Banana Bread and Betrayal (Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery Book 27) by Agatha Frost

Author:Agatha Frost [Frost, Agatha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pink Tree Publishing LTD
Published: 2023-07-30T16:00:00+00:00

Billy: Drinks tonight @ 8?

Without replying, Jessie turned her phone face down on the table nearest the window in the café. Outside, Dot and Percy hurried around the drowning green with the dogs, all four in raincoats. Jessie cleared her throat, prompting Veronica to glance up from the laptop.

“You got any exes?” Jessie asked.

Mid-bite of a slice of banana bread, Veronica gave a look that could kill. “What sort of question is that? Of course I do.” Looking down at the missing bite, she added, “You made this?”

Jessie nodded. “Mum left her recipe out.”

“Then you’re almost as good a baker as you are a future journalist.”

“You rewrote everything I sent you yesterday.”

“You can learn technical writing, just like you learned to bake, but sniffing out a story?” Veronica took another bite, her eyes going down to the laptop, and through the mouthful, she continued, “You can’t teach wits and guts, and you used both to beat the police to this scoop. That ‘EXCLUSIVE’ tag drove clicks up for the website, and app downloads were up too, and—” Fists beat down on the laptop, jolting Sue from flicking through a magazine at the counter in the quiet café, who hadn’t been in the best mood without the sunshine to match her floral decorating. “I don’t believe it! They were making all the right noises yesterday.”

“Cotswold Media Group?”

Slapping the laptop shut, Veronica yanked her glasses off and forced herself back into the chair. “Who else? They were just smiling and nodding, humouring me to get me out of their office. All of my proposals for the local offices are still too expensive for them.” Pinching the bridge of her nose, she exhaled for what felt like an age before she said, “And yes, I was married once. Why’d you ask?”

“My ex wants to go for a drink tonight.”

“And do you want to?”

Jessie cast her gaze at Richie’s through the rain, still closed for the morning, though a bright green umbrella with a matching tie made her sink into her chair. She dragged a laminated menu to cover her face as the bell tinkled for Benedict Langley.

“I’m looking for Barker Brown?” he called out.

“Basement,” Sue called out. “Can I interest you in some coconut cake?”

“Erm, no.”

“You can cut through the kitchen. I’ll show you.”

Jessie waited for his squeaky wet footprints to disappear behind the counter before peeking at the back of his oiled hair. He’d left his umbrella resting in the café, dripping all over the wooden floor.

“Not that it’s any of my business, but if he’s your ex, we’re going to need to have a serious conversation.”

“Get real.” Jessie tossed the menu onto the laptop. “That’s Benedict Langley, the guy Ronnie assaulted a fortnight ago.”

“Oh, about that,” Veronica said, moving right along. “I asked my contact at the station about that incident. Apparently, Ronnie had Benedict up by the collar against a wall at Fern Moore during the middle of the day. Benedict claimed there were at least a dozen witnesses, but not a single person came forward.

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