by Carrie Marsh
CHAPTER TWO
FISH AND CHIPS
Laura walked out into the crispness of an early autumn evening in high spirits. The sun had just set over the low hills and the night smelled of dew.
“It's a beautiful da-aay...” Laura sang as she walked down the steps outside happily.
“Laura!”
Laura whipped around to see Janet, the hotel's receptionist, running down the stairs behind her, high heels clicking on the stairway. She balanced on the edge of the step beside Laura, smoothing a hand down her black pencil skirt.
“Yes, Janet?”
“How did it go?” Janet asked excitedly. “The interview, I mean.”
“Oh, we hired him,” Laura confirmed. “Mrs. Poole and I have it all worked out. He should start work at the beginning of next week.”
“Perfect,” Janet agreed. “And I have some exciting news, too...a kind of related topic. Or at least I will have, tomorrow...” Janet smiled secretively. An inveterate gossip and almost permanently on the lookout for potential lovers, Janet was a breath of fresh air in the small village which otherwise consisted mainly of people over eighty or under ten.
“That sounds interesting,” Laura commented. She looked at her watch. “Oh, is it nine-thirty already?” she exclaimed. “I have to go! See you...”
“See you, Laura,” Janet sang out as Laura ran down the front steps, high heels clicking on the stairs, and found her car in the darkened lot. The other pleasant thing about Janet was her inability to be ruffled by anything.
“Let's go...” Laura shouted at the engine of her ancient Renault, turning the key in the ignition. It coughed and jumped forward, and Laura smiled. She did not really need the car – she lived three blocks away from the hotel – but it was still very cold in the evenings and the walk could be less than pleasant. Besides, she liked the car: she had bought it with her first salary as a receptionist, then paid almost three times as much having it repaired. It had a tenacious spirit, it seemed to Laura, and now that it was finally working she was reluctant to part from it.
“Home, sweet ho-o-me” she sang, as her little car wheezed off into the night. I should join the village choir sometime, she thought to herself, grinning.
She pulled up outside her little cottage and walked briskly to the front door, breathing in the scents of dew and cold night air. The crickets were already singing, and moths flew drowsily around the lamp over the door. This is why I love this place, Laura thought, drawing in the scents of evening as she walked briskly up to the front door.
“Monty!” Laura grinned at the house's occupant as she crossed the threshold, letting in a cloud of mist behind her.
Hello, Monty said gruffly. He looked up at her from his place on the mat. You took your time.
“Oh, Monty,” Laura said affectionately, “It's not late – only quarter to ten!”
I'm hungry, Monty said grumpily. I had a long day in the fields.
“You did?” Laura asked, as she went through to the kitchen, scooping food into his dish.
Yes. I would tell you, he began, but I think there is someone waiting for you outside.
“How do you..?” Laura said, just as she heard a knock at the door.
I heard his car door in the street, and his footsteps on the path. Not that hard, Monty said smugly, and took himself off to her bedroom.
Laura ran to the front door and opened it, feeling her heart beating faster.
“Howard!”
“Laura,” he greeted her, and put a hand on her shoulder. His other hand held a package, with which he gestured, smiling.
Laura lifted a brow.
“Is that what I think it is?”
“Battered fish. And chips. Picked them up in Branley on the way back from the lab,” he explained succinctly.
Laura smiled. “Just what I wanted.”
“Really?” Howard remarked, and Laura felt her heart clench. He had such a boyish grin – it took years off his lean, serious face and made him seem a child, confiding secrets. “I'm glad.” He ran a hand through his dark hair distractedly, a gesture that suited his easy strength.
“Yes,” Laura affirmed. “Now, do come in before you freeze out there! I've got some wine to share.”
“Oh, good!” Howard said, warmly. He followed her indoors, closing the door behind them. He followed her to the kitchen, to which she bustled, ready to fetch the plates and glasses.
“And it's even white wine...” Laura said from the depths of the refrigerator, “So it will match with supper....”
Howard laughed and set the packages down by the stove. He took the glass of wine from her, smiling. Laura turned to face him, thinking as she did so what a strong, comforting presence he was. Nothing like Ron, she thought, reassured. Her experience with him had left her badly shaken and mistrustful, and all signs that Howard would never turn into such a person were encouraging.
“A toast?” Laura queried, seeing him lift the glass experimentally.
“To rest and relaxation,” he sighed, sounding exhausted.
“Cheers to that!” Laura agreed, raising hers in a toast as they drank. The wine was good – cool and sweet, with a lingering aftertaste. “Had a long day?” Laura asked, turning to the fish, which she popped on the stove to heat.
“You could say so,” Howard agreed. He leaned back on the counter, stretching his long legs. “Lots of 'flu going round.” He took a sip of wine and licked his lips, making Laura shiver.
“Really?” she asked, trying to concentrate on his words, not on his presence.
“Mm,” he nodded, “it's mainly the usual influenza, but it's having a bad effect on people. I am worried about some of my older patients,” he added, frowning.
“It's a bad 'flu?” Laura asked.
“It seems to be. I had to take Captain Radlet to the hospital,” Howard sighed.
“He will make it?”
“Mm,” Howard agreed, finishing his glass of wine. “Got him there in time, thank Heavens.”
“Indeed,” Laura agreed fervently. “I couldn't agree more. He's a nice man.”
They stood in silence for a moment while the chips heated in the microwave.
“How was your day?” Howard asked gently.
“Oh,” Laura shrugged, giving him an unfeeling smile. “Nothing like yours. I didn't save any lives, or anything...”
“That's not the point,” Howard said, bending over her. “Why would people want to be alive, if no one cared about things like nice restaurants or making sure people got the seats they book?”
He was very close. His eyes were very dark – almost black – and Laura breathed in sharply, taking in the scent of musk and spice that characterized him. She could not stop herself leaning forward. Howard leaned forward to meet her.
They kissed.
Laura closed her eyes, lost in the feeling of his warm, hard lips against hers. She gasped, slightly, and he leaned in closer, deepening the contact.
“Oh...” Laura sighed, as they ended the kiss. She felt dazed.
“The chips are overheating,” Howard mentioned lightly, inclining his head.
Laura blinked at him. Trust him to mention something so infinitely down-to-earth at a moment like this...
She turned to the microwave and then, gasping, opened it, revealing some dark brown chips, escaping from the newspaper covering.
They both laughed.
Dinner passed by in a blur of laughter and keen conversation, and Laura found herself surprised when it was past midnight.
“I should go,” Howard said gravely. “Early start tomorrow, and all that.”
“I suppose,” Laura agreed, surprised by how miserable the thought made her.
“See you tomorrow?” Howard asked earnestly.
“See you tomorrow,” Laura agreed.
She saw him off at the door and they kissed again. When he had left, she collapsed onto the couch, smiling.
It was at that moment that the telephone rang.
“Hello?�
�� Laura asked, mind still foggy with the wine and the late hour.
“Ms. Howcroft?” The voice on the other side was crisp and alert.
“Yes. What is it?” Laura glanced at the clock. It was one o'clock a.m. She wasn't expected at work before eight o' clock. It couldn't be someone from there.
“I'm Browne, from the police force. We have some serious news about your new employee,” the voice explained.
“Employee?” Laura blinked. “Oh! Mr. Duvall?”
“Yes. If you could come to Bradley Cottage, where he lives, on Drake Street? We have some questions to ask you.”
“What? Why?”
“He's dead.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carrie Marsh writes cozy mysteries and suspense novels, along with occasional blog post on her website. Her objective is to entertain, and amuse people that reads her books. Her approach is to combine witty ideas with excellent writing skills.
She lives in Florida, USA. When she's not writing, she likes to take long walks with her dog observing the world around her. Her inspirations of her stories come from these long walks.
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ALSO BY CARRIE MARSH
The Sleepless Detective Murder Mystery Series
1. LINK: The Case Of The Hated Body
A Millerfield Village Cozy Murder Mysteries Series
Link to Book #1: Dining With The Dead
Link to Book #2: Cooking With The Dead
Link to Book #3: Paying Back The Dead
Acknowledgement
Thank you for taking your time and energy to read “Paying Back The Dead ”. Without your continuous support, I would not have written this book.
Wherever you are, I appreciate you from the bottom of my heart. I also want to thank my wonderful Facebook fans, my advance copy reviewers and beta readers in advance for making this series a success
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Publisher’s Notes
This book is copyright © 2017 by CARRIE MARSH & SMILING HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.
This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real or dead people, places, or events are not intentional and are the result of coincidence. The characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the author/publisher. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
