Exham-on-Sea Murder Mysteries 4-6. Frances Evesham
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visited the vet today, and she recommended you.’
The vet? Libby thought hard, determined to remember the vet’s name. ‘Oh, yes, Tanya Ross. I know her.’
‘She said you solve mysteries. I looked you up on the local news website and found you’ve been involved in a few little matters with some success, so I decided to give you a ring.’
She fell silent. Libby spoke cautiously, ‘How can I help you?’
‘It’s my cat. He’s disappeared into thin air. I’d like you to find him for me?’
‘Your cat?’
Mandy’s eyes were on stalks and Libby had to turn away to keep from bursting into laughter. ‘I – er – I don’t know.’
‘I thought you were a private investigator,’ the woman accused.
‘No. Well – it’s true I’ve inquired into a few things, but I’ve never dealt with lost animals. Except my own, of course…’ Libby bit her tongue. Her first instinct was to refuse this case. She gave an exaggerated shrug and whispered to Mandy, ‘What should I do?’
‘Go for it, Mrs F.’
Perhaps unravelling a less stressful mystery might offer Libby perspective on the life of a private investigator. A lost cat couldn’t be too difficult. Libby put on her best telephone voice and asserted herself. ‘Maybe we should meet tomorrow.’
‘Not until then?’
‘I’m afraid not. Give me your details and I’ll come at eleven. That’s the earliest I can manage.’
‘Oh, well, that’s better than nothing, I suppose.’ The woman gave her name.
‘Marchant,’ Libby repeated, making a note.
‘Mrs.’
The call ended. Libby sighed. ‘I must be crazy.’
Mandy leaned on the counter. ‘I wonder why Joe wants to see you. I bet Chief Inspector Arnold won’t listen to his ideas. By the way, while you were out yesterday, Jumbles sent us another big order. They need, like, twice as many chocolates as usual next week.’
Libby’s legs wobbled and she sank onto a chair. ‘This is impossible. There aren’t enough hours in a day.’
‘It’s the price of success. Get used to it.’
‘Is it? It feels exhausting. Will you visit Jumbles? Use all your charm and see how long they can give us.’ The Jumbles account was the first one Mandy had negotiated alone.
She leaned over Libby’s shoulder to read the address. ‘Mrs Marchant. The Cedars. Wow, sounds posh. I bet you can charge her, like, a fortune. She must be rolling in dosh, and her cats are her babies. I think you’ve hit the big time.’
9
Driving lesson
Mandy adjusted the driving seat in Libby’s little purple Citroen and rattled the keys. Libby pulled her seatbelt tight. ‘Tell me again, exactly how many lessons have you had?’
‘Loads. The instructor said I need to practice, but I’m quite safe, honest.’
‘Maybe I should drive us to the car park and start there…’
Mandy snorted, turned the key in the ignition and revved the engine. Libby shuddered as it howled. ‘Oops. Sorry, Mrs F.’
She released the handbrake and the car lurched forward. ‘Did you look behind?’ Libby asked.
‘Course. Nothing coming. Let’s roll.’
The car moved sedately down the street, stopping neatly to turn at the T-junction, and Libby’s clenched jaw began to relax. Mandy was perfectly competent. ‘Were you trying to scare me, by any chance?’
Mandy giggled. ‘Sorry, couldn’t resist. Actually, my instructor’s put me in for my test. It’s in three weeks, but I need to practice parallel parking.’
Libby groaned. ‘Definitely need to head for the car park, then, and I’m not sure I can help.’
‘I know. You’d drive three times round town rather than reverse into a space.’
Half an hour later, Mandy had practiced the manoeuvre a dozen times. She drew to a halt facing the beach. ‘Come on, then, out with it.’
Libby gulped, wrong footed. ‘Out with what?’
‘I saw you with Mrs Miles in the cathedral café when Steve and I quarrelled. I know you’re dying to hear all about it. Why haven’t you asked me?’
‘I didn’t want to interfere, but if you want to tell me about it, I’d like to help.’ So, this was why Mandy suddenly needed driving practice; she wanted to talk. It was easier to share confidences in a car. Libby felt a warm glow. She valued Mandy’s friendship.
‘Well, we’ve split up. Steve keeps asking me to go to London at the weekend, but I don’t see why I should.’
‘Is it the expense?’ Mandy’s pay as an apprentice wasn’t great, and the train to Paddington cost a fortune. ‘You should be able to get a student discount, and…’
Mandy shook her head. ‘It’s not that. It’s my clausta— thingy.’
Libby half turned in her seat. ‘Your clausta— do you mean claustrophobia?’
Mandy nodded. ‘I get it in the train. Or a coach.’
‘And you haven’t told Steve?’
‘He’ll think I’m pathetic. He wanted me to go to a concert and I said I would, but then I panicked and told him I was ill.’
‘And he didn’t believe you.’
‘He thought I didn’t want to go with him, and he took Alice, instead.’
‘That’s why you’re suddenly so keen to take a driving test. You’re planning to drive down to London?’
Mandy nodded. ‘I’m fine in a car. I think it’s all the other people on the train that cause the trouble. They seem so close, almost on top of me, so I can’t breathe, and my tummy churns, and I feel all distant, as though I’m about to faint.’
‘Mandy, you have to tell Steve the truth. He won’t think any less of you.’
‘Course he will. That Alice, she can do everything. She’s going to be a violinist. She’s already got an audition with an orchestra. She’s got tons of A levels and so has Steve. And look at me. Just a chocolate-making apprenticeship.’ Mandy sniffed. ‘I don’t mean to be rude about your business…’
‘It’s OK. I know what you mean.’
‘When we argued, he looked at me like I was stupid.’
‘Oh, Mandy. If I had a pound every time my husband made me feel foolish…’ Libby’s voice trailed away. She’d let Trevor call her stupid for years.
She looked across at Mandy’s wet face. Her lodger wasn’t going to suffer as she had; not if Libby had anything to do with it. ‘If he insults you, he’s not worth bothering with.’
‘He didn’t say it, exactly.’ Mandy leapt to Steve’s defence. ‘I just know he’s thinking it.’
Libby gave Mandy a hug. ‘You daft thing. Don’t imagine you know what someone else is thinking. Nobody can read minds. Now, let’s do some more practice, you pass your test, and we’ll think about how to get your hands on a little car. Maybe the business could manage something…’
Mandy rubbed her nose on her sleeve. ‘You don’t have to…’
‘Let’s get you through the driving test, first, shall we? We’ll deal with the other stuff later. You could find someone to help