Return to Perth: Eve Masters Mysteries Book 9

By Irena Nieslony

A ninth adventure for the intrepid amateur sleuth, Eve Masters. Eve and her long-suffering husband, David return to Perth for a luxury break. However, there are enemies lurking in every corner and they make it a vacation to forget. There’s more than one murderer on the loose and Eve herself is thrown into jail as a suspect.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Belgrave House
• Release date: May 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9780982171776

Book preview

Nieslony

Chapter 1

How wonderful, Eve Masters said, throwing her arms around her husband. Champagne on arrival; what could be better.

I hope you’re not too tired to have a glass. I know you didn’t sleep that much on the plane.

I feel fine, David, though I’m sure the jet lag will catch up with me sometime. I was just so excited to be coming back here.

Really, even after what happened last time? You were kidnapped twice and we were both held at gunpoint by the infamous Joanna Neonakis.

Yes, even after all that. I mean, nothing like that can happen to us this time. Everybody is in jail so we can just enjoy our time here. I want to go to the Perth Mint, take in some art galleries, and walk with you next to the Swan River. I wouldn’t even mind going to Rottnest Island again. I mean, we didn’t even get to see a quokka last time.

The quokka was a marsupial about the size of a domestic cat. Eve was very fond of animals and loved to see them out in the wild.

I really hope that we get to do at least some of these things, Eve. Last time was a little disappointing, not to mention nerve-wracking.

Well, I’m determined to have a holiday this time.

And put the house up for sale.

Eve had been left a house by her cousin, Andrea, in Perth, Australia, and hadn’t known what to do with it.

I haven’t decided yet if I want to sell it or rent it out, Eve said petulantly.

She thought that David was putting too much pressure on her to sell it and in the end, it was her decision. Eve hadn’t quite grasped the fact that marriage was a partnership despite loving David very much.

We could have stayed at the house, you know, Eve. This hotel is very expensive isn’t it?

Oh David, stop worrying about money. We can afford it. Anyway, it’s nice to have a bit of luxury. The Duxton is one of the best hotels in Perth and the food is fantastic. Oh for another champagne high tea.

I don’t suppose we’ll end up not having one of those.

Or two!

David shook his head. He was always careful with money, even though he was doing very well as a novelist. Eve had made good investments and could afford to stay in the best hotels. In fact she very rarely stayed anywhere that wasn’t 5 star.

Are you going to do the honors, David? Eve asked, handing him the bottle of champagne."

She didn’t want to worry about money. The time to worry about it, she thought, was when they didn’t have any and she couldn’t see that happening any time soon.

David smiled at her and took the champagne bottle. Soon they were settled on the very comfortable settee in their suite sipping champagne and holding hands, both forgetting what they had almost argued about. Nobody looking at them would believe all that they had been through.

They had met three years previously when Eve had moved to the island of Crete in Greece, where David was already living. She had given up her career as a successful show biz agent, having made enough money to never have to work again. However, giving up work at the age of only forty-three hadn’t been one of Eve’s best ideas. She loved to socialize, shop, eat at the best restaurants, and go to the theatre. Had she not met David, she might well have gone back to England.

David Baker, on the other hand, loved the peace and tranquility of Crete. He had previously been an actor, but he had given up the theatrical life to be an author.

Eve and David made a stunning couple. She had a perfect figure, shoulder-length blonde hair and striking emerald-green eyes. David looked younger than his fifty four years. He had jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes and together they could turn a few heads.

They had finally got married the previous year in a very romantic ceremony on the beach and had honeymooned in Tanzania, where Eve, true to form, got involved in a murder. Returning home, not one but three people had started stalking Eve and to make matters worse David had lost his memory. He was only slowly remembering his past. After such a traumatic year, Eve had suggested they go back to Perth for a well-deserved break and to decide what to do with her house. Going in January was a bonus for Eve as she loved the hot weather. She knew that Perth was Australia’s sunniest state capital.

Eve put her glass down and turned towards David. She gently kissed him and felt a little shiver run down her spine. He excited her even more than he had when they had first met. She knew she was lucky to have him especially as she had led him a merry dance trying to solve murders and mysteries.

David could never resist Eve’s kisses and as his lips met hers, he realized he was being stupid about money. Staying in such a beautiful hotel as the Duxton made Eve happy and that’s all he wanted. He had put her through so much when he couldn’t remember her and there were still parts of their past life that he still couldn’t recall. Eve was being very patient which was quite out of character for her.

* * *

That evening Eve and David decided to eat in the hotel. Despite protesting that she wasn’t tired, Eve did fall asleep for a few hours that afternoon, as did David.

At around eight o’clock, they wandered down to dinner. As they entered the restaurant, someone suddenly called out Eve’s name. Eve immediately recognized the voice.

Mike, what on earth are you doing here?

I could say the same to you.

Suddenly, Mike took Eve in his arms and kissed her on both cheeks. David just stood there not knowing what to do. Who was this Mike? He seemed a bit too familiar with Eve and he suddenly decided he didn’t like the man. He was very good looking with blonde hair and blue eyes, and he was definitely in shape. To top it all, he looked quite young, late thirties or possibly early forties.

I’m in an Australian soap now. Mike continued.

That’s fantastic, Mike. I knew you’d go far.

Don’t give me that. You always said I could do better than a soap.

Perhaps, but I’m still pleased for you.

So, what about you, why are you here?

Oh, just a bit of a holiday.

You, take a holiday, never. You’re married to that agency of yours.

Not anymore. I’ve given it up and am living the life of luxury on Crete.

I’m totally gobsmacked. I would never have imagined you as a lady of leisure.

By this time, David was feeling really put out. Eve and Mike were completely excluding him from the conversation. And why hadn’t Eve introduced him to Mike?

Oh, I’ve had plenty to keep me occupied…..It is so nice to see you again after all these years.

David looked at Eve and saw how animated she looked. Hadn’t they just spent an afternoon in bed? She had told him how much in love she was with him, but now she seemed to be all over this Mike.

Oh, Eve said. I’m being very rude. This is David. Mike was one of my very early clients.

Mike just nodded at David and he felt himself getting angry. It was like they didn’t want him there. Eve hadn’t even bothered to introduce him as her husband.

Mike, dinner’s here, somebody shouted from his table.

I have to go, Eve. We must catch up while you’re here. This is my card. Please ring me.

Eve took his card and swiftly kissed him on the cheek. As he left, a waiter appeared to show Eve and David to their table.

Once sitting, Eve spoke.

I can’t believe it. Mike in a soap opera. He always used to just want to do theatre.

You seemed very close. Did something happen between you two?

Eve was quite shocked at the severity of David’s tone.

David, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous.

Don’t make fun of me, Eve, he replied.

David, Eve said, now sounding more serious. I love you. I don’t want anyone else.

Was there something going on between you two?

Eve paused. He did seem to be insistent on knowing what had gone on between them. She didn’t know what she should tell him and what to leave out.

There was a little dalliance, but that was so long ago.

Did you have affairs with all your clients?

Eve was astounded.

What do you mean?

Well, there was Robert as well.

That’s hardly all of my clients. I am forty six so it’s highly likely that I had relationships before I met you. You did. I well remember Sophie when we last came here. I mean you did spend a whole afternoon with her.

Eve was now getting irritated and thought that David was going too far. Was he that insecure?

David suddenly felt guilty. He had felt a slight pull towards Sophie, but he had nipped it in the bud. He knew that Eve was all he wanted.

A moment later, she reached over and touched his hand and was relieved when he didn’t pull it away. She had to calm down. She didn’t want to spend the evening arguing or in total silence.

David, yes I was pleased to see Mike, but not in any romantic way. It was a long time ago. You can’t tell me that you’ve not had other relationships apart from Sophie.

David felt even guiltier. They had bumped into an ex-girlfriend of his, Sophie, on their last trip to Perth and he had to admit that he had been pleased to see her again. He hadn’t even told Eve that he was going out with her for lunch, at least not until after the event.

David didn’t want them to ruin the first night of their holiday arguing about former partners, so he brushed Eve’s cheek and then bent over to kiss her in full view of everybody.

I’m sorry, darling. I sometimes can’t believe that we’re really married and I do get jealous. You could have anyone you wanted.

Oh, don’t be silly, Eve blushed. Let’s just look at the menu and have a nice meal.

That’s a good idea. I’m starving, though I don’t know if I should be having lunch or dinner or even breakfast.

Eve laughed. However, she also felt a little guilty. It had been nice to see Mike after all this time. He had been her first real love and you never forget the first. She was also feeling guilty because she had said they just had a little dalliance. In reality they had had a torrid affair. But why had it ended? It was probably her fault. Mike was taking her mind off her business and she wanted it to be a success. She had told him that it might be an idea to take a break. He had been upset and even asked her to marry him. How different her life might have been if she had married him, but it couldn’t be better than what she had now, could it? No, she had to stop dwelling on the past. It ended such a long time ago and she was now married to a fantastic man who loved her and put up with her nonsense. Then why had her pulse started to race when she saw Mike? It didn’t make sense. She decided she wouldn’t call him. It would be playing with fire and the last thing she wanted to do was lose David.

Chapter 2

The following morning before breakfast, David decided he wanted to go to the gym. He knew how much he was going to be eating on this trip and he didn’t want to put on any weight. He left Eve doing her make-up and hair and they agreed to meet in the restaurant for breakfast at nine. Eve didn’t feel like going to the gym that morning. She wouldn’t admit it, but she was suffering a little from jet lag.

Eve sat on the bed and emptied out her handbag intending to sort out what she needed for the day. That’s when she saw Mike’s card. She picked it up and just stared at it. How could she still feel an attraction towards him? Their relationship had ended 20 years ago and she had barely thought of him in recent years. On top of everything she was more than happy with David. She had gone through so much to keep him when he lost his memory and couldn’t remember her so how could she be thinking about another man.

Eve knew she should throw the card away, but she found she just couldn’t do it. What would be the harm in meeting him for a coffee and a chat? She was very keen to find out what he had been up to since they split up. She had followed his career for a little while, but had then given up, wanting to close that door in her life.

Eve shoved Mike’s card back into her handbag. Just because she was keeping it didn’t mean that she was going to make use of it.

It was five to nine and Eve decided that it was time to go down for breakfast. As she entered the lobby, she stopped dead in her tracks. There in front of her was a woman who looked exactly like Sarah Marshall, the woman who had tried to kill her not that many months ago. How could it be? Sarah Marshall was dead. There was no way she could have survived falling from the cliff as there were so many rocks in the sea below. For once she didn’t know what to do. The woman who looked like Sarah was chatting to the receptionist and hadn’t seen her yet. Thinking about it, Eve didn’t want Sarah to see her. After all, she had tried to kill her and what was stopping her from doing the same again.

Eve turned and rushed to the restaurant. David was already there.

What’s up, Eve? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.

I have. Sarah Marshall was in reception.

Don’t be silly, Eve. Sarah’s dead.

Well, yes, that’s what I thought, but if it isn’t her, it’s her double.

Wait there, I’ll go and have a look. I’ll have a full breakfast with coffee if a waiter comes.

Eve nodded. She didn’t know if she could eat anything. Sarah was ruthless and if she saw her, she could come after her again.

David came back a couple of minutes later.

There was nobody there, sorry Eve.

"Well, she’s obviously gone somewhere else. We’ll have to keep our eyes