Page 37 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
‘Oh, but he parks along the lane. You can’t see him unlessyou’re standing near the gate.’
Frowning, Hudson goes out and I follow him. But of course,sod’s law dictates that the stranger in the black car isn’t actually theretoday.Bloody typical!
Hudson shrugs and we go back inside.
‘I was thinking we could check out the local fancy dressshop? To see if anyone’s hired a plague doctor costume? If you’ve got some timethis afternoon?’
‘A plague doctor?’
‘Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you about that. I actually thinkhe might be responsible for the letters, whoever he is.’
Hudson shakes his head, looking confused.
And then his phone rings.
At once, he’s on high alert. It’s clearly a call he’s beenwaiting for, and as he talks, he wanders out into the garden, closing thesliding door behind him. I watch him deep in conversation, rubbing his brow.Then he sits down on the edge of the hot tub and carries on talking for ages.
Wearily, I clear the coffee mugs from the table, feelingquite despondent at his lack of interest in Bee’s predicament. I know he hasother important things on his mind, but I suppose I was looking forward to ussolving this mystery together. It won’t be the same having to do the puzzlingand investigating all on my own...
‘Problem?’ I ask when he comes back in.
‘Yup.’ He sighs. ‘We’ve been trying to get it done fromhere, but I don’t think it’s going to be possible.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I might have to head back tomorrow to try and get it sortedout once and for all.’
‘Back toSunnybrook?’ I stare at him in dismay.
He shrugs apologetically. ‘I’m really sorry. I know we’dplanned to go exploring tomorrow and call in for lunch somewhere. But...well, I guess we’ll have to do it on Thursday instead. Assuming I’m back bythen.’
Disappointment is surging through me. ‘Assuming you’rebackby then? How long is this going to take?’
He shrugs helplessly. ‘I wish I knew. Actually, Joanna’soffered to go back herself tomorrow to sort it out. So that I can stay herewith you.’
I stare at him, speechless for a moment. ‘She did? That’svery – um – nice of her.’
He laughs. ‘Well, don’t sound so surprised, Ruby. Joanna’s anice person.’
I feel myself stiffen. ‘I’m sure she is,’ I murmur, withrather more sarcasm than I was intending.
Hudson frowns. ‘Ruby, why have you got such a bee in yourbonnet about Joanna? What’s she ever done to you to make you dislike her somuch?’
‘I don’t dislike herso much. I just...don’t trust her, that’s all.’ I shrug helplessly, wishing I could explain...give him a logical reason why I’m finding it impossible to warm to her. But Ican’t. It’s just afeeling... an intuition thatthere’s something ‘off’ about her...
I try to ignore the mocking little voice in my head that’ssaying,But mainly, you’re just jealous of her!
Hudson is shaking his head, looking fed up. ‘You’re usuallyso lovely with everyone, but Joanna actually asked me the other day why youdon’t like her. She’s quite upset about it, actually.’
I look at him askance.
Yeah, right!
Whisking plates off the table, I turn away to hide myincredulous expression.If Joanna wanted me to like her, she wouldn’t havecompared me in my bikini to a roast pig on a spit! She’s got Hudson well andtruly fooled, though...
‘You might not like her, Ruby, but she’s a great addition tothe team,’ he’s saying. ‘I can’t believe she’s offering to give up her holidayto help me out of this hole.’
‘She’s probably got an ulterior motive,’ I mumble, clashingplates and cups into the dishwasher. ‘She probably fancies you.’
