Scandal at Six (Lois Meade Mystery) by Ann Purser Read Free Book Online

to be confronted by a large cardboard box.
    “Careful with this,” said Gran. “It’s got a bloody great spider inside, with a load of tiny baby spiders crawling round on its back.”
    *
    When all three were safely round the kitchen table drinking hot cocoa, they stared at the cardboard box sitting on the table in front of them. Gran had told the whole story, starting from when she heard the first noise to how she had stumbled over the box outside her door, lifted it up and looked inside. Then she had locked up and made her way home.
    “Home?” said Lois, looking at her dishevelled mother. “I thought the flat was your home now?”
    “Not anymore,” said Gran. “We’ll get everything back here tomorrow, and then advertise for a tenant. I’ve given it a go, and it hasn’t worked. That’s all there is to it, and I shall be glad if you don’t mention this evening to anyone else.”
    “Our secret, Gran,” said Derek kindly, patting her hand. “You’re a brave lady, and we’re glad to have you back. Isn’t that right, Lois?”
    “No more’n I would expect from my mum,” she said. “The thing that worries me is what are we going to do with this spider? Or should I say spiders?”
    Gran picked up the box and took it to the back door. There she left the box, with a brick on top to secure it, and then turned to Lois. “Up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire,” she said. “Tomorrow’s another day.”

Nine

    I t was as if G ran had never thought of taking on the shop flat. S he was up with the lark as usual, and good smells of frying bacon floated up the stairs to L ois and D erek, as they drank an early morning cup of tea.
    “So we don’t mention last night’s adventure to anyone?” said Lois. “We’ll have to take the spider back to the zoo—if that’s where it came from. I’ve looked it up on the internet, and it looks like a female wolf spider to me. Rather sweet, really, carrying its babies on its back. But it’s not sharing my house, so I’ll nip in with it first thing this morning. Then I’m calling in at the police station to see Cowgill. I’ll ring him in a minute, to make sure he’ll be there. This whole thing has got out of hand, and it’s got to be stopped. Spiders’ bites can be lethal, and God knows what’s coming next.”
    Derek frowned and looked closely at her. “And is this going to be another ferretin’ case for Lois Meade? Be careful, me duck. I agree with you that it’s serious, but I’d rather the police handled it without your help.”
    “Yes, well. Time to get up and be nice to Gran.”
    *
    Cowgill had arrived only shortly before Lois’s call came in.
    “A wolf spider, did you say? Very alarming, I’d say. But I’ll have to check whether they’re lethal. Please be very careful. I’ll be here when you’ve finished at the zoo. Oh, and please bring the cardboard box back with you. Without the spider. Police request, if the zoo argues. Are you sure you wouldn’t like Matthew to collect the spider and return it to the zoo?”
    “Quite sure,” said Lois. “It’s not just the spider, is it. There’s been the snake and a toad, possibly a rat, and a squashed frog. I want to have a good look around there, and talk to a few people. I’m sure you will be doing the same, but I’m going right now. See you later.”
    Cowgill swallowed what he was about to say. She was very special to him, and he was going to repeat his warning. He took a deep breath, and tried to concentrate on the morning’s stack of papers. After a few minutes, he gave up, and asked his assistant, Chris, to get the Tresham Zoo on the phone, but first to come in and tell him what she knew about it.
    “Zoos are not my cup of tea,” he said, as she appeared at his door. “But come in and tell me all.”
    “We used to take my nephew and nieces there,” she said, sitting opposite Cowgill and opening notebook and pen. “It’s about a mile on the north road out of Tresham. A big mansion-type