Death at Castle Cove by Mary Grand

Author:Mary Grand [Grand, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 2023-03-07T16:00:00+00:00

19

Susan woke exhausted the next day and stumbled down the stairs.

Instead of going to the beach, she headed for the downs. Above her, buzzards made their mournful cry, but in the bushes a robin sang, and just watching Rocco and Libs chasing across the wet grass was enough to lighten her mood. The sea was grey, but there was a glimmer of sun pushing through the clouds that reflected on its surface.

Once home, Susan settled the dogs down, had breakfast and then prepared for her trip to St Hilda’s.

She was looking forward to it now. As a child, her parents had brought her over to St Hilda’s beach. She also had a friend who’d taken over the running of a bookshop in the village and decided it would be a good opportunity to visit her as well.

Susan enjoyed the journey as it took her through places that brought back some wonderful memories. There was Shanklin with its amazing chine, which felt almost prehistoric with its enormous wet ferns and hidden birdsong. And then along Sandown, where they would have so much fun on the beach and the pier. Susan drove inland from there, passing the Roman villa at Brading, where she’d spent many a wet afternoon helping children complete the worksheet and the waxworks she’d mistakenly taken Zoe to and had given her nightmares for weeks after.

Eventually, Susan arrived at St Hilda’s. It was a pretty village with a large green, surrounded by cosy restaurants and pubs and her friend’s bookshop.

Checking out the medium’s address, she decided to park close by on the green and walk down to the house.

Realising she had a few minutes to spare, Susan decided to pop over and see her friend. As she opened the door, an old-fashioned bell tinkled, and she breathed in the wonderful smell of old books and paper.

Unaware of her entrance, a woman continued to sort out books on one of the shelves and Susan went over to her, touched her shoulder.

‘Morning, Wendy.’

The woman swung round and grinned. Wendy’s long hair was grey now and she wore a long denim skirt and baggy jumper.

‘How wonderful to see you,’ Wendy exclaimed and engulfed Susan in a hug. ‘What are you doing over this way?’

Susan simply replied, ‘I have an appointment over this way. I’ve literally popped in to say hello, I could do with seeing a friendly face.’

‘Where’s Rocco?’

‘I took him out earlier, I’ve come on my own.’

Wendy scrutinised her more closely. ‘Are you okay?’

Susan could feel tears and blinked them away. ‘A lot has happened, including the fact I am now officially divorced.’

Wendy put her arms around her again. ‘Oh, love, I’m sorry. You and Steve were like two halves of a whole, he was a fool to leave you. He should have talked to you before, he should have been kinder, less selfish.’

‘But—’

‘No buts. If he was that unhappy, he had the right to go, but the bastard did it in such a cruel way. If I ever see him, I shall make sure he knows that.

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