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Bloody Bananas (Helen Shepherd Mysteries, Book 12) by Cora Buhlert

Release date: May 14, 2018
Subgenre: Police Procedural, British Mystery

About Bloody Bananas: 

 

When supermarket employee Nelson Grant is found bludgeoned to death next to a half empty crate of bananas, the case seems a complete mystery. For Nelson Grant was well liked by his colleagues, so who could possibly want him dead?

But then Detective Inspector Helen Shepherd and her team discover that the crate contained more than just bananas and the case suddenly acquires a whole new dimension.

This is a mystery novelette of 12300 words or approximately 45 print pages.


Excerpt:

 

Arriving at a crime scene was not supposed to remind her that she still needed to do some grocery shopping, Detective Inspector Helen Shepherd thought, as she gazed up at the logo of Montrose’s supermarket with its understated, moss green Gill Sans lettering. Not that Helen normally shopped at Montrose’s. Way too pricey, even at a detective inspector’s salary.
She nodded to Police Constable Martin Jackson, who lifted the yellow crime scene tape for her as she approached.
“Good morning, Constable. So what do we have here? Has someone finally realised that the prices Montrose’s charges are criminal?”
PC Jackson flashed her a quick smile. “Never been inside one of those stores myself, ma’am. Are the prices really that high?”
“Believe me, they are. Montrose’s does carry a nice range of cheese and wine, though.”
“Talking of which, the manager wants to know when they can reopen the store,” PC Jackson said.
“Once the scene of the crime officers have finished their work,” Helen said, repeating the standard line she’d given dozens of times to disgruntled managers. She shook her head. “Honestly, does that twat of a manager really think anybody will want to shop in a store, when there’s still blood on the floor from someone getting murdered?”
“Ahem, the crime didn’t happen inside the store,” PC Jackson pointed out.
Helen blinked. “It didn’t?”
PC Jackson shook his head. “No, it happened at the loading dock round the back. DC Walker is already there, with Dr. Rajiv and the forensics team.”

***

The loading dock at the back of the building looked dingy, compared to the bland upscale classiness of the front. The walls were bare concrete, studded with loading bays and marred by the occasional graffiti. One of the shutters was open, offering a glimpse at some crates and officers in forensic coveralls milling about in the warehouse beyond.
Detective Constable Kevin Walker leant to the frame of the open cargo bay, a paper cup embossed with the Montrose’s logo in each hand. So he’d managed to procure some of Montrose’s doubtlessly overpriced coffee. Good.
“Morning, boss,” DC Walker said, when he spotted Helen. Quite disconcertingly, he was hovering approximately one metre twenty above ground, at lorry loading height.
At the far side of the building, there was a staircase that led up to the loading level. Nothing fancy, just a few steps of bare concrete and a rusty handrail coated in flaking alarm yellow paint.
Helen paused on the middle step, when she noticed a spot on the handrail that was neither rust nor paint. She bent closer to examine the stain. It was dark red and badly smudged. Might be something perfectly harmless, like barbecue sauce or strawberry jam. Or it might be blood.
She signalled DC Walker, who promptly trotted over, coffee in hand. Helen pointed at the dark red smudge. “Have someone from forensics check this out. Might be blood, either the killer’s or the victim’s.”
“Good eye, boss.” DC Walker handed Helen one of the paper cups, before bending down to mark the location of the smudge with a yellow evidence number.
Helen took a sip of her coffee, savouring the taste. All right, so she had to admit it was good. Probably not good enough to justify the price, but definitely good.
“All right, so how many of your hard-earned quids did that coffee cost you?” she wanted to know.
DC Walker grinned. “Would you believe it was free, boss? The manager said he’s eager to cooperate with the investigation and that we could have as much coffee as we want. I guess it’s just because he hopes we’ll let him reopen the store soon, but the entire team is taking advantage of his most generous offer.”
“Well, whatever the reason, that is nice of him.” Helen nodded appreciatively. “And while the manager is being so generous, make sure someone takes a cup to Jackson and whoever else is guarding the perimeter.”
DC Walker gave her a mock salute. “Will do, boss.”


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About the Helen Shepherd Mysteries:

 


About Cora Buhlert:

Cora Buhlert was born and bred in North Germany, where she still lives today – after time spent in London, Singapore, Rotterdam and Mississippi. Cora holds an MA degree in English from the University of Bremen and is currently working towards her PhD. 
Cora has been writing, since she was a teenager, and has published stories, articles and poetry in various international magazines. She is the author of the Silencer series of pulp style thrillers, the Shattered Empire space opera series, the In Love and War science fiction romance series, the Helen Shepherd Mysteries and plenty of standalone stories in multiple genres. When Cora is not writing, she works as a translator and teacher.

 

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