The Newton File (The Aunt Bessie Cold Case Mysteries Book 14) by Diana Xarissa

Author:Diana Xarissa [Xarissa, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-10-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

“How did you get on?” Andrew asked when Bessie opened her door to his knock just before six.

“I read everything twice,” Bessie told him. “And I took a lot of notes, but I don’t think any of them really matter. I can’t help but feel that something terrible must have happened to Brent. I can’t believe he simply left and has never been found.”

Andrew nodded. “I feel the same way. It’s been eight years. It’s very difficult for someone to stay hidden for that length of time. There was nothing in Brent’s past to suggest that he would simply decide to disappear one day, either. From all accounts, even if he and his wife were having difficulties, they were still together.”

“And, even if he wasn’t the most devoted father in the world, I can’t imagine him simply leaving his children behind.”

“Are there different questions we should be asking Walter if we assume that Brent is dead?”

Bessie shrugged. “I can’t help but think that there might be more to learn from the neighbours.”

“We may have information about some of them as soon as tomorrow.”

“And here comes Helen,” Bessie said.

Andrew nodded. “She had a late meeting, but there was no way she was going to miss dinner at Dan’s restaurant.”

Bessie laughed. “I know exactly how she feels.”

She greeted Helen with a hug, and then the two women followed Andrew to his car. The drive to Onchan didn’t take long. As usual, the restaurant was busy. They only had to wait a few minutes for a table, though. Carol, Dan’s wife, showed them to their table and then shared a few photos of their daughter, Wendy, with them.

“She’s adorable,” Helen said.

“She looks a lot like you,” Bessie added. “And she looks very clever.”

Carol rolled her eyes. “She can be too clever sometimes. I have a feeling the toddler years are going to be increasingly difficult.”

“What’s Dan creating in the kitchen tonight?” Andrew asked.

Carol laughed. “Tonight’s sample plate is called ‘The Whinging Toddler,’” she said.

Everyone at the table laughed.

“I’m almost afraid to ask what that includes,” Bessie said.

“It’s an adult take on some of a toddler’s favourite foods,” Carol explained. “You get two small fish fingers and some dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets. To go with those is a small portion of chips. Next is a square of baked macaroni cheese, made with a blend of four cheeses. And last is a tiny pizza covered in cheese and vegetables. You also get a side of steamed vegetables.”

“It all sounds wonderful, if a bit unusual,” Bessie said. “Dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets?”

“Dan has been making them for Wendy for a while now. He’s become an expert at pounding out a chicken breast and then carefully cutting out various dinosaur shapes so that there is very little waste. The scraps go into chicken soup or a casserole or something, so there isn’t actually any waste, but you know what I mean.”

“So which dinosaurs will we get?” Helen asked.

“I believe everyone is getting one tyrannosaurus rex, one apatosaurus, and one pterodactyl, but please don’t hold me to that.

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