The Silent Sister by Shalini Boland

Author:Shalini Boland [Boland, Shalini]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786815552
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Four

Joe didn’t want me to go to work today. He thought I should take the day off. But it’s not so easy to call in sick when you’re the manager, especially while George is away. I can’t expect Pippa to manage on her own, and besides, if she is stealing, this would give her the perfect opportunity to help herself to more stock. Besides, George is still waiting for me to speak to her. I sit at my dressing table painstakingly applying make-up to my swollen, scratched-up face. There’s not much I can do to disguise the damage. And despite my best efforts, I’ll probably still end up frightening the customers away.

Frank winds himself round my ankles as I dab foundation on the worst of the scratches. He starts miaowing in an attempt to get me to hurry up and give him his breakfast.

‘Come on then, Frank. Let’s get you something to eat.’ I give up on my face, deciding that I’ll spend most of the day hiding away in the stockroom. Pippa can always call me into the shop if it gets really busy. I make my way down the stairs, trying to avoid the trip hazard that is my cat. I’ve already decided I’m not going to speak to Pippa about the thefts today. Before I have that talk with her, I’ll need to line someone up to take her place. I might call Maggie in the Cirencester branch, see if she can recommend anyone. I’ll use my accident as an excuse for George, in case he asks why I still haven’t spoken to her.

The sound of Frank’s purring fills the kitchen as I begin spooning his breakfast into a bowl. Switching on the kettle, my thoughts turn to the police. I’d have thought Llewellyn might have called last night to see how I was. But maybe the Bristol coppers haven’t sent over the information yet. If I haven’t heard anything from her by lunchtime, I’ll give her a call to see what she makes of yesterday’s ‘accident’.

Joe enjoyed setting up the camera for me yesterday. We decided he would do it surreptitiously, after dark. Even though Reuben from the camera shop had shown me how to set it up myself, I was too shaken and exhausted to even try. Joe hid the camera beneath some foliage in one of the terracotta flowerpots in the back garden. Once he was happy that it was suitably camouflaged, he brought the pot around to the front porch and spent ages testing out the angles. Eventually, he was satisfied that he’d set it up in the best position to capture anyone stepping onto our pathway.

After a quick breakfast of coffee and toast, I leave the house, get in my car and set off for work. It’s even hotter today, if that’s possible, probably because yesterday’s promised thunderstorm never materialised. A dull throb has started up in my temples; I should have taken some painkillers before leaving the house. Never mind, I’ll pick some up on the way to work.

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