Murder at the Lighthouse: An Exham on Sea Cosy Mystery (Exham on Sea Cosy Crime Mysteries Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

Susie’s character, but he surprised her. “She was a nice girl. Not such a nice family, though.”
    “Oh?” Libby hesitated. “You’re the first person I’ve heard say anything good about her.”
    “Who have you asked? Wait. Let me guess. The WI?”
    “No.” Libby’s face burned. “The local history society, actually. They all knew her at school.”
    “And didn’t approve.”
    “Maybe they were jealous?” She was thinking aloud.
    He stirred coffee with a long spoon. “Susie was too pretty for her own good, and too ready to believe everything the boys told her. You know how teenage boys can be. They try it on with girls, then if one says yes, they pull her reputation to pieces. That’s how it was with Susie. Hardly any friends, just boys who wanted her for one thing. She had a terrific singing voice, though.”
    “I hear her album’s going back on sale.”
    He crumbled a macaroon onto the table. “The vultures don’t wait long to make a profit, do they?”
    “She went to America, before she became famous, didn’t she?”
    “It all started here, though. Small local gigs at first. It was at Glastonbury, where they got their big break.”
    Libby shivered. “Glastonbury. Cold, wet and smelly, as I remember.”
    He laughed. “You’ve been there, then? Still, it’s great place for up-and-coming bands. Mickey Garston, the big American music producer, heard Susie there, signed up the band and married her. It all happened pretty fast. He whisked her away and the next we knew, she was on the cover of million-selling albums and on TV.”
    “What about her family?”
    “All dead or gone away. No Bennetts left in the town.”
    “That’s sad.”
    “Typical story of a small-time girl with a turbulent life, I’m afraid. The marriage with Mickey Garston didn’t last long. They split up years ago, but she never married again.”
    “No, she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring when I found her.” Did Max know about the plastic ring? Had Joe told him she’d moved the body?
    Max drank the last drops of coffee and set the cup down with care. “My son mentioned a different ring. He said you seemed bothered by it.”
    “Bothered? No, why should I be?” Her face was burning.
    “Come on. What are you hiding? I’m not the police, you know.”
    “No, but your son is.” She bit her lip. Now it sounded as though she’d committed a huge crime. “OK. I moved the body. I pulled her hand out of her pocket and the ring fell on the beach. That’s all. I know I shouldn’t have touched her, but she looked so―well―vulnerable, I suppose. I wanted to help. Does that sound crazy?”
    “I told you, I’m not the police.” It was his turn to hesitate. “Truth is, I know a bit more about Susie than the others around here. It’s private information, and maybe I shouldn’t tell anyone, but it makes me think there was something more going on than her committing suicide.”
    Libby licked dry lips. “D’you mean, you think she was murdered?”
    “Mmm. Sounds a bit melodramatic, doesn’t it?”
    Libby thought about it. “That scene at the beach―it wasn’t like a suicide.”
    “The police have closed the case, at least unless the coroner disagrees.” He shook his head. “Frankly, if no one does anything, she’ll be a statistic: just another girl who grew too rich and famous and couldn’t handle it. I don’t want to let that happen.”
    “What is it you know?”
    Max blinked and looked away. “Not here. We need to talk somewhere more private. Can I take you to dinner tonight? There’s a restaurant near Taunton where they know me. They’ll let us have a quiet table.”
    Libby bit her lip. “All right.” She stood up. “I’ve got to get back to the shop. Pick me up at seven?”
     
     

Dinner
    Libby changed her dress three times before seven o’clock. It was stupid to feel so nervous. I’m behaving like a teenager. She hadn’t been out alone with a man since Trevor died. The last thing she wanted was