MURDER MY NEIGHBOUR a completely unputdownable cozy mystery by VERONICA HELEY

Author:VERONICA HELEY [HELEY, VERONICA]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books cozy mysteries and crime
Published: 2024-04-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Ellie was delighted with the dessert trolley. ‘I wonder, do they have a chocolate mousse? I shall have to go on a diet after this.’

‘There’s a lot of interest already from developers. If you are interested, we’ll have to move quickly.’

‘Oh, just look at that pavlova! I must admit to a weakness for meringues. Yes, please; waiter, the pavlova. And double cream? Lovely.’

Mr Hooper was not accustomed to being deflected but, to his credit, rose above it. ‘No sweet for me, waiter. Just coffee. Black.’

One-upmanship? Ellie could play that game, too. ‘Yes, waiter. Coffee for me as well. Sugar and cream. I must say; it’s a long time since I had such an enjoyable lunch.’

Mr Hooper glared at her and morphed the glare into a number-three Shark smile. ‘You told Mr Abel you wanted to have a second viewing. There is, of course, a great deal to think about when considering the purchase of such an important property, but I’m afraid this one won’t be on the market for long, so if you’re interested, we should—’

‘What address do you have for Mrs Pryce?’

‘What? I’d have to look in the files, but—’

‘She’s disappeared, you know. Never arrived at the retirement home. I’m hoping the police will turn up her body soon.’ She looked wistfully at the sweet trolley. Could she manage some chocolate mousse after the pavlova? No, better not.

‘What-what?’

‘I wonder if she made a will. If she didn’t and she’s had an accident or something, it’s going to be a bit of a mess, working out who inherits. I mean, it might be a distant cousin, living in Canada. Or some charity or other. She had two cats, I believe. Perhaps she left it all to the pussies.’

Mr Hooper croaked, ‘Waiter; brandy!’

Ellie looked at her watch. ‘Dear me, is that the time? Thanks for the lunch, most enjoyable, lovely to have met you, but must go. My son-in-law Stewart is collecting me. That’s Diana’s ex-husband, you know. Such a nice man, honest and reliable. But of course you must know him because he deals with all the house purchases made by the Trust. He was terribly shocked to hear of Diana’s financial woes, as I was, but as you say; who throws good money after bad?’

She left him gaping after her and made her way, floating rather than walking, to the ladies. Seeing how flushed her cheeks were and easing the waistband of her dress, she considered that she might perhaps have indulged a little too much in her ‘free’ meal. But there; there was no such thing as a free meal, was there? She hoped, insincerely, that Mr Hooper felt it had been worth his while to wine and dine her.

She grinned at her image in the mirror, deciding that she didn’t care what he felt about it.

Plus, she’d put a nice spoke in Diana’s wheel. Hah!

* * *

Thursday afternoon

A Second Time Around clothes shop.

‘Will you just look at this! Perfect for my daughter’s wedding. My size and all.

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