Death by Daylily: A Hibiscus Island Mystery (Hibiscus Island Mysteries Book 5) by Lucy Norman

Author:Lucy Norman [Norman, Lucy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mulberry Ink Books
Published: 2023-10-11T16:00:00+00:00

It turned out that Amber and Susanna Cherington were sharing one of the cottage suites in the complex next to Myrtle’s, and Holly’s prediction was partly correct. The author was indeed in a safe room, sipping a hot, heavily sugared cup of tea.

The constable stationed outside the room had initially refused to allow Jamie and Holly access, reluctantly agreeing to call Rob when they’d pressed him, and, in Jamie’s case, whipped out her driving license to prove her identity.

While they waited, Holly leaned against the white stone balustrade, gazing out at the view of the grounds, which were artistically framed by the branches of magenta bougainvillea that clustered above the wooden pergola shading the entrance to the cottage suite.

Beneath them, narrow graveled walkways wound their way down the hillside, disappearing at times between trees and shrubberies, then reappearing a little further. A small white-roofed gazebo, likely the same one she’d seen from Myrtle’s room, Holly thought, rose out of a sea of blue hydrangeas to overlook the equally blue sea.

A boundary wall at the edge of Holly’s vision encircled the property but the trail itself extended past a tiny wrought-iron gate presumably down to the lake at the bottom of the mountain. Mist Lake itself wasn’t visible from this vantage point, but a flash of yellow on the trail caught Holly’s eye. The two hikers were too far away to identify but Holly eyed them wistfully, wondering if they were the athletic couple she’d met while touring the gardens earlier. As the pair turned a corner and disappeared from view, the constable cleared his throat behind them.

“The Inspector’s given his permission, ladies. I’ll just knock and let Ms. Cherington know.”

Susanna Cherington had eyed Holly and Jamie with surprise as she listened to the constable’s explanation. “Inspector Tucker, you say? Oh, very well. Come on in. I suppose if the police vouch for you, you’re safe.”

She’d led them through the spacious suite to the living room where a sober Amber Cardwell sat huddled up in a deep armchair sipping a cup of tea.

“Visitors, Amber,” Susanna chirped cheerfully. “Vetted by the police, no less.”

“Oh, Holly…” The author’s lip quivered suddenly, sending her agent into immediate action.

“Now, now, none of that. None of that. You’re perfectly safe, Amber. There’s a constable outside guarding the way, every other window and door is locked, and no one will be getting in here without my knowledge. I take it you know… Holly, is it?... already.”

“We were on the same garden tour this morning,” Holly answered in response to the willowy red-head’s raised eyebrow. “And we spoke to Ms. Cardwell the other night, during the first round of the quiz.”

“Ah, well then, you’re old friends.” Susanna Cherington put her hands on her hips, smoothing the skirt of the bright floral sundress she wore, and surveyed the room. “Tell you what, I’ll go make another pot of tea and get some biscuits. You’d like another cuppa, wouldn’t you, Amber? And you two? You’ll have some tea?”

At Holly and

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