Gin and Toxic

by Alana Ling

  ‘Why are they transferring your rooms again? I thought we’d checked you in already and everything was sorted.’

  ‘Go find out, then,’ she replied. ‘And you, Stephen, don’t just stand there. Be a man and get this under control. I can’t believe they haven’t moved Monique but we have been asked to relocate.’

  Stephen walked towards reception and I started to follow when Alfie tried to jump on the trolley and when that didn’t happen, he got up on his back legs and sniffed the contents. On top of the piled-up suitcases was a DSLR camera that tasted of blue cheese, which Alfie stuck his nose in, but decided it wasn’t a treat and a machine of no use to him.

  I pulled him back. ‘Alfie!’

  And then it hit me.

  ‘Sam, can you help Mr. Brown, please. I’ve got to talk to Daniel,’ I said and dragged Alfie away and into the back of the hotel.

  Daniel was in the meeting room which had become his work desk the last couple of days, full of paperwork and pictures of evidence. I knocked on the door and he gestured in.

  ‘Joanna, how can I help?’ he asked.

  I closed the door behind me and looked around the room.

  Alfie greeted the detective as soon as he saw him and Daniel went down on one knee to pet him.

  ‘Hello, little buddy. What are you doing here?’

  ‘Nick not here with you today?’

  ‘He is. He’s just gone to get Monique Riley. Are you okay? You look flustered,’ he said and got back up.

  ‘Yes, I’m fine. I remembered something. Have you gone through Harper Brown’s pictures of the dinner night?’ I asked.

  Daniel shook his head and looked at his evidence folders.

  ‘I didn’t know she was taking pictures at the dinner. She didn’t say anything.’

  ‘That’s odd. Maybe she forgot about it,’ I murmured. ‘I thought I’d help you go through the pictures and see if there’s anything there.’

  Nick opened the door right at that moment and Monique was standing behind him.

  ‘Constable Cottons, can you please get Mrs. Brown real quick? And ask her to bring her camera, if you don’t mind. Ms. Riley, I’m sorry to do this. I need to speak to your boss first. Constable Cottons can get you a coffee or some tea while you wait.’

  Nick left with a sour Monique and I was about to follow, but he stopped me.

  ‘You wanted to help, didn’t you?’ he asked.

  ‘Really? You’re going to let me sit in the interview?’

  Daniel nodded.

  ‘Oh, wow. Are you okay, Daniel? Are you coming down with a cold or something?’ I laughed. We had literally spent months being told to stop meddling with murder investigations and how dangerous it was. Heck, he’d even locked me up to ‘protect’ me. And now, here he was, as if none of that had ever happened, trusting me with such confidential information. Something he wouldn’t have shared in the past. Something was bound to give. But what?

  Daniel turned to the desk and effectively his back on me and opened a folder.

  ‘Fine. I mean if you don’t want to, you—’

  ‘Of course I do. Let me just give Alfie to Sam.’

  ‘No need. He’s harmless, isn’t he? Aren’t you?’ Daniel said and got back on his knees to play with Alfie who was happy to oblige.

  A few minutes later, Harper opened the door with the air of a diva and looked at both of us as if we’d disturbed her beauty sleep.

  ‘What is it now, Detective? Not only are you keeping us here for much longer than we intended, you’re not even concerned with how we’re being treated as a consequence.’ She aimed the last bit at me and I wasn’t entirely sure why.

  Her Sauvignon Blanc flavour gave me a headache on an empty stomach and I had to keep turning to Daniel and Alfie to get their sweet flavours before I got sick on the floor.

  ‘As I’ve explained to you, Mrs. Brown, it’s not my intent to keep you here, but I must. Please take a seat, Mrs. Brown,’ Daniel said.

  Harper slammed the door behind her and took a seat, placing her camera on the table.

  ‘Thank you for bringing your camera with you. I was made aware you were taking pictures on the night of Mr. Harris’s death.’

  Harper threw a condescending glance at me and grimaced.

  ‘So what?’ she replied.

  ‘Well, Mrs. Brown, that’s a big thing to leave out of your statement, don’t you think?’

  ‘Oh it was only a few snapshots of the thing. It’s not like I was officially photographing the event from start to finish.’

  ‘So you didn’t take any pictures of Mr. Harris’s dead body?’ he asked.

  Harper pulled back her neck, repulsed by the idea.

  ‘Are you crazy, Detective? Of course not. Why would I do that?’ ‘And you didn’t take pictures of anything suspicious or incriminating?’ he insisted.

  ‘No. There is nothing of importance there. It was a few group photos and that’s it.’

  ‘Be that as it may, I would like to have a look at them if you don’t mind.’

  Harper dragged the camera across the table towards Daniel.

  ‘I doubt I have much choice anyway,’ she muttered under her breath.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said.

  ‘Am I free to go?’

  ‘Indeed you are.’ Harper left the room quicker than she had entered it, leaving us three alone.

  Alfie tried to follow Harper, but I pulled his retractable lead in. I got out of my seat, however, ready to follow suit and leave Daniel to get on with his investigation.

  There was also another thing I wanted to ask her about and not in front of Daniel.

  I closed the door behind me, telling him I’d be right back, and chased after Mrs. Brown. When I’d put enough distance between the meeting room and myself, I called out to her.

  ‘Mrs. Brown,’ I shouted. ‘You dropped this.’

  I pulled out the letter we had found in Colton’s room from my bag and pretended to pick it up from the floor.

  Harper turned around and stared at me and Alfie. Then she walked towards me and looked at the piece of paper in my hand.

  Her eyes opened wide. She snatched the letter out of my hands and opened it.

  When she’d finished reading it, her shoulders relaxed and she pushed it back to me.

  ‘That’s not mine,’ she said.

  I took it back and looked around me. ‘I could have sworn I saw it drop out of your purse.’

  ‘No. Never seen it before in my life.’

  Harper shook her head.

  ‘Are you sure?’ I asked. ‘You look shaken.’

  Harper pierced me with her green eyes. ‘Yes, I’m sure, Joanna. Of course, I’m shaken. After everything that has happened the last few days, do you expect me to be calm and relaxed?’ she shrieked.

  ‘So, you’re not the B?’ I asked.

  Harper rolled her eyes and stepped back. ‘No, I am not B. I don’t even know what you’re talking about. I’ve got to go now. I need to help Stephen with the bags,’ she said and walked away from me.

  I didn’t know the last time I’d seen her lift a finger, but I didn’t say anything further.

  ‘Jo,’ I heard behind me and I turned to see Daniel standing by the meeting room. ‘Everything all right?’

  I nodded.

  ‘Are you going to look at the pictures with me, or what?’ He smirked.

  I walked over and sat down next to him in the boardroom. He picked up the camera and opened the slot underneath to retrieve the SD card. Then, he inserted it into his laptop, which was connected to the plasma screen in the room.

  ‘Let’s see how creative Mrs. Brown is,’ he said and started a slideshow of the pictures.

  It turned out, she had been right. There were pictures of the group, of Stephen socialising, of Colton talking to people and some of the other guests in the background, but there was nothing suspicious about any of them. There were also a couple of me and Sam taking the food out, but that was as far as it went.

 
; Feeling a bit deflated, I apologised to Daniel and decided to go.

  ‘Don’t feel bad. Everything helps the investigation, if for nothing else than to rule things out.’

  ‘I was hoping for something meatier,’ I told him. ‘But that would have been easy.’

  ‘Being a detective is not easy.’ He smiled. ‘What are you up to now?’

  I looked at my watch and it was the perfect time to grab some dinner. ‘Well, I’m going to see if Sam wants to eat something and later I’ll call Miss Effie because she’s been MIA for the last few days and was acting all weird this morning.’

  Daniel also checked his watch and stood up. ‘Would you mind if I join you? I’m famished.’

  ‘Of course not. But I thought you had to work all day to get this sorted.’

  He picked up his folders and put them in a briefcase, which he locked and then followed me outside.

  ‘I do, but taking a couple of hours won’t hurt anyone, will it? Where are we going?’

  ‘I was actually going to the Oak Tavern. I wanted to check on Kit. He’s been feeling a bit under the weather. Not that I can blame him.’

  ‘How is he doing?’ he asked.

  I pursed my lips. ‘I’ll tell you when I see him. But Jamie says he’s still quite upset. Again, I can’t blame him after what happened.’

  ‘Poor man. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to lose someone you were once so close to,’ Daniel said.

  ‘Me neither,’ I lied. Losing a father was not an easy thing to go through, especially when I was thousands of miles away from home and couldn’t be there for my family.

  It was no wonder my mum had been even more eager to have me back after my divorce, even if she didn’t like the fact I had got a divorce in the first place, and excluding the fact that she was acting weird now.

  We reached the lobby and I searched for Sam, but she was nowhere to be found. Nick on the other hand was standing by the entrance and staring at his boss.

  ‘Should I bring Ms. Riley in now, sir?’ he asked.

  Daniel cursed.

  ‘I completely forgot about her,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry, Jo. I believe I can’t postpone my interview with her any longer. Perhaps we can grab dinner tomorrow?’

  I smiled. ‘Of course. That’d be lovely.’

  ‘All right, Nick. Bring her in.’

  Nine

  I found Sam outside taking deep breaths and trying to calm down.

  ‘What’s up with you?’ I asked her, but she ignored me, choosing instead to cuddle Alfie.

  ‘Let me guess. Stephen Brown?’

  She looked up and raised her eyebrow. ‘Don’t even start. You’d think a grown and clever man could use his brain to do the basic things for himself, but no! Anyway, I’m fine. Are you off?’

  ‘I was going to go for dinner at the Oak and see if I can speak to Kit. Are you coming?’

  Sam stood and looped her hand around mine, dragging me down the street.

  ‘You said the magic word. Oak. And I desperately need a burger and a large glass of rosé.’

  ‘Hear, hear.’

  By the time we reached the pub, it was dark outside and the streets were busy with tourists trying to get the best snaps of my scenic hometown.

  Alfie was knackered so I dropped him off home to quench his thirst and grab a bite of his food and Sam and I went into the pub.

  As we stood at the queue to order, the strangest sight greeted us with a big smile.

  ‘Hi, girls. What can I get for you?’ Devika asked, holding one of the beer taps.

  ‘Devi? What are you doing here?’ I asked.

  ‘What she said.’ Sam’s face dropped.

  Devi laughed. ‘I told you I was happy to help Kit, so I called the pub and Jamie answered so here I am. Giving Jamie a night off while Kit is getting back on his feet. How’s the investigation going? Got the killer yet?’

  I shook my head. ‘No. They’re all being weird. They’re all hiding something for sure, but we haven’t got them yet.’

  ‘I’m sure you will, girls. I’m sure you will. You can tell me all about it tomorrow. For now, let me guess, gin and tonic and a glass of rosé?’ she asked, pointing at each of us.

  Sam nodded.

  ‘Have you seen Kit?’ I asked her.

  Devi opened the fridge and got a bottle of wine out to fill Sam’s glass.

  ‘I saw him go out when I arrived. I think he said he was going for a walk at the beach,’ she said. ‘I don’t think he’s back yet.’

  I looked outside at the dark blue sky and the moon illuminating the waterfront.

  ‘Can I have a burger? I’m going to see if I can find him. Be right back,’ I said to Sam and Devi and left them behind me as I exited the pub and walked across the street, down to the seafront and onto the sand. In a few months’ time, the beach would be filled with daring holidayers who would test their limits in the cold waters of the English Channel. For now, it was rather empty, except for the occasional couple taking a romantic walk.

  I took my shoes off and let the sand massage my feet as I walked the length of the beach. A few feet away, a dark figure was hunched down, staring out at the sea.

  I approached him and saw the familiar glow of Kit’s blue eyes, tasting his sweet cheesecake flavour, which had turned rather dull since Colton’s murder. It made me crave for his old flavour. The one that was intense and in-your-face and so sickly. Anything but this tasteless cheesecake he had become.

  ‘Hey,’ I said and kicked the side of his leg gently in salute.

  He turned to look at me and the bags under his eyes were swollen and dark.

  Dropping down next to him, I took his hand.

  ‘Are you okay? Have you been crying again?’ I asked.

  ‘What gave it away?’ He sniffled.

  I put my arm around his back and rubbed his ribs on the other side.

  ‘I wish I could help, but I don’t know how,’ I mumbled.

  He looked into my eyes, and at that moment I wished I was a witch able to take his pain away with the snap of my fingers.

  ‘I know it’s stupid. And it’s been a year since we broke up. And he cheated on me and lied to me, but it still hurts,’ he said. ‘The worst part is I don’t know if the pain of losing him is worse than the pain he caused me.’

  I leaned on him and rested my head on his shoulder, looking out into the water.

  ‘You’ll get through this. I know you can. You just have to give it time,’ I said. ‘Time is the best doctor.’

  Kit rested his chin on the top of my head after kissing it.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said.

  ‘I’m always here for you. You know that?’

  ‘And I for you,’ he added. ‘Which is why I’m annoyed with myself for being like this. But I can’t help it.’

  I lifted my head so I could meet his eyes. ‘And that’s okay.’

  We let the splash of the waves and the night sounds envelope us, staring into each other’s eyes for a moment longer than was comfortable, and I was certain he was going to kiss me. If I wasn’t tempted to do so myself. Before either of us could take the next step we were interrupted.

  My phone went off and I turned to look at my bag that contained it. Kit did the same.

  ‘Aren’t you going to get it?’ he asked.

  I sighed. ‘We’re having a moment here.’

  He chuckled. ‘It’s not that big a moment.’

  I slapped his arm and smiled. He laughed but turned to look at the sea while I got my phone out.

  It was Daniel. Perhaps he had finished with Monique and wanted to join us for dinner.

  ‘Hello,’ I said.

  ‘Jo, there’s been another murder,’ Daniel said. ‘I don’t understand. Right under my nose.’ He grunted.

  My body jolted upright and Kit was staring at me now, worry across his face.

  ‘Who is it, Daniel? What happened?’

  Daniel let out a deep breath. ‘Ginny Brooks. The gin maker. One of the hotel’s g
uests found her dead in the lift.’

  Ten

  Kit walked me back to the pub as soon as I’d hung up and I left him in Devi’s safe hands while I drove Sam and back to the hotel we had been so desperate to escape from.

  ‘Why on earth would they kill her? She was a wallflower,’ Sam said as we raced through town.

  ‘Maybe she knew something she shouldn’t have known. Or maybe the killer knows something we don’t.’

  Sam slapped the dashboard of my car and swore. ‘I was looking forward to that burger as well.’

  ‘I’ll grab us both a takeaway as soon as we’re done. Promise.’

  Sam smiled and I parked the car opposite the hotel. Police cars and an ambulance were washing the street in a blue light and as we walked in, a body stretcher was being carried out.

  ‘Jo.’ Daniel called me as soon as we entered the lobby.

  People were standing in different parts of the entrance, all murmuring between themselves, some people giving statements to Daniel’s colleagues, and others taking pictures on their phones.

  ‘Thank you for coming.’ Daniel approached us and pulled us to one side.

  ‘What happened, Daniel? What’s going on?’

  He looked back at the lift—one of the three functional guest lifts in the hotel—which was now being taped off and taken out of service and he huffed.

  ‘I don’t know. I really don’t. I still hadn’t had a chance to talk to her and take her official statement, and now she’s dead.’

  He looked back at us, his annoyance apparent.

  ‘Someone poisoned her. From the preliminaries, it looks like they injected her with something and of course this hotel doesn’t have any CCTV so everything is making this investigation harder.’

  Sam looked at the ceiling. ‘Why don’t they?’

  ‘Don’t worry, Daniel. We’ll find out who’s done this. You’ll find them,’ I said and all of a sudden I felt like a complete idiot.

  I started going through my bag and both Sam and Daniel stared at me.

  ‘What are you doing?’ he asked.

  ‘I wonder if Ginny was the B,’ I said to Sam.

  ‘Oh,’ was her response.