Murder in the Library: An utterly gripping English cozy mystery (Julia Bird Mysteries Book 2) by Katie Gayle

Author:Katie Gayle [Gayle, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781803141718
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2022-09-06T16:00:00+00:00

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20

Hayley looked tired. Tired and grumpy. And not at all pleased to see Julia.

She had agreed rather reluctantly to meet first thing in the morning, and hear Julia out. But she gave the distinct impression of someone with better things to do, submitting reluctantly to this interruption in her busy day.

Now in Hayley’s office, Julia felt awkward, even a little nervous. Although she had worked in high-conflict situations, she didn’t deal well with personal conflict in her own life. Particularly with someone she genuinely liked. She and Hayley had grown quite friendly after a body had been found under Julia’s garden shed, and she’d found herself inadvertently entangled in a murder investigation. They’d co-operated, and even shared a glass of wine and a meal, but now Hayley seemed irritated by her nosing around the Vincent Andrews case.

Julia wondered if she should broach the subject and clear the air, but Hayley pre-empted any conversation she might start. She didn’t sit down, or even offer Julia a seat. She simply leaned against her desk and said: ‘So, you’ve involved yourself in another murder investigation, it seems. Poking around the Vincent Andrews case, I hear.’

‘It’s not like that. I’m not doing any investigating, goodness no. That’s not my position. But I did have a thought. Just something that might be useful to you.’ Julia spoke carefully, trying not to come over as pushy or critical or a know-it-all. She was merely a concerned citizen who’d come upon a piece of information.

‘Okay then, let’s hear it.’

Hayley sounded a little warmer, until Julia said, ‘It’s about the results of the forensic report.’

‘How do you know what’s in the forensic report?’ Hayley asked, sharply. So much for the thawing of relations.

‘As you know, Sean is a friend. He has been so worried about Sarah. He gets information, of course, from the family. From Eleanor, Sarah’s mother. And he talks about it sometimes. He mentioned the report to me. As a friend.’

‘All right, go on.’

‘Well, from what Sean said, the report mentioned a cut on Vincent’s finger. I wondered if he might have cut himself on the knife you found in the bathroom. Accidentally. That would explain his blood on the knife. And that would mean…’

Hayley cut her off. ‘That would mean that Sarah didn’t stab him with the knife and hide it in the bathroom.’

‘Yes.’

‘Okay. I’ll look into it. See what forensics thinks of your theory.’

Julia decided to come out with it. ‘Look, Hayley, I’m really not trying to interfere. I know it must be irritating to have Sean on your back all the time about Sarah. And to have amateurs coming up with theories about murder investigations. But it’s possible that this theory is right.’

Hayley lost some of her bristle. ‘Yes, of course. If Sarah isn’t the murderer, she must be released from custody.’ She offered Julia a slight smile that held the hint of an apology and said, ‘You were right to come to me. I will look into it.’

‘Thank you. I wasn’t convinced of Sarah’s innocence to start with either, to be honest.

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