Death Shows Up (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 7) Read online

  “Of course,” Julia said, her eyes on the road.

  “Me and your dad are going to meet up later and practise our lines. You can join us if you like. It’ll be fun to watch us.”

  “No thanks,” Julia replied. She pulled into the car park of the Canalside Apartments. She jumped as a growly noise came from the passenger seat. “What the hell was that noise? Was it you?”

  Cain grinned. “I’m trying to decide on the tone of my voice for the play. That was my guttural one. I might try an educated but cold tone next.”

  “Do you think you could practise in your head, or when I’m not around?” Julia got out of the car and retrieved her bag of cleaning supplies from the boot. She turned around and screamed. She pushed Cain out of her way. “Don’t creep up on me like that!”

  Cain gave her another grin. “I’m practicing my walk. Should I go for stealthy? Or do you think I should walk with a limp which I got from a terrible accident years ago?”

  Julia held a finger up. “Carry on like that and I’ll make sure you have a terrible accident in the very near future.”

  Cain’s grin dropped. “Sorry, Julia, I didn’t mean to mess about. It’s just that I’ve never been involved in anything like this before. It’s exciting.”

  Julia looked at his sad face and immediately felt guilty. “No, it’s me, you know how grumpy I can be. You practise as much as you like. Come on, we’ve got apartments to clean.”

  Cain cheered up and took the bag from her. Julia couldn’t help but laugh as she watched him walk away with an exaggerated limp.

  During their first cleaning job, she caught Cain several times looking at himself in the mirrors that he’d cleaned, practicing different facial expressions. She also saw him using various different ways to move around the rooms that they were cleaning. At one point she said, “I wouldn’t recommend that hopping from leg to leg, it looks like you need the toilet.”

  They finished cleaning their last apartment and made their way back to the car. Julia brought up the subject of the auditions. “Did you notice how much Louisa blushed when Brandon Briggs looked at her last night? He was very cool with her, almost rude.”

  Cain shrugged. “Perhaps they fancy each other.”

  “No, I don’t think it’s that. I think it’s something else.”

  “Why don’t you just ask her?”

  Julia tutted. “That would be rude. And none of my business.” She caught the look on his face. “Why are you looking at me like that? That’s how Dad looks at me when he thinks I’m lying.”

  Cain said, “I’m not saying a word. Have we got time to go to the supermarket? I could do with getting some shopping.”

  Julia checked her watch. “We’ve got plenty of time. Come on, but don’t practise any of your mean-looking expressions in there, you might frighten someone.”

  “That’s the point.”

  They arrived at the supermarket fifteen minutes later. Cain insisted on getting a trolley even though he didn’t need much. Julia knew that he just loved the feeling of wheeling it too quickly down the aisles.

  Cain zoomed past the fruit and veg and stopped at the sweets and chocolate aisle. Julia saw someone that she knew and walked over to her.

  “Hi, it’s Sherry, isn’t it? I’m Julia, Louisa Porter’s friend. I’ve been to the slimming club meetings with Louisa a few times. And I saw you last night at St Andrew’s.”

  Sherry smiled. “Of course, I remember you. Isn’t Louisa doing well with her diet? I’m so impressed with her will power.” She gave a wry grin and looked down at her basket which was overflowing with chocolate bars. She looked back at Julia and said, “I’m stress-eating. Don’t tell Louisa about this.”

  “Why are you stress-eating?” Julia asked.

  Sherry smiled again but Julia could see that it was a forced smile. Sherry said, “It’s that business of the hall. I spoke to Reverend Thompson again this morning, but he still wouldn’t give me the reason as to why he won’t let the slimming club meet there again. I’ve tried to book other venues but it’s not looking good, everywhere decent is booked up.” She shook her head. “I just don’t understand it. I’ve always been on good terms with the reverend. We always clear up after ourselves after meetings.”

  Julia turned the topic to Louisa and told Sherry about her audition.

  “Well, that is good news. I’m delighted for her. She deserves to have a good life. I still remember that painfully shy woman that first shuffled into the hall, the change in her is amazing. I hope it continues.”

  Julia took the opportunity to say, “I’ve heard that something terrible happened in Louisa’s past, something that made her become a recluse. I don’t mean to gossip, but have you heard anything about that?”

  Sherry cast a look over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening. “I heard something similar too. But I’ve no idea what happened, and I don’t like to pry.”

  “Me neither,” Julia added.

  Sherry looked down at her basket and sighed. “Chocolate isn’t the answer. I’ll put these back and go to the fruit section instead.”

  “I’ll have them,” Cain wheeled his trolley to their side. He waved his hand at it and said, “Stick them in there, thank you.”

  Sherry laughed. “Look at your skinny frame, I don’t believe you can eat this much chocolate.”

  “I can,” Cain said proudly.

  “I’ve seen him,” Julia added. “Would you like a lift anywhere? Or have you got your own car?”

  “No, I don’t have a car at the moment. Thank you, anyway. Give my regards to Louisa and let her know I’m trying to find another venue.”

  They said their goodbyes and Sherry walked away.

  It was another thirty minutes before they left the supermarket. They caught sight of Sherry again five minutes later as they drove down a side street. She was coming out of St Andrew’s Church and was struggling to carry a full-sized cardboard cut-out of herself. Tears streamed down her face as she walked away from the church.

  Julia didn’t think twice about stopping to help her.

  Chapter 7

  Julia pulled up alongside Sherry and jumped out of the car. Sherry stopped walking and tried to smile. “Julia, we meet again. What must you think of me, crying in the street?”

  “I think you must be upset about something. I insist on giving you a lift home,” Julia replied.

  Cain got out of the car and said, “Shall I take that picture, I can fit it in the back seat with me.”

  Sherry wiped her cheeks and handed over the cardboard cut-out. “Thank you. Don’t let this image scare you, it was me before I lost lots of weight. I keep it at the front of the church hall during the slimming group meetings as an incentive to others.” She looked at the ground and added quietly, “Well, I did, but Reverend Thompson just phoned me and asked me to take it away.” Julia saw a tear fall to the ground.

  Julia said, “Come on, get in my car. You can put your shopping bags in the back seat with Cain too. And, if you want to talk about whatever’s upsetting you, besides being thrown out of the church hall, me and Cain are good listeners.”

  Sherry gave her a watery smile and nodded.

  Cain placed the cut-out across his lap in the back seat and Sherry got into the passenger seat. Julia could see that Sherry hadn’t composed herself enough to talk yet so Julia chattered on about nothing in particular as they headed to Sherry’s house.

  They soon arrived and, at Sherry’s request, Cain placed the cut-out in the garage. Julia helped Sherry with her shopping and then Sherry insisted that they stay for a cup of tea.

  Sherry guiltily took out a boxed chocolate cake from her bag and placed it on the kitchen table. She gave a bright laugh and said, “How did that get in there? You’ll have to help me eat it, otherwise I’ll eat it all myself.”

  Julia gave a dramatic sigh and said, “If you insist.”

  Sherry took a small slice for herself, gave Julia a medium-sized slice and Cain got the largest slice. Jul
ia was beginning to think she was in the three little bears’ cottage.

  Sherry began to talk. “I never had a problem with food until I got married. When I was young I ate when I was hungry and that was that. I never even noticed if I’d put on a few pounds. But that stopped when I married Felix. Everything was fine with us at first, but then he began to make small comments about the things I was eating. He made me feel guilty about everything I put in my mouth.” Sherry held a hand up. “No, that’s not true, I allowed him to let me feel guilty. I started to hate eating in front of him so I would binge-eat when he wasn’t around. I acted all surprised when I started putting weight on. Felix started making more and more comments about my increasing weight, he said he was ashamed of me, and that he didn’t want to be seen in public with me.”

  Julia put her hand over Sherry’s and said, “He sounds like an idiot.”

  “A controller,” Cain added.

  Sherry nodded. “It took me a while to see that. I was so in love with him. With every cutting remark he made my confidence fell lower and lower. I got so ill that I had to stop working. My life consisted of secret eating and waiting for Felix to come home. I barely left the house, and I stopped contacting my friends.

  “Then came the day that Felix decided to leave me. He’d been seeing someone else for two years. Two years! And I never suspected a thing. He was so cruel to me as he told me about his other woman. He blamed me for letting myself go, he said I was an embarrassment to him.”

  Julia’s eyes narrowed. “Did you blame yourself too?”

  Sherry nodded. “For a while. I cried for weeks after he left, I was devastated. Then I saw a flyer for the slimming club and I summoned what little courage I had left and went to that first meeting.” She smiled at the memory. “The club leader, Mavis, was wonderful. She was full of energy and so slim! I wanted to be like her. I became obsessed with good nutrition and exercise, it took my mind off Felix. I lost all the weight I’d put on through my marriage, and I regained all my confidence.

  “When Mavis retired as the slimming club leader she asked me to take over. I loved helping people, especially newcomers like Louisa.”

  Julia asked, “Will you continue with the club?”

  Sherry gave her an energetic nod. “Absolutely! I’ll find somewhere. I just wish I knew why Reverend Thompson is refusing to let us use the hall. I asked him again when I picked my things up and he …” her voice broke. She cleared her throat and continued. “He said he didn’t want someone like me on the church premises.”

  “Someone like you? What does he mean by that?”

  “I’ve no idea. I asked him to explain but he rather rudely opened the door and said he wasn’t going to discuss it any further. He reminded me of Felix, the way that he spoke to me. That’s why I was crying when you picked me up.”

  “Reverend Thompson sounds like an idiot too,” Julia said.

  Sherry nodded. “I won’t give up. I’m determined to find a venue. Thanks for listening to me, it helps to get these things out.” She looked at Cain. “Oh, you’ve finished your cake. You should have said, I would have given you some more. Here, take the box with you, get it out of my house!”

  Cain smiled politely. “If you insist. Thank you.”

  Julia told Sherry to contact her any time that she needed to talk.

  Julia and Cain left the house and got into the car. They drove down the road and around the corner. Julia stopped the car and took out her phone. She explained to Cain what she was doing. He nodded in approval.

  Julia phoned her mum and told her about Sherry’s predicament. “Mum, is it possible for the slimming club meetings to be held in the school hall?”

  Mum replied, “I don’t see why not. I’ll speak to the new head teacher and let you know. Julia, I’ll be glad when this play business is over. Your dad keeps sneaking up on me and pulling the most hideous of faces. I’ve already dropped two cups and a plate by jumping in surprise.”

  Julia looked over at Cain. “Yes, I’ll be glad too. They’re rehearsing at the town hall tomorrow.”

  They spoke for a few more minutes, Julia asked if the head teacher had looked at Louisa’s application form yet. Mum said she had and they’d be in touch with Louisa soon.

  They chatted a bit more and then Julia ended the call.

  Cain said, “I’ve learnt all my lines for tomorrow. I can’t wait to rehearse at the town hall, just like a proper actor. It’s going to be an exciting night! I hope nothing goes wrong.”

  “What could possibly go wrong?” Julia said. She sighed. She knew immediately that it was the wrong thing to say.

  Chapter 8

  Wednesday couldn’t go quick enough for Cain. He was like an excited boy wishing Christmas Eve away so that he could get to his presents quicker. Julia didn’t mind too much as it meant that Cain worked extra quick and extra hard. She’d never seen windows so clean!

  Julia dropped the excited Cain off early so that he could go over his lines before the rehearsal that evening.

  “You can come in and listen to me,” Cain offered.

  Julia waved a hand at him. “What? And spoil the surprise for tonight? No, I’ll be patient and wait to see you perform on the stage. See you later.”

  Julia went home and made herself something to eat. Mum phoned about Sherry using the hall for the slimming club meetings. The new head teacher, Mrs Warren, was happy for this to go ahead but she needed to speak to the local authority to make sure it was okay. They should have an answer soon.

  “Thanks, Mum.”

  Mum said, “Your dad told me that Louisa Porter is part of the amateur dramatics group. I knew a Louisa Porter, I used to see her around town with her mum. He described her but she doesn’t sound like the girl I remembered from years ago. Is this the same person that you’ve been cleaning for all these years?”

  “It is.”

  Mum said, “But your Louisa Porter sounds like an invalid from what you’ve said before. The Louisa Porter that I knew was energetic and outgoing, I’d often see her round town with all the boys around her. That was a while ago though, she must have been in her late-teens when I last saw her. I used to speak to her mum now and again. I really don’t think it could be the same person. Although …”

  “Although what?”

  “I did hear a rumour about some young girl who went through some sort of attack or something. It was years ago, I thought I heard someone say that it was Louisa but I dismissed it at the time because I still saw her mum around town but she never mentioned anything.”

  “Maybe we’ll never know for sure,” Julia added.

  There was a chuckle from Mum’s side. “I think I will know soon enough if it’s the same Louisa Porter.”

  “What do you mean?” Julia asked.

  “I can’t say. You can ask your Louisa tonight, let her tell you the good news. I have to go, I need to tell your dad to break a leg.”

  Julia laughed and ended the call. She wondered once again about Louisa’s past. And what was this good news that Mum was going on about?

  Julia didn’t need to wait long. As soon as she entered the town hall just before 7 p.m. Louisa jogged over to her side, her face lit up with happiness.

  “Julia! You’ll never guess! I’ve got an interview at Cloverfield School for the teaching assistant job!”

  Julia smiled. “That’s wonderful news, I’m so pleased for you. When’s the interview?”

  Louisa clutched her hands to her chest. “On Friday morning.” Her smile wavered. “Do you think I’ve got a chance of getting it? Or am I being too hopeful?”

  “I think you’ve every chance of getting it. The school would be lucky to have you.” Julia paused. This would be the perfect moment to mention that her mum might already know her. Julia opened her mouth but never got the chance to speak.

  “Good evening, my fellow artists!” Eric Murphy belted out from the stage at the front of the hall. Julia turned in his direction and blinked. Wow, that really was a vivid-looking o
range, much brighter than the red he’d worn on Monday night. Eric waffled on for a bit about how lucky they were to be in the show, how amazing Brandon was, and how excited he was to have this amazing opportunity to work with a genius like Brandon. Julia looked to the side of the stage and just about made out Yvonne standing at Eric’s side. She was wearing black again and almost melted into the shadows. Did she dress like that so that Eric could shine brighter? Yvonne was smiling and tapping away on her electronic tablet.

  Eric asked for a round of applause as he introduced Brandon Briggs to the stage. Julia stole a glance towards Louisa’s face, there was definitely a faint blush there. Maybe Cain was right, maybe Louisa did fancy Brandon.

  Brandon smiled down at everyone. “Thank you for coming tonight. This is a great opportunity for us to practise on a real stage. We only have this for tonight, all our future rehearsals will take place at St Andrew’s Church. So, let’s make tonight count! I have some good news as far as costumes go. The town hall council has its own supply of costumes that they lend to local theatre groups. They’ve kindly allowed us to borrow the costumes too. I’m going to have a good rummage through the costumes when our rehearsal is over. Right, let’s get on with it!”

  Julia felt her hand being clutched. She looked at Louisa’s pale face. “Julia, I don’t think I can do it! I’m scared.”

  Julia squeezed her hand. “Nonsense, you were magnificent the other night. You’ll forget your nerves as soon as you’re on the stage. Off you go.”

  Louisa nodded and gave her a tight-lipped smile. She set off towards the stage. Julia was pleased to see her dad walk over to Louisa and give her a welcoming smile. He helped her on to the stage. Dad turned back and gave Julia a cheery wave. Cain was two steps behind Dad and he gave Julia the same cheery wave.

  Julia took a seat and watched the action. Most people still referred to their scripts but Louisa knew her lines off by heart. Just as before, the young woman seemed to shine as she performed her part. Julia’s heart swelled with pride.