Murder at the Christmas Panto (The Canterbury Mysteries Book 2) by Izzie Harper

Author:Izzie Harper [Harper, Izzie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Farthingloe Publishing
Published: 2025-12-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24 WEDNESDAY

The next morning, Ellie was up and out early for a dog walk with Jo. The panto cast and crew were meeting at the hall at 8.30am. It was the only time they could agree on when most of them could be there.

It was crisp and bright, the kind of winter day that made everything sparkle.

Ellie still had Marple. With three overexcited dogs, they walked a loop round Bramhurst, the dogs charging through snow drifts and chasing each other with boundless energy.

‘Can we stop by the chapel?’ Ellie asked as they walked along Thimble Lane, Rebus and Lily trotting ahead, Marple a little tired. ‘I’d love to show you the steel frame. It went in yesterday.’

‘I’d like that,’ Jo said.

The chapel sat just beyond Stream Cottage, its post-Norman stone walls solid and reassuring. The large arched window had been reinstated, the glass back in place, sealing the building from the elements again.

Ellie unlocked the heavy wooden door and pushed it open. The interior was cold but bright, winter sun streaming through the stained glass windows. The coloured light – ruby red, sapphire blue, emerald green – fell in jewelled patterns across the stone floor and the new steel structure.

The frame rose up through the centre of the space, clean industrial lines against the ornate Gothic architecture. The sections were bolted together now, creating the skeleton of a first floor that would eventually hold bedrooms and a bathroom.

‘Oh, Ellie,’ Jo breathed. ‘It’s going to be beautiful.’

Piles of floorboards were stacked along the chapel wall, pale and clean. They seemed solid and homely, waiting to be fitted into place.

‘You think so?’ Ellie looked up at the steel beams, already imagining the finished space. ‘Sometimes I worry it’s too modern for a building like this.’

‘No. It’s perfect. Old and new together. History and future.’ Jo walked around the perimeter, Lily padding beside her, both of them careful on the uneven stone floor. ‘The light through these windows... it’s going to be spectacular.’

Rebus sniffed at the steel uprights with interest, tail wagging slowly.

‘The staircase will go here,’ Ellie said, pointing. ‘That’s arriving in a day or so. And the stud walls will section off the bedrooms and bathroom. Dave’s convinced it’ll be done by summer.’

‘He’s an optimist,’ Jo said with a smile.

‘True. But it finally feels like it’s happening. Finally feels real.’

They stood for a moment in the coloured light, listening to the silence. The chapel felt peaceful, despite the building work. Sacred, still.

‘Come on,’ Ellie said. ‘Let’s get our coffees and see how Belle’s doing.’ She checked her watch. There was half an hour before the meeting.

They stepped back outside, locking the door behind them. As Ellie turned the key, a robin landed on the wrought iron handrail that ran beside the stone steps down from the main entrance.

It perched there, head cocked, watching them with bright black eyes. Its red breast was vivid against the grey stone and white snow.

Jo smiled. ‘It’s a good omen when a robin adopts your home.

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.