“I didn’t,” was all Janet could say.
“There was a note addressed to you with the paperwork,” Mack said. “Maybe that will shed some light on the matter.”
Janet took the pile of papers from the man and flipped through them. She was sorry now that she hadn’t bothered to read what she was signing, as she’d signed all manner of legal documents relating to the ownership of the little red car. At the very bottom of the pile was the note. Janet recognised the handwriting immediately.
I did think you might prefer a new car, but you sounded very fond of this one when we spoke. Enjoy! Edward
Janet read the note twice and then handed it to Joan. After Joan read it, she pressed her lips together. Janet could almost see her sister counting to ten in her head before she spoke.
“You can’t possibly keep it,” she said tightly.
“Of course not, but giving a car back may not be all that simple,” Janet replied.
“You’ll have to ring Edward the moment we get home.”
“Yes, I will,” Janet agreed. But I may as well drive my little red car back to Doveby House before I do that, she added to herself.
The number that I had for Edward is no longer in service, so I’ve no way to get in touch with him. Joan makes faces at me every time I drive my car, but she is enjoying having a car all to herself as much as I am. Of course, I will have stern words with Edward the next time he rings. Perhaps I can simply repay him for the car, as it does seem an awfully extravagant gift from a man I barely know.
The Derby police are still questioning a number of people about the insurance fraud scheme and it seems as if they will be charging at least half a dozen men and women for their part in it. I’m calling the entire episode “The Moody Case” as it seems he was the ringleader, or one of them.
Joan and I are both excited that you and Doona are thinking of visiting. I hope you can find a way to fit it into your schedule. Aggie would love to see you both again as well. I never did ask her about our guests while they were here. No doubt she would have given me an earful.
Joan sends her best regards, as do I.
Your friend,
Janet (and Aggie)
Glossary of Terms
bin - trash can
biscuits - cookies
bonnet - hood (of a car)
booking - reservation
boot - trunk (of a car)
car park - parking lot
chemist - pharmacist
chips - french fries
cuppa - cup of tea (informal)
deposit (on a house) - down payment
fairy cakes - cupcakes
fortnight - two weeks
glove box - glove compartment
holiday - vacation
lay-by - a space on the side of the road where drivers can safely pull over
lie in - sleep late
midday - noon
pavement - sidewalk
poorly - ill
pudding - dessert
queue - line
shopping trolley - shopping cart
telly - television
till - checkout (in a grocery store, for example)
torch - flashlight
windscreen - windshield
Other Notes
In the UK, dates are written day, month, year rather than month, day, year as in the US. (May 5, 2015 would be written 5 May 2015, for example.)
In the UK, when describing property with more than one level, the lowest level (assuming there is no basement; very few UK houses have basements) is the “ground floor,” and the next floor up is the “first floor” and so on. In the US, the lowest floor is usually the “first floor” and up from there.
When telling time, half six is the English equivalent of six-thirty.
A “full English breakfast” generally consists of bacon, sausage, eggs, grilled or fried tomatoes, fried potatoes, fried mushrooms and baked beans served with toast.
A semi-detached house is one that is joined to another house by a common center wall. In the US they are generally called duplexes. In the UK the two properties would be sold individually as totally separate entities. A “terraced” house is one in a row of properties, where each unit is sold individually, (usually called a row house in the US).
Window cleaning is a common small business in the UK, often run by a sole proprietor. For a small weekly or monthly fee, they come and clean the exterior windows of your property for you. (When we lived in the Chesterfield area, our window cleaner was in his eighties. He charged us two pounds a week to come and clean all of the outside windows. I couldn’t watch when he was up on his ladder, cleaning the upper windows, as I was terrified he would fall one day.)
Acknowledgments
My beta readers are the best and I don’t thank them enough for all that they do for me! Thank you!
My editor also needs to be thanked a good deal more often. Thank you, Denise.
And most of all, I always need to thank my readers who keep me doing what I love. Thank you all!
The Norman Case
Release date: September 14, 2018
Summer in Derbyshire brings a never ending stream of guests to Doveby House. Janet and Joan Markham find themselves working harder than they’d ever expected when they bought the bed and breakfast. While most of the guests have been pleasant, there have been enough difficult guests to make Janet wary whenever they are expecting new arrivals.
She and Joan are both relieved when their latest guests seem nearly perfect. The quick arrival and departure of another couple who are considerably less amiable makes them feel as if they’re being quite lucky at the moment.
However, when a few small objects disappear from the local antique shop, they find themselves wondering whether their guests are as nice as they seem. As more items go missing all around Doveby Dale, Janet and Joan find themselves caught up in yet another criminal investigation.
Also by Diana Xarissa
The Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Series
Aunt Bessie Assumes
Aunt Bessie Considers
Aunt Bessie Decides
Aunt Bessie Enjoys
Aunt Bessie Finds
Aunt Bessie Goes
Aunt Bessie’s Holiday
Aunt Bessie Invites
Aunt Bessie Joins
Aunt Bessie Knows
Aunt Bessie Likes
Aunt Bessie Meets
Aunt Bessie Needs
Aunt Bessie Observes
Aunt Bessie Provides
Aunt Bessie Questions
Aunt Bessie Remembers
The Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Mysteries
Arrivals and Arrests
Boats and Bad Guys
Cars and Cold Cases
Dogs and Danger
Encounters and Enemies
Friends and Frauds
Guests and Guilt
Hop-tu-Naa and Homicide
The Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novellas
The Appleton Case
The Bennett Case
The Chalmers Case
The Donaldson Case
The Ellsworth Case
The Fenton Case
The Green Case
The Hampton Case
The Irwin Case
The Jackson Case
The Kingston Case
The Lawley Case
The Moody Case
The Norman Case
The Isle of Man Romance Series
Island Escape
Island Inheritance
Island Heritage
Island Christmas
About the Author
Diana grew up in Northwestern Pennsylvania and moved to Washington, DC after college. There she met a wonderful Englishman who was visiting the city. After a whirlwind romance, they got married and Diana moved to the Chesterfield area of Derbyshire to begin a new life with her husband. A short while later, they relocated to the Isle of Man.
After o
ver ten years on the island, it was time for a change. With their two children in tow, Diana and her husband moved to suburbs of Buffalo, New York. Diana now spends her days writing about the island she loves.
She also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and middle grade and YA books as D.X. Dunn.
Diana is always happy to hear from readers. You can write to her at:
Diana Xarissa Dunn
PO Box 72
Clarence, NY 14031.
E-mail Diana at: diana@dianaxarissa.com or visit her website: www.dianaxarissa.com.