Murder in the Cake: Cozy Murder Mystery (Harley Hill Mysteries Book 4) by Kennedy Chase Page B

the whole hand.
    “So, Miss Kessingworth, what are you doing here?” I asked. Puss nuzzled my chin.  
    She slugged the cognac down in one. “That’s better. I, er, came to see Henry.”
    “Oh? Is he a friend of yours?”
    “No, not really. He’s more a friend… ex-boyfriend of my sister, Jana.”
    Cordi gasped. “Not the Jana Kessingworth?”  
    I didn’t have a clue who she was. Caitlyn gave a smug grin. “Yes.”
    “Well, I haven’t got a clue who she or you are. Care to enlighten me?” I said.
    “The Kessingworth family is one of the oldest families in England,” Caitlyn said, pride oozing out of her. “My sister Jana is engaged to Prince Rupert of Klostenstein. They’re due to be married at the end of the month.”
    “And you’re here to deliver a wedding invitation to Henry?” I said. I put puss on a table because he was making my arms ache. Kessingworth looked at him like he was poison.
    “Hardly. I just came to… see him. Anyway, Never mind who I am, who the hell are you?”
    “I’m Harley Hill. This is my partner, Cordelia Silvers. We’re investigating the death of Henry Renholm.”
    “What? Henry’s dead?” She sounded shocked, but she didn’t look it.
    Cordi tapped Kessingworth’s card. “Yes. It’s been on the news. I’m surprised someone who works in PR didn’t know that.”  
    Kessingworth shrugged. Her cheeks flushed. I wasn’t sure if it was a response to the booze or embarrassment about being caught out in a lie. “I don’t read local news, darling. I’m more internationally based. Speaking of which, I really must be going.”
    She slid from behind the counter and strutted over to the door. “You have my card; do get in touch with my office with details of where we can send flowers.”
    “Just a minute, Miss Kessingworth,” I said and went to head her off before she could leave. “You said your sister was Henry’s ex. How ex is she?”
    “What do you mean?” She looked flustered. “A long time. Didn’t you hear me? Jana’s getting married in a month.”
    “Oh, I heard you.” I smiled. “Have a nice day, Miss Kessingworth.”
    She looked down her nose at me. It wasn’t the first time a toff had given me a look like that. Which was why I didn’t feel guilty for doing what I did next. “Here, let me get that,” I said. I grabbed the door and accidentally swung it into her, knocking her bag out of her hands. I pretended to try to catch it before it hit the floor and accidentally opened it, spilling the contents over the tiles.
    “Oh, gosh, I’m so clumsy!” I said and immediately got down on my knees and ‘helped’ put everything back.
    “You bloody idiot!” Kessingworth snapped. She struggled to bend down and pick up her things because her cute suit was too tight. Talk about fashion victim. While she muttered, I stuffed almost everything back in her bag and handed it to her. “So sorry, Miss Kessingworth,” I said in my best cockney sparrow accent.
    “I should think so too! Good day!” she said huffily and stormed out.
    “Gosh, Harley, that was clumsy,” Michael said.
    I smiled and pulled the photograph I’d lifted from my sleeve. “You think?”
    “What’s that?” Cordi asked, a smile slowly spreading across her face.
    “That, if I’m not very much mistaken, belongs here.” I walked over to the photograph wall and put the picture I’d just taken from Kessingworth’s bag against a blank space. It fitted perfectly.  
    “I noticed the blank space when Kessingworth was standing with her back to it. I also noticed that she was holding onto that bag like it contained the crown jewels. I just put two and two together.”
    “Clever girl!” Cordi clapped. She was still wearing her washing-up gloves, which was a little strange.
    Michael grinned. “So you knocked her bag out of her hands on purpose?”
    “You got it.” I winked. “Now, any bets on who this scantily clad young lady is hanging on Henry Renholm’s arm?”
    We all