And The Earth Moved: Romantic Comedy Cozy Mystery (Amber Reed CCIA Mystery Book 1) by Zanna Mackenzie Read Free Book Online Page B

the best position to keep an eye on everything and on Ennis and Siobhan. Sometimes it pays to be on the inside of a case, so to speak.”
    “No, no way. Forget it!” I say, realising something, figuring what he’s up to.
    “No what?” He frowns at me as though I’m some mad woman.
    “I’m not doing it.” I step back, pointing at him. “You want me to act like some kind of double agent for you don’t you? That’s why you had that sudden change of heart about letting me get involved in the case isn’t it?  You think I’ll keep Ennis informed about what’s going on and at the same time I’ll bring back to you any little snippets he might say.”
    Throwing my hands in the air I stomp around the room. “That’s why you said no when Ennis asked you, then waited till I showed up and said yes to me. You thought I’d be so pleased and relieved I’d tell you anything and everything. Ennis thinks you’ve agreed under duress but in reality you want me here as your little spy don’t you?”
    “Plus, don’t forget as I mentioned before, your inside knowledge of the area, the locals and the McKarthys is invaluable to me too,” he replies, completely unruffled.
    I have an almost overwhelming urge to flounce out like Siobhan did moments ago. But if I do that will I jeopardise my chance to work on this case and help Ennis? Probably. I look at Charlie and he holds my gaze steadily.  I have to do this, for Ennis.
    “OK,” I reluctantly agree. There’s nothing to worry about anyway. Ennis shouldn’t be on the list of suspects and I’m going to help prove his innocence.

Chapter Six
    “Did you get up to much today?” Debs, my best friend, asks between sipping a white wine and eating a bag of salt and vinegar crisps.
    Crisps are Debs’ weakness. She works in the local coffee shop and says she gets so fed up of seeing cakes all the time that she opts for savoury treat foods rather than sweet ones. My weakness is custard slices. I know, I know. Good job I work in the pub and not the coffee shop.
    When I’m not propping up the counter at the tearooms whilst Debs works, the situation is reversed - Debs props up the bar of The Quarryman whilst I work. The pub’s busy tonight as it’s darts night. The local team versus one from a pub a few villages away. These occasions are usually raucous and competitive, and tonight is no exception.
    The Quarryman is nothing special. We’re talking old style pub here, not one of those modernised gastro pubs with fancy food from some trendy young chef who regularly features in the weekend newspaper lifestyle supplements. You wouldn’t find this décor being featured in the newspapers either. This place is more distressed décor than designer décor. The Quarryman has deep red carpet which has been here since the year dot, dark wood furniture, and there’s a real fire in the corner in an attempt to add a bit of atmosphere.
    “No, didn’t do much at all really,” I answer aware I can’t say too much about my arrangement with Charlie. Not the official version anywhere. Only the girlfriend version and maybe not even that version yet. For the moment, I remind myself, as far as those who aren’t in the know are concerned, Charlie is here to investigate an attempted break-in and possible threats up at Ennis’ house.
    “Nothing exciting?” she prompts. Debs eats another crisp before revealing her trump card. “Mrs Stafford dropped by the coffee shop and said she’d just seen you and some yummy guy driving in his car just outside the village, up near the quarry.”
    I lean on the bar. “Mrs Stafford actually used the word yummy?”
    “No.” Debs giggles, flicking her chestnut coloured hair back. She likes to change her hair colour on a regular basis and over the years has been all the usual hair shades plus pink, blue and once even yellow. “She described him as a rather handsome young man. Same difference though eh?”
    Bloody village gossips. No wonder crime is, thankfully,