Murder in the Hare Meadow (The Wootton Windmill Mysteries Book 5) by Izzie Harper

Author:Izzie Harper [Harper, Izzie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-03-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

‘Hayley? Oh, my goodness, how are you?’ Ellie blurted.

She wasn't sure, from the way Dave had spoken about his sister, whether they were on good terms still. If they weren't, it wouldn't make it easy to talk to Hayley. ‘I was trying to think when we last saw each other.’

Dave’s younger sister heaved in a breath and zipped up her hoodie. ‘Was it at Zoe’s eighteenth birthday party? I drove over from Barcelona in the van.’ Her brown hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail with strands at the front and sides framing her face. Ellie had forgotten how much like Dave she looked.

‘Does your mum know you’re back?’ Sylvia and Dave couldn't know, surely, or they'd have mentioned it.

They were in Mary's kitchen, a double room which had been knocked through into a welcoming open plan space.

Hayley shook her head. ‘Not yet. I haven't felt like talking to anyone. I lost Meg a couple of weeks ago and the van broke down in northern France.’ Her eyes welled up. ‘I can’t get used to waking up and not seeing a large black and white lump on the bed first thing, and dog hair everywhere.’

‘So sorry. She was such a precious girl. Typically collie in so many ways, and unlike one in others. I always remember her and Reeby playing in the stream in Appledown Woods. Must’ve been a few years ago.’

Hayley forced a tight smile.

‘I guess you’ve not been in touch with Dave then, either? Or Karen?’

Karen was the youngest sibling.

Hayley shook her head.

‘Last I heard, you were in Harbledown,’ said Ellie.

‘That was a couple of years ago. From there I went over to Europe.’

Mary joined them, carrying a vase of spring flowers and aromatic branches from the garden.

‘Mmm. Eucalyptus and rosemary,’ Ellie said, inhaling their pungent smell.

‘I've not been in touch with Dave for a while,’ Hayley replied. ‘I knew you two had split up. Which I was very sad about. Are you still–’

‘Separated. But good friends.’ She flickered a smile. ‘If that doesn’t sound a cliché.’

‘Not at all. I’m sure there are lots of people who are separated and aren’t good friends.’ She tucked her hair behind her ears. ‘Anyway, what brings you round to Gran’s?’

Ellie caught the nervousness in Hayley's question. She explained about Sylvia and Dave’s row. ‘That’s not it though, I’m afraid. Dave is in trouble.’

‘What sort of trouble?’ asked Hayley. ‘He hasn’t been losing his temper again and getting into fights, has he?’ She let out a weak laugh, the way people sometimes do when they’re trying to pretend that something serious is a joke.

Ellie stared at her. ‘What d’you mean?’

Hayley forced a hollow laugh. ‘Oh, forget it. I was just joking.’

‘You weren’t though, were you? What did you mean?’ Did Hayley know something they didn’t?

This case was like a maze. They kept finding themselves going round in circles and up dead ends.

Hayley sat twiddling her hair.

‘I assume you know about the man who was killed a couple of days ago?’ Ellie asked eventually.

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