The Quinton Case: A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella
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“Joan, why don’t you check Mr. Dickinson’s room to make sure that he didn’t accidentally pack something that doesn’t belong to him,” he said.
Roland frowned. “I’m not a common thief,” he snapped.
“We appear to be missing a crystal vase,” Joan said a few minutes later.
Roland flushed and then opened his suitcase. The vase had been carefully wrapped in several towels that had “Doveby House” stitched across them.
“I’m not sure how that ended up in there,” Roland muttered.
Janet nearly laughed out loud as Marcus checked the rest of the man’s suitcase. Then he carried the bag out to Roland’s car and loaded it into his boot. When he walked back inside and shut the door, Janet finally did her dance.
“Happy Christmas,” she chuckled. “He’s gone and he didn’t get a penny of our money.”
“I do wonder if Mildred actually meant for him to have the money, though,” Joan said. “You said the signatures matched?” she asked Marcus.
He shrugged. “They look alike to me, but what do I know? I’m an actor. I don’t know the first thing about forgeries or counterfeits.”
Janet’s jaw dropped and she stared at Marcus. Joan looked similarly shocked.
“But all those things you said about the dates were so convincing,” Janet said after a minute.
“I was just making it up as I went along,” Marcus told her. “Edward suggested that the will might be a genuine but earlier one and suggested that I make a big deal about the dates to see how Roland and Eldridge would react. It worked, in that Roland dropped his claim.”
“What if it hadn’t worked?” Janet asked.
“Edward would have sent in a real expert if you’d needed one. They were all just busy with the holidays, so he sent me as a temporary measure. He’ll be delighted to know that everything is resolved, though.”
“What if it isn’t, though? Roland still has the other will, or rather, Eldridge does,” Janet pointed out.
“I’m going to give this copy to Edward when I get back to London. He’ll do all of the things I told Roland about, investigating the solicitor and the witnesses. I don’t think you two have anything to worry about, though. The way both men ran is a pretty clear indication that they were trying to scam you.”
“I have to go and finish my Christmas shopping,” Janet exclaimed. If she hurried, she might still have time to get the desk from William’s shop delivered for Christmas morning.
“I suppose, now that everything is sorted, I should head back to London,” Marcus said.
“How will you celebrate Christmas?” Joan asked.
He shrugged. “I wasn’t acting when I said I didn’t really do much for Christmas. I don’t have any family anymore and most of my friends will be busy with their families. I’ll probably just have a quiet day at home.”
Janet looked at Joan. “You should stay,” she blurted out. “We owe you a lot for scaring away Roland and Eldridge. Stay and celebrate with us.”
“I don’t want to impose,” the man began, but Joan interrupted.
“It’s no imposition. You’re more than welcome.”
Janet felt like a small child again on Christmas morning, even though she wasn’t expecting anything exciting under the tree. Joan surprised her with copies of two Agatha Christie books that she didn’t actually own.
“I’ve been looking for this one for years,” she exclaimed over one of them. “I’ve never even read it.”
Joan loved her desk and Marcus was kind enough to help the sisters move the larger desk into the sitting room before moving the smaller one into Joan’s room.
“It’s perfect,” Joan sighed.
William arrived right after they’d enjoyed Joan’s delicious Christmas lunch.
“Happy Christmas,” he said, handing Janet a wrapped parcel. “I can’t stay.” He raced back to his car and drove away before Janet could do any more than shout “thank you” to him.
“What is it?” Joan asked.
Janet unwrapped the gift and then turned it over in her hands. “It’s a painting of Aggie,” she said, swallowing a small lump in her throat. “He must have painted it himself.”
“He did,” Joan confirmed. “He rang me in November and asked me to take some pictures of her from which he could work. He’s done a wonderful job with it, I must say.”
“It’s beautiful,” Janet said happily.
When the phone rang later that evening, Joan answered. “Marcus, it’s for you,” she said in surprise.
“Edward? Hello and Happy Christmas,” Marcus said into the receiver. The pair talked for several minutes before he laughed and then held out the phone. “Janet, Edward would appreciate a few minutes of your time.”
“Happy Christmas,” Janet said as she put the phone to her ear.
“Happy Christmas, my dear,” Edward replied. “I have the perfect present for you, but you’re going to have to wait until I’m there to receive it, I’m afraid.”
“You are coming, then?”
“I should be arriving around the seventeenth of January,” he replied. “Someone will confirm that with you closer to the date, but it won’t be me.”
“Oh?”
“I’m going to need for you and Joan to do something for me, actually. When I arrive, I’ll be using a different name. You both must pretend that you don’t know me. That’s very important.”
“We’ll try our best,” Janet said, suddenly even more nervous about the man’s impending visit.
“I’ll explain everything when I can,” he promised. “Now I’m afraid I have to go.”
Janet put down the phone and sighed. “Things just keep getting more and more complicated,” she told Joan.
Letter to Bessie, part two
Marcus stayed with us until the new year. Joan and I both enjoyed his company very much. He told us hundreds of stories about so many famous people that I lost track. We were sorry to see him go, really.
He rang yesterday to thank us again and to let us know that the will that Roland produced has now been completely discredited. Apparently one of the witnesses passed away many years before the date on the will itself. Eldridge and Roland are both claiming that they had nothing to do with changing the date on their copy of the will and Joan and I have agreed not to press any charges against them. It may have been a genuine mistake, although we both doubt that it was.
According to Marcus, the police will be keeping a very close eye on both men in the future to make sure that they don’t try anything similar again. Joan and I are both disappointed to know that we’re related to a man who would behave in such a fashion, really. I’ve taken to calling the entire sad affair “The Quinton Case,” as Joan and I have both agreed not to mention our cousin’s name again.
We’re both incredibly anxious about Edward’s upcoming visit. I can’t imagine why he wants us to pretend we don’t know him. We don’t know if he’s bringing anyone with him or not, but if he isn’t, then his request makes no sense at all. I will let you know how it all goes, assuming I’m allowed to talk about what happens.
Your nervous friend,
Janet Markham
Glossary of Terms
bin - trash can
biscuits - cookies
booking - reservation
boot - trunk (of a car)
car park - parking lot
chemist - pharmacist
chips - french fries
cuppa - cup of tea (informal)
fizzy drink - carbonated beverage (pop or soda)
fortnight - two weeks
high street - the main shopping street in a town or village
holiday - vacation
jacket potato - baked potato
jumper - sweater
lie in - sleep late
midday - noon
pavement - sidewalk
pudding - dessert
puds - puddings (informal)
push chair - stroller
queue - line
saloon car - sedan
shopping trolley - shopping cart
telly - television
till - check-out (in a grocery store, for example)
torch - flashlight
Other Notes
In the UK, dates are written day, month, year rather than month, day, year as in the US. (May 5, 2015 would be written 5 May 2015, for example.)
In the UK, when describing property with more than one level, the lowest level (assuming there is no basement; very few UK houses have basements) is the “ground floor,” the next floor up is the “first floor,” and so on. In the US, the lowest floor is usually the “first floor,” and so on from there.
When telling time, half six is the English equivalent of six-thirty.
A “full English breakfast” generally consists of bacon, sausage, eggs, grilled or fried tomatoes, fried potatoes, fried mushrooms and baked beans served with toast.
A semi-detached house is one that is joined to another house by a common center wall. In the US they are generally called duplexes. In the UK the two properties would be sold individually as totally separate entities. A “terraced” house is one in a row of properties, where each unit is sold individually (usually called a row house in the US).
Acknowledgments
I greatly appreciate the many people who work so hard to help me with these books. My editor, Denise, and my beta readers are wonderful to work with and I’m grateful to them for staying with me through seventeen novellas.
I also greatly appreciate my readers. Thank you for coming along with Janet and Joan on their adventures.
The Rhodes Case
Release date: November 15, 2019
Janet Markham is both excited and nervous that Edward Bennett is coming for another visit. The handsome man has made no secret of the fact that he’s interested in being more than friends with Janet, but he’s usually too busy to pursue her. His job with a secret government agency keeps him travelling around the world, leaving Janet on her own at Doveby House, the bed and breakfast she runs with her sister, Joan.
While Janet is attracted to the man, she’s not sure she trusts him. That trust is further challenged when he tells her that she needs to pretend she’s never met him before when he arrives at Doveby House with his guest. Just hours after the two men arrive, Janet and Joan see a news bulletin about a wanted man who bears an uncanny resemblance to Edward’s guest.
Break-ins at houses in the area worry the sisters. Is it possible that Edward has brought a burglar to stay at Doveby House?
Janet wants to trust Edward, but if their guest isn’t behind the burglaries, who is? Can Janet and Joan work out who has been breaking into houses and stealing only the most valuable item in each property? Can Edward be trusted? And why has Joan been taking measurements in the carriage house?
Also by Diana Xarissa
Aunt Bessie Assumes
Aunt Bessie Believes
Aunt Bessie Considers
Aunt Bessie Decides
Aunt Bessie Enjoys
Aunt Bessie Finds
Aunt Bessie Goes
Aunt Bessie’s Holiday
Aunt Bessie Invites
Aunt Bessie Joins
Aunt Bessie Knows
Aunt Bessie Likes
Aunt Bessie Meets
Aunt Bessie Needs
Aunt Bessie Observes
Aunt Bessie Provides
Aunt Bessie Questions
Aunt Bessie Remembers
Aunt Bessie Questions
Aunt Bessie Solves
Aunt Bessie Tries
Aunt Bessie Understands
Aunt Bessie Volunteers
The Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Mysteries
Arrivals and Arrests
Boats and Bad Guys
Cars and Cold Cases
Dogs and Danger
Encounters and Enemies
Friends and Frauds
Guests and Guilt
Hop-tu-Naa and Homicide
Invitations and Investigations
Joy and Jealousy
Kittens and Killers
Letters and Lawsuits
The Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novellas
The Appleton Case
The Bennett Case
The Chalmers Case
The Donaldson Case
The Ellsworth Case
The Fenton Case
The Green Case
The Hampton Case
The Irwin Case
The Jackson Case
The Kingston Case
The Lawley Case
The Moody Case
The Norman Case
The Osborne Case
The Patrone Case
The Quinton Case
The Rhodes Case
The Isle of Man Romance Series
Island Escape
Island Inheritance
Island Heritage
Island Christmas
About the Author
Diana grew up in Northwestern Pennsylvania and moved to Washington, DC after college. There she met a wonderful Englishman who was visiting the city. After a whirlwind romance, they got married and Diana moved to the Chesterfield area of Derbyshire to begin a new life with her husband. A short time later, they relocated to the Isle of Man.
After over ten years on the island, it was time for a change. With their two children in tow, Diana and her husband moved to suburbs of Buffalo, New York. Diana now spends her days writing about the island she loves.
She also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and middle grade and Young Adult books as D.X. Dunn.
Diana is always happy to hear from readers. You can write to her at:
Diana Xarissa Dunn
PO Box 72
Clarence, NY 14031.
Find Diana at: DianaXarissa.com
E-mail: Diana@dianaxarissa.com