“I’m so sorry,” Janet said, feeling her sister’s angry glare as she walked towards Alice. “I was just surprised, that’s all. I hope everything is all right?”
“I’m sure it is,” Alice said in a tone that suggested she was anything but. “It’s just that William took the news really badly, that’s all. He, well, he said some things that were very difficult to hear.”
“Oh, dear,” Joan murmured.
“Of course, I’m far too in love with Herbert to go back to William, no matter what he threatens, but, well, of course I still care for William, as well. If anything were to happen to him, I’d be devastated,” Alice said, wiping tears from her eyes.
“Are you saying he threatened to kill himself if you marry Herbert?” Janet asked.
“I’m hoping I simply misunderstood him,” Alice said. She shook her head. “All of this upset has given me a migraine. I’m afraid I need to go straight to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Janet watched as the other woman climbed the stairs.
“That was interesting,” Joan said.
“That’s one word for it,” Janet snapped. She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I mustn’t take my upset out on you. I just wish I knew what to believe.”
“Ring William,” Joan suggested.
“I’m not sure that’s the best idea right now,” Janet said.
The phone interrupted their discussion.
“Maybe that’s William,” Joan said as Janet reached for the receiver.
“Janet? It’s Robert Parsons,” the voice on the other end of the phone said.
Swallowing her disappointment, Janet replied. “Good evening. What can I do for you?”
“I’m meeting with William at nine tomorrow morning to discuss the anonymous letters. As you’ve been involved since the start, I thought maybe you could join us. It would save me having to repeat everything to you after I talk to William.”
“I’ll be there,” Janet said quickly.
“Excellent. See you tomorrow.”
“That’s convenient,” Joan said when Janet told her about the call.
“It is, rather,” Janet agreed. “What time is Alice having her breakfast?”
“Eight,” Joan said.
“I wonder if she’ll be at the shop when I get there, then,” Janet said. “Or maybe she has other plans for tomorrow.”
“Time will tell,” Joan said.
Alice was quiet at breakfast the next morning. Janet was too preoccupied thinking about the upcoming meeting to try to speak to her. Joan exchanged pleasantries with the woman, but beyond that the Banners kept the conversation flowing during the meal. There was just time for Janet to help Joan tidy up before she needed to leave for the meeting.
“Janet, how are you?” William asked when she walked into the antique shop a short while later.
“I’m fine,” Janet replied. “How are you?” she asked as she studied his face. He didn’t look at all upset.
“I’m fine,” William replied. “Anxious to hear what Robert’s found out and eager to see the back of Alice, but otherwise fine.”
Janet chuckled, nearly convinced by his words that Alice was the one lying. Robert walked in only a moment later.
“As it happens, I can’t stay long,” he began. “I need to get to Little Burton to deal with a problem there, but I can let you know that Richard has confessed to being behind the anonymous letters.”
“But why?” Janet asked.
“He told me that he’s tired of the coffee shop and wanted to try his hand at retail,” Robert replied. “As he saw it, William was his only real competition in Doveby Dale, so he decided to try to get rid of him. He says he didn’t mean for the letters to sound threatening, he was just trying to suggest that William should leave. He seemed to think that William wouldn’t need much of a push.”
“Well, he totally misjudged me, then,” William said stoutly. “I can’t imagine ever leaving Doveby Dale.”
“And we’re glad you’re here,” Robert said. “I’ll come back later to answer any questions you may have. I’m glad we were able to wrap this all up so quickly and easily, anyway.”
He was gone before Janet muttered “you’re welcome.”
William laughed. “We did rather solve the case for him, didn’t we?” he asked.
“I did,” Janet agreed.
William laughed again. “You’re right. You should get all of the credit. I owe you a huge favour.”
“You can paint us another picture for the house,” Janet suggested.
“I’m happy to do that anyway,” William told her. “You know I love painting. My only problem is finding the time to do it. I did get some other paintings in just yesterday, though, from some other local artists. Come and see.”
Janet followed the man into the small room at the back that was set up like an art gallery. They’d only just crossed the threshold when the door buzzer made its ugly noise.
“I’d better go and see who that is,” William said.
Janet nodded. She’d only taken a few steps when she heard raised voices. Curious, she tiptoed back to the doorway.
“I won’t do it,” William said loudly.
“But what will I do without you?” a woman’s voice replied. Janet recognised it as Alice’s almost immediately.
“You’ve been without me for a long time,” William said. “You only miss me when you find yourself between men.”
“I’m not between men now,” Alice shot back. “I’m engaged to Herbert. But when I saw you again, I realised that I can’t live without you.”
“Of course you can. You and Herbert will be very happy together, I’m sure. Please, Alice, just stop this. Go home and start a new life with Herbert and forget you ever knew me,” William begged.
“But I still love you,” Alice sobbed.
William shook his head. “You never loved me,” he told her. “You love drama and excitement and feeling as if you’re torn between two men who both want you. This isn’t about me at all.”
“That’s it. I’m going back to London,” Alice shouted. “You’ll be sorry when something awful happens to me.”
“I will,” William agreed. “So please make sure it doesn’t.”
“You won’t come back to London?” Alice asked.
“No, I won’t,” William replied. “I’m happy here. I have my little shop. I have a few friends. I don’t need anything else.”
“What about love?” Alice demanded.
“There’s a woman I could easily fall in love with,” William told her. “I’m just taking it slowly and carefully.”
Alice glared at him for a moment and then spun on her heel and stormed out of the shop. Janet turned back around and began looking at paintings. William joined her a minute later.
“Did you sell him or her something expensive?” Janet asked.
“It was Alice, trying one more time to persuade me to move back to London,” William replied. “She’s left angry, which is nothing new.”
“I am sorry,” Janet said. “She seems very nice, really.”
“I’m surprised she hasn’t been telling you all sorts of lies about me,” William said with a sigh.
“I haven’t spent that much time with her,” Janet said, stretching the truth. “Now that she’s been here, surely she can appreciate why you want to stay in Doveby Dale, though.”
“I hope so,” William said. He crossed the room and stood in front of Janet. “Because there are some very good reasons why I can’t imagine ever leaving, starting with you.”
Janet blushed. She didn’t stop him when he kissed her.
William and I have agreed to try to spend more time with one another, although that’s going to be difficult now that summer is upon us. He will be much busier at the shop and I will be must busier at home. We’re taking things very slowly. As Edward is still in the picture, at least as much or as little as always, taking it slowly with William is good for me. Having said that, aside from sending me th
at rabbit, I haven’t heard from him since we’ve been back, so maybe he isn’t in the picture after all.
I was very worried about the anonymous letters, so I know that I do care about William, at least somewhat. I’m still not sure I understand why Richard sent them. I saw Stacey the other day and she said that she thought he was becoming increasingly erratic in his behaviour lately. He was always difficult, but he’d become nearly impossible to work with. Maybe that helps explain things.
I’ve dubbed the entire episode “The Kingston Case,” for obvious reasons. It wasn’t until it was all over that I realised that I never asked Aggie for her opinion on the suspects. No doubt she would have identified Richard Kingston for us and saved us all some bother.
I’m not sure if I’ll be able to write as often in the next few months. Joan seems to have filled our guest rooms nearly every night from now until September. Think of me, won’t you?
With kindest regards,
Janet Markham (and Aggie)
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)
en-suite — bathroom attached to a bedroom
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
lie in — sleep late
midday — noon
pavement — sidewalk
pudding — dessert
shopping trolley — shopping cart
telly — television
till — checkout (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 telling time, half eight is the English equivalent of eight-thirty.
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. A “terraced” house is one in a row of properties, where each unit is sold individually (usually called a row house in the US).
The emergency number in the UK is 999, not 911.
Pensioners are men and women of retirement age.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my editor, Denise; my beta readers, Janice and Charlene, and especially to my readers who make what I do so worthwhile. I love hearing from you. Please get in touch!
The Lawley Case
RELEASE DATE: MARCH 16, 2018
Janet Markham is starting to feel almost settled at the bed and breakfast she owns with her sister, Joan. When their neighbour and gardener, Stuart, tells Janet that he thinks someone might be growing plants for illegal drug manufacturing in Doveby Dale, Janet insists that they go straight to the police. Stuart agrees, but only if they visit the farmer he believes may be providing the land for the operation first.
A visit to Martin Lawley’s farm raises more questions then it answers, though. It seems obvious that something suspicious is going on, but what?
Can Janet work out what Martin’s stepson is really up to? Can Aggie, Janet’s clever kitten, help identify the criminals? And can Janet and Joan deal with their most difficult guests yet?
Also by Diana Xarissa
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
The Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Mysteries
Arrivals and Arrests
Boats and Bad Guys
Cars and Cold Cases
Dogs and Danger
Encounters and Enemies
Friends and Frauds
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 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.
Find Diana at:
www.dianaxarissa.com
[email protected]
Table of Contents
Copyright
Table of Contents
Author’s Note
Letter to Bessie, part one
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Letter to Bessie, part two
Glossary of Terms
Other Notes
Acknowledgments
The Lawley Case
Also by Diana Xarissa
About the Author
The Kingston Case Page 9