Judy's Death (Cara Daniels Cozy Mystery Book 2) by Gillian Larkin Page A

room.
“Watch out, these might be bigger than I remember, I don’t need to turn them into
physical form often.” He held his arms out. Two huge wings appeared at either
side of him. The tips of the wings reached both ends of the room. He looked at
Cara and said, “Come over and have a feel if you like.”
    “No, thank you.” Cara sighed. “I do know
that you’re an angel, I was trying to convince myself that this soul saver
business wasn’t real.”
    “Tell me what you know about being a
soul saver.”
    “Just what Gran and Edward told me, and
what I saw for myself. Gran told me she’s a soul saver and that she stops
people from committing murder. Those kind of murders that are spur of the
moment, when people aren’t thinking straight. Gran said that when normally good
people commit these murders they can never forgive themselves. It makes their
souls shrivel.”
    “That’s true. Their souls don’t
disappear forever, but it feels like that to the human. These murders can also
be accidents, did your gran or Edward tell you that?”
    Cara shook her head. “Does that mean I
have to go around making sure accidents don’t happen?”
    “Sometimes.” Robin retracted his wings.
“So, Cara Daniels, are you agreeing to go on a soul saving mission?”
    “I’m not sure.” Cara looked at her
computer screen, aware that she was making excuses. “I’ve got a lot of work to
do.”
    Robin’s look softened. “Cara, I’m an
angel. I know when you’re lying.”
    Cara clasped her hands together and
looked down at them. “I’m scared. I don’t want someone’s life to be in my
hands.” She looked up. “What if I don’t stop the murder?”
    “If you sit here and do nothing then
you definitely won’t stop the murder. Don’t you want to even try? You could do
with getting out more, get some sun on your face, you’re very pale.” He let out
a laugh. “When I first saw you I thought you were a ghost!” He jumped and
looked down at the watch he was wearing. “It’s on vibrate. Ah. I see. We’ve got
forty-eight hours to stop the murder of someone called Judy Wallace. She lives
in this town.”
    “Judy Wallace? I’ve seen her name
somewhere today.” Cara stood up and walked over to her window sill where there
was a large pile of junk mail. She looked through them and pulled a sheet out.
“Judy Wallace works at the library, she’s in charge of the local book festival
that’s starting tomorrow. There’s a photo of her.” Cara looked closer. “Oh.”
    Robin walked over and looked down at
the photo. “What a sweet-looking old lady, she’s got a friendly smile. Who
would want to kill her?”
    Cara felt something tug at her heart.
Judy Wallace did have a sweet face. How could Cara let her be murdered?

 

 
    Chapter 2

 
    Robin said, “I like your car.”
    Cara’s hands shook as she shoved the
keys into the ignition. “It’s not mine, it’s Gran’s. She left it to me when she
went on a world cruise.” The car started up. Cara wiped her hands on her jeans.
She looked over at Robin. “I haven’t driven for years, this might be a bumpy
ride.”
    “You’ll be fine,” Robin assured her.
“Don’t worry about me. If we crash I won’t get hurt.”
    “That’s reassuring,” Cara muttered. She
pulled away from the kerb, aware that sweat was forming on her brow. In a
casual tone she said, “Do you know my gran?”
    “Abigail? All the angels know Abigail!
She’s the best soul saver that’s ever lived! No one will ever be as good as
her.” Robin laughed and shook his head. “It’s going to be hard for you, Cara,
to live up to Abigail.”
    “Thanks,” Cara said.
    Robin caught her tone. “Oh! I didn’t
mean that in a bad way! It’s just, I’m glad I’m not you starting out on your
soul-saving journey. No, that didn’t sound any better. Watch out for that
lorry!”
    Cara pressed her lips together and
concentrated on driving. After a moment she said, “Are you going to stay with
me all