Rose Turner disappears amid guilty connotations

Nick and La Contessa are home after their detox at the Shah Kra spa “Mmm, that’s good,” said Nick, sipping his first martini in three weeks. “What do you say Baxter?”

The happy beagle briefly glanced up from the enormous bone he was chewing and wagged his tail.

“It’s lovely to be home,” sighed La Contessa happily. “How clever you were to work out masseuse Nils Erikkson murdered Virginia Valentine. Still …”

“Still?” echoed Nick, eyebrows shooting up in alarm. “Murder solved, time for Nick Moore to put his feet up and watch a re-run of Game of Thrones.”

“Don’t be silly,” said La Contessa. “There is still the killer of dead jockey Danny Jones to track down not to mention poor old Ron Saunders.”

“Ah yes, I hoped you had forgotten about that,” said Nick, putting down the remote control. “I suppose we need to talk to Danny’s string of lovers. Not to mention our old friend Rose Turner.”

“Speaking of which,” said La Contessa, getting up and heading to the bedroom. “It’s been awfully quiet since we got back.”

Moments later, white-faced, she returned holding a broken electronic ankle bracelet. “She’s gone,” La Contessa said. “Rose Turner has vanished.”

“That may point towards her guilty involvement,” said Nick.

“It is also very bad news.”

“I don’t see how,” said La Contessa. “We will just call the police and report her missing.”

“But don’t you remember when you got your lawyer cousin Atticus Morrelli to arrange her $1 million bail,” said Nick. “The people who forfeit the money if she runs are us.”

“Oh dear,” said La Contessa. “You had better hurry up and find her.” Don’t miss Tuesday’s episode by Matthew Benns. Order the new Nick and La Contessa novel The Dying Diplomats Club online or at your local bookstore.