Read Murder on the Levels: An Exham on Sea Cosy Mystery (Exham on Sea Cosy Crime Mysteries Book 2) for Free Online Page A

bundled the pile of clothes into a charity plastic bag and dumped them beside the front door. A plan was forming in her head. She had clues, now. All she had to was follow them to find out what Trevor was up to. She’d give it a few days, until she had her car back, all serviced and ready for a trip to Leeds. Then, she’d make the trip and surprise whoever lived in the house.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Mushroom omelettes
    Looking after Bear gave Libby the excuse she needed to wander along the seafront, doing nothing in particular. She’d pick up the car later, ready for the trip to Leeds. The Exham promenade bustled with early seaside visitors. Too early in the year for families with children, who were still in school, the pavement filled with older people, more interested in the coffee shops in the High Street than the stalls of plastic spades and Union flags.
    Libby strolled in the sunshine, Bear at her side, head so full of mixed speculation about Trevor, Ali and the cycling club that at first she didn’t hear the voice calling her name. “Libby. Over here.” Angela Miles, grey hair piled on top of her head, wire-rimmed glasses dangling on a string round her neck, poked her head out of the door of the seafront cafe.
    Libby liked Angela, who never asked for favours, or bullied people. “Sorry. Thinking about something.”
    “I see Max Ramshore’s gone away again, and left you with his dog.”
    “I’m just looking after Bear for a few days. I like his company.”
    “Mandy’s still staying with you too. I don’t know where you get your energy.” Angela ducked as a seagull swooped past, on the look-out for easy food. She sounded odd, off balance. Libby examined her friend’s face. The eyes looked brighter than usual. “Is there something wrong?”
    “Not at all.” Angela beamed. “In fact, I’m doing something I should have done, years ago. The trouble is, it’s making me nervous.”
    “Sounds exciting.” Libby steered her friend towards the tables set out at the entrance to the pier. “We need coffee while you tell me all about it.”
    “I’ve just had some.”
    “There’s always room for another cup. Or,” scanning the list on the blackboard, “even better, hot chocolate.”
    Settled at a corner table, a steaming cup stacked with calories in front of her, Libby could wait no longer. “Now then, out with it. What’s up?”
    “It’s all your fault, you know.”
    Libby blinked. “Me? Why? Have I offended you?”
    “No, of course not. Quite the opposite. I’ve been watching you, since you came to Exham. You dash about, doing what you want, whether other people approve or not. Your book’s been published and you’re a proper author, now. You solve mysteries, and you’re starting up in business.” Angela stirred her chocolate. “Watching you made me realise I don’t have to slow down, just because I’m not thirty any more. I’m going to do something with my life.”
    She finished her drink and set the mug down on its saucer. “Did you know my husband, Geoff, was a composer?”
    Libby racked her brains. Geoffrey Miles. The name rang a bell. “Not the Geoffrey Miles who wrote music for that film that picked up all the Oscars? What was it called?”
    “An Honourable Gentleman.” Angela trailed one finger in a splash of milk on the table. “I need to explain. When I married Geoff, I was very young. He swept me off my feet with his genius. He was a lecturer at the University, and I could see he would make his name in the music world. I was just a student.”
    She drew a shape in the spilled milk. Libby thought it was a treble clef. “My music always came second, of course, because he was a rising star and I was just competent. His friends, fellow lecturers, were all brilliant, but he stood out.”
    Angela used a paper napkin to mop up the drops of milk. “You see, unlike me, you’ve been brave enough to start again on your own.” She turned bright green eyes on Libby. “You’ve