The Jade Garden (The Barrington Patch Book 2) by Emmy Ellis (reading diary txt) 📗

wrist. “I’ll be sorting that. Go and wait outside for me.”

Doreen blushed. “Oh, well, I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

Cassie turned to Cheryl. “I’ll be back for that chat I mentioned in a few. Just got to hear Doreen out.”

Doreen walked outside, blinking away the emotions of Cassie’s kind gesture, same as she had with the perfume she’d bought her. She was conscious of her fancy barnet, thinking the people strolling past were staring at her, but they weren’t. She’d better get used to this posh hair lark, especially if Cassie kept her on as a spy.

She leant against the wall between the salon and The Donny, annoyed the wind blew, panicking it’d wreck what Fiona had done. Not for long, though. Cassie came out, gripped her elbow, and guided Doreen to her car.

“Get in.” Cassie blipped the locks and headed round to the driver’s side.

Doreen settled in the passenger seat, sniffing not only the spray on her hair but the heavy scent of leather from the flash interior.

Cassie got in and locked the doors. “What’s this all about then?”

Doreen took a deep breath and blurted her story.

“That fucking bitch,” Cassie seethed. “My dad said I had to watch my back with her or she’d stab it with an extra-long knife.”

“Not Sharon, though. She was disgusted, you could hear it in her voice.”

“Yet she hasn’t contacted me to tell me what her best pal’s plotting, so she’s just as bad in my eyes.”

“Maybe she hasn’t had the chance.”

“But you said they’d clearly discussed it before, so she has had time to let me know.”

“What if she wanted to wait and see if Karen really meant it. Like, she thought Karen was just messing the first time and now she knows she’s serious. Plenty of times I’ve said I’d kill someone, but I didn’t mean it. They’re working on The Life. She can’t just up and leave without Karen sussing something.”

“Hmm. I’ll let her off then. This time. Now, I want you to do something for me, passing on a message. It’s worth a grand.”

A grand? Bloody hell. Doreen could book her and Harry into a hotel an’ all, and they could have a right old time of it. She’d heard they had a jacuzzi in some rooms, but that might mess up her hair.

She’d think on that a bit more.

“I’ll do whatever you want.” Doreen gave Cassie her best smile.

“Go back to Karen’s and stay outside, wait for Sharon to leave. Drive your car and sit in it. Once she’s left, knock Karen up and tell her you heard what was said—and that you’ll help her kill me if Sharon won’t. Organise with her to meet me at The Beast at two in the morning, say you’ll go so you can help her ‘impale’ me.” Cassie laughed. “What a joke she is.”

“Okay, whatever you want.”

“Then there’s another ten grand in it if you hold her down while I kill her.”

Doreen’s mouth flapped. “W-what?”

“You heard me. Now, are you in or out?”

Doreen didn’t have to think for long. That money would pay off all her debts and there’d be change to spare. She could buy one of those hot tubs for five hundred quid and stick it in the back garden, buy a marquee thing to go over the top, string up some fairy lights, all rather exciting. “I’ll do it.”

“I thought you might. Off you go then, and let me know if she’s up for it. If not, we’ll arrange another night, but you can bet on one thing, Karen will be disappearing soon.”

Chapter Fourteen

 

The Barrington Life – Your Weekly

FEBRUARY FAYRE ON SCULPTOR’S FIELD

Karen Scholes – All Things Crime in our Time

Sharon Barnett – Chief Editor

WEEKLY EDITION - FEBRUARY 2021

Just a reminder that the February Fayre is on at the weekend, so wrap up warm because it’s bloody snowing. Join in the fun. There are a few stallholders already signed up, and they include:

Joe Wilson: On behalf of Grafton’s Meat Factory

Lou Wilson: Pies and jams

Brenda Nolan: Knitted willy warmers (don’t ask, she has time on her hands)

Geoff Davis: Homemade wines and gins

Sandra Welton: Cakes, pastries, and handcrafted chocolates

Several knick-knack stalls, a hook the duck, tombola, and numerous others

If anyone else would like a spot, get a move on, because there are only five left. To rent a stall, contact me or Sharon. They’re twenty quid for the weekend.

As usual, we have the fairground feel, so the hot dog stall, the merry-go-round, and candy floss. A portion of everyone’s proceeds will go to the nominated charity the majority of you chose: The Lenny Grafton Homeless Fund. As you’re aware, he did a lot to prevent homelessness in this town, including buying the high-rise to ensure people had a nice warm place with affordable rents, so it’s only right we support it now he’s no longer with us. The money raised will pay for new bedding and clothing, plus tide-you-over loans for those still struggling. Dig deep, folks.

Sharon has agreed to run the face-painting booth this year. She’s done a fair bit of practising on me, and I have to say her tiger is one of the best I’ve seen. I might even give it a go myself in between doing the raffle. Once again, thank you for the donations given for that. We have some generous prizes, including a week-long stay in Spain, all inclusive, from Cassie Grafton, and it isn’t Benidorm either, like you lot are used to. Each ticket will be a pound.

See you on Saturday. Be there or be square.

Karen once again took to the streets to post her portion of The Life. She had her mind full of Doreen, not the howling wind or the snowy weather. While she’d been