Murder In Spades

MURDER IN SPADES A Fitzjohn Mystery JILL PATERSON BOOKS BY JILL PATERSON DCI Fitzjohn Series The Celtic Dagger Murder At The Rocks Once Upon A Lie Lane’s End Deadly Investment Poisoned Palette The Fourth String Rose Scented Murder Murder in Spades Phoebe Chadwick Series Murder at the Beaufort Murder in Spades Copyright © Jill Paterson 2023 Cover design: More Visual Ltd/bookartwork.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher and copyright holder. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. eBook ISBN 978-0-6489292-3-9 Paperback ISBN 978-0-6489292-1-5 Paperback ISBN 978-0-6489292-2-2 Publisher: J. Henderson, Australia TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 About the Author The Fitzjohn Mystery Series Connect with me on-line Murder in Spades A Fitzjohn Mystery Featuring Detective Chief Inspector Fitzjohn, Murder in Spades is the ninth book in the Fitzjohn Mystery Series. The Ashgrove Bridge Club did not expect their newly elected president, Leonard Delaney, to be murdered on the day of his successful election, or did they? Could it have been a conspiracy to get rid of Leonard? After all, he was a man of insufferable superiority, his victory being achieved primarily through fear of reprisals in the event he failed to win. Meanwhile, recently retired DCI Alistair Fitzjohn, returns to Sydney after working on a case as a police consultant. He is looking forward to some quiet time tending his orchids and an evening with the new woman in his life, Peta Ashby. Little did he know, however, what he would face on return to his Birchgrove cottage. In the midst of the turmoil, he is asked to head the investigation into the Ashgrove Bridge Club murder. It is not long, however, before Fitzjohn finds Leonard Delaney’s murder is not as straightforward as first thought. As the case develops Fitzjohn’s detective skills are tested as is his ability to deal with a ghost from the past who is out for revenge. CHAPTER 1 With a sense of satisfaction, Leonard Delaney sat back in his chair at the head of the boardroom table as those who had attended the annual general meeting filed out. With his presidency of the Ashgrove Bridge Club secured, he delighted in the fact he could now implement the changes he had planned. The founding members of the club would complain, of course, but that was of no consequence. In fact, he would enjoy watching them squirm as their CHAPTER 2 Fitzjohn gazed out of the window of the taxi as it wended its way through the familiar tree-lined streets of Birchgrove. His latest police consultancy, investigating the disappearance of a young woman, had taken him far afield and now he looked forward to a few days at home to spend time with Peta Ashby while preparing for his orchid presentation at the Royal Easter Show. On reflection, he missed his years on the police force, particularly the camaraderie. Retirement,