Aunt Bessie Observes (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 15) by Diana Xarissa

Author:Diana Xarissa [Xarissa, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2017-10-18T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

“Bessie? We were just talking about you,” Janet exclaimed as she pulled the cottage door open. “We were wondering if we should walk over and check on you before we went to bed. Come in and have some tea and cake,” she invited.

“I could do with some tea,” Bessie told her as she walked into the sitting room. “I made coffee, but now I’m too awake.”

Janet nodded. “That’s why I’ve stuck to tea,” she replied. “Joan has been coping by baking. While she was waiting for me, she made a chocolate sponge and a tray of flapjacks.”

“I wish I baked when I was feeling stressed,” Bessie said. “Actually, I wish I did something, anything, productive when I was stressed. Instead, I pace in pointless circles and worry.”

“I eat,” Janet told her. “Which makes Joan the perfect sister for me.”

Bessie laughed and then sat down in the dining area. Janet got her a cup of tea while Joan cut her a large slice of chocolate sponge.

“It might still be warm,” she warned as she put the cake in front of Bessie. “And I didn’t bother to decorate it.”

“It’s delicious,” Bessie said after the first bite. “Warm chocolate is incredibly soothing, as well.”

“I’ve already had two pieces,” Janet told her. “I’m feeling so soothed that I’m almost ill.”

“I told you not to have the second piece,” Joan chided.

“I’d rather feel ill from too much cake than from everything else that’s happened today,” Janet countered.

“John told me that you identified the body,” Bessie said somberly.

“More or less,” Janet replied. “I’m not completely certain it’s him, because the man we knew in Doveby Dale had a huge moustache and this man didn’t, but that’s an easy change for a man to make.”

“It is, indeed,” Bessie said. “If it is the man you knew, who would have wanted him dead?”

“It has to be tied to the fundraiser for Mannanan’s Kids,” Janet said. “Otherwise it doesn’t make sense.”

“Unless the killer is someone from across who followed the men or found them here and killed them,” Bessie suggested.

“I suppose that’s possible,” Janet said thoughtfully. “But the police have been looking everywhere for those two. Surely, if they were that easy for someone to find, the police would have managed it.”

“Unless they had a third accomplice,” Bessie suggested. “He or she would have known exactly where the other two were.”

“There wasn’t any sign of a third accomplice in Doveby Dale,” Janet said. “Aside from the local man who helped them, of course. But I’m pretty sure that if he knew where they were, he’d ring the police straight away. He was pretty upset with how those two treated him.”

“If there was a third accomplice, what are the chances he or she lives on the island?” Joan asked.

Bessie shrugged. “In some ways the idea makes sense, especially since it seems that the third person, if he or she exists, worked entirely behind the scenes. But it does seem as if they were setting up Mannanan’s Kids as their next victim.

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