A Case of Major Murder (A Quinn Flitcroft Mystery Book 1) by Williams J C

Author:Williams, J C
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The Bay View Garden Centre, positioned equidistant between the villages of Port Erin and Port St Mary, provided a mecca for those green-fingered Isle of Man residents eager to scratch their horticultural itch. And like many similar establishments on the isle, it also attracted and maintained an additional client base thanks to its onsite tearoom, renowned for serving up an enticing array of home-baked treats both sweet and savoury. Quite how the business ended up with its idyllic-sounding name was something of a mystery, as it appeared to be a slight embellishment of the truth. Because, as far as its clientele could see, there wasn’t a view of the bay to be enjoyed from within any square inch of its botanical walled gardens.

Still, such minor details didn’t seem to be playing too heavily on the minds of those filling up their assorted shopping baskets and trolleys with an array of flora and other items, if their jolly demeanours were any yardstick.

All jolly, at least, until a sour-faced Cindy Shuttleworth peeked out from her position of cover behind the large feathery plumes of a flourishing pampas grass plant. It’d been nearly twenty-four hours since she’d been doorstepped by the pair of investigators, Quinn and Toby, but she was still intensely displeased at being subjected to such an accusatory line of questioning in her own home. (Well, her home until the landlord could evict her for not actually paying rent for the pleasure of living there.)

Cindy wasn’t exactly inconspicuous at the present moment, on account of her flamingo pink tracksuit and lime green trainers. But on the basis she’d not yet been observed by those she was trailing, it suggested she was doing something right, one might argue. Indeed, one might further suggest that being surrounded by such vibrant and vivid blooms as she was, her sartorial explosion of colour was the ideal outfit with which to blend in.

Cindy paused, standing beneath an ivy-covered wooden arch, watching on intently like a lioness stalking a Serengeti watering hole and waiting for the perfect time to strike. Her unsuspecting victim, up ahead, with her nose pressed up to a potted geranium was Primrose Ellis, presently harbouring notions of refreshing her extensive hanging basket collection at home. Primrose, the social secretary and lady’s team captain at the bowling club, was dressed in cream-coloured shorts and a yellow sleeveless collared shirt, appearing ready for a round of golf, perhaps, rather than a wander around the garden centre.

The very instant Primrose’s husband finally left her side, leaving her vulnerable and exposed, Cindy approached her quarry, replacing her frustrated scowl with a friendly smile. “Oh, hiya! Fancy meeting you here, Primrose,” she said casually, sounding as if their meeting was entirely coincidental and she absolutely hadn’t been shadowing the woman and her husband all morning. Which she absolutely had.

Primrose removed her sniffer from the floral petals, looking Cindy up and down, and then up and down again. It was evident from the look on her face that

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