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After we had finished our tea, Alistair escorted us to the front door.
“I understand you’re all eager to solve the mystery, but get some sleep and most importantly, let me get mine,” Alistair said with a sparkle of humour in his eyes.
“And deny ourselves the opportunity to see you in your jammies?” I shook my head. “Don’t think so.”
There was a bright flash and we turned to Eddie who had a triumphant smile on his face.
“I have photographic evidence now,” he said.
“And your plan is to do what with that?” Alistair asked.
Eddie tilted his head. “Hm. I’ll bet a lot of older women will pay to see this picture.”
A shrill whistle cut through the air as we turned our heads to Ava, dressed in a fluorescent vest while holding a baseball bat and wearing face paint—three streaks of green paint as if she was in a warzone. Next to her was Poppy in a similar outfit but instead of a baseball bat, she was holding a jar of liquorice.
“Speaking of the devil,” Detective Black muttered in my ear.
They approached the short pathway that led to Alistair’s front door.
“What is going on he—” Ava started, but then she realised what Alistair was wearing. “Oh, my. Don’t you look adorable.”
The light by his front door illuminated his face enough for me to see that he was blushing.
Eddie chuckled to himself.
“What are you guys doing? Shouldn’t Poppy be in bed? It’s like seven hours past her bedtime,” I said.
“I took five naps today so I could join the patrol,” she said. “Do you have any sweets on you?”
“No. And what patrol?”
Ava jutted her chin out. “The one you suggested. You said it was a good idea to start patrolling the neighbourhood in order to protect people from those thieves.”
Alistair cleared his throat.
I glanced at him. “I didn’t exactly say that—it was just an idea...” My voice trailed off. “Wait. Does this mean—” My question was answered when there was another whistle and Lily, Olivia, and Nancy showed up. Nancy was holding her broom, while Lily held a fly swat and Olivia a roller pin.
“Is everything alright? We heard a whistle,” Lily asked, slightly out of breath.
“Nice pyjamas,” Nancy said with a wink.
Again, Alistair blushed. He stuck out his chin. “They are comfortable,” he said.
“Of course they are, dear. I love them,” Olivia said.
“Did you uncover any mayhem?” Eddie asked the ladies.
“Well, we discovered that Mr Wimperton pees in his garden when he’s drunk,” Lily said as she wrinkled her nose. “He will be hearing about that tomorrow. It is just not something that we should allow in this neighbourhood.”
“Peeing? No, it’s awful,” I said.
Lily glared at me.
“What are you all doing here so late? Are you having a sleepover, and if so, why was I not invited? I’m an excellent spooner,” Nancy said.
Alistair blushed again. “No, they were just here to say hi. And it looks like you’re all keeping the neighbourhood safe. Very impressive. Should I be worried about the ‘weapons’?”
“Nah,” Nancy said. “They’re only a tiny bit lethal.”
A whistle cut through the air and the women immediately straightened their backs.
“Someone is in peril!” Poppy shouted, and darted off with the speed of a hunting leopard.
“Bet you regret being in your pyjamas—” Eddie started, but Alistair was as fast as the book club women who ran off in the direction of the blown whistle.
“Let’s go,” I said, and started as well.
“I’ll man the fort,” Eddie said and pointed to Alistair’s open front door.
“Me too,” Miles added with a shrug. Both of them suddenly looked tired.
Not me. Not when there could be a hint of danger. “Okay, I’m sure it’s nothing. We’ll be right back.” I hurried after the group.
We weaved our way through the cobbled streets until we reached the square by the church where the other book club ladies were. I spotted Eleanor, Phoebe, Jessica, and a male teenager, by the looks of it.
At first glance it looked like they were performing a strange ritualistic dance, but as we got closer it became clear that Pandora was making a play for the boy’s ankles and the women had formed a circle around him, ensuring he couldn’t leave.
“Alistair,” Phoebe called out. “Arrest him. He’s a thief!”
“Everyone calm down.” Alistair’s voice was loud and the women stopped moving. Even Pandora froze for a moment, allowing the bloke to make a run for it. He didn’t get far.
Nancy swung her broom and hit his leg, causing him to topple forward. He didn’t get the chance to scramble to his feet, because Pandora jumped on his back and any attempt at moving was met with a peck on his neck. That kept him frozen in fear while we came closer.
There was a black backpack on the ground. The top was zipped open and a few expensive-looking necklaces had slipped out.
“Pandora was attacking him and we went over to help him but then we saw the jewellery. He’s one of the people who’s been robbing us,” Jessica said. “It’s not right. He can’t get away with this. Arrest him and throw him in the dungeon.”
“We don’t have a dungeon in Castlefield, you fool,” Ava said.
“Well, we should. I’m going to have a word with the mayor about it. Get a petition started.” Jessica folded her arms.
Ava shook her head in dismay. “The mayor gets a stress rash each time you come within ten metres of him.”
“Was there anyone else around?” I asked. From what I’d heard, there were three people involved in the home invasion.
“No,” Phoebe said.
“Can someone get this monstrous chicken off me?” the boy said through gritted teeth. He had to be about seventeen.
Alistair shooed away Pandora, who obeyed, and he searched him for a weapon before hauling him to his feet.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Alistair asked him, not in the least affected by the fact he was still wearing his kitten pyjamas.
“I want a lawyer,” the boy said as he glared back at him.
––––––––
THE NEXT MORNING I slept in until nine. It had been a late night for all of us, especially Ivan, the boy who got arrested for stealing, since the jewellery he had been carrying was indeed stolen. They contained jewellery from both Put a Ring on It and the home invasion.
So far he was keeping silent about who his mates were, but I was certain it was only a matter of time.
I was about to go down to the bookshop when my doorbell rang. Christina was already downstairs, opening up the shop so I rushed down to get the door.
Emblyn stood in front of me with a worried look on her face. She looked over her shoulder.
“May I come in?”
“Of course. Don’t you start work soon?” I asked as I stepped aside.
“Yeah, so I don’t have much time.”
I felt an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. “What is it?” My voice was soft, as if I was afraid that speaking any louder would scare her off.
She was tugging on the sleeve of her jumper and avoided eye contact with me.
“Was it Elijah? Did he do something?”
“No, no,” she said, but there was some hesitation, which made me think that it did have something to do with him.
“Okay,” I said calmly and smiled at her to reassure her. “Do you want to go upstairs?”
“No. Look, I went on my date with Elijah last night and it was going great. But then he got a phone call and we had to go. I had to stay in the car but he drove me to the woods and was talking with someone he seemed to be afraid of. I couldn’t see what they were doing. He disappeared behind the other guy’s van and was out of sight. And then one of his other mates was caught in relation to the thefts.”
“That bloke, Ivan, he’s a friend of Elijah?”
Emblyn nodded. “I tried to ask him what’s going on, but he told me it was safer if I stayed out of it. He just seemed really scared, Maggie. I want to help him, but I don’t know what to do.” Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Come here,” I said and pulled her into a hug. “It’s going to be okay.”
I made sure that Emblyn was comfortable on my sofa and handed her Snowball to cuddle. Then I texted Nancy to ask her if she could do without Emblyn for an hour, which was fine. And then I phoned Alistair. He was there within ten minutes.
“Is she okay?” He asked as he stepped inside.
“Yeah, just a bit freaked out.” I told him what she’d told me.
“You did the right thing, calling me.”
“I know. Thank you for coming.” I smiled.
“I’ll always be here if you need me.” He squeezed my arm.
“And I for you.” I put my hand on his, then nodded to the stairs.
He followed me up to the flat and headed into the living room while I went to the kitchen to get them both tea. I was as curious as could be, but I had to restrain myself. Alistair was the right person for her to talk to and what kind of host would I be if I didn’t provide tea at such a crucial time?
I returned and handed Emblyn her mug. She took it without looking at me. I put Alistair’s on the coffee table. He was sitting on it so that he was directly facing Emblyn. He was scribbling in his notebook, neither of them currently talking.
I wasn’t sure what to do. Did Emblyn want me here, or did she prefer being alone with Alistair? I decided to retreat to the kitchen and wait there. After seven biscuits—but who was counting? Nobody. So technically, I had zero—Alistair called me. Emblyn was in the corridor by the stairs.
“Thanks, Mags. I’m going to work now.” She hugged me and gave an awkward wave to Alistair. Her footfalls were quick as she rushed down the steps. A moment later, the door shut. She’d used the door to the shop because it would be a faster way to Nancy’s.
I turned to him and cleared my throat.
“You’re dying of curiosity, aren’t you?” He grinned.
“Maybe.”
“Will you explode if I don’t tell you?”
I chuckled. “No. I realise she may have asked you to keep it quiet, and I wouldn’t want you to betray her trust.”
A tender look displayed in his eyes. “Well, she didn’t. Elijah went to meet someone in a van and she had gotten a phone call from someone registered in his phone as J. She also told me a bit more about his friends and some shady stuff that they’ve been into. Though Emblyn has never seen them do anything terribly wrong. The guy that Elijah met gave him a big envelope, which I’m guessing was money.”
“Do you think it’s related to what we witnessed yesterday?”
“Yes. But I have to prove it first.”
“Let’s get that proof then. Where are we going first?”
His eyebrow shot up. “I’m taking DC Daniels and maybe even a constable and we’re going to pay Elijah and Johnny a visit. Earlier today I found a connection between Ivan and Johnny—they’re family—and I think Johnny’s got everything to do with this. First I need to hear Elijah’s side.”
“See, we’re finally getting somewhere and now I’m missing all the action.” I stuck out my bottom lip.
Alistair touched my chin. “Don’t pout. This is a good thing. You stick to fictional crimes, and I’ll worry about the real ones. I’ll keep you updated, though.” He brushed my chin with his thumb.
I lowered his hand so I could kiss him on the cheek.
His eyes widened. “What’s that for?”
“For your help.”
He leaned forward until our lips touched.
“What’s that for?” I whispered.
“For being you.”