He leaned back in his chair and rested his hands behind his head. The sweat stains on his cream shirt were evident, but at least he’d removed his brown suit jacket.

“What progress have you made this afternoon?” he asked.

Keya told him about the visit she and Constable Sparrow had made to the crime scene, their encounter with Dora, and the interview with Daisy’s mother.

“We also went to Mill House and collected Daisy’s laptop, tablet, and phone. Constable Jenkins is working on them now, with Constable Sparrow, even though I told him to go home. I took Daisy’s phone down to Sujin, as it needs charging, and I thought he’d be able to get more from it.”

“Good call. And now I think you should take your own advice and go home. Start tomorrow with a clear head and a fresh pair of eyes.”

“Yes, sir.”

As Keya left the team room with a lighter step, she called, “Goodnight,” to Ryan and Constable Sparrow.

Forty-five minutes later, Keya placed a glass of iced mint tea on a wooden table under a timber-framed gazebo beside the River Coln. Colourful baskets of red and yellow flowers were hanging from the timbers which supported the gazebo’s slate roof.

She had crossed a wooden footbridge from The Swan Hotel’s main gardens to reach this little island of tranquillity. But she wasn’t the only one. Several women were laughing as they enjoyed cocktails at a table on the other side of a low stone wall, beside a large pampas grass.

Sitting down, Keya closed her eyes and tried to ignore them, concentrating instead on the sound of the stream. It was like fresh, clear music.

She wished she’d had a floaty summer dress to change into rather than her tight-fitting cotton trousers.

“Sorry, I’m late,” Sujin said.

Keya opened her eyes and watched as he manoeuvred a wooden chair around until it was next to hers, facing the river.

“This is a favourite spot of mine,” Sujin confessed. “And it helps that the food is great. They also have an outdoor hot tub, which I’m occasionally allowed to use when the hotel is quiet. As I told you, we all need to unwind, and this is one place I’ve found to do that.”

Keya watched as a duck glided past on the water, followed by five ducklings. She picked up her glass and sipped the iced tea. Delicious, with a hint of lime, and the tartness of apple to cut through the sweetness of honey. And overall, the refreshing taste and scent of mint.

“When did you last have a holiday?” Sujin asked.

Keya blinked. A holiday. “I’ve no idea,” she replied. With her police work, and opening and running the cafe, it wasn’t something she’d even considered.

“I believe everyone needs to take a break,” Sujin said. “It enables the mind to relax and start making connections it doesn’t usually have a chance to do. That’s also why I like walking. I do some of my best work when I’m wandering through a wood or across a field full of sheep.”

Keya considered his comment. He was right, of course. It was just that … “It’s not only the time. I don’t really want to go away by myself. I’m not sure what I would do.”

“What about your friends? Maybe Dotty?” Sujin suggested.

“She’s been away for the last year. And now she’s studying and setting up her antique business. I’m not sure she’ll have the time.”

“You don’t have to go abroad. There are some wonderful places in the UK to visit. How about Wales, or Scotland, or the Lake District?”

Keya had been to Cardiff, and The Forest of Dean was almost in Wales.

“Don’t worry about it now. It’s only a suggestion,” Sujin said. “And I brought some menus with me.” He handed one to Keya.

Most of the dishes were meat-based, although there was a vegetarian pithivier, which was a posh name for a pie. But that was too heavy for a summer night.

“Found anything you fancy?” asked Sujin.

“Um.” She looked down at the starters. Mushrooms on toast. Hardly adventurous. Ah, yes, that would do. “Yes, the creamy mushroom tagliatelle with pine nuts, fresh rocket, and parmesan.”

Sujin left to order their food inside the hotel, and Keya sat back and sipped her iced tea. She did like the idea of a holiday and wondered if Dotty might have any time off from her course in the summer?

And Sujin was right. They didn’t need to go abroad. A weekend or a few days away would be enough. Probably not Scotland, as it’s a long way for a weekend, but North Wales or the Lake District were certainly options.

But for now, it was lovely relaxing with a drink beside the river with someone she found easy to talk to and with whom, unlike her family, she could also discuss work and the satisfaction and frustrations of her role.

She smiled at Sujin as he returned to the seat next to her and placed his hand on top of hers. This was a very pleasant way to spend a summer evening.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Keya slept deeply, but she still felt tired when she woke on Thursday morning. As she lay in bed and watched weak sunlight filter through her bright flamingo pattern curtains, she thought about her evening with Sujin.

How blissful it had been eating, drinking, and talking together beside the River Coln. As if nothing else mattered.

But it did. And her thoughts turned to Daisy and her death.

Although they’d only met once, Keya had liked the young woman and her positive and enterprising outlook. And she’d loved her bread. Such a shame she wouldn’t be able to stock it, unless Theo found someone else to run the bakery. But she doubted sorting that out would be a priority for him right now.

And then there was the manner of Daisy’s death, with no reasonable explanation for why the young woman had sat down, closed her eyes, and died. So why was she so certain someone else had caused it?

The results of the blood tests, and any other analysis the pathologist was performing, would take time to come through, and what if they were inconclusive? Would the coroner be forced to conclude an open verdict because there was insufficient evidence for anything else?

Perhaps Ryan or Sujin would discover a motive for Daisy’s death in her phone calls, emails, or other digital messages.

Keya had interviewed all the people she was aware of who were close to Daisy, and there wasn’t anything else she could ask without further information. At least it meant she could spend some time at her cafe.

After showering and dressing, Keya quickly ate a yogurt while she filled her Waterwheel Cafe thermal mug with coffee, and then she drove to the cafe.

It was just after half past eight when she arrived and parked in the main car park in front of the antique centre. The centre’s heavy oak front doors were open to allow fresh air to circulate inside.

Keya glanced up. Clouds skidded across the sky, and she wouldn’t be surprised if it rained later.

Gilly rushed over when she entered the large open-plan space which was the ground floor of the antique centre. The front row of stalls included several with attractive vintage furnishings, one which sold colourful glassware, and another which only displayed wooden items.

“What news of the dead girl?” Gilly asked, her voice carrying to a woman who was arranging cushions on a ladder stand. The woman dropped a cushion, so Keya suggested, “Come and have a cup of tea.”

She and Gilly strode alongside the white painted stone wall which separated the antique centre from the single-storey auction house next door. They passed a group of gilt-framed mirrors hanging from the wall and then some retro metal signs, including a black one advertising Jack Daniel’s Whiskey.

Inside the cafe, there was a smell of frying bacon coming from the kitchen. Millie was cleaning tables with a disinfectant spray and a blue and white cloth.

“Oh, that smells good,” Gilly said, glancing towards the kitchen hatch.