Death Takes A Trip (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 5) Read Free

in prison out of a misplaced sense of
loyalty for the real culprits - his no-good brothers.
    Julia was glad that she had taken a chance on him and
given him a job. And her dad, Ray, was overjoyed too as he had become good
friends with Cain.
    Cain looked a lot younger than his years as he moved
his hand around in the water.
    Julia cocked her head to one side. “ Did you hear that? ”
    “ Hear what? ” Cain asked,
his hand moving in a circle in the water.
    “ Shh! Listen! ”
    Cain took his hand out and stood up. He adopted the
same pose as Julia as he listened. After a moment he nodded and said, “ It sounds like a trapped animal or something. It ’ s coming from over there. ”
    “ Cat! It must
be Cat! Come on! ” Julia ran away from the river and deeper into the trees. The screeching
noise that she ’ d heard became
louder. She ran towards some low-lying bushes, the noise was even louder. Julia
fell to her knees and moved the spiky branches to one side. “ Cat! What have you done? Are you stuck? ”
    Cain joined her and peeped through the branches. “ She ’ s got her fur
caught on a branch. If you hold the branches up I ’ ll try and get her free. ”
    Julia lifted the branches, wincing as a spike cut into
her hand. She said, “ Be careful, it ’ s very prickly. ”
    Cain flattened himself down on the grass and inched
forward, his hand outstretched. He made soothing noises to Cat as he moved even
closer. Soon, half of his body was inside the spiky plant. Cat ’ s howls of distress stopped. Cain slowly moved backwards. Blood dripped
down Julia ’ s hand as
another spike caught her. Her arm was aching but she couldn ’ t let the branches drop.
    Cain moved fully backwards with a disgruntled-looking
ginger cat in his arms. When he was fully free he set the cat down and said, “ So, you ’ re Cat. ”
    Cat lifted her head and tail at the same time and
swiftly trotted away.
    “ You ’ re welcome! ” Julia cried after the ungrateful creature. She let the branch go, took
out a tissue and wiped the blood from her hand.
    Cain was just about to speak when a noise made them
both freeze. Julia ’ s finger flew
to her mouth and she lowered herself further on the grass.
    The noise that they ’ d heard this time was the sound of men talking. Twigs cracked and grass
rustled as the men came closer.
    “ It ’ s only a matter of time before the old codger gives in, ” said a man.
    “ We haven ’ t got time, you idiot! We ’ re losing money, the housing market won ’ t stay like this forever. We ’ ve got to build those houses now, don ’ t you understand? ” This was said by a younger-sounding man.
    The first man spoke again, “ Of course I understand, and this land is perfect for those executive
homes, but we ’ re doing all
that we can. ”
    “ We can do
more. Sending that ancient fool an offer letter now and again isn ’ t working. ” There was a pause. “ We need to convince him in stronger terms that he needs to move. ”
    “ What are you
suggesting? Nothing illegal I hope. You know what happened last time. ”
    “ I made a
mistake last time, I won ’ t do that again. I think Mr Pedley needs to be convinced that it ’ s time he moved on, for the good of his health. ”
    Julia ’ s breath caught. She looked over at Cain, he looked as horrified as she
felt. It was clear what these men were talking about. But who were they? Julia
looked through the foliage but she couldn ’ t see anything from her low viewing point. If she just raised her head a
bit …
    Everything suddenly fell silent. A feeling of cold
dread trickled down Julia ’ s back. Had she and Cain been spotted? Would she look up to see two
angry men glaring down at them?
    A twig cracked making her heart miss a beat.
    The second man spoke again. Julia heard the hint of
menace in his voice as he said, “ I think I ’ ll pay Douglas
Pedley a visit in the very near future. I can convince him to sell his house. I
can be very persuasive.