The Black Rock Murder Read online

  The Black Rock Murder

  Waterfell Tweed Cozy Mystery Series: Book Six

  Mona Marple

  Copyright © 2018 by Mona Marple

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  For Lisa

  Thank you for seeing the worst of me

  And loving me anyway

  1

  “Go on, tell her.” Cass repeated.

  Sandy gazed between her best friend’s eager face to Olivia’s own coy smile. The three of them had been sat in The Tweed nursing hot chocolates for the last hour while an awful storm raged outside. Olivia had been a bundle of nervous energy, and had already spilled one mug of hot chocolate all over the weathered table when a crack of thunder raged outside.

  Cass had pushed her to share her announcement, and she seemed uncomfortable.

  “She doesn’t have to if she’s not ready.” Sandy said, not wanting to see the girl embarrassed. “It’s fine Olivia, tell me when you’re… when the time’s right.”

  Olivia looked at her, all doe-eyes, with relief.

  “Oh, don’t be silly.” Cass said. “Shall I tell her for you?”

  Olivia gave a snort of dismissive laughter and took a gulp of hot chocolate, for courage perhaps. The drink left a faint chocolate moustache above her upper lip. Sandy caught Cass’ eye but they managed to conceal their amusement.

  “Right, okay… it’s not really big news…” Olivia began, but her attention was lost when the door to the public house opened. Her boyfriend, Derrick, launched himself at their table, and Sandy realised why she had been reluctant to share the news. It hadn’t been nerves, but the fact that for Olivia, the most important person hadn’t yet arrived.

  “Evening ladies.” Derrick said. He flashed a smile at them both, then planted a kiss on Olivia’s forehead and took a seat. “Anyone need a drink?”

  “Oh for goodness sake, we’ve been waiting for this moment all night! Don’t distract her now.” Cass said. Sandy noticed that some of her eyebrows weren’t actually hair and hoped her friend wouldn’t try to convince her to try out the microblading. “Come on, Livvy, it’s a school night after all.”

  Olivia’s cheeks flushed and she narrowed her eyes towards her big sister.

  “Well, it’s nothing that exciting really, I didn’t even want to do an announcement like this. I’ve got a job, that’s all.”

  “A job?” Sandy repeated. “That’s great! Well done, Olivia! What is it? Where?”

  “Well done Livvy, I’m proud of ya.” Derrick said. His whole face was taken over with a smile, transforming him into a caricature of teeth and pride.

  “It’s in the church, helping the vicar.” Olivia said, her voice quiet, posture rigid.

  “That’s wonderful.” Sandy said. Rob Fields was a calm, kind man.

  “The church?” Derrick asked.

  Olivia nodded and crossed her slender arms over her chest.

  “I didn’t know you were religious.”

  She shrugged, in that sullen way teenagers had of suggesting that nothing much holds any importance to them.

  “Olivia…” Cass began.

  “It’s just a job.” Olivia said. “Probably just filing papers and stuff, but I want to earn my own money. I don’t want to cost you money, Cass.”

  “Enough, don’t talk like that. We’re family. And anyway, I look after you now, you return the favour when I’m old.”

  Olivia pulled a face. “I’m not making any promises!”

  “I can’t believe you’re working in a church.” Derrick muttered. Sandy glanced at him, saw the confusion on his face.

  “Why?” She asked.

  He shrugged his shoulders then in an action that mirrored Olivia’s own. Was the shrug the international language of the teenager, Sandy wondered. “Just surprised.” He said.

  “Well, I pop in there sometimes on the way home from school…” Olivia admitted.

  Cass raised her eyebrows, the hairs and the non-hairs.

  “It’s dead peaceful in there. Rob chats to me a bit sometimes, other times he just leaves me be.” Olivia said. She grew self-conscious as she spoke and looked around at her audience. “I guess I just like it.”

  “Listen.” Cass said. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You can go to church, you can believe in God or not believe in God… but if you’re going to be a Christian, be a loud and proud Christian. In fact, here’s a life lesson for you. Whatever you’re going to be, be loud and proud about it. Life’s too short to worry about whether everyone else agrees or likes the same things.”

  “I’m a Christian.” Derrick admitted. He flashed a smile at Olivia. “That’s why I was surprised, cos not many people my age seem to believe…”

  “And I’m not a Christian.” Cass said, the bluntness of her words surprising Sandy. “But I’ll always support you finding your own way and your own beliefs, sis.”

  “What about you, auntie Sandy?” Olivia asked.

  Sandy considered the question. Like many of the villagers, she attended the church regularly for funerals and events, but she wasn’t a devout attendee. “You know, I don’t really know what I believe, to be honest.”

  “And that’s ok too.” Cass said. “Now, why don’t the two of you walk home? I need to speak to Sandy but I won’t be much longer.”

  Derrick nodded and stood up. Olivia did the same and planted kisses on Cass and Sandy’s cheeks, then the two of them walked out of the pub hand in hand.

  “Are you okay for money?” Sandy blurted when they were alone.

  “Erm…”

  “With Olivia saying she wanted to earn her own money, I just wondered if things were okay. Is business doing alright?”

  “The salon’s fine.” Cass said dismissively. “We’ve had a few arguments about pocket money, but nothing major. She wants to buy some really bloomin’ expensive make-up, it’s gorgeous, but I don’t have eyeshadows as expensive as the ones she likes and I work full-time! I said she could do some hours in the salon, but next thing I know she’s been asked to help Rob Fields.”

  “Well he’s a great person for her to spend time with.” Sandy said.

  “Yeah… I don’t really know him.”

  “Me either, actually.” Sandy said. “He comes in the shop for watercolour painting books. I like him.”

  “You like everyone.” Cass said with an eye roll. It was true that Sandy got on with most people she came across.

  “So, what did you need to speak to me about?”

  “Oh, Sand, you won’t believe it.” Cass said. She buried her head in her hands dramatically.

  “How’s my favourite lady?” Tom Nelson called as he appeared at their table. Sandy shot him a look that she hoped told him it wasn’t a good time. Her best friend had already had her moments of appearing unsettled by Sandy’s blossoming romance with Tom. He was a catch, with his tall good looks, but he appeared unable to recognise subtle cues, and leaned in to kiss Sandy, who avoided his mouth and instead whispered not now in his ear. He pulled away, puppy-dog sadness on his beautiful face, and Sandy’s heart ached as she felt the opposing pulls on her from him and Cass.

  “We’re just in the middle of something.” Cass said, her voice laced with a false friendliness.

  “Ah, girl talk.” Tom said. “Say no more.”

  Sandy watched him skulk away to behind the bar, where a queue had formed during his absence. She let out a sigh. “You really could be nicer to Tom, you know.”

  Cass blinked
at her, heavy spider lashes suggesting she was more surprised by the comment than it warranted. “I just miss you, Sand. But you’re right, I’m sorry. Anyway… can I talk to you now?”

  “Of course you can.” Sandy said. “What’s going on?”

  “It’s Tommy Fisher.”

  Sandy let out a laugh, then saw the serious expression on Cass’ face. “Bomber? That’s a blast from the past… what about him?”

  “He’s been messaging me.”

  “How?”

  “Facebook.” Cass admitted with a frown. “It’s my fault really, I was on there one night and I thought I’d look some people up, you know how you do… I looked up loads of people, not just him. He’s not changed, you know. Well, he has obviously, but if you could guess how you’d expect him to look…”

  “I’d expect him to be Mr Flash.” Sandy muttered. “Toned, tanned and… I can’t think of another T. Covered in designer clothes, probably.”

  “Have you looked him up too?” Cass asked, face solemn.

  “No, I have not!” Sandy said, appalled. “Why would I want to look up the guy who broke my best friend’s heart?”

  Cass nodded. “Well he does look just how you said.”

  “On her sixteenth birthday.”

  “I know…”

  “But?”

  “But what?” Cass asked.

  “But he’s been messaging you, and you’ve been replying, haven’t you?”

  Cass blushed. “I might have sent the first message.”

  Sandy groaned.

  “What?! Hear me out… he was my first love, Sand. I was just curious. Thought I’d see what he’s been up to.”

  “And what has he been up to?”

  “He says he’s never stopped loving me, Sand.” Cass said.

  “Of course he does.” Sandy said. She rolled her eyes.

  “I know, I know. Look, if I was you, I’d be saying all this too. I’ve been so nervous about telling you.”

  “Just don’t do anything stupid.” Sandy warned. “You’ve always fallen in love too fast. Don’t let him fool you into… into… don’t let him break your heart again. Where is he anyway? What’s he doing with his life?”

  “He’s an entrepreneur.” Cass gushed.

  Sandy groaned.

  “He’s successful, Sand. You should see the photos. Ooh, let me see if I can…” Cass pulled her mobile phone from her handbag and tapped away at the screen, then held it up for Sandy to see. She gazed at the face of Bomber, looking slightly older but unmistakably him. Could a man who had barely changed on the outside have changed on the inside?

  “He looks just as I’d expect.” Sandy said, noting the deep tone of his skin and the designer logo on the polo shirt he wore.

  Cass flicked to another image. Bomber in front of a red sports car that cost more than Sandy’s cottage.

  “I’ve seen enough.” She said, and Cass returned the phone to her handbag. “So, you’re messaging each other. What’s the point of it?”

  Cass gave a sad smile and shook her head. “There isn’t a point, is there? I’m just reminiscing, I guess, thinking what could have been.”

  “What could have been if he hadn’t been a complete moron to you, don’t forget that bit.” Sandy said.

  “We were kids!”

  “He broke your heart.” Sandy said, her voice stern. “I was there, remember. I was there trying to put it back together for you. Watching you waste your tears over that waste of space. Argh! I can’t believe you’re having anything to do with him.”

  Cass nodded and wiped a tear from her cheek. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…”

  “You shouldn’t have dug it up.” Sandy said. “Sometimes you have to leave rubbish where it belongs. And Bomber was nothing but rubbish.”

  “He was rubbish that I loved.” Cass admitted, and Sandy realised that her friend needed support, not scolding. She reached across the table and gripped Cass’ hands in hers.

  “I know.” She murmured. “I know. Just leave him alone, yeah?”

  Cass forced a smile and nodded.

  2

  The floor was soaked.

  Every time a customer walked in, the wind forced a splatter of rain and mud in with them and the people already gathered in the cafe’s warmth drew their cardigans tighter around their bodies and shivered.

  “This is madness.” Bernice muttered as she returned to the kitchen with the mop under her arm. “I can’t keep up with it. Someone’s going to fall their length out there if we’re not careful.”

  “It’s going to have to stop soon, isn’t it?” Sandy asked, gazing through the kitchen towards the front door, where she could glimpse the dark skies and hear the roar of heavy rain on the pavement outside. The storm had begun early the evening before, just as Sandy was about to head out to The Tweed to meet Cass and Olivia, and the village had been barraged with an onslaught of rain, fierce winds and thunder and lightning since.

  “The news says it’ll be like this all day.” Bernice said as she washed her hands. The kitchen was radiant with the smell of honey and lavender, a new recipe that Sandy couldn’t wait to try. As if reading her mind, Bernice opened the oven door and pulled a tray of two circular cake tins out. The top of the sponges were slightly dark, just how Sandy liked it, and Bernice had already prepared a buttercream frosting to go between the two layers.

  “That smells so good.” Sandy said.

  “Hmm.” Bernice grunted. “Two minutes too much oven.”

  Sandy smiled. Bernice was never happy with her own creations in her strive for perfection. Luckily, the customers all seemed to realise how talented she was and how delicious her cakes were.

  “I’ll take this out.” Sandy said, picking up the bacon sandwich she’d just prepared. She’d popped down to help with the serving because of a sudden influx of customers; a great problem to have. It seemed that all of the villagers had come out despite the awful weather, a phenomenon that was common in Sandy’s experience. People tended to notice the bad weather and fight against the feeling of needing to hide out in their own home, so braved the weather and hid out in Books and Bakes instead. The awful, wet days could be some of the busiest for the cafe, and Sandy expected she would be needed for most of the day downstairs in the cafe, leaving her beloved books upstairs unsupervised. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but she was a valuable extra pair of hands to make sure customers didn’t wait too long for their orders.

  She carried the bacon sandwich out to the cafe and smiled at how busy it was. There was a spark of energy amongst the customers as they all shouted across from table to table, competing to see who was the most wet and who had the least sleep the night before thanks to the storm.

  All of the lights were on and they flickered with each bolt of lightning, causing the customers to gasp and watch the bulbs. One woman tugged on the sleeve of her coffee date every time it happened, and the man jerked her off of him so he could continue eating his full English.

  “Here you go.” Sandy said, placing the food in front of Dorie Slaughter, who sat with her son Jim. He was already in his police uniform, the wet shirt stuck to his bulging stomach. “No food for you, Jim?”

  “Not today.” He said, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he looked as if he was competing in a wet t-shirt competition. “I’ve got to head to the station in a minute.”

  “We’re talking about Elaine.” Dorie shared between chews of her breakfast. “Her birthday’s coming up soon, you know, and you know what my Jim’s like. He goes over the top. I’m telling him nothing too special for her.”

  Sandy let out a small laugh. Dorie had a love/hate relationship with her son’s partner, at times appearing to have welcomed her into the family, at other times fiercely jealous of Elaine’s place in her son’s affections.

  “Don’t laugh, Sandy, this is very serious. My Jim has spoilt women all his life and look where it’s got him. They stay for the good times and then, poof, take advantage and abandon him.” Dorie continued.
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  Jim shifted in his seat uncomfortably.

  “What did you want to get her, Jim?”

  He let out a deep sigh. “I was thinking we could have a weekend away, go across to the seaside for a night maybe.”

  “With your shifts!” Dorie exclaimed. “No time to sit and eat breakfast with your mother but you can find time for a weekend away. Nonsense.”

  “You’re probably right.” Jim agreed. He was a peacekeeper, a timid man who hated confrontation. “Your idea was better anyway, mum.”

  “Of course it was.” Dorie said. “I know women.”

  “Dare I ask?” Sandy said.

  “I’m getting her a steam iron.” Jim said.

  “A steam iron?” Sandy repeated. “Has she asked for one?”

  Dorie let out a small, mean laugh. “She buys clothes that are meant to be crinkled, that one. But that’s no good for my Jim’s shirts. She’s dating a respectable man now, there are certain standards she needs to keep.”

  Sandy tried to hide the smirk from her face. Elaine Peters had remained single since her husband had died years ago, and yet Dorie talked about her as if she was a harlot who cavorted with all types of questionable men.

  “So, a steam iron so she can iron your shirts.” Sandy said. “She’s a lucky lady.”

  With that, she walked away before Dorie realised she was being sarcastic.

  Her sister, Coral, was in the middle of taking an order from an elderly woman, so when the doorbell rang out to signal another customer, Sandy instinctively looked up with a smile to welcome them.

  Her smiled dropped when she saw who had entered.

  Even without having seen the pictures the night before, she would have recognised him instantly.

  “Well, I’ll be damned! You workin’ here, Sandy?” Bomber called out, his voice as brash and irritating as it had always been. Sandy cringed. There had been a time, many years before, when she had managed to tolerate him. But that had changed when he broke her best friend’s heart. Now, even the sight of him, the mere ring of his voice, made her furious.