Blue Moon

First published in Great Britain in 2023 byThe Book Guild LtdUnit E2 Airfield Business Park,Harrison Road, Market Harborough,Leicestershire. LE16 7ULTel: 0116 2792299www.bookguild.co.ukEmail: [email protected]: @bookguild Copyright © 2023 Patricia H. Squirehttp://patricia-squire.uk The right of Patricia H. Squire to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. This work is entirely fictitious and bears no resemblance to any persons living or dead. ISBN 978 1915853 127 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. For my grandson Alexander Squire, I hope you enjoy this tale one day. Also, as always, for David for his unfailing encouragement. CONTENTSChapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter SixChapter SevenChapter EightChapter NineChapter TenChapter ElevenChapter TwelveChapter ThirteenChapter FourteenChapter FifteenChapter SixteenChapter SeventeenChapter EighteenChapter NineteenChapter Twenty CHAPTER ONEEsme heard the key in the front door. ‘Good timing,’ she called out. ‘I’m just serving up supper.’Matt came into the kitchen and enthusiastically kissed her before taking his seat at the table. He was still getting used to coming home to a tidy flat and supper prepared for him. They had gone through a couple of sticky patches and he would never again take her for granted. She was the sparkling centre of his universe.Once the meal was dished out and they began to eat, Matt asked, ‘So how was your day. You were over at the Blue Moon, weren’t you?’‘Oh, Matt, it was so sad. Enid Hopjoy died last night.’He eyed her quizzically. ‘It is an old people’s home, love. Bound to have the inmates die off fairly regularly.’She put her knife and fork down and looked at him reproachfully. ‘First, it’s a select home for those in their twilight years, not “an old people’s home”, and second, Enid was lovely. She was quite quiet and unassuming. Then she’d say something shocking and you’d stare at her in surprise until you saw the twinkle in her eye.’ Esme heaved a great sigh. ‘She was really liked by the staff as well as the other residents. She will be greatly missed.’ Esme fell into a reverie.‘Esme.’ Matt brought her back to the present. ‘Come on, love. Eat your supper. And I’m sorry about her death. I can see it’s upset you.’Esme nodded and resumed her meal.‘What I don’t understand,’ Matt said, ‘is how you get so involved with the residents. You’re only there two or three mornings a week to keep their accounts in order. I don’t see how you get to know them.’Matt and Esme had met while she worked for an import/export company that had collapsed after various smuggling activities came to light. Matt had been the investigating police officer. Instead of looking for a new position, Esme had decided to fast-track her career goals and start up as a freelance bookkeeper. Blue Moon had been her first client and she had a soft spot for them. Felicia Rogers, who had known Esme from their previous employment, had secured a position as secretary to Blue Moon’s owner after Holtexim folded. She had recommended Esme as a bookkeeper – possibly motivated by seeking to make amends after trying to implicate Esme in the illegal activities at their former place of work.‘They’re not that many of them, only twelve when full, and it’s inevitable we got to know each other. Sometimes they might wander into the office with a query or maybe just looking for a chat. Also, I usually spend my break with some of them and, of course, I join them for lunch in the dining room. So, you see, it would be hard not to get to know them.’Matt smiled. ‘It’s you, Esme. People like you, they gravitate to you and the reason is that you like them. You are genuinely interested in them and that’s a great draw.’‘Oh posh.’ Esme stood to clear their plates, but she flushed slightly, pleased he thought of her that way. ‘Do you want cheese or ice cream?’After due consideration, Matt selected cheese and she bustled round, producing a small board with a selection of cheeses and a basket of biscuits. They made their choices and began to eat.‘I just hope,’ Esme said, ‘that the new resident is as nice as Enid and will fit in with the others.’‘The residents won’t be unwelcoming, will they? Resent the newcomer just because they’re replacing someone they liked?’‘Oh no, I’m sure not. The thing is, they’re sort of in groups.’‘Groups?’‘Yes. Nothing organised, just those with similar interests naturally tend to mix together.’‘Cliques, you mean. If so, that will pose a problem for the newcomer. Cliques are notorious for being reluctant to allow anyone new within their circles.’‘No. Not cliques. These aren’t closed groups. They all mix together but, for instance, take Jane, Penny, Larry and Bob. They all like doing crosswords – from the Daily Telegraph, of course.’‘Of course,’ Matt murmured.Ignoring him, Esme continued, ‘They play Mah Jong, like listening to current-affairs programmes on the radio and enjoy similar tastes in films – particularly musicals. So, naturally, they spend a lot of time together pursuing their common interests. Oh, and I mustn’t forget lime marmalade.’‘Lime marmalade?’‘Yes. Everyone else has orange marmalade or jam. But the four of them have to sit at the same breakfast table as they all prefer lime marmalade.’‘I see.’ A short silence ensued until Matt asked, ‘So, who did Enid spend most of her time with?’‘Enid was more of a floater. She liked musicals too, so would join Jane, Penny and co to watch them. If she wanted to go shopping, quite often Lucy or Celia,