THE FLOWER ARRANGER AT ALL SAINTS a gripping cozy murder mystery full of twists (Suzy Spencer Mysteries Book 1) by LIS HOWELL

Author:LIS HOWELL [HOWELL, LIS]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime thriller and cozy mystery
Published: 2021-01-04T22:00:00+00:00

23

Whitsun Eve, continued

Endue thy ministers with righteousness.

Versicle at Morning and Evening Prayer

‘How are you feeling?’ Alan Robie bent over the figure of his lover, who was lying on the double bed. Stevie had a rug over him, and struggled to sit up. ‘Here’s some tea,’ said Alan. ‘Did the sleeping pill help?’

‘Absolutely. Thank you, Alan.’

‘It was the least I could do. You were in a terrible state. And I know you haven’t been sleeping lately anyway. You’re completely overwrought, Stevie.’

‘I know. Oh God, I know.’ Stevie started to cry again. Alan shook him roughly but affectionately by the shoulders.

‘Stevie, I went to the church after I put you to bed. You were right, Yvonne Wait was dead. She’d fallen from a ladder. It was obviously an accident. Except . . .’ Truthfulness got in the way of Alan’s need to be reassuring.

‘Except what?’ Stevie’s voice was even higher with stress.

‘Her hair. It had been cut off at the front. Even I could tell it wasn’t the sort of style Yvonne would have liked, and I know sod-all about women’s fashions.’

‘Oh God, that’s awful. It means someone got at her. But it happened before I went in, I swear it. I could see the ladder on the ground and her body on the steps by the altar but I didn’t go near it, I tell you, Alan. It wasn’t me.’

‘So why don’t you think it was an accident?’

‘Because there was someone else there. And they certainly weren’t calling for an ambulance or giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes. I could hear them. They were rummaging in the little room to the side of the church.’

‘The flower vestry?’

‘Where they keep all the urns and vases and stuff like that. I sat down at the back because I needed to think. Things have been getting so on top of me. I’d gone to the vicarage but Nick wasn’t in.’

‘That’s odd. He’s usually around on a Saturday morning.’

‘Well, he wasn’t this time. I took your keys and went to the church in case he’d gone there, thinking that at least I would get some peace inside. You know that I was an altar boy when I was a kid. Anyway, I tried praying, and then I noticed the ladder. I sat up and then I could see something crumpled at the top of the aisle. I walked to the end of the pew and I recognized Yvonne lying there. I just turned and ran home. Suzy Spencer nearly killed me as she came round the corner. Her driving is lethal.’

Even in his misery, Stevie couldn’t keep the catty edge from his voice. Good, thought Alan, he’s getting back to normal.

‘But why were you so upset in the first place, Stevie? You can tell me, you know.’

‘No! No, I can’t.’

‘Yes you can. I love you, Stevie, and there’s nothing worse than knowing you’re in a state, with nothing I can do. I can’t think of anything that would make me love you less. You’ve got to tell me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.