotty.”

  “You’re like that around men as well.” Both girls laughed. The atmosphere improved. “An interview with you would make a good advert for my chocolates.”

  “So, are we okay?”

  “Yes and thank you for being honest.” Dotty was rubbish with her finances so would never have worked out that her outgoings and incomings didn’t tally. She spent almost as much on ingredients as she made from the finished chocolates and hadn’t realised. “Come here.” Dotty beckoned Kylie towards her and they hugged.

  “What are you like, you munchkin?” Kylie sipped her coffee, thankful that her friend hadn’t gone mad.

  “Have you heard any news about how the police are getting on with Nigel or Fred’s murders?” she asked her friend.

  “No,” Dotty shook her head. “Wayne has warned me about getting involved and Dave
doesn’t seem to know much or if he does, he’s not letting on.”

  “How about your dad? Does he still get to find out police business?”

  “To be honest, since he retired, I don’t think he gives a monkey’s. He’s happy pottering around the garden and playing golf and he stays out of everyone’s business.”

  “Who is still in the frame?”

  “Well there’s your auntie Flo but I doubt she’s capable of murder. She can’t even look after herself, never mind kill someone.”

  “I agree. She’s a hopeless case and I believe she was in the beer tent before she walked over to Millie’s soup stand.”

  “Why doesn’t that surprise me.” Dotty laughed.

  “Christine has to be the number one suspect now. She knows all about mushrooms, she had motive because she was jealous of Nigel getting with Edna and she suggested for him to have the mushroom soup.”

  “But if it was Christine who killed Nigel then why would she also kill Fred Peterson?”

  “Maybe he found out what she had done, or it could be someone else who killed Fred.”

  “So, you don’t know if the police found any clues at the scene?”

  “I didn’t hear anyone mention anything when I was there, and I didn’t see anything such as the knife. I wasn’t looking though. It came as a surprise when DS Collins said he’d been stabbed.”

  Just then, Kylie’s phone rang. She saw who it was and put it on loudspeaker for Dotty to hear.

  “Hello, my darling. Delphinia here. Listen, I’m sorry if you feel I’m pestering you, but I’ve been getting some bad vibes about that friend of yours, Dotty.” Both girls looked at each other, their eyes wide open. Kylie muted the loudspeaker and passed her phone to Dotty.

  “Hi, it’s Dotty here.”

  “I don’t want to worry you, but I keep having visions and I fear that unless you stop your involvement in the work you are doing looking into the murder, then something bad will happen to you. Please leave well alone.”

  The call terminated and Dotty turned to Kylie.