Page 7 of The Silent Appeal

What about Georgia? Has she acted before?

12:01 p.m. Amelia wrote:

Don’t know, but she’s fallen out with her mum and needs something to focus on.

12:05 p.m. Fran wrote:

Come to the audition—all three of you! It’ll get you out of that poky room.

To: Fran Elroy-Jones

From: Kevin MacDonald

Date: January 3, 2025

Subject: Re: Who done it?

Hi Fran,

Thanks for coming to my party, which, as you could tell, was a complete surprise. I have my wife to thank for the organization, keeping it secret, and generally thinking of absolutely everything. You know, she even brought along a decent set of clothes so I could change in the toilets and didn’t have to wear the trackies I turned up in? Carol told me she had a spreadsheet for the garments she had to divert from the laundry in the preceding week…

Thanks for confirming you’ll be reading on Monday, but hope you don’t mind if I have a quiet word with you about something. If you bring anyone new, please can I request that you vet them very carefully for their suitability? Everyone admires the charity work you do with ex-prisoners, but we all remember those young brothers you brought down to read for last year’s panto. The ones who stole Emma’s chakra bracelet, the PA system, Joel’s BMW, and John O’Dea’s identity.

Just thought I’d mention it. We don’t want any trouble with The Hollow. A raft of NADAs will keep our membership healthy over the coming years. Kevin

Message exchange between Fran Elroy-Jones and Amelia Stibson on January 3, 2025:

2:33 p.m. Fran wrote:

A quick heads-up—on Monday, best not mention how we met, or about Lucas and his trouble.

2:34 p.m. Amelia wrote:

Got it.

To: Kevin MacDonald

From: Fran Elroy-Jones

Date: January 3, 2025

Subject: Re: Who done it?

Hi Kevin,

I understand. Amelia played Roxie Hart in an amateur production of Chicago that I saw last year. She and her husband, Lucas, are personal friends of mine, both in their late twenties, and Georgia is Lucas’s cousin. I’ll be responsible for them and if, on the off-chance, they happen to steal anything, I’ll replace it myself or do whatever it takes to make good whatever they do that’s wrong.

Very much looking forward to being in a murder mystery! Thanks Kevin, Fran

Message exchange between Kevin and Sarah-Jane MacDonald on January 3, 2025:

3:55 p.m. Kevin wrote:

Thinking about casting. Fran will be difficult to place.

3:56 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Nonsense! She’s the best actor in the Fairway Players.