Page 62 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
‘And you werethere? When it was allhappening?’She turns after filling the kettle, leaning back against the counter, armsfolded. ‘Oh, you poor thing. It must have been terrifying.’
‘It was. My legs are still shaking now. But I’m convinced itwas Norma, your cleaner.’
She laughs. ‘Norma? A kidnapper? I don’t think so.’
‘It was her in the plague doctor’s costume, I’m sure of it. ButI need to find her.’
‘Well, I still can’t imagine that Norma...but never mind. I’ll help you,’ she says. ‘You can’t do this on your own. Look,I know we got off to a bad start, Ruby, but I’d really like it if we could befriends?’ Her smile is rueful. ‘You must be fed up with me taking up so much ofHudson’s time, but it’s all in a good cause. The business means so much tohim.’
I sigh. ‘I know. You’re right. He just wants to continue hisbrother’s legacy and I totally understand that. I’m... sorryif I’ve been a bit snippy with you sometimes.’
She beams at me and turns back to the kettle. ‘Apologyaccepted. Now, chamomile? Or lemon and ginger?’
‘Actually, could I have some water, please?’ I’m feeling alittle bit miffed that there was no apology in return – Joanna clearly thinksthe tension between us is all my doing! – but I’m prepared to let it drop,considering how lovely she’s being now. ‘I’m so thirsty after all that runningin the heat. And then I need to get back out there and track down Norma.’
‘Of course.’ She fetches a large glass, fills it from thetap and when I glug it all down in one, she laughs and says, ‘Another? Look,why don’t you sit down for a minute? You look exhausted. And have that tea.Then when Hudson gets here, we can all go and look for Norma.’
‘Okay. Thanks.’ I subside gratefully into a chair and sip mysecond glass of water, while phoning Hudson. He doesn’t answer so I leave amessage telling him where I am and that something terrible happened to Bee andJodie but they’re okay now.
‘Feeling better?’ she asks, as we drink our tea.
I nod. ‘I am a bit. My legs have finally stopped shaking.’
‘That’s good. Actually, I’m not feeling great myself. I wasplanning to go to the solstice celebrations tonight. I even got myself afancy-dress costume. But my head’s been a bit achy today, so I’ve decidedagainst it.’
‘Don’t blame you. Listen, do you mind if I use your loo?’ Ismile. ‘All that water and tea has taken its toll...’
‘Of course. The bathroom’s a bit old-fashioned, like the restof this place. I have to say, I’m not terribly keen on the twee cottage look.’She points. ‘It’s the door on the right.’
‘Great. Won’t be a mo!’
‘No rush. I’ll look out for Hudson.’
I find the bathroom and go in, surprised at how easy I feel nowin Joanna’s company. I’ve definitely misjudged her. We’ll never be bestbuddies, but we seem to be moving in the right direction now, which is such arelief after feeling constantly irritated by her and thinking it was my fault. Ishould have made more of an effort to get along with her from the start. It wasso nice of her to offer to help me look for Norma.
She’s right about the bathroom. It could do with somerenovation. It has an old-fashioned lock with a key in it, and I have to pullthe door towards me to get the key to turn.
Alone with my thoughts, I immediately start thinking aboutBee and Jodie and wondering what the police are doing, following Jodie’skidnapping.
Where is Hudson?
I wish he’d phone me back!
I’m washing my hands when I realise there’s no towel. Icontemplate drying them quickly on my jeans, but spying a cupboard, I take aquick peek inside. And sure enough, there’s a neat stack of beige towels inthere.
I pull the hand towel off the top of the pile, and I’m justclosing the door when I catch sight of something black peeping out from behindthe beige stack. Curious, I look more closely.
And my heart lurches with shock.
It’s a plague doctor’s mask.
I pull it out and stare at it, my heart beating fast. Then Ishake my head and smile to myself. It’s Joanna’s costume. She said she wasplanning to go to the solstice celebrations tonight in fancy dress but thenchanged her mind because she had a headache.
I chuckle to myself. For one wild moment, I actually thoughtJoannamust be Jodie’s abductor... the writer of theletters and all those other horrible things.
I pull the pile of towels aside to put the mask back.
And what I see makes my blood run cold.
