Page 43 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
‘Well, take care of yourselves. And if you need me to bringyou anything, just phone me, okay?’
‘Thanks, Ruby. I’ll let you know when we’re feeling humanagain.’
Ending the call, I wander into the living room and flumpdown on the sofa.
What now? I’d been looking forward to seeing everyone later butthe poor things are clearly in no state at all to entertain visitors! The dayis stretching ahead. We were up so early, so that Hudson and Joanna could geton their way. It’s not even nine o’clock yet!
In the end, I decide to go for an explore around the villageand as I leave Moonstone Cottage, I bump into Bee taking Jodie to school.
‘Hello, Ruby. We’re going for pizza after school.’ Jodie runsover to meet me. ‘Will you come with us?’
Bee nods. ‘Yes, why not join us?’
‘You know, I might just do that.’ I explain about the girlsat Clifftop House being under the weather with a touch of food poisoning andHudson being away for the day.
‘Oh, well, youhaveto come out with us, then,’ shesays.
I decide not to mention my adventure of the night beforewith the plague doctor. They’re both spooked enough with what’s been going on...
Instead, I smile at them both. ‘You know what? My day’ssuddenly looking a whole lot brighter. When’s pizza happening?’
*****
I haven’t been out for pizza in ages, but Bee and Jodieintroduce me to their favourite restaurant in the village – a lovely littleItalian place, tucked in a side street – and despite all the bad stuff that’s beenhappening, we still manage to have a fun time. I can tell Bee’s tired, butshe’s making a real effort for Jodie’s sake.
It’s just gone five as we wander home, after a visit to theteapot lid on the way back.
We’re in sight of their flat, where we’re planning a roundof hot chocolates, when Bee frowns. ‘What’s Griselda doing here?’
I look over and see a tall woman in a suit standing at thefront door to the pink house. Seeing Bee, she waves.
‘That’s my boss. Something must have happened,’ murmurs Bee.‘Is she waiting for me?’
‘Bee. I need a word,’ says Griselda. ‘Can we go inside?’
We all troop into the flat and I take Jodie into the kitchenwhile Bee and Griselda talk in low voices in the living room. Before I closethe kitchen door, I glimpse their faces. It looks serious.
And when I hear the front door click and we emerge, Bee islooking distraught, although she’s trying to hide it from Jodie.
I smile at Jodie. ‘Why don’t you get into your pyjamas andI’ll read you a story?’
‘Yes!’ She runs off to her bedroom and I turn to Bee.
‘What’s happened?’
She looks as white as a ghost. ‘An expensive necklace hasbeen stolen. And I was cleaning at the house yesterday.’
‘So?’
She shrugs. ‘They’re trying to get to the bottom of what’shappened. And I’m under suspicion of the theft, being one of the few people whohave regular access to the house.’ She shrugs. ‘It seems the anonymous letterwriter’s threat wasn’t an empty one. I could be about to lose my job.’
CHAPTERNINETEEN
Bee is gazing at me anxiously. ‘And that’s not all.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘The place that was burgled? It was...Clifftop House.’
