Dead in the Shop: Grasmere Cottage Mystery, #3

CHAPTER 1

Go faster.

Go faster.

Go. Sodding. Faster

Valor tapped his foot impatiently, trying to ignore the periodic glares from the helicopter pilot. Can this go any faster?

Silence.

That’s a no, then?

The second Valor stepped off the helicopter, he reached for his mobile. He tried Bishan first, hoping against all the odds his beloved Bish would be conscious and able to pick up. No answer. Right.

He tried Detective Inspector Spurling next with no luck. He called Hugh, but his old schoolmate didn’t answer either. No news might be good news. I hope.

A friendly police officer met him once he’d gotten away from the helicopter and refused to give him any information while driving him through Windermere. Valor sat, frozen, unable to get his hands to stop shaking. Visions of Bishan covered in dust and blood kept flashing in front of his eyes.

All day an uneasy sensation had gnawed at his stomach. He’d ignored it, assuming all his family drama had caused his inner turmoil. Hugh’s call had brought all the nightmares of the last six months rushing back to him.

As they swerved around a corner, Valor got his first view of what had happened to the beautiful little restaurant. Smoke drifted above a partially collapsed building. The fire was clearly put out, though the firefighters continued to mill about outside.

How had any of his family survived?

Valor stumbled out of the vehicle when it finally came to a stop. Bish?

Val?

He barely heard Reggie, who stopped him from ducking under the caution tape. I have to⁠—

Bishan isn’t in there. They managed to extract him safely from underneath a collapsed wall. We’ve sealed it off to investigate for arson and attempted murder, and your presence will only muddy the waters for us. Reggie grabbed him firmly by the shoulder and led him over to one of the unmarked SUVs. Let’s get you over to the hospital to see him.

A hundred questions raced through Valor’s mind, but he couldn’t summon the courage to ask any of them. He spent the drive to the hospital trying to dig holes into Reggie’s leather seat with his clenched fingers. Why can’t he tell me how Bishan is?

Attempted murder means he’s okay, right?

Bit singed, but alive?

Singed, but alive. Valor couldn’t help thinking it perfectly described their entire experience thus far. In the beginning, when they’d found the first body in their garden, he’d almost enjoyed the mystery, playing detective like his favourite, Poirot. Now the novelty had certainly worn off as death piled up around them.

Friends, mentors, and his Bishan had been harmed.

The killer had to be stopped. Valor refused to call them a monster. The murderer was a person, not some faceless and brainless fiend. A human being who’d taken it upon themselves to destroy the lives of others, and no matter what the reason, he intended to dedicate all his energy in seeing them brought to justice.

We’re here.

Valor blinked in surprise when he realised they’d not only arrived but parked directly outside the hospital entrance. Perks of being a copper? You coming in?

He wasn’t. After letting Valor out, the detective inspector swiftly pulled away. He apparently intended to return to the restaurant to help with the investigation.

Racing up the steps and into the hospital, Valor finally found Bishan’s father, Barnaby, midconversation with his oldest child, Sunesh. Both men turned towards him as he skidded to a halt beside them.

In all his years of knowing Bishan and his family, Valor had never seen Barnaby quite so shaken. And Sunesh was usually the rock of the family, but his hands shook visibly while signing forms for a nurse. Valor’s stomach dropped at the obvious concern.

Is he— Valor winced at the pain in his jaw when he snapped his mouth shut on the question, fearful of what the answer might be. He gathered his nerve and tried again. How is he?

We don’t know. Barnaby wrapped an arm around Valor’s shoulders, guiding him away from the nurses’ station. He’s in surgery. The doctor hasn’t told us anything yet. The others are being treated for smoke inhalation. My Rana has a few abrasions and burns on her back and shoulders from protecting Reva.

They wandered down the hall into a room where Rana was in a hospital bed. Reva, Bishan’s sister, along with his auntie Asha and her wife Luna, all sat comfortably with oxygen masks on. Valor breathed a small sigh of relief at seeing them doing relatively well; his mind continued to race fearfully at the possibilities for Bishan.

Val. Reva waved him over. Her voice sounded painfully hoarse. Sit. Sit.

He sat on the chair next to hers, smiling when she rested her head against his arm. Am I playing surrogate brother, Rev Rev?

Shut up. She pinched his side, coughing through an attempted snicker. He saved us.

Bish?

Couldn’t get out. Pushed us under a table, then it all went badly. Reva disregarded her father’s insistence on her resting her voice. Said to tell you he loves you.

Reva. Valor’s chest constricted painfully, and suddenly it seemed impossible to breathe even without the excuse of smoke inhalation. He’s going to be fine.

He wanted you to know he loves you, she repeated insistently. He said you’d been his best friend since Harrow and⁠—

Stop. Valor wanted to plug his ears to block out Bishan’s declarations. He hurt. Tears clogged up his throat, and he blinked rapidly to clear his eyes. "Please."

Reva ignored his hushed whisper. He loves you.

Reva, love. Barnaby stepped in before she could continue. He sat on her other side, easing her into a hug. Bishan will be fine. Save your voice.

Silence descended on the cramped room. None of them wanted to consider the odds of Bishan’s survival. They’d already had the miracle of his mum, sister, auntie, and auntie-in-law making it out of the destruction safely.

So they waited.

Over the next hour or so, Valor’s mobile exploded with messages. One text followed another from their network of friends, all asking about Bishan. Wilfred and Lottie promised to keep an eye on the Ginger’s Bread, his biscuit shop in Grasmere, and on their cat, Staccato.

He ignored all the other messages. It seemed pointless to text his friends back when he had no idea how Bishan was doing. His faith in no news being good news was rapidly fading away with the harsh reality of the sterile hospital environment.

Nurses wandered in periodically to check on the four women. None of them had answers about Bishan. And Valor wanted to scream at them.

He didn’t.

Because I’m not a spoiled, rude arse.

Val? Sunesh snapped his fingers in front of Valor’s face. Let’s find some tea.

I don’t want any bloody tea. Valor glared at Sunesh, who grabbed him by the arm to yank him out of the chair. He let himself be ushered out of the room. Apparently, I do want some.

They eventually found tea and biscuits. Neither of them had eaten since breakfast. Valor had to choke down the dry cookies, burning his throat with the hot liquid to help.

You made him brave, Sunesh commented offhandedly.

What? Valor brushed crumbs from his shirt, staring blankly at Sunesh.

Bishan was timid. I used to think Reva had gotten the rambunctious playfulness that I’d always wanted my brother to have. He went to Harrow scared of his shadow in many ways, though he’ll never admit to it. Sunesh crumbled a biscuit absently on his plate. The first year I saw a difference in him. You helped him so much even as just a friend. You never laughed at him.

Sunny. Valor didn’t quite know how to respond. He’d always believed their relationship had brought out the best in himself and Bishan. They’d made each other better people. He was already brave; he just didn’t know it.

I laughed at him.

Valor didn’t want to sit through a confessional of what Sunesh had done to his little brother. Sunny. He’s going to be fine.

Sunesh shoved his plate away, all his biscuits crumbled into nothing. He might not be.

He will be.

Sunesh met Valor’s gaze steadily. I know it’s hard, Val, but you have to prepare yourself in case he isn’t.

Don’t. He couldn’t.

I pray he’s fine. Sunesh stretched a hand across the small table to grip Valor’s hand painfully hard. But if we aren’t ready for bad news, it’ll crush us.

Valor thought he’d be crushed no matter how prepared they pretended to be for it. He has to be fine.

He has to be.

Not sure I can survive in the world without my Bish.

CHAPTER 2

Valor?

He jolted awake, almost slipping off the chair. He turned to glare half-heartedly at a snickering Reva. Something wrong? Or are you feeling well enough to pester me like usual?

Sunny and Dad are speaking with the doctor in the hall. Reva kept her voice low to protect her voice. Bishan’s apparently out of surgery.

Why apparently? Valor sat up quickly. Well?

I don’t know. Reva shrugged despondently. They stepped out of the room to chat since Mum’s sleeping.

Mum can’t sleep for all the nattering you’re doing. Rana eased up on the bed, shifting a pillow behind her. "Valor. Go bring them