Death Takes A Trip (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 5) (9 page)

Chapter 15

All thoughts of questioning Nina flew out of her head
when she saw the elderly woman the next day. Julia hissed to Doris,
“
How many sleeping pills did you give her? She looks half-dead!
”

Doris sniffed.
“
I only gave her a couple. They
’
re those herbal kinds, not the strong stuff that you have to ask for.
”
She looked
over at Nina who was lying on the sofa.
“
She does look rough though. She hasn
’
t even brushed her hair.
”

Julia walked over to Nina and lowered herself so that
she was on eye level with her.
“
Hello, Nina. How are you today?
”

Nina blinked.
“
I
’
m not sure. I
don
’
t feel too
well to be honest. It
’
s like my mind is active but my body has given up.
”

“
I know that
feeling,
”
Julia said with a smile.
“
I went to see one of Douglas
’
old neighbours
yesterday. Shall I tell you what she told me?
”

There was a sudden spark in Nina
’
s eyes. She raised her head and said,
“
Yes! Tell me everything. Help me into a sitting position, please. I
’
m as floppy as a rag doll.
”

Doris came to Nina
’
s side, and between them, they managed to get her into a sitting
position.

Doris pulled a chair closer and said,
“
Spill the beans. And for heaven
’
s sake will you get your bottom off my clean carpet, Julia! Don
’
t you have chairs in your house?
”

Julia sat next to Nina and told them about Gloria.
When she
’
d finished she
said to Nina,
“
Did Douglas
ever mention Kirk Adams to you?
”

Nina shook her head. She raised a finger and said,
“
Just a moment, there were a few occasions when we were out together that
have stuck in my mind as being unusual. Sometimes, when we were out, Douglas
used to stop speaking in mid-sentence and look over his shoulder. When I asked
him what was wrong he said that he thought someone was watching him. I laughed
it off, and after a while, so did he. Do you think Kirk Adams was following us?
Listening to our conversations?
”

“
Course he was!
”
Doris butted
in.
“
He sounds like
a no-good so-and-so! I bet he sneaked into Douglas
’
house on that
Tuesday night and threw the old bugger down the stairs.
”

Julia winced at Doris
’
tone.
“
I
’
ll have to
speak to Kirk Adams. I
’
m not looking forward to it, but I
’
ll have to do it.
”

Nina pulled her dressing gown closer and announced,
“
I
’
ll come with
you. He doesn
’
t scare me!
Let me get dressed. And give me twenty minutes to put my war paint on.
”

Julia held her hands up.
“
No way! You
’
re staying
here. I can handle Kirk Adams. I think.
”

Doris leant over and prodded her roughly.
“
Have you told DI Sourface what you
’
ve found out?
”

Julia shifted in her seat.
“
I did phone him. I told him what Gloria had said.
”

Doris snorted.
“
Let me guess! Did he tell you to leave the investigating to him?
”

“
Something like
that. Anyway, I
’
d better be
going. I
’
ll let you
know how I get on.
”

Doris showed her to the door.
“
Hurry up and get this sorted out, Julia. Nina
’
s fading away.
”

“
I
’
ll try,
”
Julia replied. She walked confidently to her car and gave Doris a brisk
wave as she drove away. Her smile dropped as soon as she drove round the
corner. Where was she going to find Kirk Adams? Oh! And she
’
d forgotten to ask Nina something! She sighed. Why had she got herself
involved in this murder enquiry? She knew why. She had cared about Douglas, and
she cared for Nina. Justice had to be done.

She pulled over as her phone rang. It was Dad.
“
You
’
d better come
home, love,
”
he said.

Panic gripped Julia.
“
Why? What
’
s happened? Is
it Mum? Anna? Sam? Chloe? Is it Cain?
”

“
None of those.
I notice you didn
’
t ask if it
was me. I
’
m at your
house. You
’
ve got a
visitor.
”

Julia gulped.
“
Is it Kirk Adams?
”

“
Who? No, it
’
s Joshua Bentley. He
’
s in a right state. Just come home.
”

Julia returned to her house to find Joshua Bentley
pacing her kitchen floor. Dad was leaning against the oven eating a packet of
crisps.

When Joshua saw her, blood rushed to his face and his
mouth curled into a snarl. He jabbed a finger towards her and said,
“
You! This is all your fault!
”

Julia put her bag on the kitchen table and said,
“
What is? What have I done?
”

She took a step back as Joshua advanced on her. Dad
reached out and grabbed the back of his shirt.
“
Calm down, Joshua, mate, this isn
’
t our Julia
’
s fault at
all, you know that. Do you want a crisp?
”

“
No, I don
’
t want a crisp! Let go of my shirt, Ray.
”

“
Not until you
’
ve calmed down.
”

Joshua took a few deep breaths and spoke again in his
normal voice.
“
Everyone
’
s saying that I killed Douglas Pedley. They
’
re saying that I didn
’
t fix his carpet correctly. People have been cancelling jobs. I
’
m losing money. I wished you
’
d never phoned me in the first place!
”
He tried to
move forward again but Dad still had a firm grip on his shirt.

Julia rubbed her tired eyes. She took a step forward
and it was her turn to jab a finger at Joshua.
“
The police have already said that the carpet was deliberately cut. I
spoke to Douglas before he died, he told me that you
’
d fixed the carpet. It
’
s not my fault that people are accusing you! Why would you want to kill
Douglas anyway?
”

Dad nodded towards her and said,
“
Don
’
t make me grab
your shirt too, young lady. Stop shouting, you
’
ve scared Joshua.
”

Joshua gave her a small smile.
“
I
’
m sorry,
Julia. I know you
’
re right. You
know what people round here are like.
”

Julia lowered her finger.
“
I do. Ignore them. I
’
m sure the police will capture the real killer soon.
”

Dad released Joshua and picked up another crisp. He
waved it at Julia and said,
“
Never mind about the police, how far have you got with your detective
work?
”
He popped the crisp into his mouth.

Julia sighed.
“
I have got some information but I
’
m not sure what to do about it. Well, I do know, but I don
’
t know, if you know what I mean.
”

“
You
’
ve gone delirious,
”
Dad said.
“
Sit down, I
’
ll make us a
cuppa. Start at the beginning.
”
He pulled a chocolate bar out of his pocket and handed
it to her.
“
You can have
this, it
’
s for
emergencies. Don
’
t tell your
mum that I keep chocolate in my pockets.
”

Over tea and chocolate Julia told Dad and Joshua about
her latest findings. Joshua nodded when she
’
d finished.
“
I know what
Kirk Adams looks like. And I know where he drinks. He
’
ll be out drinking tonight. He
’
s a nasty sort, Julia, stay well away from him.
”

“
But I have to
talk to him, find out where he was on the night that Douglas died,
”
Julia
insisted.

Dad shook his head.
“
I
’
m not having
my little girl putting herself in danger.
”

Julia tutted.
“
I
’
m not a little
girl, I
’
m
…
old enough to
look after myself.
”

“
I know you
are, love,
”
Dad patted her hand.
“
But let me help you.
”
He turned to Joshua and said,
“
It
’
s been a while
since I
’
ve had a night
out. Are you up for going out tonight? Maybe to that pub that Kirk frequents?
We could have a friendly chat with him.
”

Joshua grinned and nodded.
“
That sounds like a grand idea.
”

“
I
’
ll come with you,
”
Julia said.

“
No, you
’
ll cramp my style,
”
Dad said. He stood up and picked a crisp crumb off his
jumper, he put it in his mouth.
“
You
’
re all out of
salt and vinegar crisps.
”

Julia said,
“
Be careful, both of you. I feel guilty for getting you involved.
”

Joshua stood up.
“
I
’
m already
involved. We need to find out who killed old Douglas.
”

Dad kissed her on top of her head.
“
We
’
ll let you
know how we get on. Have an early night, you look tired.
”

As Dad closed the door behind him she heard him saying
to Joshua,
“
Do they have
food at this pub of yours? Do they have apple crumble?
”

Julia smiled. She would rather speak to Kirk Adams
herself, but she was relieved that Dad and Joshua were going to do it. Her
smile dropped. She hoped they didn
’
t get into a fight.

She stood up, collected the tea things and took them
to the sink.

Cain! She hadn
’
t phoned him to let him know what Nina had told her.

He answered on the second ring. Julia quickly told him
about Nina. Then she told him about her dad
’
s plans.