by Sherri Bryan
“And not even the offer of a glass of water from anyone,” said Ken, loosening his tie and unfastening his top button.
“So, how did you get on?” Nathan leaned back in his chair and regarded the perspiring detectives with amusement. “Was everyone agreeable to supplying you with a sample?”
“Well.” Toby took off his coat and hung it over the back of his chair. “As you’d imagine, everyone denied culpability and were all suitably affronted that we’d asked. Everyone except Adam and Ruby Pitt. Well, he was affronted, certainly, but he didn’t immediately put up a defensive argument like the rest of them did. And Ruby Pitt, well, she didn’t really get a chance to speak, but she didn’t deny any involvement. Not that that means she’s guilty of anything; it was just noticeable because everyone else was so keen to put themselves in the clear.”
“And Mr Lewis’ behaviour was a little strange, too, wasn’t it, Guv?” Ken Rafferty’s face had moved a couple of shades down the colour chart from crimson to dark pink.
“Yes, it was. He did not want to give us a sample. Not at all. I thought we were going to leave empty-handed and have to come back again but he gave in eventually. We wondered if he’s committed other crimes in his past and he’s concerned that the DNA results could connect him to them.”
“Well, he’s not familiar to the St. Eves force, so he’s caused no problems here that I’m aware of,” said Nathan. “Same goes for the rest of them. That said, if you need any help with the investigation that would be more expediently dealt with from here, just say the word if there’s anything my officers or I can do to help.”
Although sincere in his offer, Nathan hoped it wouldn’t be taken up. There’d been enough murderers to deal with in St. Eves in recent years—he hoped there wasn’t another one in their midst.
Chapter 6
“Oh, come on, Charlotte! Surely you could ask him to pop in for a cup of tea or something. And then Harriett and I could be sitting on another table, acting nonchalantly, of course, and you could introduce us. We could ask some of our acquaintances along—we know a group of women who are mad keen on Adam Pitt, you know.”
“Yes! I mean, it’s not as though he’d think it was strange—you did go on holiday together, after all.”
Ava and Harriett were doing their best to persuade Charlotte to set up a meeting between them and Adam Pitt, a favour which she had no intention of carrying out.
“Er, I think he would find it very strange if I just called him out of the blue, because I barely know him. And we did not go on holiday together! We just happened to travel to London on the same plane. I don’t even have his number—I met him once for about five minutes and, between you and me, I thought he was very standoffish. Anyway, sorry, the answer’s no and I can’t discuss it anymore because I’ve got things to do in the kitchen.”
Charlotte was grateful to get away. There weren’t many things she wouldn’t do for the ladies, but this was definitely one of them.
“I think those women who came in the other day are walking up the marina.” Jess stuck her head through the hole in the wall between the café and the kitchen and passed Charlotte three food tickets.
“What women?”
“The ones you met while you were in London.
“Well, if they’re coming in here for a chat, can you let them know they’ll have to wait, please? I’ve got food orders to get out.”
Five minutes later, Jess was back. “No need for you to rush to get out there—Ava and Harriett are keeping them entertained.”
Charlotte bashed a chicken breast flat with a rolling pin for a pan-fried, breaded escalope. “Alright, I’ll pop out and say hello as soon as I’ve finished this.”
Twenty minutes later, Charlotte went out to join Penny and Amy who were howling with laughter at Ava’s account of her one and only visit to Harriett’s yoga class.
“…and then I felt something go ping. Well, my dears, to begin with, I wasn’t sure if it was my back or the Lycra in my yoga pants, but then I couldn’t move. I like to think I’m quite flexible but, I can assure you, stuck in the lotus position for forty minutes is no laughing matter…not with a bladder like mine.” She sniffed and stirred her coffee.
“Well, if only you’d said you were having problems with your back, that situation could have been so easily avoided.” Harriett rolled her eyes as she filed a nail. “That’s the trouble with Ava,” she said to Penny and Amy. “She doesn’t like people to think she can’t do something, so she just throws herself into totally unsuitable situations and ends up coming off worst.” She wagged her nail file in the air. “And don’t give me that look, Ava Whittington, you know I’m right!”
Ava opened her mouth to retort but Charlotte stopped her in her tracks.
“Alright, ladies, that’s enough, if you don’t mind! This is only Penny and Amy’s second visit and I’d like to think there’ll be a third. I don’t need you two playing fisticuffs and scaring the customers away, thank you very much.”
She slowly lowered herself into a chair next to Penny. “Nice to see you again.”
“Yes, nice to see you.” Penny wiped her eyes. “Oh, I haven’t laughed like that for ages. Those women are a riot! Are they regulars?”
Charlotte glanced over to Ava and Harriett, who were pretending they weren’t listening. “Yes, they’re part of the fixtures and fittings. If I ever sell this place, they’ll be on the inventory. So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?”
Penny smiled. “Well, it was so nice here the other morning and it really helped to take our minds off things, we thought we’d come and see you again. Owen’s looking after Zac, I’m up to date with all my assignments, and Amy still can’t face going back to work at the tattoo shop, so we’re treating ourselves to a bit of quality sister time. We’re going to have a bite to eat here first, and then we’re going to go and lie on the beach.”
“Very nice, too,” said Charlotte. “And how are you both?”
“Hmpf, after what happened this morning, shell-shocked,” said Amy. “Those detectives from London came to see us. They said the hot tub was deliberately tampered with—something about the safety device on the bulbs being disabled—can you believe it? As if we’re not already having a difficult enough time dealing with what happened.”
“What?!” Charlotte felt her stress level rise. “That’s terrible!”
“And they took DNA samples from all of us to match to some DNA they found at the house,” Amy continued, “although I’m sure they don’t really think it’s any of us who’s responsible. They said it’s likely to have been vandals who target empty holiday homes and mess with stuff to make it dangerous. Unbelievable how some people get their kicks.” She blew her nose.
“Anyway, they’re going to be in touch,” said Penny. “I don’t know quite how it works but I’ve heard that DNA isn’t always 100% accurate, so I’m a little apprehensive about the results.”
“Well, you’ve got nothing to be concerned about, have you? I mean, it’s not like you’ve done anything wrong?” Charlotte rubbed the small of her back to ease a twinge.
“No, of course not, but you hear stories about people being wrongly accused of things, don’t you. It’s a little disconcerting, that’s all.” Penny twisted a thick silver band on her wedding ring finger and shuddered.
“Oh, and you’ll never guess. You remember Elsie Rayner, our nosy neighbour in London? Well, she told the police she saw a man and a woman with blonde hair at the house in March. Like she’d be able to see anything that specific through those glasses of hers. Anyway, she’s definitely mistaken because no one was at the house in March. She’s a bloody troublemaker, that woman. Ooh, it makes me mad just thinking about her—let’s change the subject to something less irritating.”
“You know what?” said Amy. “I would love to have been a fly on the wall when the police called round at Adam and Ruby’s—you know what he’s like! I bet he was furious. I’m sure he thinks the justice system exists for everyone ex
cept him. It must have been a real shock for him to be treated like a mere mortal for a change!”
Suddenly very aware of Ava and Harriett sitting at the next table, surreptitiously leaning over as they pretended not to be listening to the conversation, Charlotte decided it was a good time to get back to work.
“Well, I’m sure it’ll all work out—one way or another—and I’m so glad to see you looking a little happier. Anyway, it’s been lovely seeing you again but I’ve got a lot to be getting on with. Don’t forget the baby shower on Saturday if you can make it. No pressure, of course, but you’re more than welcome. Right, I’ll leave you to order your food. Maybe see you on Saturday.”
ººººººº
After they’d closed the café, Charlotte took a walk into town with Jess to buy some last-minute party favours for the baby shower.
“What sort of thing are you looking for?”
“Well, I was thinking of getting some of those small satin bags from the gift shop—you know, the small ones with the drawstring—and filling them with a selection of old-fashioned sweets.”
“So I take it we’re going to Crunchies, then?”
Selling every imaginable type of sweet, Crunchies was the oldest sweet shop in the county. Jar upon jar filled with all manner of confections lined the shelves and, for over a century, generations of the same family had welcomed thousands of customers through the doors.
Large cabinets with glass fronts housed the larger sweets—foot-long candy-striped walking canes, large pink and white sugar mice, and giant jelly snakes—and their random placement within the shop resulted in a slightly higgledy-piggledy appearance which only added to its charm.
Charlotte and Jess made their way down the narrow, cobbled high street past the bakery, the waterfront pubs, the coffee bars, antique and art shops until they reached the old pink and white striped fronted sweet shop with its window display of homemade sweets from a bygone age.
As they were about to go inside, Charlotte spotted a familiar face. “Ruby? Ruby, hi! It’s me, Charlotte…from London.”
The woman’s vacant expression was replaced by a brief smile of acknowledgement. “Oh, yes, hi. Good to see you.”
“You, too. Jess, this is Ruby Pitt. She was in London with her husband. Ruby, this is my friend, Jess.”
“Nice to meet you.” The women nodded to each other.
“So, um, how are you?” Charlotte suddenly felt a little awkward.
Ruby shrugged. “Oh, you know…been better. I still can’t get my head around the fact that I’ll never see Frankie again—none of us can. It’s such an awful feeling. And we had the most horrible visit from the police this afternoon.” She shivered, despite the warmth of the early evening sun. “Anyway, how’re things with you?”
“They’re good, thank you. I’m just doing a bit of last-minute shopping for my baby shower.”
Ruby’s pulled a face. “What, in Crunchies?”
“Yes. Don’t you like sweets?”
Ruby nodded. “Oh, yes, I love them, but that shop makes me itch. The layout’s a nightmare and everything’s all over the place—there’s no order. It makes me feel anxious—do you know what I mean?”
“But that’s part of its charm, don’t you think?” said Jess. “It’s like stepping back in time when you go in there, just like the shops we used to go in when we were kids.”
“My point exactly,” said Ruby, scratching her arm. “See, I’m getting hives just thinking about it. I’ve got OCD,” she said in response to the puzzled looks she was getting from Charlotte and Jess. “It’s not severe but it’s bad enough to make me feel uncomfortable if I set foot over the threshold of that shop. The only time I went in there, all I wanted to do was tidy everything up, group all the sweets by colour, and straighten all the jars so the labels faced the front. Adam thinks I’m crazy but I can’t help it—I get it from my dad. He’s always said, “A place for everything and everything in its place.” If I see anything out of place or untidy, it freaks me out a little.”
“Oh, right.” Charlotte grinned, sympathetically. “Well, you definitely won’t want to come inside then but, if you’d like to come to the baby shower, you’re welcome to tag along with Penny and Amy. It’s on Saturday.”
“Oh, well, I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it but I’ll certainly try.” She looked at her watch. “Well, I must fly; I’ve got a million things to do. Nice to meet you, Jess.”
“So that’s Ruby Pitt?” Jess watched as she retreated down the high street.
“Yes. She seems quite nice but I couldn’t help feel a bit sorry for her in London.” Charlotte peered at a jar filled with iridescent baubles which the label confirmed were Fruit Glow Rainbow Drops. “Adam didn’t pay her much attention that I noticed, and it was pretty obvious. If she comes to the baby shower, I think she’ll be good fun on her own.”
“Well, I hope so,” muttered Jess. “Sorry, but the last thing you need is her moping about her dead friend all afternoon, isn’t it? Same goes for the other two.
“I don’t mean to sound harsh—I know they’re all terribly upset—but it’s a baby shower, not a wake. It’s supposed to be a happy occasion…you know, when we look forward to welcoming the little one, and I’d hate for anything to ruin it for you.” She put her arm around Charlotte and rested her head on her shoulder.
“Well, I appreciate the sentiment but, to be honest, I doubt that any of them will turn up so I don’t think there’s any chance that’s going to happen.” Charlotte’s mouth fell open as a vast jar displaying a bouquet of face-sized pinwheel lollipops caught her eye.
“¨You know what, though? I think I might need to rethink the size of the drawstring bags…”
ººººººº
“I had a very interesting conversation today.” Charlotte kicked off her flip-flops and sank her feet into the cool, recently watered lawn.
“Did you, now? And who might that have been with?” Nathan turned the hose onto the yellow and white blooms of the Charlotte rose bush in the corner of the garden, a present from Garrett and Laura for Charlotte’s last birthday.
“Penny and Amy.” She waited to see Nathan’s response but, apart from nodding as he unwound some more hose from the reel, there was none.
“Were you ever going to tell me that six St. Eves residents are possible suspects in Frankie Ingram’s death? Six!” Her voice increased in pitch.
“Now listen.” Nathan turned off the hose and guided her into a garden chair. “You can’t honestly wonder why I didn’t say anything. I mean, if there was ever a queen of stress I know who’d be wearing the crown.
“I know you probably would have found out sooner or later—you know what this place is like, nothing stays secret for long—but I didn’t see the point in worrying you about it. Not in your condition.”
“Listen, Nathan, when you give me bad news, you make sure I’m in a relaxed environment, and you tell me in a way that doesn’t send my stress levels through the roof. If I hear it from someone else, it’s very likely to send me into a mild panic. Which it did.”
Nathan crouched down and took hold of Charlotte’s hands. “You’re right—I should have told you, but Toby Carter only told me yesterday and it didn’t even occur to me that you’d find out so soon. I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault—it’s me. I know I worry about everything far too much. I wish I didn’t but I can’t help it.” She smiled. “But seeing as I know now, you might as well tell me what’s going on.”
Nathan recounted what Toby Carter had told him.
“That’s interesting. Wonder why Eddie was reluctant to give a DNA sample? It doesn’t make him look very good, does it?” Charlotte threw a ball for Pippin and he ran after it, tumbling over and over on the grass before catching it deftly between his teeth.
“Not really, although there are lots of people who don’t like giving DNA, or even fingerprints. They see it as a violation of their civil rights. I’ve no idea i
f that’s why Eddie didn’t want to give a sample but, if he’s innocent, that could be the reason. Of course, the other reason may be that he knows DNA isn’t always 100% accurate. That could be a concern.”
“Hmm, maybe that’s why Adam wasn’t keen,” said Charlotte. “What did the DI say about the couple the neighbour claims to have seen?”
“What couple?”
“Amy said that a neighbour told the police they saw some people at the house in March.”
“Really? That’s news to me.” Nathan resumed watering the flowerbeds.
“Yes, a man and a blonde woman. But no one went to the house in March so the neighbour obviously didn’t see what she thought she saw.”
“Well, whatever the situation, it’s nothing for you to worry about. I don’t want you getting your knickers in a twist about something that’s absolutely nothing to do with you. Okay? Promise me?”
Charlotte pushed herself up from the chair. “I can’t promise I’m not going to worry but I promise I’ll try—how’s that for you?”
Nathan winked. “That’ll do for now.”
ººººººº
Charlotte fumbled in the dark for the alarm clock.
5:56 am.
It was no good. She couldn’t sleep. Her mind was too active.
Something was troubling her.
Since she and Nathan had returned to St. Eves, it had become increasingly difficult for her to switch off. Nathan was convinced it was because of the baby but she knew otherwise.
There was something about Frankie’s death that bothered her. Apart from the fact that he’d been electrocuted in a hot tub, of course.
She’d gone over everything that had happened time and time again. She was missing something, she knew it. She just didn’t know what it was.
She swung her legs off the side of the bed and waited for the baby to settle itself before creeping downstairs to make her go-to insomnia cure—hot milk and maple syrup—Pippin scampering ahead.
