Chapters (58)
- Cover
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Thirty-seven
- Thirty-eight
- Thirty-nine
- Forty
- Forty-one
- Forty-two
- Forty-three
- Forty-four
- Forty-five
- Forty-six
- Forty-seven
- Forty-eight
- Forty-nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-one
- Acknowledgements
- An Eastbourne Murder Mystery
- Canelo Crime
- About the Author
- Also by Sheila Bugler
But if she wanted to go to London, she needed money. Which meant she’d have to find a job first. She had been registered with several job agencies for a while now. Apart from that one interview last month, she hadn’t heard anything back from any of them.
She thought back to her earlier conversation with Robert. Maybe he was right, and she should have a chat with Maeve. Emer wasn’t foolish enough to think Maeve would be able to find her a job at the hotel, but she might have some good ideas. It was worth a shot, at least.
She’d received a text from Maeve earlier, saying how much she’d enjoyed last night and that she hoped they’d meet up again soon. Emer found the text and typed in her reply:
Really great to catch up. Head very sore this morning. Any chance you’re free for a coffee over the next week? I’d like to pick your brain about something.
Maeve’s reply was instant:
Coffee sounds fab. Not sure there’s anything worth picking but happy to help. Can’t stop thinking about what you said about Kitty. Wd be good to chat x
She’d been mortified earlier when she’d remembered telling Maeve about Kitty. Now, reading Maeve’s message, Emer was glad she’d told her. Because Maeve had believed her. Which meant maybe she’d be willing to help Emer find her.
Fifteen
A few nights after the text from Leonard, he called Dee to tell her he’d seen Annie again.
‘I followed her this time,’ he said. ‘Seems she’s part of a group of artists exhibiting their work in a gallery near the pub. The gallery is called E-One Art. I’ll text you a link. The website has details of all the artists, including the woman you’re interested in.’
‘Does it give a name for her?’ Dee asked.
‘Annie Holden, There’s a biography and a photo. Says she grew up in Sussex. Nothing to hint that she’s really your long-lost cousin, I’m afraid.’
After hanging up from Leonard, Dee went onto the internet and looked up the gallery. The exhibition featured work from a group of artists all local to east London. Scrolling through the list of artists, Dee found Annie’s photo and biography. She scanned the text. Annie Holden. Born and raised in Sussex, she now lived in London. After graduating from Central Saint Martins with a degree in fine art, Holden had been slowly building her artistic career and was, apparently, ‘one of the rising stars of the East End art scene’.