Read Aunt Bessie Invites (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 9) for Free Online Page A

  “But all of that is our worry, not
yours,” she said firmly.   “Just one
last question, I think.   Who might
want to get Eoin and Fenella Faragher into trouble by hiding a dead body in their
barn?”
    Bessie tried not to look shocked at the
idea.   “I don’t, that is, I mean,”
she stammered.   She took a deep
breath.   “I hadn’t thought of that,”
she said.   “But I can’t imagine
anyone would do something so awful.   Eoin and Fenella are nice people who work hard and stay out of
trouble.   Why would anyone, I mean,
it simply doesn’t make sense.”
    “Thank you for your time, then,” Anna said
coolly.   “I’ll be in touch if I have
any more questions.”
    Bessie nodded and then followed the woman
out of the car.   Her mind was racing
as she considered the woman’s last question.   Was it possible that someone was trying
to frame Eoin and Fenella?   But how
could they have known that Fenella was going to start trying to clear out the
barn?   Surely the idea didn’t make sense.
    Outside, there seemed to be people
everywhere.   Crime scene technicians
in their white coats and gloves were moving back and forth from their mobile
lab.   Doona was sitting with Hugh,
watching the scene.   Bessie took a
step towards her.
    “Ah, Miss Cubbon, I’d like you to go home
now,” Anna Lambert said.   “I’m going
to have to interview Ms. Moore and that could take a while.”
    “I’ll have to ring for a taxi,” Bessie told
her.   “I don’t know how long it will
take for one to get here.”
    “I’ll have someone take you home,” Anna
said.   She looked around and then
waved to a young constable in uniform.   “Ah, Williamson, will you please drive Miss Cubbon home?” she
asked.   She spun on her heel and
walked towards Doona without waiting for a reply.
    “Aunt Bessie?   How’d you get mixed up in this?” the
young man asked Bessie.
    Bessie shook her head.   “I’ve absolutely no idea,” she told him.

 
    Chapter Three
    Bessie followed the man to his police car.   He held open the passenger door and
helped her climb inside.  
    “I hope this is okay,” he said.   “I didn’t want to put you in the back, like
you were under arrest or anything.”
    Bessie laughed.   “I’m quite happy up here with you,” she
assured the man.
    He drove carefully along the road through
the farm.   Bessie listened to the
police radio, but she couldn’t really understand much of what was being
said.  
    “What are they saying?” she finally asked as
the young man turned onto the main road.
    He listened for a moment and then translated
the codes for her.   “There’s been a
minor accident on the A2 at Church Hill.   No injuries, but one of the cars needs to be towed.”
    The radio fell quiet for a moment.   Bessie turned to her companion.
    “Anyway, it’s nice to see you again,
Joe.   Your mother told me you’d
moved back to the island,” she said.   “I’m sure it seems quiet after your time in Liverpool.”
    The man nodded.   “It was crazy over there,” he said.   “It started to get to me.   It seemed like every time we arrested a
guy, two more would come along to take his place.   I loved it when I first started, but
after a while I found I really just wanted to come home.”
    “The island often has that effect on
people,” Bessie replied.
    “My wife loves it here, too,” he told
her.   “She grew up in Liverpool, and
after spending her whole life in a city, the island is a big change for her.”
    “I gather your mother is hoping for
grandchildren now that you’re back,” Bessie remarked.
    The man laughed.   “Jen, my wife, is on Mum’s side on that
one.   Jen’s a hairdresser, and I
keep encouraging her to start looking for work here, but she’s dragging her feet.   She wants to stay at home with the kids,
if and when they start arriving.”
    “It’s a good thing for the kids, if you can
afford it and it suits you,” Bessie said.