Murder In Bloom Part 18

'Yes, when Millie gave me breakfast. It gave me the creeps a bit.'

'Did it?' Ben looked up. 'Inside?'

'No, the outside. It's a picture-book place, but those eyes ...'

'Eyes?'

Libby shivered. 'The windows under the eaves.'

Ben frowned. 'I always thought they were picturesque.'

'Well, I'll have to have a proper look, won't I,' said Libby. 'When can we go?'

Ben gave her a relieved smile. 'As soon as you like,' he said.

As soon as you like turned out to be Monday afternoon, when Ben had finished his not-tooonerous duties on The Manor estate. In the morning, however, after Libby had done a little desultory housework, she was determined to find out more about Cindy Dale. She had given Adam strict instructions to ring her if he had any news and given him sandwiches again in case Katie hadn't returned from her weekend away. She switched on the computer and found a couple of local news sites. There was nothing about either murder. In desperation, she called Lewis's number.

'Libby.'

'Yes. Hi, Lewis. Just wanted to know how you were.' Libby squirmed. She was being unwarrantably nosy, and Lewis didn't exactly sound friendly.

'I'm fine. As a matter of fact, I've got someone with me just now '

'Cindy?' breathed Libby.

'Yes. Adam was going to ring you.'

'To tell me?'

'Ye-es,' he said slowly.

'Right.' Libby cheered up. 'I gave Ad sandwiches again in case Katie hadn't come back, but I can't bring any more today. I'm going out.'

'Yes, Katie's back. You can't come out?'

'Did you want me to?'

'Adam will ring you,' said Lewis briskly. 'Got to go now, Lib.'

Libby switched off and sat back in her chair. So what was that all about? Was Lewis warning her off? Bit of a cheek after having invited her into the case. Or did he still want help? Was that why Adam was going to ring her?

A few moments later the phone rang.

'Ma, it's me. Lewis asked me to call.'

'Yes?' Libby wasn't going to say she'd been ha.s.sling Lewis.

'That Cindy Dale's here and Lewis doesn't know what to do with her.'

'Has he told the police?'

'Oh, yes. And they've been to talk to her. Trouble is, she's staying here. I don't think Katie's best pleased, and Lewis certainly isn't.'

'So why did he want you to call me?'

'Motherly advice.' Libby could tell he was grinning.

'Is he going to get me up to speed?'

'Yes, but not while Cindy's around. Could we take him to Harry's tonight?'

'It's Monday he's not open.'

'Oh, b.u.g.g.e.r. What else can you suggest?'

'I can't come over this afternoon, even if I had the car. Ben and I are going out.' She hadn't said anything to Adam about Steeple Farm.

'OK. Could he come over tonight to the house? Would Ben mind?'

'Not sure,' said Libby, thinking furiously. 'Let me have a word with him and I'll get back to you.'

Before she could lose her nerve, she punched in Ben's mobile number, hoping he wasn't at that moment up to his thighs in farmyard mud.

'Lib? What's up?'

'Are you busy?'

'Not dreadfully. Looking at the tenants' milk quotas. Why?'

'You know Lewis...o...b..urne-Walker works for house makeover programmes?'

'Ye-es.'

'And he was a professional before that?'

'I didn't, but it follows.'

'I wondered if we might ask him to have a look at Steeple Farm?'

There was a short silence, then Ben burst out laughing. 'OK, OK,' he said. 'It's the naffest excuse I've heard, but OK.'

'Really?' Libby was stunned. 'You don't mind?'

'If it means you're going to look more favourably on the Steeple Farm project, of course I don't mind. We're going at two-ish, aren't we? So ask him to come over at half past.'

'This afternoon?' she squeaked.

'I thought that was what you wanted.'

'Well, yes, but '

'That's all right, then. I'll see you at lunchtime.'

Libby sat back in her chair, still astonished. Shaking her head, she hit Adam's number on speed dial and waited for him to pick up.

'Ma?'

'Ask Lewis if he can come to Steeple Farm this afternoon at half past two. Tell him it's a bona fide house job.'

'Eh? Isn't that where Mad Millie lived?'

'It is. Peter needs it done up.' Libby crossed her fingers. That was what she would tell Lewis, too.

'Really? You're not bamming?'

'No, it's true. Ben and I will be there. Do you know where it is to give him directions?'

'He can look up the postcode and use the satnav,' said Adam. 'Can I come with him?'

'You'll be working.'

'Not much to do now I've mapped out the parterre. Not until Mog comes back. If Lewis says yes, can I?'

He sounds like a ten-year-old again, thought Libby, with a sharp stab of nostalgia. 'Yes, of course, if Lewis doesn't mind. How's Katie, by the way?'

'Fine. Well, a bit down about Tony, 'cos Lewis told you she knew him, didn't he? Not well, but he got her the job with me. Otherwise she's OK. Not happy about this Cindy, though.'

'No, you said. What's she like? Cindy?'

'Odd,' said Adam. 'I dunno what I expected, but she definitely isn't it.'

'Tell me later,' said Libby.

'We both will,' said Adam, obviously now in high spirits. 'See ya.'

Libby called Ben back to tell him the good news, then called Fran to give her an update.

'By the way,' said Fran when she finished exclaiming over Libby's news, 'that hotel had a wedding cancellation, including celebrant, on the third week in June. We've taken it.'

'My G.o.d!' said Libby, winded. 'That's only a few weeks away. How '

'Will we do it?' Fran laughed. 'Not much to do. We're going to ring or email everyone this afternoon, then make sure we can get the outfits ready in time. That's about it.'

'Have you booked Ben and me into the hotel itself?'

'We've taken all the rooms, so yes. Are you going to be together?'

'I told you.' Libby felt herself blushing again. 'We've sorted it out.'

'Not marriage, though,' said Fran.

'Not marriage, no. Not yet anyway,' said Libby, surprising herself.

'Well! So there's hope?'

'Don't know,' said Libby. 'We'll see.' She took a deep breath. 'So. Is Guy excited? Are you excited?'

'Yes to both questions.' Fran certainly sounded as though she was fizzing. 'I'm sure this is the way to do it quickly, with no long waits while everything gets boring.'

'I think you're right,' said Libby. 'How's Sophie? And your three?'

'I've already called Jeremy. He wasn't overjoyed as it was still only four o'clock New York time, but he's coming over. With the girlfriend.'

'Coo! You've never met her, have you?'

'No. I haven't told the girls yet, because I know they'll both moan at me and call me selfish.'

'Then tell them they're the selfish ones and hang up,' said Libby.

'I might well do that,' said Fran, which made Libby raise her eyebrows. 'Sophie's just thrilled about the whole thing, and is likely to outshine everybody.'

'That's good. Is she giving her dad away?'

Fran laughed again. 'No, but I suppose she could be his "best woman", couldn't she? You were for Pete and Harry.'

'Excellent idea,' crowed Libby. 'See? All organised. Now I'd better go and get Ben's lunch before we go and see Steeple Farm.'

'Good luck,' said Fran.

I'll need it, thought Libby, and she went into the kitchen.

Chapter Seventeen.

STEEPLE FARM WAS AT the other end of the village. The lane turned right from the main Nethergate road and wound up between high banks until, as Libby had thought before, they could have been miles from civilisation. No traffic noise reached them, apart from the sound of a distant tractor. Libby looked up at the house and realised that the two dormer windows with eyebrows of thatch no longer looked like evil eyes.

Ben opened the heavy oak door onto the anachronistic hallway, with its thick red carpet, walls painted cream, gilt touches in the wall lights, switches and chain-store picture frames. A teak telephone table, complete with cushioned seat and s.p.a.ce for directories, stood by the stairs. They exchanged rueful glances.

'This hall is flagged, isn't it?' asked Libby. 'She didn't have it pulled up?'

'No. It's still in the kitchen, too, underneath the vinyl.' Ben pulled a face and led the way into the pale wood and stainless steel kitchen Libby remembered so well.