Norfolk Cozy Mysteries Compilation: Books 1-3 by Keith Finney

Author:Keith Finney [Finney, Keith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Norfolk Cozy Mysteries
Published: 2020-05-27T22:00:00+00:00

9

Saints and Sinners

The frosted surface of Norwich Road glistened like a carpet of diamonds in the low morning sun as Ant drove to the village.

At least the Morgan’s behaving, he thought as its engine purred beneath the bonnet.

Ant revelled in the village's laid-back Saturday routine. One minute he’d be slowing down to give a horse rider safe passage, the next, giving way to the postie on her rounds.

Love this place.

Two minutes later, he pulled into the forecourt of Fitch’s Motor Repairs.

“Looks like you’re busy,” said Ant as he glanced around the cluttered space. A hotchpotch of vehicles filled the uneven, compacted earth and gravel yard.

“Always am, Ant. I keep my prices down and give top-notch service. Works for me,” replied Fitch, while wiping his hands with the proverbial oily rag. “How’s she running?”

Ant looked forlornly at the Morgan.

“Behaving for now but a sore point, and sort of why I’m here.”

Ant watched as Fitch gave the car a quick once-over with his practised eye then shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s not my company you’re after, then,” teased Fitch. “What’s the problem?”

Ant reached into the passenger’s seat and pulled out a wet towel.

“Ah, so you've been using the car as a portable shower, have you?” said Fitch.

Ant didn't see the funny side, a reaction he knew made Fitch enjoy the moment even more.

“Something like that. The thing is, I’m in Lyn's bad books. We went out for a drive last night. You know, soft top down, starry night, that kind of stuff. Then out of nowhere, it rains cats and dogs. I put the soft top up. Job done, you would think. Unfortunately, Lyn got soaked as I drove her home.”

Fitch inspected the seam of the canvas covering, running his index finger along the soggy material.

“I don’t want to say, ‘I told you so,’ but I told you so!" Remember me saying it needed waterproofing?”

Ant held his hands up in capitulation.

“Yes, yes, all right. Fair cop, guv. So have you got a can of that waterproofing spray stuff so I can fix the stupid thing or not?”

Ant knew his tone was bordering on the desperate.

“I have, but you’ll have to wait for the top to dry or you'll be wasting your time. Anyway, serves you right. You know as well as I do that roaring around pitch-black roads in an old car is hardly Lyn's idea of a night out. You should have treated her to a meal or whatever romantic types do these days.”

Ant frowned.

“That’s enough of that. There’s no boyfriend, girlfriend stuff going on with Lyn. What are you thinking, mate? I mean—”

Fitch interrupted.

“What did that Shakespeare bloke say? ‘He doth protest too much, methinks.’”

Ant cocked his head back and sniffed the air.

“To be strictly accurate, Fitch, I think you'll find Shakespeare talked about 'the lady,’ not a ‘he.’ Anyway, moving on,” said Ant without the trace of a smile. “What are you working on currently?”

Ant followed Fitch across the yard.

“There's a jammed tail lift on this van. It belongs to old Wilcox, and it's in a right old mess.

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