A Body in the Village Hall by Dee MacDonald (non fiction books to read TXT) 📕

‘A white wine spritzer would be lovely,’ Kate said. ‘How was your daughter and your trip to London?’

‘The daughter is just fine but I was glad to get away from London and the crowds. It seems to be busier than ever up there, but maybe that’s because I’ve become acclimatised to Cornwall.’

They carried their drinks to a corner table and sat down to study the vast array of pies that were available: steak and kidney; steak and ale; salmon and haddock; chicken and ham; potato and leek; cheese and onion. She told Woody that she’d seen some attractive blue-and-cream fabric that she thought would be suitable and Woody told her about the CID meeting, and about how he’d made an excuse not to join the others for lunchtime beers. It was only small talk but it felt special.

‘They probably think I’m antisocial,’ he said, ‘but I’d much rather spend the time with you.’ He smiled.

Kate was completely disarmed for a moment and could only say, ‘Thank you.’

‘You realise,’ he said, ‘that we still shouldn’t really be seen together because you’re a witness. But now that there’s the possibility we have our killer we should soon be able to rectify that.’

‘You don’t sound too sure,’ Kate said.

‘I’m not convinced that Billy Grey is our man,’ he said. ‘But we have narrowed it down considerably, although you’ll realise that I can’t really give out that information to anyone, not even you. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes and I’m hoping for another arrest before too long but, for God’s sake, don’t repeat that to anyone.’

‘I promise I won’t,’ Kate said and decided it was time to tell him what Maureen had said. ‘And I think you’re right to be doubtful because Maureen thinks he confessed purely so she would be off the hook. He seems to have suddenly developed a conscience about leaving her for ten years and setting up home with someone else, incredible though that may seem after all this time.’

‘In this job,’ Woody said, studying the menu, ‘nothing surprises me anymore. All the time he was away he was paying her an allowance. Did she tell you that?’

‘No.’

‘What I don’t understand is why she’s apparently never questioned it. If your husband disappeared but continued to pay you an allowance, you’d probably want to trace him and where the money was coming from, wouldn’t you?’

‘I certainly would,’ Kate agreed. She paused. ‘I’ve met Sandra Miller a couple of times recently; strange woman.’

‘Ah, Sandra Miller,’ he repeated slowly. ‘Yeah, she’s known to be a bit fiery. She was a suspect for Fenella’s murder at first but Kevin Barry gave her an alibi. He saw her outside the WI when he went out for a smoke and went over to speak to her. And the landlord at The Tinners saw them both out there together. I don’t much like the woman but I don’t think she’s a killer.’

Perhaps I should remove her from my list, Kate thought. Perhaps I should tear the whole list up.

‘But not impossible,’ he added.

I won’t tear it up, she decided. ‘I’m working on my other suspects.’

‘Your other suspects? Are you seriously investigating, Kate? And who might the other suspects be?’

‘Well, I’ve become quite friendly with Seymour Barker-Jones,’ Kate said.

‘How did you manage that?’

‘There’s a great advantage in having a dog, you know. You frequently chat to anyone else you meet with a dog. And Seymour walks his up on the cliffs same as I do.’

‘So he comes all the way down from Higher T to walk his dogs on the coastal path? I’d have thought there were plenty of walks up on the moors where he lives. Wonder why he goes there?’

‘Perhaps he likes the sea. He seems to like sitting on that seat up there and looking out at the Atlantic. He told me he once sat on the seat with Fenella. He also hinted that he was “unable to fulfil all her requirements”, or words to that effect.’

‘He told you that?’

Kate could see that she’d surprised Woody. ‘Yes, he seemed very sad.’

‘Hmmm,’ said Woody. ‘Let’s eat.’

Kate ordered a fish pie while Woody settled for steak and ale.

‘Everyone wants this thing tied up,’ he said, as they waited for their food. ‘Not least your friend Seymour, who’s badgering me about when he can go back to London, but until we have proof that Billy Grey did this I can’t really allow any of the suspects to leave the area.’

‘So Seymour’s still a suspect?’

‘Technically yes, although he does supposedly have an alibi in that Mrs Tilley, his housekeeper, swears he was back there at the time of the murder. Mind you, she’s known to play Radio Cornwall all day long at full volume, so he could have gone out, met Kevin at The Tinners for a drink and come back again and she’d be none the wiser.’

‘I’ve met Mrs Tilley,’ Kate said. ‘She was keen to tell me about the police coming to the door and Seymour crying out like a banshee, she said. All this excitement caused her to slice her forefinger with the knife she was using to cut vegetables.’

‘There’s a lot of sharp knives around,’ Woody said with a wicked grin.

‘That’s what Mrs Tilley said. Anyway, I’m going to hang on to my list of the suspects and I’m going to try to see them all and hopefully find some clues.’

The pies arrived.

‘These look wonderful,’ Woody said, ‘and I’m starving!’

They ate in silence for a minute before Woody said, ‘How’s your pie?’

‘Absolutely delicious! But getting back to my list, there’s Dr Payne, of course.’

‘Yes, you’re right,’ Woody said, smiling. ‘Dr Dickie can’t be ruled out. Neighbours saw him leave the house in his car that evening and come back about forty minutes later. He says he drove to the supermarket because they’d run out of milk, but saw no one he knew. He doesn’t