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Language:
English
Collections:
Crossworks 2023
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Published:
2023-08-25
Words:
666
Chapters:
1/1
Comments:
9
Kudos:
14
Bookmarks:
4
Hits:
154

Just an old lady from St. Mary Mead

Summary:

What happens after solving a murder mystery?

Notes:

Work Text:

An elderly lady looked around a tea shop in a secluded street in Miami. Even though it was hot she was wearing a pastel pink jumper.

“And here it is, Miss Marple,” Horatio said and carefully put down a tray with a teapot and two cups and saucers.

“It is so very kind of you but you are losing so much time with an old woman…”

“I’m not losing time with you. I just apologize that it’s taken us a while to find a decent tea shop. Cafés are everywhere but…”

“Oh, I know. You Americans love coffee. Though it’s common in London, too. Everyone walks with a cup in one hand and a phone in the other. Even Raymond says he can’t wake up properly without coffee. I think that opening the windows and breathing in fresh air would wake him up just as well but who am I to give him advice.”

Horatio smiled. “I believe everyone could use a piece of advice from you now and then.”

“Oh, stop, Mr. Caine. I’m just an old woman from St. Mary Mead. I like to observe life, that’s all. Some would say I’m nosy. And I like to chat with my friends and with everyone I find interesting.”

“And I find chatting with you interesting, Miss Marple.”

They both took a sip of tea.

“It’s so different here,” Miss Marple said and looked around the room. “Even the tea tastes differently. Though it’s still very good, I can assure you, my dear.”

“I’m glad you are enjoying tea and Miami.”

“I told Raymond it was a crazy idea taking me to his author reading in the US-“ Miss Marple said and lowered her voice. “-but I’m glad I let him convince me,” she almost giggled.

“I’m also very glad.”

“And then of course, when I attended the third author reading, I started looking around… and noticing things… you and your team were quite easy to spot in the restaurant across the street.“

“I believe now it’s the right time to thank you again for your invaluable help. We have all the equipment, databases and still this case was … well, a nightmare,” Horatio confessed.

“Oh, I just couldn’t help it and immediately saw the similarity between this man, Alex Hudson, and the son of our butcher from St. Mary Mead. Charlie left for London, his father was so excited that he’d have it easier, wouldn’t have to work so hard manually. Charlie was sending all the pictures or putting them on the world wide web or how they call it but no, he didn’t invite his parents to London, not even once. And visited them rarely. When a daughter or a son doesn’t want to proudly show the parents around that’s always a bad sign. Always. Turned out Charlie had an even harder job than his father, was a worker in the docks, living in some quarter with dozens of other unlucky people. Then it was easy for me to recognize that Hudson was lying. He did the same as Charlie. You can send so many pictures from the big city and talk about your dream job but the lies always come to light when you meet in person,” Miss Marple explained drily.

“Exactly. There was no dream job for Hudson in Miami. And Hudson realized his parents would find out soon that he’d been lying to them as he met their neighbour here.”

“Very unfortunate for the neighbour, poor thing” Miss Marple noted.

Horatio nodded.

“Indeed… At least we solved his murder.”

“Do you have any plans for tomorrow, Miss Marple?” Horatio asked.

“Oh, don’t tell Raymond but I’m not going to attend his fourth author reading. Who would have thought that a writer’s job can be so repetitive…”

“Would you like to visit our lab instead? So far you’ve only been in my office.”

“What a nice offer. Though wouldn’t it bother you too much? I’m just an old lady from St. Mary Mead.”