Read Online A Turn for the Bad by Sheila Connolly - Free Book Online Page A

had admitted—about running the pub by herself and had poured all her energy into that. And,if she was honest, she’d been grieving for Gran, and things like the local accent reminded her of Gran, and that still hurt. But it was getting better, and she was beginning to understand why Gran had wanted her to come here. It wasn’t just that the pub could let her earn a living and be her own boss, but it was about the people, like a family she didn’t know she had. She was still getting used to it all.
    Gillian finished her meal before Maura. “Hurry up, now—we still need to get our fish, and you should get to your pub. Shall I get a treat here to take back with us?”
    â€œHang on. What’s your plan?”
    â€œBuy fish and pastry, drop you off at Sullivan’s, take the food back to the house, and head over to the creamery and see what needs to be done there.”
    â€œWill you need help there?”
    â€œI might do, but not yet. There are some paintings I should crate up to move, but I need to get a count before I make plans. You’ll be at the pub all day?” When Maura nodded, Gillian added, “I’ll stop by at the end of the day and see what’s what by then. Does that suit you?”
    â€œSounds good to me. You can buy the goodies, and I’ll pay the tab.”
    â€œDeal.”
    It was still raining when they emerged from the coffee shop, and they dashed down to the fish store. When they stepped in, there were a couple of men inside, one behind the curving counter holding ice and a wealth of fish Maura didn’t recognize. He smiled at Gillian. “Don’t usually see yeh this time of year, Gillian.”
    â€œYou’re right, Peter, but I’ve got to clear my studio here, since my friend is selling it. I’ll be around for a bit. Youhaven’t met Maura here, right? She took over Mick Sullivan’s pub, in Leap.”
    â€œSo yer the lady I’ve heard about,” the man said.
    Maura was startled: people were talking about her? “I hope it’s all good. I haven’t been in here before, so you’ll have to tell me what’s what. And what I can’t mess up too badly, because I don’t know much about cooking fish.”
    The man grinned. “Ah, it’s all good. And as fresh as can be. I’ll spare you the monkfish, but I could let you have a nice piece of that sole there.”
    While Maura wavered, Gillian said, “Done. Give us half a kilo, will you?”
    The man picked up what looked like half a fish, sliced lengthwise and minus the head and tail. He took it over to a scale, then put it in a plastic bag and heat-sealed the bag. “Will that be all, now?”
    â€œWe’ll be back if we want more. I’m guessing the ships won’t be going out today?”
    â€œToo rough, it is. But it’s said to be clearing tomorrow.”
    As Peter handed Gillian the package of fish, a man burst in. “There’s been a body found,” he announced to the small group in the shop.
    â€œTully’s?” one of the other men asked.
    The newcomer shook his head. “They can’t say yet—it’s been battered about. The gardaí have taken it over to the Cork hospital to see what’s what.”
    Maura looked at Gillian. “We’d better get back to Leap.”

Chapter 7
    As Maura had both hoped and feared, there was already a short line of people standing in front of the locked door at Sullivan’s, even though it was still well before opening time. She glanced at Gillian. “You coming in?”
    â€œOf course. I want to know if the man was John Tully.”
    â€œI’m guessing that’s why everybody’s here. But we don’t know anything.”
    â€œWe know what we don’t know,” Gillian said.
    It took Maura a moment to figure out what she meant. “We don’t
know
it’s Tully, just that there’s a body. Got