AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Okay, sweetie.Pointtaken.’Shepursed her lips as she surveyedDaisyputting the bouquet together. ‘Actually, scrap thepalm leaves.Theydon’t look right, do they?’
Daisypatiently removed the palm leaf foliage she’d just added. ‘Somegyp?’
Marionshuddered. ‘God, no gypsophila.Whatabout that round green stuff?’
‘Thepenny cress?’
‘I’llhave some of that instead.’
‘Ican add some birch twigs too, that can look classy.’
‘Yes, why not.’Despiteher protestations of being uber-busy,Marionsubsided onto the stool with a sigh. ‘I’verun myself ragged today.Thecaterers have been impossible.’
Daisybit back the comment she was about to say, settling for a non-committal, ‘Ohdear.’Sheadded five birch twigs and a handful of the penny cress and, satisfied with the look, wrapped the bouquet in white tissue paper.Handingit over toMarion, she added, ‘Nowyou see whyIdon’t have a social life.Toomuch trouble.’
‘Ienvy you sometimes,Daisy.Yourown little business.Alittle flat all to yourself.Timebeing your own.’
Daisynodded sagely. ‘Debts, business rates soaring, stock prices going through the roof but customers complaining ifIadd even so much as fifty pence to the flower price.What’snot to love about my life?’
‘Butat least you only have yourself to please,’Marionsaid, patently not in a mood for empathy. ‘Nohaving to impress boring clients and their wives.’Shepeered at the bouquet. ‘Doyou thinkIneed roses?’
Daisyreined in her patience. ‘Leaveit as just the lilies and the greenery.Simplebut elegant.Liliesthat tall make a statement without having to add much.’
‘Youknow you’re so right.’Marionturned the bouquet towards the light from the door to get a better look.Thenshe put it back on the counter, leaned in and hissed, ‘Didyou hear what happened?’
Daisysettled in for a gossip.Therewasn’t much which happened in town that escapedMarion. ‘Whathappened where?’
‘LullburyBay’scrime wave, that’s what.Allthe knitted teddies theNinjaKnittersattached to the railings in the public gardens have been stolen!’
‘No!’Daisywas genuinely shocked. ‘Notthe ones people sponsored to raise money for theRNLI?’
Marionnodded. ‘Thevery same.And,’ she paused for dramatic effect, ‘there’s more.’
‘What?’
‘Leadstripped off the church roof, that’s what.PoorVerity’sdistraught.’
‘Ohno,’Daisygasped. ‘PoorVerity.Shemust be really upset.That’sawful.Thingslike these never seemed to happen inLullburybefore.’
Marionshrugged. ‘Well, they are now.Mostcrime sinceEliand his teenage gang of hoodlums ripped through town vandalising cars.’
‘Thanksfor reminding me.AuntyDebshas only just got over it.’
Afew years previously,EliWiscombehad got into some trouble.
‘Ohyes, of course.Eli’syour cousin, isn’t he?Iforget how many relatives you have.’
‘Thinkmost of the town hasWiscombeblood running through its veins in some form or other.’Daisytapped her teeth with herBirothoughtfully. ‘It’sweird though.’
‘Whatis?’
‘Strippinglead off church roofs and stealing knitted teddy bears are two crimesIwouldn’t have thought would be done by the same type of criminal.Imean, one’s out-and-out crime for gain and the other smacks of petty vandalism.’
‘NotyourEliagain, sweetie?’
‘Ifit is, he’ll have to leave home.AuntyDebswon’t give him another chance.She’sa founding member of theKnitandNatterGroup, she’ll be furious if all her hard work has been destroyed by her own son.’
‘So, as well as a group of bored kids, do you think we have a gang of real criminals in town?’
