Murder Dancing by Lesley Cookman Read Free Book Online Page A

followed Libby into the kitchen.
    â€˜I don’t think I’m planning anything,’ said Libby. ‘I went up at lunchtime, but I didn’t manage to get any confidences. Sit down and I’ll tell you what’s been happening over the last couple of days.’
    By the time Libby had finished and they had both drunk two large mugs of tea, Fran was looking thoughtful.
    â€˜So nobody seemed unduly worried?’
    â€˜No, I suppose they didn’t. Do you think Max was over-reacting?’
    â€˜We don’t know about the two people who left. Has anything been said about them?’
    â€˜No!’ Libby was surprised. ‘No. Even when Jonathan – the new Demdike – told me he’d been promoted, he said nothing about the previous one. That’s odd, isn’t it?’
    â€˜If you introduce me to the people you’ve actually met, I can do a bit of gentle questioning, can’t I? Are you going up this afternoon?’
    â€˜I thought I would. I’ll see if they want tea in the sitting-room. Although I don’t know how long Max intends to work them for.’
    Fran looked at her watch. ‘Let’s wander up about four. We can always watch rehearsal, can’t we?’
    It appeared that Max was sticking to a strict ten-to-five routine.
    â€˜Can’t tire them out too much,’ he told Fran with a grin. ‘They get stroppy.’
    Fran raised her eyebrows. ‘What happened to show-fitness?’
    â€˜Oh, they’re all as tough as old shoe leather, really. But they like to moan.’
    â€˜Do they want tea in the sitting-room?’ asked Libby. ‘We didn’t know. They’ve all got kettles in their rooms.’
    â€˜Don’t worry about that,’ said Max. ‘They might congregate in the sitting-room for a chat, but they’ll all wander off to their rooms eventually before going down to the pub for dinner. I think Harry might find himself inundated tomorrow night.’
    Libby and Fran repaired to the Manor, where Hetty presented them with two huge Victoria sponges.
    â€˜Thought they might like a bit o’ cake,’ she said gruffly and disappeared into the kitchen.
    Libby looked at Fran and giggled. ‘I hope none of them are watching their weight.’
    As they crossed the hall towards the sitting-room, the first dancers came in.
    â€˜Ooh!’
    â€˜Look at that!’
    â€˜Is it for us?’
    â€˜Can we have some?’
    Followed by a sweaty clutch of male bodies in an assortment of T-shirts, shorts, jogging bottoms and leggings, Libby and Fran bore their cakes aloft into the sitting-room, where Hetty had provided knives and paper plates.
    â€˜So you’re Demdike?’ said Fran, serving Jonathan a large slice. ‘Why did the previous one leave? I would have thought this was a great – do you say part in dance theatre?’
    â€˜Yes, well.’ Jonathan took his paper plate. ‘There was an incident.’
    â€˜Oh, like Chattox’s cockerel?’
    â€˜Oh, you know about that?’
    â€˜Max warned Libby and Ben. Just in case anything else happened.’
    â€˜I’m sure it won’t.’ Jonathan sounded confident. ‘Now we’ve left London.’
    â€˜Why? What difference does that make?’ asked Fran.
    â€˜Well –’ Jonathan looked confused for a moment. ‘I suppose I assumed that whoever was behind all this stuff was in London. He won’t have followed us here.’
    â€˜You said “he”,’ said Fran. ‘Do you know who it was?’
    â€˜No, of course not. I’d have said if I did. It’s just – we’re all men. It won’t have been a woman.’
    â€˜Could have been.’
    Fran turned to see a large, blond man holding out a plate.
    â€˜Hi, I’m Dan. Could I have another piece?’
    Fran laughed. ‘OK. But what did you mean “it could have been”? A woman?’
    â€˜Well, yes.