Fears Smears and Danger

By Lizzie Lewis

Young Liam’s mother is trying to regain custody of her son, much to Melanie Upton’s distress. But when the boy goes missing after school, everyone fears the worst.
The landlord of The Three Horseshoes wants Janika to set up a hidden camera to catch the person he says is helping themselves to the money from the till. And he seems to have someone in mind.
Piers Pillinger also goes missing, and Janika is sure it’s something to do with Humphrey Broxburn and his art gallery. Her creative investigation in the London West End quickly comes to the unwelcome attention of the Metropolitan Police, aka Scotland Yard.
Janika arrives home to find that someone is trying to wreck Bella Flores’ new florist business with offensive smears. Bella’s newly found twin brother is also missing. All this when Janika’s wedding to Toby is only a few weeks away.

• Language: English
• Publisher: White Tree Publishing
• Release date: Jan 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9781915671059

Book preview

About the Book

Young Liam’s mother is trying to regain custody of her son, much to Melanie Upton’s distress. But when the boy goes missing after school, everyone fears the worst.

The landlord of The Three Horseshoes wants Janika to set up a hidden camera to catch the person he says is helping themselves to the money from the till. And he seems to have someone in mind.

Piers Pillinger also goes missing, and Janika is sure it’s something to do with Humphrey Broxburn and his art gallery. Her creative investigation in the London West End quickly comes to the unwelcome attention of the Metropolitan Police, aka Scotland Yard.

Janika arrives home to find that someone is trying to wreck Bella Flores’ new florist business with offensive smears. Bella’s newly found twin brother is also missing. All this when Janika’s wedding to Toby is only a few weeks away.

Fears Smears and Danger

A Button Up Detective Agency Cozy Mystery #7

by

Lizzie Lewis ©2023

This eBook ISBN: 978-1-915671-05-9

Also available as a paperback

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-915671-06-6

Published by

White Tree Publishing

Bristol

UNITED KINGDOM

[e-mail]

Full list of books and updates on

https://whitetreepublishing.com

Fears Smears and Danger is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this abridged edition.

Table of Contents

Cover

About the Book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Epilogue

The Abi Button Cozy Mystery Romance Series

The Button Up Detective Agency Cozy Mystery Series

About White Tree Publishing

Chapter 1

I’ve really taken to the boy since we got custody, Melanie is saying. "He’s Steve’s son, and we’re a family now. There’s no way I’m going to let anyone take him away."

I’ve only just come down for my early morning coffee fix, and the Button Up coffee shop is empty ‒ apart from Abi, Melanie and Pete who are the staff. Melanie is in tears. She and Abi are sitting at the small table at the far end of the shop, permanently reserved for family and friends.

Young Pete Wilders is standing behind the service counter looking awkward. I’m not sure whether to intrude or mind my own business. My naturally helpful heart tells me to intrude.

Problem? I ask, as I approach the table. I could probably have worded that better. It’s obvious to anyone that Melanie has a problem.

Too late, Pete shakes his head vigorously and signals to me to stay back. Well, I’m committed now.

It’s Liam, Melanie says, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

She sounds desperate. Accident? Serious illness? Kidnap? I decide not to ask. Melanie will tell me when she feels able.

It’s Liam’s mother, she explains.

Again more dabbing at her eyes. Melanie is Liam’s stepmother. When she married Liam’s father, she inherited the ginger haired boy who is now ten years old. His own mother didn’t want him, because he didn’t fit in with her toy boy. So it was agreed on a temporary court order that he would go to Melanie and his father Steve Donovan.

So...? I let the question hang.

Abi looks up at me and also shakes her head. She is medium height, slim – apart from her hips – and blonde. Perhaps my naturally helpful heart is telling me to mind my own business, courtesy of both Abi and Pete.

Melanie turns to me, her eyes are red. She has clearly done a fair bit of weeping. It’s Liam’s rotten mother, she says between clenched teeth. At least, I think that’s what she said.

She nods to me to come closer, and indicates an empty chair. She wants him back. She says she’ll take us to court if necessary.

When I first came here to set up my detective agency in the apartment above Button Up, it wasn’t long before I heard the sad tale of Liam’s early childhood. Steve Donovan had been living with Liam’s mother as partners, but one day the mother got a taste for much younger men. Toy boys I suppose. And Steve left.

The last toy boy made Liam’s life so miserable, and Liam’s mother’s life equally miserable, because the boy’s presence was an unwelcome intrusion. So she was glad to dump Liam on his father Steve when he married Melanie.

I turn to Abi. Can she do this?

Abi nods. "She may be entitled to have him back. Danny is looking into her past record, in case it does come to court."

Danny Wells is Abi’s husband. He’s also a local solicitor, or lawyer, in a large legal practice here in Craidlea. Well, it’s larger than the competition.

His hair is fair like Toby’s, but slightly untidy on top. He certainly has a confident smile. And his eyes are a mysteriously dark blue. Abi says that’s the only reason she married him!

Melanie grabs hold of my arm. She had to be officially informed that Steve and I are applying for adoption.

I shake my head in sympathy, but let Melanie hold onto my arm so tightly that it won’t be long before I get pins and needles in my hand. She’s well built width-wise, not very tall, but has a powerful grip. I thought her latest young man didn’t want the boy around the house.

Melanie sighs. He’s packed his bags and scarpered. As far as I can gather, she’s not been able to find a suitably young replacement.

I still don’t see‒‒‒‒

Abi turns to me. Fortunately she’s sitting on the other side of the table, so my other arm is safe for now. It’s all about money, she says.

"She wants to buy Liam from Melanie?"

For a moment I detect a smile on Melanie’s face, but it’s a rather grim one. "She needs money, Melanie says. Her last young man was quite wealthy and gave her an almost luxury lifestyle. And she didn’t bother to work."

So where’s her money coming from now? I ask. Did she ever work?

She had Steve’s money when they lived together, plus Child Allowance and other benefits before Steve married and took Liam with him, Abi explains. "If she’s looking after her own son again, she can claim all sorts of benefits, and still not need to work."

Melanie keeps dabbing her eyes. I’m sure that’s the only reason. Steve says we might be able to help her out financially, but Abi’s husband has advised us against doing that. Strongly advised us.

Abi looks grim. Danny thinks that the law will be on Melanie and Steve’s side. Steve was given custody of his son because Liam was being mistreated. Also, he’s now living in a stable relationship. But who knows, the law can be a joke at times.

I’m just about to add my own two pennyworth, when my phone rings. It’s Piers Pillinger, the local fine art connoisseur. He’s already given me some well paid work, even if it has involved a certain amount of danger. But he’s very generous, and I can’t afford to let this call go.

I nod to Abi and Melanie, as though getting their permission to answer it, and move away from the table. Hi, Piers.

Janika, how are you fixed?

I’m not going to admit that very little is happening at the moment, and the jobs I have mostly seem to end up pro bono, out of sympathy for the client. I can be a real softy when people are in difficulty. But with work for Piers, nothing is free from risk. Depends how dangerous it is, Piers.

I laugh, knowing that Piers will have some sympathy with my position. I don’t mind tricks and subterfuge. That’s all part of my job as a private investigator, but I don’t like it when my life is threatened. Come to think of it, I faced far larger threats to my life from the drugs gang that murdered my husband Sam over two years ago.

Well, Piers says slowly, and I can imagine him grinning, "it does concern Humphrey Broxburn and his West End art gallery again. So I can’t guarantee your safety."

I’m assuming he’s joking. After all, the majority of art dealers must lead peaceful lives, surrounded by peaceful paintings. Come to think of it, the last job I did for Piers and Humphrey involved German Expressionist art, which is often violent and certainly far from peaceful. It mostly seems to involve dead animals. Well, that’s the feeling I got when I had to mug up on it.

So can I put you on a retainer for the next few days, Janika? I will be generous. I might need you to go up to London to see a painting at very short notice. I don’t want you somewhere out in the sticks setting up video cameras to catch men from Mars.

Piers is probably grinning as he obviously recalls the job I did for Nigel Frampton. Fortunately, that embarrassing investigation is now complete, but unfortunately not forgotten.

What sort of retainer?

I’m sure Piers is wealthy, judging by his large house and antique furniture. In my experience, wealthy people can be tight with money. That’s probably why they have so much of it. Fortunately, Piers doesn’t seem to know about that.

I have to ask Piers to repeat what the retainer will be. I didn’t mishear. It’s more than generous. I think he could be attracted to me, but I hope it’s only in a professional way. I’ve got him out of a couple of fixes recently involving fine art.

We’re going to have to meet up, Piers says. I’ll be in touch soon.

I listen to Piers’ final instructions, and end the call.

Piers? Abi asks.

I nod. A possible job. We get on well together.

Abi leans forward and speaks confidentially. Charlotte Pillinger is worried about you and Piers.

I laugh. Where on earth did you hear that nonsense? I can’t imagine Charlotte has been in here telling you this.

Abi just shrugs. Not Charlotte, but you can’t help overhearing things occasionally.

This is starting to sound serious. "Well I can assure you there is nothing going on between us. Everything is on a purely professional basis. Piers has never said or done anything untoward ‒ to use one of my mother’s expressions. In fact, Piers and Charlotte recently invited me and Toby round for a meal. Surely that’s the last thing she would have done if she was suspicious."

Abi comes round and gives me a reassuring hug. That’s good. I expect she wanted to see how strong your relationship is with Toby.

I was there to take sneaky photographs of a painting, as it happens. And Charlotte was very polite and warm to me. Whatever you’ve heard is just gossip. But Piers has a possible job for me, so it might be wise if I don’t invite him upstairs to my apartment. Just in case some busybody is watching.

Abi grins. Come in here, and I can serve you both at this table and keep an eye open.

I laugh. An ear open, you mean.

Abi Wells was Abi Button when I knew her many years ago in school, and Melanie Donovan was called Melanie Upton before she married Steve. When I set up my Detective Agency here, I realised why the name of the coffee shop, Button Up, made sense.

I suppose they could rename it the Well Done Coffee Shop after their new surnames, but fortunately they haven’t! The coffee shop is popular not just because of the great coffee and pastries, but because of the personalities of the staff. And if they ever changed the name, people would think the business has changed hands.

Thinking about changing names, I’m going to be Janika Walton four weeks today, when Toby and I get married. Do I need to change my name on my Button Up Detective Agency business cards and flyers to Janika Walton?

Anyway, being Mrs Janika Walton is far more important than worrying about changing the name. My clients know me as Janika Jones, and that’s probably how I’ll always be known professionally.

I turn when the bell of the entrance door to the coffee shop chimes. Two women are coming in, carrying empty shopping bags. It’s Saturday today, or the place would be busy with office workers having coffee and pastries to go. These must be shoppers who plan to do a day’s serious shopping.

The bell on the entrance door chimes again. I look over to see Bella Flores coming in, and I can tell from her expression that she has exciting news.

Chapter 2

As I get to my feet, Abi and Melanie do the same. Don’t say anything to Bella about Liam, Melanie whispers. Not yet, anyway.

As the two go to give Pete a hand behind the service counter, I beckon to Bella to come across and join me. This is a morning for news. Potentially worrying news from Melanie, potentially rewarding news from Piers Pillinger. And now what looks like exciting news coming from my new Welsh neighbour Bella Flores. This is already some morning. What’s up, girl?

We call each other girls. I blame Abi for that. Well, not so much blame her, as attribute it to her. We are all in our 30s, some further in than others. Well, not Melanie, she’s in her mid 40s, but Abi has made up her mind to be perpetually young. And why not! I’m happy to go along with that, as long as I’m included.

Well, Bella, I say, giving her a friendly hug as she sits down with me, something’s happened. I can tell. That’s the benefit of being a private detective!

Frustratingly, Bella wants to place her order for coffee. Come to think of it, I haven’t placed mine yet. But the staff know that I now start the morning down here with an Americano and an apple Danish.

Usually, I start my breakfast upstairs with gritty old muesli, which is supposed to be healthy. An apple Danish is supposed to be unhealthy, so in my reckoning the two balance each other out, so I end up neutral. Can’t argue with that.

I turn to face the door, but no one has come in after Bella. Where’s Noel this morning?

Noel is Bella’s long lost twin who I helped find recently in the far west of Wales. They were separated at birth because Noel suffered some damage, leading to a physical disability.

His brain is really sharp, but his speech is rather difficult to understand until you get used to it. He was left on the hospital doorstep in a remote seaside town called Cwmcwmwl, after a friend helped Bella’s mother give birth secretly, because of the shame of being single and pregnant.

Oh, he’s busy exploring the town in his new electric wheelchair I bought him, Bella says. In her eyes I can clearly see a loving sibling relationship, in spite of them growing up in completely separate lives.

Don’t tell Abi and Melanie, Bella whispers, but he’s quite taken a fancy to visiting a small restaurant by the railway station. She laughs. I don’t think the attraction is a young waitress. Noel always seems to be talking to Anwen on the phone. I think that restaurant is the only place around here that does almond croissants.

I laugh. Perhaps we ought to mention it to Abi and Melanie. Then Noel wouldn’t need to go so far. Although I imagine he likes getting out and about here.

"He does, but I’m sure he’s not dating anyone here in Craidlea. Caru, as Mam would have said. That’s what we say in Wales when someone is dating. I know he still has feelings for Anwen, his best friend back in Cwmcwmwl. But I can’t see her coming here, and there’s the problem. He wants to stay in Craidlea with me now."

From the look on your face, you haven’t come here just to tell us that, I’m sure, I say, laughing.

I’m going to be famous. On TV.

That’s a bit sudden. You didn’t say anything.

I didn’t want you all to know until it was done. I was nervous enough as it was. The local television channel did all the filming in my shop, and I tried to make sure they included the name of the business. Michael Carpenter promised they will. His young assistant Jane even made a note of it.

I remember Michael Carpenter. The name Botox Man springs to mind. He must be in his fifties, but his face doesn’t have a single wrinkle or mark on it.