Aunt Bessie Invites (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 9) by Diana Xarissa Page A

branch of the CID.   He and
Bessie had met over a dead body and had taken some time to come to appreciate
one another.   Now they’d become
something like friends and Bessie had included him in the Thanksgiving
invitations as well.
    “I don’t really remember much about Jacob
Conover,” Bessie said.
    “I remember him all too well,” Bahey
answered.   “And I’m sure poor Karen
does, as well.”
    “I did recall that your cousin Karen went
out with him for a while,” Bessie said.   “But she’s happily married and living in London, isn’t she?”
    “She is, but she had her heart well and
truly broken by that man, and I won’t forgive him for it.”
    “It looks as if someone murdered him,”
Bessie said quietly.
    “Probably the father of one of his victims,”
Bahey said sharply.
    “Would you like to suggest a likely candidate?”
Bessie asked.
    “I could probably come up with a few.   Why don’t you meet me for lunch tomorrow
and we’ll talk?” she suggested.
    “I’d like that,” Bessie said.  
    “I’ll invite Joney,” Bahey added.   “You haven’t seen her in a while, have
you?”
    “I haven’t,” Bessie replied.   “And I’d really like to.   She might be able to add to your list of
suspects, as well.”
    “She might,” Bahey said.   “Although she was already in Foxdale
when that man came over.”
    “Well, I’ll enjoying spending time with you
and your sister, either way,” Bessie said.   “I’ll be there at midday and I’ll bring pudding.”
    “No, no, let me bake,” Bahey said.   “Howard and I are both watching what we
eat at the moment.   We’ve both
gained weight since we’ve been together.   Let me bake something nice for our luncheon.   I’ll enjoy having an excuse to make
something and then eat it.”
    Bessie laughed.   “If you insist,” she said.
    After she’d hung up, Bessie went back to her
list.   There were a handful of women
about whom she was uncertain as to their current whereabouts.   She reached for the phone and then
stopped herself.   While she could
ring around and track some of them down, that job might be best left for the
police.   If John asked for her help,
she’d be more than happy to provide it, but after her call from Bahey, it was
clear that at least some people on the island had far from pleasant memories of
Jacob Conover.   Perhaps it would be
best if Bessie didn’t stir those up unnecessarily.
    She sighed and walked slowly through her
cottage.   Reading didn’t appeal and
she was just thinking about baking something when someone knocked on her door.
    “Doona, I wasn’t expecting you until closer
to seven,” she exclaimed when she opened the door.
    “I was just sitting around my house, feeling
bored and restless,” Doona told her.   “I thought I’d come over early and let you entertain me.”
    Bessie laughed.   “I was just feeling rather the same
way,” she confided to her friend.   “I’m ever so glad you’re here.”
    The friends hugged and then Bessie led Doona
into her sitting room.   “If I fix
tea now, we’ll just start eating biscuits and ruin our dinner,” she said.   “Let’s sit in here instead and just
chat.”
    “What should we talk about?” Doona asked
after she’d settled into a comfortable chair.
    “How was work today?” Bessie asked.
    Doona wrinkled her nose.   “It was pretty busy,” she said.   “Joan was back to help, but I still feel
as if I spent nearly the whole day on the phone.”
    “Are you still getting rung by people who
think they’ve recognised the watch?”
    “Yes, although it seems as if everyone is
giving us the same name now, at least.”
    “Jacob Conover,” Bessie said.
    “That’s the one,” Doona agreed.   “Did you know him?”
    “I wouldn’t say that I knew him,” Bessie
said slowly.   “I’d certainly met
him, but only once or twice.”
    “I really don’t want to talk about work,”
Doona said with a sigh.   “John is
being,