Murder After Midnight by Lesley Cookman

Author:Lesley Cookman
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Upload
ISBN: 9781472278333
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2021-08-19T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Libby stared at her. ‘Ah.’

‘It just struck a chord,’ said Fran. ‘But, as you said, doesn’t do to jump to conclusions.’

‘No.’ Libby took a thoughtful sip of tea. ‘And every vicar who’s been living abroad isn’t necessarily a paedophile.’

‘No.’ Fran gazed at the fire. ‘Would it be worth finding out about him, though?’

‘This isn’t like you,’ said Libby. ‘It’s usually me wanting to find out about people.’

‘It’s rubbing off on me,’ said Fran with a grin. ‘Anyway, how could we? He doesn’t sound very sociable.’

‘I wonder if he goes to church in Nethergate? Patti says she doesn’t really know the vicar there, and won’t go digging for us. And we can hardly tip up for morning service or whatever.’

‘Pity we don’t know any church-goers in Heronsbourne,’ said Fran. ‘I didn’t even know there was a church there.’

‘Neither did I until Patti told me. I wonder if Dotty Barlowe knows? She’s his next-door neighbour. And what about the neighbours the other side. Martin Harris mentioned them. What did he say their names were?’ Libby frowned. ‘Hughes, that’s it.’

‘What about them?’ asked Fran.

‘Maybe they go to church?’

‘I don’t see how that would help. We don’t know them, either.’

‘Maybe,’ Libby said, ‘I could call in on Dotty on the pretext of leaving the car to explore the beach, and get chatting about the neighbours? She seems to like a good gossip.’

Fran looked at her solemnly for a moment. ‘That’s not a bad idea. Could I come?’

‘When would Guy let you off?’

‘Monday morning?’ suggested Fran.

‘You’re on!’ said Libby.

Dotty would be only too pleased to see them on Monday morning.

‘Call in when you arrive and we’ll have coffee. How about that?’ she said.

‘Lovely,’ said Libby. ‘About eleven?’

She picked Fran up in Nethergate at ten forty-five.

‘What are we going to ask her?’ Fran asked.

‘Play it by ear,’ said Libby. ‘She was at The Red Lion last week, so she knows the sort of questions we’re asking.’

Dotty, as before, welcomed them at the door of Spindrift with a beaming smile.

‘Oh, it’s so nice to have visitors,’ she said. ‘We don’t know enough people here yet. Edie would come round, but it’s a bit far for her to walk, and she doesn’t like to keep asking her son for lifts.’

‘What about the other ladies you meet at The Fox?’ Libby asked, as they followed her up the stairs.

‘Yes, sometimes. Not often, though.’ Dotty ushered them into her spectacular sitting room, which Fran duly admired.

‘What about your neighbours, though?’ she asked. ‘All being newcomers together?’

Dotty pulled a face.

‘Not really our sort. Sally and Paul Hughes are all right, but she’s a bit of an invalid.’ Dotty sniffed. ‘Though I reckon it’s all in her mind.’

‘What about the other side?’ asked Libby, coming away from the window, where Fran was still admiring the view.

‘Oh, him.’ Dotty snorted as she went into the kitchen. ‘I told you, didn’t I? He’s a retired vicar. Godfrey Peterson. Barely speaks to anyone, as far as I can see.’

‘I heard about him,’ said Fran. ‘I met someone from the Save the Marshes group, and she said he used to belong to it.

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