Amanda Cadabra and The Hidden Depths by Holly Bell (good book recommendations TXT) 📗

Mr Frumbling was immensely helpful, and together they set out a plan of action.

‘Now you won’t get perfection, duck. It’s badly damaged and old. Aim for better. And just do your best, as I know you will. Here’s my card with my mobile number. You just call me whenever you get stuck or want a bit of reassurance, and I’ll be over as fast my old legs will carry me!’

‘Thank you, dear Mr Frumbling,’ Amanda’s appreciation was heartfelt.

‘That’s all right, duck.’

No sooner had Amanda waved off her kind mentor, than she hurried back inside to the small dining-room, shut the door and took out her phone.

‘Inspector?’

‘Miss Cadabra?’

‘Yes. Hello. This afternoon, I was talking to one of the villagers who told me that some of the books in the stacks are Jonathan’s. “Jonathan’s collection” he called it. I don’t know if that’s important, but …’

She waited. Finally, Trelawney spoke. It was non-committal.

‘It might be.’

‘Shall I go and talk to Jonathan, Inspector?’

Trelawney considered that he shouldn’t be involving Miss Cadabra so closely, but his previous interview with Sheppard had plainly been a strain on the man. More to the point, it had yielded only the minimum of information. ‘Normally I’d say, let me do it, but,’ the inspector conceded, ‘he’s very shy, and you’re one of the few people with whom he seems to have a rapport.’

‘Yes, then?’

‘Go ahead, if you would, Miss Cadabra.’

Chapter 20

Samantha’s Aunt

Hot chocolate with coconut cream for Miss Amanda, and flat white Atlantic Blue Hill coffee for Mr Dale.’ Alex served the pale green and gold cups and saucers.

‘Oh, Alex,’ she exclaimed admiring the new crockery, ‘these are beautiful! Are they new?’

‘Yes, arrived this morning. You’d never believe they’re dishwasher safe! Madeira cake on its way!’

‘He’s so very kind, isn’t he?’ Amanda remarked, watching Alex bustling off towards the kitchen.

‘He is indeed,’ agreed Dale with a smile. ‘Both he and Julian seem very fond of you.’

‘I am most fortunate in my neighbours. But there is something I wanted to ask you.’

‘Fire away.’

‘Was the most dangerous thing you’ve ever done on your adventures the most enjoyable?’

Dale leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his pleasant face.

‘Hm. Very good question, Amanda.’ He paused. ‘I think the answer is that there’s a difference between an adrenaline rush and … let’s say, delight. Reaching the summit of Dhaihir was perhaps the most dangerous thing I’ve ever attempted. We had to turn back twice. But it was the final stretch … it’s hard to describe, and then standing on that peak … And yet, yes, I think the time that made my heart sing, so to speak, was the time I told you about.’

‘With the lady who’d been ill and got better and was seeing the Arctic for the first time?’

‘Yes.’

‘Oh, how lovely. I think that does you great credit, Dale.’

‘Well, thank you, Amanda. Just being honest.’

He moved his hand from beside his cup slightly towards hers.

Oh dear, thought Amanda. Does he think this is a date? I’d better—

His phone sounded, and he hastily glanced at the screen. His face wearied.

‘Sorry, I have to go. It’s Mother.’

Saved by the bell, was Amanda’s reaction. but she said politely.

‘Ah well, it was nice to chat.’

‘Maybe we can continue another time?’

Amanda wasn’t so sure. He noticed her hesitation.

‘Have I said something …?’

‘Oh no, it’s just … look, Dale, you do know that this is just a friends thing?’

‘Of course! Have I given any other impression? If I have …’

‘Just wanted to be certain. I wouldn’t want there to …’

‘I understand. It’s all right. I’ve been in the same position. It is best to be on the safe side. Friends.’

Amanda breathed a sigh of relief.

She grinned. ‘Friends.’

‘And I hope, in time, “good friends”.’

Amanda nodded, wondering what on earth that meant. He picked up his coat and, with a word of thanks to Alex and a farewell, walked to the door. He made way politely for an anxious-looking woman and her children entering.

She looked vaguely familiar. The human face was not something that particularly registered with Amanda. If she didn’t see someone for six months, she’d have trouble recognizing them. Mr Treckit, her neighbour from Orchard Row, had gone on a year’s sabbatical to Indonesia. When he’d returned and greeted her in The Corner Shop, Amanda had had absolutely no idea who he was.

What helped in the case of the woman was that Amanda had the feeling that this particular stranger was someone essential to remember.

The woman, pushing her short wild blond hair out of her face, fussed about with tapestried bags and her coat of many colours, as she asked her children what they’d like to eat and drink. They replied politely as they took off their jackets and then went to pay their respects to Tempest.

Ah yes, thought Amanda, I remember that coat. She took a deep breath, left her table and approached the woman diffidently.

‘Excuse me, please, are you a friend of Samantha?’

‘Erm … yes?’ The woman was cautious but curious.

‘My name is Amanda, and that’s my cat, Tempest, over there. I hope you don’t mind my …’

‘Oh, of course not,’ replied the woman. ‘Were you her friend?’

That was a tricky one. ‘I’m working up at The Grange, where Samantha was staying. And I knew her from the village.’

‘She didn’t live here though,’ the woman pointed out.

‘No, but she rather liked this tea shop,’ Amanda replied, recalling Samantha’s remark that it was ‘the only decent place in this hole’. ‘And we did chat once or twice. I’m glad she had you to talk to. Sam did seem rather isolated.’ Because no one could stand her, thought Amanda accurately.

The woman softened ‘I did wonder. Do sit down. Oh I’m Verity, by the way. Verity Gibbs, Samantha’s aunt.’

‘You’re Damian’s sister?’ asked Amanda.

‘You know, Damian?’

‘I do.’

‘Actually, his brother, Adam is my husband,’ Verity explained.

‘I see. You and Samantha seemed very close.’

‘Oh well, one does what one can. Did, I should say. I wondered how I’d feel being back in here where I last saw Sam but