Body in the Woods (A Reverend Annabelle Dixon Cozy Mystery Book 3) by Alison Golden, Jamie Vougeot
Authors: Alison Golden, Jamie Vougeot
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she didn’t come back out.”
The Inspector scratched his stubble as he thought over this.
“Isn’t that what people usually do when they’re at their allotments?”
“Not really… Perhaps. I found her behavior rather strange. She went there right after her meeting with you. She wasn’t dressed for digging. Then she got her groceries. I have a peculiar feeling that there may be something worth investigating in that shed.”
The Inspector digested Annabelle’s words then shrugged.
“Maybe so, but to check it we’d need a search warrant. And to get a search warrant you need more than a ‘peculiar feeling’.”
Annabelle brushed off the Inspector’s condescension and decided she was far too cold to stay a moment longer. She would much rather go home to a hot cup of tea and a cozy blanket than be outside in the chilly evening air with the crotchety Inspector.
“Well, if I find out anything else I feel is important, I’ll let you know, Inspector.”
“Hmph.”
“Goodbye, Inspector.”
Annabelle watched the Inspector march away, stamping his shoes onto the pavement, his shoulders hunched up defensively.
“Hmph, yourself,” she muttered, “You’re never going to win me over with an attitude like that,
CHAPTER 6
WHEN ANNABELLE ARRIVED back at the church, it was already dark, and the streets had emptied of families, couples, and animated Saturday afternoon shoppers, who had earlier filled the air with chatter. Now the only people who could be seen were the men making their way to the pubs for a few pints, perhaps a game of darts, or a conversation about the day’s football results.
Annabelle was so lost among her thoughts that she almost didn’t notice the white car that sat in the spot where she usually parked. Annabelle made out the shape of a man slumped over the wheel. She deftly eased her Mini beside the other vehicle and as the lights of her car flashed across him, the man spun around. Annabelle smoothly finished bringing her own car parallel to the other and locked eyes with the rather embarrassed-looking fellow inside it.
The man fidgeted with his keys before placing them in the ignition and starting his engine. He eased off his handbrake, turned his lights on, and then checked his mirrors, only to find the approaching figure of the Reverend in them.
She rapped on his window with her knuckles and leaned down to get a good look at him. He was a decent-looking chap, with wiry curls of neatly cut, brown-grey hair. With his big, brown eyes set beneath thick eyebrows and full lips, he had the air of a friendly, undemanding neighbor about him. The kind of man who would never be a hero but always remember a birthday.
When he saw the cheerful and inviting (if somewhat fatigued) smile on the Reverend’s face, his embarrassment seemed to disappear. He turned off the engine. Annabelle stepped away from the door, allowing him space to open it. With a deep sigh, he got out of the car.
“Hello!” Annabelle said, with a hint of curiosity in her voice.
“Hello,” the man replied, bowing his head slightly.
“I’m Reverend Annabelle, I take it you’ve come to see me?” Annabelle said, offering her hand.
The man took it and held it limply for a few seconds before pulling away.
“I’m Dr. Robert Brownson. I… Well… I saw the church spire and just… Sorry…”
Annabelle looked back at the church as if to check it was still there. “Yes,” she said. “It is rather noticeable, isn’t it? No matter where you are in Upton St. Mary, you can see it.”
“Yes,” Dr. Brownson said. “I saw it from the hills this morning.”
“That was you?” Annabelle remarked, pointing toward the hills beyond the cemetery. “I think I saw you make your way to the top of the hill.”
Dr. Brownson nodded.
When it was clear he wasn’t going to say anything further, Annabelle said: “Would you like a cup of tea? My cottage is just behind you. I’d appreciate the
The Inspector scratched his stubble as he thought over this.
“Isn’t that what people usually do when they’re at their allotments?”
“Not really… Perhaps. I found her behavior rather strange. She went there right after her meeting with you. She wasn’t dressed for digging. Then she got her groceries. I have a peculiar feeling that there may be something worth investigating in that shed.”
The Inspector digested Annabelle’s words then shrugged.
“Maybe so, but to check it we’d need a search warrant. And to get a search warrant you need more than a ‘peculiar feeling’.”
Annabelle brushed off the Inspector’s condescension and decided she was far too cold to stay a moment longer. She would much rather go home to a hot cup of tea and a cozy blanket than be outside in the chilly evening air with the crotchety Inspector.
“Well, if I find out anything else I feel is important, I’ll let you know, Inspector.”
“Hmph.”
“Goodbye, Inspector.”
Annabelle watched the Inspector march away, stamping his shoes onto the pavement, his shoulders hunched up defensively.
“Hmph, yourself,” she muttered, “You’re never going to win me over with an attitude like that,
CHAPTER 6
WHEN ANNABELLE ARRIVED back at the church, it was already dark, and the streets had emptied of families, couples, and animated Saturday afternoon shoppers, who had earlier filled the air with chatter. Now the only people who could be seen were the men making their way to the pubs for a few pints, perhaps a game of darts, or a conversation about the day’s football results.
Annabelle was so lost among her thoughts that she almost didn’t notice the white car that sat in the spot where she usually parked. Annabelle made out the shape of a man slumped over the wheel. She deftly eased her Mini beside the other vehicle and as the lights of her car flashed across him, the man spun around. Annabelle smoothly finished bringing her own car parallel to the other and locked eyes with the rather embarrassed-looking fellow inside it.
The man fidgeted with his keys before placing them in the ignition and starting his engine. He eased off his handbrake, turned his lights on, and then checked his mirrors, only to find the approaching figure of the Reverend in them.
She rapped on his window with her knuckles and leaned down to get a good look at him. He was a decent-looking chap, with wiry curls of neatly cut, brown-grey hair. With his big, brown eyes set beneath thick eyebrows and full lips, he had the air of a friendly, undemanding neighbor about him. The kind of man who would never be a hero but always remember a birthday.
When he saw the cheerful and inviting (if somewhat fatigued) smile on the Reverend’s face, his embarrassment seemed to disappear. He turned off the engine. Annabelle stepped away from the door, allowing him space to open it. With a deep sigh, he got out of the car.
“Hello!” Annabelle said, with a hint of curiosity in her voice.
“Hello,” the man replied, bowing his head slightly.
“I’m Reverend Annabelle, I take it you’ve come to see me?” Annabelle said, offering her hand.
The man took it and held it limply for a few seconds before pulling away.
“I’m Dr. Robert Brownson. I… Well… I saw the church spire and just… Sorry…”
Annabelle looked back at the church as if to check it was still there. “Yes,” she said. “It is rather noticeable, isn’t it? No matter where you are in Upton St. Mary, you can see it.”
“Yes,” Dr. Brownson said. “I saw it from the hills this morning.”
“That was you?” Annabelle remarked, pointing toward the hills beyond the cemetery. “I think I saw you make your way to the top of the hill.”
Dr. Brownson nodded.
When it was clear he wasn’t going to say anything further, Annabelle said: “Would you like a cup of tea? My cottage is just behind you. I’d appreciate the
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