The Chalmers Case by Diana Xarissa Read Free Book Online Page A

I
don’t think they’ll be up very early.”
    “Harold said
when they arrived that they’d probably lie in and that I shouldn’t worry about
breakfast,” Joan said worriedly.   “But I don’t want them complaining about it if they change their minds.”
    “Like they did
with dinner,” Janet finished the thought.
    “Exactly,”
Joan replied.
    “I think we’ll
have to get up and have things ready early, just in case,” Janet said with a
sigh.
    “I think
you’re right,” Joan said sadly.
    “Before we go
to bed, we need to hide all of the alcohol in the house,” Janet told her
sister.   “I wouldn’t be surprised if
one or the other of them came down looking for a drink later.”
    “I’m ahead of
you on that one,” Joan said with grim satisfaction.   “While you were helping them up the
stairs, I moved all of our wine into my bedroom.   If you need it when I’m not here, it’s
in the very back of my wardrobe inside the hat box.”
    Janet shook
her head.   “If I need it and you’re
not here, I’d better not drink it.”
    “You’re
probably right about that,” Joan agreed.
    In her room,
Janet made certain that she locked her door before she got ready for bed.   She slept more soundly than she expected,
until stomping footsteps outside her door at midnight woke her.   She listened as someone stumbled down
the stairs, wondering if she needed to get up and deal with whoever it
was.   After a few minutes, she heard
someone coming back up the steps.
    She heard the
west room door open and then:   “No
booze anywhere,” Harold said in a disgusted voice.
    “We could go
to the pub,” Mildred replied.
    “Too tired,”
Harold said.   “We’ll stock up
tomorrow for the rest of our stay.”
    Their bedroom
door slammed and Janet slid down under her duvet, hoping the pair might decide
to cut their holiday short.
    Janet and Joan
were up and ready to fix breakfast before eight the next morning.   Janet went back to work on the library
while Joan fussed in the kitchen, wondering exactly what she ought to do.   It was nearly midday before they heard
movement from the first floor.  
    Janet could
hear the shower turning on and then off as she dusted shelves and books.   About half an hour later, she heard
footsteps on the stairs.   Locking up
the library, she headed towards the kitchen to help Joan.
    Harold and
Mildred were standing in the kitchen doorway.   They both looked as if they felt
miserable.
    “Good morning,”
Janet said brightly.   “How are you
this morning?”
    “ Oooh , could you keep your voice down?” Mildred asked,
wincing.   “I took tablets, but they
haven’t started working yet.”
    “Oh, dear, I
hope you’re okay,” Janet said, maybe just a tiny bit more loudly than she
normally would.
    “I’m fine,”
the woman said through gritted teeth.
    “So what about
breakfast?” Harold growled.   “I just
want lots of black coffee and maybe some toast.   What about you?” he asked his wife.
    “Coffee,
that’s all,” she muttered.
    “I’ll set a
pot brewing,” Joan told them.   “You
can take seats in the dining room and I’ll bring you some toast and jam while
you’re waiting.”
    “We don’t need
to sit down,” Mildred told her.   “Just pour some coffee in a couple of take-away containers and we’ll be
on our way.”
    “I don’t have
take-away containers,” Joan told her.   “This isn’t a take-away.”
    Mildred opened
her mouth to argue, but Harold interrupted before she managed to speak.
    “Let’s just
get something on our way to the shop,” he said.   “I don’t want to wait for the pot to
brew anyway.”
    “But breakfast
is included,” Mildred argued.  
    “I don’t
care,” he snapped at her.   “I need
coffee now.”
    He stormed out
of the room with Mildred following somewhat more slowly.   Janet walked behind the pair, happily
pushing the door shut behind them and locking it tightly.   She leaned against it for a moment,