necklace. When the last customer had gone, and Grace had
checked the building to make sure that Frankie wasn’t hiding anywhere, she took
the necklace outside to the yard.
Within
moments Archie appeared at her side. He nodded towards the necklace and said,
“So, that’s what I’m attached to.”
“Looks
like it,” Grace said. “It’s going to be easier for me to carry this around
rather than your suitcase. Do you mind me holding it? It obviously means a lot
to you.”
Archie
looked at the necklace for a while. “I don’t mind you carrying it, I know
you’ll take good care of it. I wish Jessie could have seen it.”
“Perhaps
she will get to see it.”
Archie
gave a forced laugh. “She might have been the one to kill me, she won’t want
any reminders of our time together.”
“Don’t
say that, you don’t know who killed you.”
Archie
sighed. “I’ve watched enough TV shows, and read enough books to know that the
murderer is usually someone close to the victim. Grace, you have to suspect
everyone.”
Grace
and Archie returned to the shop. Pearl was waiting for them. She said, “He’s
right, you know. You need to treat everyone as a suspect.”
“How
do you know he said that?” Grace asked.
Pearl
gave her a satisfied smile. “One of my many talents is lip-reading. Now, it’s
time for you to go home. Take Archie with you and get all the information that
you need.”
Grace
looked at Archie. “Is that all right with you?”
“Of
course.”
Pearl
grinned at Grace. “Just make sure you don’t fall in love with him. I know you
haven’t had the company of a man for a while but Archie isn’t the one for you!”
With
a cackle Pearl disappeared.
Grace
shook her head, her cheeks burning.
Archie
laughed. “She really is a character, isn’t she? She’ll be mad if she hears me
saying this but she cares for you a great deal. And I can see why. Shall we
go?”
Grace
nodded. She knew Pearl was being ridiculous but it would be easy to fall for a man
like Archie, dead or alive.
Chapter 14
Grace
decided to catch the bus home, she’d come back for the van in the morning. On
the ride home she promised herself that she would look into buying her own car
soon.
Archie
didn’t appear on the bus and Grace hoped that he was still attached to the
necklace. Her worries disappeared as soon as she stepped inside her home.
“What
a lovely home, so cosy and welcoming,” Archie said. He turned around, nodding
his head appreciatively.
Grace
hung her coat and handbag up. She motioned for Archie to take a seat in the
living room. She said, “It is a bit small but I like it.”
Archie
smiled. “You’ve got a good eye for decoration, I love your style. How long have
you lived here?” He suddenly held his hand up. “No. Don’t answer any of my
questions until you get yourself a drink and prepare something to eat. You need
to look after yourself, Grace. If I was able, I’d do it for you.”
Grace
felt a warmth slide down her back at Archie’s concern. Pearl’s warning came
back to her but Grace decided to enjoy the moment anyway. She made her way into
the kitchen and quickly put together a cheese and pickle sandwich. She threw a
bit of lettuce inside to make sure she had some nutrition. With a large mug of
tea in her hand she returned to the living room and set her mug and plate on
the table in front of the sofa.
Archie
sat next to her on the sofa. He pointed to the sandwich and said, “You’re not
to speak until you’ve eaten. You can be my captive audience whilst I tell you
about myself.”
That
suited Grace, she wanted to know all about Archie, and her tummy was starting
to growl in an unladylike manner. Grace began to eat and Archie began to talk.
“I
worked in the computer business. I’ve always been fascinated by them. I didn’t
go to university, I wanted to get stuck in to paid employment as soon as I
could. I started off in sales. I was one of those annoying people that
checked the building to make sure that Frankie wasn’t hiding anywhere, she took
the necklace outside to the yard.
Within
moments Archie appeared at her side. He nodded towards the necklace and said,
“So, that’s what I’m attached to.”
“Looks
like it,” Grace said. “It’s going to be easier for me to carry this around
rather than your suitcase. Do you mind me holding it? It obviously means a lot
to you.”
Archie
looked at the necklace for a while. “I don’t mind you carrying it, I know
you’ll take good care of it. I wish Jessie could have seen it.”
“Perhaps
she will get to see it.”
Archie
gave a forced laugh. “She might have been the one to kill me, she won’t want
any reminders of our time together.”
“Don’t
say that, you don’t know who killed you.”
Archie
sighed. “I’ve watched enough TV shows, and read enough books to know that the
murderer is usually someone close to the victim. Grace, you have to suspect
everyone.”
Grace
and Archie returned to the shop. Pearl was waiting for them. She said, “He’s
right, you know. You need to treat everyone as a suspect.”
“How
do you know he said that?” Grace asked.
Pearl
gave her a satisfied smile. “One of my many talents is lip-reading. Now, it’s
time for you to go home. Take Archie with you and get all the information that
you need.”
Grace
looked at Archie. “Is that all right with you?”
“Of
course.”
Pearl
grinned at Grace. “Just make sure you don’t fall in love with him. I know you
haven’t had the company of a man for a while but Archie isn’t the one for you!”
With
a cackle Pearl disappeared.
Grace
shook her head, her cheeks burning.
Archie
laughed. “She really is a character, isn’t she? She’ll be mad if she hears me
saying this but she cares for you a great deal. And I can see why. Shall we
go?”
Grace
nodded. She knew Pearl was being ridiculous but it would be easy to fall for a man
like Archie, dead or alive.
Chapter 14
Grace
decided to catch the bus home, she’d come back for the van in the morning. On
the ride home she promised herself that she would look into buying her own car
soon.
Archie
didn’t appear on the bus and Grace hoped that he was still attached to the
necklace. Her worries disappeared as soon as she stepped inside her home.
“What
a lovely home, so cosy and welcoming,” Archie said. He turned around, nodding
his head appreciatively.
Grace
hung her coat and handbag up. She motioned for Archie to take a seat in the
living room. She said, “It is a bit small but I like it.”
Archie
smiled. “You’ve got a good eye for decoration, I love your style. How long have
you lived here?” He suddenly held his hand up. “No. Don’t answer any of my
questions until you get yourself a drink and prepare something to eat. You need
to look after yourself, Grace. If I was able, I’d do it for you.”
Grace
felt a warmth slide down her back at Archie’s concern. Pearl’s warning came
back to her but Grace decided to enjoy the moment anyway. She made her way into
the kitchen and quickly put together a cheese and pickle sandwich. She threw a
bit of lettuce inside to make sure she had some nutrition. With a large mug of
tea in her hand she returned to the living room and set her mug and plate on
the table in front of the sofa.
Archie
sat next to her on the sofa. He pointed to the sandwich and said, “You’re not
to speak until you’ve eaten. You can be my captive audience whilst I tell you
about myself.”
That
suited Grace, she wanted to know all about Archie, and her tummy was starting
to growl in an unladylike manner. Grace began to eat and Archie began to talk.
“I
worked in the computer business. I’ve always been fascinated by them. I didn’t
go to university, I wanted to get stuck in to paid employment as soon as I
could. I started off in sales. I was one of those annoying people that
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