Death of a Diva: A Honey Driver Murder Mystery (Honey Driver Mysteries Book 9)
Page 25
Chapter Thirty-eight
‘So I pulled on my fishnet stockings, shoved my feet into my killer heels, and I was ready for action. Can you believe I’ve already snagged them? Brand new too. You don’t suppose I could borrow yours could I? Plus some sexy underwear to go with it? I favour black but at a push I’ll consider scarlet.’
Steve Doherty was a good detective with a reputation for getting results. Tonight he was trying to engage Honey over a good meal and fine wine. He could tell she hadn’t heard a word he’d said.
‘Honey, what’s bugging you?’
Honey was staring over the top of her wine glass which, like the seafood thermidor on the plate in front of her, was barely touched.
Doherty reached across, took the glass from her hand and put it down on the table.
Tonight, despite the upmarket restaurant, he was wearing a black open-necked shirt, black trousers, and black shoes. Black was the colour he favoured. When she’d pointed it out to him he said that wearing one colour meant he didn’t have to make big wardrobe choices. Black matched black, though he also favoured navy blue.
‘Arabella Rolfe left her estate to her surviving daughter and Adam’s children. Did I tell you that?’
She shook her head. ‘No.’ Her attention was still elsewhere.
‘Happy families. Is there any such thing? I mean, we really don’t know what happens behind closed doors, do we?’
‘Grandparents, parents, and kids; we don’t choose any of them, do we?’
Doherty frowned and wondered what the hell she was talking about. His eyes flickered between her face and the scene beyond her left shoulder.
‘Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?’
Honey nodded. Her mother was also dining out tonight.
‘So who’s the man?’ Doherty asked.
‘Wilbur Williams, and he’s looking for a bride.’
Doherty peered beyond her shoulder, ducking down before her mother could see him. ‘Has she seen us?’
‘No. Her attention is on Wilbur.’
‘Have you told her about us?’
Honey shook her head. ‘As I told you before, I’ll tell her when the time is right.’
She didn’t go into detail about the hassle she would get once her mother was in the picture, but then, she didn’t need to. Doherty knew what her mother was like and carefully avoided her.
Doherty caught hold of her left hand, examining it closely, especially her ring finger and the sapphire and diamonds of the ring he’d bought her.
He sighed. ‘I hope it’s enough for you.’
‘Enough? Why shouldn’t it be enough?’ She eyed him quizzically, a slight smile curving her lips.
He shrugged. ‘You could have bought a country hotel. You could have acted like lady of the manor. Have you definitely changed your mind?’
‘Yes,’ she said, nodding emphatically. ‘I worked out how many nights we’d sleep together – even when we were married – you working in the city and me in the country. I didn’t like the sums.’
‘How many?’
‘Three times.’
‘A week? That’s not so bad.’
She shook her head. ‘A month.’
Doherty shook himself. ‘No way! So what’s going to happen to Cobden Manor now?’
‘I’ve no idea. Rumours abound. A school, a hotel, health spa or even an old peoples’ home.’
Doherty glanced past her again. Gloria Cross was in deep conversation with the man sitting opposite her.
‘No,’ said Honey reading his mind. ‘My mother won’t be going there. Though there is the chance that she might get married long before we do.’
Blood and Broomsticks
An old friend of Honey Driver's is unfortunate enough to have their birthday at Hallowe’en, and can't resist making it a fancy dress party. Honey had planned for DCI Doherty, her policeman boyfriend, to go with her; he might have done if he wasn’t more than a bit peeved that she smashed up his sports car.
Dressed appropriately, Honey attends the party at Moss End Hotel alone. The food is awful, the booze practically non-existent, and the complaints are loud and clear. The owners, Mr and Mrs Crook – amateurs who think themselves better than the professionals – are nowhere to be found and all the doors are locked. Once the revellers manage to open the doors, the Crooks are found, but are in no condition to deal with complaints. They're dead – murdered – and Honey and Doherty team up once more to investigate.
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