THE BRITTANY MURDERS an absolutely gripping cozy murder mystery by ANNE PENKETH

Author:ANNE PENKETH [PENKETH, ANNE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books cozy crime thriller, mystery and suspense
Published: 2023-12-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28: Christmas

“Best Christmas ever,” Luke announced from the floor. He was stretched out on the rug in the living room in front of a giant jigsaw puzzle.

“No it wasn’t,” said Mariam. Jennifer braced herself. What was she going to come out with now?

“We didn’t have crackers,” said Mariam, pulling a face. Jonathan winked at Jennifer and they relaxed.

“They don’t do Christmas crackers in France as you know perfectly well,” said Jennifer, mock sternly. “No carol service either. I miss that, actually. I used to know the descant to ‘Hark the Herald’.”

Luke sat up holding the last piece of the Tower of London and placed it triumphantly onto the puzzle. They all applauded.

“So now what do we do?” Mariam asked. Her voice was petulant.

“A walk, of course, before it gets dark,” said Jennifer, and Luke went to pull on his wellies in the hall.

“I’m not coming,” said Mariam. “I’m going to my room.”

“Come on, Byron!” said Luke, ignoring Mariam.

The dog raised its muzzle before sinking to the stone floor again.

“I think that’s a no,” said Jennifer. “He’s too tired.”

She felt that at last she’d got her family back. They’d celebrated Christmas the French way on Christmas Eve. Jonathan had cracked open some oysters, she’d cooked a goose and they’d gorged on a Yuletide log. She and Jonathan had got drunk on champagne, and the children had stayed at the table without taking out their phones or surreptitiously handing down pieces of meat to the dog.

“I wonder how Meredith’s Christmas went,” said Jennifer. “Their first without Craig.”

“Yes. Tough. But what do you want to do about it?”

“I was thinking of maybe having her over. Or what about inviting the Louennec players tomorrow? It will be Boxing Day, maybe they’re at a loose end?”

“But what about their families? It’s a family time, isn’t it?”

“You keep saying that,” she laughed. “But seriously, why not?”

“OK, let’s get in touch with the usual suspects when we get back,” he said.

They tramped along a path through the woods at the bottom of the garden. Luke ran ahead with a stick that he found on the ground. They always made sure he had one in case he slipped on the damp grass or came across a snake in the undergrowth.

They headed down to the stream in single file along the narrow path. The trees were bare and made a ghostly sound as the branches rustled in the breeze. The sky was darkening when they began to climb back up the slope towards the house.

As they approached the front gate, Jennifer could hear the cock crowing.

“Can you hear him? He’s so annoying when he draws attention to himself like that, at any time of day or night.”

Then she saw him, flapping his shiny black wings in the middle of the front garden. What was he doing there?

“Can you catch him?” Jennifer called out to Jonathan, pointing at the cock, and ran towards the wired chicken enclosure to see what had happened.

Luke had already run ahead, and called out, “Mummy!” with panic in his voice.

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