A Death at Silversmith Bay: An utterly addictive British cozy mystery novel (A Jemima Jago Mystery Book 3) by Emma Jameson

Author:Emma Jameson [Jameson, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781803141152
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2022-02-20T16:00:00+00:00

16

A BOHO PRINCESS AND TWO SCARVES

Millie Ambury-Taylor could’ve been PC Kellow’s sister, except for her style, which was a far cry from a uniformed officer of the law. Her long blonde hair, parted in the middle, hung on either side of her pretty face in what people sometimes called “beachy waves”—meaning they were slightly crispy, as if she’d recently emerged from salt water. Her paisley floral dress, in shades of sea green and rust, swirled around her as she moved. Its loose bodice was unlaced, showing the cream-colored chemise beneath.

“Everything I’m wearing is for sale,” she announced by way of welcoming Jem and Tori into Age of Aquarius. “Dress, sandals, rings, earrings, everything. Make me an offer for this”—she flipped back the beachy waves—“and I just might chop it off and hand it over.”

“I’m shopping for a friend,” Jem said, thinking that in an otherwise empty shop with an eager proprietor, making a small purchase was the best way to elicit goodwill. “She loves scarves.”

“I’ll need a little more,” Millie said, coming around the counter eagerly. “How would you describe her vibe? Take me, for example. Some people call me a hippie, but I prefer boho princess.”

“Oh, that’s easy. She’s a goth.”

“Industrial goth? Vampire goth? Perky goth?”

“Definitely perky.”

“Maybe something in pink skulls? They have hair bows. Who says dead can’t be darling?”

“I usually stick to black and burgundy. Those are her favorite colors.”

“Of course. Follow me.”

Fortunately for Jem, who’d already spent too much in the last twenty-four hours when you combined Tesco Express, dinner at The Siren, and breakfast at Warren’s, the prices at Age of Aquarius were quite reasonable. It seemed clear from the numerous struck-through prices and red sale tags that Millie’s business fared no better than Toby’s salon. Jem selected a black organza scarf patterned with roses for the bargain price of four quid. She was searching for the best way to bring up the murder next door when a familiar pattern caught her eye.

“This is pretty,” she said, picking a scarf with a whimsical pattern of teacups and orange blossoms. She didn’t have to consult the camera roll on her mobile to know it was an exact match to the scarf she’d seen lying as if forgotten in Tatteredly’s.

“You mean for you, right? No self-respecting goth would wear it,” Millie said. “It’s on final markdown. Last of the lot, so if you want it, now’s your chance.”

“Actually,” Jem said, deciding this was as good an opening as she was likely to get, “I think I’ve seen it somewhere. Have you sold lots?”

“I sold one,” Millie said. “Exactly one, to an estate agent. Her name’s Keeley Jin—” She stopped. “Sorry. I can’t think of her real last name. One of the other shopkeepers called her Keeley Jingle-Jangle because of her charm bracelets, and pretty soon we were all calling her that. She tinkled whenever she moved. I’m not being nasty,” Millie added hastily. “I like musical ornaments. Only some of the other folks along the row seemed to think she was a bit of a joke.

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