Aunt Bessie Provides by Diana Xarissa

Author:Diana Xarissa [Xarissa, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-01-18T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Bessie followed Helen back towards the desk, studying the man who was leaning against it as they went. Adam Marsh had to be in his mid-fifties, but he wore it well. His hair was still dark, with just a bit of grey running through it. He was dressed casually and Bessie would have guessed that he had a gym membership that he actually used. She smiled brightly at the man as she reached his side.

“Mr. Marsh, I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Elizabeth Cubbon. I was just visiting your mother.”

“But you must call me Adam,” the man replied with a smile. “And of course I remember you, Miss Cubbon. I was always quite jealous of the children who lived in Laxey. They used to talk about your little cottage by the sea where delicious cakes and biscuits were always available. We didn’t have anything like that in Douglas, sadly.”

“Call me Bessie. Everyone does.”

“But why were you visiting Mother?”

“I was at Noble’s for something else and I thought I would say hello. I was hoping she might be willing to give me Christopher’s address. Hugh Watterson is looking for him in connection with the body on the beach case that he’s reopened,” Bessie explained.

“He can’t possibly believe that that body is Christopher’s?” Adam said in a shocked voice.

“Someone suggested that it might be,” Bessie told him.

“But that’s a crazy idea. First of all, Christopher is absolutely fine. He simply decided to move across, that’s all. Secondly, surely, if it were him, Mother would have identified him at the time. It makes no sense even suggesting that it might be his body.”

“Hugh has to investigate all of the possibilities,” Bessie replied. “And as I said, someone suggested that he look for Christopher.”

Adam sighed. “And that might prove difficult.”

“It won’t be difficult if your mother will give Hugh his address,” Bessie suggested.

“It isn’t that easy. Christopher has never been one to settle down. He moved on and off the island every few years, as I’m sure you recall.”

“I remember him leaving and then coming back, yes.”

“He’d gone to London and then decided it didn’t suit him. Then he came back here and that didn’t suit him either.” Adam shook his head. “I’m sorry to say this, but he and I had a bit of a falling-out. I thought he should stay here and take over some part of the family business. By that time we’d moved beyond the market stalls and had a proper import and export business going. We could have used the extra help.”

“But he didn’t want to stay?”

“Christopher never appreciated the island,” Adam sighed. “He wanted far more adventure and excitement than the good old Isle of Man could provide. Anyway, we had a huge fight and he stormed out and caught the next flight or ferry back across. I’m afraid I haven’t stayed in touch with him.”

“So you don’t have an address for him,” Bessie concluded.

“Mother doesn’t talk about him often, but over the years she’s mentioned him moving around quite a bit.

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