THE BAGUETTE MURDERS an absolutely gripping cozy murder mystery (Brittany Murder Mysteries Book 3) by ANNE PENKETH

Author:ANNE PENKETH [PENKETH, ANNE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books cozy crime thriller, mystery and suspense
Published: 2025-01-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

“Come on,” Jennifer said to Mariam after lunch the next day. “It’s a lovely afternoon. We’re going mushroom picking. It’s peak season.”

Mariam turned from her computer while she weighed up the invitation.

“What about Luke?” Mariam asked.

“He’s staying here with Philippe.” Jennifer batted away the first objection. Mariam could see that she wasn’t going to be able to wriggle out of this.

“Can Pervenche come?”

“Not today, darling. We’re going just the two of us. It’s only a half hour drive and you can see her when we get back.”

Jennifer had been thinking about her plan since the night before, and at least the weather was cooperating. But Mariam’s brown eyes darkened as though she could sense a trap. It was unheard of for mother and daughter to go out together on a Sunday afternoon. Usually, it was Jonathan who would take the children on an outing to the coast when he was on weekend child duty. But the October weather was too unpredictable for that. Mariam turned back to her computer and switched it off, to the surprise of Jennifer who hadn’t expected to win Round One so easily.

“Put your wellies on. With a bit of luck we’ll find some ceps after the rain. Maybe Pervenche would like to come over for a yummy mushroom omelette later?” Jennifer went downstairs to pick up a basket, which would prevent the mushrooms from bruising, and took out a couple of small sharp knives from a kitchen drawer.

They got into the car, dressed in anoraks and boots, and set off along the track.

“Where are we going then?” Mariam wanted to know.

“To Huelgoat. I think Daddy took you once. But this time we’re not hiking in the forest but combing the forest floor, just like in Merlin’s time.”

A faint smile lit up Mariam’s oval face. She’d heard of the buried treasure left by Merlin the magician in the forest of Arthurian legend.

“Yes, but how do we know if the mushrooms are poisonous?” Mariam asked.

“First of all, we have to find some. We probably won’t be the only ones mushroom hunting today, as they come up after rain. But as a general rule, I was always told the poisonous ones are the most attractive, like the red-capped ones. We’re looking for the brown ones with brown gills. And if you’re worried about one, don’t pick it. OK?”

“OK.” Mariam settled into silence again, but at least she wasn’t sending out hostile vibes.

Jennifer filled the silence by nattering about the tasks in the market garden until they found a parking spot near a path leading into the forest.

“Here we are,” she said brightly. They both took out a walking stick from the boot and began making their way through damp leaves under ancient oaks. After a while they left the path to explore the undergrowth.

“Use your stick to move the leaves away,” Jennifer advised Mariam. “Sometimes they’re hiding there, as they’re the same colour as the leaves.”

They advanced slowly, using the sticks like Geiger counters. From time to time, Mariam would ask, “Is this one?”

“No.

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