A Country Wedding Murder: A totally gripping and unputdownable cozy murder mystery (Julia Bird Mysteries Book 5) by Katie Gayle

Author:Katie Gayle [Gayle, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2024-03-13T00:00:00+00:00

20

Julia’s finger hesitated over the little record icon. Was she crossing the boundary between helpful and interfering? Or was she simply giving a friend an appropriate warning of a potential problem?

The latter, she hoped. She tapped the screen and spoke into the phone: ‘Hi, Hayley, just letting you know that there’s a lawyer in town asking questions about the allergy incident at the wedding. The victim is going to sue. But there’s talk of bringing a charge against whoever was responsible. Something criminal. Not sure what, but, if that happens, it means this thing will likely land in your lap. Or your desk. Anyway, it might not happen, but I thought a heads-up might be handy.’

Minutes later, a voice note arrived back from Hayley. ‘Hi, Julia. Gosh, it seems there’s no end to the wedding drama. Thanks for the warning. It doesn’t sound like a matter for the police, so it might not come my way.’ She sounded wistful rather than confident on this point. There was a small hesitation, which might have been a sigh, then she said, ‘Hope not. I’ve got my hands full with Desmond Campbell’s murder. Anyway. Thanks. Oh, and thanks for your info on Cynthia Skinner. It’s been very helpful. She definitely seems to have been the last person to see him alive. It’s looking bad for her.’

‘Hi, Mum.’ Jess was at the kitchen door still in her pyjamas, her hair tangled from the pillow, her dear face puffy from sleep. Julia felt a swelling of love at the sight of her. She looked so young and vulnerable. She was wearing Julia’s big sheepskin slippers, which make a swish-swish noise on the tiles as she padded across the kitchen towards the kettle. ‘Want tea?’

‘No thanks, love, I’ve just had a cup.’

‘Dad phoned,’ she said, her back to her mother, her voice muffled. The running of the tap, the clicking of the gas catching, the sound of the heavy kettle on the stove. ‘They’re leaving today. Going back to London. The police said they don’t have to stick around. Which is good news, obviously. It means Christopher’s not under suspicion now.’

‘I’m pleased to hear it. Of course, we knew it would come to nothing, Christopher didn’t do it, but it was a worry. And they have a strong suspect now, I believe.’

‘Good. I’m meeting Dad and Christopher for a last breakfast at the Buttered Scone.’

Her voice sounded flat. Julia knew that tone, it meant she was keeping her emotions in check.

‘Ah, I’m sorry, love. You’ll be sad to say goodbye.’

‘I will. I’ll see them again in London on my way through, but it still feels too soon. It’s less than two weeks before I leave Berrywick. And England.’

Julia had been trying to keep that thought at bay for some days. The idea of her daughter leaving the village and then the country gave her a funny lurching feeling in her gut. She got up and walked to the stove, and gave her daughter a hug. ‘I’ll miss you, my darling.

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