Page 29 of Their Burning Graves
‘I feel as if I owe it to Sally to see this thing through. Are you okay with visiting the good vicar?’
‘Might as well.’ She turned to walk out of the open bifold doors and paused, looking back at Ben.
‘Hey, tell Wendy or whoever comes that that peg that spun across the floor looked as if it had a tiny drop of blood on it.’ She pointed to the corner of the table where it was lying as out of place on the white marble tiles as the decapitated hand.
Outside in the fresh air she waved at Tina who was on her phone but waved back. She walked down to Maggie’s house, annoyed to see the front door ajar. Knocking, she walked inside.
‘Maggie, hello it’s me, Morgan.’
The pug began to bark from somewhere, not bothering to come and see who she was.
‘Hello, dear, I’m in the kitchen.’
Morgan walked down to where the woman was rolling out pastry. Maggie turned to look at her with a dusting of flour on the tip of her nose.
‘How lovely to see you, your friend has just been in to use the loo.’
‘Maggie, did you forget what I said about keeping your door locked?’
‘Of course not, but nothing’s going to happen when there are police officers guarding the street.’
Morgan tried not to roll her eyes or let out a loud sigh. She couldn’t tell her that Tina’s priority was guarding the Lawsons’ house and not everyone else’s.
‘When Tim came home from school that day, did you see him?’
She shook her head. ‘I don’t think I did, no I definitely didn’t.’
Morgan did sigh this time, it escaped without her even realising.
‘Is it important, should I have seen him?’
‘It is important, but no it’s not your responsibility. He came home with someone else, and I just wanted to know if it was someone you may have recognised.’
‘Have you got a picture?’
‘Not yet, but we’ll get one to you as soon as we can. Did Tim often bring friends home with him?’
She shook her head. ‘Not that I know of, he was a quiet boy. He sometimes walked home with Ava from over the road, but not as much lately. Have you spoken with her? She may be able to tell you more.’
‘Not yet, thank you, Maggie. As always, you’ve been a great help, but please, for my sake so I don’t have to go home and worry about you, keep your door locked.’
Maggie laughed. ‘Okay, I will. Would you like a cup of tea, some cake? I’m making a caramel apple pie. It will be ready in around an hour, if you fancy a slice when it’s warm with some double cream.’
Morgan did fancy a slice, lately she had a terrible sweet tooth, but she shook her head.
‘Maggie, I’ll never be able to fasten my jeans if you keep on feeding me cakes and biscuits.’
‘Get away with you, if there was anyone that needed feeding up a little it’s you. There’s nothing to you. I know it’s none of my business, dear, but do you eat enough?’
Morgan laughed. ‘I certainly do, I guess the only good thing I got from my parents was the ability to eat like a horse and not gain too much weight.’
‘Lucky you, I’ve spent my whole life on one diet or another. After my husband died, I decided that I wasn’t doing it any longer and to eat what the hell I wanted, accept myself for who I am. What’s that song that gorgeous woman sings? I follow her on Instagram and she’s just wonderful, I wish I could have been more like her, she’s such an amazing role model.’
Maggie screwed up her face in concentration then burst into song. She even did a little wiggle, waving her finger at her which made Morgan grin.
‘“About Damn Time” by Lizzo, yes, she’s brilliant. I love that song; I love all her songs.’
Maggie nodded. ‘Me too, she’s like a breath of fresh air and I think we should all be more Lizzo.’
