expecting that. Had Pat finally realized that the pageant was missing its Joseph? And what had Mavis told her about seeing Faith at the scene? She quickly stuffed a piece of strawberry shortbread in her mouth and chewed tobuy herself time. She widened her eyes enquiringly, but Pat wasn’t looking at her as she poured out the coffee.
“The family’s been away, of course – for the weekend. Mrs Markham took the girls shopping in London.” Pat’s tone was faintly envious. “They spoil those girls. Mind you, couples often do, when they have problems.” Faith looked at her, startled. Pat tilted her head knowingly. “Money problems. Oliver’s business is not doing well and she’s keeping them going with that high-powered job of hers. If you ask me, that marriage is in trouble…” Holding her plastic cup delicately, she took a sip of coffee.
Faith wondered where this was going. She didn’t approve of gossip – although she remained grateful Pat wasn’t homing in on the pageant.
“Pat, we don’t know anything about the Markhams as a family,” she said, selecting another piece of shortbread. It was really rather good.
“Well, of course, they are new to the parish,” said Pat, “but how often have you seen the pair of them together with their girls? She’s always working away – Julie? Is that her name? A mother should be at home. Children need guidance, particularly girls, and the Markham girls are that age .”
“That age?” queried Faith, feigning ignorance.
“ Boys ,” said Pat, simply.
Without warning, the nursery rhyme sang in Faith’s head – “ Snakes and snails and puppy-dog tails; that’s what little boys are made of. ” She realized Pat was frowning at her. Faith swallowed.
“Well, it seems they were all in London together having fun as a family this weekend,” she commented. “It’s different nowadays, Pat. Often both parents have to work just to make ends meet.”
“Well, they’re back home now.”
That was news. Trust Pat to know the latest. If Oliver Markham had been released, perhaps his alibi had checked out. Perhaps he had been cleared? Pat watched her with a speculative look. The Joseph question! Faith stood up abruptly.
“Pat – I must make a call, if you’ll excuse me a moment. This shortbread is delicious.”
She hurried off to the church porch, phone in hand. She found the Markham home number and pressed call. The phone rang and rang. Then the anonymous phone lady clicked in: “ The person you have called is not available at this time… ”
That could mean all sorts of things. Faith wished she knew how the checks on Markham’s alibi were going. She left her name and a message that she’d try again later.
If only she could get hold of Peter Gray. What time was it? Lunchtime. She imagined Peter eating his lunch in the greasy spoon cafe by the police station where CID liked to hang out. Maybe he would tell her what was going on. Peter was a member of her congregation, after all, and the pageant was less than two weeks off. She needed to know if she should be looking for a replacement to play Joseph.
“Break out the tea! Reinforcements have arrived.” A familiar voice hailed her from the wicket gate. Moments later, Faith was swept into Sue’s warm embrace. Clarisse hugged Faith with more restraint, as befitted her elegance. They all beamed at one another. Faith felt her spirits lift.
“What do you need us to do?” Clarisse asked, her tawny eyes twinkling.
“We have a diplomatic situation,” Faith declared with deliberate exaggeration. “The civic centre co-ordinator – the one who has been liaising with the schools? – she’s expecting the church to be decorated. And as Pat has pointed out…”
“Ah!” They both appreciated the problem immediately. They followed Faith into the church. She could feel them close at her back. What a wonderful thing it was to have good friends. “The children from Green Lane Primary have made Santa Claus
“The family’s been away, of course – for the weekend. Mrs Markham took the girls shopping in London.” Pat’s tone was faintly envious. “They spoil those girls. Mind you, couples often do, when they have problems.” Faith looked at her, startled. Pat tilted her head knowingly. “Money problems. Oliver’s business is not doing well and she’s keeping them going with that high-powered job of hers. If you ask me, that marriage is in trouble…” Holding her plastic cup delicately, she took a sip of coffee.
Faith wondered where this was going. She didn’t approve of gossip – although she remained grateful Pat wasn’t homing in on the pageant.
“Pat, we don’t know anything about the Markhams as a family,” she said, selecting another piece of shortbread. It was really rather good.
“Well, of course, they are new to the parish,” said Pat, “but how often have you seen the pair of them together with their girls? She’s always working away – Julie? Is that her name? A mother should be at home. Children need guidance, particularly girls, and the Markham girls are that age .”
“That age?” queried Faith, feigning ignorance.
“ Boys ,” said Pat, simply.
Without warning, the nursery rhyme sang in Faith’s head – “ Snakes and snails and puppy-dog tails; that’s what little boys are made of. ” She realized Pat was frowning at her. Faith swallowed.
“Well, it seems they were all in London together having fun as a family this weekend,” she commented. “It’s different nowadays, Pat. Often both parents have to work just to make ends meet.”
“Well, they’re back home now.”
That was news. Trust Pat to know the latest. If Oliver Markham had been released, perhaps his alibi had checked out. Perhaps he had been cleared? Pat watched her with a speculative look. The Joseph question! Faith stood up abruptly.
“Pat – I must make a call, if you’ll excuse me a moment. This shortbread is delicious.”
She hurried off to the church porch, phone in hand. She found the Markham home number and pressed call. The phone rang and rang. Then the anonymous phone lady clicked in: “ The person you have called is not available at this time… ”
That could mean all sorts of things. Faith wished she knew how the checks on Markham’s alibi were going. She left her name and a message that she’d try again later.
If only she could get hold of Peter Gray. What time was it? Lunchtime. She imagined Peter eating his lunch in the greasy spoon cafe by the police station where CID liked to hang out. Maybe he would tell her what was going on. Peter was a member of her congregation, after all, and the pageant was less than two weeks off. She needed to know if she should be looking for a replacement to play Joseph.
“Break out the tea! Reinforcements have arrived.” A familiar voice hailed her from the wicket gate. Moments later, Faith was swept into Sue’s warm embrace. Clarisse hugged Faith with more restraint, as befitted her elegance. They all beamed at one another. Faith felt her spirits lift.
“What do you need us to do?” Clarisse asked, her tawny eyes twinkling.
“We have a diplomatic situation,” Faith declared with deliberate exaggeration. “The civic centre co-ordinator – the one who has been liaising with the schools? – she’s expecting the church to be decorated. And as Pat has pointed out…”
“Ah!” They both appreciated the problem immediately. They followed Faith into the church. She could feel them close at her back. What a wonderful thing it was to have good friends. “The children from Green Lane Primary have made Santa Claus
Similar Books
