MYSTERY: BRITISH MYSTERY: Missing Hearts (Amateur Sleuth Suspense Thriller) (Cozy Crime Detective Short Stories) Read Online Free
Benjamin replied.
“No I haven’t heard about that. I’ll maybe have a word with George next time I see him. I know he’s a busy lad up there. Maybe he’ll know what’s going on and can let me know.”
“No we saw him earlier up there. He was as confused as us” Benjamin replied.
“Fair enough lad, I’ll take a look up there sometime as soon as I’ve finished running round after the missing tourists."
The constable downed his pint of bitter and left the pub. Benjamin stayed sitting on the stool pondering the day’s events. His revere was broken by a hand patting his back.
“Do we serve ourselves here or patiently wait to die of thirst?” It was George. George clambered onto his favourite bar stool in the corner of the bar and smiled over at Benjamin.
“Coming right up George, sorry. Learn anything up at the circle?” Benjamin asked.
“Nothing that makes any sense, and I was talking to the copper outside before he left. Sounds like some more folk are missing too. Don’t know about you Ben lad but there’s something smelly going on around these parts.”
3
I t had been some days since the last trip to the stone circle and Benjamin had been paying attention more to the visitors. They had all been here a while now and never caused any trouble, but in little villages like this out in the countryside, a newcomer could still be considered a stranger, an outsider for decades. Benjamin had now of course noticed the strange rings many of them wore even Van Lomas. He’d also noticed how they always seemed to appear sombre and quiet whenever Van Lomas arrived. He had some sort of control over them, it seemed apparent to Benjamin.
When Janey arrived at the pub with Annie for their walk, Benjamin convinced her a change of scenery might be in order and a walk down to the woodland below the village might be the answer.
“Mother has been nagging me to stay off the moors Ben, but I didn’t expect you to be so nervous about it. Is everything okay?” Janey asked.
“Everything is just fine sweetheart I just don’t think we need to go pushing at something that needs pulling perhaps. Right?” Benjamin replied.
“For now sure, but Annie likes to run and she loves the moors. I won’t be driven off there forever. The woods are too full of bugs. Annie might get ticks and fleas. That and I come up in a rash if those bloody mosquitoes start biting.” Janey said.
“There’s a nice breeze and it’s warm. We won’t be bothered by bugs today. Relax and enjoy the change for a while.” Benjamin replied.
As Benjamin had promised, the woods were a cool respite from the warm summer sun with no bugs and biters to disturb the day or Annie. Annie was happy to forage and roam amongst the fallen leaves and branches and slowly they made their way back to the café.
Monique was waiting for them at the door and sat inside, at one of the tables, was the local constable drinking tea.
“Ben, Janey, good to see you both. We seem to have something of a situation developing. This might sound strange but four more people seem to have lost their way. They were travelling here from Bakewell. To your pub actually Ben, yet they never arrived. This time we have something of a clue.”
“What sort of clue?” asked Benjamin, taking a seat at the table with the policeman.
“One of the women passengers called her daughter before leaving Bakewell to tell them where they were heading. Then half an hour later she called again saying a car had forced them off the road and a gang of people were climbing out and coming towards them. Her daughter said she sounded terrified and immediately called us of course. We’ve searched every road between here and Bakewell and not a sign of either a crash or anything else for that matter. Damn strange.” The constable finished.
“We’ve been walking in the woods. If they’d turned up at the pub I wouldn’t know anyway.” Benjamin replied.
“Yes I was up there earlier and you’d already
“No I haven’t heard about that. I’ll maybe have a word with George next time I see him. I know he’s a busy lad up there. Maybe he’ll know what’s going on and can let me know.”
“No we saw him earlier up there. He was as confused as us” Benjamin replied.
“Fair enough lad, I’ll take a look up there sometime as soon as I’ve finished running round after the missing tourists."
The constable downed his pint of bitter and left the pub. Benjamin stayed sitting on the stool pondering the day’s events. His revere was broken by a hand patting his back.
“Do we serve ourselves here or patiently wait to die of thirst?” It was George. George clambered onto his favourite bar stool in the corner of the bar and smiled over at Benjamin.
“Coming right up George, sorry. Learn anything up at the circle?” Benjamin asked.
“Nothing that makes any sense, and I was talking to the copper outside before he left. Sounds like some more folk are missing too. Don’t know about you Ben lad but there’s something smelly going on around these parts.”
3
I t had been some days since the last trip to the stone circle and Benjamin had been paying attention more to the visitors. They had all been here a while now and never caused any trouble, but in little villages like this out in the countryside, a newcomer could still be considered a stranger, an outsider for decades. Benjamin had now of course noticed the strange rings many of them wore even Van Lomas. He’d also noticed how they always seemed to appear sombre and quiet whenever Van Lomas arrived. He had some sort of control over them, it seemed apparent to Benjamin.
When Janey arrived at the pub with Annie for their walk, Benjamin convinced her a change of scenery might be in order and a walk down to the woodland below the village might be the answer.
“Mother has been nagging me to stay off the moors Ben, but I didn’t expect you to be so nervous about it. Is everything okay?” Janey asked.
“Everything is just fine sweetheart I just don’t think we need to go pushing at something that needs pulling perhaps. Right?” Benjamin replied.
“For now sure, but Annie likes to run and she loves the moors. I won’t be driven off there forever. The woods are too full of bugs. Annie might get ticks and fleas. That and I come up in a rash if those bloody mosquitoes start biting.” Janey said.
“There’s a nice breeze and it’s warm. We won’t be bothered by bugs today. Relax and enjoy the change for a while.” Benjamin replied.
As Benjamin had promised, the woods were a cool respite from the warm summer sun with no bugs and biters to disturb the day or Annie. Annie was happy to forage and roam amongst the fallen leaves and branches and slowly they made their way back to the café.
Monique was waiting for them at the door and sat inside, at one of the tables, was the local constable drinking tea.
“Ben, Janey, good to see you both. We seem to have something of a situation developing. This might sound strange but four more people seem to have lost their way. They were travelling here from Bakewell. To your pub actually Ben, yet they never arrived. This time we have something of a clue.”
“What sort of clue?” asked Benjamin, taking a seat at the table with the policeman.
“One of the women passengers called her daughter before leaving Bakewell to tell them where they were heading. Then half an hour later she called again saying a car had forced them off the road and a gang of people were climbing out and coming towards them. Her daughter said she sounded terrified and immediately called us of course. We’ve searched every road between here and Bakewell and not a sign of either a crash or anything else for that matter. Damn strange.” The constable finished.
“We’ve been walking in the woods. If they’d turned up at the pub I wouldn’t know anyway.” Benjamin replied.
“Yes I was up there earlier and you’d already
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