An Elegant Death in Hastings: Bonnie's Second Act by Drennan Marjory

Author:Drennan, Marjory
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-07-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

After everyone went home, Bonnie looks forward to an evening in. But that evening would be much better with some wine and ice cream. The local Wine and Spirits shop is the first stop. She bends down and gets a Pinot Grigio from the bottom shelf. Straightening up, she comes eye to eye with Sharon, Hank’s friend. “Oh. Hello.” Bonnie smiles slightly.

Sharon ignores her, putting the last of her six bottles of chardonnay into the cardboard carton. Then she glances at Bonnie, who waits there expectantly.

“Do I know you?” Sharon looks at Bonnie a little rudely.

“We met at my cafe the other day. You were there with Hank Watts.”

“Oh, sure. How’s it going?” She probably doesn’t expect an answer.

“Fine. fine. Listen, can I ask you something?”

“It depends.” Sharon backs up a few feet, holding the cardboard six-pack of wine in front of her.

“Just wondering how you know Hank?”

Sharon walks to the front counter and places her wine down before she turns to Bonnie. Hand on her hip, Sharon counters, “And I’m just wondering why you think it’s any of your business.”

“You’re right,” Bonnie follows her to the counter and searches for a reasonable argument. “It’s just that … he lives next door to my aunts. And he sort of threatened to kill their cat. So, he makes me a little nervous. Should I be nervous?”

“Are they nosy like you?”

“They really are,” Bonnie nods.

“Then I’d keep the cat inside. Hank has strong …opinions.” Sharon narrows her eyes. “You’re the one who told the police that Hank was an abuser.” She accuses Bonnie.

“Have you seen that side of him?”

“Me and Hank are just friends. Anyway, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Hank didn’t kill her.”

Sharon turns to the man at the register and taps a credit card to pay for her six-pack of wine.

“You seem very sure.” Bonnie is surprised by her level of conviction.

Sharon gets a Cheshire cat look. “You don’t know anything about Hank.”

“Have you known him long?” Bonnie tries to think of a way to keep her talking.

“Long enough,” Sharon’s phone dings, and she glances down at it. “Got to go. My boyfriend’s waiting.”

Bonnie puts her wine on the counter and struggles to get her card to tap in the right spot on the screen. As Bonnie exits the front doors, she scans the road. Across the street, she catches sight of Sharon closing the trunk of a sports car and sliding into the passenger seat. Before the door closes, Bonnie glimpses the driver, Greg Jones.

An hour later, she is settled back home with her glass of Pinot Grigio and a Hallmark movie mystery. Bonnie picks up the papers Greg had given her with the list of attendees for the Garden Party. Two yellow post-it notes float to the rug. Bonnie turns them over and frowns. They must have been attached to Greg's list. The notes puzzle her.

Midnight Sun 9-2 150.

Island God 1-3 2000.

She frowns but decides to focus on the party guests.

She knows many of the names. Crossing out everybody she knows by sight, Bonnie still has forty names on the list.

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