The Charlotte Denver Cozy Mystery Series - Books 2 - 5 by Sherri Bryan

Author:Sherri Bryan [Bryan, Sherri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-23T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4

Sirens and the screech of tyres signalled the arrival of the police.

Charlotte heard the click-clack of police issue shoes walking swiftly up the footpath and was relieved to see Detective Sergeants Ben Dillon and Fiona Farrell lead a group of officers onto the marina.

Over the years, Charlotte had come to know Ben and Fiona well. In Nathan’s absence, they were the two officers she trusted the most and whom she knew would do everything they could to ensure that the cause of the unfortunate individual’s death be determined as quickly as possible.

“Evening, Miss. Denver, Miss Beddington.” They nodded to Charlotte and Jess as they walked past them to the small crowd gathered around the body.

“Okay, everyone, stand back. Stand back, please. There’s nothing to see here. PC Milton, PC Willis, can you cover the body with a tarpaulin and get a cordon in place, please? And get a tent set up as quickly as you can.”

“Oh! Oh! I feel sick!” Marigold Burridge leaned against the railings at the edge of the marina and even under the coloured lights there was no mistaking the ashen pallor to her face.

Charlotte and Jess took an arm each and helped the woman into the café.

“Come on. You too, Lavender. You’ve had a terrible shock.” Charlotte gently sat the sisters down.

“I’ll put the kettle on,” said Jess. “Y’know, I have a feeling we’re going to be pretty busy for a while.” She made two cups of Charlotte’s special cure-all; hot tea, sweetened with honey and laced with a splash of brandy, and gave one to each of the women.

“I just can’t believe that all day yesterday, that poor person’s body must have been lying out there under the snow,” Charlotte whispered as she switched on a small fan heater to keep the sisters warm. “It must have been there since Thursday night - that was the only time we had enough snow to have covered it. And I was here for ages yesterday morning on my own, just inches away from it.” She shuddered.

Ben knocked on the glass door. “Sorry to disturb. Ladies, I understand you found the body, is that correct? If you’re up to it, we need to ask you some questions. Will that be alright?”

Staring blankly ahead, the sisters nodded.

“Right, Miss. Burridge,” Ben spoke kindly to Lavender, “you and I will go and sit over at the table in the corner and my colleague, DS Farrell, will speak with you, Miss. Burridge.” Marigold nodded soberly but panicked at the mention of her sister leaving her side.

“Don’t worry, we’ll only be sitting over there. She’ll be back before you know it.” Ben assured her.

“The crowd out there’s getting bigger by the second.” Jess watched the proceedings from the doorway. “Nothing like a body to kill a Halloween party stone dead. Ironic, isn’t it?”

“Oh, I can’t tell you how awful it was.” Lavender was telling Ben as she wiped her arm across her face. “We were shovelling the snow pile and halfway down, I uncovered some hair.

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