Three Little Maids by Patricia Scott Read Free Book Online Page B

you. Was it someone she might have known for some time or someone new? A blind date, maybe from the Internet? It could be almost anyone these days.’
    ‘I told you. I don’t know. She didn’t tell me. She was funny and kind of secretive about it. She enjoyed bloody teasing me. Wanted to see me get mad. It gave her a buzz. There’s no way she would tell me,’ he said scowling.
    ‘Okay. Come along to the station if you do remember anything at all. You want to help us catch her killer, don’t you?’ Raymond nodded; the fair hair flopped in Byronic fashion over his forehead again. ‘Ask for Sergeant Turner or myself. Thank you Raymond- Mrs Perkins- for your time.’

     
    8
     
    Viviane heard Kent come in at seven. She’d had her evening meal and, as usual, cooked for two. She would have to get used to cooking in smaller portions when Simon left home
    She was about to settle down for the evening, her TV program picked out, when she heard Beazy utter a low throaty meow, his version of a growl when the knock came on her living room door.
    ‘Viviane?’
    ‘Come in, Jon. Quiet, Beazy!’
    Jon put his head round the door and the rest of his spare, lean body followed. She was always amazed that with his cooking skills and the amount he ate, he never visibly put on weight. He had friendly hazel eyes, with attached laughter lines, a thin well - used face, neatly kept brown hair and the wide mobile mouth smiled back at her generously. As she saw him now he was the opposite in every way to her stolid, chunky built husband Bill.
    ‘Hi! Is it safe to come in?’ He chuckled, viewing Beazy cautiously from across the room. ‘You’re two of a kind, Viviane. You’re both incurably nosy, you go on the defensive when you’re rattled and you’re even alike in colouring.’ He grinned. ‘Except your eyes are a shade darker honey gold than his,’ he said staring at her till she blushed. A man hadn’t paid her a compliment in a long while or so it seemed to her at that moment. ‘Are you sure you don’t turn into a cat at night?’
    She sighed. ‘What are you after Jonathan Kent?’
    ‘There you’ve proved me right. Who gave the cat that weird name?’
    ‘My great-aunt, Ida. It’s her cat. And she acquired a bit of a reputation for her herbal cures around here and Joseph Carey showed his disapproval often as her neighbour, because she offered Gwynith Ludlam some Feverfew; a herb for her headaches, and included Esmeralda Corrie the clairvoyant amongst her best friends. So Aunt Ida went a stage further and bought Beazlebub. He’s a Maine Coon cat. Do sit down and push Beazy out. Have you had a hard day? I heard you leave early.’
    ‘Yeah - you could say that. Hasn’t the bush telegraph told you what I’ve been working on?’ he said easing himself into the chair which the cat vacated quickly in a huff.
    ‘Let’s forget work. Have you had anything solid to eat?’ She hesitated. ‘I cooked too much chicken supreme and Simon’s in London this weekend with his sister. If you can face anything hot? I can rustle up some salad and ham though if you’d prefer it?’
    He smiled. ‘Don’t worry, Viviane. I shan’t make a habit of turning up to mess up your routine. Mine kinda got mucked up today.’ He yawned and ran his fingers through his hair. ‘I’m bushed. But I could do with something to eat. I’m starving.’
    She laughed. ‘Come on then. I’ll put it in the microwave.’
    He followed her out into the kitchen and sat up at the table where Beazy viewed him suspiciously from the fridge top. ‘The chicken smells good. I suppose you have heard something about the girl’s death that we’re dealing with right now?’
    ‘I did, this morning in the library. The Wilberforce sisters brought in the news. They live at the White Rock Hoteel and they were told by Fred Hill, the hotel porter.’ Jon’s high forehead creased at this. ‘It was Nathan, his nephew, who found the body this morning.’ She chuckled.