The Chalmers Case by Diana Xarissa

well, so I got a good night’s sleep.   I’m feeling much better today.”
    Janet wondered
how much of Joan’s good mood was due to the hours she’d spent the night before
with Michael, but she chose not to tease her sister.   She was so happy for Joan that it seemed
cruel to joke about it.
    The sisters
chatted about the weather as they ate their breakfast.   They were just finishing when they heard
someone coming down the stairs.   A
minute later, all four of their guests crowded their way into the kitchen.
    “Good morning,
all,” Janet said cheerfully.   “I
hope everyone slept well?”
    “Yes, fine,
thanks,” Mildred replied.   “But now I’m starving.   Can we have the full English breakfast
this morning?”
    “Of course,”
Joan replied.   “Why don’t you all go
and sit in the dining room.   Janet
can bring in coffee, tea, and juice for you.”
    “Full English
for everyone?” Janet checked as she poured coffee for everyone.
    A chorus of
“yes, please” sent her back into the kitchen.   Joan was hard at work.   Janet started making toast and filling
toast racks.
    “Thank
goodness we already ate,” Janet commented.   “Although everything smells so good, I feel as if I could eat it all
again.”
    Janet carried
very full plates of food in to their guests and then refilled coffee cups.   Back in the kitchen, she helped Joan
with the washing up.   When she went
back into the dining room, the guests were all getting to their feet and
collecting their things.
    “We’re all off
to see the sights,” Nancy told Janet.   “We’re going to show Mildred and Harold a few of our favourite places, as they’ve never been to the area before.”
    “That’s very
kind of you,” Janet replied.   “You seem
to have good weather for it, anyway.”
    “Yes, it’s
meant to be sunny all day,” Nancy said happily.
    Janet walked
the foursome to the front door and made sure the door was locked behind
them.   She jumped when she turned
back around and found her sister standing right behind her.
    “I didn’t hear
you there,” Janet exclaimed.
    “Sorry, I
didn’t mean to startle you.”
    “I was just
wondering if the police station is open today.   We still haven’t gone to talk to Susan
about her knitting.”
    “I’d forgotten
all about that,” Joan said, shaking her head.   “We really ought to do that today if we
can.   I need to go grocery shopping
as well.   I thought Mildred and
Harold were leaving today, but they asked if they could stay one more night,
which means one more round of dinner and breakfast for them.”
    “Let’s go now
and get the errands run,” Janet suggested.   “I’d rather be home when the guests get back.”
    “Yes, I
agree,” Joan replied.
    The local
police station was housed in a tiny cottage and going inside always made Janet
feel slightly claustrophobic.   She
didn’t know how Susan could work inside the tiny building.
    “Ah, the
Markham sisters,” Susan, a curvy forty-something blonde, said brightly when
Janet and Joan walked into the tiny reception area.   “Robert said you might be stopping one
day this week.”
    Susan put down
the project she was knitting and stood up.   “I’ve been sitting still too long,” she confided as she stretched.  
    “We wanted to
talk to you about selling some of your knitted items at Doveby House,” Joan said.
    “Oh, I wish
you would,” Susan replied.   “I loved
the extra bit of income and I have to find some way to get rid of my
things.   Poor Robert has had all of
the hats, jumpers and blankets he’ll ever need and far more than he actually
wants.”
    Janet
laughed.   “I’m sure he appreciates
your hard work.”
    “It’s just
that I have so much quiet time while I’m here,” she explained.   “There has to be someone in the office
for a certain number of hours each week, but there isn’t enough work to keep me
busy during those hours.   I used to
read, but knitting is far more