Read Online Aunt Bessie Invites (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 9) by Diana Xarissa - Free Book Online

giver wasn’t someone she wanted to feel
indebted to.   Now the man who’d
given her the painting was on the run from the police and
Bessie really didn’t feel right keeping it.
    “Ah, I forgot to tell you,” John said.   “There is going to be an auction at the
weekend.   It will be well advertised
now that we’ve received clearance to hold it.   Many of Grant Robertson’s things are going
to be auctioned off and all of the proceeds are going into a fund to reimburse
the people he stole from over the years.”
    “What a good idea,” Bessie said.  
    “Yes, well, it took some considerable time
to get it organised, but it’s set for Saturday, I think.”
    “The painting should be included,” Bessie
said.
    “The painting was given to you before
witnesses,” John countered.   “It’s
legally yours.”
    “It was purchased with stolen money,” Bessie
told him.   “I don’t feel right
keeping it under the circumstances.   I’ll probably come to the auction and bid
on it, though, as I do love it.”
    John shook his head.   “Just keep it,” he urged her.
    “I can’t,” Bessie said softly.   “It simply isn’t right.”
    Before John could argue further, Bessie went
upstairs and got the painting from where she’d stored it in a spare
bedroom.   It was still wrapped up,
as it had been when Grant had given it to her.
    “Here, I’ll sleep better tonight with it out
of my house,” she told John.
    John took the bulky package from her.   “Maybe I’ll buy it for you,” he said.
    “You just bought a house,” Bessie
replied.   “I think you have enough
expenses without adding to them on my behalf.   I’ll talk to my bank manager and see how
much I can afford to spoil myself with before I go.”
    “I’ll probably be back tomorrow,” John told
her.   “After I talk to Eoin and
Fenella, I’m sure to have many more questions.”
    “I should be home most of the day,” Bessie
replied.   “I don’t have any plans
for tomorrow.”
    “Lucky you,” John said lightly.  
    Bessie shut the door behind him and checked
that it and the backdoor were locked tightly.   She washed up the dishes and then
switched off the lights, taking a moment to turn off the ringer on her phone as
well.   She’d decided a few years
earlier that she was too old to be racing down the stairs in the middle of the
night for a wrong number.   It was
one of her very few concessions to her age.
    Upstairs she got ready for bed and then
propped herself on pillows and read for a short while.   When she switched off the lights and
slid down under the duvet she found her mind racing.   How did someone come to be buried on the
old Clague farm, seemingly unnoticed for so many years?   She felt a curious mixture of dread and
excitement as she finally fell asleep.

 
    Chapter Four
    Bessie took a very long walk the next
morning, trying to clear her head.   For the first time in a very long time, she’d actually overslept.   The shock of seeing her clock showing
seven instead of her usual six stayed with her in the shower and as she
dressed.   She only began to feel
like herself again as she patted on the rose-scented dusting powder that
reminded her of Matthew Saunders.   After a quick breakfast, she took herself for a long walk on the beach,
not turning back until she was well past Thie yn Traie.  
    As she passed the holiday cottages on her
way back, she waved to Thomas, who was just arriving as she was heading
home.   He returned the gesture.   Bessie’s heart sank a bit when she
realised that his wife was with him.   She kept walking, pretending she hadn’t noticed Maggie, but she knew her
efforts were futile.
    “Bessie, there you are,” Maggie shouted
across the beach.
    Sighing, Bessie stopped and turned to face
the woman who was rapidly approaching.   “Good morning, Maggie.   How
are you?” she asked.
    “I’m fine, but I’m ever so worried about you
again,” Maggie said.   “What’s
happened