Death Takes A Trip (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 5) (3 page)

Chapter 5

Cain gasped and grabbed Julia
’
s arm.
“
Is she dead?
”

“
I don
’
t know,
”
Julia said.

Douglas lowered himself next to Nina
’
s still body and stroked her face.
“
Nina! Open your eyes! Tell me you
’
re okay.
”
He began to sob.

Julia gently moved him to one side. She put her hand
on Nina
’
s neck and
said,
“
I can feel a
pulse. Cain, phone for an ambulance.
”

Cain took out his phone and moved slightly away from
everyone.

Nina
’
s eyelids fluttered open.
“
Oh! What happened? Why am I lying here? Douglas, help me up, please.
”

Julia turned to Douglas and said,
“
Don
’
t move her,
she could have broken something.
”

Nina lifted her head and said,
“
No, really, I feel fine. Well, I feel like a fool lying here like this!
What must you think of me?
”

Julia turned her attention back to Nina.
“
You
’
ve had a nasty
fall. It sounded as if you
’
d fallen all the way down the stairs. Please don
’
t move, help will be here soon.
”

Cain returned to the group.
“
They
’
re on their
way.
”
He looked towards the top of the carpeted steps.
“
Did you trip over something?
”

“
I
’
m not sure. One minute I was heading for the top of the stairs, and then
…
I
’
m at the
bottom looking up at you all. Please, don
’
t make a fuss. I
’
m sure I
’
m okay.
”

“
We
’
re not making a fuss. And I insist that you stay where you are,
”
Julia said.
“
Douglas, do you want to go to the hospital with Nina? I don
’
t mind going with her.
”

Douglas took Nina
’
s hand and said,
“
I
’
m not leaving
her side. My poor darling, I could have lost you.
”

Nina tried to smile. Julia noticed her small grimace
as she did so. Nina said,
“
Douglas, I
’
m not going
anywhere for a long time. You don
’
t get rid of me that easily.
”

“
Promise?
”
Douglas lifted
Nina
’
s hand to his
mouth and kissed it.

Julia straightened up and looked at the stairs.
“
Let
’
s see what
caused you to fall.
”

Cain followed Julia to the top of the stairs. Julia
hunkered down and examined the top step. She pulled at a bit of carpet. She
lowered her voice and said,
“
Look, Cain, the carpet is sticking up here. I
’
m not sure if it
’
s become threadbare through age or if someone
’
s pulled it up.
”

“
Looks like
age. The carpets in Gran
’
s house are like that. I
’
ll have to replace them at some point.
”

Julia called down to Douglas,
“
Your carpet is sticking up just above the top step. How long has it been
like that?
”

Douglas blanched.
“
Oh hell! It
’
s been like
that for months. I
’
ve been
meaning to get it fixed. Oh, Nina! It
’
s my fault that you nearly died!
”

Nina pulled his hand closer to her chest and said,
“
No, it
’
s my fault. I
should have watched where I was going.
”

The sound of sirens cut through their conversation.
Julia walked carefully down the steps and towards the front door. Within
minutes the paramedics had assessed the situation and placed Nina onto a
stretcher.

Nina waved a hand feebly at them and said,
“
Really! There
’
s no need. I
feel fine.
”

Douglas said firmly,
“
The doctors will let you know if you
’
re fine or not. Just let these people take care of you.
”

Nina gave him a grateful smile.

Julia said to Douglas,
“
We
’
ll finish our
cleaning job and then lock up for you. I
’
ll use the spare key that you
’
ve given me.
”

“
No, go home,
Julia. You
’
ve done enough
for today. My house can wait another month, it
’
s not important.
”

The paramedics carried Nina out of the front door. She
held a hand out for Douglas. He took it and walked at her side as she was
placed in the waiting ambulance.

“
Do you think
we should go with them?
”
Cain asked.

“
I wish we
could, but we
’
d only be in
the way. I
’
ll phone
Douglas later and see how Nina is. She
’
s being very brave. I don
’
t think I would be, I
’
d be screaming my head off.
”

“
Me too,
”
Cain admitted.

Julia waited until the ambulance had driven away. She
walked back up the stairs and had another look at the carpet.
“
I wonder if I could fix it. I don
’
t want to leave it like that for Douglas. I
’
ve got some superglue in my bag, I could try that.
”

Cain said,
“
Why would you have superglue in your handbag?
”

Julia indicated towards the carpet.
“
For situations like this, of course.
”

They both jumped as the noise of breaking glass shot
through the air.

“
What on earth?
It sounded like it was coming from the back of the house, the kitchen I think.
”

They soon found out what had caused the noise.

“
Careful! There
’
s glass all over the floor,
”
Julia said as
she stood at the kitchen door.

Cain pointed to the large window over the sink.
“
It
’
s that one
that
’
s broken.
”
His finger
moved towards the floor.
“
And that
’
s what caused
it to break.
”

Julia frowned and took a cautious step forward.
“
That
’
s a huge rock.
It
’
s obviously
been thrown on purpose. Why would someone do that?
”

She looked at Cain. He immediately said what she was
thinking.
“
Adams
Construction? Perhaps this is a warning for Douglas. Is there any paper tied
around the rock, some sort of warning or threat?
”

Julia took another step.
“
Like something telling Douglas to sell his house or else? I can
’
t see anything.
”
She carefully made her way over to the rock and
crouched next to it.
“
No, there
’
s no paper
around it, and nothing written on the rock itself. I
’
m going to wrap it in a cloth and take it to the police. I don
’
t know if you can get fingerprints from a rock, but it
’
s worth trying. I know Douglas won
’
t take this threat seriously, but I am!
”

She wrapped the rock in a clean cleaning cloth and
then retreated from the room. She said,
“
We can
’
t leave the
window like that. I
’
ll phone
Joshua Bentley, he
’
s a local
handyman, and a friend of Dad
’
s.
”

Joshua Bentley was nearby and he promised to be there
within ten minutes. Julia and Cain carefully swept up the broken glass whilst
they waited for him.

When Joshua arrived Julia asked him if he could secure
the carpet at the top of the stairs too.

“
No problem.
”
He nodded and
turned to Cain.
“
You must be
Cain. Ray
’
s told me all
about you. If you ever need any work doing on your house, give me a call. I do
a cheaper rate for friends.
”

Cain beamed. Julia wasn
’
t sure if that was due to the fact that Joshua had mentioned her dad, or
the cheaper rate for friends.

Julia said to Cain,
“
Let
’
s have a look
in the garden, see if we can spot any footprints similar to those I saw
earlier.
”

They didn
’
t find any footprints due to the fact that the area below the kitchen
window was paved. Julia looked towards the gate at the bottom of the path.
“
Anyone can just walk in here, it
’
s not secure.
”

“
I think
Douglas is the kind of man that can take care of himself,
”
Cain said.

Julia nodded.
“
So he likes to think. Would you mind helping me collect some herbs? I
never got chance to do it earlier.
”

Ten minutes later Joshua called out from the back
door,
“
I
’
ve fixed the carpet and boarded up the window. I
’
ll come back with the right sized glass tomorrow. Bye!
”

“
Thanks!
”
Julia called
after him.
“
Right, Cain,
we
’
d better go. I
’
ll leave Douglas a note about the window and carpet.
”

Cain said,
“
And what are you going to do about the rock that broke the window?
”

Julia said,
“
I
’
m going to let
the police know.
”
She sighed.
“
I don
’
t think they
’
ll be happy to
see me again so soon.
”

Chapter 6

The following morning was Saturday and Julia usually
spent the day on her accounts. But she couldn
’
t settle down to them. She tried phoning Douglas a few times but there
was never any reply. Julia
’
s thoughts wandered to Nina. Was she still in the hospital? Had she
broken any bones? Had she taken a turn for the worse? Julia had phoned the
hospital, but, as expected, they wouldn
’
t give her any news because she wasn
’
t a relative.

Julia closed her accounts page on her laptop.
“
I
’
ll just have
to go and see Douglas,
”
she told herself.

She drove towards Douglas
’
house and saw
him waiting at the bus stop a short distance from his home. She stopped the
car, lowered the window and said,
“
Good morning. I
’
ve been trying to ring you.
”

Douglas impatiently tapped his watch.
“
Stupid buses! I
’
ve been waiting here for an hour. There was supposed to be one fifty
minutes ago, and then one ten minutes ago. Neither has shown up! No doubt three
will come along together any minute now!
”

“
Where are you
going?
”

“
To the
hospital. Nina will be worried sick, I told her I
’
d be in to see her first thing.
”

“
Get in, I
’
ll give you a lift.
”

Douglas didn
’
t need telling twice. He opened the passenger door and got in.
“
That
’
s decent of
you, thank you. And thank you for sorting my window out. If I ever catch the
nitwit that broke it I
’
ll have my gun out in a flash. I
’
ll teach them a lesson.
”

Julia drove away.
“
You can
’
t just shoot
anyone.
”

“
More
’
s the pity,
”
Douglas grumbled.

“
Like I said in
my note, I took the rock that came through the window. You can give it to the
police when you report the broken window.
”

“
Like hell I
will! What are the police going to do? I can take care of myself.
”

Julia smiled.
“
I thought you might say that. I
’
ll let the police know then, I
’
ve got contacts there.
”

“
Do what you like.
I
’
ve got other
things on my mind.
”

“
Nina? That
’
s why I
’
ve been
phoning you. How is she?
”

“
Doing well.
The doctor said it was a miracle that she didn
’
t break anything. She
’
s covered in bruises, but other than that, she
’
s okay.
”
He sighed happily.
“
What an amazing woman she is.
”

“
She
’
s lucky, and so are you. You could have tripped over that carpet at any
time. I
’
m surprised
that I didn
’
t find you at
the bottom on one of my visits!
”

Douglas chuckled.
“
And I
’
ll bet you
still would have helped yourself to my herb garden.
”

“
Of course I
would. You said I could help myself anytime. I wouldn
’
t let a dead body get in my way.
”

Douglas let out a bark of laughter.
“
That
’
s the spirit!
No need to let corpses get in your way. Speaking of which, here we are at the
hospital. You should see some of the patients that are on Nina
’
s ward. When I first saw them I wasn
’
t sure if they were alive or waiting to be wheeled away to the mortuary.
I hated leaving Nina there last night but the doctor insisted.
”

Julia pulled into the car park. Douglas said,
“
You might as well find a parking space. I know you want to see Nina for
yourself. It
’
ll cost you an
arm and a leg to park here though.
”

Julia parked up and paid for a ticket. Douglas moved
from foot to foot at her side.
“
Hurry up, woman! Nina
’
s waiting for me.
”

“
I
’
m ready,
”
Julia said. She followed Douglas into the hospital and along corridors.
For an older man he moved swiftly. She was out of breath as they turned into a
ward.

Julia was expecting to see a wan-faced Nina surrounded
by similar-looking patients. She stopped in mid-step and blinked. Blimey, it
looked like some sort of party was going on. Nina was propped up in bed,
wearing dark blue silky pyjamas, a similar coloured ribbon held back her hair.
The patients at either side of her were smiling in her direction like awe struck
fans. Chairs had been pulled up all around Nina
’
s bed and were occupied by various women, all above the age of sixty by
the look of them. Vases of flowers adorned Nina
’
s bedside table and there were many boxes of open chocolates spread over
her bed. The chocolates were being eaten regularly by Nina
’
s visitors.

Julia was surprised that the hospital staff were
allowing such a rowdy event to continue. But one look at the smiling faces of
the nearby nurses told Julia that they had fallen under Nina
’
s spell too.

“
Douglas!
”
Nina called
out.
“
You came! I
was wondering where you were. Oh, everybody, it
’
s Douglas. Doesn
’
t he look handsome this morning?
”

There was some nodding between the women. Julia saw a
couple of them eyeing up Douglas
’
behind as he bent over to give Nina a kiss. Julia
walked closer to Nina
’
s bed.

“
Julia! Oh, my
dear, how lovely to see you! Look, everyone, this is Julia. We only met
yesterday but I feel like we
’
re going to be great friends.
”
Julia felt
heat rush to her cheeks as many pairs of eyes looked her up and down.

One of the women stood up and said,
“
Nina, we have to be going. You take care and don
’
t listen to those doctors! They know nothing. Remember what they said
about my wind problem? Pah! They know nothing.
”

The other women stood up too and said their goodbyes
to Nina. Nina insisted that they take some of the chocolates with them. The
women refused at first but Nina insisted that they take them. There was a lot
of chattering and nattering as the group buttoned up their coats, collected
their handbags and said another farewell to the patient.

“
Don
’
t even think about coming back to work yet!
”
a woman with
purple hair said, pointing a finger at Nina.

Douglas, Nina and Julia waited for the women to leave.
When they had Nina said to Julia,
“
Could you take those other boxes of chocolates? I didn
’
t want to upset my friends but chocolate does not agree with me at all!
Please, don
’
t refuse, you
’
ll be doing me a favour.
”

Julia took the last two boxes off the bed and put them
in her bag. Chocolate didn
’
t disagree with her at all, it very much agreed with her. Julia sat down
and asked how Nina was.

Nina
’
s eyes sparkled and she motioned for Douglas to pull the curtains on at
either side of her bed. As soon as the curtains were pulled Nina burst into
tears.
“
Oh, I
’
m sorry. I can
’
t help it! I tried to be brave for my friends, they
’
ve been so kind to me, but I can
’
t keep my tears in.
”

Douglas put his arm around her and said,
“
There, there, my love, what
’
s the matter?
”

Nina sniffed and pulled a lace handkerchief from her
sleeve.
“
My body hurts
more than I let on. I
’
m trying to be strong. I want to go home, Douglas, I don
’
t like being in hospital. I feel like I
’
m closer to death here. Don
’
t tell the doctors I
’
ve been crying, will you?
”

Douglas pulled her closer.
“
Of course I won
’
t. We
’
ll have you
out of here today. You can stay at my house, I
’
ve got plenty of room.
”

“
No, I can
’
t put you to any bother.
”

“
Nonsense! I
insist on it.
”

“
But what will
people think?
”

“
They can think
what they like. I won
’
t take no for an answer.
”
Douglas turned to Julia and said,
“
I
’
m not leaving
this hospital without Nina. I might be here a while, you can go. Thank you for
the lift but we
’
ll get a taxi
back.
”

“
I don
’
t mind waiting,
”
Julia said.

Nina
’
s tears began again.
“
Oh, I
’
m being such a
nuisance! I don
’
t want you to
see me like this.
”

Julia felt Nina
’
s embarrassment and stood up.
“
You
’
re not a
nuisance. I
’
ll go but ring
me if you need anything.
”

Nina held her hand out and pulled Julia close. She
pecked her on the cheek and said,
“
Thank you, you
’
ve been so kind.
”

Julia waved her thanks away. She said goodbye and
walked away. Douglas still had his arm around Nina
’
s frail-looking shoulders. Nina looked ready to burst into tears again.

As Julia drove away from the hospital she felt a
determination wash through her body. She was going to see the police and tell
them about the rock, the footprints and the men in the woods. If Nina Sapphire
was going to be staying with Douglas the last thing she needed was another rock
through the window!