Haunted High Tea and Homicide: A Jane Austen-Inspired Cozy Paranormal Mystery by Suzy Bussell

Author:Suzy Bussell [Bussell, Suzy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Snowshoes Media
Published: 2024-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

“Hi,” O’Malley said, closing the door behind him. He looked me up and down. “Nice dress. Isn’t that different from the one you were wearing the other day?”

“It is. I’m impressed that you noticed.”

Lady Camilla swooped across the tearoom. “He’s a policeman: he’s supposed to notice things like that.”

“Would you like a cup of tea?” I asked.

“Thank you, yes.” He pronounced thank you as “tank you”. I liked it.

“Take a seat, and I’ll be back in a mo.”

I went to the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with a tray of tea things and two scones. O'Malley was standing by the small-gift area, looking at one of the special-edition Pride and Prejudice hardbacks. The ghosts were gathered around him.

“I thought you might like some scones to go with your tea.” I put the tray on a nearby table.

“An excellent idea,” said Lady Camilla. “He’s far too thin. Needs fattening up.” The other ghosts nodded.

O'Malley smiled, closed the book and came over. “Thanks. I skipped lunch, and I’m as hungry as a pirate who’s lost his treasure map to the kitchen.”

I laughed, then sat down at the table. “I make all the scones myself.”

“Do you buy in the other cakes?”

“I get some from a local bakery, but I make the Devon apple cake myself, too.”

“I’ll have to try that next time.”

He cut open a scone, put clotted cream and then jam on it, and took a bite.

I nodded in approval. “You’ve only just moved to Devon and already you’re learning our Devon ways.”

“Cream first, always. It’s how we do it in my part of Ireland, too.”

I poured tea for us both. “I’ve never been to Ireland. Do you go often?”

“Now and again, to see my mam.”

I offered the milk to O’Malley, who took it. “So, how can I help you?”

“Just keeping you up to date with everything. And to tell you, you’re not a suspect.”

“That’s gratifying. Thank you for telling me.” I smiled and wondered if O’Malley usually told people if they were, and then weren’t, suspects.

“Seeing as the murder happened in your tearoom, I thought you deserved to know.”

“What made you realise I was innocent?”

“About thirty other people who never saw you leave the main tearoom.”

“Sounds good to me.” I took a sip of tea and smiled at him over the rim of the cup. “Clive Hayward was in the tearoom earlier: he came in with Debbie. Have you spoken to him?”

“Are you questioning my ability to detect?” said O'Malley, in mock indignation. “My detection skills are so good, even my shadow takes notes.”

“Of course not. I just wondered.”

“I have spoken to him, actually.”

“I didn’t know Larry owned half of Bloomhaven,” I said.

“Larry has – I mean, had – an interesting past.”

I leaned forward. “Is Clive your prime suspect?”

“No. He has an iron-clad alibi, too. He was away on business.”

“I suppose Debbie gets all Larry’s assets, now that he’s dead.”

“I can’t discuss his will, Trinity. But if you do a simple search for Bloomhaven Garden Centre on the Companies House website, you’ll see that Clive and Larry owned half each.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.