JUST WHO IS ELLIOT SHALLOT: A con man scams a lady but who is scamming the con man and who will end up dead - An engrossing Crime Mystery with a twist. by Martin Dixon

Author:Martin Dixon [Dixon, Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Clanfield Publishers
Published: 2024-02-03T00:00:00+00:00

19

Down the street and across a few roads the houses became smaller, closer together and had a different feel about them. A look that gave the impression of gradual deterioration. Still terraced but two storeys. Some appeared to be divided into two apartments. It was about four weeks before when Maria walked towards what looked like a long high street. She had the address of the cafe and followed the map on her phone directing her towards a turning on the right maybe two hundred yards along the street.

Taking the turning she saw the sign, GINOS, ten shops or so along the road and smiled. What else she thought but an Italian coffee house. Standing looking through the window she gazed around the tables. It looked nice. A complete contrast to the tatty shops either side. The tables with metal legs and light wood tops. Matching chairs. Cleverly arranged to allow maximum use of the space. The wooden floor, stained light oak, gave the place a warm, welcoming look. But the smell of coffee drifting through the open door was more than enough for her. That smell, the deep aroma, was simply so seductive. At the back a wide stainless steel counter crammed with pastries with a lady, maybe fifty, delicately arranging a fresh batch. Glancing at the faces she could not see anyone who looked like Michael James but perhaps that was too much to ask. Besides, she was not ready yet. First she needed to prepare.

Returning to the high street she sauntered to the seven-eleven, one of those places that had everything. She picked a cheap birthday card with a plain white back perfect for the name plate. Then selected a small screwdriver and asked the lady on the till where the nearest bookshop was. Walking in the direction she indicated Maria passed an opticians where she nipped in and bought the weakest pair of ready readers she could find. Tried many frame types and settled on a pair with blue metal frames. They were expensive for off the shelf glasses but the cost was worth it for the extra style. Most importantly they looked the part.

Inside the bookshop she went straight to the reference section and the shelves about investing. There were so many to choose from but she was looking for something in particular. Something for a beginner. Selecting a paperback with the title, Investing for Beginners she paid and strolled back towards her flat picking up a few supplies on the way. First job: change the name by the bell push. Second: think about the best way to do this.

The plan was simple. Apart from a false name she had only one clue: the cafe. It was like a stakeout in reverse. First she decided the most likely times anyone would visit a cafe and thought around nine and eleven in the mornings. Lunch time: not likely. Pastries and coffee were a morning thing. Afternoons, maybe, but perhaps to meet up with someone. Business maybe or friends.

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