SLAY PAIRS WITH ROSE (The Kelly's Deli Cozy Murder Mysteries Book 3) by Sophie Brent (phonics reading books .txt) 📕

Erin sat back in her chair in silence as Rebecca reached for the cream and jam. “I don’t know. Something is not right. That freezer door did not magically lock itself from the outside. But who did that and why? I don’t know. Perhaps I never will, but the very least I can do is try and find out.”

“Then can you do us a favour?” Adam asked. “Whatever happens, Fiona is going to need a lot of support and we need to get back to work. Can you check in on her now and then? It would mean a lot.”

“Consider it done,” Erin nodded. “In fact, I’m starting tomorrow with a girly lunch at my deli for Fiona and her mum. Can you join us around one, Rebecca? I would love to share some of my favourite Italian recipes with you and the girls, while the boys are at the pub.”

“Italian?” Rebecca smiled. “Now that is something to look forward to. I’d love to come.”

“Brilliant! Then I’ll see you tomorrow,” Erin grinned as she pushed the chair back and got to her feet. “Now I’ll leave you in peace to finish your tea. It was nice to meet you again Adam, and don’t worry, there will be goodie bags to take home after the lunch. Bye for now!”

Chapter Eleven

Erin was just about to tuck into a light dinner on Rosa’s shaded garden patio when the doorbell rang, and she quickly dried her hands on her apron before opening the door.

“Matt? Come in. I thought that you had gone back to Lucien’s shop.” She smiled and was answered with a warm laugh that seemed to come from somewhere deep inside his chest.

“What?” Erin asked, looking behind her. “What’s so funny?”

Matt hesitated and gestured to his own upper lip with one hand.

Erin ran back into the kitchen, wiping her mouth on a tissue and there was a loud groan. “Oh no. Mayonnaise! Please sit, anywhere you like.”

“Thanks,” Matt replied, pulling out a lovely pine chair with a brightly coloured Provençal seat pad. “I remember you mentioned that Rachel Ellis is having difficulty selling her cottage. It turns out that her estate agent was only too happy to show me around the property this afternoon at short notice and you were right, it’s a lovely spacious cottage in a great location.”

The cottage…could Matt finally have bought a property of his own to call home?

“You haven’t bought it? Erin gasped.

“Me?” Matt grinned then shook his head. “No. I was checking it out for Lucien. He told me that he had already decided to move out of his first-floor apartment once you took over his shop. In fact, one of the first things he wanted to do when he got back next month was to look for somewhere else to live which did not involve climbing steep stairs.”

“Such as a country cottage with roses around the door,” Erin gasped. “That’s a wonderful idea.”

“I’m glad that you approve. I was ready to head back when I saw your van parked outside. My diary is clear for the rest of the evening, if you are still wading through those crates.”

“Partly that, partly raiding Rosa’s garden for fresh ingredients for a girly lunch party tomorrow.’

“Girly? Does that mean that I’m not invited?”

“Sorry,” Erin winced. “I think Fiona and the wedding party ladies deserve a treat. But fear not, there will be plenty left for a late supper for an emergency meeting of the entire sleuthing team.”

“Ah,” Matt nodded as he picked up the pad of paper lying on the table and scanned the list of names and scribbled notes and ideas.

“Now it becomes clearer. Your cunning plan is to supply these lovely ladies with great food and wine and lull them into a false sense of security while they happily reveal all of their deep and dirty secrets.”

She snapped her fingers. “Curses. The terrible truth is revealed. You really are good.”

Then her fingers pressed onto the tabletop and she took a breath before locking her gaze on Matt’s face.

“Every person on that list has at least one excellent reason for wanting to see Emma Wilson magically transported to a remote jungle location where she would be forced to fend for herself or be eaten by wild animals. Everyone.”

Erin slid onto the chair facing Matt and sighed. “I chatted with Maya, Rebecca and Adam at the Manor House this afternoon when I dropped off Emma’s luggage. Are you ready for this?”

She pointed out the reasons one by one with her fingers. “First. Emma’s husband, Harry Wilson, is definitely in a relationship with Maya, who has despised her old friend Emma for years.” Then she gasped at what she had just said and waved her hands in the air. “And that is totally confidential. Okay. What was I saying? Oh yes, Maya. She was staying at the hotel, she had every good reason to want Emma out of the way, and she could easily have followed her when she took off to the kitchens. Yes, Maya could have waited until Emma and Harry’s divorce had gone through, before getting serious with Harry, but in the heat of the moment? Maybe.”

She moved to the next finger. “Two. Rebecca was probably the last person to see Emma alive.  She spent hours in the police station explaining that she followed Emma down to the kitchen after everyone else had gone to bed.”

Erin sighed out loud. “I don’t think she wanted to hurt Emma. Just convince her to stop sabotaging Fiona’s wedding. My gut feelings it that we can rule Rebecca out. Which leaves the two other girls. Kate and Fiona. Fiona has done everything to help Emma, so I am going to say right now that