The Ellsworth Case (A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella Book 5)

by Diana Xarissa

  After a slightly smaller than usual serving of delicious shepherd’s pie, Janet was pleased when Joan served her a very generous plate of pudding, with a scoop of ice cream as an added bonus. As she took the first bite, she started to get suspicious.

  “So, what’s on your mind?” she asked her sister.

  “What do you mean?” Joan replied.

  Janet stared at her, but Joan didn’t meet her eyes. Janet sighed and sat back in her chair. Her favourite pudding was a bribe, then, of some sort.

  “What do you want from me?” Janet clarified the question.

  Joan flushed. “Nothing, really,” she said. “Is William coming over this evening?”

  “He is, around half seven,” Janet replied.

  Joan nodded. “It’s just that Michael invited me around, you see. There something on the telly that we were going to watch together, that’s all.”

  “So you’re leaving me on my own with William,” Janet said resignedly.

  “I don’t have to go,” Joan replied. “I’ll ring Michael and tell him I can’t.”

  “No, you go,” Janet said firmly. Joan had never dated when the sisters were younger. Now that Joan and Michael were becoming a couple, Janet was determined to do what she could to help the relationship grow. “I can show the tantalus to William and see what he says,” she continued. “If I need you, I can always ring you.”

  Janet watched the smile that spread across her sister’s face. It was clear that Joan really wanted to spend the evening with Michael. Janet was glad she’d told her to go.

  “If you’re sure,” Joan said, slowly.

  “I’m very sure,” Janet answered.

  After dinner, Joan insisted on sorting out the washing up herself. “You go and get some more work done in the library,” Joan said. “The washing up is the least I can do, under the circumstances.”

  Janet put up a token protest, but she agreed with her sister. She didn’t fancy being alone with William Chalmers, who had been far friendlier of late but had been quite difficult to deal with when they’d first met him. In the library, Janet slowly turned in the centre of the room, wondering exactly where to start. She thought for a bit and then giggled. Perhaps it would be best to start by reading a few of the books, she said to herself.

  She ran a hand along a shelf, counting to three. On three, she pulled the closest book off the shelf. Murder Most Melancholy, she read off the cover of the book. “Could be good,” she muttered to herself as she slid into the leather chair. Half an hour later, she was three chapters in and totally absorbed in the story.

  “Janet?” Joan was standing in the doorway. “I knocked, but you didn’t seem to hear me,” she said a bit sharply.

  “I’m sorry, I was quite lost in this book,” Janet said, blinking hard as she tried to drag her mind out of the story.

  “Is it that good?” Joan asked.

  “It’s very interesting,” Janet replied. “It’s a murder mystery, although no one has died just yet, but there are so many people who seem to deserve to die. No one is very likeable and…” She stopped as Joan held up a hand.

  “It doesn’t sound like my kind of story,” Joan said. “Anyway, I just stopped in to tell you that I’m leaving now for Michael’s. It’s gone seven, so you probably should come out into the sitting room so you’ll hear the door when William arrives.”

  Janet nodded, slipping a bookmark into the book and standing up to follow Joan out of the room. “What about our guests?” she asked.

  “I haven’t seen either couple since they arrived,” Joan told her. “I do hope they’ll both be in before it gets too late.”

  “Oh, I’ve forgotten the tantalus,” Janet exclaimed as they reached the sitting room.

  “You can grab it in a minute,” Joan told her. “I’d be grateful if you’d watch me across the road.”

  Janet nodded. “I’m happy to,” she assured her sister. They headed towards the door, but Janet didn’t get to do the favour after all. As Joan opened the door, both sisters were surprised to find Michael on the doorstep.

  “Ah, I was just coming to collect you,” Michael told Joan. “It’s quite dark and I didn’t want you walking over on your own.”

  “It’s only a few steps,” Joan protested. Janet could tell that her sister was delighted that Michael had been so thoughtful, though.

  After she shut the door behind the happy couple, Janet went back to the library and carefully carried the tantalus through to the sitting room. Then she went back and locked the library door. She was very protective of the room and she didn’t want William to have any opportunity to get inside it. He seemed like the type that might ask for a drink or something and then, when Janet’s back was turned, try sneaking around the house to see what he could find. Janet shook her head. If she were honest with herself, that was exactly the sort of thing she’d like to do if she had the nerve.

  At exactly half seven, she heard a knock on the door. She forced a bright smile onto her face and swung the door open. The smile faltered considerably when she realised that William Chalmers wasn’t alone.

  “I told William you wouldn’t mind my coming along,” Karen Holmes said in an ingratiating voice. “We’ve just been to dinner and he said you would have tea and biscuits, you see.”

  Chapter Five

  “You’re welcome, of course,” Janet muttered just as the silence became awkward. “Do come in, both of you.”

  She stepped back and William ushered Karen into the sitting room.

  “Oh, but this is so lovely,” Karen gushed. “I love all the antiques. What a gorgeous little room. The Christmas decorations are beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” Janet said. “But maybe we should go into the kitchen for tea and biscuits.”

  “Is it an old-fashioned kitchen with an old wood-fired stove?” Karen asked eagerly.

  Janet shook her head as she led the couple through the house. “It’s a thoroughly modern kitchen with all the latest appliances,” she told the woman. “The previous owner, Margaret Appleton, had it completely redone when she decided to run the house as a bed and breakfast.”

  Karen looked disappointed as she looked around the modern and bright kitchen. “It’s been very well done and it even seems to suit the house, but I’m still disappointed,” she said after looking around the room.

  “It’s very practical for our purposes,” Janet told her. She quickly switched the kettle on and piled biscuits onto a plate. “Do sit down,” she told the pair.

  They chatted about nothing much over tea. William told them about his first flat in London, which he’d shared with another young man. It had been tiny, expensive and unheated. Karen shared a few stories about a minuscule flat she’d shared with three other girls when she’d first left home. Janet listened politely, but didn’t have any of her own horror stories to add. She’d always lived with her sister quite companionably, and while their previous homes had never been as large as Doveby House, she’d always had her own room and enough space to enjoy time on her own whenever she’d wanted it.

  “Now, let’s see that tantalus,” William said after he’d wiped his fingers carefully.

  “I’ll just help you tidy up,” Karen offered.

  “Oh, no, just leave everything where it is,” Janet replied. “I’ll simply put everything in the dishwasher once you’ve gone.”

  Back in the sitting room, Janet pointed out the tantalus. “I’m sure it isn’t hugely valuable,” she said. “But it’s lovely and we were curious.”

  William looked the piece over without touching it before carefully twisting and removing one of the decanter stoppers. With that out of the way, he was able to remove the decanter as well. He repeated the process with the second bottle. Inside that one was the key to the small cabinet.

  “I love the little drawers in the centre,” he said as he carefully turned the key. Janet leaned in so that she could see what was in the drawers. On William’s other side, Karen did the same. Janet drew a breath and then he
ld up a hand.

  “You know, I think we should wait for Joan before we open the drawers,” she said, pushing shut the drawer that William had been slowly pulling open.

  “Oh, but I’m dying to see what’s inside,” Karen said.

  “Me, too,” Janet agreed. “But it doesn’t seem right to do it without Joan here.”

  William didn’t say anything; he simply turned the key, locking the cabinet again. Then he carefully turned the whole tantalus over in his hands.

  “It’s very heavy and extremely well made,” he said after a moment. “I’m going to have to do some research into its value. I’ve never seen one quite like it before.”

  “Do you think it’s terribly valuable?” Karen asked.

  Janet frowned. Its value was none of the woman’s business. Before she could speak, William answered.

  “It could be, but it could also not be. That’s why I have to do some research,” he said with an enigmatic smile.

  Karen sighed and then looked around the room. “But what do you have there?” she asked, crossing to the long table that stood along one wall.

  The table was covered with beautiful knitted items. A small, framed sign listed prices for the articles.

  “Aren’t they lovely?” Janet asked. “Susan Garner, a local woman, makes them and we display them and try to sell them to our guests,” she explained.

  “Is that the woman who works at the local police station?” William asked.

  “Yes, that’s Susan,” Janet said.

  “She does beautiful work,” Karen said, studying a blanket closely. “I used to knit, when I was married and had time on my hands. I never did anything this complex, though. How much is this blanket?”

  Joan found it on the price list and told her. Karen wrinkled her nose.

  “That’s a bit dear. Can you do any better on the price?”

  Janet shook her head. “We don’t set the prices, Susan does. I wouldn’t feel right taking a penny less.”

  Karen put the blanket back down and sighed. “Perhaps I should get my needles and wool back out and try again,” she said.

  William picked up the blanket. “It is quite nice,” he said as he turned it over in his hands. “Of course, I’ve no idea what I’m looking at,” he admitted.

  Karen and Janet both laughed.

  He turned to Karen. “If you truly love it, I’d like to buy it for you,” he told her. “Just a small something to make you feel more at home while you’re travelling.”

  Janet pressed her lips tightly together to avoid saying something she’d regret. She didn’t approve of William buying what was a fairly expensive gift for the woman he’d only just met, but it really wasn’t any of her business.

  Karen looked at him for a moment and then smiled. “Oh, no,” she said softly. “I couldn’t possibly let you spend that sort of money on me. We’ve only just met.”

  She took a step towards the door and then stopped and looked at the blanket again. William was still holding it, and she took it from him. “It’s too beautiful, to pass up,” she said with a sigh. “But I shall buy it myself, with my own money.”

  William tried to protest, but Karen silenced him with a look. She pulled a small wallet from her handbag and carefully counted out the correct amount.

  “Please tell Mrs. Gardner that I love her work,” she told Janet as she handed her the notes. “I might have to come back for a few little things for Christmas gifts as well.”

  “I’m sure she’d be delighted,” Janet told her as she slipped the money into her pocket.

  “We’ll just be off, then,” William said.

  “Would you like me to find you a carrier bag to put the blanket in?” Janet asked.

  Karen shook her head. “I’ll happily just carry it like this,” she replied. “It’s lovely and warm and cosy.”

  Janet opened the front door. A cool December breeze was blowing, and she could see the appeal of the warm blanket in the other woman’s arms.

  “I’ll be in touch about a valuation,” William reminded her as he helped Karen down the steps.

  “Thank you,” Janet replied.

  Back inside, she quickly pulled out the notes that Karen had given her. She was curiously disappointed to find that none of them had a serial number that matched the counterfeit. She didn’t trust the woman and she felt strangely protective of William, who really was much nicer now that she’d had a chance to get to know him.

  Both pairs of guests were back at Doveby House before Joan made her way home. Janet had a short chat with each couple, learning that the Charles and Lynne hadn’t enjoyed their evening meal at the café they’d visited in Little Burton and that Peter and Paula had loved the food at the small French restaurant in Doveby Dale. Janet was just thinking about heading to bed herself when she heard voices outside the front door. She quickly picked up her book and pretended to be absorbed in it.

  “Thank you again,” Joan said as she walked into the house. “I’ll see you soon.”

  Janet looked up at her sister. “Did you have a nice evening?” she asked.

  “I did, really,” Joan replied. “If I’d known that dating could be this, well, pleasant, I might have tried it years ago.”

  Janet laughed. “I’m glad you’re having fun,” she said. “All of the guests are safely tucked up in their beds. I’ll be down by half seven to help with breakfast.”

  Janet was glad she managed to sleep well, but the alarm still went off much too early. She showered and dressed automatically, putting on the first clothes that came to hand, rather than carefully selecting an outfit. The guests wouldn’t care what she wore and she had no plans to go out.

  “How can I help?” she asked Joan when she reached the kitchen.

  “Everything’s as ready as it can be until the guests come down,” Joan told her. “Would you like your breakfast now?”

  Janet shrugged. “I’m not really hungry,” she replied. “Maybe I’ll just have cereal today.”

  “Maybe you should wait and eat after the guests,” Joan suggested. “Once you see their meals, you’re likely to decide you’d like a full English breakfast yourself, I think.”

  Janet frowned and then laughed. “You’re right, of course,” she admitted. “Once I see and smell the eggs and bacon, I’ll be hungry for sure.”

  While they waited for the guests, Janet told her sister that Karen had come with William the previous evening.

  “I’m glad for Susan’s sake that you sold something,” Joan said when Janet had finished telling her about the visit. “I feel as if we’ve had Susan’s things for ages and we’ve only sold a few items so far.”

  “The weather is getting colder now, though,” Janet replied. “People are going to be more interested in hats and scarves and blankets as the temperatures drop.”

  “Maybe we’ll have a rush now that it’s nearly Christmas,” Joan said.

  Both couples came down just after eight and once they’d eaten and left for the day, Joan made breakfast for herself and Janet. With that out of the way, the pair headed to the nearby grocery store to get a few things.

  “It looks rather busy,” Joan remarked as she parked the car.

  “It’s December,” Janet replied. “Everything gets busier with the holidays right around the corner.”

  Inside, the pair quickly filled a trolley with the bits and pieces they needed. There was a short queue at the tills, and Janet couldn’t help but overhear the conversation at the till.

  “I’m sorry, but we aren’t taking any twenty-pound notes at the moment,” the sales assistant told the man at the front of the queue.

  “But I want to pay cash,” the man argued.

  “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to speak to the manager,” the girl told him. “I’ve been told not to take any twenty-pound notes. That’s all I can tell you.”

  “This is stupid,” the man said angrily. “I just got these from the cash machine. They’re brand new.”

  “I’m awfully sorry,”
the manager’s deep voice broke in. He walked behind the till to stand next to his employee. “We’ve had a problem with counterfeits lately and we aren’t taking any chances. When the police take the fakes away, it isn’t like they replace them with the real thing, you know.”

  Janet and Joan exchanged glances. Hadn’t Robert told them at the grocery store what serial number to look out for? Janet thought. The man at the till pulled out a credit card and completed his transaction, his face still set with an angry scowl. The next customer was an older woman who paid for her small order with a handful of crumpled five-pound notes.

  “We aren’t accepting twenty-pound notes,” the girl said mechanically to the sisters as she started scanning their items.

  “We’ll use a card,” Joan told her.

  “All this counterfeit money is shocking,” Janet said to the girl. “I thought there was something about serial numbers that let you pick out the fakes.”

  The girl shook her head. “That’s what we were told at first,” she replied. “But I hear there’s now been some found with different numbers. I guess the police are going quite mad.”

  “I can imagine,” Janet replied, quickly packing their shopping into bags. “Poor Robert Parsons.”

  “He’s a lovely man,” the girl said with a sigh. “But he works all the time.”

  Janet hid a smile. It seemed the handsome young policeman had an admirer.

  “I wonder if any of the money I got from Karen is fake,” Janet said as soon as pair was on their way back home.

  “I suppose we must be suspicious of every note we get now,” Joan said. “I do hope the police can figure out some way to pick out the fakes quickly.”

  “Maybe we should stop at the police station and give Susan her money,” Janet suggested. “She can have Robert look it all over.”

  “We ought to stop anyway. I like to pay her promptly,” Joan replied.

  The small car park at the station was nearly full. “There are never any cars here,” Janet said as Joan squeezed their car into the last available space.

  “I can’t imagine where all of these people would be,” Joan replied. “The station isn’t big enough for this many people.”