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

now?”
    “I’m sure you know as much as I do,” Bessie
replied.
    “Oh, no, you were there, on the scene.   It must have been terrifying, like
something out of a horror film.   I
can just picture it.   Hidden for
decades behind broken furniture in the dark and dusty barn, a skeletal hand
reaches desperately out of its shallow grave, imploring someone to find him and
bring the evil soul who put him there to justice.”
    Bessie rolled her eyes.   “It was nothing like that,” she told
Maggie.   “The barn is well-lit and
the furniture they store in it is in good condition.   The hand wasn’t reaching anywhere, it
was just lying on the ground, and it wasn’t the least bit scary, just somewhat
sad.”
    “But who could it be?” Maggie asked.
    “I haven’t the slightest idea,” Bessie told
her.
    “But you must know,” Maggie said
emphatically.   “I’m much younger
than Fenella, of course, but you knew Marion Clague.   I heard that the body was under her
things that Niall put there when she died.”
    Bessie knew that Maggie was less than ten
years younger than Fenella, but she let the remark go.   “I don’t believe the police have established
a date for the remains yet,” Bessie said.   “They could have been there since the barn was first built, or they
could have been put there rather more recently.   Until they can get an idea on the date,
it’s rather pointless to try to guess who they’ve found.”
    “I wondered about Eoin’s brother,” Maggie
said in a whisper.
    Bessie glanced around the beach.   There was no one else in sight.   “Fenella tells me that he’s happily
settled in Derbyshire with a family.”
    “Ah, but has anyone seen him lately?” Maggie
asked.   “If Eoin killed him and hid
the body, they’d probably tell everyone that he was across, right?”
    “Why would Eoin kill his brother?” Bessie
had to ask.
    Maggie shrugged.   “Why does anyone kill anyone?” she
replied   “I’m sure he had a reason
at the time.”
    “I really don’t think the body is Nicholas,”
Bessie said.   “But I’m sure the
police will be investigating every possibility.”
    “I did think it might be Harvey Snow,”
Maggie said.  
    Bessie stared at her for a moment, trying to
think.   “Harvey Snow?” she said
eventually.   “I don’t think I know
who you mean.”
    Maggie nodded.   “I’m probably the only person who
remembers him,” she said.   “He and
his father moved to the island when I was sixteen.   He was a year older and he went to
school with me for a little while.   Then he decided to move back to live with his mum instead.   He promised he’d write, but I never
heard from him.   I told my mum at
the time that something terrible must have happened to him, because otherwise I
know he would have written to me.”
    “Well, you should definitely let the police
know about him,” Bessie said.   “You
should let the police know about anyone you think of that might be a
possibility.”
    “I just hate talking to them,” Maggie told
her.   “That Inspector Rockwell is
quite intimidating, really.”
    “You should ask to speak to Anna Lambert,”
Bessie said.   “I’m sure it would
easier, talking to a female inspector, wouldn’t it?”
    Maggie nodded.   “Harvey and I had a little romance,” she
told Bessie.   “Another woman would
understand why I’m so sure something awful happened to him.   He really cared about me, you know.”
    “I’m sure he did,” Bessie replied.   “Whatever happened to him, I’m sure Anna
can find out, assuming they haven’t identified the body yet, that is.”
    “I’ll go and see her now,” Maggie said with
determination.   “Before I change my
mind.”
    “I hope it isn’t him,” Bessie said.   “I’m sure you’d be sad, even after all
these years.”
    Maggie shook her head.   “At least, if it is him, I’ll know why
he never wrote,” she told Bessie.   “I quite fancy the idea that he would