Page 53 of A Good Heart is Hard to Find
‘Oh, everyone knows Cass walks about the graveyard andHanged Man Lane at night for inspiration. She will do it,’ Orla said, and gave me a sideways look that meant: I know you’re holding out on me with some vital information, friend of mine.
‘Cass won’t be doing that this Friday, though, because her mind will be on other things!’ Jane said sweetly, and smiled generally round at everyone. ‘Max– do you all know Max, Cassy’s lover? – well, he’s coming to see her.’
Jason looked gloomy. ‘I suppose he’s returning for good before long?’
‘When his sabbatical year ends in July,’ I agreed uncomfortably. ‘He’s just coming over to see me for a couple of hours tomorrow, after the funeral.’
‘The funeral?’ asked Dante, frowning at me darkly like Thor about to toss the hammer.
‘His wife diedrecently, in America. He’s bringing her back.’
‘Right,’ he said, then rose abruptly to his feet leaving half his drink untouched. ‘I’ll have to go, I’m meeting my sister at the station. But I’ll try to bring her in to meet you all soon, if you’re here?’
‘Someof us will be here,’ Orla assured him, with her special smile. ‘We meet here most evenings … unless something better offers?’
Good oldOrla, always willing to give it a go.
‘And if you want any advice about the B&B business—’
‘Thanks,’ he said, and with a brief arrow-head smile, strode off.
Orla sighed after him. ‘He’s so gorgeous, but he only seems interested in Cass’s possibilities.’
‘Herhauntingpossibilities,’ Jane amended. ‘I’m sure he’s not interested in her personally. Maybe he’s gay.’
I don’t think so, Jane.
‘He’snot,’ Orla said definitely. ‘Are you mad?’
‘Just a thought. So what’s he running a guesthouse for? Does he need the money?’
‘No, but I think his sister’s been in hotel management and she thought the idea up. Luckily the Hall is pretty well ready to take visitors now, because Miss Kedge had it all modernized over the years, so it’s in good order.’
‘Yes, though hiring big outside firms to dothe work didn’t endear her to the local tradesmen,’ I agreed. ‘It was all pretty well kept up until she died, too. There can’t be much to put right.’
Except the odd broken window-catch in a walk-in cupboard …
‘Why won’t you do his ghost act for him?’ Orla asked me. ‘I would, and it will be easy money compared to the Crypt-ograms.’
‘You look too healthy to be a ghost. And I’m not going to mockthe spirits in person, only in my books,’ I said firmly.
‘I think Cass’s quite right,’ agreed Jason, who’d gone into a gloomy trance over his beer mug. ‘She should avoid the Hall entirely. I didn’t like the way Dante spoke to her, as though he only had to offer money and she’d come running.’
Actually, the way he’d spoken to me absolutelyslayedme.
‘And he came out of that hostage situationhalf-starved and half-mad,’ Jason said. ‘I’ve remembered all about it now. He looks unbalanced to me, Cass: you’d better avoid him, especially when you’re on your own.’
‘Which hostage situation?’ Jane wailed plaintively.
Later that night, refreshed by a jolly good blood-letting, I decided to try my hand at a haiku before retiring to my blameless bed:
Spring flushes out new life.
How greenthe frogs that gaily leap
into the white bowl.
And that was mybestshot.
