Free Aunt Bessie Invites (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 9) by Diana Xarissa Page B

herself to smile at the words,
knowing Henry didn’t mean to upset her.   “This one has been dead for a very long time,” she said.
    “Aye, I’ve been trying to work out who it
might be,” Henry replied.   “I can
probably list half a dozen old school mates of mine who disappeared at one time
or another over the years.   I expect
their families will know where they are though, won’t they?”
    Bessie shrugged.   “I would hope so,” she said.   “I’m hoping the police sort it all out
quickly.   I understand he was found
with a distinctive watch.   It’s
going to be in the paper this afternoon, I gather.”
    Henry nodded.   “Aye, ours was just delivered and it’s
right on the front page.”
    He held out the paper and Bessie quickly
spread it out on the desk.   The
photograph of the watch took up a quarter of the page, with an appeal
underneath it for information.   Bessie studied it for a long time.
    “Do you recognise it?” Henry asked.
    “There’s something familiar about it,”
Bessie said slowly.   “I’m sure I’ve
seen it before, but I can’t think where.”
    “Well, let’s hope someone else can remember
more than you can,” Henry said.   “And speaking of remembering, I’d love to come to the Thanksgiving
party.   Thank you for asking.”   He stopped and looked down at the desk,
his face turning red.   “I’ll be,
that is, you said in the invitation, I mean, if it’s okay, I’ll be bringing a
friend.”
    Bessie grinned.   “Of course you may bring someone,” she
said, forcing herself to keep her curiosity in
check.   “I’ll look forward to seeing
you then.”
    “Thanks,” he said, still not looking at her.
    That conversation gave her something to
think about in the taxi on the way back to Laxey.   Henry seemed both excited and nervous
about bringing his friend.   As far
she knew, he’d never had a steady girlfriend.   Bessie couldn’t wait to see who
accompanied him to her event.
    There were another dozen messages on her
machine when she got back, and Bessie listened to them as she fixed herself a
light snack that would substitute for her evening meal after the large lunch
she’d enjoyed in Douglas.   Most were
repeats of earlier calls, but she was happy to hear Doona’s voice as well.
    “I’m home,” Doona said.   “Ring me when you get in.”
    Bessie was quick to place the call.   Doona had sounded tired and stressed,
which just added to Bessie’s eagerness to speak to her.
    “How are you?” she asked as soon as Doona
answered.
    “I’m fine,” was the automatic reply.
    “It’s me, Bessie.   How are you really?”
    Doona chuckled.   “I’m fine, really,” she said
firmly.   “I ended up working quite
late last night and today was total madness at the station, so I’m quite tired,
but otherwise, I’m fine.”
    “I rang and someone called Joan answered,”
Bessie told her.
    “She told me you’d rung,” Doona replied.   “She’s on loan from Castletown at the
moment as they were the only station that could spare anyone.”
    “She seemed nice enough on the phone,”
Bessie said.
    “She’s very nice, but irritatingly cheery
all the time,” Doona told her.   “Not
that I got to talk to her much.   I
was pretty much tied to my phone all day.”
    “I gather everyone in Laxey has a guess as
to who was found at the Clague farm,” Bessie said.
    “Everyone in Laxey, Lonan, Ramsey and just
about every other place on the island,” Doona replied.   “It was crazy this morning, and then
after the paper came out, the phone lines just exploded.   Joan and I couldn’t keep up, and it was
a huge relief when five o’clock rolled around and I got to come home.”
    “So people recognised the watch?” Bessie
asked.
    “People seem to think they’ve recognised the
watch,” Doona replied.   “But I did
get given different names by different people.”
    Bessie sighed.   “It does look very familiar,” she
said.   “I’m