Murder in Style by Veronica Heley Page A

understand why she wouldn’t want to go home … yes, Gordon’s here … Where are we? At the shop, of course. Where else would we …?’
    His eyes switched to and fro. He listened, frowning. Pacing up and down.
    Gordon grabbed his elbow. ‘She must have given them her phone number. Tell them she’s to ring me, straight away.’
    Ray shook his hand off, continuing to listen. ‘Yes, but … You don’t understand. Unless I come up with some sort of plan …’ He drew the back of his hand across his forehead. ‘I’ll come clean. I need to … Look, I’ll be with you in half an hour, because the sooner …’
    Still talking, he left the shop. Ellie could see him getting into a badly parked car outside, just as a traffic warden was about to tape a parking fine notice on the windshield.
    â€˜That’ll cost him,’ said the businesswoman, with a cat-like smile. ‘I’m not sure about the handbag. I need to think about that. But I’ll definitely take the suit.’ She went out to her own car, which was properly parked on the other side of the road, and drove off.
    Ellie felt someone at her elbow. Clemmie, watching Ray’s humiliation as he tried to tear the notice off his car, even as the parking attendant took photographs recording the event.
    â€˜I wonder if Ray will try to hit him,’ said Celine, also watching and also amused.
    Two more customers came in, talking on their phones. One was pushing a baby buggy.
    Celine said, ‘A busy day,’ and went to attend to them.
    Gordon caught Clemmie’s arm. ‘Well, there’s nothing for it. You’ll have to step in to look after me till she gets back.’
    â€˜No,’ said Clemmie, in her usual quiet way. ‘I’m working, remember? Ring the local cab firm. They’ll get you home.’
    â€˜You forget yourself, girl!’
    â€˜I don’t think so.’ Clemmie moved away, looking wooden, and disappeared into the back room.
    Ellie saw Celine glance at Gordon, and glance away. Celine didn’t call Clemmie back.
    What on earth was going on there?

SIX
    T he door opened and in stalked Trixie in a low-cut blue-and-red sundress with a red bandana round her hair. She looked stunning … a fact of which she was perfectly aware.
    Naturally Trixie would come, thought Ellie. She was the missing member of the family. She needed money for her film career and would want to track her aunt down. She would have tried her grandparents first, and then come on to the shop.
    Oops! Gordon wasn’t pleased to see her. ‘Trixie, what are you doing here? Though I suppose I can guess.’
    â€˜I might say the same for you. Only thinking of yourself, as usual. If you ask me, it’s more than time my aunt had a rest from your moaning.’
    Lips whitening, Gordon struck back. ‘I haven’t noticed your paying any attention to her in the past, but now you want something—’
    Trixie brushed him aside to concentrate on Celine, who was trying to avoid her eye while serving a customer. ‘Well, where is she? You of all people must know where she’s hiding.’
    Celine said, ‘Please, Trixie; we’re very busy this morning. And no, I don’t know where she is. She doesn’t want us to know, apparently. She’ll be back when she’s had a rest.’
    Gordon pulled Trixie’s arm. ‘Have you tried the office upstairs? I can’t get up there, but Ray said he went up and the Monkey wouldn’t give him the time of day.’
    â€˜Her office? I tried that first. She’s not there. Where’s Clemmie?’
    Gordon gestured. ‘Out back. But you won’t get anything out of her.’
    â€˜Watch me!’ Trixie swung through the shop, full skirts rustling.
    Ellie stepped back into the shadows, thinking that there was a lot to be said for small waists and full skirts if you had the basic equipment