Under an English Heaven (Ellie Kent mystery series Book 1) by Alice K. Boatwright

Author:Alice K. Boatwright [Boatwright, Alice K.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Cozy Cat Press
Published: 2014-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

The police search for Jackie Henning resumed as soon as it was light. The news that he was missing had spread quickly, and a large group of volunteers showed up to help. Everyone not fit for scrambling over the countryside came to church. Or so it appeared to Ellie as she watched the pews fill up for the Sunday morning service.

Ellie and Isabelle sat together, and the spectacle of Graham’s new family was enough of a novelty to attract attention until Phyllis Henning turned up with her four younger children, all looking scrubbed and pale. The casual indifference of the night before had been washed out of them by the knowledge that morning had come, and there was no word from Jackie. They sat in the back with bowed heads and slipped out the moment the service was over––with good reason.

Practically everyone else stayed for refreshments and gossip, and the cadre of women who handled the tea and coffee were quickly overwhelmed. Emily Rutherford Hughes, dressed today in a stiff grey suit that resembled sheet metal, stationed herself behind the table. She looked disapprovingly at the crowd and half-filled their cups as if there were a shortage of hot water.

Ellie and Isabelle both pitched in to help, refilling the electric kettles and handing around biscuits. In addition to being useful, this gave Ellie an excellent opportunity to eavesdrop on any conversation that interested her.

Mrs. Wiggins gave her opinion to a plump woman in an ancient rabbit fur coat, who nodded over her teacup. “I’m sure he’s done a bunk. He’s always been wild just like his father before him. Four walls weren’t good enough to hold him in either.”

“He looks older than he really is,” the woman said. “He could’ve picked up and run off anywhere.”

John Tiddington’s wife told Ginny Teaser, “Phyllis looked that pale I thought she’d faint.”

“Well, wouldn’t you?” Mrs. Teaser said. “I can’t imagine how I’d bear it if my Billy was gone all night and me not knowing where.”

“It’s very naughty of the lad, there’s no question about that.”

Miss Worthy, who was hovering on the edge of this conversation, remarked that boys were meant to be adventurous. It didn’t make them necessarily bad.

Over by the baptismal font, murder was the preferred topic. Mrs. Bell declared that the police were on the wrong track if they thought the man was originally a local. “No one from our generation moved to Italy,” she said to Charlotte’s mother, Mildred Worthy. “It wasn’t like it is now with all these holiday houses. People stayed where they belonged.”

“It does seem odd that the Italians haven’t identified him either,” said Mildred. “I mean he must be from somewhere. Someone must know him. You can’t live eighty years without knowing a soul.”

“Maybe he changed his identity,” said Mrs. Bigelow who’d sailed up to join them. “It’s more common than you might think.”

Mrs. Bell looked at her over the top of her glasses with a prim expression. “I suppose you’re right. Time was you really knew who your neighbors were.

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