Death Takes A Trip (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 5) (10 page)

Cain laughed.
“
I know! I
’
m going to the
pub with him! I
’
ve never been
to the pub before.
”
He paused.
“
I
’
ve never had a beer before!
”

As Julia tried to get to sleep that night she didn
’
t know what she was more worried about, Dad getting in a fight, or Cain
getting drunk.

Chapter 16

Julia phoned Mum first thing on Sunday morning. Her
immediate question was,
“
Did Dad get in a fight?
”

“
No, and good
morning to you,
”
Mum replied.

“
Good morning.
Did Cain get drunk?
”

“
As drunk as a
skunk. He
’
s presently
asleep on my sofa, snoring his head off. I
’
ve put a bucket next to him but he hasn
’
t been sick in the night.
”

“
Why is he at
your house?
”

Mum sighed.
“
I couldn
’
t let him go home
in the state he was in. There
’
s no one to look after him at his house. Poor lamb, he
’
s going to have a terrible hangover when he wakes up.
”

“
Shall I come
over, pick him up and take him home?
”
Julia offered.

“
No, leave him
to sleep as much as he can. I know how to deal with youngsters who
’
ve had too much to drink. I
’
ve had plenty of practise with you and your sister.
”

Julia smiled.
“
I
’
m sure I was
never that bad. Did Dad say anything to you when he came in last night?
”

“
It wasn
’
t last night, it was the early hours. Can you believe that! At his age.
And I didn
’
t get any
sense out of the old fool. He kept rubbing his tummy and saying that he
’
d had two helpings of apple crumble and there was nothing I could do
about it. And as for your young friend, he could barely stand up! Your dad had
to support him. He kept giggling and saying he
’
d never been drunk before.
”

“
I
’
m sorry, Mum, I feel as if it
’
s my fault that they
’
ve ended up in this state.
”

Mum tutted.
“
Your dad doesn
’
t need an excuse to go to the pub. As he got into bed he did mumble
about having to tell you something. I don
’
t know what though, he stopped mumbling in mid-sentence and fell asleep.
”

“
Are you sure
you don
’
t want me to
come round?
”

“
No, I
’
ve no idea what time they
’
ll wake up, or what state they
’
ll be in. I
’
ll tell them
to come over to your house. Julia, your dad told me about what you
’
re doing. You
’
ve got
yourself involved in a murder investigation again, haven
’
t you?
”

“
I have.
”

“
Just be
careful, won
’
t you?
Somewhere out there is the person who killed your client. I don
’
t want them coming after you.
”

“
I can look
after myself,
”
Julia said as reassuringly as possible.

“
Hmm. I thought
I was only supposed to worry about my children when they were little. It seems
that the older you get, the more I worry about you.
”

“
Honestly, Mum,
I
’
m fine. Please
don
’
t worry. I
’
m sure I
’
ll find out
who killed Douglas soon. Love you.
”

“
Love you more,
”
Mum said.
Julia could hear the smile in her voice.

Julia didn
’
t know what to do with herself whilst she waited for Dad and Cain to
come round. She cleaned her house from top to bottom and put a washing load in.
There never seemed to be much washing now that Sam and Chloe were away at
university. She did miss them, but she didn
’
t miss the mess that they made. They
’
d be home from university soon. Despite the chaos they brought with
them, she couldn
’
t wait to see
them.

Julia remembered the old notebook that Cain had given
her a few weeks ago, the one that she
’
d taken out at Douglas
’
house. It was full of notes on how to make cleaning
solutions and soaps without chemicals. Julia took the notebook out and sat at
the kitchen table. Cain
’
s gran sounded a lovely woman, the way she had taken Cain in when he was
young. And the way she
’
d supported him during his time in prison. It was a crying shame that
she
’
d died six
months before Cain was released.

Julia stopped on a page and ran her finger down the
list of items needed. She nodded. Yes, she had all of them. She
’
d have a go at making it.

She was so engrossed in her task and taking notes that
she jumped when the kitchen door opened. Dad strolled in, a smile on his face.
“
Good morning, my lovely daughter. How are you today?
”
Without
waiting for an answer he walked over to the oven and pointed to a pot.
“
Oo, what have you got cooking?
”
He stuck his
finger in and then put the contents in his mouth.

Julia looked at him from her seated position.
“
It
’
s soap.
Lavender and mint.
”

Dad nodded and reached for the kitchen roll. He pulled
a sheet off and wiped his tongue. He walked to the sink and quickly filled up a
glass with water. He swilled his mouth out and grimaced. He looked over his
shoulder and said,
“
I have
literally washed my mouth out with soap and water. If I was a cartoon character
I
’
d be blowing
bubbles.
”

Julia looked over towards the open door.
“
Where
’
s Cain? Have
you taken him home?
”

Dad put the glass down.
“
He was right behind me. I hope he hasn
’
t fallen over, he
’
s a bit unsteady on his feet at the moment.
”

Sounding more like her mum than she wanted to, Julia
said,
“
That
’
ll be the drink, he
’
s not used to it. And it
’
s all your fault, you should have kept an eye on him.
”

“
He
’
s a grown man, he needs to experience these things. I hope he
’
s not being sick in one of your plant pots. No, here he is.
”

Julia
’
s mouth dropped open as a zombie-type creature entered her kitchen. The
zombie was wearing dark glasses. He took them off and blinked blood shot eyes
at Julia. Julia shut her mouth as Cain gave her a nod and then winced.

Julia stood up and led him over to the table. She
pulled back a chair and eased him into it. She could shout at him and tell him
his present condition was all his fault but she remembered clearly the times
that she had been in a similar position.

In what she hoped was a soothing voice, she said,
“
Cain, can I get you anything? Water? Aspirins? A bucket?
”

Cain held a hand up and, in a hoarse voice, said,
“
No, thank you. Your mum has sorted me out. I
’
m waiting for the paracetamols to take effect. I feel terrible. Why do
people drink if they feel like this? I
’
m never drinking again.
”

“
That
’
s what they all say,
”
Dad added.

Cain lifted his head and sniffed. He smiled.
“
Is that one of Gran
’
s recipes? Is it lavender and mint soap?
”

“
It is. I
’
ll make a bar for you.
”

A tear rolled down Cain
’
s cheek.
“
You
’
re so kind. All of you. Your mum, your dad
…”

Dad walked over to the table and sat down.
“
I think he
’
s still drunk.
Get the kettle on, Julia, and I
’
ll tell you all about last night.
”

“
Did you meet
Kirk Adams?
”
Julia asked.

Dad folded his arms and leant back in his chair.
“
We certainly did. He
’
s a nasty piece of work.
”

Chapter 17

Once Dad and Julia were settled with a cup of tea, and
Cain had a pint glass full of cold water in front of him, Dad began,
“
We got to the pub at eight o
’
clock. Joshua decided he was hungry and I could tell that Cain was too
so I ordered some apple crumble for us all.
”

“
That was kind
of you,
”
Julia noted.

“
There
’
s no need to be sarcastic, young lady. We
’
d finished our crumbles when Kirk Adams walked in. Or should I say,
sauntered in. He reminded me of one of an old cowboy films, you know the ones
where the evil cowboy shoots an innocent person and saunters away, pleased with
themselves?
”

Julia nodded.
“
Was he on his own?
”

“
No, he was
with a group of men. He was boasting about some deal that he
’
d been working on. Saying that he
’
d be making money hand over fist, those were his words. We could all
hear what he was saying, the whole pub could. As he walked past our table he
said,
‘
Now that the
old codger has gone I can get my hands on his land
’
. Well, we all immediately thought he was talking about Douglas. I
turned to look at Joshua to see if he
’
d heard. He had, he leapt out of his seat like a scalded cat. His fists
were clenched and I knew he was going to go for Kirk.

“
It all
happened in slow motion. Joshua swore at Kirk. I won
’
t repeat his words. Kirk turned to look at where the noise was coming
from. Joshua flew through the air like a ninja and thumped Kirk right in the
face. Kirk took the hit but then turned on Joshua. I was up in a flash. Kirk is
much bigger and stronger than Joshua.
”

Cain put his hand out and tapped Dad on his arm.
“
Tell Julia what I did.
”

Dad smiled.
“
Young Cain here tried to break up the fight. He got hurt in the process.
”

Cain bravely lifted up his hand and showed Julia a cut
on his little finger. Julia had to squint to see it.

Dad went on.
“
I managed to break up the fight. I grabbed them both by the collar and
forced them to sit down. They were both shouting at each other. I had to use my
angry voice.
”

Julia
’
s eyes widened.
“
I
’
ve only ever heard
that voice once. When that Tommy Whitehall tried to pinch my bike. You scared
him off, didn
’
t you Dad?
”

He nodded.
“
No one takes anything from my family. Kirk and Joshua shut their mouths
and glared at each other. I bought Kirk a drink and then explained why Joshua
was so mad. Joshua thought Kirk was referring to Douglas. Kirk said he wasn
’
t. He said he was talking about an elderly man on the other side of
town. It seems Adams Construction are building a new housing development over
there and they
’
d been in
negotiations with the old codger that Kirk referred to. The man had died
recently and his daughter was more than happy to sell his house to Kirk.
”

Julia said,
“
Sounds like they
’
ve got their fingers in pies all around this town. How did the old man
die? Did he fall down his stairs?
”

Dad chuckled.
“
What a suspicious mind you have. Cain asked Kirk that. But no, the old
fella died from a heart attack.
”

Julia
’
s eyes narrowed.
“
Or so Kirk Adams says. What else did he tell you?
”

Dad leaned closer to Julia and said,
“
He told us that he was at Douglas
’
house on the
night he died.
”

Julia gasped. Then she slapped her hand on the table
and said,
“
I knew it! I
knew it was him who killed Douglas!
”

Dad held his hands up.
“
Not so fast there. Kirk didn
’
t turn up to pester Douglas about selling the house, it was Douglas who
called Kirk. Douglas told him that his circumstances had changed and that he
was considering selling his house after all.
”

“
Oh. I wasn
’
t expecting that,
”
Julia said.
“
That does make sense though. He
’
d asked Nina to marry him on the Saturday. She
’
d said yes so I suppose Douglas began to make plans. Perhaps he thought
Nina wouldn
’
t want to live
in the house where his first wife lived.
”

Cain spoke. Julia noticed the colour was returning to
his face.
“
So Kirk Adams
had no reason to kill Douglas.
”

“
We only have
his word for it,
”
Julia said.
“
Dad, do you
think he was telling the truth?
”

“
I don
’
t know, it
’
s hard to tell
with a man like Kirk Adams. He comes across as arrogant and self centred. He
seemed to gloat about Douglas agreeing to sell his land, as if it was all Kirk
’
s doing. There
’
s no reason for him to lie, is there?
”

“
There is if he
pushed Douglas down the stairs! Those must have been his footprints on the
stair carpet.
”

Dad nodded.
“
They were. He asked Douglas if he could use his toilet when he was there
on Tuesday. I asked Kirk if he
’
d noticed the stair carpet sticking up at the top. He didn
’
t notice anything but he said he didn
’
t trip over anything on the way back down the stairs.
”

“
What about the
rock through the window!
”

“
Stop shouting,
Cain
’
s still in a
delicate state. I asked him that. He actually looked ashamed. He said he had
done that before to one of Douglas
’
neighbours but
he hadn
’
t done it to
Douglas.
”

“
Again, we only
have his word for it.
”

“
You
’
re convinced he
’
s guilty, aren
’
t you?
”

“
Yes, there
aren
’
t any other
suspects.
”

Dad shared a look with Cain. He turned his attention
back to Julia and said,
“
When Kirk left Douglas
’
house that Tuesday night he saw someone coming the
other way. He watched where they went as they passed him. They went into
Douglas
’
house.
”

“
No! Who was
it?
”
Julia said.

“
Kirk said he
wasn
’
t sure if the
person was male or female. He decided on female when he saw that she was
wearing a coat with cats on it and carrying a shopping bag that had dancing
kittens printed on it.
”

Julia looked at Cain, back to her dad, and then at
Cain again.

Cain nodded.
“
It must have been Mildred from the charity shop, Mildred with the
moustache.
”