Free Death Takes A Trip (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 5) by Gillian Larkin

memories. Then an angel appeared, he was called
Alexander Adams. ”
    Julia shared a look with Cain, she wasn ’ t sure she ’ d call
Alexander Adams an angel.
    Gloria continued, “ He knocked at my door one day and told me he was hoping to build a new
estate on our street. I invited him in and he showed me the plans for the new
houses. I ’ m not too keen
on new houses but they did look nice, all modern conveniences and that sort of
thing. He asked me if I ’ d be open to selling my house. He made it clear that he ’ d be knocking my house down. I was shocked at first but then I
considered the alternative. I could move on, or I could stay in my house like a
ghost, wandering from room to room and living on the memories of times gone
past. I knew what my Len would have wanted me to do. Mr Adams offered me a
wonderful price, more than the house was worth I ’ m sure. He even offered to help me with the removal costs. ”
    Julia gestured to the room they were now in. “ Is this one of his houses? ”
    Gloria nodded. “ It is. They ’ d just been
built when Mr Adams came to my door. I was offered first choice. He said I
could choose my own colour scheme for the house. I thought this house was a bit
poky when I first came to see it but I ’ ve got used to it now. I love it. Mr Adams arranged for all the removal
of my things, he even arranged a storage unit for those things that I can ’ t bear to get rid of yet. He ’ s a lovely man, I ’ m so glad that he knocked on my door that day. ” She looked at
Cain and added, “ Have another
slice of cake, there ’ s plenty. ”
    “ What about
Douglas? ” Julia asked. “ Why do you
think he didn ’ t want to sell
his house? ”
    Gloria shook her head sadly. “ He wasn ’ t ready to let
Val go. I kept in touch with him after I left but he was never the same. I
think he felt like I ’ d betrayed him
by moving away. He must have been so lonely, living in that big house on his
own, with just one cat for company. ”
    Julia said, “ He must have been very lonely. You should have seen him in the last week
though, he was like a different man. ”
    Gloria nodded. “ I ’ d heard that
he ’ d met someone,
a film star? Oh, what ’ s her name? ”
    “ Nina Sapphire, ” Cain said. “ I ’ ve seen some
of her films. ”
    “ That name
rings a bell. I ’ m glad Douglas
found love again, even if it was for a short time. ” Gloria put her
cup down. “ I ’ ve heard that you ’ re looking into Douglas ’ death. Have I helped you at all? ”
    “ I ’ m not sure. I have my suspicions that Alexander Adams is involved in
Douglas ’ death somehow. But you ’ ve given me a different view of him now. I thought he might have used stronger
tactics to get you to sell your house, that maybe he even threatened you. ”
    “ No, he never
did that. He was a gentleman. ”
    Julia sighed. “ Right, I don ’ t know where
to turn now. ”
    Gloria pressed her lips together and gave her a
knowing look. She said, “ I haven ’ t told you
about my other neighbour, Stan. He lived at the other side of Douglas. ” She folded her
arms. “ Stan was
forced out of his home. ”
    “ By Alexander
Adams? ” Julia asked hopefully.
    Gloria shook her head. “ No, by his son, Kirk Adams. He ’ s a nasty piece of work. If anyone is capable of murder, it ’ s him. ”

 

 
    Chapter 14

 
    “ I didn ’ t know that Alexander had a son, ” Julia said.
She thought back to her Internet search, had his son been mentioned anywhere?
    Gloria tutted. “ I ’ m glad he ’ s no son of mine. I don ’ t think Mr Adams knows what his son is like, parents are often blind to
their children ’ s faults. ”
    “ Does Kirk work
for his father? ” Cain asked.
    Gloria unfolded her arms. “ He does, but the last I heard, Mr Adams had made him a partner. Whether
that was his decision, or he was browbeaten by Kirk, I don ’ t know. Kirk Adams is a nasty go-getter who is ruthless and calculating.
He