Charlotte Denver Cozy Mystery Box Set

by Sherri Bryan

  “Oh Harriett, that’s a little unfair,” said Betty, ever the diplomat. “He was just enthusiastic, that’s all.”

  “If ‘enthusiastic’ is the new word for ‘egomaniac’, then you’re right, he was the most enthusiastic boy I’ve ever met,” said Harriett, checking her lipstick in her powder compact.

  Charlotte giggled again. “Well, I can see what you mean, Harriett. He was always a bit larger than life - still is, actually - but he’s so funny that he gets away with it. I hope you’ll get to spend some time with him, then you can make up your own mind.”

  “Hmph. I don’t expect I’ll be changing my mind about Drew Ferguson any time soon,” said Harriett. “Call me a cynic but ...”

  “Did I hear someone say my name?” Drew’s booming voice startled them as he walked up the footpath and onto the terrace. Pippin immediately jumped out of his basket and ran forward, barking up at Drew and sniffing his shoes.

  “And this must be Pippin?” Drew bent down and tickled the little dog under his chin.

  “Hello ladies! Remember me?” He stood up and held out his arms, walking towards them and catching each of them in a bear hug, one by one.

  As he hugged Harriett, Charlotte had to stifle a giggle at her look of sheer loathing over his shoulder.

  “Oh, how lovely to see you Drew! Is Kate with you?” asked Betty.

  “No, ‘fraid not. She’s at my parents’ house, sorting out stuff for the move into Nathan’s place on Wednesday. I tried to help, but I’m not very good at that sort of thing - I just get in the way - so she shooed me out of the house for a couple of hours. I’ve been killing time walking on the beach and it suddenly struck me, why don’t I come down here and see Charlotte and Jess? I didn’t realise that you three lovely ladies would be here too. What a bonus! Do you mind if I gate-crash your table?”

  “Well, actually, we’ve finished our lunch. We were just thinking of leaving,” said Harriett.

  “Oh, nonsense!” said Ava. “Yes, of course you can join us, we’d be delighted. Sit down, sit down.”

  “Charlotte, could I have a glass of red wine and whatever these ladies would like, please?” Drew settled himself at the table and began chatting comfortably to the ladies as though he’d never been away.

  “Looks like Drew’s working his magic,” Jess said to Charlotte half an hour later as she filled her tray with a second round of drinks. “Look at the way they’re all leaning in as he speaks - even Harriett’s been drawn in. He’s really got the gift of the gab, that one.”

  “Yep, I’m sure he must have kissed the Blarney Stone,” said Charlotte. “He’s got a captive audience, that’s for sure.”

  An hour later, Drew said his goodbyes. “Well, ladies, it’s been an absolute pleasure.” He kissed them all on the hand. “And the pleasure has been all mine.”

  “Oh, Drew, it’s been so good catching up with you,” said Ava, beaming all over her face.

  “Yes, it’s been wonderful to see you,” said Betty, wiping the tears of laughter from her eyes.

  “And I do hope we’ll see you again soon.” Harriett had a look of serenity about her, as if Drew had cast a spell and she’d fallen well and truly under it.

  He stood up and put a large tip down on the table. “Charlotte, I’m off! I’ll see you soon, no doubt. And Jess, I’ll see you next Saturday at The President. Kate and I are really looking forward to it.” He pushed his chair back under the table. “See you all again soon. Bye ladies!” He waved once more before disappearing off up the footpath.

  “Well,” said Charlotte, as she came out onto the terrace to collect the empty glasses. “From where I’m standing, Harriett, I’d say that the Drew Ferguson charm offensive has just claimed its latest victim!”

  ººººººº

  On a beautiful early-October Friday afternoon, Kate Denton sat on the terrace at Charlotte’s Plaice with Ava, Harriett and Betty, having enjoyed a simple, but delicious, lunch of grilled fresh mackerel with gooseberry chutney, and chicken and bacon pancakes with a house salad.

  “You know what? This has done me the world of good!” she said, draining her wineglass and refilling it. “It’s been so great to just relax and chat with all of you. It’s been such a hectic couple of weeks - what with getting back here and then moving into Nathan’s, my stress levels have been sky-high!” She beamed at the ladies across the table and scratched an adoring Pippin on his tummy as he lay stretched out on her lap.

  “My dear, the feeling’s mutual” said Betty, squeezing Kate’s arm affectionately. “You have no idea what a boost it is for us to spend some quality time with a youngster like you. When we’re not out and about, we just sit at each other’s houses playing cards, watching TV and getting crabby with each other. We’re the best of friends, of course, but it makes such a nice change to socialise with other people from time to time. We’ve enjoyed ourselves immensely. Haven’t we ladies?”

  “Oh yes, we have.” Ava and Harriett nodded in agreement.

  “Thank you,” said Kate. “That’s so nice of you. I’ve caught up with a couple of old friends since we’ve been back, but to be honest, spending time with you has been much more fun!”

  “Well, we might be old, but we can give you youngsters a run for your money!” said Ava, chuckling as she raised her glass. “Cheers!”

  As everyone clinked glasses, Kate’s phone rang. “’Scuse me,” she said as she fumbled in her vast handbag. “Hello. Oh, it’s you. Look, it’s a bit difficult to talk just now, can it wait until later?” She put Pippin down and pushed her chair out to get up. Holding up two fingers to indicate that she’d only be a couple of minutes, she walked away from the table, speaking quietly.

  Charlotte was in the kitchen working her way through a pile of lunch orders when Kate walked into the empty café and sat down at a table to continue her conversation in private. Not that she was intending to eavesdrop, but Charlotte could hear every word through the large serving hatch in the wall.

  She was surprised when Kate’s softly-spoken voice suddenly turned hostile and harsh; almost spiteful.

  “Now listen, Nina, you’ve got to stop calling me. I just can’t handle you being around anymore. You need to get out of our lives, okay, because my relationship with Drew is never going to get back on track while you’re in the picture. If you’d just leave us alone, I know we’d work things out. I want him to myself - do you understand me, Nina? Oh, for God’s sake, don’t start with the tears! That’s it, I’m hanging up now.”

  She walked outside and sat back down at the table to continue her conversation with the ladies and before long, shrieks of laughter rang out again.

  As Charlotte thought about the conversation she’d overheard, it struck her just how easy it was to assume that people had perfect relationships if that’s what they wanted you to believe. How wrong she’d been about Drew and Kate who seemed perfectly happy on the surface, but who were obviously going through some troubles.

  Just goes to show, she thought, as she rang the bell for Jess to collect an order. You never know what’s going on behind closed doors in other people’s relationships.

  ººººººº

  “D’you know, I feel a little squiffy!” said Kate, as she stood up to leave. “Oops.” She held out a hand to steady herself and Ava and Betty each took one of her arms. “Sorry, I probably shouldn’t have had that last glass of wine,” she said, sheepishly.

  “And I’d better take these sandals off before I trip and break my ankle - they’re definitely not compatible with three-quarters of a bottle of Chardonnay! I was planning on walking home, but I think I’m going to have to get a taxi.” She stepped out of her high-wedge, turquoise-beaded sandals.

  “They’re gorgeous,” said Jess, as she came to the table to fill her tray with empty glasses. “I bet you didn’t buy them locally.”

  “Thanks, and no, I got them when we were in Bangkok. They had the most beautiful shoes there. I could have filled two suitcases, but I settled for just the one pair
.” Kate hugged the sandals to her with a goofy grin and sighed.

  “Well, I should be getting home, I suppose. Lunch was wonderful, thank you, Charlotte and I’ll see you tomorrow at midday, Jess. Ladies, I’ve had the best afternoon. Thanks so much to you all and I hope we can do it again soon,” she said, hopefully.

  “Absolutely, my dear. We’ll make arrangements after the weekend,” said Harriett.

  Kate gave everyone a hug and walked off down the footpath to the taxi rank, singing softly to herself.

  “Well! That was the most fun I’ve had in ages!” said Ava.

  “Me too,” agreed Harriett. “Can’t wait to do it again.”

  “Me neither,” said Betty. “And Charlotte, where did you get that mackerel? It was so tasty?”

  “Thanks. It was from Garrett, so you know how fresh it was. I don’t get my fish from anyone else.”

  Garrett had been supplying Charlotte with fish for her ‘Friday Fish Specials’ board ever since she’d opened the café.

  “Well, next time I see him, I’m putting in an order,” said Betty. “I do like a nice piece of fish.”

  “Right, come on you two. Time to hit the road.” Ava stood up and smoothed down her skirt and her sleek bob. “Goodbye, my dears. See you for lunch on Sunday.”

  As the ladies walked off up the marina front with arms linked, Charlotte and Jess grinned at their chatter.

  “I vote we all go home for a snooze and then meet at my place in a couple of hours for a game of bridge and another viewing of ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’,” said Ava.

  “Oh good grief, no! Not again!” said Harriett. “God save us, Ava! I absolutely refuse to sit through that film one more time. You do realise that you mouth the words along with the actors, don’t you? We must have seen it a hundred times. Surely you’ve got other films?”

  “I know, why don’t I bring round my ‘Anna and the King’ DVD?” Betty offered.

  “No! No musicals!” said Ava. “You know I hate musicals.”

  Oh no, dear, it isn’t a musical - it’s the new version. There’s no singing at all and the King isn’t even bald,” said Betty.

  As their good-natured squabbling faded away, Charlotte sighed happily. After the traumatic events of recent months, it finally seemed as though things were back to normal in St. Eves .......

  Chapter 4

  Jess strode down the sea front towards The President hotel. The air was warm and there was little breeze to bring relief from the heat of the sun on the hottest day of the year.

  Of all the days to be running late. She reproached herself as she felt a bead of perspiration run down her back. Her boho-chic look was cool and casual, but if she walked any faster, she was at risk of becoming super-hot and bothered before too long. Delving into her fringed, suede handbag for her phone, she called Ben.

  “Hi. Look, I’m really sorry but I’m running a little late. Oh, okay. That’s a relief, I can slow down a bit! Right then, I’ll see you in a while. Bye.”

  Having worked overtime, Ben had only finished his shift a few hours previously and was also running late after sleeping through his alarm. Jess slowed her pace a little and crossed over the road to a shady stretch of pavement.

  As she approached the hotel a few minutes later, blotting her forehead with a tissue, a glint of gold flashed in front of her as something fell to the ground. Bending down, she picked up a bracelet - a gold link bracelet with two charms hanging from it. A diamond encrusted heart-shaped charm and a solitaire diamond the size of a pea in a claw setting. Wow! I’ll bet someone’s missing this, she thought, looking up. Must belong to someone on the roof terrace. I’ll take it up with me and return it. She slipped the bracelet into the inner pocket of her handbag.

  As she walked into the hotel’s blissfully air-conditioned lobby, she was glad to see a lift waiting to take her up to the restaurant. It came to a smooth stop on the twelfth floor and she got out and turned left towards the roof terrace. Remembering the bracelet, she was rummaging in her bag when she was almost sent flying by a woman who collided with her as she came running from the terrace and into the lift.

  “Hey! Watch out! You almost knocked me over!” Jess called after her, but the doors closed and the lift began its descent before she could demand an apology. So rude! she thought, but immediately forgot the woman’s bad manners when she stepped onto the terrace. “O.M.G!” she said, aloud.

  Sprawled across almost the entire roof and, with the turquoise sea in the background, the terrace was a paved mosaic of eggshell-blue and silver-coloured tiles with a sunken pool in the far corner, away from the diners. Immaculately dressed tables were shaded from the sun by enormous, ivory-coloured shades and a cool breeze fluttered the expensive-looking vanilla, cotton tablecloths against which, the highly polished silver cutlery shone blindingly.

  The restaurant itself sat in the corner opposite the pool. Like a vast greenhouse, its glass structure was decorated with tall, tropical plants and cool furnishings with linen blinds hanging at the windows.

  Jess checked her watch. Ten-past twelve. The terrace was deserted. So who dropped the bracelet? It suddenly dawned on her that it may belong to the woman in the green dress. Maybe that’s why she was in such a rush to get downstairs.

  She was about to check the restaurant to see if it belonged to anyone inside when she heard screams and shouting from down on the street. Following the sounds, she ran to the edge of the roof and tentatively poked her head through the gap in the railings.

  “Oh my God!” She gasped as she saw a woman on the ground, a crowd gathering round and someone leaning over her, pumping her chest.

  As she stared down at the scene, a man looked up. “Look, that woman must have pushed her! Don’t let her get away!”

  “Oh, no. No, no, I didn’t push her!” Jess shook her head, protesting her innocence, but no one was listening. She turned and ran straight into two waiters. “Excuse me,” she said. She had to get downstairs and explain that she’d had nothing to do with the woman’s fall.

  “I’m sorry, Madam,” said the younger of the two men, “but we’ve just had a call from the front desk instructing us to keep you here until the police arrive.”

  “What? Why? I haven’t done anything! Why didn’t either of you go after that woman? She’s the one you should be holding, not me. Honestly, this is ridiculous. My friend will sort it out when he gets here – he is the police.”

  “Well, if you haven’t done anything, you’ve nothing to worry about,” said the other waiter, with sneering distaste.

  Jess paced back and forth across the tiles, the skirt of her white cheesecloth dress twirling out as she spun round.

  “Would you like to come and sit in the shade, Madam?” The younger waiter, at least, seemed to have some empathy.

  “Mario! Mon Dieu! Don’t do her any favours – she just pushed a woman off the roof!” The officious waiter was apoplectic.

  “Look,” said Jess, struggling to keep her voice steady. “I did not push that woman off the roof, but the woman who probably did has got away because you’re wasting time with me when someone should be out looking for her! And yes, I would like to sit in the shade. Thank you.” She smiled gratefully at the young waiter and sat down heavily in a chair, glad to be out of the sun. The perspiration was running down her back in a stream now, but she wasn’t sure if it was because of the heat or nerves.

  “Mario! Jean-Claude! There are customers waiting to be seated. I’ll take care of this situation until the police arrive.”

  Jess turned to see a tall man with a bald head and piggy, grey eyes, his mouth set in a horizontal line. She’d never met him, but recognised him immediately as Simon Clancy, the Manager of The President. A large A-board displayed a life-sized photograph of him, complete with smarmy smile, just inside the door to the entrance lobby.

  As she looked his way with a cursory glance and a brief smile, she saw something out of the corner of her eye. Leaning over in her chair, she saw a vaguely f
amiliar object behind one of the large, decorative plant pots placed around the edge of the terrace. Oh no ... it can’t be. Ignoring the manager’s protests, she walked over to the potted palm and peered down behind it. Her breath caught in her throat as she recognised Kate’s turquoise-beaded sandal.

  Another look at her watch told her that it was twelve twenty-five. Where the hell was Ben?

  No sooner had the thought left her mind when Ben walked onto the terrace with Drew. They were laughing together but as soon as he saw Jess, the smile left his face immediately.

  “What’s going on?” He was at her side in a flash.

  “And you are?” Simon Clancy stepped forward, enquiringly, his thin lips twitching.

  “Detective Sergeant Ben Dillon.” Crouching down in front of Jess, he took her hand and she began to sob unrestrainedly. “Jess, tell me. What’s happened?”

  She shook her head. How could she tell Ben of her discovery when Drew was standing right in front of her? “Huh, huh, you should be, huh, huh, you should be looking for ...” She began to explain about the woman she’d seen rushing from the roof, but was interrupted by the arrival of Nathan and DS Fiona Farrell. The look of surprise on their faces when they saw Jess and Ben was undeniable.

  “Ah, Detective Chief Inspector Costello.” Simon Clancy stepped forward to shake Nathan’s hand. He’d got to know Nathan when two suspects in a previous murder case had been staying at the hotel. “I wonder if we might adjourn to my office? It’s just that we appear to be attracting quite a lot of attention and as I’m sure you can imagine this is not really the image of the The President that we wish to convey to our guests.” His piggy eyes darted nervously between Jess and the increasing number of diners filling up the tables.

  As the anxious manager proceeded to engage anyone who would listen, in a discussion about the reputation of the hotel, Jess managed to catch Nathan’s eye. She hoped that he’d realise she was trying to convey something to him without speaking and when he followed her gaze, she knew he’d understood.