The Mysterious Disappearance of Marsha Boden - Chapter 30

Lucy’s absence had clearly rattled a few cages and Alex sensed that he could have a rebellion on his hands at Ashcroft’s

Hello and welcome to Rosy’s Ramblings, where I am currently posting bite-size chunks of my debut novel every Wednesday and Saturday.  If you’re a regular visitor, I hope you are enjoying the twists and turns of the story so far.

If crime fiction is not your thing, you can find some posts on my new blog, Rosy’s Relationship Round-Up at rosyg.substack.com

It’s great to have you around and thank you for reading my work.

Rosy.                                                               

Business was brisk at Ashcroft’s and there were more and more walk-ins, despite the awful weather; it was pouring down and those braving the elements scurried along wielding umbrellas that threatened to blow inside out. A sad-looking young woman pushing a pram, soaked to the skin, peered in through the droplet covered window scanning the properties for rent intently.

“Who does she bloody well think she is?  Swanning off like that without a by your leave.” A female member of the staff was spouting off to no one in particular and some of her colleagues were nodding their heads in agreement.

“If we wanted to take time off, we’d have to book it weeks in advance.”

Clearly, Lucy’s absence had rattled a few cages and Alex sensed that he could have a rebellion on his hands.  Lucy was not top of his ‘favourite persons’ list at the moment either.  In fact, she was way down near the bottom after she had cruelly invited him round to her new flat for a drink, and then ended up swanning off with Billie on some jolly to a tropical island, leaving him to hold the fort.  He was even more pissed off when he heard from Billie that Sam was on the trip too.  He wondered what was going on.

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Zelda was pouring herself a cup of coffee when Kate sauntered into the kitchen wearing her short-sleeved nightie and Ugg slippers, her blonde hair all ruffled from sleep.

“Mm, that smells good.”

Zelda took another cup out of the cupboard and poured her one.  “Here you go.  Are you okay?  You look a bit pre-occupied.”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she lied.  “The sooner those houses are finished the better.”

Zelda came round the island to where Kate was perched on one of the bar stools and hugged her.  “I know you can’t wait to leave this house.  It won’t be long now.”  She held her tight, reassuring her that she would be there for her.

Kate had been unable to go into the sitting room where her husband had blown his brains out.  Zelda had got professional cleaners in but ever since the room had remained locked and nobody went in there and instead everybody had decamped to the lounge area at the far end of the huge kitchen/diner, which wasn’t ideal.  It resembled more of a play den than a grown-up area for relaxing in.

“What do you think happened to that woman?” Zelda asked, perching on the stool opposite and cradling her coffee cup in her hands.