Free Murder Actually by Stephanie McCarthy Page B

see his work before he’d finished a complete draft.
    So where was it ?
    There was nothing in the room, not a doodle of a noose or a list of fictitious fishing villages in New England.
    Sergeant Jack approached and offered me his arm. “We’re all done here, Elspeth. I gotta say this is the strangest date I’ve ever been on. Shall we?”
    I took his arm and we drove back to my house. I was thinking about Jasper Ware, so wasn’t paying attention until we stopped and Sergeant Jack pulled me into a passionate embrace.
    I told you he was thorough.
    My first thought was one of panic: Julia! She’d never forgive me!
    The look of shocked horror on my face was probably not was he was going for, and he carefully put both hands back on the steering wheel.
    â€œAre you okay? It’s these murders, isn’t it?” he asked gently.
    I nodded. Who knew dead bodies would be less terrifying than the wrath of Julia Elizabeth Berry if I inadvertently stole her man?
    â€œI’m afraid so,” I said apologetically. “I need to go lie down.”
    It sounded pretty good. Blue was waiting and I had recorded one of my favorite programs, Into You , and was eager to see where Chloë and Daniel had left off. I clambered out of the car as Jack walked with me to the front door of my cottage.
    â€œThis was fun, Elspeth; can we do it again sometime?”
    I assumed he meant the dinner part, but I wasn’t going to ask. “Look, I have to be honest; I’m still trying to get over my divorce.” It was almost true.
    Sergeant Jack looked hurt. “Of course, I wouldn’t want to rush you. Please take as much time as you need.”
    â€œYou know, Jack,” I said determinedly. “Julia really likes you. She said you’re the best police officer we’ve ever had in All Hallows.”
    â€œReally?” Jack scratched his head. “I’ll be honest; I’ve known Julia Berry my whole life. The only reason I’ve never asked her out is because she seems…she’s just a little…she’s kinda scary.”
    I was indignant on my friend’s behalf. “Scary? What do you mean, scary?”
    I hastily shoved aside images of Julia conducting a séance to contact the spirit of Sherlock Holmes even after she acknowledged he was a fictional character. “Julia is an intelligent, vibrant and beautiful woman, and she’s deeply committed to advocating for justice. I guess if you think that’s ‘scary…’”
    I let my voice trail away as he backed up and held up his hands. “Alright, you win; I’ll ask her out on a date.”
    â€œThank you, and could you do me one more teeny tiny favor?” I asked sweetly. “Could you tell me who inherits under the terms of Jasper’s will?”
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Chapter 8
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    I’m a morning person.
    Please don’t hate me.
    I’ve always worked best in the mornings. Romance is easy when the day is fresh and new and the world is pink and green and gold. It definitely becomes more challenging as the day progresses.
    The morning after my date with Sergeant Jack I set up my laptop on the kitchen table and watched Blue sprawl among the scattered eggshells and toast crumbs. He’d already helped himself to my bacon and I suspected he’d taken a drink of my milk when I loaded the dishwasher but his bland expression gave nothing away. He rolled over to allow me the honor of scratching his fat belly and I glanced around my kitchen.
    When I divorced Grant, I’d chosen our old vacation cottage as the perfect location to lick my wounds and indulge in moribund self-pity, but by the time I got my boxes to All Hallows I was too depressed to even cry. It seemed fitting that there was a leak in the roof and a sad pattering of raindrops on the slate floor in the kitchen.
    As the days turned to weeks my view of the cottage brightened. I found walnut floor planks beneath the old