Something to Celebrate (ebook)

Argumento de Something to Celebrate (ebook)

?Murder, robbery and any other kind of mayhem must be kept at bay in this fair city, my dear girl; hence your appointment as Crime Liaison Officer acting on behalf of Bath Hotels Association.?

Hannah Driver, called Honey by those that knew her best ? except her mother who revelled in being different about everything ? eyed Casper St John Gervais with incredulity. He was elegant, eccentric and terribly effete, but was he also a little mad?

?Why me??

?Your experience, my dear girl.?

?I?ve never been a policeman ? woman,? she corrected.

?We ? the association ? just want you to act as liaison point between us and the police. You know, my dear girl, how a city?s reputation can affect tourism. We have to keep the lid on crime in all its forms. Crime must be swiftly and effectively dealt with. Anyway, besides you having an interest in bed occupancy, I understand you used to work with criminals.?

?I worked for the Probation Service ? as a Senior Clerical Officer.?

?Precisely my point.?

?Casper, that means I used to type Social Enquiry Reports, a compilation of circumstances and excuses as to why the client shouldn?t be banged up and the key thrown away.?

Casper had a very aquiline nose, very thin at the bridge and widely flaring at the nostrils. When he fixed his gaze on her, his eyes seemed to close together, as though a pair of pince nez were perched on his nose. His nostrils flared into black chasms.

?But you?re all we have, my dear girl. No member of the association has that kind of experience. And think of the good you could do ? Hmm??

She only vaguely remembered agreeing to it. Bath Hotels Association had been holding their annual AGM when Casper had made the suggestion. As usual the stuffy bit was followed by a bit of a party ? quite a sizeable party in fact.

A well-known wine importer had supplied the drink, and a local caterer the food. Honey regretted arriving early because that meant sitting through the AGM. The bulk of the membership didn?t arrive until the meeting was over, heading straight for the bar. Not that the meeting wasn?t entirely without refreshments, thanks to a friendly waiter who used to work for her at the Green River Hotel. A few glasses of Australian Shiraz had helped alleviate her boredom. She might have fallen asleep. She hadn?t snored ? at least she didn?t think so.

Casper had taken full advantage of the situation. He?d whispered something in her ear. ?I guarantee that the Green River Hotel will benefit if you agree to this.?

Some semblance of that promise had stayed with her. Upgrading a few bedrooms at the Green River had left her with a chunky overdraft. Running a hotel in a beautiful city was not a bed of roses. Roses had thorns and Casper?s promise had poured like honey into her ear. Drat!

Lindsey, her daughter, who was far too mature for her age, offered consolation when she told her.

?Relax. Consider the positive side. It could add a pinch of spice to your life. You need to get out more.?

Honey watched as Lindsey cleared down the bar and locked up.

?Are you going nightclubbing tomorrow night?? she asked her.

Tomorrow night, Thursday, was Lindsey?s night off.

Her daughter shook her tawny head. ?No. I?m going to a concert at the Abbey.?

?Pop?? Honey asked with a hopeful lifting of eyebrows.

?No. Medieval tunes for lute and lyre.?

?My, you are such a wild child. When I was eighteen ??

?You were irresponsible.?

?Who told you that??

?Grandma.?

?She?s a bright one to talk ??

Lindsey kissed her forehead. ?I?m off to bed. Now don?t worry. Like I said, you could do with a little pinch of spice in your life.?0