Page 66 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
Ruby phoned first thing this morning to tell us theshocking news about our lovely cleaner’s daughter being abducted by Hudson’sassistant, Joanna. Apparently, it happened last night, during the solstice celebrations,and we were all so relieved to find out that Jodie’s okay now. A brave strangerapparently endangered his own life by hurling himself at Joanna on the clifftopand managing to save Jodie.
Madison is raging over the fact that it wasJoanna–someone we vaguely know through Hudson – who apparently broke in and stole herjewellery, although I keep telling her that once the police manage to track herdown (Joanna can’t evade capture forever, surely) she’s sure to get herprecious necklace back.
Madison and Katja went off shopping after breakfast, andEllie and I are on our way over to Ruby’s to make sure she’s okay. It’s anotherbeautiful sunny day, the sea as calm as a mill pond, as we make our way downthe hill into the village.
‘I hope Ruby’s all right,’ says Ellie. ‘She still soundedquite shaky when I spoke to her this morning.’
‘I’m not surprised. I think I’d shake for a wholeweekafterwards,if someone held a knife to me.’
Ruby seems really glad to see us.
‘Come in, come in.’ She looks flushed and a little anxious.‘We’ve just heard that Joanna has been apprehended and is in the police stationbeing questioned. Hudson’s on his laptop in the back garden. Shall we go outthe front?’
‘What about that brave man who rescued Jodie?’ asks Elliewhen we’re drinking coffee, sitting on hastily arranged chairs in the cottage’sfront garden. ‘Where is he now?’
‘Mitch?’ Ruby shrugs. ‘He said he’d call in and see me buthe hasn’t appeared yet. And unless the police have contacted him with the news,I guess he won’t know that Joanna’s in custody. I know Bee’s desperate to meethim and thank him properly for saving Jodie’s life. Who knows what might havehappened if Mitch hadn’t burst out of those bushes!’ I smile. ‘He’s anaccountant, you know, but his dream is to be a private investigator.’
I grin. ‘That’s quite a career switch. But he certainlysounds as if he’s got the guts for it.’
‘I know.’ She gives an admiring nod. ‘And to think I’vespent the whole week thinking he was the villain of the piece!’
‘So have you seen Bee and Jodie since it happened?’ asksEllie.
‘Briefly last night. Jodie was conked out and Bee looked...okay. The sad thing is, I don’t think they’ll be sticking around here aftereverything that’s gone on.’
‘That’s a real shame,’ I murmur. ‘It’s such a great place.’
Ruby nods sadly. ‘They’re getting a visitor this morning,apparently.’
‘Oh? Who?’ asks Ellie.
‘None other than theextremelyelusive owner of theholiday charity.’
‘You mean the mysterious Alderman Jack?’ Ellie stares at herin surprise.
‘We’re not sure,’ says Ruby. ‘No one really knows who thisperson is. Even Bee, who cleans for the charity, has no idea who the big bossis. The hotel and apartments and all the cottages dotted around the village aremanaged by a committee of people, apparently. And they also handle all theadmin to do with the holidays they offer deserving families.’
Just as she finishes speaking, a car motors along the lane,lingering outside the cottage with its engine still running. Ruby gets up andgoes to the gate, then she vanishes into the lane and we hear her talking tosomeone.
‘It’s Bee’s visitor. I’ve directed her to Bee’s flat,’ saysRuby, coming back into the garden and standing by the gate to watch.
‘Her?’ Ellie stands up and joins her at the gate. ‘Soit’s definitely not the mysterious Alderman Jack, then.’
I get up myself, curious to see who this amazingphilanthropist actually is.How incredible to spend your wealth makingdeserving people happy!
The others follow me into the lane as the car pulls upoutside the pink house and a tall woman in a navy suit and heels gets out. Herhair is styled in a chic grey chignon, and as she locks the car, she glancesacross the road in our direction.
‘What?’ I peer at her, my head spinning in confusion.
‘But I know her,’ I say in a daze, as we watch her walkingthrough the gate of the pink house and disappearing behind the glossy greenhedge.
Everyone swivels to look at me.
‘She’s called Emerald and we’ve chatted a few times. But I’dno idea she actually owns the hotel and the apartments, and all the holidaycottages here!’
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