MURDER IN THE STUDIO a gripping British crime mystery full of twists (Detective Inspector Siv Drummond Mystery Book 5) by GRETTA MULROONEY

Author:GRETTA MULROONEY [MULROONEY, GRETTA]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JOFFE BOOKS crime thriller and mystery
Published: 2023-08-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Siv sat with Cherry Bolting under the awning outside the Buttery. They both had glasses of freshly squeezed carrot juice with ginger. Siv was trying to make the most of the zing on her tongue, hoping it would keep her alert. Her head was still full of the scene at Bartel’s house and she was struggling to focus. She pictured a brush sweeping through her brain, clearing out the Mutsi and Rik debris. It helped a little.

She opened her notebook, more as a prop than because she needed it. ‘Have you worked here since Lansdown Court opened?’

‘That’s right. In at the beginning.’ Cherry was wearing a short, skimpy dress with a lemon pattern and chain straps. Her upper arms were plump and freckled. She was smiley today, her generous lips, outlined in dark plum, curving upwards.

‘And you said it’s generally a happy community, a good place to work.’

‘Yeah. I’m very happy here.’

Siv recalled the message from Patrick about Lu Forbes’s visit to her ex. ‘I get the impression that Ms Forbes was more complex than people have been saying.’

Cherry hit the pause button on her smile. ‘How do you mean?’

‘Did she ever mention Bryan Hendrix?’

‘Her ex? No . . . I mean, only in passing. I gathered that she was divorced.’

Siv had an intrusive image of Mutsi’s tight knuckles gripping Bartel’s table. She sipped some juice and rolled her neck. ‘What about other relationships? She was young and single.’

‘She didn’t talk about seeing anyone. Yvonne would be able to tell you about that, I suppose.’ Cherry was eyeing two women who were strolling around, pausing by shop windows. ‘They’ve been here for a while now, but they haven’t bought anything. I’d say they’re rubberneckers, rocking up to absorb the drama.’

‘That’s inevitable, I’m afraid. Has Struan ever caused any problems here? Any complaints about him from colleagues or customers?’

Cherry continued to monitor the women. She pulled at one of her straps. The chain had left little oval indents like thumbprints in her skin. ‘He’s a bighead, no doubt about that. He caused a bit of nuisance with his skateboard one time, but he only uses it around here now when the shops are closed.’

Siv sensed a headache growing. It was shady under the awning, but the sun was baking and the tension she’d absorbed earlier was pulsing in her temples. Had Rik apologised to Bartel? What if Mutsi had already returned for another bout? She cleared her throat. ‘Did Lu have an opinion about Simon Terrance’s beach development? I’m sure she must have. It’s causing quite a stir locally.’

Cherry turned back to her, her smile in place again. ‘Ah, you’ve heard about that. Simon’s not popular with some. I reckon it’s a great proposal.’

‘And Lu?’ Why did she have the impression that Cherry was avoiding direct answers?

‘She was giving Simon an earache about it one day, saying that it would disrupt the traditional atmosphere of the beach. I could see he was taken aback. I was surprised that she wasn’t

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