Pickled Petunia by Dahlia Donovan

Author:Dahlia Donovan
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781922359964
Publisher: Tangled Tree Publishing

Chapter Fifteen

“What—” Motts crashed out of bed, bashing her elbow against the nightstand on the way down. She sat up slowly and attempted to clear the fog of sleep out of her mind. “Cactus?”

A loud thud hit her window, causing her to jolt for a second time. Motts fumbled around before finding her phone and sending a panicked text to Hughie. She opened the security app, switching on the bright spotlight in the garden.

Motts crept forward to peer out the window. She noticed a smear of something streaked down the glass. It had a yellowish tinge. “Why in the world is someone throwing produce at my window?”

Meow.

“Don’t worry. I’m going to wait for Hughie.” Motts gripped her phone tightly while tiptoeing downstairs with Cactus at her heels. “There’s no one on the CCTV footage. Maybe the light scared them off.”

Even with every light in the cottage on, Motts still huddled by the front door. She watched the live feeds from the cameras. In no time at all, she spotted Hughie’s vehicle coming up the lane.

Motts hesitantly opened the door and breathed a sigh of relief. “Sorry to drag you out of bed. It’s half-past the dead of night.”

“It’s what I’m here for.” Hughie brushed off her apology with a concerned smile. “What’s going on then?”

Leading him through the cottage, Motts explained her rude awakening. Hughie immediately went out to see for himself. She followed him from a distance.

Cactus remained inside. He’d hopped up to observe them from his favourite cushion by the living room window. Motts thought he was the cleverest of them.

“You should’ve stayed inside.” Hughie flashed his torch in her direction. “I’m not seeing anyone. Smells sweet—like overly ripe fruit.”

“Why is….” Motts took a moment to compose her thoughts. “Are you saying someone chucked rotten fruit at my cottage? Teens having a laugh, maybe?”

“Probably.” Hughie walked along the fence line, using his torch to check more closely. “They must’ve disappeared down the coastal path.”

“Pineapple.”

“Pardon?”

“Pineapple.” Motts held up a dripping, smelly chunk. “Want it as evidence?”

“I’ll pass. Not sure even the best of techs could get a fingerprint from a pineapple. You might be able to compost it.” Hughie continued peering over the top of the fence. “You hitting the lights likely scared them off.”

“Maybe the camera caught something? I haven’t checked yet. Risky running along the path at night.” Motts wrapped her robe more tightly around herself; the biting wind coming up off the sea went right through her. “Come inside. I’ll make us hot chocolate while you watch the CCTV footage.”

With Hughie sitting at the table watching the CCTV feed on her laptop, Motts focused her nervous energy elsewhere. She chopped up some of the milk and dark chocolate Teo had brought her, mixing it with double cream and milk in a pan on the hob. Her dad always believed in making hot chocolate a special treat.

Five minutes of her hot chocolate ritual did wonders for her anxiety. Motts carried a mug over to Hughie, who accepted with a grateful smile.

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