Read Online Dead Woman's Shoes: 1 (Lexy Lomax Mysteries) by Kaye C. Hill - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kaye C. Hill
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week?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll try to remember. All three I’ve picked up on the mat with the morning post, I know that.”
“Can I see the others?”
A strange, guarded look suddenly came over Hope’s face. “They’re much of a muchness,” she said.
Lexy studied her. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me everything.”
“I’ve told you a lot more than I’ve ever told anyone else.”
“I need to know every last detail if I’m going to make a plan.”
“A plan, eh?” A sudden fruity, jovial voice made Lexy and Hope jump violently. “The plan’s the thing!”
A floridly handsome man had materialised at their table. He had a shock of rich chestnut hair which he now flicked from his eyes with what seemed like a practised gesture. Lexy was aware of the rapid appraisal he gave her.
“Bloody hell, Tristan,” Hope put her hand to her chest. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“Guilty conscience, obviously,” he purred. “Anyway, who’s this you’re conspiring with?”
“I’m Alexandra Lomax,” said Lexy coldly, annoyed at this intrusion. Hope seemed temporarily fazed by the man’s arrival. Lexy wondered how much of the conversation he’d heard. “I’ve just moved to Clopwolde,” she added.
“And you are a most welcome addition,” said the new arrival, turning the full force of his copper-coloured eyes on her.
Lexy gave him a weary smile. A tea-shop Lothario. All they needed.
“Er… Lexy, this is Tristan Caradoc,” said Hope, recovering herself. “He and his wife Tammy live next door to my brother.”
Oho. The couple with the deformed cat. Or rather, without the deformed cat.
“That’s right, Hopeless. Ruin any chance I might have had of sweeping this girl off her feet by telling her I’m already married.” He was almost maniacally cheerful.
“And I thought it was me you were trying to sweep.”
“Oh, that was last week, darling. A man can only take so much rejection.” He turned to Lexy. “Don’t mind us, we’re always like this. How are you finding our little village?”
“Bit by bit and slowly,” said Lexy. “I only arrived yesterday.”
“Then you must let me show you around,” he said, throatily. “I do a marvellous ghost walk.” He waggled his fingers next to his face. “Very scary.”
Hope cleared her throat.
“Tammy and I moved here ourselves about ten years ago,” he went on, quickly. “Got rather jaded with the city theatre scene.”
Lexy saw a look of despair pass across Hope Ellenger’s face that she sensed had nothing to do with anonymous letters.
“Tammy was actually rather a well-known actress,” Tristan continued. “You may have heard of her… she’s been in Lovejoy , and Bergerac and numerous Beeb dramas. And… ahem… I’ve been known to tread the boards a bit, too.”
“Really?” said Lexy politely.
“Do you try your hand at all?” he continued, appearing not to realise that she didn’t know him from Adam. “We could do with some new life in our little am-dram group here in Clopwolde. We’re doing South Pacific this season. Perhaps you should come along for an audition.”
Lexy had a sudden insane vision of herself singing I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair .
“We’re a very small group,” Tristan went on. “But perfectly formed. We have to rope in the local school kids for the crowd scenes.”
“Maybe when I’ve settled in a bit,” Lexy demurred. Or when hell freezes over.
He gave a mock-pout, and turned his attention to Hope. “So, are you ready for the annual bun-fight tonight?”
Hope’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, Triss, I’d forgotten. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to make it.”
He cast up his eyes. “It’s going to be a very poor showing at this rate, because Tammy won’t go anywhere at the moment, of course, and she won’t allow me out socialising either.” He preened himself. “Not unescorted anyway, with my reputation – ha-ha! So I thought to
“I’m not sure. I’ll try to remember. All three I’ve picked up on the mat with the morning post, I know that.”
“Can I see the others?”
A strange, guarded look suddenly came over Hope’s face. “They’re much of a muchness,” she said.
Lexy studied her. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me everything.”
“I’ve told you a lot more than I’ve ever told anyone else.”
“I need to know every last detail if I’m going to make a plan.”
“A plan, eh?” A sudden fruity, jovial voice made Lexy and Hope jump violently. “The plan’s the thing!”
A floridly handsome man had materialised at their table. He had a shock of rich chestnut hair which he now flicked from his eyes with what seemed like a practised gesture. Lexy was aware of the rapid appraisal he gave her.
“Bloody hell, Tristan,” Hope put her hand to her chest. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“Guilty conscience, obviously,” he purred. “Anyway, who’s this you’re conspiring with?”
“I’m Alexandra Lomax,” said Lexy coldly, annoyed at this intrusion. Hope seemed temporarily fazed by the man’s arrival. Lexy wondered how much of the conversation he’d heard. “I’ve just moved to Clopwolde,” she added.
“And you are a most welcome addition,” said the new arrival, turning the full force of his copper-coloured eyes on her.
Lexy gave him a weary smile. A tea-shop Lothario. All they needed.
“Er… Lexy, this is Tristan Caradoc,” said Hope, recovering herself. “He and his wife Tammy live next door to my brother.”
Oho. The couple with the deformed cat. Or rather, without the deformed cat.
“That’s right, Hopeless. Ruin any chance I might have had of sweeping this girl off her feet by telling her I’m already married.” He was almost maniacally cheerful.
“And I thought it was me you were trying to sweep.”
“Oh, that was last week, darling. A man can only take so much rejection.” He turned to Lexy. “Don’t mind us, we’re always like this. How are you finding our little village?”
“Bit by bit and slowly,” said Lexy. “I only arrived yesterday.”
“Then you must let me show you around,” he said, throatily. “I do a marvellous ghost walk.” He waggled his fingers next to his face. “Very scary.”
Hope cleared her throat.
“Tammy and I moved here ourselves about ten years ago,” he went on, quickly. “Got rather jaded with the city theatre scene.”
Lexy saw a look of despair pass across Hope Ellenger’s face that she sensed had nothing to do with anonymous letters.
“Tammy was actually rather a well-known actress,” Tristan continued. “You may have heard of her… she’s been in Lovejoy , and Bergerac and numerous Beeb dramas. And… ahem… I’ve been known to tread the boards a bit, too.”
“Really?” said Lexy politely.
“Do you try your hand at all?” he continued, appearing not to realise that she didn’t know him from Adam. “We could do with some new life in our little am-dram group here in Clopwolde. We’re doing South Pacific this season. Perhaps you should come along for an audition.”
Lexy had a sudden insane vision of herself singing I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair .
“We’re a very small group,” Tristan went on. “But perfectly formed. We have to rope in the local school kids for the crowd scenes.”
“Maybe when I’ve settled in a bit,” Lexy demurred. Or when hell freezes over.
He gave a mock-pout, and turned his attention to Hope. “So, are you ready for the annual bun-fight tonight?”
Hope’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, Triss, I’d forgotten. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to make it.”
He cast up his eyes. “It’s going to be a very poor showing at this rate, because Tammy won’t go anywhere at the moment, of course, and she won’t allow me out socialising either.” He preened himself. “Not unescorted anyway, with my reputation – ha-ha! So I thought to
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