Free Deathly Christmas by Irena Nieslony

then realized she should be leaving the two lovebirds to talk to each other, so she started rambling on to David about his book. He however, wished she’d be quiet as he hated being disturbed while driving. She knew this, but chose to forget it most of the time.
    In the end, Eve started to eavesdrop on the conversation coming from the back of the car. Jane was asking James about his work as a merchant banker and she told him about her job as a social worker. Then the conversation drifted to his aunt.
    “When was the last time you saw her, James?”
    “At my mother’s funeral last year.”
    “Oh, I’m so sorry. How awful; losing both your mother and aunt in such a short period of time.”
    “Well, it was difficult losing my mother – she died of cancer. We had always been close. But Jennifer…that was a different matter. She wasn’t a nice woman at all. She couldn’t even be bothered to go and see my mother when she was ill. I was surprised to see her at the funeral.”
    “How terrible. Didn’t they get on?”
    “My mother was always trying to get in touch, inviting her over and so on, but Jennifer never wanted to know. I have no idea why. She was never kind to me either.”
    “Yet you’re desperate to find out who killed her?”
    “Of course I am. I want to know why, Jane. There must have been some reason. She wasn’t a thoughtful or loving person, but she must have done something completely evil for someone to want to murder her. I have to find out what it was.”
    The car stopped and David parked up. Jane was sorry that the conversation had come to an end. It was interesting hearing about Jennifer Anderson, but more important, she was enjoying talking to James.
    “Here we are,” Eve said. “It’s just a little walk to the restaurant.”
    Eve and David walked ahead with James and Jane strolling a little way behind them. Eve pulled David closer as they walked.
    “Did you hear their conversation in the car, darling?” she whispered.
    “Of course not. I don’t eavesdrop,” David replied adamantly.
    Eve grunted, but carried on.
    “James could be the killer!”
    “What? Are you crazy?”
    “Of course I’m not,” Eve said crossly. “James told Jane he hated his aunt. Jennifer didn’t even visit her sister when she was dying of cancer. How terrible is that? And he said Jennifer wasn’t nice to him, but he didn’t elaborate. What if he was here on Christmas Eve and gave the desert wine to her as a Christmas present? He could have easily left on that day and then he could have come back on Boxing Day.  I don’t think he’s short of money. The planes were running between here and London on both days, so it’s entirely possible. Mark my words; he’s a suspect, in fact he may be the only suspect I’ve got.
    * * * *
    Entering the restaurant, they found they were the last to arrive. Annie and Pete were already settled with pre-dinner drinks, and they smiled broadly when they saw Eve and David. As they were taking off their jackets, it looked like Betty, Don, Alison and Robert had only got there a minute or so previously as they were trying to decide where to sit. Not surprisingly, Betty made a profound effort to ignore the new arrivals. Ken and Jan had closed The Black Cat for the evening, so were there on a rare evening out. The final people attending the meal were Kevin and Lucy Fowler and Kevin’s brother, Paul.
    James hadn’t met any of the Fowlers yet, and while Jane hadn’t spoken to Kevin or Lucy, she had briefly had a few words with Paul before Christmas. She had walked past a garden he was working in, and thinking him rather good looking, had stopped to ask directions to the local shop. She had thought herself rather brave talking to a strange man, but unfortunately she had been busy cleaning and looked a mess, and Paul hadn’t been interested in engaging in a long conversation with her. This evening he didn’t recognize her initially, but then it clicked who she was.
    Damn. If I’d