‘Oh? Are you staying close by?’ asked Fitzjohn.
‘Yes, as it seems I’ll be in Sydney for an indefinite period, I’ve rented a house not far from here. And yesterday, I was delighted to find this café when I took a walk to look around the neighbourhood.’ Peta smiled. ‘I didn’t realise you lived here in Balmain, Alistair.’
‘I don’t. I live in the next suburb of Birchgrove. It’s not far.’ Fitzjohn paused. ‘I’m really pleased to see you back, Peta,’ he added.
‘So am I.’
****
Fitzjohn left the Charlotte Café that afternoon in high spirits not only at the news that Grieg had received just punishment for his past deeds but because Peta Ashby was back. Even the prospect of Rhonda Butler calling his bluff and not contacting him by four o’clock that afternoon concerning the boundary between their two properties could not dampen his exhilaration as he strolled home along the leafy streets. But then again, he would be a fool not to give some thought to his response. After all, Rhonda was as unpredictable as the weather. And it was with this in mind that when he neared his cottage he could see a number of trucks carrying land moving equipment parked along the curb in front of Rhonda’s house.
‘What’s going on?’ he asked as Meg met him on the front porch.
‘I thought it must be something to do with the arrangements you told Rhonda Butler you’d made about moving the boundary,’ his sister replied.
‘I haven’t made any arrangements. I was bluffing,’ said Fitzjohn, as additional vehicles arrived carrying a further team of construction workers.
‘Well, Mrs Butler doesn’t know that, does she? So, if she wasn’t convinced you meant business before, she certainly will be now. Oh, and there she is.’ Fitzjohn swung around to see Rhonda bolt from her front door, her momentum hindered somewhat as her shoes sank into the muddied garden, her flight, or lack of it witnessed by the growing number of workers gathered at the curb.
‘Mr Fitzjohn,’ she screeched as she flounced past them to reach Fitzjohn’s front gate.
‘I trust you’ve organised alternate accommodation, Mrs Butler,’ he said.
‘No, I haven’t and you have to stop them immediately because I’ve changed my mind about the boundary.’
‘You mean you want to leave it the way it is?’ replied Fitzjohn.
‘Yes.’
‘Are you quite sure because the whole team is now here — except for the additional wrecking ball I thought we might need.’
‘Just get rid of them!’ screamed Rhonda.
As Rhonda retreated back across the garden and into her house, Fitzjohn walked over to talk to the workers. Moments later, he returned to where Meg stood waiting on the front porch.
‘What did they say?’ she asked.
‘They just stopped here to wait for one of their other vehicles. They’ll be moving on in a minute or two,’ said Fitzjohn with a chuckle as he opened the front door and went inside. ‘I somehow doubt I’ll have any further problems with Rhonda Butler.’
‘Well, I’m glad there’s been an end to it and we can enjoy our evening. Sophie’s coming over and we’re going to have that dinner that I’d planned for the three of us before I leave for home in the morning.’
‘You’re leaving?’
****
That evening while Fitzjohn put the finishing touches to his arrangements for the North Shore Orchid Society Spring Show, Meg stood back with a satisfied look at the table setting for that evening’s dinner.
‘What do you think, Alistair? Perhaps a few more flowers for the vase in the centre?’ she asked.
‘No. It looks very nice as it is, Meg. You’ve done a splendid job. Now, all we need is Sophie to arrive,’ he added, glancing at his watch, ‘then we can eat that wonderful meal you’ve made. It smells delicious.’
As Fitzjohn spoke the doorbell sounded and Sophie’s voice could be heard coming along the front hall. ‘Mum, Uncle Alistair. I brought a date.’ Meg looked at Fitzjohn and the table set for three.
‘That’s easily fixed,’ he said, following her gaze. ‘And just think, you’ll get to meet Sophie’s new young man before you leave for Melbourne.’
‘Mmm,’ replied Meg.
Together they turned to see Sophie appear in the kitchen doorway with Betts by her side. ‘I knew you wouldn’t mind,’ she said.
‘Good evening, sir.’
‘Good to see you, Betts,’ said Fitzjohn with a wide smile.
THE END
CAST OF CHARACTERS – The Fourth String
Detective Chief Inspector Alistair Fitzjohn
Detective Sergeant Martin Betts
Chief Superintendent Grieg
Acting Chief Superintendent Peta Ashby
Detective Senior Constable Williams
Charles Conroy- Forensic Pathologist
Meg-Fitzjohn’s sister
Sophie-Fitzjohn’s niece
Rhonda Butler-Fitzjohn’s neighbour
“The Claremont Residents”
Elvira Travers-novelist
Pearl Ambrose-singing teacher
Crispin Fairchild-symphony conductor - victim
Eleanor Reed-violinist
Hector Lombard-antique dealer
Morris Elliott-sculptor
Edward Fairchild-Crispin’s brother
Francesca Fairchild-Crispin’s estranged-wife
Antonio Bonato-Crispin’s brother-in-law
Rhodes Lambert-politician
Rosemary Lambert-Rhodes Lambert’s wife
Moira Beeton-Elvira’s editor
Worthington-Crispin’s solicitor
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my beta readers, Anna, Melissa and John for their critiques and feedback. Thank you also to my proofreader, Paula Grundy, for her expertise in giving my manuscript its final polish. https://paulaproofreader.wixsite.com/home Last but by no means least, thank you to Renee Barratt, from The Cover Counts, for her eye for design in creating the cover for The Fourth String. http://www.thecovercounts.com
About the Author
Jill is best known for her Fitzjohn mysteries including The Celtic Dagger, Murder At The Rocks, Once Upon A Lie, Lane’s End, Deadly Investment, Poisoned Palette and The Fourth String. She has also authored two non-fiction books entitled Self Publishing-Pocket Guide and Writing-Painting A Picture With Words.
Born in Yorkshire, UK, Jill now lives in Australia with her musician husband and bossy cat, Fergus. Her favourite pastimes when not writing are painting and photography.
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Jill talks about writing, self publishing and reviews books on her blog The Perfect Plot. She would love you to drop by. Alternatively, you can follow Jill on Twitter, catch up on Facebook or send her an email at:- [email protected].
Information on the Fitzjohn Mystery Series can be found at Fitzjohn Mysteries
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The
Fitzjohn Mystery
Series
By Jill Paterson
In the genre of cozy murder mysteries, the Fitzjohn Mystery Series features Detective Chief Inspector Alistair Fitzjohn. A police officer of the old guard, his methodical, painstaking methods are viewed by some as archaic. Nevertheless, over the years, they have brought him success as well as the respect of all but one of his colleagues; Superintendent Grieg, the man Fitzjohn regards as his nemesis.
Fitzjohn lives alone in his Birchgrove sandstone cottage where he escapes the harrowing realities of his job by tending his orchids, a legacy from his late wife, Edith. But he can’t escape his sister, Meg, who is determined to help him through his grief nor his neighbour, Rhonda Butler, whose main objective is to rid him of his greenhouse.
His sergeant, Martin Betts, is an eager young detective even though having difficulty when it comes to viewing the unfo
rtunate victims of crime, and occasionally finding himself a pawn in Chief Superintendent Grieg's war against Fitzjohn.
The setting for the series is the city of Sydney and its environs taking in the historic Rocks area, Sydney University, Rushcutters Bay, the Northern Beaches, and the Blue Mountains to name a few.
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The Fourth String Page 16