The Cedar Face: DI Jewell book 3 (DI Elizabeth Jewell) by Carole Pitt Page A

visit. From bankruptcy to murder, Elizabeth pondered, and everything in between.
    As individual's names were called she tried to guess why they were there. Two disgruntled youths didn't pose any problems. A middle-aged woman wiping her eyes and blowing her nose seemed slightly more difficult. Either here to apply for divorce papers or appear in court on a shoplifting charge. Her eyes moved to a tall elderly distinguished man who she thought she recognised. While she wracked her brain trying to remember his name she stared in disbelief at another man standing behind him.
    'Oh my God,' she whispered.' What's he doing here?
    Of course, her brain had frozen and she'd forgotten Calbrain freelanced for an insurance company. He was probably in court as a witness. Elizabeth picked up her coffee and made her way to the alcove where she knew he wouldn't see her. I'd rather not have to face you right now Mr Calbrain, it' s not convenient. She was almost there, when over the babble of conversations she heard her name called. It was no good, the alcove was a dead end. In order to exit the building she had to cross reception.
    'How are you?' Calbrain asked.
    'Been to a meeting with the CPS. What are you doing here?'
    Calbrain's face changed. Suddenly he appeared uncomfortable and Elizabeth was puzzled. 'I'm meeting someone.'
    At that moment Francisca Montero approached and slid her arm through Calbrain's. 'Inspector Jewell, I thought you would have left by now. Anyway it's nice to see you again so soon.' She turned to Calbrain. 'You know each other?'
    Elizabeth couldn't speak and her legs had turned to jelly. Their body language said everything. This was a situation where she had to pull herself together.
    ' Yes we do,' Calbrain said. 'Inspector Jewell and I met during the Lily Jerome investigation.'
    'I remember the case. I was still in London back then.'
    Elizabeth finally found her voice. 'Are you in court Nick?'
    Before he could speak, Francisca interrupted. 'We're going out to celebrate.'
    'Did he help you with a case too?' Elizabeth couldn't help herself.
    'No, he suggested a different partnership.' She held up her left hand where the diamond sparkled under the lights. ' He asked me to marry him.'

 
     
     
    CHAPTER THIRTEEN
    After they left Elizabeth felt dazed. Her legs moved automatically but she couldn't feel them. This is stupid, she thought, especially after all these months. Granted, her feelings for Calbrain had chopped and changed depending on her mood and workload. That aspect she understood. Resentment towards him had lingered like a sickness until recently. So why feel shocked, no, outraged even? Calbrain had pursued her and the simple answer was she wouldn't commit, so he'd given up and found someone else.
    One thing she was certain of. He wouldn' t have looked twice at Francisca Montero if she'd said yes more often. The one night she'd stayed in his Bristol apartment had stayed fixed in her memory. She had every opportunity to repeat the experience but had always resisted. Is this why I feel as if an express train has just hit me? When will I learn my lesson with men?
    Moving as if in a dream she made it back to where she'd left her coffee and bent to retrieve the cup. The contents were cold but she drank it anyway, hoping a caffeine hit might cure her addled brain. She sat for ten minutes until the craving for a cigarette overcame her sluggishness. Everything appeared blurred as she dropped the empty paper cup into a bin. Her eyes always bothered her when she was upset or stressed and although she kept reading glasses in her bag, the distance pair stayed in the car because she couldn't drive without them.
    Outside the court a strong wind whipped her hair across her eyes. The temperature had dropped and she sheltered against the wall before lighting a cigarette. By the time she reached the car she felt slightly better. Her first instinct was to drive straight to Park Road and find Patterson. She'd confided in him about