Body in the Shop: A cozy mystery novella (Muddlebay Mysteries Book 5) by Wendy Cartmell

Author:Wendy Cartmell [Cartmell, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Costa Press
Published: 2022-01-17T05:00:00+00:00

14

Before the conversation with Fisher about fish could get any stranger, Flynn was very glad that Mabel interrupted it, by turning up at the police station.

‘I thought I was right,’ she said, taking off her coat and puffing slightly from the exertion of walking up the stairs.

‘Right about what?’ said Flynn only half paying attention as he was looking at the bank balance of Powell’s Pies.

Pulling off her hat and shaking her hair out, she said, ‘We have various books in the library about food safety. Someone has been taking them out, one at a time.’

‘Nothing wrong there, especially if they were studying at college, say,’ said Flynn.

‘No, that’s not the case.’

‘It’s not?’

‘It’s a local miscreant.’

‘Pardon?’

‘I think you’ll find he has a criminal record. Bit of a thug really.’

‘What’s his name? said Fisher firing up the office computer.

‘Jonas Strickland. I’ll pop off and make a drink while you’re looking him up.’

By the time Mabel had made her coffee, Fisher had the answer.

‘Hmm, Jonas Strickland has been a naughty boy,’ he said.

‘Exactly,’ chimed in Mabel.

‘Hanging around cash machines and pinching the money as it comes out of the slot, pushing away the owner. Or demanding money with menaces, threatening violence if the victim doesn’t give over the money they’ve just taken out. How can you do that to an OAP?’

‘Exactly. But Jonas has been taking books out of the library about food safety and hygiene. Which doesn’t really compute.’

‘So?’ asked Flynn.

‘So, maybe he’s been looking for different ways of demanding money with menaces? He could have been behind the pies.’

Flynn put down the bank statement he was holding. ‘Do you think he’s got the nous to do all that?’

‘Maybe, maybe not. But it’s got to be worth talking to him.’

‘Absolutely. Fisher, you and Elgin bring him in.’

‘What are you going to do then,’ demanded Fisher.

‘Go through these papers and see if I agree with your findings.’

‘What findings?’ asked Mabel. ‘I wasn’t here when you were doing that.’

‘Powell’s Pies were practically bankrupt.’

‘Oh my,’ breathed Mabel and sat down. ‘Powell’s Pies are a local institution. Whatever will Muddlebay do without them?’ she asked.

But no one had the answer.

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