Free Death at the Cafe by Alison Golden

niece.”
    Bishop Murphy nodded. “Lauren Trujillo was her name, a wonderful young woman. She had taken good care of Teresa in her later years. As for who could have done it, I’ve been thinking very hard about it myself.”
    “It’s almost as if the entire thing was constructed to place Mary at the center of events. As if someone were framing her,” Annabelle said.
    “It has certainly placed an incredible amount of suspicion upon her. I’m rather surprised Cutcliffe allowed her to roam London without further questioning,” the Bishop agreed.
    “Yes,” agreed Annabelle. “I’ve been racking my brain about it since the moment it happened. Who would frame someone for a murder? Particularly when it would have been easier to murder Teresa and steal the emeralds before we had even arrived.”
    “Somebody close enough to Teresa to have suspicion immediately cast upon them,” Bishop Murphy added.
    “Precisely!”
    “That’s a keen mind you have there, Annabelle. I’ve not been disappointed in the high praise I’ve heard about you. I will make some phone calls and see what I can find out. In the meantime, you should probably try to protect Mary from any further plans this person may have. Keep her safe and sound. Out of harm’s way.”
    “I most certainly will,” asserted Annabelle.
    “Thank you once again, Your Excellency. I am extremely indebted to you.”
    The Bishop waved Mary’s compliment away shyly. “The least I can do. For now, let me see what I can dig up about this business – as well as your funding.”
    Annabelle and Mary stood up, said their goodbyes, and left the Bishop, who was already picking up the phone and dialling fervently.
    Sara flashed one more headlight-bright smile as they left, and they made their way down the sunny streets of Kensington. Mary was almost skipping with joy, while Annabelle smiled and laughed at her friend’s overflowing delight.
    “Oh Annabelle, finally, we can relax! Let’s go to Kensington High Street, it’s been so long since I’ve seen it.”
    “Me too,” said Annabelle, before reluctantly frowning. “Shouldn’t we do as the Bishop says, however, and stay somewhere safe?”
    “But I’ve not been in London for over a year! And I’ll probably not return for a while either. With all this fuss, I’ve barely had a chance to enjoy it. This is the first time we’ve been able to spend some quality time together. Come on, I’ll buy you something.”
    Annabelle locked arms with Mary, and said: “You’ve convinced me!”
    Though like many areas of London, it had changed much over the years, Kensington High Street still played host to many of London’s most discerning – and richest – shoppers. Filled with one-off boutiques, antiques dealers, and some of the finest chocolate and bakery shops in the whole city, Annabelle and Mary found themselves easily occupied simply window shopping.
    Now it was Mary’s turn to lead Annabelle, as she flitted from shop to shop as randomly and as gleefully as a bumble bee in spring. As good as her word, she even bought Annabelle a bag of exquisite fudge, which Annabelle sneakily ate as she tried to keep up.
    “These ornaments are astonishing!” Mary said, leaning over and peering into an antique shop window.
    “Mmm,” Annabelle replied.
    Suddenly, Mary stood upright and turned toward Annabelle with a pale-faced look of chilling terror.
    “I know,” Annabelle said, nonchalantly, “these prices are shocking.”
    “No!” Mary said, grabbing Annabelle’s arm and shaking her. “I saw him!”
    “Who?”
    “The man in the tweed suit. The doctor. The one who ran across the street when Lauren collapsed in front of me.”
    Annabelle spun around, scanning the street.
    “Where is he?”
    Mary looked around herself slowly, frightened by the prospect.
    “I saw his reflection in that silver mirror.”
    Annabelle turned back toward her friend. “I’m sure it wasn’t him. How could you have seen him so clearly in a