“I wasn’t, I swear.” Phyllis didn’t have to put on her fake “little old lady” voice now; it was quivering for real.
“Oh my God, it’syou,” Cynthia said. “You’re the woman who was here last week, aren’t you? The one with the humping dog. She said she was in a book club with Michael.”
“Michael was in a book club?” The man still had hold of Phyllis’s arm, but he turned to look at Cynthia, his face twisted in disbelief. “He didn’t strike me as the reading sort.”
“He isn’t, she was lying.”
“I wasn’t,” Phyllis croaked.
“Then what are you doing here?”
“I was…” Phyllis wracked her brain. What would Miss Marple do? But her mind was blank, because Miss Marple would never have been stupid enough to be caught hiding in a wardrobe.
“Right, that’s it, I’m calling the police,” the man said.
“No!” Phyllis cried, at the same moment Cynthia said, “Don’t bother.”
“But she’s clearly up to something,” the man said.
“Yes, but the last thing we need is the police turning up in front of those vultures downstairs, giving them something else to gossip about,” Cynthia said. “Just get her out of the house without a fuss. I’ll deal with this myself later.”
Cynthia’s lover looked like he was about to say something else, then he nodded and pulled Phyllis toward the door. His grip was painful on her arm, but she was determined not to cry out as he led her down the stairs. There was a crowd of people milling around in the hallway, and their eyes turned to look at Phyllis as she descended.
“Nothing to see here folks!” Cynthia’s lover said in an overly cheery voice. “Just an old lady who needs some air.”
“Phyllis?”
She looked round to see Richard standing in the living room doorway, holding two plates piled high with food. His expression turned to confusion when he saw her being marched toward the front door. But before she could say anything, Phyllis was pushed outside and the door slammed behind her.
Chapter Fifteen
Nova
Nova was having a Very Bad Day.
The problems had started before she even got up. She and Craig were drinking coffee in bed when his phone buzzed. He read the message and his eyes went wide.
“What is it?” Nova asked.
He chewed his lip, and she could tell he was working out what to say.
“Craig?”
“Don’t freak out, but it’s an e-mail from the solicitors. Apparently Declan was released from prison last week.”
Nova’s stomach plummeted. She’d known this was due to happen soon, but it still sent goose bumps rippling across her skin. Craig reached over and put his arm round her shoulder.
“It’s okay, babe. You’re 200 miles away now, he can’t—”
“I’m not worried about that,” Nova said quickly. “It’s just a shock hearing the name again, that’s all.”
“The terms of his parole mean that—” Craig was interrupted by a scream from outside the door. Nova jumped and a moment later Pamela came bursting into the bedroom, her face ashen.
“Nova, what did youdo?”
“What’s wrong?” Craig said.
“I just texted the photographer to see whether she wanted chicken or beef on Saturday, and it turns out Nova gave her the wrong date! She thought our wedding was on the 26th ofNovember, not October, and she’s got another wedding booked this weekend.”
