Pirate Gold and Murder

by Patti Larsen

  Life. Death. And new beginnings.

  Why our footsteps carried us to the empty greenspace that had been Petunia’s, I didn’t know, but we both paused at the same time, my (our) eager pug snuffling at the sidewalk as if remembering there should be something there for her, sitting abruptly, head cocked to one side, ears raised as she whined softly over not finding what she was looking for.

  Tears welled, the back of my throat scratchy and tight, as Crew drew me against him, cheek pressed to the top of my head, big hand rubbing a soft circle over the small of my back. We just stood there a long time, Petunia finally meowing her pug protest at the confusion of the situation and sinking to sit on my feet.

  “I’ve been meaning to mention this,” my darling husband said, voice husky, deep, as darkness fell, the streetlights flickering on. “I miss Petunia’s. So many memories.” I looked up at him, nodded, unable to trust my own voice. “But you’d be wasted, Fee, going backward. You deserve the chance to do what you love.” He touched the tip of my nose with one finger. “My beautiful, nosy busybody.”

  I laughed, couldn’t help it. Nodded again.

  Crew kissed me softly but deeply, slow and lingering, then hugged me tight while he turned to look at the empty place where my heart had come to live.

  “Seems a shame to leave it vacant,” he said. “Especially when we’re going to need somewhere to raise a family.”

  Tears, so many tears. A house. A home. For us. For the children we both wanted, here in Reading. Where Petunia’s used to stand.

  I kissed him, hugged him and nodded against his wide chest.

  Grandmother Iris would have approved.

  ***

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  ***

  Author’s Notes

  Well. Here we are. At the end. At last.

  No shame, I cried a lot writing this book. And editing it. Because despite the fact I know I’ll be back to Reading before we know it, I’ll miss Fee’s voice in the interim.

  She’s been no end of delight for me, our darling Fiona Fleming. When I set out to write this series, I really didn’t know what to think, where she’d take me, if I’d learn to love her like I do all of my characters.

  For those of you who have read the Hayle Coven Novels and have made yourselves at home in Wilding Springs, coffee with Syd, Sassafras in your lap looking for pats, Ethpeal cackling her fuzzy socked way across the kitchen… feels like family.

  I didn’t expect Fee to feel the same, but she does. I miss Petunia’s like it was my own B&B that burned to the ground, miss the kitchen, Lucy making cupcakes and cookies, Daisy and her flowered dresses, the sitting room, the carriage house. I miss Fee’s apartment and the third floor bathroom, the Green Room and the beautiful foyer lit by the sun. I miss feeling Grandmother Iris’s presence in that dear old space and I know all I have to do to visit it again is go back.

  And.

  I’m moving forward, instead. And so are Fee and Crew. When you see them next, it will be six months after this book has finished, and we will have taken a fun and murderous journey with Alice Moore that will hopefully bring you as much joy as Fee’s.

  For now, I’m off to a Florida plantation house rising from the swamp, to help Alice investigate a ghostly presence who may or may not be a murderer…

  You, my dear reader, are welcome to join me. Or, do as I will eventually, and go back to the beginning and remember all the reasons we love Fee so very much.

  There are those who made this series possible who need mention, and I do that now with the absolute and utter gratitude of one who knows she could never do this without support:

  Christina, you brought Fee to life with the most amazing covers I could have asked for. I can’t wait to share what we’re creating for Alice.

  Kirstin, I will always say yes because you do. Thank you for making this journey so much easier for me.

  And, for this book in particular, no small mention, I want to express my deep thanks and adoration for the amazing women and men who assisted me in the creation of this book’s first murder. To Marie, Chantal, Anja, Walter, John and Mark, thank you. I enjoyed turning you into murderers, despicable human beings and victims, while taking your advice on how to commit the ideal underwater crime.

  My diver friends, gracias.

  Best,

  Patti

  ***

  About the Author

  Everything you need to know about me is in this one statement: I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a little girl, and now I’m doing it. How cool is that, being able to follow your dream and make it reality? I’ve tried everything from university to college, graduating the second with a journalism diploma (I sucked at telling real stories), am an enthusiastic member of an all-girl improv troupe (if you’ve never tried it, I highly recommend making things up as you go along as often as possible) and I get to teach and perform with an amazing group of women I adore. I’ve even been in a Celtic girl band (some of our stuff is on YouTube!) and was an independent film maker (go check out the Lovely Witches Club at www.lovelywitchesclub.com). My life has been one creative thing after another—all leading me here, to writing books for a living.

  Now with multiple series in happy publication, I live on beautiful and magical Prince Edward Island (I know you’ve heard of Anne of Green Gables) with my multitude of pets.

  I love-love-love hearing from you! You can reach me (and I promise I’ll message back) at patti@pattilarsen.com. And if you’re eager for your next dose of Patti Larsen books (usually about one release a month) come join my mailing list! All the best up and coming, giveaways, contests and, of course, my observations on the world (aren’t you just dying to know what I think about everything?) all in one place: http://smarturl.it/PattiLarsenEmail.

  Last—but not least!—I hope you enjoyed what you read! Your happiness is my happiness. And I’d love to hear just what you thought. A review where you found this book would mean the world to me—reviews feed writers more than you will ever know. So, loved it (or not so much), your honest review would make my day. Thank you!