“I said all along, Ben Dryden would never hurt a fly,” Eve heard Bob of all people say as she sneaked towards the passage.
“That Chris always had a shifty eye,” a Panther said.
Upstairs, Hayley pulled her inside the flat. “I thought you’d never get here.”
“What’s going on?”
“Curiosity, bad conscience and thirst in equal measures I’d say.” Hayley chortled. “You should have seen the faces, when John appeared. I swear, the Pink Panther who spread the word in town broke any speed record, on five-inch heels.”
“I’m glad he came.” Eve frowned. “How did he get here?”
Hayley patted her on the head. “Not so smart now, are we? Have a guess. I’ll be downstairs, if you need me.”
She gave a shrill whistle. Ben poked his head around the corner. Hayley tiptoed away.
They were both lost for words.
“Hi,” Eve said after what felt like a lifetime. “How are you?”
His hand went towards his cheek. “Chris has got a killer swing.”
For some reason, the remark broke her up. “He does.”
“Mind you, you took him out with one strike.”
“Because he stood close. At a distance, I can’t hit a barn door. Plus, the ball belonged to my mother. It was her good luck charm.”
“She saved us. You saved us,” Ben said.
“How did John take it?”
“Better than I’d thought. All he cared about was he no longer had to doubt me, and I don’t suspect him anymore. It’s as if a crushing weight has been lifted. He’s even talking about taking a holiday with Letty. In all decency, of course.”
“That’s fantastic.”
Ben gave her a crooked smile which sent tingles down her spine.
“He’s thinking of November. Which would free me up in case you need someone to carry your luggage when you visit your family.”
“That’s a lot of water down the Thames.”
“Or we could go away for a break. Sort of a test drive.”
“And your father?”
“We’re not taking him. You’ve got a valid passport?”
This went a bit too fast for Eve. “What’s going on?”
“Well, if you want to start a relationship being watched by the Women’s Institute and the bowling team and the rugby fans, it’s up to you. I’d rather have a bit more –“
He broke off his sentence to kiss her. His hands caressed the small of her back.
“Privacy,” she whispered as he covered her neck in butterfly kisses. “Then how the hell do we get out of here?”
He pointed towards the fire ladder. “Or we could walk through the pub and get the rumours over with.”
Eve slipped her finger underneath his shirt. “Or we could stay here.”
He stopped her from undressing him. “Let me drop off my father first.”
She gave in. They strolled downstairs, hand in hand. As if on a silent command, every customer turned towards them and gaped.
“There you are,” John said, breaking the spell. “Why don’t you two go on home and Dom will drive me later?”
They made one stop on the way. Eve nestled in Ben’s arms as she watched the owl take up its perch on the cabin roof.
“It’s a female,” Ben said.
“How do you know?”
“If you take a close look, you can spot eggs in the tree-hole.”
“Another romance, right under our nose.” Eve shook her head. “We should give them their privacy.”
“We should.”
“I’m sorry I suspected you. I didn’t mean it,” she said.
“You did. And you had all the reason in the world.”
“Okay.” She pulled him away. “How long do we have until your father returns?” She took her phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Texting Hayley. ‘Keep John locked up until further notice.’”
“Does that mean you’d be willing start over again?”
“I might,” she said. “If that’s really what you want.”
“No more secrets, or lies?”
She held out her hand.
He shook it. “Deal. So, what are we supposed to do now?”
“We could talk about all those things we skirted around on.” She paused. “You look like you could still do with a decent rest.”
“A lie-down would be good.” His eyes twinkled.
“That’s what I thought.” She slipped her hand into his, to set off for home. Behind them, the owl screeched in what to Eve sounded like a triumphant fanfare.
She half-turned and blew a kiss into the approximate direction of the owl. “Your job’s done. And thank you.”
“Do you always talk to animals?” Ben asked.
She snuggled into his arm. “If you’re lucky, you might find out.”
Also by Carmen Radtke
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More books by Carmen Radtke
The Jack and Frances mysteries
A Matter of Love and Death
Adelaide, 1931. Telephone switchboard operator Frances' life is difficult as sole provider for her mother and adopted uncle. But it's thrown into turmoil when she overhears a suspicious conversation on the phone, planning a murder.
If a life is at risk, she should tell the police; but that would mean breaking her confidentiality clause and would cost her the job. And practical Frances, not prone to flights of fancy, soon begins to doubt the evidence of her own ears - it was a very bad line, after all...
She decides to put it behind her, but it’s not easy. Luckily there is the charming, slightly dangerous night club owner Jack. Jack's no angel - six pm prohibition is in force, and what's a nightclub without champagne? But when Frances' earlier fears resurface, she knows that he's the person to confide in.
Frances and Jack's hunt for the truth puts them in grave danger, and soon enough Frances will learn that some things are a matter of love and death ...
Murder at the Races
Nothing is a dead-cert against a cold blooded killer …
1931. Frances Palmer is overjoyed when her brother Rob returns to Adelaide as a racecourse veterinarian. But all is not well on the turf, and when a man is murdered, there is only one suspect – Rob.
Frances and her boyfriend, charming night club owner Jack Sullivan, along with ex-vaudevillian Uncle Sal and their friends have only one chance to unmask the real murderer, by infiltrating the racecourse. The odds are against them, but luckily putting on a dazzling show where everything depends on sleight of hand is what they do best.
But with time running out for Rob, the race is on …
Meet Jack Sullivan in False Play at the Christmas Party, a novelette set in 1928.
A charity ball in aid of veterans sounded like rich pickings …
Coming soon: Death under Palm Trees
Meet Alyssa Chalmers, Victorian emigrant, reluctant bride, intrepid sleuth.
The Case of the Missing Bride
Setting sail for matrimony – or something sinister?
1862. When a group of young Australian women set sail for matrimony in Canada, they believe it’s the start of a happy new life.
But when one of the intended brides goes missing, only Alyssa Chalmers, the one educated, wealthy woman in the group, is convinced the disappearance is no accident. She sets out to find out what happened.
Has there been a murder?
Alyssa is willing to move heaven and earth to find out the truth. She is about to discover that there is more to her voyage into the unknown than she bargained for, and it may well cost her life …
Inspired by true events.
Glittering Death
Gold, wedding bells - and murder …
1862. A group of brides from Australia have arrived in British Columbia, and love is in the air - u
ntil the happiness in the prospectors’ town “Run’s End” is shattered when the hotel-owner is found dead. To make matters worse, something is wrong with the stored gold at the hotel, and an epidemic makes it impossible for anyone to leave town.
The brides pin all their hopes on their friend Alyssa Chalmers to find the murderer and restore peace in their new home. But the killer is cunning, and desperate …
Walking in the Shadow
Quail Island, 1909. Jimmy Kokupe is the miracle man.
On a small, wind-blasted island off the east coast of New Zealand a small colony of lepers is isolated but not abandoned, left to live out their days in relative peace thanks to the charity of the townspeople and the compassion of the local doctor and matron of the hospital.
Jimmy Kokupe is a miracle: he’s been cured. But he still carries the stigma, which makes life back on the mainland dangerous and lonely. To find a refuge, he’s returned to the camp to care for his friend, fellow patient old Will, and disturbed young Charley.
Healed of his physical ailments and dreaming of the girl he once planned to follow to a new life in Australia, Jimmy meets ‘the lady’, the island caretaker’s beautiful but troubled wife who brings their food. Can she help Jimmy forget his difficult past and overcome his own prejudices towards his mixed parentage, and find the courage to risk living in freedom?
Inspired by true events.
You can catch up with Carmen Radtke on her website (www.carmenradtke.com), on twitter or on Goodreads or follow her on Bookbub.
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