Ableary-eyed Sabrina pushed opened the door to Monique’s to be greeted by a frenzied Linda Harris.
‘So, tell me all about it– were they mean to you? I take it you didn’t do it, or they would have surely locked you up overnight.’ Sabrina imagined the woman stalking her outside the flat to see exactly when she returned.
‘Linda, if you think I’m capable of poisoning someone, then you’re not as good a detective as you think you are.’
‘Well, who did it, then?’
‘I don’t know.’ Sabrina sighed heavily. ‘Look, I’m tired, can you just sort me a cappuccino, please? I’m sure you will be the first to find out who did it, then you can tellmeall about it.’
‘Rumour has it, you had a bit of thing with him. Lowen Kellow, I mean.’
Sabrina felt her face drop. She really wasn’t in the mood for fuelling the woman’s fire, and actually was past caring what anyone thought now.
‘Yes, Linda. I did and he has huge feet, but a tiny little dick.’
Linda squirted the milk steamer in her face by mistake and screamed.
Kara was setting up her flower stall outside when Sabrina marched down the hill. ‘You OK, Jilly?’
Sabrina’s face softened. She stopped in her tracks and went over to Passion Flowers. ‘If there was an international award for gossiping, Linda Harris would win every year, hands down.’
‘You’re right there.’ Kara’s laughing caused her huge bump to jump up and down. ‘Ouch.’
‘You OK?’ Sabrina put her hand on Kara’s arm.
‘Yes, just a slight twinge. I literally feel like I’ve got a sack of potatoes up my dress today and the terrible twosome were awake again from five this morning.’
‘Oh, bless you. When are you on maternity leave from?’
‘Until they pop out amidst a bed of magnolias and roses in the arrangement room out back. I expect. We are so busy.’
‘Take care of yourself, won’t you.’
‘It’s fine, honestly. I know my limits and I’m pregnant, not ill.’
Sabrina immediately thought about Dom and what he had said about not wanting the French stick to have to work. He still hadn’t phoned her, despite her message about being in a police cell. And she’d heard nothing about any arrangements for the fifth of November. Granted, she had said that she would think about it, but she had expected some kind of communication, at least.
‘So, have you heard anything about Lowen Kellow, Kara? I mean who would do such a thing? It’s quite worrying, isn’t it?’
The mum-to-be put her hand to her stomach. ‘Ooh, that was a big kick. Sorry Jilly, I need a wee and the pelvic floor ain’t quite what it used to be.’ With that, she went charging back into the shop.
‘Alright, Charlie?’ Sabrina gave the tough looking bald man a wave. He didn’t seem in as good spirits as usual. He gave her a tentative thumbs up. Undeterred, she went over to him. ‘No free apples today then?’
‘Nah, not today. Don’t want people accusing my old hag of giving out poisoned ones, now, do we.’ He winked.
‘You’re so rude about your dear wife. Where is Pat, anyway?’
‘She’s a bit under the weather, says it’s the menopause.’
‘Oh, dear.’
‘Yes, she’s not sleeping well. She’ll be along later. I think they called it ‘menopause’ because it really does put a pause on us men. I’ve never known a woman have so many headaches.’
‘In a world where you can be anything, be kind, Mr Dillon.’ Sabrina assumed a self-righteous air and grinned at him.
‘My Pat. I love her to the moon and back, she knows that. Anyway, hope it weren’t too stressful for you yesterday.’
‘I was innocent, so it was an experience. But I was a bit scared, to be honest.’
