Daisy: Not Your Average Super-sleuth! The Fourth Bundle: Daisy Morrow

By R T Green

This is the long-awaited fourth bundle of the hit series, with books 10 – 12 all in one place.

 

In 'Waltzing Matilda', Daisy's least-favourite village resident is accused of a murder that takes place during the village fete. Reluctantly, Daisy agrees to investigate, and finds herself up against a heartbreaking back-story that began forty years ago.

In 'The Wiltingham Incident', Daisy's curiosity ensures she and Aidan become embroiled in a strange incident neither of them believe could ever happen in Great Wiltingham!

'The Pointing Finger' tells the story of the finger pointed at Daisy, accusing her of being a traitor. Needless to say, she takes it upon herself to investigate her own previous life, and gets whisked off somewhere she never expected to go!

Do check out the whole Daisy series, and everything else we create, on the rtgreen website.

Enjoy!

Richard, Ann and the crew

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wise Owl
• Release date: Nov 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223349389

R T Green

The RTG mission in life is simple... to not be like everyone else! ‘Going Green’ has taken on a new meaning, in the book world at least. Whilst we applaud the original meaning (ebooks are a perfect way to promote that) we also try to present a different angle to it. The tendency these days is that if you don’t look and read like everyone else, you don’t sell books. Maybe there’s some truth in that, but we simply don’t do it. The RTG books have been described as a ‘breath of fresh literary air’, and, by those discovering us for the first time, ‘unexpectedly good’. We know many readers prefer the same-old same old, and that’s fine. It’s just not what you get from the RTG stable. Those who know about such things said it would take five years to become a proficient author... I scoffed at that. They were wise. It took six. It’s one reason why even today we remodel existing books, and will always do so. Right from the early years the stories were always good, but were put into words less well than they could have been! These days we have several series and a few standalones, the hit Daisy series most popular amongst them. In everything we do, the same provisos apply – Never the same book twice. If we can’t think up a good story, it doesn’t get written. The RTG brand is about exciting and twisty plots, a fast pace which doesn’t waste words, and endearing (sometimes slightly crazy) characters. We can never please everyone, but it works for us, and, it seems, for those who appreciate our work. Enjoy! Richard, Ann and the RTG crew

Book preview

DAISY:

Not Your Average Super-sleuth!

The Fourth Bundle

Waltzing Matilda

The Wiltingham Incident

The Pointing Finger

R  T  GREEN

RTG Logo.png

Other books...

The Daisy Morrow Series:

The first one – The Root of All Evil

The second one – The Strange Case of the Exploding Dolly-trolley

The third one – A Very Unexpected African Adventure

The fourth one - Pirates of Great Yarmouth: Curse of the Crimson Heart

The fifth One – The terrifying Tale of the Homesick Scarecrow

The sixth one – The Wiltingham Enigma

The seventh one: Christmas in the Manor Born

The eighth one: The Shanghai Shadow

The ninth one – Some Like it Tepid

The eleventh one – The Wiltingham Incident

The twelfth one – The Pointing Finger

The thirteenth one – Here Comes Santa Claus!

The fourteenth one – The Witch of Scraggy Bottom

The fifteenth one – The Coronation Complication

The sixteenth one – The Siege of Castle Montazzini

The Throwback Prequel: When Daisy Met Aidan

The Box Set – books 1-3

The Second Box Set – books 4-6 plus the Prequel

The Third box set – books 7-9

The Sandie Shaw series:

Book 1 – Murder at the Green Mill

Book 2 – Christmas in Chicago is Murder

Book 3 – An American in Windsor

Book 4 – Springtime in Chicago

Book 5 – Murder on the Miami Express

Book 6 – The Family

Book 7 – Murder Most Olympic

Book 8 – Two Sisters, One Ghost

Book 9 – The Sergeant, the Flapper and a Crossword

Book 10 – Death in Three Acts

The Mega Box Set – books 1 - 6

The Starstruck Series -

Starstruck: Somewhere to call Home

Starstruck: The Prequel

(Time to say Goodbye)

Starstruck: The Disappearance of Becca

Starstruck: The Rock

Starstruck: Ghosts, Ghouls and Evil Spirits

Starstruck: The Combo – books 1-3

The Raven Series –

Raven: No Angel!

Raven: Unstoppable

Raven: Black Rose

Raven: The Combo – books 1-3

Red Mist –

Season 1

Episode 1: Falling

Episode 2: Phoenix

Episode 3: Jealousy

Episode 4: Fearless

Season 2

Episode 5: Phantom

Episode 6: Desperation

Episode 7: Unbreakable

Episode 8: Evermore

When Billionaires Collide

Somewhere Only She Knows

Timeless

Ballistic

Cry of an Angel

The Hand of Time

Elsie: Mean Streets

Wisp

Copyright © 2023 R T Green

All rights reserved.

CONTENTS

Introduction

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

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

The Wiltingham Incident

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

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

The Pointing Finger

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

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Catch the 2022 Christmas Special, ‘Here Comes Santa Claus!’

Here’s a sneaky preview...

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Why not give our other popular series a go?

Would you like a free mega-bundle?

The RTG Brand

Introduction

THE DAISY MORROW SERIES documents the slightly-crazy adventures of our R.E.D. (Retired Extremely Daisy) heroine... she’s fun, feisty, kind of wicked, and rather like the other RTG books, she will take you to places you never really expected to go!

This is the fourth bundle of the hit series, books 10 – 12.

In ‘Waltzing Matilda’, Daisy’s least-favourite village resident is accused of a murder that takes place at the village fete. Reluctantly, Daisy agrees to investigate, and finds herself up against a heartbreaking back-story that began forty years ago.

In ‘The Wiltingham Incident’, Daisy’s curiosity ensures she and Aidan become embroiled in an incident neither of them believe could ever happen in Great Wiltingham!

‘The Pointing Finger’ tells the story of the finger pointed at Daisy, accusing her of being a traitor. Needless to say, she takes it upon herself to investigate her own previous life, and gets whisked off somewhere she never expected to go!

Enjoy!

Richard, Ann and the crew

Chapter 1

‘I THOUGHT YOU OF ALL people would have come.’

‘Me? Why?’ said Daisy, sitting at the breakfast bar quietly sipping her coffee.

‘Well, you have got the ideal name for it.’

Daisy threw a hand into the air, more in defence than anything else. ‘Oh, what’s in a name, after all?’

‘Plenty, when it’s Daisy, and the End of Spring Fayre is about to take place.’

Aidan, standing by the kitchen sink enjoying his morning coffee, added a little unwanted weight to Maisie’s argument. ‘If anyone had the right given name it’s you, Flower.’

Daisy glared at him, making sure he knew he’d said the wrong thing. ‘So you’re going to dress me like a daisy, for the whole village to laugh at?’

Maisie tapped her on the shoulder. ‘A lot of the women will be dressed as flowers, dear, so you’ll hardly be alone. It’s tradition... the ladies as flowers and the men as vegetables. And there will be a band, and a tea dance later in the afternoon.’

‘It started two hundred years ago, Maisie... and it’s not changed since. Don’t you think Great Wiltingham should drag itself kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century?’

‘We’re proud of our traditions,’ Maisie said pensively.

Daisy shook her head, but it was aimed squarely at Aidan. ‘So you’re going as a turnip then, Dick?’

‘Dick?’

‘Dick Turnip.’

‘Very funny.’

‘Well I think you’re a great big bore, Daisy,’ said Maisie firmly. ‘We had to cancel it last year due to the pandemic, so you two haven’t had the chance to experience it yet. Everyone is going, and it’s on the village green just the other side of the pond, so your cottage is right next to it.’

‘Is that supposed to persuade me?’ said Daisy.

‘I’m one of the organisers,’ said Maisie proudly.

‘Is that supposed to persuade me?’ said Daisy again. ‘So what flower are you going as anyway?’

‘Why, a rose, of course. And you are my friend after all. I supported you with Jack’s play a few weeks ago. I just thought...’

Aidan grinned cheekily. ‘I could make you a kind of garland of daisy petals, dear, so you could slip it around your face. Then if we face-painted you yellow...’

‘And if you went as a Grandaisy Ivory, we could paint your nose black too...’ added Maisie.

‘Oh come on...’ said Daisy, starting to realise people were ganging up on her. ‘Next thing you’ll be dressing Brutus in daisy-patterned booties.’

‘How on Earth did you know that? It was meant to be a surprise.’

‘I give up.’

‘So you’ll come then?

‘It appears my darling husband has it all worked out. I smell collusion.’

‘As if,’ said Aidan, not very convincingly.

‘You’ll be in good company. Lord and Lady Falconbridge-Stuart are attending.’

‘What those toffee-nosed aristocratic wastes of space?’

‘I thought you’d have something in common, dear,’ said Maisie.

‘Are you saying I’m a waste of space now?’

‘That’s not what I meant, as you well know. Stop trying to confuse me.’

‘I’ll do my best. It won’t be easy.’

‘The Lord has agreed to go into the stocks for the wet-cabbage throwing contest.’

‘Well, that’ll be a sell-out for sure.’

’They’re not really cabbages, they’re made of sponge... but they do look quite convincing.’

Aidan chuckled. ‘So you won’t be slinging a few then, dear?’

‘Well...’

‘Even Matilda is going,’ said Maisie, as if that would help.

‘Still not selling it, Maisie. Although the wet cabbage thing is tempting...’

‘She’s going as a flower.’

‘Poison Ivy?’

Maisie chuckled. ‘No, dear. An Antirrhinum.’

‘A what?’

Aidan took great delight in putting it another way. ‘To you, dear, a snapdragon.’

Maisie clipped Brutus’s lead back onto his pink collar, and the two of them trotted off into the May sunshine. Daisy glared pointedly at her husband. ‘It seems you two have railroaded me into something I could well regret. I know what Celia felt like now, when she was cajoled into playing Sugar Cane.’

‘That turned out alright on the night... if you ignore the dangerous hostage situation we found ourselves in, of course.’

‘She did make a very good American sex symbol, dear. And a very convincing ghost. Not that ghosts could ever exist, of course.’

‘Of course not, Flower.’

‘Stop calling me Flower. And being such a condescending turnip.’

‘Of course, dear. Although I’m not sure turnips can actually be condescending.’

Daisy gave him another glare. ‘I suppose wet cabbages do sound appealing... and so is seeing Matilda kitted out as a very appropriate flower.’

‘So we’re going then?’

‘I guess so. It could be a laugh a minute if it doesn’t end badly... but I’m drawing the line at a black nose.’

Chapter 2

‘I MUST SAY YOU LOOK impressive, Dick.’

‘You’re doing it again.’

‘What?’

‘Making Dick Turnip comments.’

‘Are you surprised? You do... actually look like a Turpin... sorry, turnip.’

‘Isn’t that the idea, even though I’m not brandishing a pistol and shouting Stand and deliver!?’

Daisy chuckled. ‘I suppose so... but that is an awesome turnip on your head.’

‘Thank you, dear.’

‘Don’t mention it, Mr. Turnip-head.’

‘At least I’m not Mr. Napkin-head.’

‘This is Great Wiltingham dear, not Hollywood.’

‘And you’re not Cameron Diaz either, Flower. In the nicest possible way, of course.’

‘Well saved, Dip. I’ll give you that one, seeing as you look so amazing.’

Aidan did look amazing. On his head was a huge papier-mâché white turnip, with holes cut into it for eyes and mouth. It looked like a magnificent pumpkin, a little out of season, but just the wrong colour. The top and bottom were streaked with blue, just like the real thing. He wore a dark-blue suit, and a white shirt sporting dark blue buttons... and navy and white spats on his feet.

Daisy shook her head. ‘I must confess though, I’ve never seen a gangster-turnip before. Leaving aside Dick...’

‘Just don’t say it again. I thought I’d make an effort, and see if I could win first prize.’

‘What, a stalk of brussel sprouts?’

‘It’s not the prize, it’s the taking part. At least the winning flower gets a bouquet... which, incidentally, you have a chance of winning.’

‘Hmph... I feel like a triffid.’

‘How do you think I feel, especially if anyone else latches onto your letter-switching joke? You actually look impressive too... kind of... sweet.’

Daisy did look... sweet. Celia had made a full-head garland of big daisy petals, which surrounded a yellow face-painted, slightly grimacing face. A colourful dress of big daisies on a green background, and yellow shoes with a slight heel, completed the look. She looked like late-Spring itself, even if the word sweet didn’t go down too well.

‘Sweet? Now I’m thinking I’ll go and fetch Bertie’s hunting rifle, just in case anyone tries to pluck me.’

‘Never mind, Flower. You’ve got Dick Turnip to protect you.’

‘Hmph... now you’re doing it.’

‘I still think you should have let us paint your nose black though.’

‘Where’s that rifle?’

‘It looks like a Disney farmer’s market with animated produce, Dick.’

‘Will you stop calling me that, Flower?’

‘Trust me, it’s not easy. I’ll stop calling you Dick if you stop calling me Flower, dear.’

‘But you look like a beautiful, sweet flo ... ok, I’ll stop.’

‘You can keep with the compliments... just not the pet name.’

Daisy and Aidan left their arrival until an hour after kick-off, on Daisy’s insistence. She’d said they should make the most of her acute embarrassment, and make a grand entrance once everything was in full swing. Aidan had smiled knowingly when she’d remarked that they might as well show them all how it’s done.

The large village green on the other side of the pond was a hive of activity. Tents, stalls, food and refreshment kiosks, and even a small funfair had been set up, and a dance floor with a tented roof had been erected in the centre. A small orchestra was just tuning up as they arrived.

Great Wiltingham had seriously gone to town on the End-of-Spring Festival, which hadn’t been allowed to take place for the last two years, and now deserved an extra dose of effort.

‘Quite a set-up,’ said Daisy grudgingly. ‘Even if it does look like a Dreamworks production.’

‘You love it really, you know you do,’ Aidan laughed.

Maisie spotted them straightaway. She came trotting over, complete with Brutus, who actually was wearing daisy-patterned booties. She gave them a big beaming smile through the crown of thorns on her head.

‘Oh, you came. I thought you might have chickened out at the last moment.’

‘I’m amazed Brutus is actually wearing daisy booties, Maisie. I really thought you were winding us up.’

‘Would I do that?’

‘No... thinking about it, you wouldn’t have it in you to wind anyone up.’

‘I’m not sure how to take that, dear.’

‘Just take it that you’re always so honest, Maisie. Brutally, sometimes.’

Maisie narrowed her eyes, but then shook her head. ‘So, what do you think?’

Daisy nodded. ‘I must confess, you’ve done a good job. Loving the crown of thorns too.’

‘Well, I am a rose. There is a bloom somewhere on my head.’

Daisy peered closer. ‘So there is. And others, fastened all over your stalk dress. At least I’m not the only one face-painted. Mine’s just yellow though, not red rose petals like yours.’

‘Cool, don’t you think? You and me might be competing for the bouquet!’

Daisy cast her eyes around. ‘Hmm... someone else might be in that mix. Is that really Matilda over there?’

‘I know. I wasn’t really expecting her to go to town like that. Then again, she is on the parish council.’

‘Tell me about it. She’s still ranting about the fact we’ve not cut our overhang back yet.’

‘She means well. And it gives her something to do... when you’re not running her over with your roller-skates anyway!’

‘Ok, maybe roller skates weren’t the best idea ever. An electric scooter turned out to be a much better mode of transport.’

‘Who for, dear?’ Aidan cut in.

Daisy just grinned, keeping her eyes on Matilda, who was chatting away to the head of the parish council. ‘I must confess, she makes a good snapdragon. And a very appropriate costume too, if I may say.’

Maisie giggled. ‘Just don’t say that to her face.’

‘Why not? I do like winding people up.’

‘And you are very good at it,’ said Aidan.

‘Shall we go explore, dear?’ said Daisy.

Chapter 3

DAISY COULDN’T HELP it, she just had to grudgingly compliment Matilda. Although as they approached, it was the snapdragon who got in the first blow. ‘Well, Daisy Morrow... I might have guessed. I suppose with a name like yours it had to be.’

‘And with a reputation like yours, Matilda Ogden, your costume just had to be too.’

She shook her head. ‘Even today, you still have to be you. I’m really disappointed, Daisy Morrow. And when are you going to cut your branches back, anyway?’

‘Even on this day...’ Daisy started to say, but then felt Aidan’s hand on her arm. ‘Never mind. I do really like your costume, Matilda. In that full headdress, you really do look like a purple... anti... thingy.’

‘Antirrhinum,’ said Aidan.

‘Yes, that. Full marks, Matilda.’

She actually smiled. ‘Thank you, Daisy Morrow. You look quite splendid too. And as for you, Aidan... spiffing look. Let’s just hope no one makes a Dick Turnip joke...’

She wandered off. Aidan growled through the papier-mâché. ‘Maybe you and Matilda are more alike than we think, dear.’

‘In your dreams.’

‘Mum... Dad!’

‘Hello you two. You’re looking very cool and appropriate.’ Daisy greeted Celia and Jack, who looked very tasty in their costumes. Jack was an open pea pod, his grinning head forming the top pea, and his legs just about visible below his full-body costume. Celia was dressed as a lily, a full white headdress wrapping her pretty face, reminding Daisy of the kind of whacky but elegant hat someone would wear at Ascot on ladies day.

She laughed. ‘Well, you gotta go with the flow. You’re looking fantastic, mum. I had a feeling you might have wimped out at the last minute. I still think you should have had your nose painted black though.’

‘Don’t you start.’

‘And you, dad... top costume. Anyone come out with the obvious joke yet?’

‘Don’t you start,’ he said, mimicking his wife.

‘The tea dance is about to get going,’ said Jack. ‘Are you two going to give us a twirl?’

‘An Argentine Tango maybe,’ said Daisy. ‘Although I can’t see this band knowing the right music.’

‘I know the band leader. I’ll go make a special request.’

‘Don’t bother.’

Aidan laughed. ‘I’m quite looking forward to a pea pod and a lily owning the dance floor, I must say.’

‘Watch and weep, dad.’

‘Daisy! You’re here.’

Daisy turned at the greeting. ‘Oh, Sarah. You came. And only one crutch!’

‘Yes. Almost fully-fit now. I don’t even really need one crutch, but my caring boss insisted.’

Daisy glanced to the chief-inspector standing by her side, and smiled warmly. ‘Frank... are you here in an official capacity, or just being a vegetable?’

He glanced down to his parsnip costume. ‘Very clever. Both, I guess. There’s a couple of uniforms around, but we just had to come and make sure you weren’t up to anything untoward, um... Daisy.’

‘What, even on this day?’

‘Like when has an occasion ever stopped you?’

‘Oh come, Inspector. What could possibly go wrong at a village fete? We’re all here to enjoy ourselves... even Matilda is smiling.’

‘Hmm... so I see. Nice get-ups, by the way.’

Daisy looked him over. ‘You’ve just reminded me... I need a few things for tomorrow’s roast.’

‘Sarah insisted we looked the part. So I insisted in return she used one crutch. We made a deal. So as long as I don’t get roasted we’ll be ok.’

‘I think you got roasted back in Cromer, Frank. I’ll make sure there’s no heat here.’

He grinned ruefully. ‘Yes. I’ve had enough of dark ovens for one lifetime.’

Daisy smiled to Sarah, who looked beautiful, dressed as a blue orchid. ‘I suppose you had to come as that, dear. I’m surprised you didn’t get Frank to be your stake though.’

‘Believe me, I tried. He said a stake wasn’t a vegetable.’

‘I’ll leave out the obvious comment, dear.’

Aidan licked his lips. ‘I’m parched. Shall we go get something to drink?’

Jack narrowed his eyes cheekily. ‘Just over there, there’s a turnip wine stall.’

‘A cup of tea will do, thank you all the same.’

The band started playing. They were actually quite good. The band leader announced to the crowd the tea dance was beginning, and then a few flowers and vegetables started swaying on the temporary dance floor in time to the music. Two minutes later the unexpected happened. Someone they really didn’t expect got up to dance.

A snapdragon called Matilda.

The band had started playing a waltz, and before their very eyes, she and the head of the parish council were dancing, pirouetting away together. Watching from the safety of the grass next to the dance floor, Daisy raised her eyebrows. ‘Well, there’s a sight you don’t see every day.’

‘Our daughter did say to watch and weep, dear,’ said a disbelieving Aidan.

Jack had a cheeky grin on his face. ‘Matilda, dancing a waltz? I really can’t pass up this opportunity!’

‘Jack?’

He was already heading towards the band. ‘I told you I knew the band leader.’

‘What’s he doing?’ said Celia, a little nervously.

‘Watch and weep, dear,’ said Aidan.

Jack whispered in the band leader’s ear, and then picked up the mike. As the band seamlessly blended into a different tune, he began to sing.

‘Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong, under the shade of a Coolibah tree. And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled, you’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me...’

Daisy’s face lit up like the daisy she was. ‘I didn’t know Jack could sing. Go Jack... top man.’

Celia shook her head. ‘He’s an actor, remember? He’s done a few musicals.’

Aidan shook his head, for a different reason. ‘At least he isn’t singing The Pogues.’

‘Come on, Dick. This is a village fate, not a wake. The Band Played Waltzing Matilda isn’t really appropriate... I don’t think...’

‘Perhaps not. Look at her...’

Matilda initially looked a little surprised by the change of music, but then a once-in-a-lifetime beaming smile lit up her snapdragon face, and she proceeded to steal the dance floor. Far lighter on her feet than anyone ever thought, she waltzed away with a confidence that belied her normal persona, twirling and spinning with a grace that shocked everyone.

Jack had a big smile on his face, still singing away, ‘Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, you'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me. And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag, you’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me...’

‘Well, that’s just made my day, Dip. It’s like watching a notable moment from Strictly Come Dancing.’

‘Who would have thought?’ said an awestruck Aidan.

The dance finished. Matilda and her dance partner left the floor to a multitude of cheers, many of those at the fete stopping what they were doing to watch the totally unexpected performance. Daisy and Aidan joined everyone else in clapping her off the stage... and shaking their heads at what they’d just witnessed, and the beaming smile on the face of someone they’d never seen smile before.

‘I’m glad I came now,’ said Daisy quietly.

Celia giggled cheekily. ‘Never fear, mum. It’s yours and dad’s turn in a few minutes.’

Chapter 4

CELIA DISAPPEARED, but then Daisy and Aidan spotted her talking to Jack, still on the dance floor. He nodded and grinned again, and then whispered in the band leader’s ear once more.

He nodded too. The band played out their American Smooth, and once it had finished and the dancers moved to the side, Celia walked over to the edge of the dance floor, and waggled a finger at her parents.

‘Come on, you two. You’re up.’

‘Huh?’

‘I think she means us, dear,’ said Daisy.

‘But I’m a turnip.’

‘Stop making excuses. You want to be outdone by Matilda?’

‘Lead the way.’

As soon as they walked onto the floor, Celia made sure she was in the way of them walking off again, if they decided they had to. Jack let out his cheeky grin again, and signalled to the band to begin. They began playing.

‘El Tango De Roxanne? From Moulin Rouge?’ said a petrified Aidan.

‘Well dear, I was joking about the tango, but in for a penny...’

‘Don’t we get a choice?’

‘Having watched Matilda, do you want one?’

‘Friendly rivalry is one thing, but...’

‘Just take me, like you mean it.’

‘If you say so, Flower.’

They linked hands, and began to move in time to the music.

‘Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp. Turn!’

‘Isn’t it me supposed to be leading, Flower?’

‘Then lead. Pretend you’re a bull-fighter or something... stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp. Turn!’

‘You’re still leading, dear.’

‘Dip!’

‘Yes dear?’

‘I meant dip me, you plonker. Come on, Dick. Get in the spirit!’

He dipped her, and then got in the spirit, trying to keep it as decent as possible. Which wasn’t easy, Daisy doing her best to wrap bits of her around him, despite his huge turnip head. Jack began to sing again...

‘Roxanne, you don't have to put on that red light. Roxanne, you don't have to wear that dress tonight. Roxanne...’

Celia realised her parents were getting in the zone and weren’t going to bolt, so grabbed Jack, and the two of then joined in the dance. One or two other couples couldn’t resist the challenge either, and started tangoing with them, much to the disapproving shakes of heads from a few of the older watchers.

‘I think my papier-mâché is starting to wilt a little, dear,’ said Aidan as they danced away.

‘It is a little hot today,’ said Daisy, pointedly. ‘Don’t worry, it’s almost over, then you can go fix your face.’

‘Is that supposed to be funny?’

‘Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp. Turn!’

‘You don’t have to keep directing, dear.’

‘Big finish?’

‘Oh dear...’

Daisy threw herself around Aidan. Bits of daisy flower seemed to be everywhere, squeezing the breath out of him, in the most delightful of ways. He twirled her a few times, and then pushed her away dramatically as her legs descended back onto the dance floor. Then she pressed herself into him once more, and he dipped her in his arms again as the music stopped.

Most of the crowd cheered as they left the floor, except for a few who tut-tutted as they passed them by.

‘Fabulous,’ said a breathless Celia.

‘You two are not so bad yourself,’ said Aidan. ‘So how long had you been planning that?’

‘Oh, a spur of the moment thing,’ Celia lied.

Then they caught sight of Matilda. The beaming smile had gone. She looked like the Matilda they knew and loved. As they walked up to her, the scowl that met them could have turned the clear blue sky to a mass of rolling thunder clouds.

‘I suppose that little performance was meant to upstage me, Daisy Morrow? Disgusting.’

‘Oh, come on, Matilda Ogden... your waltz was a sight for sore eyes.’

‘That could be taken two ways.’

She looked seriously unhappy. Daisy was about to hurl out another retort, but something made her resist. ‘Matilda, is everything alright?’

‘Apart from indecent Argentine Tangos that have no place in tea dances, I am.’

‘You sure?’

‘Of course I’m sure. I... I have to go, check that the litter-pickers are doing their job right.’

She was gone. Daisy turned to Aidan. ‘Is it just me, dear, or are you getting the feeling it wasn’t just our dance floor antics that made Matilda revert to type?’

He watched her scuttle quickly away. ‘I suppose it was too much to ask that she kept that smile on her face for more than a few minutes.’

‘So it’s not just me then.’

‘No dear, it’s not just you. Now I really do feel like some turnip wine.’

Chapter 5

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER Maisie interrupted the dancing, grabbed the mike, and tapped it loudly. Most people cringed, covering their ears.

‘Um... hello everyone. Just a quick announcement... the wet cabbage throwing competition is about to begin. Give a big hand to our patron, Lord Henry Falconbridge-Stuart, who has agreed to go into the stocks and get pelted!’

Most people applauded loudly, likely revelling in the chance to make a member of the aristocracy uncomfortable. Daisy applauded just as loud as most.

‘Maybe I should hide a stone in mine, dear?’

‘Now you’re just being unkind. Give the man some credit for agreeing to have wet cabbages thrown at him.’

‘They’re made of sponge, Dip. And I might have given him some credit if he wasn’t such an obnoxious dinosaur. Did he really have to turn up in his Bentley? A horse and cart from one of his farms would have been far more appropriate.’

‘He does own half the countryside around here. I suppose he has to keep up his aristocratic appearances.’

‘Not impressed. And as for that lady wife of his...’

‘She’s actually quite attractive. In a mousey kind of way,’ Aidan added, after a look from Daisy.

‘Maybe she is. Fifty years his junior, she should be.’

‘I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration, dear.’

‘Well, he wouldn’t have had a hope in hell if he wasn’t born with a plum and a silver spoon in his mouth.’

Aidan shook his head. ‘That’s a mouthful. Shall we go find some cabbages, Flower?’

‘Sure. There’s a farm stall over there.’

‘I meant ones made of sponge.’

‘Spoilsport.’

The heavy wooden stocks had been set up directly in front of the tent the band was using to store their cases and bags. A couple of feet from the side wall, to give the Lord room to position himself, a waterproof sheet had been fixed against the tent wall so that stray cabbage-sponges didn’t soak everything.

Daisy watched as Henry stuck his head and hands into the stocks, was fastened in, and several buckets of water and boxes of sponges were positioned fifteen feet away. A queue of people were forming, his lady wife at the front. Daisy had something to say, of course.

‘Look at her. She’s not even bothered to pretend to be a flower. Then again, finding a poison ivy costume could have been difficult.’

‘Her name is Felicity, dear, not Ivy.’

Daisy looked at him open-mouthed. ‘Felicity Falconbridge-Stuart? Seriously?’

‘She’s the Lord’s third wife. She wasn’t born with that name.’

‘Poor her. She doesn’t look happy either.’

‘Probably attending under duress. Henry has always insisted they show up at local functions.’

‘At least he condescended to dress for the occasion. Although what all that trailing stuff wrapped around him is I can’t imagine.’

‘He’s a Sweet Pea, dear. In his words, both a vegetable and a flower!’

‘That’s stretching a point. Where’s that cabbage?’

Daisy wasn’t first in line. Felicity was already dipping her cabbage-shaped sponge into one of the buckets, sucking in as much water as she could. Then she launched it, like a cannonball from a frigate. It was a direct hit.

‘Wow... that’s some left arm she’s got there,’ said Daisy.

‘Thrown with conviction... or something,’ said Aidan.

Celia, standing next to them, agreed. ‘She really wanted to do that.’

‘Go her,’ said Daisy.

Felicity slapped her hands together in a satisfied kind of way, threw the good Lord a narrow-eyed glare, and walked away to allow someone else a go.

‘What the hell was all that about?’ said Daisy.

‘Trouble at mill?’ said Jack.

‘Trouble at the manor house, maybe.’

The good Lord blinked away the water, as a multitude of cabbage-sponges came at him. Daisy and Aidan joined the excited queue, while Celia and Jack decided Henry was going to get enough of a barrage without them, and went off to see what else was on offer.

A few of the sponges scored a bulls-eye splatter, and a few ended up splattering into the waterproof sheet just behind him. Then it was Daisy’s turn. She decided against hiding a stone in her sponge, but did make sure it was holding as much water as it possibly could. Then she threw it as hard as she could.

It hit the good Lord on his cheek, just left of centre. His eyes were closed, understandably. He’d already let out a few groans and exclamations as the more accurate sponges had scored a direct hit. This time he didn’t say a thing. He didn’t move either. Daisy wasn’t impressed.

‘Aw, come on Henry. I hit you on the cheek. Groan or something... play the game!’

Still he said nothing. Still he didn’t move, or open his eyes. Aidan glanced to Daisy. ‘You didn’t hide a stone in it after all, did you?’

‘Of course I didn’t. I’m not quite that heartless.’

‘So why isn’t he moving then?’

Someone from behind told them to get a move on, anxious to have his turn to pass a message onto the good Lord. Daisy whipped her head around and glowered at him. ‘Oh, be quiet. Can’t you see something’s wrong?’

Aidan was already heading over to the stocks. He lifted Henry’s head, as much as he could within the confines of the blocks of wood keeping him upright. ‘He’s unconscious,’ he said nervously.

‘Oh no. Someone call an ambulance,’ said Daisy. ‘Where’s Sarah and Burrows?’

‘Over at the funfair, I think.’

‘Dip, please go and fetch them.’

He left to go grab them, and Daisy put her hand in Henry’s. It felt cold, but then again it had been hit by a multitude of wet sponges. Then she noticed something. The waterproof sheet behind him was right up against his body, like it was stuck against his back.

Her heart thumping out of her chest, she made her way to the tent immediately behind the stocks. No one was there, it was just a storage tent for the band’s instrument cases and a few other fete-type supplies.

Then, as she looked around, she let out a gasp of horror. Something was there that really shouldn’t have been. Halfway up the wall immediately behind the stocks, it seemed to be attached to the wall. Instinctively she reached out for the handle, but then stopped herself.

She stumbled back to the entrance. ‘Dip! You need to see this...’ she cried out.

Aidan, Sarah and Burrows ran into the tent seconds later. All three of them froze in shock at Daisy’s pointing finger.

‘Oh my god. What..?’ whispered Aidan.

Daisy fell into his arms. Her misty eyes looked up to him sadly. ‘You don’t really need me to tell you, dear, but I will anyway. Henry’s been stabbed!’

Chapter 6

‘IT’S A VILLAGE FETE,’ gasped Sarah, throwing her one spare hand to her face.

‘And someone’s dead,’ said Daisy, forcing herself to recover her composure.

Burrows was already on his phone, calling for the backup he never thought he’d need. Then Celia and Jack were there, disbelieving eyes focusing straightaway on the knife. ‘What the hell...’ said Jack.

‘Someone decided wet cabbages weren’t punishment enough,’ said Aidan.

‘But... it’s the village fete,’ said Celia quietly, running to her parent’s side.

Daisy sprang to life. ‘We need to get everyone away from the scene, Frank. Nobody leaves.’

‘Nobody leaves?’ said Burrows. ‘It’ll take my people at least twenty minutes to get here, and it’s in the open air. What do you suggest, we magic up an electronic fence?’

‘Ok, maybe that’s fantasy. But we can cordon off the scene. Come on, people... suspend disbelief for a moment.’

She ran back to the stocks, followed by the others. The queue of wet-sponge throwers were gathering round, but luckily no one could see Henry had been stabbed. It just looked like he was unconscious, his body held up by the stocks, and the knife sticking through from the other side of the storage tent.

‘Frank, I suggest we keep this quiet until your people get here. No one can see he’s been murdered. We should tell everyone he’s had a heart attack or something,’ Daisy said.

‘Good idea. If we initiate mass panic, the murderer is guaranteed to get away in the escaping crowd. I’ll close the tent door, and station one of my men there who’s already here in attendance, to stop people getting in.’

Daisy nodded, and began easing people away from the body. Aidan, Celia and Jack joined in. Sarah cast her eyes around the green, and groaned to herself. More than half the people there were in costume, and looking anything but themselves. Whoever did it could be wandering around quite happily, knowing they couldn’t be easily recognised.

It wasn’t your average murder scene.

Maisie wiped away a tear. ‘I can’t believe this... all the work we put in, and now...’

‘Maisie, I appreciate that, but we might also need to spare a thought for the dear Lord, who isn’t with us anymore.’

‘Yes, of course, dear. But this?’

‘I know, it’s a shock. Someone getting murdered at a village fete isn’t an everyday occurrence, obnoxious dinosaur or not.’

She nodded to the figure sitting sobbing on a straw bale a few feet away. ‘Yes, and Felicity too. She’s distraught. How could this happen?’

Daisy shook her head. ‘It seems to me the murderer knew it was an ideal location, Maisie. A village fete where everyone has their guard down, and having fun. Many of them in costume, so they can’t easily be recognised. Someone knew what they were doing.’

‘Oh dear, dear...’

Before the squad of police had arrived, most of those attending had disappeared, realising something had happened they didn’t want to be a part of. Just a few people still remained, some of them inside the cordoned-off crime scene, being interviewed by Sarah and a few other officers. Burrows was flapping around like he really didn’t know what to do.

In truth, nobody really knew what to do. A happy, social event had turned just about as sour as it could turn, and an hour after it had happened, people were still trying to come to terms with the fact it could happen at all.

Whoever had stuck the knife in had almost certainly gone, losing themselves in the departing crowd. A few minutes later so had the ambulance, taking away Henry’s body after the examiner had declared that as far as she could tell, the victim had died from a stab wound to the back.

There would be a post mortem of course, but death by wet cabbages was hardly going to be an alternative new revelation.

Burrows and his team had little they could do, and even less to go on. Even Daisy, who had stood with a dripping sponge in hand at the head of the queue, couldn’t tell anything was wrong until a few minutes after the knife had found its target.

Most people at the fete weren’t even close by, so even those who were willing to be interviewed couldn’t tell the police anything. Most people just scarpered before they could be questioned.

Finding the culprit wasn’t going to be easy.

Daisy frowned. Someone was conspicuous by her absence. She turned to Maisie, who was still wiping away tears as she sat on a folding chair. ‘I don’t see Matilda, dear. I would have thought she’d be here, making sure the police didn’t drop litter.’

‘She was here a few minutes ago, Daisy, with a face like thunder. I can’t see her now though.’

Aidan walked over, Celia and Jack in tow. ‘It doesn’t look like anyone actually saw anything, dear. Let’s face it, the whole fete was an access-all-areas event. Just about anyone could have slipped into that tent, done the deed, and slipped out again in a single minute.’

Daisy nodded in Burrows’ direction. ‘That’s probably why Frank is looking a bit befuddled. He doesn’t know what to do. I don’t envy him.’

‘Footprints in the tent?’ offered Jack.

Daisy shook her head. ‘It’s been dry for weeks. The whole band was in there earlier, getting their instruments set up. There’s no truck there.’

‘Truck?’ Celia found a grin.

‘Norfolk expression. It means there’s no bloody chance.’

Sarah stooped down next to Felicity, as best she could with one leg still not fully operational. ‘If you’re feeling up to it, Lady Falconbridge-Stuart, someone will drive you back to the manor. There’s little more you can do here.’

Felicity looked up and nodded, her red and puffy eyes giving away the fact she was relieved to get away from the scene of her husband’s murder. She allowed herself to be helped to her feet, and then she disappeared with a uniform, heading to his police car.

There was hardly anyone left, apart from a posse of police, Maisie, the head of the parish council, and the four members of the Henderson Detective Agency. Burrows came over to them, and tried to smile. ‘Daisy, you should go too. Thanks for all your help, guys, but there’s little you can do now except leave it to us.’

‘And what exactly are we leaving to you, Inspector?’

He lifted his hands from his sides in frustration. ‘Good question. The knife has gone for fingerprint testing, but I doubt there’s any prints on it.’

‘Of course there isn’t. In this particular instance, I’m glad I don’t have your job.’

‘In this particular instance I don’t want it either, Daisy.’

‘I can see why. The murderer knew what he was doing. Not a lot to go on.’

Burrows grimaced. ‘A dead body and a knife that almost certainly has no fingerprints on it? You’re telling me.’

‘We can only hope forensics turn something up.’

‘You think that’s likely?’

‘No.’

‘Thanks, Daisy.’

‘Just telling it like it is, Frank.’

He sighed heavily. ‘Yeah, I know. It doesn’t make it any easier though.’

Daisy and Aidan turned sadly away, intending to head for home. Then, Celia’s call made them look round. ‘Mum, Dad..?’

Someone had just appeared around the corner of the tent in question. She looked awful. The elegant headdress had gone, and the bun of her hair looked dishevelled and scruffy, something it never did.

‘Matilda?’

She lifted her head from the floor. ‘Hello, Daisy,’ she said quietly.

About to remark that she’d only used one of her names for the first time ever, something stopped Daisy from saying the words. Instead she said something else. ‘Matilda, what’s wrong?’

‘Everything. I need to say something to the inspector.’

Burrows narrowed his eyes. ‘Matilda, do you know