Read The Christmas Puzzle (Pitkirtly Mysteries Book 8) for Free Online

particularly fraught, Jemima and Dave were waiting on his doorstep. On seeing him, Dave broke into one of those Christmas songs that had been annoying Jock in the shops since August or thereabouts.
    ‘Ho ho ho to you,’ growled Jock as he walked up his garden path. ‘How did you two find out?’
    ‘Amaryllis let us know,’ said Jemima. ‘She thought she might need our help with talking you into it.’
    ‘Amaryllis? Help? She knew she only had to ask me and I’d do what she wanted.’ Jock opened his front door. ‘I suppose you’ll be needing tea and biscuits. I’ve only got those pink wafers, mind. Special offer this week.’
    They followed him inside.
    ‘What did she threaten you with?’ said Dave.
    ‘Nothing,’ said Jock, putting the kettle on. Dave and Jemima sat down at the kitchen table.
    Dave would have made a better Santa Claus than him, he realised. But Jemima probably wouldn’t have let him do it. She was far too protective with the man. He was going soft these days.
    ‘What do you think can have happened to wee Jackie Whitmore?’ said Jemima.
    ‘She’ll have run off somewhere,’ said Jock. ‘They’ll catch up with her soon enough. Anyway, that one can look after herself. I wouldn’t worry if I were you.’
     

Chapter 5 Field trip
     
    Jason Penrose was preparing to lead a field trip to Pitkirtly Island.
    ‘You’d think he was going up the Amazon or something,’ muttered Zak, watching him with a jaundiced eye.
    What was the matter with the boy? Zak was usually a calm presence in the midst of chaos. Christopher couldn’t think what had happened to make him so surly. Then he noticed Jason had co-opted Harriet, a library assistant, to go along with the group. Christopher deliberately didn’t take much notice of the private lives of the Cultural Centre staff, but he had managed to absorb the fact that Zak and Harriet had been seeing something of each other, though he hadn’t been tempted to try and find out more.
    ‘Harriet!’ he called over to her. ‘Did Mollie say it was all right for you to go on the field trip?’
    ‘Oh, yes, Mr Wilson,’ said Harriet earnestly. ‘She wants me to take some pictures we can put up as a display later on.’
    ‘Good, good,’ said Christopher, trying not to sound like the girl’s uncle listening to a list of her favourite Christmas presents.
    ‘It’s a waste of time,’ mumbled Zak, at his left elbow.
    ‘I know,’ said Christopher in a low voice, ‘but we’re meant to be giving Jason Penrose every possible assistance.’
    ‘That doesn’t have to include making Harriet wait on him hand and foot,’ said Zak, glaring at the little group.
    Christopher saw that Harriet had taken charge of the huge satchel Jason Penrose had just filled with books and maps abstracted, no doubt, from the local history section of the library. Couldn’t he even bring his own books with him? What if they got lost out there? The librarian wouldn’t be so keen to let the staff go out on trips if she found her stocks depleted afterwards.
    ‘You’re in charge,’ Zak reminded him. ‘Why don’t you do something?’
    This was ridiculous. What on earth did the boy expect him to do?
    ‘Would you like to go with them?’
    Christopher himself was surprised by his question, and Zak’s expression must have mirrored his own.
    ‘What?’
    ‘Do you want to go on the field trip too? You can if you like. It’s only fair.’
    ‘Only fair,’ repeated Zak, still looking blank.
    ‘At least you’d be out from under my feet for a few hours,’ said Christopher, trying to turn the situation into a joke despite not finding it at all amusing.
    ‘But what do you want me to do when we get there?’
    ‘I don’t know. I’m sure you’ll think of something. Keep a record of what’s going on. Report back.’
    ‘You mean you want me to spy for you?’ said Zak.
    ‘I’m not Amaryllis!’ snapped Christopher. ‘Of course it’s not spying – there won’t be anything underhand