The Green Case (A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella Book 7) Page 5

  The pub was dark and quiet compared to the bright sunshine and heavy traffic outside. Janet stood for a moment letting her eyes adjust before she followed William to the bar.

  “Would you like a glass of wine?” he offered.

  “Oh, I shouldn’t,” Janet said. “But as I’m not driving, I will.”

  William ordered her wine and a lager shandy for himself, then they found a booth in a quiet corner at the back of the dining area. Janet looked over the menu and sighed.

  “Everything sounds good,” she said.

  “I think I’ll have cottage pie,” William said. “Now that I’ve mentioned it, I can’t stop thinking about it.”

  “Bangers and mash,” Janet said after a moment. “Joan doesn’t like sausages, so this will be a real treat.”

  William went back to the bar to place their order. Janet sipped her wine and looked around the room. Her eyes had adjusted reasonably well, but it still felt dark and a bit dreary in the small dining area. The space around the bar was better lit, but was also crowded. She sat back and sighed, wondering what she and William were going to talk about over lunch.

  “Are you quite certain?” a voice said, seemingly from right behind Janet’s head. She turned around in her seat and stared at the wooden panel that separated her from the booth behind her.

  “Of course I’m certain,” another voice replied. “If you don’t trust me, you don’t have to agree, of course.”

  “No, I do trust you,” the first voice said.

  Janet was certain now that the person right behind her head was a woman. Her companion spoke again.

  “That’s good to know,” he said, chuckling softly.

  “What do you think about next Friday?” the first voice asked again.

  “I don’t know,” the man replied. “Tell me again why I’d want to join your ladies’ club.”

  “I just thought you might like to meet new people,” the woman replied.

  William slid back into his seat across from Janet. “It shouldn’t be long,” he said.

  Janet caught his eye and held her finger to her lips. He frowned, but fell silent.

  “Whatever gave you that idea?” the man replied.

  “Really, can’t you come anyway?” the woman asked. “I’d hate for Nancy to think she’s the only one with male friends.”

  “It might be worth coming, just so I can meet this Nancy woman you talk about,” the man said. “And all of your other friends as well. Who knows, maybe I can help them out as well.”

  “I doubt any of them need your help. They all seem quite comfortable.”

  “Appearances can be deceiving,” the man replied. “I’m sure I seem quite respectable when you first meet me.”

  The woman laughed. A moment later plates of food were delivered to the table and they fell silent. William was staring at Janet, looking rather displeased.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said very quietly. “The people behind us were talking about some friends of mine and I wanted to hear what they were saying. It’s a long story.”

  “I hope that doesn’t mean we have to sit in silence for the entire meal,” William said stiffly.

  “No, not at all,” Janet said, wishing she could say yes. She was dying to hear more from the couple behind her, and desperate to work out who the woman was. She knew it had to be Harriet, Martha or Edna, but she hadn’t been able to recognise the voice.

  When their own food was delivered, Janet realised that she’d been so focussed on trying to work out who was behind them that she hadn’t spoken to William at all. She smiled tentatively.

  “I am sorry,” she said. “Tell me all about yourself.”

  “That’s rather vague,” William replied. “What would you like to know?”

  “I know you worked in London for many years,” Janet said. And went to prison there as well, she added silently. “But did you grow up there?”

  William started explaining how his family had moved several times while he was growing up, but Janet’s attention was diverted when the couple behind them got up to leave.

  The man was a total stranger to Janet. He was tall with grey hair and a grey beard and moustache. He was casually dressed in worn jeans and a well-washed jumper that he covered with a light jacket before heading towards the door. Janet was more surprised than she should have been as she watched Edna Green follow him out.

  “Do you know him?” Janet asked William quickly.

  “Who?”

  Janet frowned. William had been busy eating his lunch and hadn’t even noticed the couple as they were leaving.

  Chapter Six

  “But what were they talking about?” Janet demanded.

  “How should I know?” Joan asked. “If you’re going to eavesdrop on people, you shouldn’t expect to understand everything they’re saying.”

  “I wasn’t eavesdropping,” Janet muttered. “They were talking very loudly.”

  “I’m sure,” Joan replied dryly.

  Janet sighed. She’d spent the rest of lunch trying to apologise to William, but he was understandably cross with her. The drive back to Doveby House had been an uncomfortable one. Now Janet felt as if she had another friend to worry about. And she actually liked Edna, so she was more concerned about her than she had been about Nancy.

  “If you’re so concerned, you should ring Robert,” Joan told her. “I’m sure he could do some discreet investigating.”

  Janet nodded. “I think you’re right,” she said. She rang the local police station.

  “Hi, Janet,” Susan Garner, the station’s only other employee said. “I’m glad you rang, actually, because I wanted to ask you something.”

  “You go first, then,” Janet said.

  “Did I give you any blankets that are dark blue?” Susan asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Janet replied. “But I can check.”

  Susan was an avid knitter. When Maggie Appleton had run Doveby House, Susan had supplied Maggie with an assortment of knitted goods that Maggie offered for sale to her bed and breakfast customers. Janet and Joan were happy to do the same, as Susan did beautiful work.

  Janet put the receiver down. The sisters had set up a long display table for Susan’s items, and now Janet looked over it.

  “There’s one that dark blue and red and a second one that’s all different shades of blue,” she told the woman when she returned to the phone.

  “Would it be a terrible imposition for me to take back the one in shades of blue?” Susan asked.

  “It’s your blanket,” Janet laughed. “Of course you may have it back.”

  “I wouldn’t normally, but a friend of mine just had a baby boy. I’d normally make something for her, but I’ve done something to my wrist and I can’t knit at the moment.”

  “Oh, dear, what are you doing with yourself?” Janet asked.

  “That’s another thing I wanted to talk to you about,” Susan said. “I don’t suppose you could lend me a few books from your library?”

  “Of course I can,” Janet said. “What do you like to read?”

  “I haven’t read much for the last ten years or so,” Susan replied. “I’ve been so busy knitting that I’ve fallen out of the habit. I’ll take whatever you know you won’t miss for a while.”

  “Shall I pack up the blanket and some books and bring them over to you?” Janet offered.

  “I don’t mean to cause you any trouble. I can come over after work tonight, if that suits you.”

  “Is Robert there?” Janet asked.

  “He’s out at the moment, but he’s meant to be here all afternoon. It’s his monthly day to sit down with me and try to catch up on all the paperwork he’s been avoiding since last month.”

  “I’m not sure I want to interrupt that,” Janet said.

  “Oh, please do,” Susan said. “It’s the only time I ever think about finding a new job. Interruptions are greatly appreciated. If we run out of time to get all the work done, Robert just tells me to sort it out myself, w
hich is for the best, really.”

  Janet laughed. “I’ll stop over in a little while,” she said.

  “I’ll look forward to it,” Susan replied.

  Janet found a large box and filled it with a selection of titles from the library. Along with romance and mystery, she added a few classics and some science fiction. A handful of nonfiction books about historical figures rounded out the collection. She put the folded blanket on the top of the box and loaded it into her car.

  “I’m going to talk to Robert,” she told Joan, who was baking biscuits.

  “Don’t be surprised if he tells you to mind your own business,” Joan replied.

  Once she was sure that Joan couldn’t see her, Janet stuck her tongue out at her sister. She was genuinely worried about her friends and she was doing what she hoped was the right thing. Maybe she shouldn’t have listened to their conversations, but now that she had, she wanted to help.

  The car park at the police station only held a few cars, but there was plenty of room for Janet’s vehicle next to Robert’s police car. Susan lived only a short distance from the station, so she walked to work nearly every day. Janet carried the heavy box of books to the station’s door and struggled to push it open.

  “My goodness, you should have just come in and sent me out for the box,” Susan said as Janet crossed the threshold.

  “I could have gone,” Robert said as he took the box from Janet. “Do I want to know what you’ve brought this time?” he asked.

  “Don’t worry,” Janet replied. “It’s all for Susan.”

  Robert set the box on Susan’s desk and she opened the lid. “Oh, this is the perfect blanket,” she exclaimed. “I’d completely forgotten I’d done this one. And look at all the books. I don’t know where to start.”

  Janet made a few suggestions in between Susan’s effusive thanks.

  “It was kind of you to bring everything here,” Robert remarked.

  “I wanted to see you,” Janet told him.

  “I hope nothing’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know,” Janet replied. “I’m a bit worried about my friends, that’s all.”

  Robert nodded. “Why don’t we go into my office and talk?” he asked.

  Janet looked at the tiny room at the back of the very small building and shook her head. “Maybe we could sit outside,” she suggested, feeling claustrophobic already.

  “Or we could get a drink at the coffee shop across the road,” Robert countered.

  “That sounds good,” Janet agreed quickly. She liked the little coffee shop that did good hot drinks and an ever-changing selection of cakes and pastries.

  “I’ll just finish sorting the piles while you’re gone,” Susan said brightly.

  Robert hesitated and then nodded. “I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”

  “Oh, take your time,” Susan told him. “Have a cake and a cuppa.”

  The coffee shop was empty when the pair went inside. Robert ordered coffee and a toasted teacake while Janet opted for tea and a slice of jam roly poly with custard.

  “I’ll bring them right out,’” the girl behind the counter promised.

  Robert selected a table in the corner and then smiled encouragingly at Janet. “So, what’s on your mind?” he asked.

  Janet took a deep breath and then repeated the two conversations she’d overheard. “I’m just worried that one or both of the men are taking advantage of my friends,” she explained.

  “What do you think the men are doing?” Robert asked.

  “Well, Gerald mentioned a windfall of some sort. I wondered if he had offered to invest some money for Nancy or something,” Janet said. “I suppose it’s much the same with Edna and her mystery companion.”

  “Women of a certain age can be vulnerable to such things,” Robert agreed. “Describe the men to me again, please.”

  Janet felt as if she wasn’t very observant as she tried to describe the two men. “I saw a lot more of Gerald than I did the other man,” she said. “But I feel as if I wasn’t pay anywhere near enough attention to him, now that I’m trying to describe him,” she concluded.

  “You’ve done very well,” Robert said. “I shall have to do some discreet checking around to see what I can find out. If they’ve purchased property in Doveby Dale recently, I should be able to learn a great deal.”

  “Gerald said something about catching a train in Derby so that he could get to London,” Janet said. “I don’t suppose you can track him that way.”

  “I don’t expect so,” Robert said. “I’ve no idea how many trains pass through Derby every day, but it won’t be a small number.”

  Janet sighed. “I feel as if I’m asking you to search for a needle in a haystack,” she said apologetically. “Even if you do track them down, they could be perfectly nice men.”

  “If they are, they ought to appreciate your concern for your friends,” Robert pointed out.

  “I do hope so,” Janet replied.

  Back at Doveby House, Janet found Joan making dinner.

  “Not going out with Michael tonight?” Janet asked.

  “He has a meeting,” Joan replied. “I thought maybe, after dinner, we could start going through some of the boxes in the carriage house.”

  Janet frowned. As eager as she was to see what was in the carriage house, she’d much rather spend the evening curled up with a book.

  “If we each just try to get through a box every night for a month, we’ll have the whole thing cleared out before summer,” Joan pointed out.

  “I suppose you’re right,” Janet said. “And one box won’t take long, either.”

  “No, you’ll be back to your book before you know it,” Joan said.

  Janet smiled. No one knew her as well as her sister.

  After they’d eaten and cleared away the dinner dishes, Janet was eager to get the work out of the way.

  “Let’s go, then,” she said, scooping up Aggie.

  “You’re not bringing the cat to the carriage house,” Joan said.

  “I am,” Janet replied. “We might be a while and I don’t want her to get lonely.”

  “We won’t be long at all,” Joan replied. “And she’ll just be in the way.”

  “She’ll behave,” Janet promised. She gave Aggie a stern look. “You behave,” she told the kitten.

  Aggie blinked and then yawned, which Janet decided was a promise of good behaviour.

  “I’m also bringing a torch and my mobile,” Janet added.

  Joan looked at her and then sighed and nodded. “Until we can work out how the wind is managing to push the door shut and switch off the light, it’s probably best that we take precautions,” she said.

  Janet tucked her torch in the pocket. She was more willing than Joan to believe that they had a ghost in the carriage house who kept shutting doors and turning off lights, but then Janet was the one who was woken at two in the morning every time there was a full moon. The ghost in her bedroom screamed twice and then went silent until the next full moon. Joan insisted that she didn’t believe in such things, but Janet wasn’t so certain.

  It was a nice evening for February, so the sisters took their time crossing through the large gardens.

  “Stuart does such a great job keeping everything nice,” Janet remarked as they walked.

  “He does,” Joan agreed. “We’re lucky to have him.”

  Stuart Long lived across the street. He was a retired gardener who was happy to spend much of his time working on the gardens at Doveby House. In exchange for his labour, the sisters paid him a modest sum and provided a limitless supply of tea, biscuits, cakes and occasionally breakfast to the man.

  Janet shivered as the door to the carriage house squeaked open. Aggie gave a nervous “meow” as Joan switched on the light.

  “It’s okay,” Janet said quietly. “You can explore for a little bit.” She pulled the door shut behind them and then set Aggie down on the dirt floor. Aggie took a few cautious steps, first in one direction and then
another. She hissed at something that only she could see and then ran back to Janet, trembling.

  “Maybe there’s a giant mouse in one of the corners,” Joan suggested as Janet picked Aggie up from the floor.

  “Maybe she’s frightened of the ghost,” Janet replied, holding the scared kitten close to her. “You’re okay,” she said softly.

  “Let’s not waste a lot of time in here,” Joan said. “Just pick any box and go through it and I’ll do the same.”

  Janet nodded and then walked to the back of the room. Now that she really looked, there seemed to be an awful lot more boxes than she’d remembered. If they only did two boxes a day, it was going to take them years to empty the building, Janet thought.

  Still holding Aggie, Janet reached out and pulled the closest box from the top of the nearest pile. Behind her, Joan sighed.

  “What have you found?” she asked, turning around.

  “It’s all books,” Joan said. “You’ll have to go through them and see if they want shelving or giving away.”

  “That should be my box for tonight, then,” Janet said. “You can pick another one.”

  “I’ll pick another one, but you should open the one you’ve pulled down,” Joan told her. “I’ll help you with the books later, if you want me to.”

  Janet shook her head. The library was hers to arrange and she didn’t want Joan interfering. “I’ll do it,” she said. “But try not to find any more books for now.”

  Joan chuckled and opened another box. “Oh, dear,” she said. “This one is all paperwork. I suppose, since you’re going to be sorting books, I shall have to sort this out.”

  Janet did her best to hide her smile. “You can work in the library on the desk, if you want,” she offered. “That way we can spend the evening together.”

  “And when you’ve finished the books, you can help with the paperwork,” Joan added.

  Janet frowned as her evening of reading seemed to disappear. They’d already sorted through several boxes of papers that Maggie Appleton had left behind. In spite of devoting hours of time and energy to the job, they hadn’t found a single interesting thing in any of the boxes. No doubt this box would be more of the same, utility bills, credit card receipts, and notes from past guests.