Free Body in the Woods (A Reverend Annabelle Dixon Cozy Mystery Book 3) by Alison Golden, Jamie Vougeot Page B

cards, isn’t it? You’ve developed an addiction to them, and you’re worried about how sinful it is.”
    “No!” Philippa said, appalled at the accusation. “I’ve not committed any sin! Well, none that I’m terribly ashamed of.”
    Annabelle smiled.
    “Okay. So what is it, then?”
    Philippa shifted her weight from one foot to the other, looking around her as if hoping for some escape route that would lead her away from the Reverend’s line of inquiry. When she realized that she was well and truly trapped, she spoke reticently.
    “I… I saw something.”
    Annabelle knit her brow.
    “What?”
    “That’s all I’m going to say, Reverend. Please, don’t ask me any more,” Philippa begged, before turning back to the prayer books and beginning her count from the beginning.
    Annabelle gave her friend one last sympathetic purse of the lips before resting her questions. She already had more than one mystery tugging at her capacities. She would have to be patient regarding Philippa’s.
     

 
     
    CHAPTER 5

     
     
    AS IT APPEARED to be one of the last days of the year that the sun was going to be generous with its warmth, Annabelle sat with a mug of tea on the bench that overlooked the cemetery behind St. Mary’s church. With a large ringed notebook on her knee, a cup of tea steaming beside her, and a pen she twirled and tapped against her lips, Annabelle intended to conceive the Sunday sermon she would have to perform tomorrow, as well as come up with some ideas for the autumnal events the church had in its calendar.
    She gazed out beyond the thick, aged stones that comprised the wall that surrounded part of the churchyard and looked toward the rolling hills that extended far into the turquoise sky. She tried to keep her thoughts focused. Somewhere on the horizon, she noticed a figure rising slowly and purposefully up one of the largest hills, before perching on its crest and unloading what seemed like a square board from a bag. She squinted and peered keenly, hoping to discern what the person was doing, before another form toward the bottom of the hill caught her eye. It looked like it was a four-legged animal, rapidly moving across the fields with a clumsy gait and a confused, lost air about it.
    The sound of crunching footsteps behind her pulled her attention away from the surprisingly busy scene on the hillside and she turned to look in their direction.
    “I’ve brought you some biscuits, Reverend,” Philippa said, holding out a plate of chocolate shortbread.
    “Oh, these will hit the spot!” Annabelle said, glad of the interruption.
    Philippa placed the plate beside Annabelle’s tea, nodded formally, and turned back toward the church. From the corner of her eye, Annabelle noticed the church cat, Biscuit, silently making her way around the back of the bench. Annabelle pulled the plate of shortbread closer toward her to thwart the greedy tabby’s thieving intent.
    “Philippa! I had hoped you would keep me company. I have something I rather want to ask you.”
    Philippa turned around slowly, seeming to look for an excuse, and then reluctantly sat down.
    “Reverend, I’d really rather not talk about—”
    “Oh, tosh. I didn’t mean that,” Annabelle said, reassuringly.
    Philippa seemed to relax and she turned her head inquisitively, inviting Annabelle to speak her mind.
    “Do you happen to know any Daniels in the village?”
    Philippa tilted her head away for just a moment to think, before turning back to Annabelle and saying, “To be perfectly honest, Reverend, I can think of quite a few.”
    Annabelle nodded. “I believe the one I am looking for is in his late-thirties. I’m not even sure he is even still in the village, but I know with some certainty that he was here roughly twenty years ago.”
    Philippa looked to the ground as she mentally sifted through the ample list of people she knew. Annabelle watched her, patiently waiting for her reply.
    “The only person I can think of that fits