Read Online Bones Under The Beach Hut by Simon Brett - Free Book Online

Jude, she'd brought a bottle of Chilean Chardon- nay in a cool bag.
Carole said she'd just have one glass, but somehow they managed to finish the
bottle. And sitting outside Fowey in their director's chairs in the
sunlight, both women found themselves dozing off. To Carole it all felt
titillatingly decadent.
        She
hadn't slept for long when she woke with a start. There had been no sound,
nothing to wake her but her Calvinist conscience. In the other chair Jude still
slept, her large, sagging body as relaxed as a child's. Carole looked across
Smalting Beach with half-closed eyes, the sunlight glowing red through her
lids. And noticed to her surprise that the doors to Quiet Harbour were
open.
        Wide
awake now, she saw Kelvin Southwest emerge from the hut with another man
dressed in jeans and a worn T-shirt, who was carrying a clipboard and a tape
measure. They had a little discussion on the sand, then the other man moved
purposefully up the beach to the promenade. Kelvin Southwest didn't follow him.
With trepidation Carole realized that he was coming straight towards Fowey. She straightened in her chair and picked up The Times crossword,
unwilling to look as if she'd just woken up.
        Reginald
Flowers was still sitting on his wooden chair outside The Bridge and
Kelvin Southwest had to walk directly in front of him, but neither man made any
gesture of recognition or greeting.
        The
beach hut emperor of Fether District Council was dressed in the same uniform of
polo shirt and shorts as he had been on Tuesday, but this afternoon he looked
hot and bothered. He still greeted Carole with another of his roguish smiles,
however, together with a hearty, 'Good afternoon, good afternoon.'
        'Good
afternoon, Mr Southwest.'
        'Kel.
Remember, you're Carole and I'm Kel.'
        'Yes
. . .' she forced herself to say it'. . . Kel.'
        Their
voices had woken Jude from her doze and she looked around blearily. Carole
hoped her friend hadn't heard her using the word 'Kel'.
        'And
I am the bearer of glad tidings,' he went on. 'Because it's for you, Carole, that I have moved heaven and earth to get the repairs to Quiet
Harbour done as soon as possible. In fact, I've just been talking to the
contractor who's doing the job - someone local I've known for a long time. I
put a lot of work his way and he . . . well, let's say we scratch each other's
backs, just as I said it would give me great pleasure to scratch yours.'
        Behind
him Jude had clearly managed to identify
        Kelvin
Southwest from Carole's description, and she was grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Carole tried to avoid catching her friend's eye, fearful of starting to laugh.
        'Well,
anyway, my friend the contractor has had a look at the damage to Quiet
Harbour. He reckons it's only three boards that'll need replacing and not
much more than touching up the paint on the outside. So he's just going to get
his tools and he'll be starting the job straight away.' He gave her a wink,
which fortunately Jude couldn't see, or that would have really set them off.
'So who says Kel doesn't sort things out quickly for his favourites, eh?'
        'I'm
sure nobody's ever said that, er . . . Kel.'
        'Well,
let me tell you, Carole, having moved heaven and earth for you, I could do with
a little break. How would you like to join me again at The Copper Kettle?'
        'Well,
that's very kind, but I have just had lunch. And then again I am here with my
friend.'
        He
turned around to where Carole indicated, apparently noticing Jude for the first
time. She rose from her director's chair, grinned at him and said, 'I'm Jude.'
        'Kelvin
Southwest,' he responded, almost brusquely, then turned straight back to
Carole. 'So . . . do you fancy something in The Copper Kettle?'
        'As I
say, I've just had lunch. I really don't want anything at the moment, thank
you.'
        'Oh.
All right. Very well. I'll see you soon no