The Bay: A Summer Suspense Mystery (The Summer Suspense Mysteries Book 3) by LJ Ross

Author:LJ Ross [Ross, LJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-18T16:00:00+00:00

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Blissfully unaware that her mother was, at that very moment, showing Gabriel a selection of pictures of herself at various awkward ages—including her personal favourite ‘denim-on-denim’ selection from the early-noughties album—some sixth sense nonetheless guided Sophie in the direction of her mother’s shop, where she intended to call in and have the dreaded conversation about Mick Gallagher that could wait no longer.

The light mellowed as she made her way along Fore Street and then up the back roads towards Island Square, and the sun which had been strong at the height of the day was now thinning to a gentle swathe of amber light which fell over the town. It was hard to believe that, amid such beauty, there existed what some might have called evil; but then, she’d seen plenty of it to know that it could exist anywhere.

When she arrived at Island Square, she was surprised to find Scents of Cornwall bearing a ‘CLOSED’ sign, and checked the time on her watch.

Four-thirty.

On Saturdays during the high season, her mother tended to keep the shop open until at least five-thirty to afford visiting tourists every opportunity to make their souvenir purchases, and also to allow many a local man the chance to run in and make a last-minute anniversary purchase for their beloved, to go alongside a card from the stand she kept beside the till.

Jacqui Keane was a businesswoman first, and a romantic last.

Or so she always claimed.

Sophie peered through the glass window and almost rubbed her eyes, to be sure they weren’t deceiving her. It looked very much as though Gabriel Rowe, world-famous children’s author, was standing at her mother’s potion counter stirring lavender into a large mixing cauldron, laughing at something she’d just said. Feeling oddly voyeuristic, Sophie almost took to her heels to make a swift getaway, but hesitated and lost the opportunity, for they turned then and saw her peering at them both.

“Sophie!” Her mother gave an excited wave and hurried over to unlock the shop door. “Come in! We were just talking about you,” she said, drawing her in for a warm embrace. “I’ve been showing Gabriel how to make candles.”

“So I see,” Sophie said, meeting his eyes over the waxy cauldron. “It seems you move like the Scarlet Pimpernel. You’re here, there, and everywhere.”

He held up his gloved hands in a sign of mute appeal. “It’s a fair cop,” he joked. “Despite my own better judgment, I’ve enjoyed every minute of this impromptu candle-making class. Thank you, Jacqui.”

“My pleasure,” she said and, to Sophie’s amazement, patted his cheek as though she’d known him for years. “Remember to leave plenty time to let them set, if you’re planning to make any at home.”

It would be a cold day in hell before he found the time to make his own candles, but he appreciated the thought.

“I’ll just wash my hands, then I’ll leave you both to it,” he said, sensing correctly that Sophie was hoping to have some time with her mother alone.

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