The Sequinned Cape Murders by Ravensworth Millie

Author:Ravensworth, Millie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

26

Izzy and Penny returned to the shop to find the two building inspectors outside Cozy Craft, looking up at the upper floors and making notes on their clipboards. Izzy noted that one had a folded copy of the Frambeat Gazette under his clipboard.

“Afternoon,” said Izzy. “Quality publication you have there.”

The man looked down and smiled.

“Clive and Jason, isn’t it?” she said.

“Clive,” said bespectacled Clive.

“I’m Jason,” said shaven-headed Jason.

“The building inspectors,” Izzy pointed out to Penny.

“Oh,” said Penny. “The chair of the Chamber of Commerce employed you to poke around buildings that don’t belong to him.”

“Just writing a report,” said Clive. “We want to keep these lovely old buildings upright, don’t we?”

Izzy held up the white cardboard box she was carrying. “We just bought cream cakes, to celebrate a successful dog training session.”

“Oh, yeah,” said Jason. “The little dog with the big mush.”

“Do you need to come look inside?” asked Izzy, and then made big expressive eyes to Penny to unlock the shop.

“We don’t wish to impose,” said Clive.

“But we wouldn’t say no to a nice cup of rosie,” added Jason.

“Tea, that is,” explained Clive.

“Yeah. Tea.”

Izzy led the way in and put the cakes on the counter.

“I’ll put the kettle on and show you around. I suppose you’ll want to see the damage.”

“This is remarkably accommodating of you,” said Clive, and the two men followed Izzy upstairs.

“You’ll see the general extent of the damage caused by the water leak here and here,” she said, as she walked along the landing. She realised she had automatically adopted the manner of a stately home tour guide. She couldn’t say why she’d done that. “Please note the damaged coving.”

“Noted,” said Jason with a scribble on his sheaf of forms.

“Can we take a look at the top floor?” asked Clive.

“Certainly,” said Izzy. “Ignore the rooms at the front. They’re Penny’s. No damage done there.”

“Gotcha,” said Jason.

She made teas and brought a big bowl of sugar down to the shop floor with the tea things. She had a suspicion that London folk liked their tea strong and sweet, although this notion might have come from watching Eastenders on telly.

The look on Penny’s face was somewhat stern.

“Something wrong with the cakes?” Izzy asked.

Penny’s sternness deepened. “Why are you helping them?” she hissed.

Izzy didn’t understand. “Because I’m a helpful person?”

Penny pointed wildly upwards. “They’re only here because Stuart flipping Dinktrout assumes powers in this town that he doesn’t really have.”

“They’re just checking the fabric of the building.”

“And feeding Stuart’s assumption that he can poke his nose into the goings-on of every business in town.” She gestured at the cakes. “Does he taste test every Wallerton’s cake? Does he count the pieces in Thumbskill’s jigsaws next door?”

“I don’t think he does any of those things,” said Izzy. “I mean that would be silly.”

“Of course he doesn’t! I’m exaggerating. But the point is still there. Don’t play along with his games!”

Izzy still didn’t see her point. “They’re going to look round, have a nice cup of Rosie Lee and maybe eat one of our cream horns before going on their merry way.

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