7 Sorrow on Sunday Read online

  DON’T MISS ANN PURSER’S OTHER

  DIABOLICAL DAYS OF THE WEEK

  SECRETS ON SATURDAY

  “Entertaining . . . The indomitable Lois is something of an updated Miss Marple.”

  —Booklist

  “Purser’s expertise at portraying village life and Lois’s role as a working-class Miss Marple combine to make this novel—and the entire series—a treat.”

  —Richmond Times-Dispatch

  FEAR ON FRIDAY

  “Well paced, cleverly plotted, and chock-full of cozy glimpses of life in a small English village . . . A fine series that just keeps getting better—a must for British cozy fans.”

  —Booklist

  THEFT ON THURSDAY

  “Clever, engaging, and suspenseful . . . [The] best Lois Meade adventure yet.”

  —Booklist

  WEEPING ON WEDNESDAY

  “An inventive plot, affable characters, and an entertaining look at village life.”

  —Booklist

  TERROR ON TUESDAY

  “Skullduggery of all sorts greets housecleaner Lois Meade when she opens a cleaning service in the village of Long Farnden . . . Notable for the careful way Purser roots every shocking malfeasance in the rhythms and woes of ordinary working-class family life.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “This no-nonsense mystery is competent, tidy, likable, and clever.”

  —Booklist

  MURDER ON MONDAY

  “A refreshingly working-class heroine, a devoted wife and mother of three, plays reluctant sleuth in this winning cozy . . . A strong plot and believable characters, especially the honest, down-to-earth Lois, are certain to appeal to a wide range of readers.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “First-class work in the English-village genre: cleverly plotted, with thoroughly believable characters, rising tension, and a smashing climax.”

  —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

  “For fans of the British cozy, here’s one with a different twist. Purser’s heroine is not one of the ‘traditional’ apple-cheeked, white-haired village snoops . . . The identity of the killer—and the motive—will be a shocker. Fresh, engaging, and authentically British.”

  —Booklist

  “Fans of British ‘cozies’ will enjoy this delightful mystery with its quaint setting and fascinating players.”

  —Library Journal

  Titles by Ann Purser

  Lois Meade Mysteries

  MURDER ON MONDAY

  TERROR ON TUESDAY

  WEEPING ON WEDNESDAY

  THEFT ON THURSDAY

  FEAR ON FRIDAY

  SECRETS ON SATURDAY

  SORROW ON SUNDAY

  WARNING AT ONE

  TRAGEDY AT TWO

  THREATS AT THREE

  FOUL PLAY AT FOUR

  FOUND GUILTY AT FIVE

  Ivy Beasley Mysteries

  THE HANGMAN’S ROW ENQUIRY

  THE MEASBY MURDER ENQUIRY

  THE WILD WOOD ENQUIRY

  SORROW ON

  SUNDAY

  ANN PURSER

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  USA | Canada | UK | Ireland | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa | China

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  For more information about the Penguin Group, visit penguin.com.

  SORROW ON SUNDAY

  A Berkley Prime Crime Book / published by arrangement with Severn House

  Copyright © 2007 by Ann Purser.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any

  printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy

  of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  Berkley Prime Crime Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group.

  BERKLEY® PRIME CRIME and the PRIME CRIME logo are

  trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  For information, address: Severn House Publishers, Inc.,

  595 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022.

  ISBN: 978-1-101-66222-9

  PUBLISHING HISTORY

  Severn House hardcover edition / July 2007

  Berkley Prime Crime mass-market edition / July 2008

  Cover illustration by One by Two.

  Cover design by Lesley Worrell.

  Interior text design by Kristin del Rosario.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product

  of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons,

  living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for

  author or third-party websites or their content.

  Grateful thanks to Dave,

  who has seen it all

  How small and selfish is sorrow. But it bangs one about until one is senseless

  HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother

  in a letter to Edith Sitwell following

  the death of George VI 1952

  Table of Contents

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  TWENTY-ONE

  TWENTY-TWO

  TWENTY-THREE

  TWENTY-FOUR

  TWENTY-FIVE

  TWENTY-SIX

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  TWENTY-NINE

  THIRTY

  THIRTY-ONE

  THIRTY-TWO

  THIRTY-THREE

  THIRTY-FOUR

  THIRTY-FIVE

  THIRTY-SIX

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  THIRTY-NINE

  FORTY

  FORTY-ONE

  FORTY-TWO

  FORTY-THREE

  FORTY-FOUR

  FORTY-FIVE

  FORTY-SIX

  FORTY-SEVEN

  FORTY-EIGHT

  FORTY-NINE

  FIFTY

  FIFTY-ONE

  FIFTY-TWO

  FIFTY-THREE

  FIFTY-FOUR

  FIFTY-FIVE

  FIFTY-SIX

  FIFTY-SEVEN

  POSTSCRIPT

  ONE

  HAZEL THORNBULL SAT AT HER DESK IN THE TRESHAM office of New Brooms—“We Sweep Cleaner”—and looked out at Sebastopol Street, a street without character, consisting largely of terraced red-brick houses in varying states of decay. Shining out from the rest was the freshly painted corner office of Lois Meade’s cleaning business, now well-established and popular in town and surrounding villages. Hazel managed the office, and Lois called in every now and then to make sure everything was running smoothly.

  Lois also operated another business, a one-woman job, and unpaid. More of a hobby, she liked to think. She was a sleuth, a non-stipendiary private detective. A snout, a grass, an informer, some would say. She worked with only one man: Detective Chief Inspector Hunter Cowgill.

  This Monday morning it was quiet, and Hazel disappeared into the small kitchen to make
coffee. She heard the office door flung open and the warning bell rang loudly. “Damn! Nothing happens all morning, and just when I—” She stopped, seeing her boss, Lois Meade, standing in the kitchen doorway, unsmiling.

  “Mrs. M! You made me jump! I’m just making a quick cup—d’you want one?”

  “Might as well,” Lois said. “It might cushion the blow.”

  What blow? thought Hazel in alarm. There could be only one kind of blow. Mrs. M was sacking her, or closing down the business. But why should she do either of these things? Hazel made the coffee rapidly, and they sat down in the office. “Right then,” she said. “Break it gently.”

  After a couple of slurps of hot coffee, Lois began to speak. “Now,” she said, “guess what?”

  “Josie’s pregnant,” Hazel guessed. She couldn’t bear even to consider the end of New Brooms. Josie was Lois’s daughter, and ran the village shop back in Long Farnden. She had a partner, Rob, and it was common knowledge that Lois was hoping for a grandchild. But surely Lois would be joyful about that!

  “No, not that unfortunately. No, it’s something else,” Lois said, and Hazel’s heart sank. Hey, but wait a minute. Mrs. M’s smiling broadly now! “Are you having me on?” Hazel asked.

  Lois took a deep breath and said, “Just thought I’d keep you in suspense. Rotten trick. Sorry, Hazel. Now, hold tight . . . Derek’s won the Lottery!”

  Hazel had worked for Lois for a long time. She was one of New Brooms’ original cleaners, until she’d married and baby Elizabeth had arrived. Then Lois had arranged for her to manage the office, and a friend next door looked after the baby. It had all worked out very well, and Lois had been pleased not to lose one of her best workers. Hazel trusted Lois, but now looked at her in amazement. “You’re joking?” she said.

  Lois shook her head. “I knew you wouldn’t believe me, but it’s true. Six of the men at the pub were in a sort of syndicate. They’ve won the jackpot. So even when it’s divided up we’ll still get a decent packet.”

  Hazel was now in shock. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing emerged.

  “Mind you,” Lois said, “it’s not one of them five-million wins. Should be about a quarter of a million each, though. I had to come into town, and couldn’t resist telling you. The others can have a nice surprise at our meeting.” She looked hard at Hazel. “You all right, gel?” she asked anxiously.

  Hazel came suddenly to life. She pulled Lois out of her chair, gave her a big hug, and began to caper around the office desk. “It’s you-hoo who’s won the jackpot!” she sang at the top of her voice, brandishing the pointing finger. Then they both roared with laughter and did not notice the door opening until the visitor stood watching them.

  “Oh!” gasped Lois. “It’s you! Well, have I got news for you!”

  The man smiled slightly and Hazel said, “Good morning, Inspector Cowgill. Can we help you?”

  TWO

  THE NEWS SPREAD LIKE MEASLES AROUND THE VILLAGE. When Josie opened the shop on Monday morning, there had been a queue outside. This had never been known in all the years since the shop had been established in l868. Josie, of course, knew why, and had yelled for her partner, Rob, to come down from the flat above the shop. “Stand by,” she said. “I’m going to need help for half an hour or so.”

  “I have to go to work, Josie, you know that,” Rob said. But he was a gentle, thoughtful soul, and called his office in Tresham to say he’d been delayed. In the first hour, they sold more sweets, cigarettes, boxes of matches and newspapers than ever before. And each customer said a variation of the same thing. “Glad to hear about your mum’s good luck. Wish it was me!” Josie was almost relieved when that miserable old skinflint from the Baptist Church bought his usual half cabbage and said, “The Lottery is the work of Satan, Josie Meade. No good will come of it. Retribution is mine, saith the Lord.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Goody,” she said. “I’ll tell Mum. She’ll be delighted, I know. Now—next please?”

  Finally it quietened down, Rob went off to work, and Josie was able to perch on her high stool behind the counter and consider what had happened.

  Most people had been genuinely pleased for the Meades, and for the other winners, but a few had clearly resented this bonus from the blue. “Why not me?” the pugnacious Colonel Battersby had said. He clearly thought that if the Lottery pointing finger was aimed at this area, then he was the most deserving recipient. “Your turn next, maybe, Colonel,” Josie had said as pleasantly as she could. She had heard Rob snorting behind her as he fetched more supplies from the stockroom.

  The telephone rang, and Josie picked up the receiver. “Who’s that? Oh, it’s you, Miss Beasley. Shall I take your order now?” Josie packed up a number of boxes of groceries to deliver to nearby villages where the village shop had not survived. Miss Beasley lived in Round Ringford. She was a stroppy old lady, a client of New Brooms, and a tough customer.

  “No, no. Not yet, Josie Meade,” she said. “First I want to know what your father has been doing, gambling with that no-good set at the pub.”

  The “no-good set” consisted of Lois’s electrician husband Derek; his plumber pal; the vicar’s brother, who had retired and come to live at the vicarage; a local farmer and Geoff the publican. Josie giggled, and said that her father could not be a more respectable citizen and it was all a bit of fun. They’d never really dreamt they’d win the jackpot.

  “Huh!” grunted Ivy Beasley. “Anyway, I suppose your mother will be giving up the cleaning? And the village shop won’t be good enough for you? It’ll ruin your lives, you know. Happens all the time. I’ve seen it on the telly. And what about all of us in the villages? I’m too old and frail now to keep my house clean, and you will certainly not catch me going into one of them supermarkets. I’ve known our Doris to go in for a loaf of bread and come out with a full trolley. No, I’ll just starve, surrounded by dust.”

  Josie considered trying to cheer her up. She hadn’t had time to think about their future, so she said only that the money was her parents,” and that as for herself, she loved the shop and would stay in it until she was carried out in a wooden box. “I suggest you ask Mum about the cleaning,” she added. “But whatever happens, Mum would never leave you in the lurch, Miss Beasley. You must know that. Now, I’m busy, so shall I take your order?”

  * * *

  AFTER A SMALL CELEBRATION CONSISTING OF STRONG coffee and squashed-fly biscuits, Inspector Cowgill asked if he could have a moment with Lois confidentially. Hazel, drunk with the news, grinned. “Shall I make myself scarce? Would you like the blinds drawn?”

  Lois glared at her. “Just go and wash these coffee mugs, young lady,” she said. “I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Don’t be too hard on her, Lois,” Cowgill said, uncharacteristically mellow. “It is the most amazing news. I’d come here to discuss a minor crime with a colleague, and find a rich lady dancing the polka! Enough to make anyone tactless.”

  “Well, what was this minor crime, then?”

  “I’m sure you’re not interested now, Lois. Maybe it’s time to shake hands and say farewell.”

  Was that a tear in his eye? Surely not. Lois looked at him closely. “You don’t get rid of me that easily,” she said. “And anyway, I’ve never taken money from you, so winning the Lottery don’t make no difference. Derek and me had a long discussion last night, and have decided not to make any big changes in our lives. Maybe we’ll stay in hotels instead of bed-and-breakfasts, get a newer car, that kind of thing. But I’ve worked hard to establish New Brooms, and Derek loves his job. Why change it?”

  “And your work with me?”

  “Same applies,” Lois said shortly. “Now, let’s get on to this minor crime.”

  “It’s happened in Waltonby, that’s why I came to you. Next village, and lots of people there either are, or have been, your clients. It’s the horsy lot. Stable thefts. Saddles and bridles and harness in general. No horses as yet. And, thank God, no injuries to the animals. But
this stuff is expensive, and can be sold easily in the right place. Have you heard anything?”

  Lois shook her head. “It happens every so often, but one at a time usually. Derek says it serves ’em right for not locking it away properly. More horses than people in these villages. The old village folk don’t like them, incomers throwing their money about.”

  Cowgill looked at her with a smile, and said, “You’re rich now, Lois. You could even buy a horse. Get to know these people with barmy ideas about country life.”

  Lois’s voice was icy as she replied that not for him nor for the Queen herself would she be seen on a bloody great horse. She added that she would, however, keep her ears and eyes open, and make a few enquiries. Derek sometimes heard useful stuff in the pub.

  “Very useful!” laughed Cowgill. “Perhaps I should start drinking in your pub—might be able to take early retirement!”

  It was the first time she had heard Cowgill laugh, really laugh, with his eyes as well as his mouth, since his wife was killed in a road accident. So there, Mr. Goody, Lois said to herself, if we’re all doomed to hell, it will have been worth it.

  THREE

  COLONEL BATTERSBY WAS IN HIS LATE FIFTIES, AND MARRIED to a wife he had licked into shape over the last twenty-five years. He had inherited considerable wealth, and had conducted his life accordingly. He had the required two children—a son and a daughter—who had been a great satisfaction to him, the son following him into the armed forces, and the daughter having married well.

  “I’ve had a bloody good life,” he would say to anyone with the ill luck to sit next to him at regimental reunion dinners. “No complaints at all. That’s what I shall say to my Maker when the day comes. No complaints. A bloody good life.”

  His wife, Blanche, had been known to say quietly to him that it was tempting fate to talk like that. But he scoffed at her and took no notice. Then this morning, he had gone to the stables to inspect his fine, well-bred hunters, and found the tack room virtually empty. “They’ve cleared the bloody lot!” he yelled at his wife when he’d run back to the house to ring the police.