Murder in the Cake: Cozy Murder Mystery (Harley Hill Mysteries Book 4) (22 page)

Maggie allowed herself a little smile. “I let myself in the back door and I can still be quiet when I need to, even with a stick.”

“Who the hell are you?” Jim snapped at Maggie, causing Max to growl.
 

“Never mind who
I
am. What matters is that we know
who
, or rather what, you are.”

Marianne looked worried, but Jim just sneered. I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t overly keen on dear old dad after all.

“And what’s that?” he said.

“You’re active Russian spies,” she said, and before either of them could say anything, she raised her hand. “Don’t bother trying to deny it, you’re wasting your breath and insulting all our intelligences. We know your dirty lies. We have means too. You’re not the only ones who can play with the truth.”

“It’s true, isn’t it, Mom?” I said.
 

Just then Monty strutted into the room and began grooming himself in front of the fire. He glanced up at me and gave me a slow blink, which I found strangely reassuring, like he was telling me that he’d got my back.

Marianne sighed. “Fine, yes, it… it’s true, damnit!” A single tear ran down her cheek. “Look at me crying, I’m losing my touch.”

“You’ve lost more than that,” I said.
 

She looked away. “So, what are we going to do now?”
 

“There is no ‘we’.” I stood up and went over to Maggie. “You two are leaving London, the country. Go back to Russia. Go back to where you belong.”

Mom got to her feet “Harley, please—”

“I’ll give you a day’s head start, and then I’m going to inform the authorities about you. I’m giving you the day for Michael’s sake.”

Dad narrowed his eyes at me. “You have no idea how important the work that we do is for the security of the world.”

“You got that right. But I refuse to be a part of your new cover story.”

He huffed dismissively. “I knew this was a mistake. Come on, Marianne.”
 

I was kind of relieved that he was being such a jerk. It made it easier telling him to get lost. It was harder watching Marianne leave, though.
 

Her head was down. Her shoulders slumped.

She paused before she left. “You’re so young, Harley, you’ll understand one day.”

“I hope so, because I sure don’t understand now.”

“Just remember that no matter what, we do love you.” Another tear ran down her cheek. I noticed then how pretty she was, despite the tears. She sniffed. “There I go again. Maybe I really should retire. I’m going soft in my old age.”
 

“Stay safe, Mom,” I said and hugged her for the last time.

I went to the sitting room window and watched them walk out of my life for the last time. I felt empty inside.

I went over to the fire and threw a couple of logs on before picking Monty up. He grumbled a little but let me hold him. I think he knew that I needed to cuddle something soft.

“Bloody Russkis,” said Maggie “They always did have a cheek, and they’ve eaten all of my cookies.”

“Actually, that was me, sorry,” I said, and then I broke down and cried like a baby.

Chapter Twenty-Three

About an hour and a gallon of coffee later, I was feeling more like myself again.
 

Maggie had kept the java flowing and had provided enough cake to sink a pretty big battleship. Just as the food torpor started to kick in, there was a knock at the door.

Max woofed and bounded into the hallway.

I didn’t get up. I didn’t want to answer it in case it was my parents again.
 

Maggie must have sensed my reluctance. “I’ll go see who it is,” she said and hobbled out of the room.

I sat there, praying it wasn’t my folks. To my surprise and utter delight, it wasn’t my parents, it was Cole.

“Harley!” He looked stressed when he dashed into the sitting room but visibly relaxed when he saw me. “They told me down at the station that you were in hospital, but they got you mixed up with Michael. I only found out when I got there. I was worried sick.”
 

He rushed over, swept me into his arms, and hugged me.

“It’s good to see you too,” I said. “Er, I don’t want to sound grumpy, but you’re crushing me just a little bit, darling.”

“Oh, sorry, hun,” he said and loosened his bear hug. “I was so worried. Michael and Cordi told me what happened with that crazy woman, Grey. Why didn’t you call me?”

What he left unsaid was, ‘Why did you call Alex?’ and I’m glad he did because I really didn’t have an answer for that.
 

“I thought you’d be busy, and I didn’t want to bother you.”

He smiled. “You never bother me.”

I wasn’t expecting him to react this way. I’d half convinced myself that he was going to dump me at some point, but he seemed so concerned. “You’ve been so busy recently, working away, I just… I just—”

He kissed me, long and hard.

“I believe this is where I go and powder my nose, or you two go and get a room,” Maggie said a little huffily before leaving and closing the door behind her.

***

I filled Cole in about everything that had happened with my parents as we cuddled up on the sofa. I didn’t cry again, but it still made me sad, knowing that they just wanted to use me as a cover so that they could carry on spying.

“Oh, Harley, love. You’ve been through hell. But I promise I’m going to make it up to you.”

“That’s funny.”

“Why?”

“I thought you were going to dump me.”

He sat up, looking incredulously at me. “I thought you were supposed to be a super sleuth. What gave you that idea?”

“You’ve been super busy, and you told me that you had something important to discuss with me. One minute we were close, then the next…” I shrugged. “I just put two and two together.”

“And made twenty.” He laughed. “I’ve been working my butt off doing extra shifts and overtime to get the money together for a deposit on a bigger flat.”

“What’s wrong with the one you have?”

“Nothing, it’s a great flat, but it isn’t big enough for two people.”

I looked at him askance. “What are you trying to say, officer?”

“I’m trying to say that I’d like you to maybe think about moving in.”

I laughed. I’d never felt so relieved. “Are you serious?”

“Never more so.” He grinned shyly. He looked so cute, my heart just melted. “I had a bit of a shock at work. They tried to pack me off to Cornwall, and after everything I’ve done. I’ve literally bled for this job.” He shook his head in disbelief. “They were going to put me out to pasture, just like that, and if I didn’t go along with it, they threatened to take my pension, so I figured it was time to get my priorities straight. That meant putting you first.”

“So that’s why you’ve been so distracted lately?”

He nodded, putting his arm around my shoulders. “Yeah, but I didn’t want to tell you and worry you because of the case and the whole parent thing.”

“Well, that didn’t work. I’ve been concerned about you.”

“I’m so sorry, Harley. I promise I’ll never shut you out again.”

I was still listening, still taking in everything he said, but at the same time I couldn’t help thinking that it was too much of a coincidence that Alex was going to Cornwall. “So, how come you aren’t being sent to Cornwall?”

“An unbelievable coincidence. Our friend Alex Cobb requested the transfer and there’s only one position available. Can you believe it? He’s going down there for a girl or something, or so I’ve heard.”
 

It was a good job that he couldn’t see my face right then, because I know I looked utterly stunned. “Did he know that you’d been earmarked to go down there?” I asked and hoped I sounded casual.

“He must have done to find out about it in the first place. I think he even pulled some strings to get the posting because my boss really wanted me out of London.”

“How come?”

“Seems I’ve ruffled some feathers in high places and he has his eye on a knighthood.”

“I don’t believe it.”

Cole laughed. “I know, right? If only Cobb knew he was doing me a favour.”

“Yeah, if only.” My mind was reeling. I couldn’t believe what Alex had done for Cole and me. He had totally sacrificed his career and took that transfer so Cole and I could remain together.
 

It was too much. As happy as I was that my future with Cole looked certain, it came with a terrible cost. Alex wasn’t really the bad guy Cordi knew—he had other sides to him, and this just proved it, which made the whole situation even more difficult.
 

I’d have to talk with him at some point. In the meantime, though, with all the stress of the case and the confrontation with my parents, I just decided to let it all go and just be with Cole with no more worry or stress.

We snuggled on the sofa for the remainder of the afternoon. Monty curled up on my feet and Max lay down on the rug by the fire that was glowing softly golden.
 

It began to rain as evening fell. I sat there, listening to the rhythmic tapping against the glass and the beating of Cole’s heart. I was safe, wrapped in the arms of the man I loved, in the house that had become my home.
 

This was where I belonged—not abroad with complete strangers.

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Are you sure this is what you want, Harley?” Cordi asked as she poured skimmed milk over the bowl of muesli.

“Yes. I’m sure,” I said without much conviction. “I’m turning over a new leaf, speaking of which, here’s your cup of red bush tea.” I handed her the cup of herbal tea.

Cole and Michael sniggered.

“What’s so funny?” I asked. They both mumbled ‘nothing’ but continued to snigger like a pair of schoolboys.
 

It was good to have Michael and Cordi back home. They’d got back late last night. Michael had his arm in a cast that was supported on a strut, making it stick out at an awkward angle.
 

Maggie made some excuse to leave early, so the four of us spent the night sitting by the fire, with a nice bottle of Chianti and Chinese takeaway.
 

It was just what I needed after such a gruelling week.
 

We talked late into the night and laid a few demons to rest. I went to bed feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

The next morning I woke up bright and early and full of energy. Since I started investigating Renholm’s death, I’d eaten a diet of mostly icing and sugar. The straining top button on my jeans told me it was time to have a little cake break.
 

With that in mind, I’d bought some muesli and herbal tea for breakfast.

When everyone saw what I’d got for them, they were a little underwhelmed to say the least, but I was determined to push on with operation Healthy Eating. There has to be some balance. Exercise is taken care of by Cole and walking the dog, so I needed to make sure I looked after the diet side too for a while.

“It looks like something from the bottom of a budgie cage,” Cole said as he poked at his bowl of nutritious nutty crunch.

“No, I’d say it was more… concrete slurry, with bits,” Michael added.

I handed him a cup of red bush tea. “Come on, we need to be a lean mean crime fighting machine, now shut up and eat it, your heart will thank you.”

Michael sighed. “My heart might thank me, but my taste buds are crying.” He picked up his spoon with his left hand, which he couldn’t possibly get to his mouth on account of the cast on his arm. “Oh, dear, I can’t reach my mouth. Oh well, I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”
 

Cordi winked at me and went to Michael. She’d fussed over him like a mother hen ever since he’d broken his arm. “Oh, darling, let me help you.” She took the spoon and fed him a big mouthful of muesli.

“Aw, that is so cute,” I said.
 

Michael glared at me like a sulky kid.

Cole took a sip of tea and pulled a sour face. “This is so… so flavoursome,” he said. Even Monty, the arch food thief, wasn’t interested in the muesli. He sat by the sink, licking his paws and giving me a narrow-eyed stare.

“Oh, come on, guys, it’s not that bad,” I said with little enthusiasm. But it was true, the cereal looked like wallpaper paste and tasted like cardboard.

The back door opened and Maggie came in. Monty leapt off the sink and shot out into the back garden, no doubt to hunt up something yummy, like a snail.

Like her niece, Maggie was not what you would call a dull dresser. Today she was wearing a sunshine yellow raincoat liberally patterned with large pink begonias. She had her walking stick in one hand and a yellow umbrella in the other. The look was finished off with a bright yellow sou’wester.

“It’s still bloody raining. I thought I’d have to swim here,” she said as she shook the rain off her brolly. “What’s this?” She pointed at the bowls of cereal. “What on earth are you eating, and what’s that awful smell?”

“We’re eating bird food and that smell is red bush tea,” Cole said.
 

“I just thought we needed a bit of a break from all the stodge we’ve been eating lately,” I added.

“Stodge?” Maggie frowned at me. “Good solid food is exactly what you need when you’re sleuthing. Now go and get dressed, the lot of you. It looks like a hospital ward in here.” She brandished her brolly at us like she was herding sheep. “Go on, hurry up. I’m taking you all out for brunch.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Cole said and leapt to his feet.
 

I gave my boyfriend a hard look. “Traitor.”
 

Cole kissed me as he headed out of the kitchen. “Sorry, hun, but I’m just not a fan of bird seed and gravel breakfast mix.”

When they’d gone, Maggie peered at me over the rim of her spectacles. “How are you, Harley?” she said with uncustomary concern in her voice.

“I’m good, thanks, Maggie.” I felt a little awkward; I wasn’t used to Maggie being nice. Nobody was. “I just want to say thanks for, you know, being there yesterday, for helping me deal with my folks. You looked out for me. It’s not something that has happened much in my life, not until I met you guys.”