Death Takes A Trip (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 5) by Gillian Larkin Read Free Book Online

”
    Julia said, “ I think he must've tripped up on the same bit of carpet that you did a
few days ago. ”
    “ But that ’ s been fixed! I saw that it had been fixed! ” Nina ’ s voice began to rise hysterically.
    “ Did you have a
good look at the carpet after it had been made secure? Did you see anything
still sticking up? ” Julia asked.
    Fresh tears poured down Nina ’ s face. “ Yes, I did see
that the carpet was lying flat, but if it's sticking up again now, does that
mean it wasn ’ t secured
properly? ” She burst into tears and Cain took her into his arms again.
    Cain let out a cry of anguish as Nina collapsed in his
arms. “ Help! Julia!
I'm going to drop her! ”
    Julia reached out and took hold of Nina who appeared
to have fainted. Between them, they managed to take Nina into the living room
and place her in a chair.
    “ What shall we
do with her? ” Cain asked. “ Do you have
any smelling salts in your handbag? ”
    Julia shook her head. “ No, but I should start carrying them. Look, she's starting to come round
a little bit. Nina, Nina can you hear me? Shall I call for an ambulance? ”
    Nina's eyes fluttered open. “ No, don't call them, I don't want to be a nuisance. Oh! My poor Douglas!
I should have been here, I should have kept an eye on him. ”
    Cain said, “ Shall I put the kettle on and make us a nice strong cup of tea? ”
    Julia gave a small shake of her head and took Cain to
one side. She said, “ We'd better
not touch anything, just in case. ”
    “ Just in case
of what? ”
    Julia pulled Cain even further away from Nina and
lowered her voice. “ I'll have to
call the police about Douglas. I think there ’ s something suspicious about his death. Douglas told me that the carpet
had been fixed. And I trust the work of Joshua Bentley, he ’ s never let me down. I can ’ t see how the carpet would become unstuck on its own. ”
    Cain ’ s eyes widened. He whispered, “ Do you think Douglas was murdered? ”
    Julia gave a small nod and said, “ It's a possibility but don't say anything to Nina. There are some muddy
footprints at the side of Douglas ’ body, and a few on the stairs. They look like the ones
I saw in the woods. I'll call DI Clarke and see what he has to say. ”
    Cain returned to Nina's side and patted her hand. Nina
dabbed at her eyes and tried to compose herself. Julia phoned DI Clarke and
told him briefly what had happened. He said he'd be round as soon as possible.
    Julia walked over to Nina and said, “ Do you want to go home? I can call a taxi for you. ”
    Nina waved her hand and said, “ No, I'll stay with Douglas. Who were you speaking to? Have you phoned
for an ambulance? ”
    Julia hesitated, should she tell her that she'd phoned
the police? Her attention was caught by something happening outside on the
road. DI Clarke was pulling up to the kerb. He'd arrived quickly. She'd have to
tell Nina the truth now. “ I phoned the police. ”
    “ But why would
you do that? ” Nina asked.
    Julia said, “ I'm not happy about that carpet sticking up at the top of the stairs. ”
    Nina pressed her lips together and nodded. Then she
said, “ Of course,
you're going to tell the police about that so-called handyman, aren't you? It ’ s his fault that Douglas has fallen down the stairs! He needs to be
arrested! ”
    Julia didn't say anything. She walked to the back door
and stepped out as DI Clarke was walking down the path.
    The tall, thin policeman with piercing blue eyes
looked at her and said, “ So, Ms Blake, we meet again. I believe that you came to the station recently
with some wild accusations about threatening behaviour. ”
    “ I did, and you
never got back to me, ” Julia said. “ And now it's too late, the man who was on the receiving end of the
threatening behaviour is now dead. ”
    DI Clarke ’ s eyebrows rose and he said, “ Ah, yes, you did leave a note for me about some footprints that you
found in the woods. ”
    “ And don ’ t