Popcorn and Poltergeists by Nancy Warren

Author:Nancy Warren [Warren, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781928145622
Publisher: Ambleside Publishing
Published: 2020-02-12T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

We pulled up in front of the Sainsbury’s near Coventry just before eleven o’clock the next morning. I took my time getting out of the car. I did not relish telling a complete stranger that someone they loved was dead. Sainsbury’s was a grocery store chain. This was one of the larger stores, American in style with an in-house butcher, bakery, aisles and aisles of grocery items and a pretty extensive wine and liquor department. Rafe asked a cashier if she knew a Susanna Morgan, and she said to try the cheese counter. “At least, there’s a Susanna works there. I’ve never known her last name.”

We made our way to the cheese counter. There were two women working there. One was serving a customer, and the other was restocking the display case. Rafe spoke to her. “Excuse me, I’m looking for Susanna Morgan.”

The woman looked up, surprised. Then puzzled, as she obviously didn’t recognize Rafe. “I’m Susanna. How can I help you?” Both her voice and face were wary, as though she already knew he brought bad news.

One look at her told me that this was not Wilfred Eels’ mother or his daughter. She had gray hair and a somewhat careworn face. She looked to be somewhere near Wilfred Eels’ age.

Rafe said, “Is there somewhere we could talk privately?”

She looked at me then and back at Rafe and then to the woman who was just finishing with her customer. “I’ve only just started my shift. I don’t get a break for two hours.”

Rafe said, “It’s rather important. It’s about Wilfred Eels.”

She dropped a wheel of stilton with a thunk. “Willie? What about him?”

The other woman was older and had a kind, motherly expression. “Go on, Susanna, take them into the break room. I can manage for a few minutes. We’re not too busy.”

Susanna nodded, got her handbag from a cupboard and came around the display case. Rafe asked, “Is the break room private?”

“Not very.”

“Let’s go to the café and have a cup of coffee.” He pointed to the sign that directed shoppers to an in-house coffee shop.

She followed him as though she were used to being told what to do. On the way, she asked, “Is Willie in trouble?”

“Is he often in trouble?”

“More than is good for him.”

Fortunately, the coffee shop in Sainsbury’s was practically empty, and we were able to find a table in the corner. I offered to get the drinks, but Rafe told me to sit down with Susanna and he’d get them. We both chose drip coffee and both declined anything to eat.

While he was gone, we sat there awkwardly in silence. We were two complete strangers, and she had no idea what we wanted. Finally, she asked, “What’s going on? Why are you here?”

Would it be better for her to hear the news from another woman? Or would it be easier if Rafe told her? I didn’t know. Rafe had left us alone, though, and he had to know she’d ask. I hesitated, then said, “Are you very close to Wilfred Eels?”

“I divorced the rotter.

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