A Party To Die For (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 3) Read Free Page A

looked like she was reading Fiona’s
messages or contacts.
    Why
would Kim Blackburn be doing that?
     

Chapter 7
     
    I
went outside and over to Kim. She was too engrossed in Fiona’s phone to notice
me standing there.
    I
gave a polite cough.
    Kim
froze. Then she looked up from the phone. I noticed her cheeks getting redder.
    “Isn’t
that Fiona’s phone?” I asked.
    “Yes!
Yes it is. She said I could have a look at it. I wanted to know who she’d used
for Megan-Rose’s party, you know, party planners, caterers, entertainers etc.
Hasn’t it been a wonderful party? I’ve never seen anything like it! My Lily
would love something like this, she’s only two but you’re never too young for a
party!”
    “When
did Fiona say you could look at her phone?” I asked. The Fiona I knew would
never have agreed to that.
    “I
popped into her bedroom and saw she was having a nap. Her phone was next to her
so I thought I’d have a quick peep. I’m sure Fiona won’t mind. You won’t tell
her, will you? I can put it back before she wakes up.” Kim was beginning to get
more flustered.
    I
wasn’t going to be the one to tell her that Fiona was dead. I would leave that
to the police.
    From
what Kim had just admitted to me I thought she could be a suspect. I would let
the police know about this conversation when they arrived.
    I
put my hand out and said, “Why don’t I give it back to Fiona? Save you the
trouble.”
    Kim
looked at the phone as if there was more she wanted to look at, but then she
must have thought it would be less trouble for her if I took the phone.
    With
a false smile she handed me the phone.
    “I
must go and find Bob. He gets worried when he can’t see where I am. He’s so
possessive!” she trilled. She tottered past me and into the kitchen.
    I
wasn’t sure about Bob being possessive. Whenever I’d seen Mr and Mrs Blackburn
together he seemed to have eyes for any other woman but his wife.
    I
went back inside and found Anna.
    “Nearly
everyone’s gone,” Anna told me. “But Julia, I think we’ve made a terrible
mistake.”
    “Why?”
I asked.
    “One
of these guests have probably killed Fiona, and we’ve let them go! What will
the police say?”
    I
had thought of that too but I knew we had names and addresses of everyone who
attended the party. Fiona had made sure that someone marked down who arrived so
that she could send thank you letters after the event. Also, there had been
many photos taken during the party. So if someone declared that they weren’t at
the party I’m sure we could prove that they were.
    I
really hoped it wouldn’t come to that though, or I’d be in big trouble with the
police.
    Anna
nudged me. “I think the police have arrived.”
    “Where’s
Gina and Megan-Rose? They need to be told about Fiona first,” I said.
    Anna
pointed over to the corner of the room. Megan-Rose was sitting on the floor
surrounded by birthday presents. She was laughing and showing something that
she’d just unwrapped to her Auntie Gina.
    They
had no idea that their world was about to collapse. I was so glad that I wasn’t
going to be the one to tell them.
    I
hoped it wasn’t going to be DI Clarke who would be investigating this murder.
We’d met a few times and he always made me feel guilty with his piercing stare.
    I
heard an commanding voice boom out, “Who told these people they could leave?”
    I
instantly recognised the voice, my heart sank.
    Anna
pointed meekly in my direction.
    DI
Clarke glared at me.  He stormed over and said, “Ms Blake! I don’t believe
this. Did you find the body this time?”
    I
nodded and tried to smile. My smile failed.
    “This
is the third time in three months that this has happened to you. This is
becoming quite a hobby, isn’t it?” the inspector said.
    “I’m
sorry, I’m not doing it on purpose,” I said quietly.
    DI
Clarke looked as if he was about to launch into a lecture, but someone stopped
him by tugging on his coat sleeve.
    It
was