Deadly Start by Clark Nefri (recommended ebook reader .TXT) 📗

way Sid would fit through the gap, but she needed to find a way out of wherever she was. He already thought she was guilty of something.

When there was no more light coming through the gap, she turned the flashlight on her phone on. The alley ran behind shops on one side and was wide enough for one car to drive along at a time. Cobblestones covered the ground and there were a few bins scattered ahead. Charlotte hurried in the direction of the bookshop. A few of the shops had back doors leading to the alley. The other side was fenced and from glimpses between palings, it looked like back yards of houses.

She neared the end of the row of shops. Ahead was the alley that opened opposite the bookshop. Phone in her pocket she crept along the wall to the corner. When she peered around, there was no sign of movement. The bookshop was in darkness, apart from the lights around the tree in the window.

Step by step, she tiptoed toward the street, stopping at every tiny sound. From here, the very top of her little Christmas tree was just in sight above the balcony. It needed a star.

Focus.

At the corner, Charlotte stared in the direction of the roundabout. Sid’s car was still there. But where was he? He’d have to leave sooner or later, or at least call for assistance. A shadow passed in front of the bookshop. Sid was there. He’d been in the darkness until crossing in front of the tree. Now she knew where he was, Charlotte watched him until he’d walked all the way back to his car.

The minute he got into it, she sprinted over the road. In seconds she was around the back and flying up the stairs. Door locked behind her, Charlotte closed her eyes and exhaled. Too close. Far too close.

After showering to get cobwebs from her hair, and grime from her arms and legs, Charlotte was exhausted. She padded barefoot to the sliding glass door, towelling her hair dry. She’d left the door open, so began to pull it across.

She wrinkled her nose and stepped onto the balcony. Someone was smoking nearby.

The smell of smoke was strong. Charlotte stood at the edge of the balcony, scanning below. At the corner of the alley, Sid stared up at her, a cigarette between his fingers. When their eyes met, he sneered at Charlotte, then tossed the butt onto the ground and walked away.

Chapter Eleven

Against all odds, Charlotte fell asleep as soon as she returned to bed and slept until dawn. She lay there for a while watching the sky go through all the hues of blue from dark to light, getting her mind ready for the day ahead. Open the shop after a quick check everything was perfect. Water the pine trees—hers as well as the one in the window. Sweep the pavement.

Oh, and pick up the cigarette butt in the alley. Charlotte couldn’t stand the things being thrown on the ground where an unsuspecting animal might pick it up and become ill. Sid did it deliberately as soon as he knew she’d seen him. He was a dirty man on many levels. Butts, poor hygiene, and probably in his ethics.

Charlotte slipped out of bed and stretched, pushing the thought of the police officer away. Instead of lingering over coffee, Charlotte dressed and grabbed a shopping bag. She’d thought of a few things to add to her stash and wanted to have a look at the roundabout in daylight.

She went there first. No other shops were open yet, apart from the supermarket, but a couple of traders waved to her from behind their windows. It was nice to know her way around, and the doubts of her first week here were eroding. From the corner, Charlotte stared at the roundabout. Cars going through went particularly slowly as their drivers gaped at the empty space where the huge tree once stood. The mess was as she remembered.

Sid had done nothing. Nothing, other than act like a creepy-cop by standing opposite her residence. In between cars, Charlotte crossed onto the roundabout to look at the tyre tracks. Something made her take some more photos, quickly, so nobody saw what she did. Then, she crossed to the other corner and headed for the supermarket.

Charlotte found a Christmas star small enough for her tree, and a gingerbread house kit. The latter was a complete impulse buy and she grinned.

Much as she was enjoying the customers, Charlotte’s stomach turned a bit when the book club ladies followed each other through the open front door.

Octavia looked her up and down and sniffed. Charlotte remembered Rosie’s instructions to smile and kept smiling. If Octavia had an issue with her, then that was the other woman’s problem.

Marguerite didn’t even look Charlotte’s way, but Glenys rushed over. “Did you see? Our beautiful Christmas tree is gone! Gone in the middle of the night!”

“I know.”

“How do you know?” Octavia appeared from nowhere. “What do you know about it?”

Smile.

“I was at the supermarket earlier and saw the cars going so slowly around the roundabout. Quite shocking someone would do such a thing.”

“Oh? I’d have thought you’d have heard something. Gone to check it out.”

Was Sid sharing everything with his wife? “How may I help you ladies this morning?”

“We want to place an order.” Glenys said. “We’ve decided to go with the book from the other day for our next meeting, so need a few copies.”

“Of course. I’ll get the orders book.” Charlotte took off for the counter. The ladies were over in the thriller and mystery corner when she caught up with the open book. “How many copies shall I order?”

“We’re talking! Kindly don’t interrupt.” Marguerite turned her back.

Charlotte considered dropping the book on Marguerite’s foot but took it back to the counter. No smiling though. Rosie might be a saint, but Charlotte wasn’t. She tapped on the computer to find the book to order. It