Free The Appleton Case (A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella Book 1) by Diana Xarissa

there.”
    “Do you think
that Gavin’s making his own car parts?” Janet asked.
    Joan
shrugged.   “I don’t know.   There were a lot of nuts and bolts and
screws and things in the box.   Maybe
he’s making those sorts of little things.”
    “I can’t
imagine there’s much money in nuts and bolts,” Janet mused.
    “But neither
of us knows anything about cars,” Joan pointed out.   “I don’t even go over the bill when we
take the car to the garage for oil changes and the like.   Maybe we’re paying a lot for little bits
and just don’t realise it.”
    “So maybe we
should visit Gavin again,” Janet suggested.   “We could have a look around the garage
and see if there are any suspicious looking parts.”
    Joan
laughed.   “That is one of the worst
ideas I’ve ever heard from you, little sister,” she said.   “We wouldn’t know a badly made part from
a brand-new one from the manufacturer.   What would we even look for?”
    “I don’t
know,” Janet admitted.   “But we
could have a look around.”
    “How exactly?”
Joan asked.   “If Gavin is there, he
isn’t exactly going to take us on a tour, and if he isn’t there one of his
intimidating apprentices will be, or the place will be shut.”
    Janet didn’t
answer, but her mind was racing.   There had to be a way to snoop around the garage.   She just had to figure out what it was.
    Back at Doveby House, Janet paced around in small circles in the
library, thinking about Gavin, while Joan made dinner.   After they’d eaten and Janet had washed
up, the sisters settled in to watch a bit of telly and relax.   Before the programme they planned to watch had even started, though,
they heard someone knocking at their door.
    “Who could
that be?” Joan asked as she got up from the couch.
    “Maybe
Constable Parsons came over to talk about the box we left for him,” Janet
suggested.
    Both sisters
were surprised to find Michael Donaldson on their porch.
    “Mr.
Donaldson, do come in,” Joan said.  
    “I hope I’ve
not come at an inconvenient time,” the man said as he stepped inside.   “I’ve been meaning to come over for a
chat for days but I’ve been rather busy.”
    “You’re always
welcome,” Janet assured him.  
    “Oh, thank you
kindly,” the man beamed at her.
    “Would you
like some tea and biscuits?” Joan asked.   “I baked shortbread and oatmeal raisin biscuits today.”
    “I don’t want
to cause you any bother,” Michael replied.
    “Oh, please,” Janet said with a laugh.   “We bought a bed and breakfast so my
sister can bake for more people than just me.   Come and have tea and biscuits.   We’ll never eat everything she made
today and she’ll be baking more tomorrow.”
    In the
kitchen, Janet filled the kettle while Joan piled biscuits onto a plate.   Within minutes the trio was seated around
the table enjoying their snack.
    “These are
very good,” Michael said after he’d had one of each biscuit.  
    “Please, take
more,” Janet suggested.   “And then you can tell us all about
yourself.”
    “That seems a
fair trade,” Michael replied, his eyes twinkling.   He ate his way through a couple more
biscuits, washing them down with tea, before speaking again.
    “I haven’t had
a very exciting life,” he told them in an apologetic voice.   “I was born and raised in Doveby Dale and aside from university, I’ve never really
left.”
    “It’s a lovely
place,” Janet said.
    “It is,”
Michael agreed.   “My wife was from
the village as well.   We met in
primary school and started dating when I was sixteen.   I never really dated anyone else.   We got married as soon as I graduated
from university.   Unfortunately, we
were never blessed with children, and my wife passed away a few years back.”
    “What did you
study at university?” Janet asked.
    “I trained as
a chemist,” he replied.   “I had my
own little shop in the village for nearly forty years, but I retired