The Mystery of the Hidden Fortune: Totally gripping cozy private detective fiction (The Quentin Cadbury Investigations Book 1) by Christine McHaines

Author:Christine McHaines [McHaines, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: THE BOOK FOLKS bestselling mystery fiction publisher
Published: 2023-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-two

The next morning, he was up early, a new determination settling on him. A few more days to focus on the situation, then if nothing happened, it was the police. In the furore of last night he hadn’t checked the names on Colin’s list. A job for today, he told himself.

He went over all the events in his head, wondering repeatedly why they’d given him until next Saturday to find the diamonds and how he was supposed to hand them over even if he found them. He assumed whoever had written the note had their reasons and would make contact when it suited them.

The sound of car doors being slammed disturbed his thoughts. Not many cars stopped on the yellow lines, unless they were unloading.

‘Sod off,’ he murmured, annoyed at having his thoughts interrupted.

A knock came at the door, and he sighed and went to answer it. Wanda’s up early too, he thought, raking his hand through his hair. Another knock came. ‘All right, all right,’ he muttered, and pulled open the door. He gasped, and gripped the edge of the door for support.

‘Father! Mum! How can you be here? I only spoke to you the other day!’

‘Last-minute decision,’ Rosemary Cadbury said. ‘Your father’s been invited to a reunion dinner. We thought we’d surprise you.’

‘Going to keep us on the doorstep?’ his father growled. ‘Been on a plane for nineteen hours.’

‘Sorry, I’m just so surprised to see you,’ Quentin said, recovering. ‘Come in.’

He shook his father’s hand, then hugged his mother. She looked thinner than he remembered and despite her Australian tan, dark circles showed under her eyes.

‘What about this lot?’ His father pointed to two large suitcases and a holdall.

‘Bring them in. Here, I’ll take them.’ He hauled the cases into the hall, his mind in turmoil. His parents here, now of all times.

‘You sounded strange on the phone, Quentin. I thought I’d come straight here and make sure you were all right.’

‘Why didn’t you say you were coming? I’d have made arrangements–’

‘No need,’ his father told him. ‘We’ll be staying at your Uncle Rupert’s. Just called in en route to see how you’re doing.’

‘How long are you here for?’ Quentin asked, dreading their reply. It was wonderful to see his mother, but now, amid all this diamond business?

‘Two weeks,’ his mother said. ‘We’ll stay at Rupert’s, but of course we’ll come and see you, and perhaps we can go out next weekend, when you’re not working.’

His father glanced at his watch. ‘Expect you’ll be off to work in a minute. We won’t hold you up, but your mother insisted on coming straight here.’

‘It doesn’t matter if I’m in a bit late,’ Quentin said, his heart still thumping. ‘I can make up the time another day. Let me make you some breakfast.’

‘Just tea, dear,’ his mother said. ‘We ate on the plane.’

‘That was at five o’clock, Rosemary,’ snorted his father. ‘Toast would be nice, my boy.’

My boy. Quentin felt he was back in the family home, his father laying down the law with an iron fist.

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