Read Online Killed in Cornwall by Janie Bolitho - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Janie Bolitho
Tags: Suspense
Ads: Link
And make sure you drive carefully.’
Rose watched them leave. She hoped her mother was suffering nothing more serious than a summer cold.
There seemed no point in staying any longer herself. Geoff had said he was calling in at the gallery before he left and had presumably already gone there as they hadn’t seen him at breakfast. Rose paid her bill and set off for home.
As soon as she arrived home, Rose unpacked her small bag then sat in the garden reading the novel she had not yet had time to finish. It revolved around a man who had murdered his mother and had, so far, got away with it. She understood why he had done so and, wondering why he hadn’t done so sooner, mentally wished him luck. The sun was bright and reflected off the page. Rose closed her eyes. Her head was full of thoughts. There was Barry and his new assistant and his sudden desire to decorate his flat, Nathan with a new life ahead of him, Lucy Chandler who hadbeen attacked and raped. And there was Jack. Jack who seemed to be ignoring her lately. Of course he was busy with the burglaries and now the rape but, knowing it was perverse of her, she still wanted to see him.
Late in the afternoon she decided to have a walk then reward herself with a drink before she went home to eat. Having got as far as the railway station she decided to continue some way along the new footpath which ran alongside it. The sea was immediately to her right. Tired but relaxed she retraced her footsteps and pushed open the door of the Yacht, a pub opposite the art deco outdoor bathing pool and built at the same time. At the bar she ordered and paid for a glass of wine then scanned the room to see if there was anyone there she knew amongst the customers. She almost spilt her drink when she saw – half hidden by a group of four men – Barry Rowe huddled in a corner with Daphne Hill who, Rose remembered, was married with grown-up children. Could she be the reason for the spending spree, the modern jackets and ties and the plans for redecoration? Not Barry, surely. You’ve a nasty, suspicious mind, my girl, she thought as she turned back to the bar. Neither of them had noticed her and she did not wish tocause embarrassment. It was a peculiar sensation, spotting him with a woman; not jealousy, she had always hoped he would meet someone, but surprise and a touch of disbelief. Do I go over and say hello? she wondered. They looked deep in conversation. She finished her drink quickly and left without either of them having seen her.
It was now twenty-five to seven. The shop would have closed an hour ago. The logical explanation was that Barry had offered to buy Daphne a drink to mark the end of her first week working for him. Except it was out of character. Half puzzled, half amused, Rose made her way home slowly.
I almost forgot, she thought, as she stood to clear the table after she had eaten. There was a fête in Hayle tomorrow afternoon, one of numerous such events which took place in the summer in aid of local charities or to help fund a new church roof or playgroup. She had promised Doreen Clarke, one of the organisers, that she would attend, although she doubted that her purchases of home-made chutney or a cake and a raffle ticket would swell the coffers required to redecorate the village hall.
I might as well see if Barry wants to come with me, she thought, trying to ignore her ulteriormotive for phoning. She dialled the number and was surprised when he answered. There were no sounds to suggest he wasn’t alone, nor did he mention where he’d been.
‘Yes, why not?’ he said. There was no mention of Daphne Hill either.
Curiouser and curiouser, she thought as she replaced the receiver. Maybe he’d tell her about it tomorrow.
CHAPTER FIVE
On Sunday morning Jack was still working on the Lucy Chandler case. ‘Oh, bugger it,’ he swore as the realisation hit him. Lucy Chandler’s mother had assumed the girl was with her friend Samantha Jago, to whom they had now
Rose watched them leave. She hoped her mother was suffering nothing more serious than a summer cold.
There seemed no point in staying any longer herself. Geoff had said he was calling in at the gallery before he left and had presumably already gone there as they hadn’t seen him at breakfast. Rose paid her bill and set off for home.
As soon as she arrived home, Rose unpacked her small bag then sat in the garden reading the novel she had not yet had time to finish. It revolved around a man who had murdered his mother and had, so far, got away with it. She understood why he had done so and, wondering why he hadn’t done so sooner, mentally wished him luck. The sun was bright and reflected off the page. Rose closed her eyes. Her head was full of thoughts. There was Barry and his new assistant and his sudden desire to decorate his flat, Nathan with a new life ahead of him, Lucy Chandler who hadbeen attacked and raped. And there was Jack. Jack who seemed to be ignoring her lately. Of course he was busy with the burglaries and now the rape but, knowing it was perverse of her, she still wanted to see him.
Late in the afternoon she decided to have a walk then reward herself with a drink before she went home to eat. Having got as far as the railway station she decided to continue some way along the new footpath which ran alongside it. The sea was immediately to her right. Tired but relaxed she retraced her footsteps and pushed open the door of the Yacht, a pub opposite the art deco outdoor bathing pool and built at the same time. At the bar she ordered and paid for a glass of wine then scanned the room to see if there was anyone there she knew amongst the customers. She almost spilt her drink when she saw – half hidden by a group of four men – Barry Rowe huddled in a corner with Daphne Hill who, Rose remembered, was married with grown-up children. Could she be the reason for the spending spree, the modern jackets and ties and the plans for redecoration? Not Barry, surely. You’ve a nasty, suspicious mind, my girl, she thought as she turned back to the bar. Neither of them had noticed her and she did not wish tocause embarrassment. It was a peculiar sensation, spotting him with a woman; not jealousy, she had always hoped he would meet someone, but surprise and a touch of disbelief. Do I go over and say hello? she wondered. They looked deep in conversation. She finished her drink quickly and left without either of them having seen her.
It was now twenty-five to seven. The shop would have closed an hour ago. The logical explanation was that Barry had offered to buy Daphne a drink to mark the end of her first week working for him. Except it was out of character. Half puzzled, half amused, Rose made her way home slowly.
I almost forgot, she thought, as she stood to clear the table after she had eaten. There was a fête in Hayle tomorrow afternoon, one of numerous such events which took place in the summer in aid of local charities or to help fund a new church roof or playgroup. She had promised Doreen Clarke, one of the organisers, that she would attend, although she doubted that her purchases of home-made chutney or a cake and a raffle ticket would swell the coffers required to redecorate the village hall.
I might as well see if Barry wants to come with me, she thought, trying to ignore her ulteriormotive for phoning. She dialled the number and was surprised when he answered. There were no sounds to suggest he wasn’t alone, nor did he mention where he’d been.
‘Yes, why not?’ he said. There was no mention of Daphne Hill either.
Curiouser and curiouser, she thought as she replaced the receiver. Maybe he’d tell her about it tomorrow.
CHAPTER FIVE
On Sunday morning Jack was still working on the Lucy Chandler case. ‘Oh, bugger it,’ he swore as the realisation hit him. Lucy Chandler’s mother had assumed the girl was with her friend Samantha Jago, to whom they had now
Similar Books
