Virtually Scared To Death (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 1) Read Free Page B

the
night because someone’s lost their key somewhere in Leeds. Talking of which, my
master key that went missing has turned up. It’s right there, on that hook
behind you. I don’t know how it went missing, or how it was returned without me
knowing.”
    I
quickly thought of Annabel Castle, but I didn’t say anything.
    “Did
the police talk to you for long yesterday?” I asked.
    Steve
raised his eyebrows. “Did that DI Clarke speak to you?”
    “Yes.
I don’t know why but he made me feel guilty.”
“Me too. It was like he had x ray eyes. I mentioned to him about my granddad
having similar tablets to Mark. He started asking when I last saw my granddad
and if I had easy access to his tablets.”
    I
tutted.
    “And
then he sent someone round to my granddad’s to see if he had any tablets
missing. Like I’d swapped Mark’s tablets for stronger ones! I thought he was
going to lock me up as a suspect.”
    “I’m
sure they have to question everyone. Has Annabel Castle been here since Mark
died?”
    Steve
thought for a while and said, “No, I haven’t seen her since Monday. I wonder if
the police are going to talk to her too.”
    I
put some of my business cards on Steve’s desk and said, “I’ll leave you to your
game.”
    The
sun was shining so I decided to walk into the centre of Leeds. The outdoor
cafes were full. People had even taken their coats off. I didn’t have to be at
my next cleaning job for a while and the thought of sitting outside, sipping a
latte, appealed to me. I hadn’t slept well the previous night as I couldn’t
stop thinking about Mark. I could do with something to wake me up a bit.
    I
walked along, trying to see which cafe had spaces.
    Something
stopped me in my tracks.
    Annabel
Castle was sitting outside one of the cafes. She wasn’t alone. Jasper Parker
was sitting opposite her.
    They
were holding hands and smiling at each other.

 

Chapter 10

 
    They
were in it together!
    I
ducked into a nearby shop doorway, which was a mistake as a group of teenage
girls were coming out. They rudely pushed into me and forced me back into the
street.
    I
discreetly turned my back on Annabel and Jasper and walked down the street a
little way.
    I
dug out DI Clarke’s card and phoned him.
    “I’m
not able to get to the phone right now. Please leave a message.”
    I
quickly left a message saying that I’d seen Annabel and Jasper together. Then I
paused. It sounded like I was just gossiping. I ended the call. I didn’t know
what DI Clarke would make of that message.
    I
decided to take some photos. Then I could prove that they were sitting
together, and that Jasper wasn’t in London as he claimed.
    It’s
hard not to look suspicious when you’re taking photos on your own. A man
stopped at my side as I raised my phone and aimed it towards the couple. He
looked over to where I was looking. I glanced at him and gave him an annoyed
look, but he didn’t move.
    Then
a woman stood next to him and looked over at Annabel and Jasper too.
    “Who
are they? Are they famous?” she asked. “They look famous.”
    I
ignored her and took a couple of shots.
    Then
the woman took her phone out and started taking pictures of the couple as well.
“I don’t want to miss anything.”
      A second later the man did the same
thing.
    “Can
you stop that!” I hissed. “I’m trying to take secret photos.”
    “Are
you the press?” the woman asked, her eyes wide at the thought of seeing famous
people in Leeds.
    Within
twenty seconds a small crowd had appeared at my side, all holding their phones
up and taking photos.
    I
turned to the crowd and said as forcibly as I could, “Go away!”
    They
didn’t move.
    I
looked towards Annabel and Jasper. They had noticed the crowd, and they had
noticed me.
    Jasper
looked furious. He stood up and began walking towards me.
    I
did the sensible thing. I ran away.

 

Chapter 11

 
    DI
Clarke never phoned me back. I was worried that Jasper would phone him and make
a claim of