Disguised Murder and Community Spirit in Little Mallow: A Little Mallow cosy mystery (Little Mallow cosy mysteries Book 1) by Patsy Collins

Author:Patsy Collins [Collins, Patsy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Thursday 4th June

Crystal awoke from a dream in which she'd solved the double murder of Mr Argent and Paula Roth. It had been really simple once she'd known the same person was responsible for both. Perhaps it was just as well she couldn't remember who that person was as she'd have found it very difficult not to spend all her free time stalking them.

"Are you OK, love?" Aunty Agnes asked when Crystal came downstairs.

"Yes, I'm fine. Sorry, did I disturb you when I came back last night?"

"Didn't hear a thing and I was up before the calls started this morning."

"Calls?"

"You left your mobile by the sink and that's been buzzing. I didn't try to answer it, but I took messages from everyone who called the house phone. I take it something happened at the party?"

"You could say that."

When she'd got in last night, Crystal had intended to call Jason to apologise for abandoning him when the DI arrived, but saw it was far too late. When she got upstairs with her glass of water and realised she didn't have the phone she'd decided not to go back down and risk disturbing her great aunt. Besides, she was far too tired to be of any use to anyone who might ring.

Crystal filled the kettle and checked her phone as she waited for it to boil. Oh dear, dozens of messages and missed calls. She tried calling Jason, got a message that his phone was switched off and sent a brief text instead.

She read Aunty's notes. Martin Blackman from the pub, and Arnold the verger both wanted to know if they could go into the hall and clear up, and sergeant Dylan said 'you're not to go on shift, but get epic as soon as you're up – you'll know the fellow'.

"I didn't quite understand the sergeant…"

"EPIC is what the CID building in Pompey is called."

"Because they do epic work?" Aunty asked with a grin.

"That and the fact it stands for Eastern Police Investigation Centre. It sounds as though I'll be working there with DI Shortfellow today, instead of my usual duties with Trevor." She sipped the tea Aunty had made.

"Crystal, love? Did something bad happen at the party?"

What to tell her? She'd soon be having inquisitive visitors. It wasn't fair to ask her to keep secrets from them, nor for her to be on the receiving end of a lot of gossip and have nothing to say. It didn't help that Crystal wasn't sure what information had been officially released. "Someone was taken seriously ill last night…"

"Oh! Who is it?"

"Paula Roth, the florist."

"Poor girl. I do hope she'll be OK."

"I'll make some calls," Crystal said. Aunty would think she was finding out how Paula was doing, not asking if she could say the woman was dead.

"Shall I make you some breakfast, love?"

"Yes please." The food would be welcome and the sound of frying bacon would drown out Crystal's conversations.

The post arrived. Crystal went to fetch it and phoned from the hallway.

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