32 - How to upset the applecart

Robert phoned the vicar and told him he had a problem.

Mr Parsnip said he’d be over right away, thinking it must be another lovers’ tiff, though dealing with lovers’ tiffs was not one of his favourite interventions, since he was invariably out of his depth in emotional situations.

31 - Mission impossible

Gloria was nervous, but did not panic. Panic was OK for trivialities, she knew. It was hard thinking that was needed now.

30 - Gloria

Sandra Rossi’s death and feeling guilty about not confiding in Cleo kept Gloria awake for most of Tuesday night.

On the one hand, she knew that meddling was wrong and on the other it was her public duty to find out why her neighbour had met such a tragic fate. And yet again, she did not want to broadcast her possession of that diary. What was worse, for all she knew her phone might already be being tapped.

It should be said that none of these considerations made Gloria less curious and less likely to look for some answers.

29 - Shopping therapy

In the run-up to the launching of Delilah’s venture, Cleo Hartley took a long look at the contents of her wardrobe and decided it was time to replenish them since she had simply nothing to wear at the event. 

28 - Tintinnabulation

Vicars in most country parishes are not renowned for innovation. In fact, a vicar trying to break with the past and move on into a bright future is the exception rather than the rule.

(Part 3) 27 - A winter's tale

It was Upper Grumpsfield’s coldest February in living memory. It had snowed almost nonstop all through January. There was so much snow that you could not tell where the pavements ended and the roads started. The older children could not get to school in Middlethumpton by bus and instead spent their days tobogganing down Monkton Priory hill and skating on the frozen village pond. Everyone agreed that it was the worst – or best - winter in living memory.

26 - The impro show

Dorothy Price was in no hurry to get in touch with Laura Finch, who had not even phoned her to find out what was going on in Upper Grumpsfield, though she must have read the newspapers and no doubt Mr Morgan would have told her his garbled version of events. With only three days left to go before the impro show, Dorothy finally picked up the phone and dialled Laura’s number.

She had decided to come straight to the point. Laura Finch would no doubt bombard her with all sorts of questions, but she would do her best to be brief and not enter into any moral judgments on anything.

“Are you coming on Saturday, Laura?” Dorothy started, cutting out any small talk.

25 - Whys and Wherefores

Cleo had often asked herself why the bishop had not wanted to be addressed by his name. Why was the name James on the contract and not that of John or Robert? Was it James who had studied theology? If he was one of the brothers, was he now sure that he would not be rumbled? Or – and this was the most relevant question - was James McDuff even the real bishop under some kind of pressure? Had his brothers or some other influences forced him into being like he was? Was he being blackmailed? If so, by whom and for what reason?

24 - Butcher's wife reveals all

How the details of the bishop’s corrupt actions made it to the first page of the national tabloids by next morning was to remain a mystery. Even Dorothy was not to know that Cleo had connived with the journalist to help him to the scoop of his career. Suffice it to say that the ambiguous heading that had not been thought up by Cleo had the desired effect on the citizens of Middlethumpton and District.

23 -The bishop

Cleo Hartley was optimistic when she left her cottage early on Monday morning. The bishop had not known that he would be rumbled and would not have covered his tracks. Now he was out of action, he could do little to protect his selfish interests. This was an ideal opportunity to get to the bottom of what was going on.

22 - Found

Dover proved to be a challenge. After leaving her car in the car park of the third hospital on her list, Clare made her way to the reception desk. She did not get that far. A nurse turned white with shock when she saw her.

21 -Needles in Haystacks

Cleo was anxious to find Edith, but calling the police was the first step to take. She left that to Dorothy Price, who explained that she was a close friend of the family and gave them a description of Edith whilst skirting round the inevitable question as to why the husband had not seen fit to report his wife’s disappearance yet.

“He might not have noticed,” she improvised.

20 - Lost and gone forever?

Cleo wished Clare had timed her visit to Austria more conveniently. As it was, the library was going to claim all her attention for a week or two just when she should have been concentrating on her private life.

19 - Christmas is coming

The time between the talent contest and Christmas was too short to organize a replica of the previous year’s pantomime that had packed the old school hall to bursting point and been riotously entertaining. As usual when faced with a dilemma, it wasn’t to Edith that Mr Parsnip turned for advice, but to Dorothy, who could run rings round most people he knew.  

18 - Flat to let

The only person resentful about the success of the talent contest was Mr Cobblethwaite, who was now even more determined to take over the talent show, mainly to enhance his own reputation, but ostensibly to finance the renovation of the town hall..

17 - The talent contest

After the talent contest prelims, those chosen to appear in the actual competition had been asked to congregate in the church hall in Upper Grumpsfield by 11 a.m. on the big day. They would draw lots for the order of appearance, but without a guarantee that this order would be followed since two similar acts would not perform in succession. Anyone who was not there in time would have his starting position decided for him and should not complain about it.