Free Murder in the Green by Lesley Cookman

right,’ said Harry, with an odd look. ‘The Parkers and the Wildes are a bit more of a problem.’
    ‘Mmm.’ Libby didn’t want to think about it. ‘I think there are quite a lot of family problems in Cranston Morris, too,’ she said.
    ‘Cranston Morris?’ Harry frowned. ‘What have they got to do with anything?’
    ‘You knew I was going to their parade,’ said Libby. ‘Well, I met Richard Diggory again. I said I would. Then I went to the actual sunrise celebrations this morning.’
    ‘What time did you get up?’ asked Adam, horrified.
    ‘Four thirty. I didn’t mean to, I just didn’t sleep well. Anyway, it turns out Diggory is the Oak King and quite important in the whole Celtic festival thing. Bit of a ladies man, though.’
    ‘Don’t tell me he tried it on with you?’ Harry threw his head back and laughed.
    ‘Why shouldn’t he?’ said Libby, a little huffily.
    ‘Trying to mate with a hedgehog comes to mind.’ Harry patted her hand.
    ‘He made me uncomfortable, anyway,’ said Libby.
    ‘And what else happened?’ Harry had sat back in his chair and was watching her carefully.
    Libby opened her eyes wide. ‘Nothing, why?’
    ‘Just wondering why you went to the parade and the sunrise party. Not your sort of thing these days, is it? You told me you used to go when he was small.’ Harry jerked his thumb towards Adam.
    ‘Something to do,’ said Libby, bending to her plate once more.
    ‘That bloke who was murdered on May Day,’ said Adam indistinctly. ‘Betcha.’
    Libby looked up at two sets of eyes bent accusingly on hers.
    ‘Well,’ she said, clearing her throat, ‘my friend Gemma did ask me to look into it.’
    ‘Oh, Libby !’
    ‘Oh, Mu-um !’
    ‘It’s all right,’ she said hastily. ‘Fran’s had no moments about it –’
    ‘So Fran’s involved too?’ said Harry.
    ‘And Ian’s warned me off comprehensively.’
    ‘When did you see Ian?’ asked Harry.
    ‘This morning. He was there, too.’
    ‘That bloke that got murdered May Day. Told you.’ Adam glared triumphantly at his mother.
    ‘All right, all right,’ said Libby. ‘But I said no, and that’s that.’
    ‘Where have I heard that before?’ said Harry, casting his eyes up to the ceiling.
    ‘You know what,’ said Adam suddenly. ‘You want to get away. Have a holiday. You haven’t been away from Steeple Martin since you moved here, have you?’
    Libby and Harry both looked at him in astonishment.
    ‘Where did that come from?’ said Harry.
    ‘I just think she should.’ Adam was defensive. ‘She’s spent the last few years looking into things for other people, and looking after people –’
    Harry snorted.
    ‘Well, she has,’ said Adam, glaring once again, but this time at Harry.
    ‘It’s a lovely idea,’ said Libby, ‘but how could I? Ben and his family might need me.’
    ‘He’s packed you off home, hasn’t he? He can always ring you if the circumstances change.’ Harry leant forward. ‘Look, petal. For once the incubus is right. You need a holiday. Even Fran’s been on honeymoon.’
    ‘But where would I go?’ Libby’s baser self was saying go – run away, while her more cautious self was telling her she couldn’t possibly.
    ‘Somewhere not too far away? But different?’ Adam was thinking.
    ‘This country,’ added Harry.
    ‘I know – Lewis is going somewhere this week – I told you.’ Adam let his chair, which had been teetering backwards, bang to the floor. ‘Somewhere nice, it is, I’m sure. He could find you a place.’
    ‘You can’t ask Lewis to do that.’ Libby pushed her plate away.
    ‘He wouldn’t mind. He thinks you’re great.’
    ‘What is this strange power you have over young men?’ said Harry, grasping her hand and looking deep into her eyes.
    ‘Gay men,’ said Libby.
    ‘A fag hag to her fingertips.’ Harry gave her hand a pat and stood up to take the plates away. On his way to the kitchen he stopped to speak to the last diners, who were preparing to