And The Earth Moved: Romantic Comedy Cozy Mystery (Amber Reed CCIA Mystery Book 1) by Zanna Mackenzie Page B
Authors: Zanna Mackenzie
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that dress. Couple of pints please.”
I smile my thanks and sort out Liam’s drinks order.
Whilst he’s waiting he says, “So you got back safely after your visit to the quarry then?”
I feel myself tense. Charlie is within listening distance. Is Liam trying to make a point about the incident with the dumper truck by any chance? Why else would he ask if I got home safely? Was he the one who instructed the dumper truck driver to try to scare us off? If he was then he’s not being very discreet about it.
“Fine,” I reply, putting another pint onto a tray for him.
“Glad to hear it.” He leans in close and lowers his voice. “You and your little store cupboard friend won’t find anything amiss at Set In Stone about this dead body business no matter how much he digs.” He hands me the money and picks up his tray of drinks. “And you can tell him that from me. He’s wasting his time.”
I look at Charlie and raise my eyebrows questioning, checking if he heard all of that. He nods and takes a sip of his drink.
“So what now?” I whisper as we both watch the darts match.
“I think I’ll be doing more extensive checks on Liam Turston when I get back tonight.”
“And me?”
He winks at me. “I’ve already done my background check on you remember?”
Yes. I remember.
“I mean what do you need me to do next?”
“Not sure,” he says. “Leave it with me.”
As I tidy up the bar and wipe some glasses I can’t help thinking Charlie is up to something and he’s not telling me about it.
Chapter Seven
I think I’ve figured out what Charlie might be up to. He left the pub about an hour ago and I have a feeling he’s going to go back to the quarry tonight for his aforementioned unofficial look around the offices.
He’s too impatient to leave it long before going for his little reconnaissance trip. Plus we need to solve this case as quickly as possible. Preferably before the police call ‘time’s up’ and make the announcement about Joel’s death. He’s planning to go up there alone. Excluding me, I imagine, because he thinks it’s too risky and I’m probably not insured for those kind of covert operations, despite having signed my life away on those CCIA forms he made me complete.
So, as soon as my shift finished at the pub, I borrowed Debs’ car to wait in the lay-by leading down to the lane which ends at the quarry. She lives within walking distance of the pub but I don’t. I’d made an excuse about my car playing up again and she was only too happy to lend me her keys.
I hate having to keep the truth from her about this investigation but I signed that piece of paper from the CCIA about keeping my mouth shut. I also promised Ennis I wouldn’t breathe a word about Joel. The next time I meet up with Debs for a chat I’ll casually drop it into the conversation about how Charlie and I have ‘hit it off’ and are spending some time together whilst he’s investigating the break-in threat up at Ennis’ house.
I glance at the clock. Am I too late or did I guess wrong? I’ve been waiting ages for Charlie’s car to go past. I’d been so sure he would try to visit the quarry again tonight but so far zilch and it’s now approaching midnight. Perhaps I should just give up and go home. Before the cold completely cuts off the circulation to my extremities.
The next moment I jump, heartbeat racing, as the driver’s door of Debs’ car is wrenched open. I scream, all manner of scary situations racing through my mind.
“Amber!”
Allowing myself to breathe again I look up into Charlie’s eyes.
“Where did you spring from?” I gasp.
“What are you doing?” He stands up looking annoyed. “No, scrub that. I know exactly what you’re doing. Waiting for me. I told you this time I was going back to the quarry alone.”
He rubs a hand across the back of his neck. “I knew you wouldn’t take no for an answer. Guessed you’d try something like this. When I saw the car
I smile my thanks and sort out Liam’s drinks order.
Whilst he’s waiting he says, “So you got back safely after your visit to the quarry then?”
I feel myself tense. Charlie is within listening distance. Is Liam trying to make a point about the incident with the dumper truck by any chance? Why else would he ask if I got home safely? Was he the one who instructed the dumper truck driver to try to scare us off? If he was then he’s not being very discreet about it.
“Fine,” I reply, putting another pint onto a tray for him.
“Glad to hear it.” He leans in close and lowers his voice. “You and your little store cupboard friend won’t find anything amiss at Set In Stone about this dead body business no matter how much he digs.” He hands me the money and picks up his tray of drinks. “And you can tell him that from me. He’s wasting his time.”
I look at Charlie and raise my eyebrows questioning, checking if he heard all of that. He nods and takes a sip of his drink.
“So what now?” I whisper as we both watch the darts match.
“I think I’ll be doing more extensive checks on Liam Turston when I get back tonight.”
“And me?”
He winks at me. “I’ve already done my background check on you remember?”
Yes. I remember.
“I mean what do you need me to do next?”
“Not sure,” he says. “Leave it with me.”
As I tidy up the bar and wipe some glasses I can’t help thinking Charlie is up to something and he’s not telling me about it.
Chapter Seven
I think I’ve figured out what Charlie might be up to. He left the pub about an hour ago and I have a feeling he’s going to go back to the quarry tonight for his aforementioned unofficial look around the offices.
He’s too impatient to leave it long before going for his little reconnaissance trip. Plus we need to solve this case as quickly as possible. Preferably before the police call ‘time’s up’ and make the announcement about Joel’s death. He’s planning to go up there alone. Excluding me, I imagine, because he thinks it’s too risky and I’m probably not insured for those kind of covert operations, despite having signed my life away on those CCIA forms he made me complete.
So, as soon as my shift finished at the pub, I borrowed Debs’ car to wait in the lay-by leading down to the lane which ends at the quarry. She lives within walking distance of the pub but I don’t. I’d made an excuse about my car playing up again and she was only too happy to lend me her keys.
I hate having to keep the truth from her about this investigation but I signed that piece of paper from the CCIA about keeping my mouth shut. I also promised Ennis I wouldn’t breathe a word about Joel. The next time I meet up with Debs for a chat I’ll casually drop it into the conversation about how Charlie and I have ‘hit it off’ and are spending some time together whilst he’s investigating the break-in threat up at Ennis’ house.
I glance at the clock. Am I too late or did I guess wrong? I’ve been waiting ages for Charlie’s car to go past. I’d been so sure he would try to visit the quarry again tonight but so far zilch and it’s now approaching midnight. Perhaps I should just give up and go home. Before the cold completely cuts off the circulation to my extremities.
The next moment I jump, heartbeat racing, as the driver’s door of Debs’ car is wrenched open. I scream, all manner of scary situations racing through my mind.
“Amber!”
Allowing myself to breathe again I look up into Charlie’s eyes.
“Where did you spring from?” I gasp.
“What are you doing?” He stands up looking annoyed. “No, scrub that. I know exactly what you’re doing. Waiting for me. I told you this time I was going back to the quarry alone.”
He rubs a hand across the back of his neck. “I knew you wouldn’t take no for an answer. Guessed you’d try something like this. When I saw the car
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