Music and Murder at the Castle: A Kitty McCray Cozy Mystery by Avery Kent

Author:Avery Kent [Kent, Avery]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-07-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Kitty saw Fiona to the reception door. She paused as she started to exit and turned to look at Kitty with gratitude. She tucked her long blonde waves behind one ear.

“Thank you for the tea.”

“No problem,” Kitty responded warmly.

“I…” she paused. “I wasn’t sure why I took that walk this morning. Guilt perhaps. It’s hard to know you yelled at someone who wound up dead,” Fiona admitted. “Anyway, I’m glad I did.” She smiled. “And hey, I found the back way into the castle gardens. Who knew there was one?”

“Yes, it is a bit hidden, I suppose,” Kitty replied with a smile.

“Bye,” Fiona said as she turned and stepped out into the morning sunshine. Kitty watched her go, walking across the courtyard towards the big double gates. Her hat bounced a little as she walked, and her long skirt billowed in the breeze. Watching her, Kitty couldn’t help but wonder if she felt guilty about more than yelling at Crimson. She made a note to go and check the singer’s alibi as soon as she finished work.

The reception desk was empty as Kitty slipped behind it, turned on the computer, and tidied the small desk space. The hotel was quiet, thankfully, with most guests either already checked in or not due to check out for several days. Kitty settled herself in for a quiet morning. She wondered if the peace and quiet might help her mind focus, but a lack of sleep dragged at her, and she found her mind was as blank as the white sheets of paper in the printer tray beside her.

She shook her head and glanced at the little video surveillance monitor screen with a frown. The little camera was showing Mittens wandering back from the garden, her little gray body somehow even grayer on the black-and-white screen. Mittens meandered along a little stretch of the garden path, just visible on the camera, before trotting along the shaded path that ran parallel to the driveway. Kitty watched Mittens closely. Her heart suddenly started racing. The feline slinked along the path and across the front of the castle. She disappeared for a second, re-emerging on the second camera as she padded onto the outer courtyard, effortlessly leaping up onto the stone mounting block and just sitting there, twitching her tail. She raised a paw and licked at it, cleaning the white fur tip. Fiona’s words suddenly ran through her mind: ‘I found the back way into the castle gardens. Who knew there was one?’

“How did I not think of it before?” Kitty’s voice came out hollow sounding, even to herself. She stood up, her eyes still on the screen, and picked up the phone. It rang several times until Helen picked up.

“Yes?” Helen’s voice snapped Kitty out of her haze.

“Helen, is William in?”

“Just,” she replied. “You need him up front, love?”

“Yes, please,” Kitty replied.

“Is this about the murder?” Helen asked.

Kitty nodded, and then, when she realized Helen couldn’t see her, added. “Yes, yes, it is.”

“He’ll be right up,” she quickly confirmed.

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