A Forgotten Murder (Medlar Mystery 3)

“Well... I did do a bit of drama in school.”

He picked up a handful of pebbles, got up and went to the house to toss them at a window. Puck opened it.

“Tell Sara that Kate is going to play Nadine. Kate wants to be in love with me.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Kate said. “I want the drama and the dress Nadine wore and—” Jack was smiling at her so smugly she stopped. “Maybe I’ll get to bash you over the head with a big rock.”

“For you, Kate, it would be worth it.”

She groaned and looked up at Puck, who was still waiting. “Tell Aunt Sara I’ll be Nadine. Teddy can be Diana. She knows how to ride a horse.”

With a nod, Puck put the window down.

Kate turned to Jack. “So what do we do now?”

“Don’t you need to get dressed for tonight?”

“Are you saying I’m so ugly that I need an entire day to put on makeup and a dress?”

“No. I didn’t mean that. I thought you’d like—” He narrowed his eyes at her. “I’m not laughing.” He tossed the orange peels onto Puck’s compost pile, then started walking in the direction of the big house. “I bet there is some research you need to do. You’d help Bella if you straightened up the mess in the attic. Sara would appreciate that. Hey! You could help find clothes for the play and—”

“I’m going with you.”

“I thought I’d take a swim. And hit the weights. If I’m to play Sean, I better get in shape.”

“I’m going with you,” Kate repeated.

Jack stopped walking. “I need some alone time.”

“What are you up to?”

With a sigh, Jack admitted defeat. “It was Diana’s mention of a gun. I’m going to go back and look for a cause of death.”

“To the skeleton, you mean?”

He nodded.

Kate held out her arms. “I’m ready. Lead the way.”

In the end, Jack felt like he half won as he persuaded Kate not to go down in the hole with him. To be fair, he hadn’t had to say much.

She didn’t want to see the bones again.

“It’s just that now I feel like I know him,” Kate said. “He was in love and about to become a father.”

“Am I hearing sympathy for his child, for Teddy?”

“After that dress she wore?” Kate sighed. “Okay, so maybe I am feeling bad for her.”

“You grew up without a father, so—”

“So what?” she said loudly. “You’re going to pity me?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He took a step back. “You want to go down or not?”

“The more people who disturb the scene, the more...” She trailed off.

“Got it. You better stay here and make sure no murderer comes by and cuts the ropes and leaves me down there forever. You think my bones will look like Thorpe’s?”