Judy's Death (Cara Daniels Cozy Mystery Book 2)

by Gillian Larkin

  Judy tried to smile. “She was complaining, she’s always complaining about something. She said I hadn’t put up enough banners to publicise Snake-Eye’s visit. She said he was threatening to walk away from the event.” Judy sighed. “Perhaps she’s right, I should have let her take control of the festival. Maybe I should step down from the committee.”

  “Don’t you dare!” Cara shot out. “I’ve seen how much care and attention you’ve put into everything. Would Lauren have taken the time to prepare thank-you bags for the authors? I doubt it. People like Lauren think they can get their own way by shouting and being a bully! Don’t pay her any attention.”

  Judy laughed. “Okay! You need to calm down, Cara, your face has gone red.”

  Cara’s hands touched her hot cheeks. She smiled and said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t like the way she spoke to you.”

  “Never mind about that now,” Judy said. She nodded towards the children’s library. “The first event is about to start. We’d better bring the author out, we don’t want those little princesses and fairies turning on us!”

  Judy went into the staffroom and returned with a young woman who was dressed as a princess. Cara followed the princess author and Judy towards the children’s library. She winced as piercing screams shot out of little mouths. Who knew children could be so loud?

  Cara stood at the back of the room with Judy as they listened to the author. She was wonderful with the children. Cara looked again for Robin, he would have enjoyed this.

  Once the princess author was finished a male author came in. The little princesses and fairies were joined by a group of boys. The male author read out disgusting facts from his book about bodily functions and noises. The children loved it. Judy moved closer to Cara and said, “His books are absolutely disgusting, but strangely compelling! Don’t tell anyone but I’ve read them all.”

  When the author had finished and the last child had left the library, Judy turned to Cara and said, “Do you want to come with me to the basement room? Watch your step though, the stairs are narrow. I’ve slipped many a time. I don’t want to be breaking my neck today, I’ve too much to do!”

  Fear trickled down Cara’s back. Was Judy about to die? Was someone waiting to give her a push down the steps? Robin had told her that Judy was going to die at the town hall, but he could be wrong.

  Cara insisted on going in front of Judy as they went down the narrow stone steps. She half-joked to Judy that if Judy slipped she’d land on Cara. Judy laughed and said, “I’d squash you to death if I landed on you!”

  Cara was surprised to find that the basement room was light and airy, rear windows looked out towards the town. Judy said, “There’s a street-level door that leads directly to this room. You know what this town is like for having hills everywhere. We are supposed to use that entrance as it’s safer but it’s quicker to go down the old steps.”

  Cara looked around the room. There were old black and white photographs on the walls. Glass-fronted cabinets lined the walls.

  Judy said, “This is our local history room. We’ve got a local author who’s written a fascinating book on our town. His talk starts in thirty minutes. Can you help me put some chairs out? I should have done it yesterday but I never got the chance.”

  They walked towards a stack of chairs at the back of the room.

  “No you don’t!” a voice boomed out. They both turned to see Thomas walk into the room from the street-level door. He pointed at Judy and said, “Put those chairs down! That’s my job!”

  “I can do it,” Judy called back.

  Thomas strode over to them and took the chair from Judy’s hands. He looked down at her and smiled gently. “I know you can do it, Judy Wallace, but I’m going to do it for you.”

  Judy laughed and placed a hand on his arm. “Thank you, Thomas.”

  “Get your hands off my husband!” a shrill voice shot out.

  Cara felt the hairs on her arms lift as an older woman stormed into the room. She wore an expensive-looking dress and her short black hair was cut in a fashionable style. The red lipstick that she wore didn’t suit her.

  Judy took a step back from Thomas. Her hand flew to her pearls and she began to fiddle with them. She said, “Oh, hello Millie. I didn’t see you come in. Are you going to help us today?”

  Millie stalked over to Judy and shot her a disgusted look. “Of course I’m not going to help out at your dreary festival, I’ve got a life. I saw how you were looking at my Thomas! You just can’t help yourself, can you? Find your own husband!”

  Thomas thundered, “Don’t you dare talk to Judy like that! She’s our friend.”

  Millie sniffed. “I know she wants to be more than friends with you. She’s always making excuses for you to do work on her garden.”

  Thomas said coldly, “I offer to do her garden. Haven’t you got a hairdresser’s appointment?”

  Millie’s eyes narrowed. She turned to Judy and cast an obvious look at Judy’s grey hair. She said, “Yes, I do have an appointment. I like to keep myself looking good.” She turned back to Thomas. “Don’t stay too late. We’ve got that dinner tonight. Don’t let me down, again.”

  Throwing in another disgusted look at Judy, she walked away and out of the room.

  Thomas muttered, “I’m so sorry, Judy.”

  “Think nothing of it. Let’s get these chairs sorted.”

  “Does anyone want a sandwich? I’m going to nip out for one myself,” Cara said. She had a sudden urge to follow Millie.

  “Yes, please,” Judy and Thomas said together. Then they laughed.

  “What kind?” Cara asked, already backing towards the door.

  “Ham and cheese,” they both said at the same time again. They looked at each other and grinned.

  “Got it!” Cara said and she half-ran, half-walked across the room and out of the street-level door. She looked left and right. Where was Millie? Ah! There she was!

  Millie had stopped outside a shop to talk to someone. Cara walked closer and pretended to look in the window of a butcher’s. She glanced towards Millie to see who she was talking to.

  It was Lauren.

  Cara strained to hear what they were saying.

  Millie said, “We’ve got to do something about her!”

  Lauren smirked and said, “Don’t worry, I’m going to sort it out tonight, at the town hall.”

  Millie patted Lauren on the shoulder and said, “Make sure you don’t get caught.”

  Lauren smiled and said, “I won’t, Mum.”

  Cara frowned. Mum?

  Chapter 7

  Cara bought the sandwiches and headed back to the library. What were Lauren and her mum up to? Neither of them liked Judy and it sounded like they were planning on doing something about that. Would they turn to murder? Cara shook her head as she walked into the basement room. She just didn’t know what people were capable of.

  Judy and Thomas were chatting comfortably as they put the final row of chairs into position. Cara wondered what their story was. It was obvious that Thomas liked Judy, but how did Judy feel about him? Were they having a secret affair? Cara stopped suddenly. Was Thomas going to be the one to murder Judy? No. That couldn’t happen, look at how he was gazing at her. Cara carried on walking and handed the sandwiches over. She’d also bought coffee, which she handed out too.

  They sat down and chatted amiably for a while. Thomas was interested in the work that Cara did. He waved a half-eaten sandwich at Cara and said, “I don’t understand computers at all. And what’s all that about surfing? How can you surf on a computer? Doesn’t make sense at all!” He looked at Judy. “I don’t know how you manage on that laptop of yours, you’re amazing.”

  Judy blushed and said, “I only do my writing, I don’t do anything complicated.”

  A member of the library staff appeared, an apologetic look on her face. “I’m so sorry, Judy, but three of our volunteers have phoned in sick. It seems there’s some sort of bug going around. They were due to help with this e
vening’s events.”

  Judy put her sandwich down and sighed. She thought for a moment. “I suppose I could phone around for more help. It is short notice though.”

  “Whoa! Don’t you be doing that!” Thomas declared. “I can help out.”

  “But you’ve got that dinner thing with Millie,” Judy pointed out.

  Thomas snorted. “I hate going to those events. I never know anyone and they all look down on me. I’m coming to help you tonight and that’s that! No arguing.”

  “And I’ll be there,” Cara added.

  Judy’s eyes glistened. “Thank you, both of you. Cara, why don’t you go home for a few hours?”

  “What are you doing now?” Cara asked, hoping that she didn’t sound too keen.

  “After this history event I’m going over to the town hall. Everything is ready but I want to check everything again.”

  Cara nodded. There was no way she was going to let Judy walk into the town hall on her own. She said, “I’ll come with you. You can tell me more about the other stories you’ve written. I loved that one that you gave me yesterday. You really should publish them yourself.”

  Judy laughed. “That’s just a dream for other people.”

  Thomas tutted and said, “Judy Wallace, you’re amazing but you’re as stubborn as a mule when it comes to putting yourself first.”

  They finished their sandwiches and then Thomas left, with the promise that he would return later.

  Judy collected some leaflets and files from the staffroom along with her coat and handbag. She smiled at Cara and said, “I won’t be coming back into the library again today.”

  Cara tried to smile even though her throat felt dry. If she didn’t stop a murder from happening, Judy would never be returning to this library.

  They both stopped in their tracks as they walked out of the library door.

  “Good heavens! Have we crossed into hell?” Judy exclaimed.

  Cara shook her head as she looked at the hordes of vampires, werewolves and witches that were walking about the streets. Cara said, “They must be here to see Snake-Eye Jones.”

  Judy laughed. “Either that or the dead have risen! I didn’t know he had so many fans. Come on, don’t let a vampire bite you.”

  They made their way through the creatures and into the town hall. Once again, they walked up the flights of stone steps. Cara looked around as they ascended. Where was Robin? After their chat in the car last night he’d abruptly disappeared. Would she see him again?

  The rest of the afternoon flew by as Judy and Cara made various checks. Members of the library staff began to appear along with volunteers. Staff from local bookshops came into the town hall laden with books that would be sold and then signed by the authors.

  A buzz began to build as the author events got closer.

  A rather different type of feeling began to grow in Cara as she realised Judy was getting closer to being murdered. Her death line was noticeably thicker. Cara wondered how thick the line would get as Judy got closer to death. Did the line disappear altogether when a person died? She hoped she wouldn’t be finding out. She was going to be Judy’s shadow all night. No one was going to get their hands on her.

  Judy suddenly screamed and dropped the leaflets she was carrying. A man had his arms around her waist and was pulling her to one side.

  “Stop! Murderer!” Cara screamed. She launched herself at the man and sent herself, Judy and the man tumbling to the floor.

  Judy blinked and straightened her skirt. “Good grief, Cara! What happened?”

  Cara stood up and pointed at the man. “He attacked you!”

  The man laughed, got to his feet and helped Judy up. He smiled and said, “I didn’t attack her, I was hugging her.” He put his arms around Judy and gave her a big hug. Judy let him. Cara frowned. What was going on?

  Once Judy had been released she said, “Cara, this is Andrew. Also known as A. J. Moss.”

  Cara’s mouth dropped open. She’d just wrestled with a world famous author. What if she’d have broken his hands! Cara stuttered, “I’m so sorry … I didn’t realise …”

  Andrew smiled. “Doesn’t matter. Judy, is this your bodyguard?”

  Judy laughed. “No, this is Cara, a lovely volunteer. She’s been …” Judy faltered as she looked at something behind Cara.

  Cara spun around. Lauren and Millie were standing there. Both had unnaturally bright smiles on their faces. They looked far more sinister than any of the dressed-up fans of Snake-Eye Jones.

  Millie said to Judy, “I must apologise for my behaviour earlier. I should do more to help my local community. I’m putting myself forward as a volunteer. Thomas sends his apologies, he can’t make it tonight, he’s got errands to run.”

  Lauren mimicked her mother’s overly sweet tone and added, “Judy, Mum can help you with this evening’s events.”

  Millie gave a laugh that made Cara shiver. Millie moved closer to Judy and said, “Let’s make this an evening to remember.”

  Chapter 8

  Cara didn’t have time to worry about the implied threat in Millie’s tone as vampires and werewolves began to make their way into the town hall.

  Andrew gave Judy a quick peck on her cheek and said, “I’ll catch up with you later after the book signing.”

  Lauren snaked her arm through Millie’s and said, “Wait until you meet the big star of the show. I pulled off quite a deal getting him to appear here. He’s already put the word out to some of his author friends.” She shot a look at Judy but carried on speaking to her mum. “This town could become the place to go for authors of Snake-Eye’s calibre, if the right person was to manage the festival.”

  Judy ignored her tone. She smiled brightly and said, “Lauren, are you going to oversea Snake-Eye’s event, or should I do it?”

  Lauren tutted. “Of course I’m going to do it. I’ll introduce him and then take my seat at the front. Mum, I’ve got a couple of VIP seats ready for us.”

  Still keeping the smile on her face Judy continued, “And what about showing people to their seats? And making sure the bookseller is ready?”

  Lauren waved a hand at her. “You do that, you’re used to doing menial jobs.”

  Judy’s smile now look forced as she added, “And what about his thank-you gift?”

  “A thank-you gift? I didn’t know we gave them out. Of course I’ll give it to him.”

  Cara couldn’t help herself. “No you won’t! Judy spent a lot of time sorting those gifts out! She even handwrote a thank-you note. Why should you get the credit?”

  Lauren and Millie’s mouths dropped open at the same time.

  Judy put her hand on Cara’s arm. “There’s no need to shout, Cara.” Judy’s smile disappeared as she gave Lauren a direct look. “But Cara is right, why should you get the credit for something I’ve done? I’ll be handing the gift to Snake-Eye Jones.”

  Lauren and Millie shared a look. Cara didn’t miss the slight turning up of their mouths as if they were sharing a secret.

  Judy said, “Come on, Cara, people are starting to queue up for Snake-Eye’s event. We’d better let them into the room.”

  Lauren’s voice was overloud as she announced, “Mum, we’d better go and introduce ourselves to Snake-Eye.”

  Cara and Judy made their way towards the closed doors of the top room. The dressed-up crowd greeted their arrivals with cheers and big smiles. Cara was taken aback as she saw that some of the smiling mouths were covered in blood.

  They were busy for the next fifteen minutes as they showed people into the room and answered various questions about where to buy books, where to find tea and coffee, and, of course, where to find the toilet areas. Judy grinned at Cara and said, “I suppose even zombies need to use the toilet.”

  The room was soon filled. Cara and Judy stood near the doors to watch out for latecomers.

  Loud music shot out of nearby speakers making everyone jump. The audience cheered as a man walked into the room, his arms raised high in the
air.

  Judy said, “So that’s the famous Snake-Eye Jones. He likes wearing black, doesn’t he? I do like his cape, adds to the drama. Not sure about the white lipstick.”

  Cara peered closer. “He’s actually got snake eyes. They’re yellow. They must be contact lenses, surely?”

  Lauren stood up from the front row and walked over to Snake-Eye. She whispered something to him and pointed towards Judy. Snake-Eye fixed his yellow eyes on Judy and slowly nodded. As if sensing where his focus was, each person in the crowd turned and stared at Judy. Cara could feel their hostility.

  Cara moved closer to Judy who was obviously shaken by the sudden unwanted attention. Judy tried to smile at the sea of unfriendly faces.

  Anger flared up in Cara. How dare Lauren subject Judy to this? And how dare she get Snake-Eye Jones involved? What was she even saying to him to elicit such an evil look? What was she trying to do to Judy? Was this part of her plan to get rid of her?

  Cara snatched up the thank-you bag that Judy had placed at her feet and marched up to Snake-Eye Jones. She thrust the bag into his hands and said loudly, “This is from Judy Wallace, the woman that you and your fans are staring at! She went to great pains to make this bag perfect for you. I hope you appreciate it!”

  Snake-Eye looked in the bag. His face broke into a grin. “My favourite chocolates! How did you know? And orange brandy! Fantastic.” He delved further into the bag. “A handwritten note? How thoughtful.” He looked over at Judy and cried out, “Three cheers for Judy Wallace!”

  And just like that, the atmosphere changed. Cara caught the daggers of hate that were sent her way from Lauren. She quickly walked back to Judy who gave her a grateful smile.

  Cara and Judy stayed at the event even though they had to cover their ears at the more gruesome parts of Snake-Eye’s reading. When the event was finished Judy informed the audience that Snake-Eye would be signing his books in the hall on the ground floor.

  As the audience left, each person said thank you to Judy. Just as they should, Cara thought.

  “Right, let’s bring on the next event. It’s Andrew’s! I’m so excited for him!”