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
‘I’m so glad you think so. Oh.’ She frowned as she looked at something behind Dee.
When Dee turned, she saw Fiona was looking at the painting she’d taken out earlier. The one with the woman sitting in the empty bar.
‘Beautiful, isn’t it?’ Dee said.
‘Yes, I suppose it is. I haven’t seen it before. I wonder when she did it. Sorry, what did you say your name was?’
‘I don’t think I’ve introduced myself. I’m Dee.’
‘Nice to meet you. Annie’s gone to make coffee, you said?’ Fiona looked at her watch, frowning. ‘We were meant to be going for lunch, you see. I was expecting Annie to be home half an hour ago.’
‘Mum? What are you doing here? Oh God, I’m sorry. Is it lunchtime already?’
Annie had come back into the studio, carrying a mug in each hand, her limp evident again as she crossed the room to hand one of the mugs to Dee.
‘Broke my leg when I was little,’ she said, when Dee asked about the limp. ‘Fell off a swing in the park.’
‘She gave us a terrible shock,’ Fiona said. ‘It healed perfectly well, apart from the limp. Which you only ever see when she’s tired. Annie darling, you’re not pushing yourself too hard are you?’
‘I’m fine, Mum.’ Annie rolled her eyes at Dee. ‘You’d think at my age my mother would stop worrying about me so much, wouldn’t you?’
‘Well I know what you’re like,’ Fiona said. ‘Take today, for instance. We were meant to be meeting half an hour ago, but you forgot.’ She looked at Dee as she continued speaking. ‘She’s got a memory like a sieve when it comes to social engagements. Once she gets in here, she forgets about everything else.’
‘I hadn’t forgotten,’ Annie said. ‘I just hadn’t realised it was so late. The morning’s flown by. This is Dee, by the way.’
‘Thank you.’ Fiona smiled at Dee. ‘We’ve already introduced ourselves.’
‘Dee’s here to buy one of my paintings,’ Annie continued. ‘Well, she might – if she finds something she likes.’
‘I’ve found plenty of things I like,’ Dee said, ‘but I think I’ve made my decision.’
She pointed to the painting she’d picked out a moment ago.
‘Oh.’ Annie’s face softened as she looked at the painting. ‘You’ve got a good eye, you know. That’s one of my favourites.’
‘You sure you want to sell it?’ Dee said.
‘Of course.’ Annie smiled. ‘I’m glad you like it. I can arrange to get it framed for you too, if want? A friend of mine can do it for half the price you’d pay anyone else. What do you think?’
‘Sounds great,’ Dee said.