Murder in the Green (9 page)

‘Just wondering why you went to the parade and the sunrise party. Not your sort of thing these days, is it? You told me you used to go when he was small.’ Harry jerked his thumb towards Adam.

‘Something to do,’ said Libby, bending to her plate once more.

‘That bloke who was murdered on May Day,’ said Adam indistinctly. ‘Betcha.’

Libby looked up at two sets of eyes bent accusingly on hers.

‘Well,’ she said, clearing her throat, ‘my friend Gemma did ask me to look into it.’

‘Oh,
Libby
!’

‘Oh,
Mu-um
!’

‘It’s all right,’ she said hastily. ‘Fran’s had no moments about it –’

‘So Fran’s involved too?’ said Harry.

‘And Ian’s warned me off comprehensively.’

‘When did you see Ian?’ asked Harry.

‘This morning. He was there, too.’

‘That bloke that got murdered May Day. Told you.’ Adam glared triumphantly at his mother.

‘All right, all right,’ said Libby. ‘But I said no, and that’s that.’

‘Where have I heard that before?’ said Harry, casting his eyes up to the ceiling.

‘You know what,’ said Adam suddenly. ‘You want to get away. Have a holiday. You haven’t been away from Steeple Martin since you moved here, have you?’

Libby and Harry both looked at him in astonishment.

‘Where did that come from?’ said Harry.

‘I just think she should.’ Adam was defensive. ‘She’s spent the last few years looking into things for other people, and looking after people –’

Harry snorted.

‘Well, she has,’ said Adam, glaring once again, but this time at Harry.

‘It’s a lovely idea,’ said Libby, ‘but how could I? Ben and his family might need me.’

‘He’s packed you off home, hasn’t he? He can always ring you if the circumstances change.’ Harry leant forward. ‘Look, petal. For once the incubus is right. You need a holiday. Even Fran’s been on honeymoon.’

‘But where would I go?’ Libby’s baser self was saying go – run away, while her more cautious self was telling her she couldn’t possibly.

‘Somewhere not too far away? But different?’ Adam was thinking.

‘This country,’ added Harry.

‘I know – Lewis is going somewhere this week – I told you.’ Adam let his chair, which had been teetering backwards, bang to the floor. ‘Somewhere nice, it is, I’m sure. He could find you a place.’

‘You can’t ask Lewis to do that.’ Libby pushed her plate away.

‘He wouldn’t mind. He thinks you’re great.’

‘What is this strange power you have over young men?’ said Harry, grasping her hand and looking deep into her eyes.

‘Gay men,’ said Libby.

‘A fag hag to her fingertips.’ Harry gave her hand a pat and stood up to take the plates away. On his way to the kitchen he stopped to speak to the last diners, who were preparing to leave. Adam dutifully went over to lend a hand.

Libby watched them both with a feeling that she had suddenly got out of her depth. It was only the other day she had been wanting to run away, and now here were two of her nearest and dearest telling her to do it. Not that they knew she wanted to, but it provided some sort of validation for her feelings.

The last diners had gone, Harry turned his sign to “closed” and Adam taken his apron off. Harry provided an ashtray. ‘Not a public place any more,’ he said.

‘That’s another thing,’ said Libby. ‘You can’t stay anywhere these days. No one allows smoking in hotels or self-catering.’

‘There’s a loophole for hotels,’ said Harry. ‘It was in the catering mag. They can have smoking rooms.’

‘Really? And how do you find out which ones they are?’ Libby shook a cigarette out of her packet as Adam looked disapproving.

Harry shrugged. ‘Google?’

‘Choose a hotel and then ask them, I suppose,’ said Libby. ‘And then go on to the next one.’

‘Are you going to go, then, Ma?’

Libby looked across at her son. ‘It’s an appealing idea,’ she said. ‘Although I do feel I’d be ratting on Ben.’

‘And your “investigation”?’ Harry put it in inverted commas.

‘There isn’t one,’ said Libby firmly. ‘I’ve said.’

Harry and Adam sighed in unison.

‘So you did,’ said Harry.

Chapter Nine

‘How’s Greg?’ asked Libby.

‘No worse.’ Ben’s voice sounded tired at the other end of the phone.

‘Have you had any sleep?’

‘Oh, yes. Not as much as I’d like, but Mum and I both had a reasonable night’s sleep.’

‘Shall I come up and see him?’

‘If you like,’ said Ben. ‘He’s quite relaxed and perfectly compos mentis.’

‘Much like normal, then?’ said Libby with a smile.

‘Exactly. So what did you do last night?’

‘Went to the caff for leftovers with Ad,’ said Libby, feeling slightly guilty.

‘I’m glad you weren’t on your own,’ said Ben, and she felt even guiltier.

‘No.’ Libby took a deep breath. ‘Ben, while you’re at the Manor, would you – I mean – would it – er, well, I wondered –’

‘Spit it out, Lib.’

‘I wondered if I might go off for a few days,’ said Libby in a rush.

‘Off?’ said Ben, after a short silence. ‘Off where?’

‘It was Adam’s suggestion.’ Libby hurried on. ‘He said I needed a holiday.’

‘Oh? Why?’

‘Because I hadn’t had one for so long, I suppose.’

‘We could go away, if you want to.’

‘You can’t leave your Mum and Dad right now,’ said Libby, feeling dreadful.

‘No, but I’ll be able to soon. Or is this simply to get away from me?’

‘Of course not,’ said Libby, now completely suffused in hot guilty colour and glad no one could see her. ‘And it was only a suggestion. I don’t want to leave if you need me.’

There was another short silence. ‘Of course I need you, but if you want to get away, don’t let me stop you. Where will you go?’

‘I won’t,’ said Libby. ‘You’ve made up my mind for me. I told Adam I’d feel I was ratting on you, and now I do, so I won’t go.’

‘Oh, God,’ groaned Ben. ‘Now you’re making
me
feel guilty.’

Libby, feeling calmer and cooler, laughed. ‘Right pair, aren’t we?’

Ben gave a reluctant snort of laughter. ‘We are.’

‘I’ll come up at lunchtime, shall I? See Hetty – and Greg, if he’s up to it.’

‘All right,’ said Ben. ‘And – thanks, Lib.’

Libby erased the Google search for rental cottages on her computer and switched it off. So that was that. She didn’t know how she’d thought she was going to get away with it, and despite what Adam said, she didn’t really feel in
need
of a holiday. It wasn’t as if she worked particularly hard, after all, she thought, sending a guilty glance towards the conservatory and the blank canvases within.

Deciding to go the whole hog and prepare a luxurious picnic lunch to take to the Manor with her, she collected purse and basket and set off for Ahmed and Ali’s eight-til-late and Nella and Joe’s new Cattlegreen farm shop. It was while she was selecting some very ripe brie from Ali’s new deli counter that her mobile rang.

‘Lib? Hi, it’s Lewis.’

‘Hello, Lewis!’ Libby struggled with basket, purse and phone. ‘I’m shopping. Can I ring you back in a minute?’

Ahmed’s son, Ali’s nephew, handed over a beautifully wrapped piece of cheese and took her money, handing it over for his uncle to put in the till. She smiled at him, thanked the brothers and went outside.

‘Hi, Lewis, sorry about that,’ she said. ‘I was buying cheeses for Ben’s lunch.’

‘Ad said you was looking for somewhere to get away,’ said Lewis Osbourne-Walker without preamble. ‘Well, I got a suggestion.’

‘Actually, Lewis,’ she began, but Lewis interrupted.

‘Now don’t say you’ve changed your mind,’ he said, ‘because this one’s right up your street.’

‘How do you mean?’ asked Libby cautiously.

‘Well, you know we do a mini feature each week on the show?’

‘I know you will be, when it goes out.’

‘Well, it was your Ad talking about this Green Man effort set me off.’

‘Oh,’ said Libby with a groan.

‘And I looked up all these weird folk-type things until I come to something that’s going on now.’

‘Now?’

‘Well, in a few days’ time. Why don’t you come with me?’

‘Lewis, did Adam tell you Ben’s father’s ill?’

‘I thought that was why you could get away?’

‘Well, yes, but it turns out Ben needs me here, and I can’t really leave him. It’s a bad time.’

Lewis let out a gusty sigh. ‘Pity,’ he said. ‘I reckon it’d be good fun. Some of this Cranston Morris lot go. Seeing as how I thought you’d be looking into the murder, I thought you’d be up for it.’

‘Where is it?’ asked Libby, her interest now definitely piqued.

‘Some village on the coast. They have this wicker thing – like the Wicker Man, I suppose.’

‘Glory.’ Libby shuddered. ‘Not quite like that, I hope.’

‘Something to do with John the Baptist?’

‘Blimey! What are we talking about here? Pagan or Christian?’

Lewis sighed. ‘No idea. I thought you’d know. Anyway, it’s Thursday, 25th June.’

‘It’s Monday now,’ said Libby. ‘When were you thinking of going? Will you have to get the crew together?’

‘Only the cameraman and the sound guy. We travel light. So, do you want to come?’

‘Not much of a holiday, is it?’ said Libby.

‘No, but you’d get away for a couple of days. That’s what you want, isn’t it?’

‘Did you tell Adam about this?’ asked Libby. ‘Only I don’t know why he would be happy about it. He wants to get me away from investigations, not get me in deeper.’

‘He doesn’t know what it’s about,’ said Lewis cheerfully. ‘Go on. Be a devil. All found, nice little pub in the village.’

‘You didn’t answer me. When are you going?’

‘Wednesday. Time to research the area a bit.’

Libby pulled at her lip. ‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘I’ll have to ask Ben.’

‘You do that,’ said Lewis. ‘Give me a ring later.’ And he was gone.

Now, thought Libby, trudging up the Manor drive, it will look as though this lunch is bribery. Bugger.

Ben opened the door as she approached the house.

‘I’ve just had your mate Lewis on the phone,’ he said with a grin. Libby’s mouth dropped open.

‘Apparently he wants your input into some feature he’s doing for his show.’

‘He said.’ Libby cleared her throat and went past him and down the corridor to the kitchen. ‘I said I’d think about it.’

‘He told me.’ Ben followed her into the kitchen. ‘And if you were trying to protect me, thank you. Is this what you meant about going away?’

Libby unloaded her basket on to the table. ‘No, I hadn’t heard about it. He’s only just phoned me, while I was shopping. I think it’s a bit much of him to phone you. I told him what the situation is with your father.’

‘I think he thought you were using me as an excuse.’

Libby looked up, surprised. ‘Really? How odd.’

‘Were you?’

‘No.’ She bit her lip. ‘Well –’

‘Come on, Lib. Wouldn’t you like to go? He says you know more about this sort of thing than he does. And some of Cranston Morris are going.’

‘I know very little about it all. Only what I’ve found out recently.’

‘Ah,’ said Ben. ‘An investigation.’

‘No. Fran and I just had a look, that’s all. All this Oak King and Holly King stuff. Cranston Morris seem to have gone a bit farther down the old Pagan or Celtic path than most Morris sides.’

Ben turned her to face him. ‘Why don’t you go? I know I was a bit taken aback when you asked earlier – although it does seem a bit odd, you asking, then Lewis coming up with this scheme.’

‘Think about it.’ Libby stroked his cheek. ‘Whose suggestion did I say it was?’

‘Adam’s.’

‘And who does Adam work for?’

‘Ah!’ Ben grinned. ‘All becomes clear. Adam’s devious machinations eh? But why does he think you ought to go away?’

‘He thinks I’m going to get involved in the Cranston Morris murder. He thinks it will divert my mind.’

‘Doesn’t he know where Lewis wants to take you?’ Ben looked astonished.

‘No.’ Libby giggled. ‘That’s what’s so funny.’

‘If you go,’ said Ben slowly, ‘will you…’ He trailed off.

‘Get involved? I’ll try not to.’ Libby sighed and kissed him. ‘But if Gemma’s there, and she probably will be, she’ll definitely think I’m there on her behalf, despite what I said to her on Sunday. But,’ she said, leaning back and looking into his face, ‘I won’t go if you’d rather I didn’t.’