A Date With Death: Cozy Private Investigator Series (Flora Lively Mysteries Book 2) (25 page)
Read A Date With Death: Cozy Private Investigator Series (Flora Lively Mysteries Book 2) Online
Authors: Joanne Phillips
Tags: #Fiction: Mystery: Cozy
‘For you and your wife. I want you to be able to stay here.’ She turned in a circle, taking it all in with her arms. ‘Despite everything, Hanley Manor is a beautiful place. I think you could make a go of it yet.’ She shrugged. ‘It’d be fun trying, anyway.’
‘What was all that about?’ Marshall said when she climbed into the van.
‘Oh, nothing. Just helping him out with something.’
Marshall turned to her in mock surprise. ‘What – you, helping someone out? Never. I can’t believe it.’
She slapped him on the arm. ‘Oh, shut up. I have ideas – I’m an ideas person. You’re just jealous because people confide in me. Because they can see my creative, caring side.’
‘That’s fine,’ he said, sliding across the cab to put his arm around her shoulders. ‘As long as it’s only me who gets to see that other side you’ve kept hidden so long.’
‘And what side is that?’ she said, throwing him a mischievous look.
‘The wildcat side,’ he whispered. ‘Who’d have thought it of you?’
‘Shut up!’ She hit him again, then settled back into her seat, smiling. She pulled her seatbelt across her lap and lifted her feet up onto the dash.
‘Where to now, Miss Lively?’ Marshall started the engine. He doffed an imaginary cap and grinned.
‘Anywhere,’ she said. ‘Anywhere but here.’
As they motored away, down the long gravel drive, the van swaying slightly and the looming form of Hanley Manor receding in the mirror, Flora wondered where exactly they were heading, her and Marshall. She closed her eyes. Like all the best journeys, sometimes it was best to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
THE END
Acknowledgements
I’d like to thank the following people who contributed to the writing and production of this book: first and always Jez Phillips, my amazing husband, whose continued support no matter what else is going on in life makes writing a joy. Jude White for her brilliant proofreading and editing, which in this case also included Spanish phrases! Truly above and beyond the call of duty. Chris Howard for yet another wonderful cover - I don’t know how you do it, but I’m glad you do. A special thanks to everyone on my mailing list - knowing you are there, and the feedback you give me, is always such a comfort - and to my Facebook friends Ros, Bev, Lynsey, Donna, Bee and Julie for helping with the blurb. And finally I’d like to thank my readers – without you none of this would have any point. Every time you download, buy or borrow one of my books you make my world an even brighter place.
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A Date With Death
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The Sign of Seven
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About the author
Joanne Phillips lives in rural Shropshire with her husband and young daughter. She’s the author of romantic comedies
Can’t Live Without
,
The Family Trap
and
Cupid’s Way
, and the Flora Lively series of contemporary mysteries.
Can’t Live Without
was an Amazon top 20 bestseller in 2012 and her books regularly appear on category bestseller lists. Before becoming a writer, Joanne had jobs as diverse as hairdresser, air hostess and librarian, but now divides her time between writing and finding creative ways to avoid housework. She’s a fan of super-dark chocolate, iced coffee and Masterchef.
Books by Joanne Phillips
Flora Lively Investigates:
Short story collection:
A Life Unpredicted and other stories
Table of Contents
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters, localities and incidents portrayed in it are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events or localities is entirely coincidental.
Mirrorball Books
An imprint of Bostock Publishing
www.bostockpublishing.co.uk
Kindle Edition 2015
Copyright © Joanne Phillips 2015
Joanne Phillips asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. All rights reserved in all media. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author and/or publisher.
Cover design by Blondesign