Yvette's Death (Cara Daniels Cozy Mystery Book 3) by Gillian Larkin

 
 
    A Cara Daniels Cozy Mystery
    Book 3

 
 
    Yvette’s Death

 
    Chapter 1

 
    “Her name is Yvette Carter, she’s
forty-two, is married and has a twelve-year-old son.” Robin paused and tapped
his chin. “And she’s going to be murdered in less than forty-eight hours. Or is
it twenty-four hours?”
    Cara Daniels folded her arms and
studied the angel in front of her. He looked more like a member of a boy band
than a wise angel. “Can you be more precise? Is it forty-eight or twenty-four?
If I’m going to save this woman’s life I need to know when she’s likely to
die.”
    Robin looked at his watch and tapped
it. “I’m going with forty-eight hours. Sorry, Cara, I’m still getting used to
this saving souls business. I don’t think my countdown watch is working
properly, it’s second-hand.” He suddenly snorted and held up his left hand.
“This is my first hand,” he lifted up his right hand, “and this is my second
hand! Ha!”
    Cara shook her head. “We haven’t got
time for your jokes, or what you think is a joke. Tell me more about Yvette
Carter, I’ll have to make contact with her.” She stood up from her desk and
said, “And will you please put your wings away! They’re too big for my living
room.”
    Robin stuck his chest out and moved his
white-feathered wings slightly from side to side. He grinned and said, “I just
wanted to see my one silver feather again, it’s beautiful, don’t you think so?”
    Cara said, “If we ever get round to
Yvette’s case you might get another silver one. Where does she live?”
    Robin slowly retracted his wings. “It’s
like a medal for me, getting that silver feather. I know you get my old white
one when you save a soul but my silver one is nicer, don’t you think?” He
pushed back his floppy blond hair. “Do you think I should change my hairstyle?
I feel a bit outdated with this one.”
    “Robin! Will you stop preening and tell
me about Yvette!” Cara exploded.
    Robin jumped back. He held his hands up
to ward Cara off. “Whoa! No need to shout! What’s wrong with you?” He lowered
his hands and gave her a knowing smile. “That time of the month is it? I know
all about that, one of the other angels told me.”
    Cara sighed. “No, it isn’t that time of
the month.”
    Robin nodded. “That time of your life
then, going through an early menopause. Are you having hot flushes? Your face
does look red.”
    Cara’s hands curled into fists and she
forced herself to take a deep breath. “Robin, please tell me about this new
case. Now.”
    All joviality disappeared from Robin’s
face. He moved closer to Cara and placed a cool hand on her forehead. “Let me
feel your emotional temperature.” He looked into her eyes and said, “Oh, Cara,
I’m sorry. I didn’t realise you were having such a hard time dealing with this
business.”
    Cara gave him a wry smile. “You mean
this business of an angel turning up in my living room to warn me that someone
is going to be murdered, and that I’m the one who’s got to stop the murder
happening? Yes, I’m still trying to get my head around that.”
    Robin removed his hand from Cara’s
forehead. He gave her a gentle smile and said, “Don’t forget about the saving
souls part, that’s important.”
    “I haven’t forgotten that, it’s just …”
Cara looked away, “it’s just that I’m not sure I believe it’s true about
someone having a soul.”
    The outraged gasp that erupted from
Robin made her jump. Robin’s hands flew to his chest and he spluttered, “Of
course people have souls! You have a soul! I can see it right now!” He pointed
at her and continued, “And those poor people who commit murder on the spur of
the moment, or through an accident, their souls wither and shrink until they
can’t feel them any more! You’ve already saved two lives, you saw how relieved
the people were when they realised they had just avoided committing murder.”
    Cara sighed and looked at Robin.