Murder & Mockery

by K P Stafford

  The older town’s folk decided it was time to turn things over to the younger bunch. Discovering the mystery of the key would be interesting and keep them busy. Lexi and Peyton loved snooping into things. As the new secret keepers of the town, they decided there would be no secrets. Whatever they discovered would become town knowledge, even if the past was full of horrible things no one wanted to hear about. It was best to get things out in the open and hopefully avoid future revenge from Salem’s descendants. Since there had been one out there, there could be others, still digging and clinging to those old witch hunts. Some people held on to the past without learning from it.

  John decided to step down as town constable and leave Jake as the appointed official. Lexi was excited for Jake and his new position, although she had her doubts about them spending all their time together at home and at work. How would she handle Jake being her husband and her boss.

  A Note From the Author

  I strive to bring you enjoyable stories with characters you’ll love. I hope you’ve enjoyed this short mystery. Although each book goes through several rounds of edits and through several grammar and style checkers, sometimes we miss things—we are all human. If you find any glaring mistakes, please let us know so we can get them fixed and our files updated. Thank you.

  Be sure to check out more of my cozy mysteries. You can find a listing at the back of this book.

  About the Author

  K.P. Stafford is a Mom, Nana and Musician’s wife!

  She’s been writing crazy bits and pieces most of her life. In 2016, she took the plunge to become a full-time fiction author.

  When she’s not writing, she’s thinking up things to write about, spending time with her family and sometimes she just relaxes.

  In a name–Vincent Price!

  That’s who started her on this road of wanting to be a writer—and lover of all things creepy and spooky and haunted–although she doesn’t necessarily write haunted tales.

  www.kpstafford.com

  Also by K.P. Stafford

  Cryptic Cove Cozy Mystery Series:

  Murder and Mayhem - A Cryptic Cove Cozy Mystery (Book 1)

  Murder and Menace - A Cryptic Cove Cozy Mystery (Book 2)

  Murder & Mockery - A Cryptic Cove Cozy Mystery (Book 3)

  Murder & Marriage - A Cryptic Cove Cozy Mystery (Book 4 - coming in 2020)

  Mystery Theater Presents Cozy Mystery Series

  Mrs. Pickles Perilous Parting - A Mystery Theater Presents Cozy Mystery

  Coming in mid-2019:

  A Red Hat Bookstore Cozy Mystery Series

  The Honeydew Queen

  Preview: Mrs. Pickles Perilous Parting

  Mrs. Pickles Perilous Parting - A Mystery Theater Presents Cozy Mystery

  Chapter One

  “Cut!” Yelled Lewis Marble. “This is unacceptable! How can any of you call this acting? It’s absolutely atrocious.”

  The cast on stage turned to look at him as he threw the manuscript down and stomped off towards the side door.

  He almost plowed into Jess as she entered to see what all the commotion was about. The crew on stage bickered among themselves.

  “Clara, I told you to work on that line. You miss it every time and Lewis throws a fit. If you can’t do any better than this, quit.” Carter Stewart, the lead man in the production, told her through clenched teeth.

  Clara’s large chest heaved under the tight fabric of her costume and looked like it would rip at any minute from the pressure. Redness crept up from her neck to her face. Her breath was ragged, “That man is an idiot. You know good and well I am doing the line in a much better manner than he wants it done. I know this story inside and out and have seen it performed live on several occasions. The way I’m doing it works better.” She grabbed at her chest before storming off backstage. She was aware the costume was too tight on her, but she refused to let the alteration lady let it out. She’d been saying for weeks she’d just lose a few pounds and it’d be fine. But, with the number of dessert cakes she shoved into her mouth, everyone knew it wouldn’t happen.

  Carter Stewart turned to face Jessica, “The woman is insane. There’s no way this will be ready for a live performance in two weeks if she keeps botching the lines and missing her cues. It’s pathetic. We need to replace her before she ruins the whole production.”

  “It’s two weeks to opening night. There’s no way we can recast her part this late in the game.” Jess said.

  “Rosie can step in and do it.” Carter rebuked.

  Jess shook her head. “I don’t want to take the risk. Clara is just having a bad day.”

  Carter rubbed the back of his neck and let out an audible sigh, “She has a bad day, every day. Why don’t you see it and do something about it?” He turned and stormed off backstage as Clara had done.

  Jessica looked at the remaining crew and told them rehearsal was over for the day.

  Lewis returned and stomped up behind her, “I haven’t called it a day. Rehearsal isn’t over until I say it’s over. I’m the director of this fiasco you call an acting crew.”

  Jess whirled around, staring him in the eyes. “Well, as the owner of this theater,” she whirled her hands in the air, “I’m pulling rank and calling it a night. Since I have the keys to the place, it’s locked up when I say it is. I suggest you go home, have a drink or whatever and come back fresh tomorrow.”

  His nostrils flared and a whoosh sound escaped them. Jess prepared herself for the backlash, but fortunately, he complied and stormed off, again. It had been one of the most trying days of her life since taking over the small community theater. A niggling in her gut told her the madness was just starting.

  Two weeks away from pulling off the largest production Jessica had taken on since the death of her parents, Henry and Mary James. Everything that could go wrong had gone wrong, almost all in one day. Nerves were on edge, the stage cast kept missing cues. Today was a dress rehearsal, as they called it. The costume designer was in a frenzy to see how the costumes moved and flowed before she did final alterations. Sound problems, set problems, actor problems and a whole list of other problems that could make or break this show and her little theater.

  At 9:00 pm Jess did her nightly rounds, making sure everything was secure and ready to go for the following day. She’d dealt with complaints from everyone and she was ready to get home to her best companion, her cat.

  Jess wearily walked down the main hallway, glancing at the photos enshrined to those who had made it on to bigger and better stages, and the ones who’d passed on before their time. Her parent’s photo hung as the newest entry. They had made it to Broadway, but after a few years of the hustle, they’d purchased the small, run-down theater and settled in Peculiar. It had only been two years since their deaths. In that time, Jess had put on several small productions that covered some of the expenses, but this was the largest undertaking she’d had the courage to tackle. Times seemed so much easier when she was growing up in the theater. Actors and stagehands were different when she was a kid. Everyone was like family. Some of them stayed on to help her, but others had decided it was time to call it quits. Her parents were the glue that held everyone together. There was no way she could ever take their place, and it showed in the attitudes of several of the cast and crew members. If this production wasn’t a success, she had no clue how many would stick out the struggles with her and try to get this theater back on solid ground. Local enthusiasm showed interest when they announced the production several months back, but that didn’t always mean it would be a success. The closer it got to curtain-call, the more everyone’s nerves were on edge. It was just par for the course.

  Carter Stewart, who was playing the second leading role, had grated on her nerves most of the day. He was one who was sure he’d make it to Broadway. He’d had several auditions and somehow he thought it gave him authority and made him a slice above the rest. He could be a pain to work with. Today was no exception. Clara Stiles, the leading lady was off
her game and kept messing up her lines. Carter’s patience wore thin because he knew everyone’s lines in the whole performance. His arrogance never helped matters, but since he was a good actor, most people overlooked his eccentric nature.

  Jess let out a long sigh, sometimes she loved the quietness in the theater at the end of a long day. She enjoyed the alone time after everyone had gone home. Well, almost everyone. The resident ghost, Farley, was always around, somewhere. He loved to play pranks on Jess when she was there alone. After growing up around him, she’d gotten used to it. As she neared the end of the hall, she half expected him to come flying out of a wall. Secretly, she hoped he was as tired as everyone else and would leave her be tonight.

  She checked the doors and lights, making sure everything was secure and in place for tomorrow’s whirlwind of pre-production chaos. She looked up to see Farley floating beside her. He took the recognition as his cue to jabber on about how Clara Stiles kept missing her lines and how the new girl, Rosie Peabody, was more suited to the part. Jess drew in a breath and let it out. “It’s been a tiring day, Farley. Not only with all the problems, which I’m sure you’re aware of, but I had to listen to Becky go on and on about some hot, gorgeous guy at the coffee shop.” She emphasized the words hot and gorgeous. Her and Becky’s taste in men were usually the complete opposite, so she wasn’t amused hearing about Becky’s latest find, especially considering she had eyed the guy and thought he’d be perfect for Jess. She was in no mood to be setup on a blind date…or any kind of date, for that matter. “I don’t need this tonight. Okay?”

  “Yes, how rude of me.” He pouted, “But, I’ve had no one to talk to all day. You’ve been busy.”

  “I’m sorry, Farley. You know how hectic it is the last few weeks before a production goes live. I’m well aware that everything is falling apart. I’m well aware that if I don’t pull this off, everything I’ve known and loved my whole life is down the drain.”

  She was one of the few people Farley would have a conversation with, but she wasn’t excited about that fact tonight. He spent his time making ghostly noises so everyone knew the small theater in Peculiar, Connecticut was, in fact, haunted. He’d been an actor himself and died in the theater when he fell from the stage. She was a small child at the time and he doted on her, but showbiz was his life. It still was, even after his death.

  “Oh yes. I so miss the hub-bub of it all. It’s not quite the same since I’m dead. And you are correct, this production is a make it or break it one. All the reason you should listen to me about these so-called actors not doing their parts right. I’ve heard Rosie practice. She’s not bad.”

  Jess looked at Farley and shook her head in disbelief as she opened the door to Clara’s dressing room and peeked in. A pile of clothing in the middle of the floor caught her attention. She walked through the doorway, with Farley still yakking. Stopping in her tracks she let out a gasp, her hands flew to cover her mouth. Farley stopped his complaining and fell silent as Jess ran to the woman lying on the floor.

  “Clara, are you okay?” she asked.

  Farley floated over her and looked down at her, “She’s dead.”

  Jess looked up at him, “Call nine one one.”

  “Oh yes, where did I leave my cell phone?” he said as he ran his hands through his semi-invisible body. “It must be in my other body.”

  Jess looked up at him, eyes wide, “Oh, yeah. I’ll call them. Maybe they can save her.”

  “My dear child, the woman is dead.”

  “How can you be sure? Are you a doctor?”

  “I’m a ghost. I know dead when I see it.”

  Sadness fell over Jess’ face. He had a point. She looked down at the body and stuck her fingers under the woman’s scarf, anyway. A chill ran through her body at the feel of the cool, clammy skin. Now that her eyes had adjusted to the low lighting, Jess could tell the woman had already taken on a grey hue. With her head bowed she whispered a small prayer before standing up. After she left the room and pulled the door shut, she leaned against the wall. This can’t be happening. Every ounce of energy had left her body, but she knew she had to report it. She pulled out her cell phone, took a deep, ragged breath and punched in nine-one-one.

  Farley stuck his head through the wall as Jess hung up the phone with the emergency response people. “I guess Rosie will get the part now. I hope she’s ready to perform in two weeks.”

  Jess put her hands on her hips and gave Farley the evil eye. “Do you have to be so insensitive?”

  He tapped his ethereal temple, “I’m dead. I’m supposed to be insensitive.”

  Jess blew her hair out of her face and turned to walk down the hall to wait on the police to arrive. The door opened as she approached it. Her assistant, Becky Collins, walked in, jabbering on about how she forgot to take the mail with her, but stopped and stared into Jess’ eyes when she noticed something wasn’t right.

  “What’s wrong. You don’t look so good.”

  Jess sat down in a chair, her knees shaking and her resolve failing. She tried to keep it together, but everything was crashing down around her. She finally spoke as Becky walked over to the chair beside her. “Clara’s dead. I found her in the dressing room.”

  Becky stopped in her tracks, her hands went to her mouth. “Oh, my gosh. What happened?” She asked as she slunk down on the seat next to Jess and placed her hands on Jess’ knee.

  “I’m not sure. I found her on the floor when I went to check the room and she was just dead.”

  “A heart attack, maybe?”

  “Could be. She was off the mark on all of her lines today. We all assumed it was because her costume was too tight and distracting her. Maybe she was sick?”

  Farley chimed in, “Maybe the costume smothered her to death.”

  Becky glared into the ghostly mist beside Jess. Her mouth opened to speak. Jess raised a hand, “This isn’t the time to argue with a ghost.”

  Farley stuck his nose in the air and floated off.

  Becky and Jess sat in silence waiting for the police to arrive. Jess was glad to have her best friend with her. She didn’t want to think selfishly at a time like this but losing her leading lady two weeks before the show could cause her to lose everything. She wasn’t sure how she would pull out of this mess. She took in a deep breath and tried to be thankful she was alive. Clara sure hadn’t been so lucky.