The Beatrice Stubbs Series Boxset One by JJ Marsh

Author:JJ Marsh [Marsh, JJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crime Fiction
Publisher: JJ Marsh
Published: 2018-08-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Who’d have thought Wales was so much like Ireland? All wild and windswept, green and sheep-covered, full of cute villages and the signs in a foreign language. All Adrian’s previous impressions had been of somewhere small, inhospitable and covered in slag-heaps. He just had to bring Jared here, it was too ridiculously romantic.

Jared. Getting a Friday off work had been far less problematic than getting time away from his boyfriend. Tucking his phone back into his jacket, Adrian puzzled over the heated call. Jared’s concerns about his detective neighbour were not, obviously, as a sexual threat, but more that she and her problems absorbed so much of Adrian’s time. Fair point. But when he also referred to Beatrice as a bad influence, Adrian could only shrug, at a loss as to how to reply. Odd behaviour, but secretly pleasing. Jealousy, in small, non-psychotic doses, was an excellent indicator in a new relationship.

He turned to Matthew, who seemed to have finally adjusted to the gears and braking system of the rented Vauxhall Corsa. Adrian was grateful. Much longer and he suspected his neck might have suffered Repetitive Strain Injury.

“How are you feeling? Tired yet? I mean, it’s not like I can take over or anything, but I can sing, tell stories or expose you to more embarrassing personal phone calls to keep you awake.”

Matthew’s face creased into a smile, although he didn’t take his eyes off the country road and his posture remained rigid as a tin soldier.

“I’m fine. We’re all but there. And I trust your new man isn’t too offended.”

“He’ll get over it.” Adrian could only hope that was the truth. It must seem very dismissive, abandoning their evening to go off amateur detecting. Would Jared understand?

“Without trying to be intrusive, I wondered why you told him you were with Beatrice, rather than the actual facts?”

Adrian looked out at the countryside in the late afternoon. Beautiful stone houses sheltered in dips on a hillock and in the distance, the sea glittered and shone.

“Saying Beatrice just makes it easier. He knows I’m involved and totally enthusiastic about this case. He sort of understands. But if I’d told him I was with a man – despite said man being Beatrice’s partner, due for retirement and so far from cutting edge that he doesn’t even own a mobile – believe me, things would have been far more complicated.”

“Hmm. It’s always interesting what people choose to tell their close ones. And what they prefer to hide. Ah! We’re very close to Porthgain, but there’s a gallery I’d really like to see in the next village. Would you mind stopping for half an hour? After all, we spent over an hour traipsing round the shops.”

Evidently still sulking about both the expense and the style. But he’d be grateful later, and Adrian just knew Beatrice would be overjoyed. Matthew looked stunning in black.

“Not at all. Pity we couldn’t have put on our new stuff first. That gear would be perfect for posing in galleries.”

“It’s not that kind of gallery.

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