Free Small Town Suspicions (Some Very English Murders Book 3) by Issy Brooke

was pleased you could fit
me in this afternoon,” Penny told Agatha later that day as she settled into the
chair.
    The hairdresser stood behind
Penny, but they talked by looking in the mirror. Agatha ran her fingers through
Penny’s short hair. “I was surprised to see you back so soon. Don’t you like
the blue streaks?”
    “I love them,” Penny said,
and in truth there was little reason for her to be back at the salon. However,
she wanted gossip. “But I’m a bit alarmed by the greenish tint. And I just felt
it needed shortening at the back and the sides need more shape. It’s grown so
quickly.”
    Agatha pulled the strands at
the back. “I warned you about the green,” she said ruefully.
    “I know. It’s fine. But the
shape …?”
    “I’ll give you a trim,” Agatha
said. “How’s that sound, eh?”
    “Brilliant, thank you.”
    Agatha mentioned the
weather, remarked upon Penny’s shoes, and asked after her dog. Those
formalities concluded within a matter of minutes and she was able to launch
into the meaty stuff: talking about Alec Goodwin.
    “You’re all hand in nest
with the police,” she said. “So how did he die, eh? I won’t tell a soul! I
promise.”
    Penny smiled at the mixed up
phrase, thinking she had to remember that to tell to Francine. She said, “He
was poisoned but it could have been an accident. Unless you’ve heard
anything definitely different…”
    “Everyone says he was
murdered!”
    “By whom, though? Who would
want to kill him?”
    “I don’t know. But I can
tell you this: that Steve has some questions to answer now, doesn’t he?”
    “What about?”
    “Well now!” Agatha said
explosively. “He’s agreed to take over the Sculpture Trail!”
    “I bet his aunt Ginni is
pleased.”
    “That’s just the thing,”
Agatha said. She flashed the scissors close to Penny’s ear. “She won’t talk to
anyone about it. She’s gone into a proper munk, she has.”
    “A what?”
    “A strop, a mood. You know.
She’s right mardy.”
    “I see. I think. But why?”
    “She still seems to be angry
that they hadn’t given it to Steve in the first place. Though why she is so set
on helping that good-for-nothing, I don’t know.”
    “He’s fresh out of
university,” Penny protested. “I loafed about and did nothing for months when I
graduated. I think I thought that the world would come knocking on my door to
offer me my dream job.”
    “Did it, eh?”
    “No, of course not. But the
point is, that someone in their early twenties, well, most of them, look like
good-for-nothings.” Steve hadn’t made a great impression on her when she’d seen
him, but she could still forgive a little youthful lackadaisical attitude.
    Agatha sniffed. “That length
all right for you, there?”
    “Yes, thanks.” Penny nodded
and Agatha frowned.
    “Stay still!”
    “Sorry. Anyway, can you tell
me why Steve is staying with Ginni and not his actual parents? Who are they?
Where do they live?”
    Agatha shook her head sadly,
as if everyone else knew. “Oh, it’s nothing sinister. Let me see. His mum and
dad live up on that council estate a mile north of here. Do you know where I
mean? On the road to Lincoln, there’s that bunch of houses on the left, all
grey and blocky. I think it used to be linked to an RAF base because they look
like forces houses. Anyway, it’s social housing now.”
    “What’s the relationship?”
    “Ginni’s sister Kate married
a chap called Andy. They’re good people, you know. I like them. But Andy’s
always in and out of work. I don’t know what it is. He is just one of them as
cannot hold down a job. Some folks call him rough but he’s a decent man.”
    “What about Ginni? She lives
alone, right? I mean, apart from Steve, now.”
    “Oh! Ginni’s had her share.”
    “Of …?”
    “Men,” Agatha said darkly.
“She’s divorced now. Her daughter lives in Manchester and her husband is
probably hiding in Borneo or something.”
    “Is she really