The Night Prowler (A DI Erica Swift Thriller Book 12) by M K Farrar

Author:M K Farrar [Farrar, M K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crime, detective, series, british
Publisher: Warwick House Press
Published: 2023-11-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

Erica and Shawn had been invited to dinner over at the Webbs’ house.

“Sorry we’re late.” Erica pushed a bottle of wine into Jasmin’s hands. “Work ran over.”

“You’re just on time, actually,” Jas said. “Mum’s dishing up now.”

“Something smells incredible,” Shawn said, lifting his nose to the air.

“It’s Mum’s jerk chicken, rice, and beans.”

“Is it spicy?” Poppy asked.

Jasmin laughed. “Everything my mother cooks is spicy. Do you think you’ll be okay with eating it?”

Poppy nodded. “I can do spice.”

“You’re a tough girl, huh?” Jasmin teased.

“My mum didn’t raise me to be a wimp.”

Erica laughed and smoothed down Poppy’s hair. “No, I certainly didn’t. Us girls have to be tough.”

“But with a soft centre,” Jas added.

Over the past few months, Erica had got to know Shawn’s cousin a lot better. This wasn’t the first time they’d been over for dinner at Jasmin’s mother’s house. Gloria was a joy to be around, and her food was incredible.

They were all funnelled into the kitchen, where they said their hellos to Gloria who stood at the oven, stirring food in a pot.

“Sit, sit,” she told them.

The table was already set. They’d all be crammed around it, but that didn’t matter. It was the company and good food that counted.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Erica offered.

Gloria shook her head. “Not at all. You’ve been at work all day. Let me take some of the load.”

Gloria helped with a charity every Sunday called the Good Food Fight, where they made hot meals for the homeless or even simply those who were struggling at the moment, and handed the bags out to anyone who might need it, no questions asked. Knowing Gloria’s cooking, it was probably restaurant quality meals made on a budget. Sometimes it was the only hot meal these people got each week. She was one of those selfless souls who gave to their community. The individuals at the heart of it. London would be a far crueller, colder place without people like her.

Shawn opened the wine for the adults and a can of lemonade for Poppy, and Gloria bustled around them, dishing up plates of food and setting them on the table.

Poppy put one bite of chicken into her mouth and turned around to Erica.

“Why doesn’t your chicken ever taste like this, Mum?”

Gloria playfully tapped the girl around the head. “Don’t be rude to your mother.”

“No, she’s right,” Erica said. “My chicken doesn’t taste like this. In fact, none of my food ever tastes this good. I’m afraid I’m not much of a whizz in the kitchen.”

Gloria flapped her hand. “Well, you’ve got more important things to be doing, haven’t you? Like catching criminals.”

“I try,” she replied with a smile.

After they’d eaten and helped to clear up, Erica left Poppy with Gloria. While Gloria wasn’t exactly old enough to be of a grandma age, Erica liked seeing Poppy interact with her. She’d never had a grandmother figure in her life.

Poppy was showing Gloria a game she was playing on her phone and then letting Gloria have a go.

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