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

have written if he could have.”
    Bessie nodded uncertainly and then continued
on her way home.   She was almost
feeling sorry for Anna Lambert by the time she reached her cottage.   No doubt Maggie wouldn’t be the only
person visiting the police with a suggestion about the identity of the body.   It was likely that Harvey Snow would be
able to be quickly eliminated, though.   Bessie was pretty sure the man had simply never bothered to write.
    Back at home, Bessie checked for phone
messages.   There were a great many,
and they were all concerned with the remains on the Clague farm.   Bessie listed the callers and then
crossed out several that she simply couldn’t be bothered to ring back.   Although she hadn’t rung and left a
message, Bessie decided to ring Doona first.
    With a cup of tea on the table, Bessie sat
down and rang the front desk at the Laxey police station.  
    “Laxey Neighbourhood Policing, this is
Joan.   How can I help you?”
    Bessie was so surprised that she nearly
didn’t reply.   “Oh, I was expecting
Doona Moore to answer,” she said after a moment.
    “Doona’s on another line.   Is there something I can help you with?”
Joan asked in a cheery voice.
    “No, I really just wanted to have a quick
word with Doona,” Bessie replied.   “Can you let her know that Elizabeth Cubbon rang, please?”
    “I’ll tell her, but I wouldn’t expect her to
get back to you any time soon,” the woman said.   “We’re quite busy at the moment.”
    “There’s no rush,” Bessie told the woman,
even though she didn’t really mean it.   She wanted to speak to Doona as soon as possible, but it seemed like it
might be a while before that happened.
    Bessie hung up and frowned at her tea.   “I’m sure there are lots of people
ringing in with ideas about the remains,” she said to the cup.   “But who is Joan and why is she answering
the phone?”  
    When the tea didn’t reply, Bessie sighed and
then picked up the phone again.
    “Good morning, Breesha,” she greeted her
advocate’s secretary when her call was answered.   “It’s Bessie Cubbon.   Is there any chance Doncan has a
minute?”
    “I’ll just put you through after I thank you
for the kind invitation to Thanksgiving dinner,” Breesha replied.   “It’s one of the highlights of my social
calendar every year, you know.”
    Bessie laughed.   “It’s kind of you to say so,” she
replied.   “Would you like to bring a
guest?”
    “Ah, no, but thank you for asking,” Breesha
replied.   “I’m quite happy on my
own.   Now let me put you through to
Doncan.”
    “Ah, Bessie, how are you, my dear?” Doncan
Quayle, Bessie’s advocate, asked when they were connected.
    “I’m fine,” Bessie said.   “Thank you for ringing to check on me,
though.”
    “I do hope yesterday’s events weren’t too
traumatic for you,” Doncan said.   “I
know you’re a strong woman, but I do worry about you.”
    “I’d hate to think that I’m getting used to
finding dead bodies, but yesterday wasn’t nearly as awful as some of the things
I’ve gone through lately,” Bessie replied.
    “Yes, well, if you need anything, don’t
hesitate to ask,” he told her.
    Bessie smiled.   The man had handled her legal and
financial affairs for many years and in that time she liked to think that
they’d become friends.   “You and
Jane are coming for Thanksgiving dinner, right?” she asked now.
    “We’re planning on it,” the man
replied.   “It was kind of you to
include young Doncan as well.   He
said you suggested that he might bring a guest as well.”
    Bessie laughed.   “I’m sure there are plenty of young
women who would love to accompany him for the occasion,” she said.   “And I’m sure he’ll enjoy it more with a
friend than on his own.”
    “Well, we’re all looking forward to it,”
Doncan replied.
    “I don’t suppose you have any ideas on the
identity of the dead man?” Bessie asked.
    There was