Janet pressed her lips together before she said something she shouldn’t.
“There are always choices,” Joan said firmly, putting Janet’s thoughts into words.
“Yes, I suppose,” William agreed with a sigh. “But then Mildred had this great idea. She’d met the Harrisons here and decided that they were the perfect customers for our slightly less than perfect antiques.”
“Fakes,” Joan said.
“Not exactly fakes,” William protested. “Just not exactly as rare and valuable they appeared.”
“So they befriended the Harrisons and then tried to get them to buy the worthless stuff?” Janet asked.
“Yes,” William said quietly. “I didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“Except that they conducted their business in your premises,” Robert pointed out.
“Yes, well, just that,” William muttered.
“So what happened next?” Janet demanded.
“Harold told them that he had a few little pieces he wanted to get rid of and that he could sell them cheap if they were never formally part of the stock in my store. He brought them all to the shop yesterday and showed them to the Harrisons, who agreed to buy the lot. Apparently the Harrisons had a small van and they were all going to meet at eight this morning at my shop to load it up.”
“And then?” Joan asked eagerly. Janet smiled to herself. She wasn’t the only Markham sister who was just a little bit nosy.
“Mildred rang me at just before six,” William said sadly. “She and Harold had just woken up and they were sure they’d been drugged. She told me to check the shop. When I got there, several of my most valuable pieces were missing.”
“What makes you think the Harrisons took them?” Janet asked.
“Mildred said she and Harold stopped in the Harrisons’ room for a drink last night before bed. That’s the last thing she remembers before around half five this morning. Harold’s keys were missing. Unfortunately, I’d given Harold a key to the shop so that he could get in this morning. I didn’t want to be there for the sale.”
“So where is everyone now?” Janet asked.
“Mildred and Harold took off,” William said. “They packed their things and snuck away from Doveby Dale before they rang me.”
“We’re hoping to catch up with them,” Robert added. “We have quite a few questions for them.”
“But they didn’t actually do anything wrong in the end,” William pointed out. “The Harrisons didn’t buy anything from them.”
“We’d still like to speak to them,” Robert said sternly.
“And the Harrisons?” Janet asked.
“We’re trying to work out what time they left and what direction they were headed,” Robert told her. “We’re pretty sure they were gone from here before midnight, so they have a good head start. We’re pretty certain we know who they really are, but their fingerprints will tell us for sure.”
“They seemed like such a nice couple,” Janet mused.
William laughed bitterly.
“But what were you doing with all those painting things in your back room?” Janet asked. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted asking. Joan frowned at her.
William looked at the ground and then up at her. “I was trying out a bit of painting,” he told her. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but never tried. I thought maybe I could try putting a few of my paintings in my shop, if they were good enough.” He sighed deeply. “Now I just have to hope my insurance will cover the losses from what the Harrisons stole, or I’ll be out of business after less than a week.”
So our first set of guests weren’t exactly what we were expecting, Bessie. I suppose you mustn’t judge a book by its cover.
The police found the Stones fairly easily but couldn’t charge them with anything. William got rid of all of the questionable antiques and I think Joan and I (and you) are the only ones who heard the whole story.
Most of Doveby Dale is quite sympathetic towards poor William after the robbery, and his shop has been noticeably busier lately. It seems as if everyone is willing to look past his difficult personality in an effort to support him after his misfortune. I will say that he appears to be working hard at being nicer as well.
As far as the police can determine, the Harrisons have vanished completely. The note they left in their room was simply a card apologising for not saying goodbye properly and thanking us for a lovely stay. We aren’t sure now if they really did used to stay at Doveby House in the past or not. It is difficult to know what to believe, though they seemed like lovely people.
I’ve taken to calling the whole sorry affair “The Chalmers Case.” Joan prefers to not talk about it at all. We’ve agreed to take a short break from having guests, just until early next month. I think Joan is starting to reconsider this whole bed and breakfast thing. I haven’t told her, but I quite enjoyed the chaos!
Do come and visit, won’t you? We’d love to see you again.
With all good wishes,
Janet Markham
P.S. Just yesterday a very large parcel was delivered. It was the painting I’d fallen in love with from William’s shop. The card attached said “Just a little something to keep me in your thoughts, Edward.” Of course Joan said I mustn’t keep such an expensive present from a man I barely know, but the only phone number I have for him has suddenly been disconnected, so I can’t tell him that. For now I’ve hung it in my bedroom and it looks even better than I imagined it would.
Glossary of Terms
bin
trash can
biscuits
cookies
booking
reservation
boot
trunk (of a car)
car park
parking lot
chemist
pharmacist
cuppa
cup of tea (informal)
dear
costly or expensive
fizzy drink
carbonated beverage (pop or soda)
fortnight
two weeks
high street
the main shopping street in a town or village
holiday
vacation
jumper
sweater
letting
renting
lie in
sleep late
midday
noon
pavement
sidewalk
plug socket
electrical outlet
pudding
dessert
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.)
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.
Pensioners are people who are old enough to be collecting a retirement pension. (In the US they are generally referred to as “senior citizens.”
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.
Coming March 18, 2016
&n
bsp; The Donaldson Case
A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella
Janet and Joan Markham are settling in to running their bed and breakfast and their new life in Doveby Dale. Janet is excited to discover a hidden panel and a piggy bank that holds a key. She's eager to find out what the key is for, but Joan isn't really interested.
Joan is quite enjoying spending some of her time with their handsome neighbour, Michael Donaldson. Michael finds himself being investigated by the police after some problems at the local chemist shop and Janet is surprised to find that Joan is more anxious to snoop than she is. Can the sisters find time to snoop while the house is full of guests? Can the sisters clear Michael's name? Can Janet find a lock to open with her key?
Also by Diana Xarissa
The Markham Sisters Cozy
Mystery Novella Series
The Appleton Case
The Bennett Case
The Chalmers Case
The Donaldson Case (Release date: March 18, 2016)
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 (release date: January 15, 2016)
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.
The Chalmers Case Page 9