A Brush with Death: A Penny Brannigan Mystery - By Elizabeth J. Duncan Page 0,27
Llandudno. She visited a couple as part of her research so she’d have a better idea of what the job might involve.”
“Well, I’m impressed! I give her a lot of credit for that.”
“Anyway, I’m famished. Let’s get the kettle on and then figure out what we’re going to have for lunch.”
As they sat down to their sandwiches, Victoria’s phone rang.
“Oh, hi, Bronwyn,” she said and, after a moment, added, “yes, I did mention the jumble sale to Penny and she’s going to do Emma’s room very soon and sort out the clothes and things for you.”
She tilted her head meaningfully in Penny’s direction and then listened for a few moments.
“Really! The cemetery? How lucky that you found him when you did. What did the vet say?”
She listened for a few more minutes and then rang off.
“You’ll never guess,” she said to Penny.
“No, I probably won’t,” said Penny, “so you’d better tell me.”
“Well, it’s just that Bronwyn found a dog in the cemetery. At death’s door, he was. So they took him to the vet, and now they’re looking after him for a bit. Nursing him back to health. I thought I might go over later and see him.”
“Took him to the vet, eh? Do you think they’ll be taking him to the vet again?”
“Well, I don’t know. I guess it depends on how well the dog . . .” Her voice trailed off. “Oh, I get it. The vet. Alun Jones the vet. That vet.”
Penny nodded. “Victoria, that’s a brilliant idea that you should look in on the poor dog. And find out if Bronwyn’s going back to see the vet, and if she is, let’s invite her and Thomas round on Friday evening for a little chat. I think they can help with our investigation. They’ve got the perfect opportunity to poke around a bit and see if Alun Jones can tell us anything about the accident. He might have heard something.”
Victoria nodded. “Not one to miss an opportunity, are you?”
“Right. And there’s something else we can ask Thomas to do,” Penny continued. “Emma’s journals. I really don’t want to read them myself, not yet anyway, and who knows? Maybe I never will. But remember a few months back when Thomas agreed to go through one or two when we were looking for background information that we hoped would help in that business about the missing bride? And besides, as a rector, he knows about keeping things confidential, so Emma’s secrets, whatever they may be, will be safe with him. So let’s ask him to go over the crucial years. Emma might have made notes about people or events that could be helpful to us now.”
She paused for a moment and then reached for her notebook. “I wish I could go with you to Bronwyn’s. But I can’t wait to hear all about the dog.”
On Wednesday, Penny and Victoria met the estate agent to go over the riverside property they were considering for conversion into the Llanelen Spa. They considered its location right beside the Red Dragon Hotel a bonus and, if they decided to buy it, planned to approach the hotel owners to discuss redecorating and upgrading rooms for the exclusive use of their out-of-town clients.
“Now I must be honest with you,” the estate agent was saying as they studied the outside of the three-storey dark grey stone building, admiring the way it stood its timeless ground against the river. “There isn’t much space for parking and that could be a drawback.”
“We’ve thought of that,” said Penny, “and we think it could be an advantage. We will encourage our clients to come by train—we can arrange for them to be met at the station. More environmentally friendly and relaxing. No driving!”
The front of the building, which faced the river, featured a small path that led to a few crumbling stairs.
“It’s been empty for a long time,” the estate agent warned as he unlocked the bright blue door. “Prepare yourselves, and don’t expect too much.”
The two women glanced at each other, and then Victoria stepped tentatively inside. She found herself in a large entry hall, permeated by an overwhelming smell of damp and decay. Peeling plaster, which had once been painted a vibrant turquoise, hung from the walls exposing thin wood strips. She turned around and motioned for Penny to join her, and the two set off to tour the rooms while the estate agent waited outside, occasionally glancing at his watch.