Oh no. Hosey must have come around to angle for an invite. I had to act quickly before Jack said something I’d regret.
“Whoops, sorry.” I nudged Jack to one side. “I’m afraid we weren’t able to invite you, Mr Hosey. It’s going to be a very small affair. Relatives and close family friends only. Isn’t that right, Jack?”
“Err—yeah.”
“That’s okay,” Mr Hosey said. “I wasn’t expecting an invitation.”
Phew.
“We’d better get a move on.” I started to close the door. “We both have work today.”
“Just a moment, Jill. I haven’t told you my reason for calling yet. As you might imagine, repairing Bessie has been very expensive. I was forced to take out a small bank loan, which I’m keen to pay off as soon as possible.”
“We really don’t need any more of your Bessie T-shirts.”
“Just as well because I’ve sold out of them. Actually, I’ve come to the realisation that if I’m to keep Bessie on the road, she’ll have to pay for her own upkeep. With that in mind, I racked my brain to think of a way to do that. And I’m pleased to report that I have come up with what I’m sure you’ll agree is a brilliant plan. Would you like to know what it is?”
Before I could say ‘no’, he continued.
“Weddings!”
“Sorry?”
“These days, it’s become rather old hat for the bride to travel in a limousine, wouldn’t you say?”
“I—err—”
“You must have noticed the increased use of horse and carriage, for example.”
“I’ve seen a few, but I—”
“So, I thought to myself: What if the bride was to travel to the wedding by train?”
“On Bessie?”
“Exactly.”
“I’m not sure anyone would want—”
“I expect people to be queuing around the block once I’ve launched the service formally.”
“I’m really not convinced that—”
“Fortunately, I’m in a position to offer you the service for free. A kind of soft launch which I can use as a reference.”
“Me? Travel to my wedding on that—”
“That’s a very kind offer,” Jack cut me off. “The thing is, Mr Hosey, we already have the limousines booked, and we can’t cancel so close to the big day. We’d lose all of our money.”
“That’s very disappointing.” Mr Hosey looked crestfallen. “Are you sure I can’t change your mind?”
“No, I’m sorry.” Jack ushered me inside. “Thanks anyway for the offer.”
“That man is certifiable,” I said, once Hosey had driven away in Bessie. “Who in their right mind would travel to their wedding on a toy train?”
“You can’t fault him for effort.”
“Speaking of the wedding, what are your thoughts on animals?”
“Sorry?”
“When I was at the dress fitting, I was so bored that I looked through a few bridal magazines. There were several photographs of couples who had included their pets in the wedding ceremony.”
“Dogs?”
“Yeah, mainly.”
“I think it’s rather sad to dress dogs in silly outfits.”
“I thought they looked kind of cute.”
“I don’t think so. Anyway, what does it matter? It’s not like we have a dog. By the way, have you let your mum and dad know about the seating arrangements yet?”
“Not yet, no.”
“You better had. I know they were hoping to be nearer to the action, but it’s really not going to be possible.”
“I’ll tell them today.”
***
Sarah Jardine lived in a semi-detached house that was only a stone’s throw from my old flat. I was running a little early, so I called into what had once been my local newsagent’s. Behind the counter was Jasper James, who still favoured the fedora—today’s was a rather fetching cream colour.
“Morning, Jasper.”
“Well, I never. Hello, young lady. What brings you back to these parts?”
“I’m here to interview someone, but I need a snack first because I didn’t get much breakfast this morning.” I grabbed a KitKat from the display.
“Would you like a magazine while you’re here?”
“No, thanks. I don’t get much time to read these days.”
“That isn’t a problem. I’ve recently started to sell audio magazines, and I think I have just the one for you.”
“Thanks, but I really don’t—”
“Muffin Monthly. There’s a special feature this month on blueberry muffins.”
“Really? That does sound quite interesting. How exactly do the audio magazines work?”
“All I need is your phone number; the magazine will automatically be sent to your phone.”
“Are they expensive?”
“Not at all. Only five-ninety-nine.”
“Go on, then.” I gave him my number and then paid by card.
I still had a few minutes before my meeting with Sarah Jardine, so I listened to the audio magazine which had already appeared on my phone.
As reported in last month’s issue of Muffin Monthly, sales of blueberry muffins in the UK have increased dramatically over the last two years. If sales of blueberry remain at this level, we may see their sales overtake those of chocolate chip for the first time. Industry leaders are at a loss to explain this turnaround.
How very interesting. Perhaps the move from chocolate to blueberry was the result of changing attitudes to healthier living.
What do you mean it’s more likely to do with the rate at which I consume them? Cheek!
Jack had warned me that Sarah Jardine had sounded upset, but I hadn’t expected her to be quite so distraught. We’d no sooner got into the lounge than she broke down in tears. It was several minutes before she managed to compose herself enough to talk.
“It’s going to be okay, Sarah. We’ll soon have this all cleared up.”
“You don’t understand. This is all my fault.”
“Of course it isn’t. It’s just a misunderstanding. The police will soon realise their mistake.”
“Bill and I had been seeing each other for the last three months.”
I hadn’t seen that one coming, and Jack obviously hadn’t known anything about it, or he would have said something.
“Did your husband know?”
“I didn’t think so, but he must have found out. Why else would he have done this?”
“You think he killed Bill?”
“Chris gets jealous if I so much as look at another man. If he had found out about Bill and me, then—” Her words trailed away.
“Have you mentioned any of this to the police?”
“No. I didn’t even tell Jack, but they’re bound to find out, aren’t they?”
“Have you been able to speak to Chris since he was arrested?”
“Not yet, but our lawyer is trying to arrange something.”
“So, you don’t know for sure that your husband had found out about you and Bill?”
“No, but why else would he have killed him?”
“We can’t be certain he did.”
“They found traces of the poison on a cigarette that Chris gave to Bill, didn’t they? What other explanation could there be?”
It was a good question, and not one that I had a ready answer for.
“When Chris came home on Tuesday, how did he seem?”
“I was already in bed, fast asleep, by the time he got back.”
“What about the next morning?”
“He was still excited about the previous night’s bowling victory. He never stopped talking about it.”
“He wasn’t acting in any way out of character?”
“No, he was fine until he heard that Bill had died.”
“How did he hear?”
“He got a phone call.”
“How did he react?”
“He was shocked, and very upset. At least, that’s how it appeared at the time. Do you think I should contact the police and tell them about Bill and me?”
“If they ask you about it, then you’ll have to tell the truth, but for now, let’s see what happens with Chris.”
As soon as I got back to the car, I called Jack.
“Sarah and Bill? I had no idea. I can’t believe it.”
“Do you think Chris could have known?”
“I don’t see how he could have. He was just as pally with Bill as he ever was. When I left them on Tuesday, they were enjoying a cigarette and a laugh. Has Sarah told the Washbridge police about her and Bill?”
“Not yet, and I told her not to unless they specifically asked her about it. This doesn’t look good, Jack. Chris had the motive and it was his cigarette that killed Bill.”
“We need to hear Chris’ side of the story. I’ll try to arrange for you to see him.”
“Okay.”