Peridale Cafe Mystery 23 - Raspberry Lemonade and Ruin by Agatha Frost

Author:Agatha Frost
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Pink Tree Publishing LTD
Published: 2021-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

9

Barker announced he’d be out shortly to sign any books he’d missed before whisking James deep into the library and away from the sea of curious eyes. The crowd’s chatter started right away. Julia followed Barker and James to the back of the library, where her gran nodded in the direction of a door marked ‘STAFF ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT.’

Through the slightly ajar door, James’s frustration was audible.

“That DI was bluffing the whole time,” James cried, “but if he had his way, he’d be charging me with attempted murder right now!”

“Focus on the fact you’re out.”

“And no thanks to you,” he cried. “It’s been forty-eight hours of hell. If you’d just let me pay you—”

“It’s not about the money,” Barker interrupted firmly. “I told you I had other priorities. It takes time to build a picture. I’m not afforded the same resources as the local station. Count yourself lucky you have a good lawyer.”

“I do, but that’s not why I’m here.” She saw the back of James’s head shake before hanging low. “For the thousandth time, I’m innocent. They were hoping for something to fall into their lap, but they couldn’t charge me on circumstantial evidence alone. I know what the police are like. They want the obvious to be the truth because it makes the most sense. But I truly found that gun. I need you to find out who shot my wife before they come for me again.”

James inhaled deeply and lifted his head. He glanced over his shoulder, noticing Julia out of the corner of his eye. He straightened and smoothed down his wild hair as though it made a difference. He regained some of his usual broad posture, though it didn’t quite fill out the same. Exhaustion radiated from him.

“I’m still under investigation, so I can’t stay at the B&B with the others,” he said, louder this time. “And I’m not allowed to leave the village. Don’t suppose you two have a spare room?”

“We don’t,” Julia replied, pushing open the door before Barker could say anything. “And we have a couch, but you’re not having that either.”

“Fair enough.”

“Our eldest daughter is travelling,” Julia said, pulling out her keys to twist off Jessie’s spare. “It’s the flat above the post office.” She tossed him the key. “I suggest you get there quickly and lie low. You’re not a popular man around here right now.”

“Was I ever?”

For once, Julia found herself agreeing with him.

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