A Secret Killer (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 4) by Gillian Larkin Read Free Book Online

years of tormenting me, thankfully. His mum got married to some
wealthy man, and Jason ended up at a private school. ”
    “ So he
never saw how you changed when your gran took you in? ”
    “ Wouldn ’ t
make any difference to someone like Jason Pendleton. Be careful around him, I ’ ve
seen his nasty streak. ”
    Julia
started the car up. She wished DI Clarke was dealing with the investigation on
his own, she didn ’ t like the idea of having to talk to DS
Pendleton. If she didn ’ t watch out, he ’ d
have Cain arrested for Hugo ’ s murder.
     

 
     
    Chapter 10
     
    Julia
had been driving for two minutes when Cain said, “ Don ’ t you
think we need to talk about the elephant in the car? ”
    Julia
laughed. “ Elephant?
I hope you ’ re
not referring to me. I try my best to keep on eye on my diet, but you know how
it is with chocolate - impossible to give up! ”
    Cain
sighed. “ I
think you know what I ’ m talking about. ”
    Julia
pulled over to the side of the road and switched the engine off. She looked at
Cain and said, “ I ’ m
presuming you mean that speech that DI Clarke gave? The one about you turning
up on Saturday, and then one of my clients being found murdered a few days
later? ”
    Cain
nodded. “ You
have to admit, it does sound suspicious. ”
    Julia
considered the matter. “ It does. But
what would your motive be? Had you met Hugo before? Perhaps he was uncovering
some aspect of your family that you didn ’ t
want him to know. ”
    Cain
gave her a wry smile. “ All my history
is out there for the world to see. I ’ ve nothing to
hide. ”
    Apart
from your guilty brothers, Julia thought. She said, “ I don ’ t
think you ’ ve
got anything to worry about. We ’ ll give our
statements to the police later. ”
    Cain
frowned. “ But
they ’ ll
want to know what I was doing last night. I don ’ t
have an airtight alibi, is that what they call it? I was home alone watching
TV. ” His voice rose. “ I
haven ’ t got
anyone to confirm that! ”
    “ I
haven ’ t got
an airtight alibi either. I was catching up on paperwork, and I was alone too.
The police can hardly arrest us for that. ”
    “ I ’ m not
so sure, Jason Pendleton looks like he ’ s ready to throw
me back into jail. ”
    Julia
tutted. “ I don ’ t
like that man! Fancy talking to us like that. He ’ d
better watch his ways, if he talks to me like that again I ’ ll
give him a piece of my mind! ”
    Cain
grinned at her. “ I believe you will too. I wish I could
stick up for myself like you do. ”
    Julia
looked at the young man, his lack of self-confidence was so apparent. Even the
way he sat in the passenger seat spoke volumes about him: arms folded and knees
together as if trying to make himself as small as possible.
    Julia
patted Cain on the arm and said, “ We ’ ll
deal with our statements later. We ’ re going to see
Mrs Boyce now. Here ’ s an opportunity to stand up for
yourself, she complains about everything! ”
    But
Mrs Boyce had no grounds for complaint. She actually smiled as Cain got to work
on her windows. She even chuckled at one point. Julia wondered what the strange
noise was at first, Mrs Boyce rarely cracked a smile.
    “ What
a lovely shine! ” Mrs
Boyce declared as she looked through her windows. She flicked a glance towards
Julia and added, “ I ’ ve
never seen my windows so clean. ”
    Julia
ignored the insult. “ I ’ ve
vacuumed upstairs and cleaned the bathroom. Same time next week? ”
    Mrs
Boyce beamed at Cain and said, “ Will you be
coming back next week? My kitchen is due to be cleaned next week, and I ’ ll
bet your magic hands will bring my oven up a treat. ”
    Cain
looked towards Julia. “ I think I ’ ll be
here next week. ”
    “ Good! ” Mrs Boyce clapped her hands
together. “ You
must take some cake with you. I ’ ve made a lemon
drizzle cake. I ’ ll pop some in a tin for you to take
home. Bring the tin back next week and I ’ ll
refill it.