Deadly Clementine

Clementine’s gaze fell upon her friend, Elaine, who was waiting for Mr Artwell to calculate how much she owed him. Their gazes met, but Clementine was prevented from calling a greeting to her by the Captain, who sailed into the shop and immediately slammed to a stop when he almost crashed into her.

“There you are, my dear. I would like a word with you, if I may?” the Captain boomed.

Clementine mentally winced at the volume of his declaration and suspected that half the village had just heard him. Regardless, she smiled back at him.

“Oh? I shall just leave a list with Mr Artwell here, if I can fetch it tomorrow morning?” Clementine asked the man behind the counter.

“Of course, my dear. I should be obliged. As you can see, it is rather busy today.” Mr Artwell waved a hand at the other customers in the shop, of which there were several.

Clementine dutifully handed the shopping list over and smiled at Elaine but was rewarded with a dark glare from her friend.

“Where is your boyfriend, Clementine?” Elaine asked loudly.

Clementine knew Elaine’s question had been intended to inform the entire village shop that she had a suitor.

“He is back at the house, talking to father,” Clementine replied with a smile.

“A suitor, Miss Montgomery?”

“Mr Moses Banfield-Moss, that Private Detective,” the Captain boasted. “He is a prize catch.”

A titter of exclamations swept around the room.

“Be a marriage in the village soon, I expect.” The Captain winked broadly.

“It’s about time this village had something to look forward to,” Mr Artwell replied with an emphatic nod.

“There is the village fair coming up. Isn’t that something to look forward to?” Elaine asked him pertly.

“Of course, but it is a little blighted this year by what has happened to half the committee, don’t you think?” Mr Artwell replied around an uncomfortable cough.

Another ripple of murmured acknowledgements swept around the shop.

“Oh, it’s all stuff and nonsense,” Elaine gasped. “Just because a few of the elderly villagers have died doesn’t mean that life has to stop, does it?”

“But they were people we all knew and called friends,” Clementine reminded her. “They have all worked to help make the Autumn Fair a success this year, but sadly won’t be around to take part in it.”

“Well, a bit of good news won’t go amiss, eh?” the Captain boomed into the uncomfortable silence that followed.

“I shall see you in the morning, Mr Artwell,” Clementine murmured with a somewhat curious look at Elaine, who still appear

ed a little put out and made no attempt to look at her again.

With a sigh, Clementine left the shop and nodded her thanks to the Captain who held the door open for her. Once outside, she waited while the Captain closed the door and then walked side-by-side with him down the road.

“Clementine.”

Clementine stopped and turned to look at Elaine, who hurried down the street toward her.

“I thought you were going to come to tea today,” Elaine pointed out without preamble.

Clementine blinked at her and ran through what had been agreed the last time she had met with Elaine in the meadow.

“I don’t think I did. I asked but you said you were busy today. You were going to market with your father,” Clementine reminded her.

“No. You said you were going to come and take tea with me,” Elaine replied firmly. “I didn’t realise you were busy doing your shopping instead.”

“I have other things to do,” Clementine replied a little defensively.