forward. âYou remember, she was the one who phoned you.â
âAh. Yes.â He looked uncertain, but held out his hand. âPleased to meet you.â
âWell, Eleanor Bridges was her aunt.â
Libby heard the hiss of Franâs indrawn breath, and felt herself blushing. Damn. Sheâd got it wrong again.
âReally?â DCI Murrayâs eyes brightened. âSo, tell me, Miss Castle, did you not visit her on her birthday?â
âNo, I went down the next day,â said Fran, reluctantly.
âThe next day? Had no one told you she was dead?â
âUm, well, yes. I hadnât visited her before, so I wanted to see where sheâd died.â
DCI Murray frowned. âBit morbid, wasnât it?â
Fran hesitated. âGuilt, Inspector,â she said eventually. âI was quite upset.â
âHmm.â He peered at her. âWasnât your psychic stuff again, was it?â
Libby stood frozen. Fran wasnât going to like this.
âI told you, Inspector. I felt guilty. Mrs Headlam quite understood.â Fran took Libbyâs arm. âI think Iâd like to go now, Libby.â
âI may want to speak to you again, Miss Castle. Could you give me a phone number?â
âSheâs staying with me at the moment, Mr Murray,â said Libby firmly, âso you can get in touch with her there. Come on Fran. Goodbye, Inspector.â
âFran!â Charles appeared in front of them as they turned away. âWhy didnât you tell me you were coming?â
âYou didnât want me to come, so why should I tell you?â
âIt wasnât that.â Charles looked uncomfortable. âI just donât want you to get involved.â
âWell, I am involved. The inspector wants to talk to me, so I donât think youâve a hope of keeping me out of it, do you?â
Charles sighed. âDonât be angry with me, Fran. This is bad enough already. Iâve just had the Denvers blaming me for the whole investigation.â
âThatâs ridiculous,â said Libby. âSorry for butting in, but you had nothing to do with the pathologistâs report, had you? You didnât ask the coroner to call an inquest?â
âI know, but they seemed to think our poking about yesterday had something to do with it.â
âThatâs nonsense. We got Libbyâs friend Peter to look it up on the internet yesterday. If the deceased isnât currently being seen by a doctor and there isnât one to sign the death certificate, the coronerâs officer has to be called, and the coroner will ask for a post mortem. Then if that turns something up, like this one did, there will be an inquest. You might find, though, that theyâll now release the body for burial.â
âWill they?â Charles brightened. âThat would be a relief, wouldnât it?â
âThereâd still be the investigation,â said Libby.
Charles looked at her with distaste.
âSheâs right, Charles.â Fran patted his arm. âDonât worry about it. It hasnât got anything to do with you, you werenât even there when she died.â
âBut I was straight afterwards. And as far as I can see, Barbaraâs the only one who could have done it. God,â he said, shaking his head, âthis is a nightmare. I donât like the woman, heaven knows, but to think of that. Itâs disgusting.â
Libby and Fran regarded him thoughtfully.
âHow about lunch, Charles,â said Libby suddenly. âCheer you up.â
Fran gave her an incredulous look.
âIf youâre sure?â Charles looked from one to another. âI could use some friendly company.â
Libby smiled evilly. âThen come along with me,â she said. âI know just the place.â
Chapter Eleven
â W HAT DO YOU THINK youâre doing?â whispered Fran.
âWhere are we
Timothy Zahn
Laura Marie Altom
Mia Marlowe
Cathy Holton
Duncan Pile
Rebecca Forster
Victoria Purman
Gail Sattler
Liz Roberts
K.S. Adkins