Charlotte Denver Cozy Mystery Box Set

by Sherri Bryan

  As Charlotte hugged her friend, she caught Drew’s eye over Jess’s shoulder and he smiled weakly. He looked dreadful and her heart ached for him.

  “Right, Jess, I’m going to have to ask you to leave the room for a while. DS Dillon, if you could stay with her until I’ve spoken to Drew? And you too, Mr. Clancy - if you could let us have the room for a while, please?” He turned to the hotel manager whose piggy eyes widened in surprised. It was the first time he’d ever been asked to leave his own office.

  He swept past Nathan and flung the door open before striding off down the corridor like an angry diva. Ben and Jess followed, Ben maintaining a noticeable distance from her.

  Nathan closed the door and pulled out a chair next to Drew. He turned to face him, his expression solemn. Charlotte sat on his other side, not quite sure what to do with her hands.

  “Oh no, please no ... don’t tell me.” Drew put his head in his hands, silent tears falling onto the table.

  “I’m so sorry. The paramedics did everything they could to save Kate, but her injuries were too severe. Please accept my sincere condolences, and those of the entire St. Eves police force.” It wasn’t the first time that Nathan had broken the news to someone of a loved one’s passing, but it was the hardest.

  Charlotte leaned over and put her arms around her friend, pulling his limp body to her and holding him tight. “Do you want to come back to the cottage with me, Drew? You don’t have to go back to Nathan’s if you don’t want to. I’ll stay with you, whatever you decide.” She leaned back and gently pushed his hair out of his eyes. He looked lost and scared and she had to gulp back her own tears when she saw his face. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”

  Careful not to take Drew through the front of the hotel, Charlotte made sure they left by the side door. Nathan had brought the car around and was taking them back to the house before returning to the crime scene. Despite being given the choice of staying at the cottage, Drew wanted to go back to Nathan’s.

  “I want to go back to where we were last together,” he said.

  At the house, memories of Kate were everywhere. Drew took a silk cardigan that was hanging on the back of the couch and held it to his face, inhaling her scent. He sobbed until he wore himself out before falling asleep on the couch, curled up and clinging tightly to the cardigan.

  With a heavy heart, Charlotte watched him. Even at rest, his brow was furrowed and every now and then, he would mumble something in his troubled sleep.

  She sat next to him in an armchair and began to think of how she could prove Jess’s innocence.

  ººººººº

  Charlotte walked home in a daze.

  It had been awful when Drew had called Kate’s parents with the news, but absolutely heart-breaking when they’d arrived, utterly devastated by the death of their daughter.

  “Are you sure it’s okay if we stay?” Ken Denton had asked, not even bothering to dry the tears that were falling down his face. “You’ll have enough room for Louise and I with your parents staying as well?”

  “Yes, yes. I want you to stay.” Drew had sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve.

  His own parents had arrived earlier in the day and had been busying themselves making up the beds in the guest rooms and making endless cups of tea. “We feel so useless,” they’d said to Charlotte before she left. “We have no idea how to comfort him.”

  “Just be here for him. That’s all you can do,” she’d replied.

  She’d said goodbye to Drew and made him promise to call her if there was anything she could do.

  ººººººº

  At seven-thirty, a knock on Charlotte’s front door had Pippin running back and forth in excitement. She opened it to find Jess standing on the doorstep.

  “Jess! Oh, thank goodness!” Charlotte gave her friend a hug and pulled her inside. “What happened?”

  “Well, I had to go down to the station for more questioning, but they let me go because there’s no proof that I did anything. And I suppose because Nathan knows I didn’t. Well, I hope he knows I didn’t.” She flopped down onto the couch and stroked Pippin who had jumped up beside her. “Either way, I’m not allowed to leave St. Eves.”

  “For heaven’s sake, of course he knows you didn’t do anything,” said Charlotte. “He has to interview you, though, so he can eliminate you as a suspect.”

  “Yeah, I suppose so,” said Jess, “but even though I’m innocent, I can’t tell you how guilty I felt when I realised I still had Kate’s bracelet in my hand and Drew recognised it. Course, I had no idea it was hers until I saw the inscription on the back.

  “And I’ll tell you something else I can’t stop thinking about. If I’d been a minute later getting to the hotel, she would have fallen right in front of me.” She shivered at the thought. “But more than that, if only I hadn’t been running late, I might have been able to stop this from happening in the first place.”

  “Oh come on, Jess. You’ve got to stop thinking that way. If someone did throw Kate off the roof and you’d turned up earlier, you might have ended up on the pavement with her.” Charlotte reasoned.

  “I suppose so,” sighed Jess. “Anyway, they gave me some photos to look at while I was at the station, to see if I recognised anyone as being the woman who ran into me, but I didn’t.”

  “What, you mean mug-shots?” asked Charlotte.

  Jess nodded. “If that’s what they still call them these days, yes. And then they got an artist to sit with me and sketch an impression of the woman, but considering I barely saw her, it’s not very descriptive, as you can imagine.”

  She picked Pippin up and gave him a cuddle. “And on top of all that, Ben’s behaving very strangely. I know he thinks I’ve got something to do with this.”

  “Oh Jess, don’t be ridiculous! Why d’you think that?”

  “Because he’s being really weird. When Nathan and you were in the office and I was waiting outside with him, it was all he could do to look at me, let alone speak to me. I don’t know what’s going through his mind, but whatever it is, he’s being decidedly cool.”

  “Are you sure you’re not imagining it?” said Charlotte.

  Jess shook her head. “Let’s just say that I don’t expect to be resuming our relationship any time soon,” she said, a hint of finality in her voice.

  Charlotte sat down beside her and gave her a hug. “Well, if that’s the way he wants to be, then he doesn’t deserve you. It’s his loss. Look, do you want to stay here tonight? To tell you the truth, after what happened I could do with the company and Nathan probably won’t be back till gone midnight. I’ll cook something and we can toast Kate with a glass of wine. And you can borrow something of mine to wear to work tomorrow. How does that sound?”

  Jess nodded. It wasn’t like her to feel sorry for herself and she’d had enough of it. An evening with Charlotte would be a welcome distraction.

  “That sounds, great, thanks. I wasn’t really looking forward to being on my own tonight either.” She looked down at Pippin. “Looks like you’ve got a house guest, Pip. What d’you say to that?”

  The little dog barked and wagged his tail and Jess laughed for the first time that day.

  Chapter 6

  News of Kate’s death quickly spread through St. Eves, helped along by the headline in the Sunday newspaper, which proclaimed, ‘WAS FOUL PLAY RESPONSIBLE FOR LOCAL WOMAN’S DEATH FALL?’

  At Charlotte’s Plaice, all the customers were talking about the accident but the holidaymakers didn’t dwell on it for long, their focus soon turning to their plans for another day in the sun.

  When Leo and Harry came into the café for their lunch, their faces were solemn and their usual chirpy banter somewhat subdued out of respect for Kate.

  “Such a terrible tragedy,” said Leo as he poured two glasses of red wine. “I heard that you were there when it happened, Jess. That right?”

  “How d’you know that?” Jess would have preferred not to speak at all about what had happ
ened the previous day, but if anyone thought she’d been involved, she was determined to put them straight.

  Leo gave a small chuckle. “Well, you know what it’s like around here. You can’t break wind without it making the news.”

  “Apparently, Simon Clancy told someone who told someone else who told someone else,” said Harry. “You know - the way that gossip usually spreads on the St. Eves grapevine.”

  “Well, I hope no one’ll think I had anything to do with it,” said Jess, her face etched with concern as she quickly told Leo and Harry what had happened.

  Charlotte came out of the kitchen and set two roast beef lunches down on the table. “Look, the police questioned you and let you go. And why did they let you go? Because they have no proof that you had anything to do with it. And why don’t they have any proof? Because you didn’t have anything to do with it, that’s why!”

  “She’s right, y’know,” said Leo, as he stuck his knife through the golden topping on the mound of cauliflower cheese on his plate to let out the steam.

  “And if anyone has any doubts about your integrity, you just point them in my direction and I’ll put them straight,” said Harry.

  “And I second that,” mumbled Leo through a mouthful of food as he stuck his knife in the air.

  Jess took a deep breath, struggling to keep her emotions in check. “Thanks guys, I really appreciate it.” She gave them both a squeeze on the shoulder and left them to their lunch.

  At just after three-fifteen, Ava, Harriett and Betty arrived and Jess steeled herself for another inquisition.

  All three of them had bloodshot eyes and Jess didn’t have to guess why. Finding out about Kate must have been a huge shock for them.

  Before anyone could say a word, Ava held up her hand. “Now, Jess. We all found out the dreadful news early this morning and we’ve been in a terrible state since then. Poor Betty had to go and have a lie down, she was so upset - that’s why we’re later than usual. Anyway, please don’t say anything that’ll start us off again - we must have gone through a family-sized box of tissues already.”

  “Jess, my dear. Come here and let me give you a hug!” Harriett caught Jess in a squeeze, her slim frame belying her strength.

  “Good grief, Harriett!” said Jess, wincing. “I’ve grown quite attached to my ribs over the years. I’d quite like to keep them intact!” She was trying desperately to keep the conversation upbeat. The last thing she wanted was tears on the terrace, particularly hers.

  “Sorry, dear. Sometimes I forget my upper body strength,” said Harriett. “Years of chair aerobics and Pilates, you know. Anyway, don’t try and distract me. Now, do tell, what on earth happened yesterday? You know that whatever you say won’t go any further than us three.” She zipped her lips with her index finger and thumb.

  “For heaven’s sake! Don’t crowd the poor girl. She’ll tell us when she’s good and ready,” said Betty, settling herself at a table at the front of the terrace.

  Jess was grateful for the brief postponement of what she knew was going to be an intense Q&A session with the ladies.

  “I’ll speak to you later, when it’s not so busy,” she said quietly, and took their order. “Charlotte’s got a few tickets before yours, so it’ll be ...”

  “Oh, my word! Look!” Ava interrupted, inclining her head in the direction of the footpath. Drew was standing at the edge of the terrace and when he saw Jess, he motioned to her to come to him.

  She was completely taken aback to see him. Today, of all days, he was the last person she’d expected to see.

  “Drew ... how are you? What are you doing here?” she asked, quietly.

  He took off his sunglasses and she guessed that grief and a sleepless night were to blame for his red, puffy eyes and dark shadows. “I had to come, Jess. It’s been driving me crazy to think that you’re a suspect in this. I know you had nothing to do with it and I had to come and tell you that. And I’ll tell the police too - I’m on my way to the station now. Nathan wants to ask me some questions. He said he’d come to the house, but to be honest, I’d rather go to him. I’m glad to get out.”

  He looked down and kicked the toe of his trainer against the wall. “Anyway,” he bit his bottom lip, which had begun to quiver, “I wanted you to know that.” The flicker of a smile played on his lips before he turned and walked away.

  Jess ran after him. “Drew!” she caught his arm and he turned to face her. “That really means a lot. Thank you.”

  He shrugged and continued on his way.

  ººººººº

  At the police station, Nathan was in his office with DS Fiona Farrell.

  Having been at his desk since the crack of dawn, he’d just started on his fifth cup of coffee and was going through the SOCO report, which had been put on his desk late the previous evening, one more time.

  “So, this is what we know. Kate Denton did not fall and she did not jump. The distance of her body from the hotel indicated that its trajectory was consistent with being thrown or pushed, as opposed to the trajectory it would have taken if she’d fallen accidentally or jumped.”

  “Yes, the body would have been much closer to the building if it had been an accident, or a suicide.” Fiona nodded in agreement.

  “Precisely. Which means that we’re dealing with another murder.” Nathan stood up and walked over to the window, which offered a lateral view of the marina a short distance away. Who would want to kill Kate? And why?

  “Right, as far as we know, the only people who were definitely on the roof at the time the crime was committed were Chef Floyd-Martin and all the kitchen and waiting staff.

  “There’s some doubt as to the exact whereabouts of the woman in the green dress and Jess Beddington at the time of the crime, although from witness statements, it seems that Jess was certainly in the vicinity very shortly after the crime.

  “As far as the woman in the green dress is concerned, that’s where we come to a dead end. The hotel CCTV wasn’t working at the time of the accident, we have no reports of anyone other than Jess Beddington actually seeing her, and no one of that description was found during the search of the hotel that was carried out afterwards.” Nathan scratched his head. “This is a bloody nightmare.”

  “I’m sure your witness appeal will bring some people out of the woodwork, Chief. They usually do. Till then, though, Jess Beddington’s still the prime suspect?”

  Nathan sat down and leaned back in his chair. From the very start, he’d never believed for a moment that Jess was guilty of anything. He was convinced that her involvement in the case was purely because she’d been unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

  However, his superior officer was keen for a quick arrest and was pushing Nathan to take a hard line with her.

  He sighed. “Yes, she’s still our prime suspect, but do me a favour, will you? If any further evidence is uncovered that points to her, makes sure it comes to me before anyone else, okay? I don’t want anything going over my head on this one.”

  “Right you are, Chief. So, what about the woman in the green dress?”

  “Well, obviously, we need to locate her asap, as we do the other woman I mentioned earlier ... what was her name again?” He looked through his notes. “Ah yes, Nina.”

  He clapped his hands and began pacing the room. “Right, can you organise the witness appeal - I want close-ups of that artist’s impression. I know it’s not great but it’s all we’ve got. Could you get on that now, please, and organise it for later today - around six would be best.

  “Whilst you’re doing that, I’ll get in touch with Drew Ferguson. I want to call round and let him know the findings of the SOCO report. I also need him to help us locate this ‘Nina’ woman, although I have a sneaking suspicious he’s not going to be too keen to talk about her ... not in front of both sets of parents, anyway. I have to say, in view of the circumstances, I wish it wasn’t necessary to raise the subject with him, but it’s a necessary evil, I’m afraid.”<
br />
  “Right, Chief. I’ll get straight on the witness appeal,” said Fiona. “And after that?”

  After he’d taken Drew and Charlotte back to his place yesterday, Nathan had returned to the hotel where he and his team had taken statements from all the staff who’d been in the vicinity at the time of the accident. Having carried out some background checks, only one of them had aroused his suspicion enough to be questioned again so soon.

  “And after that, we get Chef Floyd-Martin in as soon as we can,” he replied, grimly.

  ººººººº

  Chef Olivia Floyd-Martin was not at all happy about being summoned to the police station at an unearthly hour on a Sunday morning.

  Her only opportunity to sleep late was on a Sunday, when she didn’t go into work until late afternoon. Her normal routine was to luxuriate in the comfort of her king sized bed until at least three, getting up at the last possible minute.

  She’d been dreaming of duck confit when her phone had rung, waking her up just as she’d been about to savour a forkful of meltingly soft meat. “WHAT?” she’d shouted into the receiver. “Yes, this is she. Who? What for? Oh for God’s sake! When? What time?! Are you joking?” At which point, she’d hung up.

  She’d had no intention of getting out of bed and trudging down to the police station to get there for eleven o’clock. If it was so important that they speak to her, they’d have to do it at a time that was more convenient to her. Her Sunday mornings were precious and Detective Sergeant Fiona Farrell could shove her investigation where the sun ...

  Brrrrring brrrrring. The shrill ring of her telephone had woken her again, just as she’d been drifting off to sleep to dream of buttery pan fried fillet of turbot with truffle infused mashed potato and wilted spinach. “I swear, this had better be bloody good to be worth waking me up again,” she’d growled.

  “Good morning, Ms. Floyd-Martin. This is DCI Nathan Costello.” Nathan’s voice was curt and to the point. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with Olivia Floyd-Martin’s ego today. “I understand there was some misunderstanding when DS Farrell called a while ago?”