The Last Stop by Sonia Parin

Author:Sonia Parin [Parin, Sonia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-09-11T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

“THE TOURISTS MUST HAVE ALL gone out the residents’ door. I didn’t see them leave but they’re all at Joyce’s Café,” Abby said as she pushed the door open. “Would you like to catch up with them, mom?” Abby knew she was tempting fate as any one of them could mention something about the police being at the pub, something that would trigger a barrage of questions Abby wouldn’t know how to answer.

“No, that’s fine. I’d like to spend more time with you, dear.”

And find out what she’d been up to with Mitch, Abby thought. Well, she had some digging of her own to do. Abby headed straight to a table by the window and sat down to study the menu. Doyle, enjoying the special privilege of being the only dog in town allowed inside the café, made the rounds of the tables to soak up some attention.

Abby adjusted the cell phone so her mom could see the table with the tourists.

“I wonder if any of them received cease and desist emails?” Abby asked as she continued to peruse the menu.

“I’m sure Alice did too,” her mom murmured.

“Oh?”

“I caught the tail end of a couple of conversations. She mentioned being strapped for cash and I saw Bert putting his hand over hers as if to reassure her. I think he might have bailed her out.”

Wow. She’d read all that from a simple gesture?

“I also heard her say he was a lifesaver. I think it’s safe to assume Bert offered to help her out.”

“Did she ever say where she knew him from?” Abby asked.

“From way back. I heard her make a couple of reminiscing remarks. You know the type. Do you remember when the four of us... So, I assume she was referring to her husband and Bert’s wife.”

Would Alice bite the hand that fed her? Assuming Bert had offered financial assistance, Alice would not have wanted anything to happen to him.

If not money, what other motive could there be for murder? Jealousy? “You mentioned someone else had been vying for his attention.”

Her mom chuckled. “They all were. Including me. I enjoyed his conversations. I couldn’t help thinking Bert would be a lovely companion sitting by the fireplace on a cold winter night, chatting and…” her mom sighed. “I’ve heard some young people complain how difficult it is to meet someone nice. They have no idea what it’s like when you get older.”

Abby had never heard her mom complain of loneliness. What if she had mentioned something and Abby had missed it?

“It’s silly,” her mom said. “I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way again.”

Abby saw her chance to encourage her mom and took it. “Just think how many more people you’d meet if you traveled.”

“Yes, I have been playing around with the idea.”

Abby crossed her fingers and took this as a good sign. “Are there any wallflowers in the group?” she asked before her mom overanalyzed the idea of traveling. Someone sitting back, listening, watching, waiting… would be an ideal suspect.

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