Deadly Desires at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison Page B

out my Ravishing Romantics Book Club flyer,” said Angela. “Please Doreen, please .”
    Ravishing Romantics! Seriously? Mum would get a kick out of that.
    Angela’s eyes glittered and she swayed slightly on her feet. I wondered how many glasses of scrumpy she had imbibed. The stuff was lethal and always seemed deceptively harmless.
    â€œFor the fiftieth time,” said Doreen wearily. “I told you. I won’t forget.”
    Outside in the car park I wasn’t surprised to see that Valentine’s Suzuki had gone. Judging by the amount of wine he’d been drinking earlier, I hoped that he wouldn’t get stopped by the police and given the Breathalyzer test.
    I helped Patty into the back of my Golf. As I expected, she didn’t offer a word of gratitude.
    Angela climbed into the front and grabbed Jazzbo from the dashboard. “Oh! What a cute little mouse. He’s so sweet! Hello, little mousie.”
    She really stank of cider and chattered on in the most peculiar accent that I had ever heard.
    â€œDo you really think we can win?” said Angela as we sped through the country lanes.
    â€œWe? We? ” Patty finally spoke. “Why should you care? You’re not from these parts.”
    â€œNor am I!” I said lightly. “But I care.”
    â€œI love your auction idea, Kat,” said Angela. “Is it true you used to do car boot sales, Patty?”
    â€œWhat’s it to you?”
    â€œI’m just saying, maybe you can sell some of your junk for the campaign.”
    â€œBloody cheek!” Patty exclaimed. “I’ve got some real quality stuff but no one is buying these days. It’s programs like Fakes & Treasures that have ruined it for all of us. You can’t get a bargain anymore.”
    â€œSo sell it at Kat’s auction,” said Angela.
    â€œIf I’m selling anything, the money goes straight into my pocket,” Patty declared. “Charity begins at home.”
    â€œNot always,” said Angela. “I believe in what goes around comes around.”
    â€œYou said it.” Patty leaned forward and whispered into Angela’s ear. “You sat in Sir Maurice’s chair. He doesn’t take kindly to that. Something horrible is going to happen to you. Just you see.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Angela exclaimed. “Why would you say such a thing?”
    â€œDon’t take any notice of Patty,” I said. “It’s just superstitious nonsense.”
    â€œYou can think what you like,” said Patty. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
    No one said another word until we turned into the narrow lane and descended the steep hill to Bridge Cottage. I noticed that the stream that ran alongside the road was running high from all the rain.
    Suddenly, Angela shouted. “An animal! Don’t hit it!”
    I slammed my foot on the brakes. “What on earth—?”
    â€œIt’s not an animal!” Angela cried. “No, wait … what’s on the side of the road?”
    â€œThere’s something in the water.” My stomach lurched. “Oh God.”
    Illuminated in my headlights was a mobility scooter. It had flipped over and was laying half in and half out of the stream.
    Patty gave a shriek. “Mother! She’s fallen! Oh!”
    â€œWait right here,” I said quickly and cut the engine. “Angela, call for an ambulance. Stay with Patty.”
    But Patty was already scrambling out of the car, too. She was hysterical. “Mummy, oh Mummy!”
    I grabbed Patty’s arm, pulled her into my shoulder, and held onto her tightly. “Don’t look. Just don’t look.”
    But I did.
    Joyce lay facedown in the water in her purple-knitted coat. Her hat had fallen off revealing a halo of gray hair that skittered in the current.
    Gently, I steered Patty away and back toward my car.

 
    Chapter Nine
    Fortunately, help was close at