Murder at Mistletoe Manor by F. L. Everett

Author:F. L. Everett [Everett, F. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781804954539
Publisher: Penguin Random House UK
Published: 2025-08-28T00:00:00+00:00

23

‘It’s not how it looks.’ Violet is employing the greatest affair cliché of all time. She looks intensely rattled. ‘We’re not having an affair, we just get on well.’

Branson turns to her, his expression melancholy. ‘Listen, babe,’ he says. ‘I think we need to tell the truth. It’ll look worse for us if we lie.’

‘Lie about what?’ Violet gabbles. ‘I never met you in my life before—’

‘Vi. Give it up.’

‘I knew it.’ Destiny settles back, a proprietary hand on Gaia’s head.

‘Are you saying you’re a … a couple?’ Alan demands, outrage quivering in his tone.

Nick waits as Branson sinks his head into his hands and lets out a long, broken groan.

‘We’ve been so stupid,’ Branson murmurs. ‘Now you’re all going to think we killed her …’

‘Branson! Why are you doing this?’ Violet’s voice is high and fearful; she’s almost keening with distress. ‘Nick, don’t listen, he’s not in his right mind, he—’

‘Yeah, I am.’ Branson sits up. ‘I can’t do it any more. Since Penny died, I’ve realised – I was just a stupid, ageing, easily flattered guy.’ He turns to Violet. ‘I’m sorry, babe. I can’t keep lying. I’m done.’

Blindly, Violet pushes back her chair and runs from the room. In the ensuing silence they hear her footsteps racing upstairs, accompanied by harsh sobs. Lorraine calls, ‘Vi! Come back!’ But there is only the distant sound of a slamming door.

Branson releases a long breath and lights a cigarette, ignoring the tutting and flapping from the women. ‘First of all,’ he says, ‘neither of us killed Penny. I need to make that clear.’

Well, you would say that, wouldn’t you?

Out loud, Nick simply says, ‘I’m listening.’

‘Violet met Penny through work,’ Branson begins, his voice shaking. ‘Penny had been at Inkwell Publishing for years, and when Violet joined the publicity department, they worked together a little. They got on, despite the age gap, and Penny invited her to a few dinner parties – she and her ex did a lot of entertaining. When Penny met me and moved to California, they stayed in touch, and the summer before last, Violet said she was doing a US road trip with a friend and could she come visit us?’ Branson pauses.

‘I can see all too well where this is going,’ mutters Alan, and Lorraine nods.

‘Turned out the friend was a boyfriend, and they broke up somewhere around Baton Rouge. He flew home and she decided to carry on. Penny was real happy to see her and the three of us hung out for a few days …’

He swallows. I bet you did, thinks Nick, reminding himself that it isn’t a journalist’s place to judge. It strikes him that it is, however, a detective’s.

‘Go on.’

‘This is … I’m ashamed. It’s not who I am. I love – I loved my wife. Well, I guess you can figure out what happened. One night Penny went to bed and Violet and I stayed up talking. We were a little bombed, and Vi … well, she wanted to swim in the ocean.

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