Deadly Return: An English small town cozy mystery (The Seacastle Mysteries Book 1) by PJ Skinner

Author:PJ Skinner [Skinner, PJ]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Parkin Press
Published: 2023-07-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

I chose the next morning to ask Mouse about the bracelet. I dropped it into our breakfast conversation as casually as I could.

‘Um, I’m missing a bracelet. I don’t know if you’ve seen it? I left it in the bathroom a couple of days ago, and I can’t find it anywhere.’

Mouse’s spoon stopped halfway to his mouth and colour rose to his normally pale cheeks. His eyes opened wide.

‘Are you asking me if I stole it?’ he said in a quiet voice.

I shook my head, avoiding his glare.

‘No, of course not, I just thought you might have moved it or—’

He shoved his chair back and threw his cereal bowl on the floor, where it shattered into a million pieces. He swallowed twice.

‘How could you? I’ve done everything I could to help you. Dad was right. You’re a bitter old bitch who blames other people for her troubles.’

‘But I’m not accusing you of anything.’

‘Aren’t you? It certainly sounds like it to me. I’m not staying here to be insulted by you. I’m the only fool who thought they misjudged you, but now I know better. Even Hades hates you.’

He ran upstairs and stuffed some clothes in a rucksack while I watched on helplessly, trying to calm him down. But he ignored me and stormed out of my house, screaming that he would never come back. I had been rooted to the ground with fear and shock for a while before I burst into tears. Even Hades seemed concerned by the commotion, peeping out of his basket, before going back inside. I left the kitchen as it was and threw on my coat, still choking back the sobs. The depth of my emotions, and his, had shocked us both, I think. It felt irreparable at that moment. What had I done?

The landline rang as I headed for the door, and befuddled with grief, I forgot to screen the number.

‘Hello,’ I croaked.

‘Have you been crying again? George is worried about you.’

I slapped my forehead. Just what I didn’t need right now. A call from my smug married sister.

‘Hello Helen. How nice to hear from you! Are the kids well?’

‘Don’t think you can distract me. I can tell you’ve been weeping. Is your depression back?’

‘No, I had a horrible shock that’s all. I’m fine now.’

‘You don’t sound fine. Anyway, George asked me to call and talk to you.’

‘Why didn’t he ring me himself?’

‘He told me you were being difficult.’

‘Difficult? What about?’

She snorted. Is there anything more annoying than an elder sister who condescends to you all the time?

‘Don’t be silly, Tan. He told me you’re obsessed with Mel Conrad’s death.’

And how did George know? Ghita probably. Ghita was lovely and caring, but she never met a problem head-on, preferring to swerve it or hand it to someone else to solve. This went for her own problems too. We never heard about them, but her level of sighing and biscuit eating went up exponentially when she felt pressured.

‘I’m not obsessed, just concerned. Ever since Mel’s mother died of cancer, she had to deal with one disaster after another.

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