Cherringham--A Fatal Fall (12 page)

“Did it for you, love … you can see that, can’t you?”

And there it was, Sarah thought.

The truth out. The story of a hard-working man who stood up for his co-workers, who wasn’t afraid to go against the bosses, but who made the mistake of falling in love with the wrong girl.

Nadine started crying, sobbing, collapsing into Sarah.

The truth … too much for her.

Sarah put an arm around her shoulder.

And she watched as Jack walked over to Winters.

“Alan Rivers … he’s been waiting outside. He’s there for you now.”

She saw Jack look at Viktor, then Sparks. They would have to answer for their part.

But if justice was served, Dylan McCabe’s murder would fall squarely on the shoulders of the man who stood bloodied in the centre of the Ploughman’s — all eyes on him.

Then, slowly, accepting the inevitable, Winters repeated … “For you, Nadine … all for … you …”

And he started slowly walking to the door, past his sobbing daughter, out to the cold winter night, where Alan Rivers and his car waited.

Sarah watched Jack shut the oven where his roast prime rib looked to be coming along just fine.

He looked and smiled at her, then Chloe, Daniel — with their sparkly headbands in place. Even Jack wore one though he said it seemed to turn Christmas more into Halloween.

“Shouldn’t be long now,” Jack said.

“Smells great,” Sarah said.

“Do we have time to take Riley for a walk?” Chloe asked.

Her daughter had always wanted a dog, and lately she had been acting as if Riley was half hers.

And that’s a good thing,
she thought.

“Think so. Potatoes need more time as well, and we got some candied carrots coming.”

“A feast!” said Sarah.

“Come on, Riley,” Daniel said.

And that was another thing she noticed … Daniel and Chloe were actually getting along.

For now.

It reminded her of how terrible it was at Winters’ house, Nadine, yelling, running away.

For now
, she thought, looking around the saloon of the Grey Goose,
I am very lucky.

And when Riley had bounded up and out of the wheelhouse, followed by her two kids racing after the dog, she had to ask Jack a question …

*

“What would you have done, Jack?”

“Hmm?”

“If Winters hadn’t taken the bait, hadn’t come at you …?”

“Well, with both Viktor and Sparks coming clean … think it would only be a matter of time.”

“Truth will out?”

“Something like that. Hey, want me to fix you an Old-Fashioned?”

Sarah laughed. “Are you kidding? It’s my new favourite drink!”

Jack went to the fridge and took out a full bottle of Bourbon.

“Present from Ray,” said Jack, holding up the bottle. “Little thank you for getting involved.”

“Expensive.”

“Maybe,” said Jack, with a grin.

Whether Ray actually bought the drink or just ‘liberated’ it was a moot point …

She watched Jack take a pitcher from a cupboard and set to work.

“So. Bourbon, muddled fruit, bitters. And a cherry, of course, sweet, delicious and just the way you like it.”

He dropped a cherry into two glasses, some ice, then poured from the jug.

“Wow — giving up martinis?”

“Oh, no way … but at Christmas, why not try something different, hmm?”

She smiled, picked up her glass and they clinked.

And after a sip—

“Perfect.”

“Packs a wallop too, so just this one before the roast.”

“Oh, by the way, you are going to love the Christmas pudding. My own recipe, not Mum’s!”

“Then I know it’ll be good.”

Another sip, then Sarah had another question.

“What will happen to Viktor and Sparks …?”

“Think you know your legal system better than me. Back in the States, they’d be accessories, though the court would recognise how they had been pressured. I’d have thought that they’ll do time. But not as much as Winters.”

“Poor Nadine, losing McCabe. Then losing her father.”

Jack looked away. “I know. Tough.” Then back to Sarah. “Even when you get the ‘bad guy’ … there can still be someone innocent who gets hurt.”

“Like Viktor’s wife.”

“Yeah. It’s not all fun and games, this detective business.”

And then the door blew open, Riley racing back.

“She loves running!” Daniel said laughing.

Sarah turned, both her kids red-faced.

“That must mean it’s time for dinner.”

And Jack went to the stove, took out the roast, filling the Grey Goose with its rich smells, while Sarah grabbed the potato casserole.

Christmas dinner with her American friend, on his boat, with kids and dog in tow.

This is one to remember.

But then —
she thought —
maybe they all are …

END

Stay tuned for the next season of Jack and Sarah’s adventures in Cherringham.

Do you like what you’ve read so far? Please let us know by leaving a comment or a rating where you purchased this eBook. Your feedback improves the story. Happy reading!

When amiable old village eccentric Quentin Andrews dies, the good folk of Cherringham are astonished at the crowd that turns up to his funeral. But even more astonished are the beneficiaries of his will: Quentin has left a veritable fortune to whomever is the first to solve an intricate “Cherringham crossword”. That puzzle is only the first of many that Jack and Sarah will uncover as they follow the treasure hunt for clues and learn the truth about who Quentin Andrews really was …and the biggest mystery of them all …was he — in fact — murdered?

The Last Puzzle
Cherringham — A Cosy Crime Series
by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards

Looking for more suspense?

COTTON FBI 01: THE BEGINNING

by Mario Giordano

New York City. A Chinese woman was brutally murdered and Jeremiah Cotton, a young cop with the NYPD, just can’t let go. He suspects that the woman is the victim of a serial killer, but no one believes him and he is taken off the case. While carrying out an unauthorized investigation, Cotton encounters a division of the FBI whose existence no one knows about: the “G-Team.” Stubborn and persistent, Cotton asks uncomfortable questions about the mysterious unit - and runs afoul of Special Agent Philippa “Phil” Decker in the process. When he narrowly escapes an attempt on his life, Cotton realizes that this is no ordinary killer hunt and the hotter the case is getting, the more determined he is to stay involved …

A new legend is born! COTTON FBI is a remake of a world famous cult series with more than one billion copies sold. It appears bi-weekly with a self-contained story in each e-book episode.

BASTEI ENTERTAINMENT