Deep-Fried Deception: A Sandy Cove British Mystery (The Sandy Cove British Mysteries Book 1) by Siena Summer

Author:Siena Summer [Summer, Siena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tomaree Publishing
Published: 2024-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

DI TOM PEARCE LOOKED at the photo of the EpiPen as Constable Matthew Brown hovered over his shoulder and stared intently, his eyes wide with boyish interest. Tom looked up at Maggie, his lips a thin line, as he arched an eyebrow.

“And you had probable cause to search Mrs Larkin’s drawers?” he asked.

“I was tidying up,” Kate said. “It is part of my job. Maggie just happened to be visiting at the time. When I saw this, I knew that I needed to bring it to you.”

“Of course.” Tom glanced down at his lap, where Biscuit had just rested her head. She looked up at him with an earnest expression, her tail wagging slowly and hopefully. His expression softened, and he scratched the Cavapoo’s head, instantly doubling the speed of her tail.

“Ladies,” he said, handing Maggie back her phone. She tried not to notice that their fingers brushed up against one another. “While I appreciate the enthusiasm and zeal, you can’t keep doing these things. It risks hindering the police investigation. Think about it this way: if you had gone about this discovery inappropriately, I wouldn’t have been able to use it as evidence. Thankfully it shouldn’t be an issue this time, but one wrong step and the defence will easily be able to get the trial thrown out of court.”

“So, you’re just going to ignore this?” Kate asked, gesturing towards Maggie’s phone.

“I didn’t say that,” Tom said. He sighed and mussed his hair, pushing the brown locks away from his forehead. “I’m simply asking you to be careful. And not just because you could affect evidence gathering. In case you’ve forgotten, there’s a killer on the loose, and if we’re not careful, then there’s a chance they might see you as a threat, and therefore a target. And I’d prefer not to see either of your bodies showing up in the mortuary.”

Kate and Maggie didn’t say anything for a moment, as if contemplating the likelihood of that outcome. Eventually, Maggie asked, “What have you learned about the peanut flour?”

“A little,” he said, “but we’re still looking into it.”

He didn’t elaborate, instead taking the opportunity to look down and scratch Biscuit behind the ears, as though the conversation had fully concluded. Maggie tried to refrain from huffing in irritation.

“Could you at least tell us the brand?” Maggie asked. Any sliver of information could be useful enough for them to unravel the mystery themselves.

Tom gave her a look, then relented. “It’s called Presidential Flour, some gourmet American brand that’s nearly impossible to find in the UK.”

“Is that all you’re going to tell us?” Kate asked, actually giving a piteous pout in hopes that he would relent. Tom simply stared, stony faced, her charms clearly wasted on the senior detective. “So, what are you going to do with the information we gave you?” she asked.

“Follow up on it, of course.” Tom stood and stretched, much to the vexation of Biscuit, whose scratches were now interrupted.

~~~

“I know you love baking,” Kate said, kicking her feet up on the dashboard.

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