Murder at Castle Traprain: A totally gripping cozy mystery novel set in Scotland (A Detective Grace McKenna Scottish Murder Mystery Book 2) by Jackie Baldwin

Author:Jackie Baldwin [Baldwin, Jackie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781805082347
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Published: 2023-09-18T16:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-SEVEN

Hannah was still reeling from what Grace and Jean had told her about Igor Sokolov’s abduction. It sounded like something out of a spy novel. As she trudged upstairs with her cleaning materials, she wondered if Polly would be in today. Hopefully, she wasn’t still in a strop. Walking along the first-floor landing, she stifled a scream as Polly leapt out at her from behind a statue.

‘Are you trying to give me a heart attack?’ she gasped, clutching her chest.

‘You’re such a wimp, Hannah,’ Polly laughed, seemingly back in good form.

‘At least you’re speaking to me again,’ Hannah said, glaring at her.

Polly lowered her gaze and bit her lip. ‘Yeah… about that… I’m sorry. It really wasn’t anything to do with you. It was Sandra Dunlop stirring up trouble.’

‘Why? What happened?’ asked Hannah, pulling her into an empty room. They sat on the bed. Now that the housekeeper was gone it was unlikely anyone would be checking up on them for a few days.

Polly looked a bit torn but then sighed, clearly deciding to unburden herself. ‘Look, it’s not something I’m proud of, okay, but I stole something in my first job.’

‘With the Hamiltons?’ asked Hannah, trying not to look shocked.

‘Yes. I left school at sixteen and ended up working for them in the kitchen under Mrs Dunlop.’

‘What happened?’

‘Well, remember I told you I had fallen out with my parents?

‘Yes,,’ said Hannah.

‘I was a bit of a handful back then but… it still hit me hard. All that unconditional love shit? Don’t believe it. Anyway, I managed to get a live-in job with the Hamiltons, which got me out of a real jam.’

‘So, what went wrong?’

‘Well, Mrs Hamilton always treated me well, but her husband was horrible. He acts like the big family man and his wife hasn’t a clue but, amongst the staff, he’s got a reputation for being a bit handsy, if you get my drift.’

‘What a creep!’ Hannah shuddered.

‘Anyway, one day he caught me on my own and backed me into a corner. I started to yell but he put his hand over my mouth. I managed to bite it and he swore and let go of me so I got away. Olly had heard the commotion and found me crying in the pantry. He was proper mad at what his boss had done.’

‘I’m not surprised,’ murmured Hannah.

‘Anyway, he asked if I was interested in a little payback and needless to say I was so upset I jumped in with both feet.’

‘What did you do?’

‘You’ve got to promise not to tell anyone – I mean it, Hannah,’ said Polly, glaring at her now.

‘Of course!’ said Hannah. ‘It goes without saying…’

‘Well, there was this horrible painting in Mr Hamilton’s bedroom. Oliver had got it for him and he was over the moon with it. He had it copied then got me to switch the paintings over. It was small so it fitted in the cleaning trolley I used on the day the sheets were changed. It wasn’t like it is here.

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