The Bookstore at Rivers End by Clark Phillipa Nefri

Author:Clark, Phillipa Nefri
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781805083061
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Published: 2024-01-11T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY

20 January 1961

We made a mistake with the railway station but it isn’t a big one. But if we ever do anything like this again, please let it be on a cooler day!

I run down the side of the main road to town, hoping Ruby and Bess have kept Violet occupied long enough to give me a decent head start. Last I’d seen, the three of them were sitting under that tree going over all the clues, pretending to Violet that something might have been missed.

Why have I ended up the only person who is planting clues?

There’s three of us and rotating the load would be fairer.

I’m missing half of the fun of this.

At the bottom of the hill I slow at last and look back. I think I can just see the others. It surprises me that Violet solved this clue without help because it was pretty vague. At least she says she knows but what if I go and hide the envelope but everyone goes in a different direction?

Perspiration drips down my back and I long for an icy-cold lemonade. I like Bess’s idea of ice creams because if nothing else it will slow things down and let me take a breather.

The bridge is just ahead and as planned with Ruby and Bess, I don’t cross it but go down the bank toward the river. Although it is a bit steep, there’s a track of sorts where people walk down. I have to duck to fit under the bridge which is designed for a river, not pedestrians. There’s a narrow ledge just wide enough for me to avoid falling into the water and I pull out the envelope and look up. None of us has checked for a safe place to leave the clue.

A car goes over the bridge, making it shudder. I hate that. I hate being under anything which might fall on me and I won’t put Violet in danger.

I get out as fast as possible. My heart feels weird like it is hammering at my chest and I feel kind of dizzy. There’s not a chance I can get back up to the road and I lie on the grass, clutching the envelope. I close my eyes but the spinning gets worse so I stare at the sky – at wispy clouds passing – until the pounding feeling starts to fade.

‘Found you! Nettie, that is a strange place for a clue!’

Three faces stare down at me. Violet is smiling. Bess is worried. And Ruby is furious.

‘Are you alright?’ Bess kneels next to me. ‘You look really pale.’

‘Too much running in the sun.’ I manage to get the words out.

Next thing I know, Bess is pouring water over me and I splutter and sit. Violet slides the envelope from my hand but she doesn’t open it. Instead, she looks ready to cry.

‘I’m fine, Violet. Just needed a rest. I’m sorry this clue wasn’t better hidden.’

‘I’d have found it anyway. I’ll read the other one again.’

She opens the previous envelope.

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