by Agatha Frost
“Leave her alone!” Simon cried, clapping his hands together, causing the chickens to scatter. “Are you alright?”
“I think so,” she mumbled, daring to open her eyes. “I’m not cut out for the farm life.”
Simon chuckled as he held out a hand, which Liz gratefully accepted. Once back on her feet, she brushed the feed off her clothes, embarrassed she had made a simple task look so difficult.
“You’re supposed to scatter the feed,” Simon smiled warmly at her. “I’ve never seen anyone turn themselves into a platter before.”
“I guess I can be the first,” Liz said, rubbing her backside to wipe the dirt off. “It’s nothing a change of clothes and a shower won’t fix.”
Simon chuckled softly as he stared deep into her eyes. He was so close that she could feel his breath on her. He reached towards her face, and for a second, she thought he was going to kiss her. She felt like her feet were suddenly glued to the ground.
“You’ve got some feed in your hair,” he stated, plucking a piece of grain from her frizzy locks. “That’s better.”
“Thank you,” she said, embarrassed by her own thoughts. “I think we should leave the chickens to their food before they turn on me again.”
Simon nodded his agreement before emptying out the rest of the buckets onto the ground. When he was done, they left the chickens to eat in peace. Liz felt more comfortable watching from the other side of the fence.
“Oh, here comes trouble,” Simon whispered under his breath, nodding towards the farmhouse.
Liz looked up after untying Paddy. Ellie, Simon’s little sister, was running across the yard, followed by a man and woman, who looked to be in their mid-sixties.
“Look, John, a guest!” the woman cried, winking at her husband. “Have you already put her to work, Simon?”
“Sandra, leave the boy alone,” John cried, slapping his wife on the shoulder. “Feeding the chickens is hardly work.”
“I made it look like hard work,” Liz said, dusting down her front again. “You must be Simon’s parents.”
“Mum, Dad, this is Liz,” Simon said, clearly uncomfortable by their sudden appearance.
“Liz!” Sandra exclaimed, taking her hand firmly. “So, you’re the Liz we’ve heard so much about.”
“You have?” Liz laughed nervously, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights, unsure if she had heard about her the same way the rest of Scarlet Cove had, or if she had heard something different through Simon. “All good things I hope. You’ve got a really nice place here.”
“That’s very sweet of you,” John said, his eyes crinkling as he smiled, a grey moustache dancing on his top lip. “Isn’t Liz sweet, Simon?”
“Dad,” Simon said with a stern smile. “Why don’t you get back inside?”
“I’ve just put the kettle on,” Sandra said, glancing over her shoulder at the farmhouse, her hands tucking into her floral apron. “Would you like to stay for some tea, Liz?”
“I should probably set off home,” Liz said awkwardly, hooking her thumb over her shoulder to the winding lane back to Scarlet Cove. “Paddy will be getting hungry.”
“That’s a shame,” Sandra said, clearly assessing the town’s new arrival. “If you ever decide to visit again, our door is always open.”
“And you’re always welcome,” John added, winking at his son. “C’mon, Ellie. Let’s leave them to it.”
Simon’s parents hurried back to the farmhouse with Ellie skipping between them. They all looked back at Liz to wave before disappearing inside. When they were out of view, Simon let out a relieved sigh.
“I’m so sorry about them,” he groaned with an unnatural laugh. “They’re so embarrassing.”
“They’re sweet,” Liz said. “It’s okay. They clearly care about you.”
Simon smiled his gratitude. It made Liz think about her own parents, and how much they would disapprove of Simon because of his upbringing and lifestyle. She almost wished her parents were more like Simon’s.
They wandered past Adam, who was finishing unloading the hay, and to the edge of the farm. Simon hung back at the gate, leaning against the post.
“Like they said, you’re always welcome up here,” Simon said. “If you’re ever passing, that is.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“See you later, Liz.”
“Bye, Simon.”
He nodded and saluted before turning and jogging back to the farmhouse. She watched him until he vanished from view, and then turned and set off down the winding lane. She only realised she had left without the tub of ice cream she had gone for when she was climbing the stairs to her flat.
10
Liz spent the next morning checking over everything in the shop, making sure she was ready for the grand opening. She was still waiting on a late order of canvases, and the printer had delayed fitting the new sign. Despite the setbacks, she was happy how things were coming together.
“What do you think?” she asked Paddy. He looked up at her without a care in the world, panting with his tongue out. “That’s what I thought.”
She smiled and scratched the top of his head, and he nuzzled her hand appreciatively. Liz turned her back on him and got to work sorting out the display of pens on the counter, but she immediately turned back when she heard him whining near the back door at the end of the storeroom.
“Do you need to go?” she asked.
Paddy barked softly, ran in a circle, and looked up at her expectantly. Liz opened the door, instantly noticing the back gate was ajar. Before she had a chance to shut it, the dog bolted through the gap and out of sight.
“Paddy!” she shouted, running after him. “Come back!”
Paddy darted down the narrow alley and burst out onto the road at the end. After quickly locking the back door of her shop, she sprinted after him. As the wind rushed through her hair, she wondered if their relationship was more one sided than she had first thought.
He bolted across the road, narrowly missing a car. Liz apologised with a wave of her hand before running in front of the car herself.
Paddy finally stopped in front of the Fish and Anchor. He cocked his leg against one of the flowerpots and relieved himself as he looked at Liz with a sheepish expression.
“You little rascal,” she scolded him. “Don’t do that again, okay? You gave me a fright.”
Liz bent down and picked Paddy up when he was finished, her fingers wrapping around his collar in case he tried to dart off again. As she walked past the pub with Paddy in her arms, she looked down the alley and noticed Mandy leaning against the wall with a cigarette pressed between her lips. When Mandy noticed Liz, she quickly dropped the cigarette and stamped it out before blowing the smoke from her lungs.
“I quit ages ago,” she said defensively. “It’s been a long day. Is that my dad’s dog?”
Liz walked down the dark alley towards the barmaid, taking the recognition of Paddy as an invitation to talk. After speaking with Adam at Simon’s farm, she knew it would be good to hear Mandy’s version of events, especially now that she knew Frank had been murdered.
“We could do with borrowing him,” Mandy said, scratching the top of his head. “We keep getting rats in the yard. I’m supposed to be out here laying traps, but they don’t seem to be making a difference.”
“Have you tried rat poison?” Liz suggested, following Mandy into the tiny yard, which was filled with barrels and empty crates. “That’s what I usually use.”
“Shirley prefers we don’t,” Mandy admitted, glancing over her shoulder at the slightly open door. “But I use the stuff when she’s off shift. We have a few boxes in the storeroom for emergencies. It’s been a hot summer, so they keep coming back. I think they like the smell of the beer.”
“Maybe this one could sniff them out,” Liz said, letting Paddy down to the ground. “Do you have anything I could use as a lead? He’s heavier than he looks.”
Mandy dug in one of the empty crates and pulled out
a strip of thin blue rope. Liz accepted it gratefully and threaded it through Paddy’s collar.
“It’s from the fish deliveries,” Mandy explained. “Fishy Chris wraps up the boxes in the stuff. I think he’s paranoid someone is going to tamper with his stuff.”
“Would someone do that?”
“Probably,” Mandy said with a shrug. “He’s not the nicest guy around here, is he?”
“Is that what your father said?”
Mandy narrowed her eyes at the mention of Frank. She wondered if she had spoken out of turn, but she was eager to find out more about their relationship from the source.
“He was ruthless,” Mandy said. “Wanted to get rid of my dad from the start.”
“Were you close?” Liz pushed.
“With my dad?” Mandy asked. “We used to be. I’m helping plan his funeral, and it’s making me realise how little I actually knew him. Laura is sorting most of it out. If you want to know about my dad, you should ask her.”
“I thought they’d split up?” Liz asked, remembering what Adam had told her. “Or so I heard.”
“It doesn’t matter now, does it?” Mandy said with a shrug, turning back to the door. “People split up all the time. It doesn’t mean it’s permanent. I should get back before Shirley sends out a search party.”
Mandy strode back into the pub without saying another word. Liz lingered in the yard for a moment before heading back into the alley. Nancy had left this part of the pub off her tour. Liz wandered further down the alley, surprised when she came out into a beer garden at the back of the pub. It was full of men and women drinking pints and smoking cigarettes, their eyes glued on a game of football on a flat screen TV attached to the wall. One of the teams scored, causing half the crowd to roar, while the other booed.
From the beer garden, she had a perfect view into the pub. With Paddy by her side, Liz pushed through the crowd and into the building, which was just as busy inside. Thanks to the game of football, she went by unnoticed.
She considered ordering a glass of wine to take a little break from working on her shop. She got as far as the bar when she spotted Laura and Michael in the corner. Liz recognised it as the same corner Laura had been sitting in when she had been crying into her wine the day after Frank’s death. The contrast between the two moments jumped out at Liz. Michael whispered something into Laura’s ear, his fingers dancing up and down her arm. She tossed her head back and laughed before reaching for her wine glass.
Liz cast her mind back to their conversation in her shop the other day. Laura had still been grief-stricken then, but she seemed like a completely different woman now. Had what Adam said about Laura and Frank splitting up been true after all? And if it was true, had Laura rekindled her relationship with her estranged husband? Before Liz could observe anymore, the couple stood up and walked through to the beer garden. She bobbed her head, but they looked too lost in their own world to notice her.
Liz knew grief was not a straight line. After Lewis’ death, she would spend days crying in the shower, and others laughing manically in a wine bar with people she barely knew. Michael was likely to be a familiar comfort to Laura, and Liz could not begrudge her a shred of happiness in the bleakness that had followed since finding his body.
Deciding against taking a break in a pub full of football fans, Liz headed through the front door. She paused on the doorstep and inhaled the sea air, glad of the peace and quiet. Her momentary bubble of peace popped when a familiar voice floated down the street towards her. Liz turned to see Christopher and his sister, Katelyn, walking arm in arm towards her. When they saw her, they had two very different reactions.
“Good afternoon, Elizabeth,” Christopher beamed, seeming to have forgotten all about her awkwardly dodging his kiss after their non-date. “Beautiful day, wouldn’t you say?”
“It is,” she said shortly. “I’m still not used to this sea breeze. Cools everything down when you need it the most.”
Christopher nodded his agreement, but Katelyn’s glaze remained blank and steely. Liz was not keen to relive her first meeting with Katelyn anytime soon. She almost wished she could have made as quick an escape as Paddy had.
“Nice to see you again, Elizabeth.” Katelyn’s strained smile was obvious. “What a lovely dog you have there.”
“You two have already met?” Christopher asked, looking at both of the women. “You didn’t mention it, Katelyn.”
“Briefly,” Liz said bluntly.
“Elizabeth was kind enough to bring some of her work in, and it pained me to not be able to show it in our gallery,” Katelyn said, her strained smile growing. “We just don’t have the space.”
Liz narrowed her eyes on the woman, her heart squirming in her chest. Just from the dopey look on Christopher’s face, Liz doubted he would believe her if she said anything to contradict his sister’s version of events. Knowing it was not worth it, Liz decided it would be better to play Katelyn at her own game.
“You must let me know if any spaces become available,” Liz said airily. “You did, after all, love my work.”
Katelyn’s smile faltered, but she maintained her composure, simply nodding stiffly. When Paddy pulled on the makeshift lead, Liz was grateful for the excuse to leave.
“I’ll see you around,” Liz said, making sure to look them both in the eyes while she smiled her goodbyes. “I think Paddy would like to continue his walk.”
Eager not to let either of the uptight siblings have the last word, Liz hurried around them, setting off down the winding street, the bright sun shining gloriously down on her. Her bubble of peace almost re-formed around her, until she heard footsteps hurrying after her.
“Are you heading down to the harbour?” Christopher called as he caught up with her. “I’ll walk with you.”
Liz opened her mouth to object until she realised it had not been a question. Just like their date, Christopher had assumed her acceptance of his company.
“Settling in?” he asked as they turned onto one of Scarlet Cove’s many twisting backstreets.
“As much as a city person can in a small town,” Liz said. “I think I was wrong to assume coastal life would be a lot slower. I don’t think I’ve ever been busier.”
“Small town life is certainly different.” Christopher replied thoughtfully. “The city is much better for business, but I’ve been here so long, I don’t think I’d want to leave.”
“You seem to be doing well here,” Liz said.
“Oh, I am, but there is always space for growth. I just don’t think now would be the time. I was hoping to bump into you.”
“You were?” Liz mumbled, already knowing what was coming next. “Why’s that?”
“I thoroughly enjoyed our date the other night,” Christopher said, the nerves obvious in his voice. “I think you did too, so I would love to arrange a second one.”
Liz wondered if she had given off any signals that she had enjoyed their non-date, or if it was wishful thinking on Christopher’s part.
“It wasn’t really a date, was it?” she reminded him. “I don’t really think now is the right time for me, Christopher. I’m going to be really busy getting things ready for the shop opening.”
Christopher nodded his understanding. To Liz’s surprise, he did not push the subject, and they walked in silence until they reached his office at the harbour.
“Can I at least invite you in for some coffee or tea?” he asked his teeth sparkling as he smiled. “As friends?”
Liz looked through the window of his office and tried to think of a polite way to decline. She opened her mouth to speak, stopping when something caught her eye on one of Christopher’s crowded shelves. She squinted to make sure she was not mistaken. Even with her waning eyesight, she could read the large label on the metal tin easily; rat poison.
“Coffee would be lovely,” she said, pushing forward a smile. “I’ve been mainly drinking tea recently, so it would make a nice change.”
Liz sat down in the chair
in front of Christopher’s desk. She held Paddy’s lead tight by her side as she assessed the poison label from closer up. Christopher smiled over his shoulder as he put a pod into his coffee machine. She smiled back, looking away from the poison until he turned back to the cups.
Liz was eager to inspect the tin, but she knew she could not do it without Christopher questioning her. Deciding it would be better to play along like she had done with Katelyn, Liz relaxed into her chair and waited for Christopher to finish making the coffee.
“Rat poison?” Liz asked as he set the drink in front of her and sat on the other side of the desk. “Mandy said they’re running havoc at the pub too. I hope they stay away from my shop.”
“I think they like the sea air,” he replied lightly as he blew on the surface of his coffee. “They’re quite the nuisance. I bought this stuff online. It’s the strongest you can legally buy. I can order you some if you like? The tiniest bit is enough to kill any rat, even the bigger ones.”
“Maybe I should invest in some,” she said airily, wondering if she was looking at the murder weapon. “I’ll wait until I actually see some at the shop. I don’t want Paddy coming across it.”
“Good idea,” he said after a sip of his coffee. “It is highly lethal to animals.”
“Humans too?”
“I suppose it is,” he said with a shrug. “Don’t go eating any, right?”
Christopher laughed, his teeth dazzling her from across the table. Liz attempted to join in, but she felt too uneasy. Did Christopher know she knew how Frank had died? Was he bragging? Liz wanted to ask him so many questions but had no clue where to start. Without her detective’s badge, she felt powerless.
“About that date,” Liz said, resting her untouched cup on the desk. “Why don’t you come to my place tomorrow night? I’ll cook.”
