Death By Numbers: A Murder Ledger Mystery (Book 2) (The Murder Ledger Mysteries) by P. L. Handley

Author:P. L. Handley [Handley, P. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elwood Publishing
Published: 2023-08-16T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Alun loitered by the drinks table, sipping on his gin and tonic. He was a lost puppy in a kennel of wild dogs, and he wished someone would come over there and rescue him.

Rhiannon, on the other hand, seemed to be having a wonderful time. She was also seizing the opportunity of getting to know a certain charismatic groundworker (one who Alun could have sworn he had also seen dressed as a funeral director).

Alun scanned the enormous room full of people and was surprised to find a person who looked almost as miserable as he did. Crouched like a lonely gargoyle in the far corner was Rhod. These two antisocial outcasts caught each other’s stare and exchanged a polite nod.

Bored and out of place, the teen was pleased to see the awkward man in grubby shoes crossing the room to join him.

“Fancy seeing you here,” said Rhod.

“Likewise,” said Alun, having polished off the last of his drink. “How are you enjoying the party?”

“I’ve had more fun hanging out in graveyards.”

“Well that doesn’t surprise me.”

They observed the merriment going on around them and shared the same disgust.

“I’d tell your girlfriend to be careful there,” said Rhod, turning their attention to Rhiannon and Johnny, who continued their banter with remarkable ease.

“Oh, she’s not my girlfriend,” said Alun, his throat turning dry.

Rhod couldn’t help but appear cynical. “Really? Then what are you then?”

“Uh, it’s a good question, actuality. I often try to define the relationship myself. I suppose you could say we’re like… colleagues, or — friends. That’s right, we’re friends.”

“Well she seems to be getting along very well with my brother.”

“Ah, your brother. That makes sense.” Alun tried to hide his discomfort at the blossoming conversation going on before them. “I’m sure they just have a lot in common.”

“It’s doubtful,” said Rhod. “My brother’s a very unusual man.”

Alun was about to point out that “unusual” seemed to be a Roberts family trait, but he didn’t want to make the young man more downhearted than he already was.

He decided to turn his attention to other members of the crowd. Some of them he recognised: Gethin, the concierge; Carys, the assistant manager; Robin, the gardener. But there were many he had yet to meet.

“I assume you know most of the people in here,” he said.

“I’m familiar with everyone,” said Rhod. “I wouldn’t say I really know anyone. If I did, I wouldn’t be standing here on my own.”

“That’s a good enough start.”

The curious teenager turned to look at him.

“Let us remove the idea of a deceased killer for now,” Alun continued. “And focus on the living. If you had to pick your number one suspect — the person most likely to have drowned a helpless Don Fletcher — who would it be?”

Rhod took a deep breath, and his eyes flashed with a rush of excitement. What a question, he thought, but it was one he relished in trying to answer. “Wow… where do I start? There’s the people who openly hated him like

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