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Libby, but I ll try tomorrow.
Libby went back into the living room and found
Ben sprawled on the sofa with his shoes off.
Make yourself comfortable, she said.
Come here, then, said Ben, holding out a hand.
Libby s stomach contracted and she walked
forward. She and Sidney landed on Ben s lap at the
same time. She won.
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Chapter Twenty-seven
JUDGING THAT BEING ON earlies meant Nurse Redding
would be home by two o clock, Libby phoned at five
past.
It s Libby Sarjeant again, she said when Redding
answered. I do hope you don t mind my bothering
you.
That s all right. Nurse Redding sounded bored.
It s a bit embarrassing, but it s something you said
the other day. About sin. Libby crossed her fingers
and held her breath.
Yes? The voice sounded marginally more
interested.
I expect I got the wrong end of the stick, and I
can t really understand what made me think of it, or
what made Harry think of it, anyway, she corrected
mentally, but I ve always been interested in oh,
hell, interested in what? er, alternative religions. If
you know what I mean. She felt perspiration on her
brow and her heartbeat hammering in her ears.
Oh? was the unpromising answer.
Well, yes, said Libby, aware that she was now
going fast into waffle mode. And I don t know
whether you ve ever heard of it, but there s a chapel
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over in the woods near Tyne Hall you know? The
place outside Steeple Mount. And I was told I heard
that there was well, there had been some sort of,
er, meetings there. I just wondered. Now her heart
was going so fast she thought she might faint.
I wouldn t know, said Nurse Redding, sounding
suddenly quite different, and I wouldn t advise you to
find out, either.
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Oh, why? said Libby, feeling excitement rise.
I just wouldn t, that s all. There was a silence, and
Libby wondered if she d been cut off. But: You
couldn t, anyway. It s confidential.
So you do know something about it?
I didn t say that. Now, if you don t mind, I ve got
things to do. And this time, the phone really was
switched off.
Well, that proves it, thought Libby. Now how do I
check it? Her first idea was to phone Ben, but decided
he might view delving into the Black Arts as a mite
foolish. The thought that it perhaps was a mite foolish
she thrust down. Fran might help, but Fran needed a
bit of time to think through all she d found out over the
last few days. Peter would be disparaging and
disbelieving. Which left Harry.
You in this afternoon? she asked, when he
answered the phone.
In where?
Home?
In about half an hour, yes. Why?
Is Peter there?
Yes. Is that a problem?
Why should you think that?
You wouldn t have asked, otherwise. Are you
going to invite me for a cuppa?
Yes, said Libby, please. I need your advice.
Gor blimey, said Harry, that ll be a first.
When he arrived, looking gorgeous in a short-
sleeved white T-shirt and tight jeans, Libby fleetingly
regretted his sexuality on behalf of her own sex. Then
she reflected that if he wasn t gay, he probably
wouldn t be her friend, and decided her own sex could
fend for themselves.
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242
OK, then, what s it all about? said Harry, once he
was settled in the garden with a mug of tea.
Nurse Redding and the Black Arts, said Libby,
and repeated her conversation.
And you want to know whether you should try and
find out more?
Yes.
Why?
Well began Libby, then stopped to think. I
suppose because it might give her a motive. If she s a
member of a coven, or something, she wouldn t baulk
at murder, would she?
Oh, I don t know about that, said Harry. I don t
think they go that far. Isn t it more sticking pins and
casting spells?
I haven t got a clue. I just thought she might have
used her oh, I don t know her powers or whatever
to protect Marion Headlam and The Laurels.
I m confused. Protect them from what?
If the will, or codicil, was false, the witnesses
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