Read Online ONCE UPON A LIE (A Fitzjohn Mystery) by Jill Paterson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jill Paterson
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business in Rushcutters Bay. He wanted, his partner, Nigel Prentice, out. But I think he had another reason as well. I think he saw selling the winery as a way for him to deal with Mum’s death. You know what difficulty he had accepting what happened to her. The winery was just another reminder. Her influence was everywhere.’
’ Mmm. You could be right,’ said Esme. ‘He never did get over your mother’s death. Perhaps it had something to do with her being his twin.’
‘ I don’t know,’ said Charlotte, ‘but what I do know is, we all had difficulty at the time, and it irritated me that Michael went on so about it. It only made things worse.’ Esme patted Charlotte’s hand. ‘Anyway, Esme, let’s get back to what matters now. Are you all right, and was anything taken in the home invasion?’
‘ I’m fine, dear, but it’s hard to tell whether there’s anything missing. The room’s in such a mess.’
‘Well, when the police ha ve finished I’ll help you put it right. And, if you don’t mind, I’d like to stay with you for a few nights. I don’t like the thought of you being here on your own.’ Charlotte smiled. ‘I know if I ask you to come and stay with me you’d say no.’
‘ You’re right. I would.’ Esme smiled. ‘I know I’m incorrigible, but I do like to sleep in my own bed. Having you stay, however, would make me feel easier.’
‘ Good. Then that’s settled.’ Charlotte looked at her watch. ‘It’s a bit late in the day now to fetch my things so I’ll do that in the morning.’
CHAPTER 9
The sparrows, splashing in the birdbath , did not distract Fitzjohn as he surveyed his garden early the next morning. They only added to his pleasure along with the flowerbeds yielding an abundance of colour and fragrances. Lamenting the fact he could not spend his Sunday morning pottering in this peaceful place, Fitzjohn turned and made his way back in to the house. As he did so, he heard his niece’s voice as she came through the front door.
‘ Hello, anybody home?’ When she reached the kitchen doorway, Sophie stopped. ‘Oh, hello, Uncle Alistair. It looks like you’re ready to go out.’
‘Duty calls , I’m afraid.’ Fitzjohn adjusted the handkerchief in the breast pocket of his suit coat. ‘But to what do I owe this surprise visit so early on a Sunday morning, young lady?’
‘ I came to borrow a thermos. I seem to remember seeing one in your laundry cupboard when I was house-sitting last month.’
‘ I didn’t know I had a thermos,’ said Fitzjohn. ‘Your Aunt Edith took care of all that kind of thing. But you’re welcome to look. Are you going on a picnic?’
‘No, Uncle. I’m going to a sit-in at the university. I want to take a hot drink along in case we’re there all night.’ Fitzjohn’s eyes narrowed. Since his sister, Meg, had allowed Sophie to continue her university studies in Sydney rather than Melbourne, Fitzjohn had felt a certain sense of responsibility toward his young niece. He also sensed that the move was Sophie’s way of escaping her mother’s overbearing grasp. Could he blame her? Ever since Edith’s death, he had experienced that overbearing grasp first hand.
‘What kind of sit-in is it, Sophie? You know that sort of thing can turn ugly.’
Sophie smiled. ‘You don’t need to worry, Uncle Alistair, it’s just a campus matter to do with one of the libraries.’ Sophie made a quick exit in to the laundry room, and amidst the clatter of her emptying the cupboard, Betts arrived.
‘I tho ught you might like a lift, sir.’ Betts looked around as another crash sounded. ‘What’s that? Mice?’
‘No , it’s Sophie. She’s looking for something in the laundry.’ Fitzjohn moved over to the kitchen table and commenced placing papers in to his briefcase. Just then, Sophie reappeared, her face lighting up when
’ Mmm. You could be right,’ said Esme. ‘He never did get over your mother’s death. Perhaps it had something to do with her being his twin.’
‘ I don’t know,’ said Charlotte, ‘but what I do know is, we all had difficulty at the time, and it irritated me that Michael went on so about it. It only made things worse.’ Esme patted Charlotte’s hand. ‘Anyway, Esme, let’s get back to what matters now. Are you all right, and was anything taken in the home invasion?’
‘ I’m fine, dear, but it’s hard to tell whether there’s anything missing. The room’s in such a mess.’
‘Well, when the police ha ve finished I’ll help you put it right. And, if you don’t mind, I’d like to stay with you for a few nights. I don’t like the thought of you being here on your own.’ Charlotte smiled. ‘I know if I ask you to come and stay with me you’d say no.’
‘ You’re right. I would.’ Esme smiled. ‘I know I’m incorrigible, but I do like to sleep in my own bed. Having you stay, however, would make me feel easier.’
‘ Good. Then that’s settled.’ Charlotte looked at her watch. ‘It’s a bit late in the day now to fetch my things so I’ll do that in the morning.’
CHAPTER 9
The sparrows, splashing in the birdbath , did not distract Fitzjohn as he surveyed his garden early the next morning. They only added to his pleasure along with the flowerbeds yielding an abundance of colour and fragrances. Lamenting the fact he could not spend his Sunday morning pottering in this peaceful place, Fitzjohn turned and made his way back in to the house. As he did so, he heard his niece’s voice as she came through the front door.
‘ Hello, anybody home?’ When she reached the kitchen doorway, Sophie stopped. ‘Oh, hello, Uncle Alistair. It looks like you’re ready to go out.’
‘Duty calls , I’m afraid.’ Fitzjohn adjusted the handkerchief in the breast pocket of his suit coat. ‘But to what do I owe this surprise visit so early on a Sunday morning, young lady?’
‘ I came to borrow a thermos. I seem to remember seeing one in your laundry cupboard when I was house-sitting last month.’
‘ I didn’t know I had a thermos,’ said Fitzjohn. ‘Your Aunt Edith took care of all that kind of thing. But you’re welcome to look. Are you going on a picnic?’
‘No, Uncle. I’m going to a sit-in at the university. I want to take a hot drink along in case we’re there all night.’ Fitzjohn’s eyes narrowed. Since his sister, Meg, had allowed Sophie to continue her university studies in Sydney rather than Melbourne, Fitzjohn had felt a certain sense of responsibility toward his young niece. He also sensed that the move was Sophie’s way of escaping her mother’s overbearing grasp. Could he blame her? Ever since Edith’s death, he had experienced that overbearing grasp first hand.
‘What kind of sit-in is it, Sophie? You know that sort of thing can turn ugly.’
Sophie smiled. ‘You don’t need to worry, Uncle Alistair, it’s just a campus matter to do with one of the libraries.’ Sophie made a quick exit in to the laundry room, and amidst the clatter of her emptying the cupboard, Betts arrived.
‘I tho ught you might like a lift, sir.’ Betts looked around as another crash sounded. ‘What’s that? Mice?’
‘No , it’s Sophie. She’s looking for something in the laundry.’ Fitzjohn moved over to the kitchen table and commenced placing papers in to his briefcase. Just then, Sophie reappeared, her face lighting up when
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