The Something Girl by Jodi Taylor

Author:Jodi Taylor
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Accent Press
Published: 2017-02-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

On Thomas’s advice, I took myself upstairs for a bit of a lie-down. The fruit cordial had made me sleepy. Mid-way through the afternoon, however, another visitor turned up. Someone I hadn’t seen for a long time and, frankly, I’d never expected to see again.

I was standing at an upstairs window. The yard was empty apart from our chickens who were grouped around the back door, waiting for someone to open it for them and then, presumably, not notice half a dozen chickens streaming past on their way back to the family bathroom.

I didn’t realise who it was until she got out of the car. The last time I’d seen her, she’d been driving a top-end model, and this shabby, drab little economy hire car wasn’t her style at all.

She stood in the yard, looking about her. Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I stayed absolutely still, watching from behind the curtain. I don’t know why. I think I hoped that if no one went out to her she would get back into her car and drive away again.

‘Not likely,’ said Thomas. ‘I suspect she’s driven a long way to see you today. Is that a suitcase in the back of the car?’

‘Could be,’ I said.

‘And no sign of Uncle Richard.’

‘No.’

She still stood, staring around her, holding her handbag in front of her like a shield. Her face was slightly turned away from me and I couldn’t read her expression.

‘Shock, I expect,’ said Thomas. ‘She probably has no idea people live like this.’

‘So – not admiration and envy, then?’

‘Probably not,’ he said gravely. ‘But why don’t we go and find out?’

‘Or why don’t we stay quietly up here until she goes away?’

‘She’s driven a long way to see you today, Jenny. She’s not going to go away.’

I sighed. ‘No, she’s not, is she.’

‘Just a thought, Jenny, but do you think it’s possible she’s come to warn you about Christopher?’

‘Why would she do that? He’s her darling boy.’

‘She doesn’t want your death on their conscience.’

‘It never bothered her before.’

‘Perhaps she’s afraid she and Richard will be implicated in some way. You have to admit, when it comes to self-interest, you’d have to go a long way to beat the Kingdoms.’

‘They are implicated, whether they like it or not.’

‘Or perhaps she regrets her past actions and has come to make amends.’

‘I don’t think it’s any of that, Thomas. I think she wants money. Look at that car. Normally she’d drop down dead rather than drive around in a little tin box like that. I suspect there’s no money left and she’s come for some more. To give to Christopher, probably.’ I stopped, overwhelmed by righteous indignation. ‘I must be the only person on the planet expected to fund her own murder.’

‘That’s a little dramatic, Jenny.’

‘Well, I’m feeling dramatic.’

‘I suspect she wants the money for herself.’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘Suitcase in the car and no Uncle Richard.’

‘You think she’s running away? Why?’

‘To avoid being involved in whatever is being planned. But we’re not going to find out anything skulking up here.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.