Page 32 of Honey Mead Murder

“Pack a few things and go to George’s cottage. I can sleep on his couch. We’ll even have a guard dog.” Murphy grinned when Sarah huffed in disbelief. “Bumble’s more than capable of giving a warning alert if anyone breaks into the cottage.”

“And what? Snore them to death?” Sarah shook her head at him. “Just be careful, all right? You’re my least annoying cousin.”

“High praise.” Murphy took his laptop and stepped back towards the pub. He waved to the constable, who was sitting in a parked car. “Fancy a cuppa?”

“Nah. Better not.” He waved him off.

Once Sarah had driven away, Murphy returned to the brewery. He set his laptop on one of the tables and went to check on George, who had managed to curl up in Murphy’s office chair. His eyes were closed, and his head bopped a little to whatever music played on his earbuds.

Murphy watched him for a moment. He didn’t want to startle him after what he’d experienced earlier. “George?”

There was no response initially. Murphy waited him out, since he’d seen George tense ever so slightly. Finally, after several minutes, he reached up to remove the earbuds.

“Sarah ready for me?” George’s voice was quiet and slightly shaky.

“I talked her into waiting. She’s focusing on finding Ella. I gave her all the camera footage, so your statement can wait.” Murphy leaned against the doorframe. He wanted to give George as much space as possible. “She did suggest we avoid being alone, and I stay somewhere other than the brewery until Ella’s captured.”

“Margo’s got a spare room and a comfortable couch. So three people and two yappy dogs are better than one?” George still had the blanket wrapped tightly around him. “I’ll text her to see if she minds.”

“You okay? Anything I can do to help?”

George shrugged. He tugged at the blanket, adjusting it around his shoulders. “I wouldn’t say no to a hug.”

“You sure?” Murphy moved further into his office. He crouched in front of where George sat in his desk chair. “I don’t want to make things worse.”

“You couldn’t.” George let the blanket fall away from him. He still had his earbuds clutched in his hand when he threw his arms around Murphy. “Thought she’d killed you.”

“What?”

“When I got here, all I saw was Ella Donelson with a rifle in your pub. No sign of you. I didn’t hear anything. There was nothing at all to indicate where you were.” George reached out to grasp Murphy’s shirt. He clutched at it tightly, dragging him forward a little. “Next time you throw a mead tasting? Maybe leave the dry ice out of the party supplies list.”

“Not a bad idea.”

George laughed a little hysterically. He eased his hold on Murphy’s shirt and sat back in the chair. His cheeks were flushed as though embarrassed at what had happened. “Brings a whole new meaning to bubble, bubble, toil and trouble.”

“Let’s see if we can avoid the wicked part that comes next.”

EIGHTEEN

GEORGE

Neither of them was surprised when Margo readily agreed to have them over. She didn’t enjoy going out, but having company was right up her alley. So George sat with Bumble in Murphy’s living room, waiting while he gathered up a change of clothes for himself.

“Why don’t we stop in the village on the way to Margo’s? We can pick up snacks or a takeaway. Something to make up for crashing her quiet evening at home.” Murphy had a green duffle bag that looked old enough to be from his military days. He also had his laptop under one arm. “Going to keep an eye on the cameras in case she shows back up—also make sure I lock the doors.”

“When we get there, I want to look at the video from the night our vehicles were vandalised.” George kept thinking about the figure he’d seen running away.

“You’re wondering if it was Ella?”

“Or Darren, on her behalf. Both are clearly talking to one another. He told her there was a video.” George wondered if they’d both been involved in the murder. Or perhaps Darren had figured out Ella did it and was now trying to protect his lover. “I can’t help thinking there’s something we’ve missed on the video.”

“We’ll watch all of the videos I have from the tasting and from the night the windows were broken. We may spot the needle in the haystack, between the three of us.” Murphy led the way out of the apartment. He made sure to lock all of the doors. “Here’s hoping she doesn’t try to break in for a second time.”

“No one’s that daft.”

“Desperation makes people do dangerous and daft things.” Murphy took the keys to the vehicle. George had no interest in driving it again. His nerves had only just begun to calm down. “Ella definitely has to know the police have zeroed in on her as their suspect.”

“She did confess to me that she’d done it.” George hadn’t been entirely coherent when he’d spoken to Murphy the first time. The cameras in the pub had no audio on them. “I wish I’d put my phone on to record it. She can always say I’m lying, and I’ve no proof.”

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