Dead... Again: Norfolk Cozy Mysteries - Book 5 by Keith Finney

Author:Keith Finney [Finney, Keith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Keith Finney
Published: 2020-09-25T22:00:00+00:00

10

The List

“Well, it sounds as if you two have been busy.” Ant's father grinned at both of them as he handed each a cup of Earl Grey tea. “Now, make yourself comfortable and tell your dear mother and me what you’ve been up to.”

Lyn settled herself next to Ant’s mother, while he sat opposite his father as he explained who and what they had seen and their conclusions.

“So not an accident, son?”

“That’s what we think. The problem is for every question we answer, at least another two pop up.” Ant felt a gentle hand on his lap.

“Your father and I know Lyn, and you will get to the bottom of it. I am sure of that.”

He smiled as he looked deep into his mother’s eyes, which as far as Ant was concerned, had never lost their sparkle.

I do love you, Mum.

“I think you have more confidence in our deductive powers than Lyn and me.”

Lyn chided her best friend. “You speak for yourself. I’m with your mum.”

“I think you're outnumbered, son,” chipped in his father "Now, who’s for the last of Lyn’s excellent cake?”

Ant glanced at the cake stand and noted there were two slices left.

A hint, I think.

“Mum, would you like a piece?”

He caught Lyn giving him a look of mild chastisement.

She’s doing it again.

“Yes, of course you would, Mum. Here, let me get it for you.”

He watched his father smile as Ant handed the cake to his mother, then focused his attention on the last remaining slice.

“And I know you would wish me to have this, son.”

Lyn giggled as Ant saw his final chance to snaffle the cake disappear into his father’s open mouth.

Ant decided to rationalise his loss by focusing on the investigation. “The odd thing is that Commander Lister’s name, or influence, keeps popping up. Can you tell Lyn and me anything about his background that might help us make sense of things?”

The Earl of Stanton finished his cake and placed a fine bone china plate onto the rounded oak coffee table that rested between them all. Wiping the remains of any crumbs from around his mouth with a delicate white cotton napkin, he fixed his gaze on Lyn, then Ant. “To answer your question back to front, I can tell you his ultimate undoing will be his raw ambition. You both saw it on open display when we met him the other day. Would I be correct in thinking he was less forthcoming to you two than the deference he showed me?”

Ant smiled. “But you are the Earl of Stanton; that’s not an unusual reaction, is it?”

“On one level, no. But Lister has a particular way of paying attention to those he thinks can be of use to him. Others in my circle have made the same observation. I had quite forgotten his modus operandi until he reappeared the other day.”

Ant scratched his head. “I see that, but not sure how that helps us.”

His father held a finger up. “But don’t you see? If you use his faux charm against him, you are certain to catch him out and he will make a mistake.

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