[Churchminster #3] Wild Things by Jo Carnegie Page A

‘It’s always busy in Devon world. See ya, Frannie. It’s been really good to catch up.’
    ‘You too, Devon.’
    Frances ended the call and sat motionless in the chair. Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. It was so silly the effect Devon still had on her, but she couldn’t help it. Frances leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. She wasn’t sure if she was pleased or frustrated he’d phoned. Had Devon really only called to say hello?
    Her mobile rang again, startling her. This time it was her daughter, Harriet. ‘Hello, darling.’
    ‘Mummy, are you OK? You sound a bit out of breath.’
    ‘I’ve just been rushing around,’ Frances lied.
    ‘Oh, all right then.’ Her daughter sounded as cheery as ever. ‘I just phoned to see how things are going with the film! It’s awfully exciting.’
    ‘Touch wood, quite smoothly,’ Frances told her. At that moment there was a loud crash outside.
    ‘Oh, heavens, I’ll call you back!’ she exclaimed and ran over to the open window. Mrs Bantry had come rushing out the front door at the same time. An empty props truck had reversed into the stone statue of a lurcher, toppling it over.
    Frances watched as her housekeeper went over to the fallen statue. ‘Mrs Bantry, please don’t bother yourself …’
    ‘Ma, don’t you dare pick that up!’ Jed had suddenly materialized in his overalls, a stern look on his face. He easily righted the stone dog, before putting a tender hand on his mum’s shoulder. ‘I’ve told you not to lift anything. You know your back’s playing up,’
    The driver stuck his head out the window, looking relieved. ‘No harm done, then?’
    Jed looked over at him. ‘No, mate, but I’d watch your driving in future. And next time, don’t get my ma here to pick up your mess.’
    ‘Sorry, mate,’ the driver muttered, looking contrite. He drove off at a more sensible pace, and Frances watched Jed kiss his mother on the cheek, before striding back to work. Her phone started ringing again.
    ‘Hello? No darling, everything’s OK. We just had a small commotion …’

Chapter 15
    MAY ARRIVED IN the village, bringing with it longer, warmer evenings and renewed hope. Everyone who had entered
Churchminster’s Got Talent
was still practising madly. At the Jolly Boot one lunchtime, the music coming from Stacey’s bedroom was so loud that Jack went to tell her to turn it down. ‘Stace!’ He banged on the door. Brittle pop music blasted from within. Suddenly, there was a large ‘thump’ followed by a shout and muffled expletives. ‘Stacey!’ Jack was getting alarmed. ‘Are you all right?’ He tried the door, but it was locked.
    A few moments later the music went off and a merciful quiet descended over the building. Jack could hear cross stomping across the room, and then the bedroom door opened. Even though it was gone midday, Stacey was still wearing her dressing gown and looked extremely displeased at being disturbed. ‘You don’t have to kick the door in!’
    ‘Your bleeding music is deafening my punters!’ Jack said crossly. ‘Keep it down.’
    Stacey pulled a sulky face. ‘Whatever. Most of them are probably too deaf to hear it, anyway.’
    Jack looked over his daughter’s shoulder. Her bedroom looked more like a tart’s boudoir than ever, with various leopard-print clothes lying scattered around, and a pink feather boa draped across the top of her wardrobe. A heavy, exotic scent hung in the air. ‘What’s going on in here, anyway? Why are you still in your dressing gown in the middle of the day?’
    Stacey pulled the door shut to a crack and glared through it belligerently. ‘Keep your beak out, Dad! This is, like, a
total
invasion of my privacy.’
    Jack sighed and gave up. She was getting more like her mother every day. ‘Just keep it down,’ he warned. Stacey rolled her eyes dismissively. At the top of the stairway, he stopped and looked back. ‘So you’re busy, then?’
    Stacey stuck her head out the door. ‘Duh, like