Suspicion at Seven by Ann Purser

Author:Ann Purser [Purser, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy-Mystery, Fiction, Crime, British-Literature, Thriller
ISBN: 9781101589830
Google: ZzZBAwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2014-12-02T05:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-TWO

Lois was finding it difficult to concentrate on the business of New Brooms with the team of cleaners arriving for their weekly meeting. She could not escape a replay of finding her elderly mother in a state of collapse in the dark on muddy ground. She finally snapped to attention when Dot Nimmo said loudly, “Mrs. M, is there something wrong?” It was always Dot who dared to ask what the others were thinking.

“Oh, sorry, Dot, and everybody. It’s just that my mother had a bit of an accident yesterday. She’s fine, as I’m sure you gathered when she let you in! But you know how it is with not-so-young people.”

“Nice way of putting it, Lois,” said a voice from the hall. The office door had been left ajar, and Gran was outside.

“You know they say eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves,” shouted Lois, and Dot grinned and got up to shut the door. “I can hear the kettle whistling, Mrs. Weedon,” she whispered out into the hall.

Floss cleared her throat and asked if she could say something. Lois nodded, and Floss said she had been meaning to say it later, but last evening she had been walking back home when she saw a car coming at speed on the wrong side of the road. It was raining heavily and she couldn’t see the number, but she thought it was a Land Rover 4x4. She turned off into Blackberry Gardens and so didn’t see what happened, but she remembered thinking it was very dangerous if anyone was walking on the path. The spray was all over the place.

“Thanks, Floss. That could be important if we have to do any reporting to the police. I have been on the phone all morning before you all arrived. Now, if we could get back to New Brooms business, let’s have client reports.”

Dot said she would go last, so why didn’t Floss go first, as she had a new client?

“Well, yes, I went with Mrs. M to meet Mrs. Prentise at Fletching. We had a good talk, and she gave us the impression that money was no object. It is a lovely house, and spotless, so should be a nice job for me.”

“Sounds like a doddle! Does she have a family? No toys to trip over or nappy sacks left in a corner?”

“No, she’s quite old. There’s one room that I have to leave alone. Mrs. Prentise does it herself. It is a girl’s room, all pink frills, and was her daughter’s. Apparently, the daughter returns sometimes, so it’s kept like a sort of shrine! A bit creepy, really.”

“We’ll learn more when Floss starts next Friday. As far as I am concerned, Mrs. Prentise looks like the perfect client!” Lois turned her papers over, and work progressed. Finally, it was time to end the meeting, and they all filed out with best wishes for Gran to recover.

Dot held back. “Can I have a private word, Mrs. M?” she said.

“Shut the door, Dot. I have a little time before lunch.

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