Ben rolled a trolley up to his father. What appeared to be books wrapped in cloth and a wooden box sat on the lower tier. On the upper tier, he’d placed tea and biscuits.
Ben pulled up a couple of chairs, so he and Eve could sit close enough to his father and still reach the trolley. His hand brushed her neck as she sat down. A thrill rushed through her body and sent a faint blush to her cheeks. She hoped John and Chris missed that.
“The box.” John held out a shaking hand.
Ben opened the lid. Inside, vintage medals and ribbons rested on velvet trays faded with age.
John’s finger pointed at one. “Queen Victoria herself visited the show when Jonathan Dryden received this medal for his prized ram. Three years in a row ‘Best in Show.’”
“That’s amazing.” Eve leant over the tray. “It must have been hard to give up sheep farming.”
“Things change. Cheap imports, that’s what it was. Cheap meat and wool from the colonies. Still, we didn’t do too badly, did we?”
Ben closed the box. “We still don’t.”
“That’s true. You can deal a Dryden a blow, but we always bounce back, right, Chris?”
John’s massage therapist grinned at him, an easy, infectious smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.
Bella’s image appeared in Eve’s mind. Chris must be a hit with older women.
“I can definitely attest to that,” he said, directing the full force of his beam at Eve. “Do you need anything else from me?”
John shook his head. “I’ll see you later, as usual.”
An hour later, Eve’s head whirled with information about the family tree, the lineage of animals, dead for over a century, and anything else documented in three thick folios. John had to rest his voice in between, and then Ben took over. He showed less obvious pride and enthusiasm, but then he wasn’t a farmer. Still, together they formed the picture of a dedicated family.
Had Eve and her dad ever shared close moments like this? If yes, she’d forgotten. All she did remember was her mother, tucking her in, reading bedtime stories and letting her chestnut hair fall over Eve’s face and tickle her. No wonder Ben didn’t leave. Some bonds were too precious.
“Eve?” Ben’s voice brought her back to the present. She pulled herself together. She must stop reading meaning into everything she saw, or thought she saw.
“Sorry, you were saying?”
“I was asking if you’d like more tea.”
“I’m good. And I’m sorry if my mind wandered off.” She touched John’s arm. “Thanks for showing me the medals. My father’s wife would love them. Most Americans are overwhelmed with the idea of all this history.”
“I almost forget you’re American.” Was there a note of disapproval in his tone?
“On my father’s side. Hence my hopefully slight accent. My mother met him when he was working in the London office of his company for a year.”
“You’re a Brit then.”
She chose to smile for an answer.
“Nothing wrong with freshening up bloodlines,” John said to her surprise. “Any farmer knows that.”
His head sunk closer to his chest.
“You’re tired,” Ben said.
“Nonsense.”
“Well, I need to crack on with my work,” Eve said. “But I hope I’ll see you again soon.”
On her way home, she wondered why John had really invited her. Did he want to chat to keep himself entertained, or did he want to suss her out? The old man was sharp. She’d love to find out how much he knew about Donna’s private life. He might talk to Hayley, or better still, to her grandmother, if they could find a way to make a visit appear natural.
Eve spent a nervous night. The wind ruffled the ivy that covered almost the whole front of the cottage, and a climbing rose scrabbled over the bedroom window, interrupting her sleep. She needed a security system. Kim would be able to advise her with that.
The thought still occupied her mind over breakfast. She pushed it aside. As much as she ached to go out for advice straight away, her laptop told her to stay put, unless she wanted to default on her deadlines. Her new-found paranoia, and her interest in Ben’s case, would have to take a backseat until she dug herself out of this self-created hole. It was one thing to devote her spare hours to a cause, and a whole other ballgame to risk her best client. Her bank account was never in the red, by sheer dint of effort. But jewellery purchases and window repair meant she needed the next payment, especially if she wanted to invest in security equipment as well.
Eve toyed with the idea of a mock camera, only to rule it out. It had to be convincing for the news to spread through the local grapevine. But first, work.
Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. Eve felt lightheaded from lack of water and food. She’d silenced her phone and put it in her bedroom to be undisturbed. That also meant she’d missed her usual breaks and other little things like lunch, dinner, or messages. Still, she’d almost caught up with her translations.
A glance at the wall clock told her it would be useless to drop into the “Green Dragon”. The kitchen would be closed before she got there, and the bar would be buzzing. Ten years in merry old England, and she nevertheless struggled with the concept of social drinking night after night. Neither her liver nor her finances would stand for it.
Eve checked her phone for messages. One from Hayley, promising to catch up tomorrow. Nothing from Ben. He obviously hadn’t missed her. Which was perfectly fine. Crush or not, she couldn’t picture herself getting all hot and bothered with him in a house where his crippled father and dead wife haunted the atmosphere. Or have him over at her place where the thought of malevolent watchers would definitely cramp her style. At thirty-two she was too old to make out in a car, so that option was out as well. Apart from the fact that he obviously only saw her as a friend without any romantic attraction.
Considering that she wouldn’t stick around forever, not getting entangled was all for the best, anyway. Discussion over.
She searched her refrigerator for leftovers. A few eggs, cream cheese and a squishy tomato she could use for an omelette. Eve mentally slapped herself that she hadn’t stocked up her groceries at the supermarket, because she hadn’t thought past their dinner for three. It served her right for becoming single-minded.
Eve broke the eggs into a bowl and stirred them viciously. From now on she’d channel her attraction to Ben, which after all was nothing but a matter of hormones, as an incentive to look her best, but nothing else. A bit of self-love went a long way.
Ben checked his phone for messages. Nothing. John was finally asleep after a fretful day. Ben was unsure if Eve’s visit had caused it, but his father kept him busy with his restlessness whenever he took a break from his work. He wished John would tell him what bothered him. Although, if he did, Ben was almost certain it was something he did not want to hear. Ever. The truth might set one of them free. The other one would face hell.
Chapter 17
Wonderful, what a clear head could do. Eve’s fingers danced over her keyboard. She’d changed out of her pyjamas, brushed her hair and swiped on a layer of mascara. Instead of feeling like a frazzled, stressed-out frump, she had her life and her work under control. Only five more pages to go, and she could afford to pop out for groceries and take the whole, glorious afternoon off.
Hayley caught her as Eve unlocked her car. “How are you?” she asked. “No nightmares?”
“I’ll feel better once I have a security camera installed,” Eve admitted.
“It does make a lot of difference. Do you have any idea what you’re looking for?”
Eve thought of Kim. “I need to ask someone about her camera, but the answer is yes. I think so, at least.”
“Good. But what are you going to do in the meantime?”
“I was wondering if you could put the word out that my cottage is protected. Single woman and a stranger and all that.”
Hayley’s eyes twinkled. “I’ll do you one better
. I’ll whisper a few words in Heather’s ears and let her do her magic.”
“How come you’re not at work?” Eve asked, touched by Hayley’s concern.
“My nan’s keeping an eye on the ladies. She told me to get out from under their feet, because I seem to make Grace nervous. Which means. I’ve got a little bit of freedom on my hands.”
“Damn. I’m on my way to the shops.”
“Pity.” Hayley waved a piece of paper under Eve’s nose.
Eve gave in and locked her car again. “I could go out later. Coffee?”
The paper was blank. Eve was puzzled.
“Interesting, isn’t it?” Hayley said. “Heather could think of only two people who’d tried to get close to Donna. One is Sue Littlewood, which makes sense. She’s always on the hunt for new blood for the Women’s Institute. Preposterous idea to think of her as your vandal though.”
Eve reached for her watering can, to top up the Aloe plant.
Hayley stopped her. “What are you doing? Haven’t you read the instructions? You’ll drown the poor plant.”
Eve put the watering can away.
“Sue asked me when she should drop by to see, you by the way,” Hayley said.
Eve pulled a face.
Hayley patted her hand, in an annoyingly patronising way. “Don’t worry, I’ve told her to catch you at the ‘Green Dragon’. That woman is a lot wilier than she appears, and you’re no match for her on your own. Unless you desperately want to see yourself roped in to the sisterhood of the Women’s Institute.”
“Good grief, no. Who’s the other one?”
“You’re going to like this. It’s Dom’s older brother, Harry. Used to fancy himself as a bit of a ladies’ man. Heather swears to high heaven he had his sights set on Donna.”
Eve’s pulse quickened. “Could he have been her secret lover? I’m sure she was planning on moving in with him.”
Hayley’s wrinkled her nose. “That, I’m afraid to admit it, is where Harry drops out of the picture. During the period in question, he’d moved back in with his parents after his divorce, and I can’t see any woman willing to shack up in a spare room above a garage.”
“He could have rented a flat,” Eve said.
“He could, but I’m sure that Heather would have heard. Give that woman enough time, and she can tell you the colour of your underwear and where you bought it.”
“Is this Harry attractive enough to have been Donna’s type?” Eve asked.
“Intellectually he was no Ben, but a lot of women wouldn’t have minded his company.” Hayley caught on to Eve’s surprise. She sighed. “Not me, if that’s what you were wondering. Like Bella, I prefer my men to be slightly more sophisticated. And not from around these parts. But Harry has the six-pack and the swagger, and he does scrub up well.”
Eve decided against prying. “Can you picture him as the brick-thrower?”
“That’s the second snag. He got engaged two months ago and moved in with his fiancée. That’s why he’s too busy to show his face in the ‘Green Dragon’. He might have heard about Ben resurfacing, but it’s all speculation.”
“What about a motive for murder? Maybe Donna told him she wanted something better than to live with Harry’s parents, especially since she expected a nice bit of cash as divorce settlement. He might have felt insulted, or belittled.”
“I might at a very long stretch see Harry lash out in a rage, but drugging John means premeditation. Plus, the killer needed a key to get inside.”
“And Donna wouldn’t have given him a spare key to the house. She used the cabin for her trysts.” Eve drummed her fingertips on the table. It helped her concentrate. “What about Grace? She used to work for the Drydens. Did she possess a key that Harry or someone else might have swiped to get a copy made?”
“That’s another dead end. Ben offered her one, but she’d walked in on another elderly client once, doing naked yoga, and declined.” They broke into a giggle.
“This is hopeless,” Eve said after they composed themselves. “We’re getting nowhere.”
“I wouldn’t say that. At least you have a lot of information about what didn’t happen. What’s left – “, Hayley glanced at the clock. “Speaking of leaving, I have to get back to the pub. Will I see you there tonight?”
“I’ll try.”
Eve followed Hayley out of the door, before she forgot about groceries again.
With her fridge full to bursting, Eve concentrated on her final stretch of work. Hayley’s words popped into her mind. “What’s left.”
What was left, apart from a handful of pesky sentences unwilling to form into smooth constructs?
Eve switched on the television, hoping the background noise would drown out her thoughts while she made sense of the words in front of her and definitely would not digress.
The second she’d switched off her laptop, Eve clasped her backpack and fled the house. She needed fresh air to clear her brain. Her feet took her along her usual path, without any conscious thought.
Eve stared at the roof of the cabin, willing the owl to appear and impart some of the wisdom it was supposed to possess. After all, without the bird she wouldn’t have met Ben. Which meant, the owl caused this whole messy situation.
She stuck out her lower lip. A sensible person would have walked straight away instead of involving herself in the life of a man who would not appreciate any of her efforts.
Soft footsteps made her turn around, to see Ben.
“It’s in the tree hole,” he said.
“What is?” Her heart beat ridiculously fast. How young could one have a heart attack? And why should she be frightened at all? Nobody but Hayley and Letty knew she was snooping around, and she posed no threat to the killer. Unfortunately, thanks to her lack of insights.
“The owl,” Ben said. “You’re looking for it, right?”
“Of course. Is it nesting?” She smoothed her curls, a bad habit to cover up nervousness.
“Probably.”
“Then we’d better leave it in peace.”
They walked towards the river, their steps in easy synchronicity.
“I didn’t realise you had no security cameras,” Ben said.
Her step faltered. How did he know?
“Careful,” he said. “Hayley called me, to warn me against visiting Letty.”
“I see.”
“You should have told me what happened.”
“It was only a brick. No big deal.” Every nerve in her body was aware of his presence, the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed, the scent of his after-shave. Blood rushed into her face.
“What if you’d been awake and been hit?” he asked.
“It won’t happen again. I’ll have the cottage secured. End of story.”
“I would install the equipment for you, but your neighbours could take offence if I show myself again.”
“Five years. They need to get a life,” Eve said.
“People have a long memory.”
“I don’t understand why you’re still here. I get why you’re looking after John, but he should see what that is costing you.” She deliberately kept her gaze on the horizon.
“I told you how much the land means to him,” Ben said.
“More than his own son? Especially when he’s practically house-bound?”
“I promised I’d take care of everything, on my mother’s grave.”
“That’s a noble oath. Did you take a chastity vow as well?” Eve bit her tongue. She didn’t even know where those words came from. “Sorry,” she said. “I was trying to be funny.”
Ben stepped in front of her. Their gaze met. He reached out a hand as if to touch her cheek, only to halt half an inch from her face. He let the arm drop.
“You weren’t. And the answer is no. I just don’t want things to get more complicated than they already are.” The ghost of a regretful smile flitted over his face.
Warmth spread through her body. She moistened her suddenly dry lips. A rumbl
e over her head made her look up. As if on cue, the blue sky had turned leaden, with dark clouds moving towards them.
“You should hurry if you want to get home dry,” Ben said. “I would offer to drive you, but it might take us as long to even reach my car.”
“And you don’t want to be seen around Ivy Cottage.” She pushed herself up on her tiptoes, brushed his cheek with her mouth and ran off without looking back.
Chapter 18
No complications. Ben stared at Eve’s retreating back. He’d promised himself to stay clear of any more problems as long as he had to. He should never have brought Eve home and let John meet her. She’d disturbed the balance of their carefully crafted life together and he had no idea where it might lead. For all of them.
Chris and John played a game of chess when Ben returned. They were evenly matched, Ben thought as he watched them from the doorway. John was the better player, but his concentration flagged halfway through, whereas Chris’ foresight never reached further than the next three or four moves.
John grunted as he moved a pawn.
Chris looked up from the board and spotted Ben. “You’re back,” he said, as he rose and slapped him on the back in a chipper, manful manner.
Usually Ben played along, to keep peace. Today, it grated on Ben’s nerves. “Looks like it.”
“Had a good walk?” John gave him a sly glance.
Ben bristled at the interrogation. “Why are you asking?”
Chris gave John a small shrug. “A massage might help Mr Grumpy get rid of his tensions.”
“A less juvenile choice of words might help as well.” Ben gritted his teeth.
John struggled to wheel his chair around, away from Ben. Chris grabbed the handles and pushed the wheelchair towards the hallway.
“Wait,” Ben said. “I’m sorry.” Except he wasn’t. He meant every word.
Let Sleeping Murder Lie: A cozy mystery Page 13
