The Green Case (A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella Book 7) Page 9

  “He’s trying to cheat Nancy out of her savings,” Janet said.

  “Based on what evidence?” Joan asked.

  “You have to admit that it sounds suspicious.”

  “Maybe,” was all the Joan would concede. “But it’s also not any of our business.”

  Janet shook her head. “What if I decide to invest with him?”

  “If you want to invest some of your money, what you do with it is entirely up to you,” Joan said. “I won’t be investing with him myself, but you can do what you like.”

  Janet shook her head. “You’re impossible,” she said.

  “I’m just being reasonable and not seeing criminal activity everywhere,” Joan replied.

  “I was right about Donald,” Janet pointed out.

  “Yes, but maybe you’re wrong about Gerald.”

  Janet shook her head, but didn’t argue. They’d know the whole story in a few days, no doubt.

  Robert stopped by again in the middle of the week.

  “Come in and have some tea and biscuits,” Janet invited him when he appeared on their doorstep.

  “I will, if you’re sure you don’t mind,” he replied.

  “You know you’re always welcome,” Joan told him. “And since the Ellsworths left, we haven’t any guests to feed except for Paul and he doesn’t eat much.” She put the kettle on while Janet piled biscuits onto a plate.

  “So, what can we do for you today?” Joan asked once they were all sitting together at the kitchen table.

  “I just wanted to let you know the latest about the two men Janet was concerned about,” Robert said.

  Joan gave Janet a stern look. “Janet is always concerned about something,” she said.

  “Well, she was right to worry about Donald Harrison,” Robert replied. “Although he insists that he’s turned over a new leaf, he was staying at George Schattner’s home without permission.”

  “But what brought him to Doveby Dale in the first place?” Janet asked.

  “As I understand it, he was recently released from prison,” Robert replied. “As he didn’t have anywhere to go, he began travelling around the country, stopping with various friends. He’d stay for three or four days and then move on, but then he came to see George and found that George was out of the country. Apparently, George’s lovely and empty house was too good to resist.”

  “I’m surprised the neighbours didn’t notice,” Joan remarked.

  “Oh, they did, but Donald knew George very well and he was able to persuade everyone that George had asked him to stay to keep an eye on the house,” Robert said.

  “He probably would have told William that, when they met,” Janet suggested.

  “He may have, but William knew George rather well. And he knew Donald, just not as Donald Harrison.”

  “So Donald needed to avoid William?” Janet asked.

  “Yes, if you remember the night of the dinner, Donald left very quickly after William’s name came up,” Robert said. “And when I got to George’s house, Donald was packing up to leave.”

  “I hope Edna isn’t too upset,” Janet said.

  “According to Donald, she’s the only reason he stayed as long as he did. He claims that he really fell for her, but he has a history of seducing wealthy widows and then disappearing with their money or property.”

  “I think he made a mistake there, then,” Janet said. “I don’t think Edna is wealthy.”

  “She certainly isn’t in the same category as some of the man’s previous partners, at least as far as I know,” Robert agreed.

  “So maybe he really cared about her,” Janet replied.

  “Which would be almost romantic if the man wasn’t a thief and a liar,” Joan said sharply.

  Janet shook her head. “As I said, I hope Edna isn’t too upset.”

  “She didn’t seem to be, when I spoke with her, but she might have been putting a brave face on things.”

  “I’ll ring her later,” Janet decided.

  “That brings us to Gerald Butler-Smythe,” Robert said.

  “Oh, yes, I do hope you’ve arrested him as well,” Janet replied.

  “I haven’t,” Robert said. “I must admit, I was quite concerned when Nancy told you all about how the man was investing money for her, but he’s been thoroughly investigated and he’s actually legitimate.”

  “Really?” Janet asked.

  “Yes, really,” Robert replied with a smile. “He’s well known in London banking circles and I spoke to someone who told me that Gerald has never had a deal go bad. He has a magic touch with investments, apparently.”

  “Good for Nancy,” Joan said.

  “Yes, I understand she’s done very well on Mr. Butler-Smythe’s latest enterprise,” Robert said. “She almost got herself into trouble, as she was trying to get Donald to sell a few old stamps for her so that she would have more money to invest with Gerald, but luckily they hadn’t finalised the deal yet. No doubt Donald would have cheated her.”

  Janet didn’t want to go back into the kitchen after she’d showed Robert out. The last thing she wanted to do was admit that Joan was right about Gerald Butler-Smythe, or more importantly, that she was wrong about the man. She sighed and headed towards the door. She had to help Joan tidy up after the impromptu tea party; that was the grown-up thing to do.

  As she passed the small table with the telephone, she decided to ring Edna quickly first.

  “It’s Janet Markham,” she said when Edna answered. “I’ve just heard about Donald and I wanted to ring and make sure that you’re okay.”

  “I’m fine, Janet, but thank you for ringing,” Edna replied “Donald was fun, but he was far too eager. I was ever so glad when he rang to tell me he was leaving.”

  “He just didn’t get away in time,” Janet said.

  “No, and he probably would have if he’d stopped trying to convince me to go with him.”

  “He wanted you to go with him?”

  “Yes,” Edna said with a small chuckle. “I’m not sure why, but he asked me come or at least to follow after him in a week or two. I don’t know what he was thinking.”

  “Perhaps he really cares about you.”

  “Perhaps, or maybe he thought I have a good deal more money than I actually have,” Edna said. “I don’t really care, though. I’m quite happy right where I am.”

  “I’ve also just heard that Nancy’s friend, Gerald, really is an investment banker,” Janet told the other woman.

  “I heard that as well. Good for Nancy. Maybe one day the rest of us will actually get to meet the man.”

  Janet laughed. “I’m not sure I’m in a hurry to get the group back together,” she said.

  “No, but I’d love to get to know you better,” Edna replied. “Let’s do lunch.”

  “Oh, yes, let’s,” Janet agreed quickly. They made a date for the following Monday and Janet put the phone down feeling in a much better mood. She didn’t even mind, much, that Joan would undoubtedly still be feeling smug about everything.

  Janet took a step towards the kitchen and then stopped when the phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Janet, it’s Edward Bennett,” the voice on the phone said.

  “Oh, hello,” Janet replied. “Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers.”

  “You’re very welcome,” he replied.

  Janet sat down on the nearest couch, hoping for a nice long conversation.

  “I can’t talk long,” Edward said, dashing her hopes.

  “I’m sure you’re very busy,” Janet said, trying not to sound as disappointed as she felt.

  “I’m quite busy,” he agreed. “But aren’t you wondering why I’ve rung the house phone rather than your mobile?”

  “I didn’t even think of that,” Janet admitted. “But now that you mention it, why are you ringing the house phone?”

  “Well, I thought that was the best place to conduct official business,” Edward told her. “I’d like to make a booking, please.�
��

  “A booking? For Doveby House?” Janet asked, flustered.

  “Yes, for Doveby House,” Edward said, chuckling. “Can I book with you or do I need to speak to Joan?”

  “Oh, you should probably talk to Joan. She handles such things. I’ll get her.”

  Janet set the receiver down and stuck her head in the kitchen. “Edward is on the phone and he wants to make a booking,” she told her sister.

  Joan raised an eyebrow and then nodded. “I’ll pick up in my room. That way I can check what we have available.”

  “Joan’s going to pick up in her room,” Janet told Edward. A moment later, Joan did just that. As no one told her to hang up, Janet listened as Edward booked a room for the second weekend in March.

  “I look forward to seeing you both again,” he said after everything was arranged. “And, Janet, I hope you’ll find time to have dinner with me again?”

  “Probably,” was all that Janet would commit herself to. She still had so many unanswered questions about the man.

  After the call ended, Janet found herself in her room, staring into her wardrobe, a single thought on her mind. What was she going to wear to dinner with Edward?

  So you see, Bessie, yet another man with criminal intent in Doveby Dale. Who would have thought that our lovely and quiet village would have so much criminal activity going on? At least Donald is now safely behind bars. I’ve taken to calling the entire episode “The Green Case” in honour of Edna, who doesn’t seem the least bit bothered, really.

  I ran into Nancy at the supermarket the other day and she couldn’t stop talking about how wonderful Gerald is at making money. Our little group hasn’t met again yet, but I suspect when we do, Gerald will be in attendance. It should be an interesting evening, when it happens.

  For the moment, I’m much more interested in what’s going to happen next month. I’m both nervous and excited about seeing Edward again. Maybe, at the very least, we can finally get the combination to the library safe from him.

  With kindest regards,

  Janet Markham (and Aggie)

  Glossary of Terms

  bin

  trash can

  biscuits

  cookies

  booking

  reservation

  boot

  trunk (of a car)

  car park

  parking lot

  chemist

  pharmacist

  chips

  french fries

  cuppa

  cup of tea (informal)

  fizzy drink

  carbonated beverage (pop or soda)

  fortnight

  two weeks

  high street

  the main shopping street in a town or village

  holiday

  vacation

  jacket potato

  baked potato

  jumper

  sweater

  lie in

  sleep late

  midday

  noon

  pavement

  sidewalk

  pudding

  dessert

  puds

  puddings (informal)

  push chair

  stroller

  queue

  line

  saloon car

  sedan

  shopping trolley

  shopping cart

  telly

  television

  till

  check-out (in a grocery store, for example)

  torch

  flashlight

  Other Notes

  In the UK, dates are written day, month, year rather than month, day, year as in the US. (May 5, 2015 would be written 5 May 2015, for example.)

  In the UK, when describing property with more than one level, the lowest level (assuming there is no basement; very few UK houses have basements) is the “ground floor,” and the next floor up is the “first floor” and so on. In the US, the lowest floor is usually the “first floor” and up from there.

  When telling time, half six is the English equivalent of six-thirty.

  A “full English breakfast” generally consists of bacon, sausage, eggs, grilled or fried tomatoes, fried potatoes, fried mushrooms and baked beans served with toast.

  A semi-detached house is one that is joined to another house by a common center wall. In the US they are generally called duplexes. In the UK the two properties would be sold individually as totally separate entities. A “terraced” house is one in a row of properties, where each unit is sold individually. (Usually called a row house in the US.)

  Lager shandy is a mix (generally about half and half) of lager (beer) and lemon-lime soda (called lemonade in the UK).

  Acknowledgments

  Many thanks to my editor, Denise, my beta readers, Janice and Charlene and especially to my readers who make what I do so worthwhile. I love hearing from you. Please get in touch!

  Coming March 17, 2017

  The Hampton Case

  A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella

  Janet Markham is excited that Edward Bennett is coming to stay at Doveby House, the bed and breakfast that she owns with her sister, Joan. Edward may or may not be a secret government agent, but he is definitely attractive and interesting, at least as far as Janet is concerned. When a fire in Doveby Dale turns out to have been arson, both Janet and Edward want to learn more.

  Joan doesn’t approve of their getting involved, but Janet can’t resist a bit of snooping, especially when Edward is as eager as she is to investigate.

  Can Janet and Edward work out who started the fire? Is Edward really interested in Janet or does he have some other motive for visiting? And what will Aggie, Janet’s kitten, think of the visitor?

  Also by Diana Xarissa

  The Markham Sisters Cozy

  Mystery Novella Series

  The Appleton Case

  The Bennett Case

  The Chalmers Case

  The Donaldson Case

  The Ellsworth Case

  The Fenton Case

  The Green Case

  The Hampton Case (release date: March 17, 2017)

  The Aunt Bessie Cozy Mystery Series

  Aunt Bessie Assumes

  Aunt Bessie Believes

  Aunt Bessie Considers

  Aunt Bessie Decides

  Aunt Bessie Enjoys

  Aunt Bessie Finds

  Aunt Bessie Goes

  Aunt Bessie’s Holiday

  Aunt Bessie Invites

  Aunt Bessie Joins

  Aunt Bessie Knows

  Aunt Bessie Likes (release date: January 13, 2017)

  The Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Series

  Arrivals and Arrests

  Boats and Bad Guys (release date: February 17, 2017)

  The Isle of Man Romance Series

  Island Escape

  Island Inheritance

  Island Heritage

  Island Christmas

  About the Author

  Diana Xarissa lived in Derbyshire, and then on the Isle of Man for more than ten years before returning to the United States with her family. Now living near Buffalo, New York, she enjoys writing about the island and the UK.

  Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future under the pen name “Diana X. Dunn” and fantasy/adventure books for middle grade readers under the pen name “D.X. Dunn.”

  She would be delighted to know what you think of her work and can be contacted through snail mail at:

  Diana Xarissa Dunn

  PO Box 72

  Clarence, NY 14031.

  Or find her on Facebook, Goodreads or on her website at www.dianaxarissa.com.

  You can sign up for her monthly newsletter on the website and be among the first to know about new releases, as well as find out about contests and giveaways and see the answers to some frequently asked questions.