Aunt Bessie Joins (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 10) by Diana Xarissa Page A

Cubbon is behind it all?” he asked.
    Bessie turned and smiled at him.   “We aren’t speaking to one another,” she
told him.   “We’re just getting on
with our work.”
    “I suppose I can’t complain, then, can
I?”   He shook his head and then
asked Mary Quayle to join him.
    The morning dragged on as everyone was
interviewed in turn.   Bessie’s tummy
was growling by the time the police had finished interviewing the last
volunteer.   She was also nearly
desperate to speak, even though she had nothing in particular to say.
    “Thank you all for your cooperation,” Pete
said from the doorway after he escorted Liz back into the room.   “As our investigation progresses, I
expect I’ll need to speak to all of you again, but I won’t take up any more of
your time today.   I’ve given you all my card.   Please
get in touch immediately if you think of anything that could be relevant, no
matter how insignificant it might seem.”
    He spoke to the two uniformed men and then
looked over at Bessie.   “I’d
appreciate another quick word, Miss Cubbon .”
    Bessie crossed to him and followed him and
the uniformed men out into the corridor.
    “I’d be grateful if you could ring me later
and tell me about your afternoon,” he told her.   “Let me know if anyone is behaving at
all oddly or says anything interesting or out of character.”
    “I’ll ring you,” Bessie promised.   “But as everyone is quite upset, I
suspect we’ll all be acting out of character.”
    “Thank you,” was the man’s only reply.
    Bessie watched as the trio made their way
towards the exit.   She didn’t like
feeling as if she were spying on her friends, but the idea that one of them might
be a murderer was even more upsetting.   Sighing deeply, she turned and walked back into the room that was still
unfinished.   If they were going to
open on time, that had to be their priority, she thought.   Maybe after lunch, her tummy added.
    Mark suggested ordering pizza so that they
could keep working through lunch, and no one objected.   As Bessie returned to work on yet
another tree, Liz approached her.
    “Bessie, I don’t quite know how to put this,
but what are we meant to do now?   I
mean with Mr. Hart gone, do you still want us the make the changes he suggested
or should we leave our rooms alone?”
    “That’s a great question,” Bessie told
her.   “Let’s see what Mark thinks.”
    “Let’s wait to make any decisions until
after lunch,” Mark suggested when the pair approached him.   “I rang Carolyn and Michael and they’re
both going to be here within the hour.   We can all sit down and work out exactly what we want to do at that
time.”
    “Can I help in here until the pizza
arrives?” Liz asked.
    Bessie gladly handed the girl a box of
decorations and pointed her towards the nearest bare tree.   The other volunteers quickly
joined in and by the time the food was delivered, the room was starting to look
like Bessie’s plan.
    “This is going to be my favourite room,” Mark told Bessie as they helped themselves to lunch.
    “It is looking rather nice,” Bessie
said.   “And I think it’s interesting
to learn about Christmas customs in other parts of the world.”
    “Absolutely,” Mark agreed.   “I love that our event is fun and
educational, all while supporting great not-for-profit groups.   ‘Christmas at the Castle’ was one of my
better ideas, I do think.”
    By the time everyone was stuffed full of
pizza, garlic bread and fizzy drinks, Michael and Carolyn had arrived.   Mark spoke to each of them in turn and
then called the group to order.   Before he began, Mary spoke up.
    “I’ve been talking with Natasha,” she told
the group.   “She has some ideas for
little things that can be done to improve each room.   I’m happy to pay for her time here, if
you’re all willing to listen to her ideas.”
    Bessie thought all of the volunteers looked
uneasy with the idea.
    “As long as