BEFORE I FOUND YOU by Daisy White

Author:Daisy White [WHITE, DAISY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime, thriller, and mystery
Published: 2018-01-23T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

“I know a bit more. Stocker had a reputation, and I heard he and his wife used to drive around all decked out like film stars. Nobody crossed him. Even my boss still talks about him with a bit of respect. Of course he’s sold all the clubs now, and gone respectable in his retirement. I believe he’s been unwell for a few years. His wife too. I heard about her turning up on the beach. Nasty.”

I wait for more, but Will is silent. “Do you think Beverly’s uncle may have been the one in trouble with this John Stocker? Beverly said he bought the house in White Oak, and a few others. Maybe he was a rival in business?”

“Could be, and if he crossed Stocker, that might well lead to a bit of revenge, but setting up a woman for murder? I just don’t know. Seems like it would need to be more personal.”

“What about all these events — Beach Girl, then Susie’s body washing up, and after that the kidnapping thing? Any thoughts?”

I’m sitting close enough to feel the shift in his breathing. His dark eyes rest on my face for a second and then he frowns. “They're probably not connected. Why should they be? I mean, a few other people drowned at the weekend, didn’t they, so unless you have another serial killer out there, or a loony, there doesn’t seem to be any obvious connection. These things happen . . . as we know.”

“I suppose so. Can you maybe ask your boss if he knows any more about the Stockers? One of my clients said they had a woman living with them to nurse Susie when she was ill . . . It might be worth talking to her if I can find her. The police said they were checking, but they didn’t think the Stockers had any children, so why was Beach Girl out there when Susie went in?”

“Assuming that was when Susie went in,” he says, his expression wary again.

“Oh God, I need to go now,” I tell him, glancing at my watch. If I run off quickly, I can pretend I’ve forgotten about his gift.

“So do I. I’ve got work to do too. I can ask around.” He rises to his feet, far taller and stronger than me. “See you soon, Ruby. And be careful.”

“You always say that. I should say it to you, really.”

He laughs and before I can resist he takes my hands and pulls me up from the beach. “Get back to work, Miss Detective. Oh, and Rubes, don’t forget I have something for you . . .”

Oh no, not this again. I struggle to smile as he pulls out a square white box and hands it over.

“Open it, then!”

I lift the lid, my hands shaking a little, and pull out a beautiful silk scarf. The blue and yellow squares flutter in the breeze. I glance at the card nestling beneath it. Pucci. “This must have cost a fortune!”

“I want you to have it,” he tells me, his voice hard.

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