Shelly nodded. “Maybe it’s all for the best. Maybe you and Donald are meant to be together.”
Mona laughed, but Fenella ignored her. “We’ll see. Are you okay, though?”
“I’m fine. I’d still like to know more about why those men targeted me, but I can live with not knowing. I’m having dinner with Gordon tonight. He’s been off the island for work, so I’m looking forward to seeing him.”
“I hope you have a wonderful time,” Fenella said.
“What are you doing for dinner?” Shelly asked as she and Smokey headed for the door.
“Maybe I’ll call Donald and see if he’s free,” Fenella replied with a shrug.
“So ring Donald,” Mona said as soon as Fenella had shut the door behind her friend.
“I can’t just call him out of the blue and ask him to have dinner with me.”
“Why not? He said he was crazy about you and you haven’t heard from him since. It’s time to find out what he really wants.”
“I’m afraid I know what he really wants,” Fenella sighed.
Mona laughed. “Donald isn’t chasing after you for sex. If that was all he wanted, he can get plenty of that.”
“So what does he want?” Fenella asked.
Mona shrugged. “You’ll have to find that out yourself.”
The phone interrupted before Fenella could ask any more questions.
“Ah, Fenella, I hope I’m not ringing at a bad time,” Donald’s voice came down the line.
“No, not at all. I was just trying to decide what to do for dinner.”
“I so wish I could offer to take you somewhere wonderful, but I’m afraid I’m ringing to let you know that I’m going to be off the island for a while.”
“I hope everything is okay.”
“So do I. My daughter was in an accident this morning. The doctors can’t or won’t tell me much over the phone, so I’m heading to New York. I’ll be in touch when I can.”
“Donald, I’m so sorry. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“At this point, I don’t think there’s anything that anyone can do, aside from the doctors who are treating her. Just keep her in your thoughts and prayers.”
“I will. And you as well.”
“Thank you, my darling. I’ll be in touch as soon as I can.”
Fenella put the phone down and blinked back tears. “Poor Donald,” she said. “I can’t even imagine.”
“I suppose you’ll just have to have dinner with your Aunty Mona,” Mona said. “I’ll warn you now, though, I don’t want to watch any reality television after we eat. Let’s find a nice classic movie or something.”
Fenella swallowed a sigh. “Maybe we can find an old James Bond film,” she suggested.
“Oh, yes, that would do nicely. But only if it’s Sean Connery. He was my favorite Bond. Did I ever tell you about the first time I met him?”
Fenella headed into the kitchen to find something for her dinner while Mona recounted an increasingly implausible story about herself and the famous actor. She might be alone, but with Mona around Fenella wasn’t going to have a chance to get lonely.
Guests and Guilt
The next Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy
Release date: May 18, 2018
Fenella Woods is less than excited when her brother James announces that he’s coming to visit her. She’s starting to feel truly settled in her new home on the Isle of Man, but James made it clear when she inherited their Aunt Mona’s fortune that he didn’t think it was fair. She can only hope that he’s just coming for a visit and not for a fight about the estate.
When he arrives with a girlfriend Fenella knew nothing about in tow, she’s even less excited about the three-week visit. But James’s girlfriend, Stephanie, grew up on the island and she has her own reasons for wanting to be there.
When Stephanie turns up dead, is it just an unfortunate accident or was someone unhappy to see the woman back on the island? Police Inspector Mark Hammersmith is on the case, and he’s quick to consider James as a suspect.
When James recounts a story from Stephanie’s past that sounds impossible, Mark seems inclined to discount it as fiction. When someone tries to kill James, though, Fenella is convinced that it’s true.
Can she persuade Mark to see things her way? And can she keep her big brother safe from a killer who might just try again?
Acknowledgments
My editor works incredibly hard to fix all of my mistakes. Those that remain are, of course, my fault.
I continue to love the gorgeous covers that Linda at Tell Tale Book Covers designs for my books. Thank you.
And I am always grateful to my beta readers who help find plot holes, continuity errors, and other things that stop the flow of the story.
My biggest thanks, as always, go to each and every person who reads my books. I’m grateful to you all and I hope you continue to enjoy spending time with Fenella and her friends.
By the Same Author
The Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Series
Arrivals and Arrests
Boats and Bad Guys
Cars and Cold Cases
Dogs and Danger
Encounters and Enemies
Friends and Frauds
Guests and Guilt
The Isle of Man 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
Aunt Bessie Meets
Aunt Bessie Needs
Aunt Bessie Observes
Aunt Bessie Provides
Aunt Bessie Questions
The Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novellas
The Appleton Case
The Bennett Case
The Chalmers Case
The Donaldson Case
The Ellsworth Case
The Fenton Case
The Green Case
The Hampton Case
The Irwin Case
The Jackson Case
The Kingston Case
The Lawley Case
The Isle of Man Romance Series
Island Escape
Island Inheritance
Island Heritage
Island Christmas
About the Author
Diana Xarissa grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, earned a BA in history from Allegheny College and eventually ended up in Silver Spring, Maryland. There she met her husband, who swept her off her feet and moved her to Derbyshire for a short while. Eventually, the couple relocated to the Isle of Man.
The Isle of Man was home for Diana and her family for over ten years. During their time there, Diana completed an MA in Manx Studies through the University of Liverpool. The family is now living near Buffalo, New York, where Diana enjoys writing about the island that she loves.
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 Diana at:
www.dianaxarissa.com
[email protected]
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Friends and Frauds (An Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Book 6) Page 24