Murder in the Meadow (Pippa Parker Mysteries Book 4) by Liz Hedgecock

Author:Liz Hedgecock [Hedgecock, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cozy mystery, Mystery, English, british detective, Detective Fiction, cosy mystery, women's fiction, humour, Pippa Parker, novel, Crime, contemporary
Publisher: White Rhino Books
Published: 2018-12-03T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

‘Bye, Freddie!’ Pippa called, as the preschool door clicked shut. Then she turned Ruby’s pushchair and strolled to the main road. Cross over, then walk either into the village or home. Just as usual.

Pippa walked alongside the village green, past the row of cottages with a blue plaque commemorating Clementina Stoate (she really must read her poems one day), and down towards St Saviour’s church hall, where playgroup was held.

Except that it was Wednesday, and playgroup didn’t happen on a Wednesday.

She walked along the concrete path anyway, then skirted the hall on its right-hand side. The churchyard wall was on her right, and beyond it was a scrubby area of uncut grass and weeds. Pippa wheeled Ruby through the grass, hoping there weren’t any hidden thistles or nettles, until she came to a square pebble-dashed wall with a white-painted back door just off centre. She tapped, and the door opened immediately.

‘In you come,’ said Jim Horsley. ‘No-one saw you, did they?’

‘I doubt it,’ said Pippa. ‘The village is pretty dead at this time, and on Wednesday mornings there’s a lull between the early slimmers and the eleven o’clock Zumba crew.’

‘OK, but be careful. The last thing we need is people noticing things and asking questions.’

‘Well, no,’ said Pippa. ‘That’s our job.’

‘Quite.’ PC Horsley led the way down the corridor into the back room, walked to the kitchen area, and flicked the kettle on.

‘I don’t suppose you’ve got any doughnuts in?’ said Pippa. ‘Just asking.’

‘How long have you got?’ he asked, getting two mugs from the cupboard. ‘It’s milk no sugar, isn’t it?’

‘That’s right.’ Pippa watched him slam-dunk teabags into the mugs. ‘I have to be at preschool for half twelve, but if Ruby gets restless you may want me out long before that.’

Ruby chuckled and squeaked. ‘Come on, let’s get you set up,’ said Pippa, unfolding her play gym and spreading it on the carpet, and placing Ruby’s activity centre within reach. ‘There.’ She unbuckled Ruby and lifted her out of the chair, and a smell wafted upwards. ‘Ooh, we need to make a pitstop. Is there a bathroom we can use?’

‘There is, but it’s tiny,’ said PC Horsley. ‘You might be better doing it here.’

‘Fair enough,’ said Pippa, and reached for her changing bag.

Three minutes later Ruby was clean and bashing away happily, while Pippa and PC Horsley sat opposite each other at the table.

‘I won’t be able to share anything confidential with you,’ said PC Horsley. ‘That’s more than my job is worth. In fact, I’d probably go straight to jail. Do not pass go, do not collect two hundred pounds.’

‘Understood,’ said Pippa. ‘So what can we do?’

‘Bounce ideas off each other. Come up with theories. Go and ask questions.’ Jim Horsley raised his eyebrows. ‘Will that do?’

‘Oh God, yes,’ said Pippa.

‘So, how far have you got?’ he asked, and Pippa reached for her notepad.

‘From the info in the papers, Tony Green was killed at about seven o’clock,’ she said. ‘I can’t claim credit for that, my mother-in-law worked it out.

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