Murder in the Blood by Lesley Cookman Read Free Book Online Page B

we didn’t care for it, did we, Tom?’
    â€˜There were quite a few Brits up there, and the food seemed to be mainly English. They seemed a bit cliquey.’
    â€˜Hmm. Could be motives up there, then,’ said Libby.
    â€˜We can ask Martha. We’re going to see her again in the morning, aren’t we?’ said Fran.
    When they arrived back at the hotel, they asked Betty to join them for a nightcap, but she refused. ‘I might as well go and make peace with Walter,’ she said, ‘or else my life won’t be worth living.’ And she trotted off quite cheerily.
    â€˜Fortitude, that’s what she’s got,’ said Harry. ‘Great old girl.’
    They were all surprised to find Justin and Neal sitting at the bar staring morosely into their glasses.
    â€˜Hello!’ said Ben. ‘Where have you been all day? Have you heard the news?’
    â€˜About Sally?’ said Justin. ‘Yes.’
    â€˜Did you manage to speak to her?’ asked Neal.
    â€˜No. Martha did, though.’ said Harry.
    â€˜When? This afternoon?’ asked Justin. ‘That will help them narrow down the time of death, won’t it?’
    â€˜If they look into it that closely,’ said Peter. ‘No one seems to have any faith in the Jandarma.’
    â€˜But Martha said the Antalyan consulate was going to look into it, didn’t she?’ said Fran. ‘Now with two Brits dead – murdered – they’ll have to act.’
    â€˜This is awful,’ Neal suddenly burst out. ‘It almost seems as though it’s my fault. I only came out here for a bit of peace and quiet, and now …’ He looked ready to cry.
    â€˜Don’t be silly,’ said Libby, patting his shoulder. ‘You know it’s not your fault. Just because it happened while you were here – it could have happened any time.’
    â€˜But I’d met him.’ Neal turned tragic eyes on Justin. ‘And I seem to have set the police on to Justin and all their other friends.’
    Justin looked uncomfortable. ‘Nonsense,’ he muttered.
    â€˜I suppose they’ll go and question Geoff and Christine, too, won’t they?’ said Libby.
    Justin now looked surprised. ‘Do you know them?’
    â€˜No, but Greta and Tom have been there, and Mahmud at The Red Bar was telling us about them. It seems like a sort of local for you ex-pats.’
    Justin pulled a face. ‘Not for everyone. We don’t get on.’
    â€˜Oh?’ Libby glanced at Fran, eyebrows raised. ‘Did Alec get on with them?’
    â€˜No. We weren’t particularly welcome there.’
    â€˜Ah.’ Peter exchanged glances with Harry. ‘I don’t think we’ll be going there, then.’
    â€˜Just Fran and me, then,’ said Libby, ‘after we’ve seen Martha. Now, who wants a drink?’

Chapter Seven
    Before the sun rose too high in the sky, Libby and Fran walked along the bay towards the river and Martha’s restaurant.
    â€˜That must be the Istanbul Palace,’ said Fran, pointing to an attractive red-roofed cream building set on its own amid acres of uncultivated vegetation. ‘No signage at all.’
    â€˜Odd, isn’t it?’ said Libby. ‘I wonder how you get to it? There’s no entry from here.’
    Martha answered the question for them as they sat sipping iced tea on the terrace above the restaurant.
    â€˜There’s a turning off this road. You’ll pass it on your right as you go back to the beach road. Very discreet little sign. It’s almost as if they don’t want any trade.’
    â€˜You don’t like Geoff and Christine?’ asked Libby, noticing Martha’s expression.
    â€˜Oh, I don’t mind them. They’re just a bit – well, snobby, I suppose.’
    â€˜Snobby?’ Fran’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. ‘I thought out here it would be exactly the opposite in an ex-pat