Free Deathly Christmas by Irena Nieslony Page A

known she spruced up like this, I wouldn’t have said so little to her. She probably remembers me being rude to her. I’ll say I was busy and didn’t have the time to talk. And I’ll apologize. That’s it. That’s what I’ll do.
    Paul got up and walked towards Jane.
    “Good evening,” he said. “Jane isn’t it. Lovely to see you again. Would you do me the great honor of sitting next to me?”   
    “I’m afraid she can’t,” James said immediately. “Jane is with me this evening. I would have thought it quite obvious by the fact that she’s holding onto my arm.”
    Pompous twit, Paul scowled.
    Jane was delighted that James had spoken up so quickly. She was finding it quite enjoyable to be fought over by two good looking men for a change. Mind you, she was angry with Paul. He had shown no interest in her the other day when she wasn’t looking her best, and he had been very off-hand. Now that she’d had a make-over and was looking attractive, he seemed keen to get to know her.
    How superficial can you get? she thought.
    Jane had forgotten, or perhaps refused to acknowledge, that James had also shown more interest in her after her make-over.  
    David, meanwhile, was getting worried that another awkward situation was arising. He was already apprehensive about Betty and Eve being in public together, especially in a restaurant of this caliber. Betty and James had also had a little set-to earlier on and now James and Paul looked ready for a fight. How many people were going to have to be kept apart this evening?
    For once it was Eve who calmed down the situation.
    “You can have the pleasure of my company tonight, Paul,” she said and plonked herself down in the seat next to him.
    Eve didn’t want to sit next to Paul, but like David, she didn’t want arguments and tension in the restaurant that evening. However, she herself was feeling tense, knowing she was going to have to warn Jane that there was a possibility that James was the killer. It was a pity she hadn’t known this before. Then she would never have given Jane the make-over and James wouldn’t have been interested in her.
    Poor Jane. She was definitely in for heartbreak.
    * * * *
    The evening started off pleasantly enough, although Eve did have to fend off Paul’s attentions every now and again. However, a sharp glance from David usually put him off. 
    Even though she knew she was being a bit of a snob, Eve thought the restaurant wasn’t the type of place Paul usually frequented, imagining he was the type who went out for pub meals back in England and here on Crete went to cheap local tavernas.
    Eve loved this restaurant, but preferred to go with David or a couple of her closest friends. To tell the truth, she was actually looking forward to the end of the evening and going home.
    “So, how’s the detecting going, Eve?” Betty boomed a little later in the evening, disturbing the peace and serenity of everyone enjoying their main course.
    David and Robert both cringed, knowing that there would be some sort of confrontation now. What was Eve going to say? She would never admit that she wasn’t any further forward, not to Betty anyway.
    ‘Well, Betty,” Eve replied smugly. “Believe it or not, I have had a breakthrough; just today in fact, and I do have a suspect.”
    Eve knew she shouldn’t have admitted this. It could frighten the killer and he or she might try and do away with her, but she couldn’t help herself. She had to have one up on Betty.
    There were gasps around the table and a couple of people asked who she thought it was.
    “I’m afraid I can’t say until I have more proof. I’m sure you can understand this. It would be awful if I went to the police with the wrong suspect, wouldn’t it?”
    “You are a foolish woman, Eve,” Betty shouted. “You’re putting your life in danger again. The killer could be at this table and may be planning his or her next murder…. and that person might be you!”
    “I’m not