Nosy Neighbor: All 7 complete Nosy Neighbor cozy mysteries PLUS: 2 short Christmas stories (A Nosy Neighbor mystery)

by Cynthia Hickey

  Mom stepped on the back of my heel. I scowled and moved forward. This was the queen of bad ideas.

  “What are they looking for?” She asked. “The house is empty.”

  “I don’t know. Hush.”

  “Maybe Carol forgot something and came back.”

  “In the name of heaven, be quiet.” We moved to the arch leading from the kitchen to the dining room, then into the living room. These big, old Victorians had loads of hiding places even when empty. Arched doorways, curved walls, hidden rooms. My finger itched to rest on the trigger of the gun.

  A muffled thud sounded from a room down the hall. The nighttime visitor had moved from the living room to one of the bedrooms. I clicked on my flashlight for a moment and shined it around the empty living room. The beam highlighted a white scrap of fabric on the floor.

  “That’s Robert’s handkerchief.” Mom scooped it up. “He did say he planned on paying Carol a visit. Something about her bank account.”

  “I guess she didn’t want to take it with her.” I flicked off the light.

  Mom stuffed the handkerchief into her pocket.

  A curse drifted down the hall, sending us ducking against the wall. The pounding of footsteps coming down the hall sent my pulse into overdrive. I peeked around the corner and spotted someone in dark clothes heading up the stairs. When they reached the top and disappeared into a room, I waved Mom forward.

  On tiptoes, we dashed up the stairs and into a large bedroom. “Be ready to duck into the closet,” I said.

  “The balcony would be better. We’d be trapped in the closet.”

  Good thinking. The person was searching for something. They were bound to look in the closet. All I needed was one good look at their face and we could leave.

  “Go!” Mom shoved against me.

  We raced for the balcony as footsteps neared. I fumbled with the latch, finally getting the door open. We jumped outside and I closed the door, each of us taking refuge on each side of the door. A simple glance outside might not reveal our presence, but if the person were to step outside…

  The lock on the door engaged.

  I gaped, wide-eyed at Mom. “Now what?”

  “You’re the private investigator. You tell me.” She leaned over the railing. “It’s a long way down.”

  One story was too far to jump. I studied the nearby oak tree. If we could reach the nearest branch…

  “Look.” Mom pointed to where a man, dressed in black, carried a small cardboard box around the corner of the house.

  In the distance, came the sounds of a whippoorwill. Good boy, Rusty. Of course, that particular bird wasn’t common around Oak Meadows Estates.

  A car door slammed. I cupped my hands around my mouth. “Rusty! Sadie!”

  An answering bark sent my hope soaring. We would get off the balcony in no time.

  Rusty stared up at us. “Want a ladder?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Be back soon.” He told Sadie to stay and left.

  When he hadn’t returned thirty minutes later, I knew he’d forgotten. I eyed the tree again.

  I handed Mom the gun, then dumped my purse on the floor of the balcony. Holding onto the strap, I swung it toward the tree. On the fifth attempt, I snagged the tree branch. “Easy. Now, all we have to do is grab a hold of the branch and jump. It should lower us gently to the ground.”

  “Are you crazy?” Mom’s eyes widened.

  “It worked when I was a kid. Angela and I jumped off the catwalk on the swing set this same way.”

  “You were a lot smaller back then.”

  “You go first. Then, I’ll snag the branch again and go after you.”

  “Wonderful.” She planted her fists on her hips. “If I die, I’m coming back to haunt you.” She closed her eyes. The silent moving of her lips told me she was praying. Good. We would need the help of God’s angels.

  She opened her eyes and climbed over the balcony. Holding on with one hand, she reached out for the other. “I’ll have to give a little jump.”

  “Want me to push you?”

  She squeaked and swatted at me. “Don’t you dare. If I fall and break something, go ahead and put me out of my misery.”

  “You aren’t a horse I can just put down, Mom.”

  The flash of a bulb alerted me to the fact we were no longer alone. I peered down at my neighbors, the Salazars.

  “You’re back,” I said, smiling. “And making the rounds.”

  “We didn’t expect to see you and your mother on the balcony of a home that doesn’t belong to you,” Tony said. “Need some help? Jump. I’ll catch you.” He laughed and slapped his leg as if he’d said the funniest thing in the world. He was always making jokes in reference to his “little people” status.

  His wife, Becky, slapped his shoulder. “Stop it. This is not the time for jokes. We should call someone.”

  “Stormi wants me to jump,” Mom said.

  “That’s not a good idea.” Tony shook his head, still laughing. “I’ll call the handyman.”

  “Rusty left to get a ladder a while ago.” I leaned against the railing. “Maybe you could find him?”

  The railing wobbled, screeched, and broke free as the cement under our feet gave way. Mom and I screamed and grabbed for the tree branch. It let us down all right. We plummeted to the ground faster than I had as a child. The wind left my lungs in a whoosh as Mom landed on top of me.

  “Well,” she said, her nose inches from mine. “That wasn’t as bad as I thought.”

  “Speak…for…yourself.” I shoved her off me and did a mental check to see if anything was broken.

  “Ann?” Robert helped her off me. “What in the world is going on?”

  “Just some friendly neighborhood scouting.” She held down her hand to help me up. “What are you doing here?”

  “We had a coffee date.” His eyes narrowed. “When I got to your house, I found that Rusty fellow lugging a ladder. He told me you were here.”

  At least Rusty would have made it back eventually. I gathered up what I could find from my emptied purse, shoved the contents back inside, and gripped the now torn strap. “I’m going home.”

  I grabbed Sadie’s leash and limped toward home, having hurt my left ankle when I fell. What a waste of time. We didn’t know the identity of the intruder or what he had found in Carol’s house.

  “I think I will accompany you to the party on Friday,” Robert told Mom behind me. “You tend to get in trouble when left to your own devices.”

  “Only because I follow Stormi.”

  Gee, thanks, Mom. I didn’t recall inviting her along. What did Robert think he was going to do? Enjoy a free meal on someone else while pretending to be a caterer? He’d never shown interest in Mom’s delectables before. At least not the kind she baked.

  I grinned evilly. I’d think of something he could do to help us. “That’s a great idea. We’ll need someone on garbage patrol.” I glanced over my shoulder. “You won’t mind, will you? It would be a big help.”

  “Please, say yes, Robert.” Mom put a hand on his arm. “Otherwise, Stormi will make me do it. There’s no way she can take out the garbage in the dress she bought.”

  He didn’t look pleased, but he nodded. “Anything to help out the ladies.”

  Wonderful. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all. Mom seemed to think him the greatest thing since dishwashers. I still hadn’t decided if he was good enough to replace my Dad.

  When we got home, I headed to my room and started a warm bath. Hopefully, the hot water would soothe my aches and pains. But, nothing would ease the grief over Cherokee’s disappearance, or my worry over Matt, other than seeing them standing safe and sound in front of me.

  11

  My stomach didn’t contain fluttering butterflies, it corralled stampeding elephants. I placed a hand on my flat midrift in a vain attempt to still the beasts as I glanced over a large warehouse transformed into a millionaire’s party house.

  In a few minutes,
the glittering place would fill with people in formal dress. People who wanted to taste Mom’s baking. Here I stood, looking better than I thought possible, and feeling ill.

  “Here.” Mom thrust a glass of pale gold champagne in my hands. “It’ll settle your nerves.”

  “I don’t drink.”

  “Just sip it. I’m not asking you to guzzle the stuff. You need your wits about you.”

  Did I ever. I took a sip of the bubbly, surprisingly tasty drink. I wouldn’t want to make a habit of it, but an occasional glass in celebration might not be too bad. “I’m going to wander a bit.”

  “That’s what you’re here for.” Mom frowned. “I’m the one hired to stay behind the table.”

  I smiled. She might be hired help, but she was one of the most beautiful women in the place. The flowing pantsuit she wore suited her small frame. She wore her red hair, only a shade darker than my own, in an elegant French twist. It wasn’t hard to see why Robert seemed smitten with her.

  Speaking of Robert. The man downed a liquid from a whiskey glass and ducked down a hallway flanked by two men with bulging muscles.

  When I approached them, they moved closer together. “What’s down there?” I asked.

  “Men’s restroom. Women’s is over there.” One of them motioned his head across the room.

  “Can’t I just look around?” I tried peering between them and came up against a solid wall of flesh. “I’d love to see what they’ve done with the place.”

  “Go the other way, ma’am.”

  I sighed, not bothering to try and flirt. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum wouldn’t know a good-looking woman in a tight dress if she kissed them. I made my way back to Mom and spent the next few minutes setting out the desserts.

  Mr. Bomberg approached the table and snatched a bite-sized cheesecake square off a crystal plate. “This looks fabulous ladies. While I hired you to serve, please take time to enjoy yourself.” His eyes raked over me. “You, I want to mingle and flirt with the men.”

  I almost choked on the next sip of champagne. “That’s not what I was hired for. If you want decorations, you’ll need to order them.”

  A muscle ticked in his right cheek. “My guests expect lovely scenery. You, my dear, rank up there with the best. I insist you mingle.” He gave me a smile reminiscent of a shark right before one took the bite out of someone’s leg, then turned and sauntered down the very hall Robert had disappeared into.

  By now, several more guests had arrived, mostly men, but some finely dressed women hung on a few arms. Men outnumbered the women five to one. And every single man went to the restroom for at least thirty minutes shortly upon arrival, leaving their eye candy to sit alone on plush sofas.

  Robert returned, straightening his tie, and grinning like a child who got a new toy. “Quite the shindig Bomberg puts on, isn’t it?”

  “I suppose.” I set my empty champagne flute on a tray. “How is the men’s room?”

  He laughed. “You’re a strange woman, Stormi Nelson. Come.” He crooked his arm at me and winked at Mom. “Let me escort the second most beautiful woman around the room. Perhaps I can drum up business for the bank. This looks like a wealthy lot.”

  “I should stay and help Mom.”

  “Nonsense,” she said. “Go with Robert.”

  I sighed and slipped my arm through his. Of course, Mom would be thrilled. She wanted nothing more than for me to get to know her boyfriend better. Unfortunately, my heart hadn’t fully healed from Dad’s murder. Not enough for another man to step into his place.

  Robert introduced me to person after person as the best-selling author, Stormi Nelson, daughter of his girlfriend. I kept a smile plastered on my face and tried to look interested when, in actuality, I studied the face of every man I came into contact with. The few women with them must have thought my intense study a form of flirtation and sent dirty looks my way.

  They could relax. Not a man there could hold a candle to Matt.

  Robert stopped our circle around the room a few feet away from the guarded hall entrance. A small man in a wrinkled suit tried to push between the two muscle men.

  “Let me pass,” he said. “You can’t discriminate.”

  “You’re credit with us is bad, Mr. Worth.”

  I dubbed the talking muscle man Tweedle Dee. The other had yet to say a word all night.

  “I’m good for it, I tell you.”

  “Excuse me.” Robert removed my arm and put a hand on the small man’s shoulder. “Come with me, Frank. There’s nothing back there for you.” He led the man away, leaving me staring at a brick wall between two men as stalwart as cement posts.

  I was starting to think there was more down that hallway than a simple men’s bathroom. I turned and headed for the women’s room. Maybe I’d find answers there.

  The opposite hallway was lit by bare bulbs hanging on cords from the ceiling. Obviously, the grandeur of the party didn’t extend further than the main room. I followed the brick-walled, cement floor hall to a door with a handwritten sign stating simply “Women”. I pushed the door open and stepped into a room containing nothing more than a toilet and a sink.

  I took care of business, washed my hands, and exited the room. Rather than head back to the party, I turned right and followed the hall around a corner. Blocking the way was another muscle man. This one looked as if he might have been the model for Mr. Clean.

  He had his back to me. I stepped back around the corner and leaned against the wall.

  I needed a plan to get past him. I rushed back to the dessert table and grabbed another champagne.

  Mom’s eyebrows rose. “Still nervous?”

  “Camouflage.” I grinned.

  “I’m glad to see you enjoying yourself.” A warm breath tickled the back of my neck.

  I turned and came nose-to-nose with Mr. Bomberge. I moved back as far as the table would allow.

  “I’ve had several men comment on your beauty,” he said. “Many of them are interested in spending time with you, despite your more…advanced age.”

  “I’m not even thirty! That’s hardly old age.”

  “Compared to the other women here, it is. Of course, you do look amazingly young for your age.” He started to caress my cheek, then, apparently growing a brain, dropped his hand.

  “Thank you.” I think.

  I stared around the room some more. He was right. If I looked close enough, the women couldn’t be more than twenty. The fancy clothes, makeup, and stylish hair made them appear older. Most of the men they were with looked old enough to be their fathers or grandfathers. My stomach churned all over again. I faced Mr. Bomberg. Spiders skittered up and down my spine.

  This was the type of man I’d have to deal with when I went undercover as a much younger girl. Could I handle it? Could I pretend to enjoy the attention? There was no time like the present to find out.

  I gave Mr. Bomberg my most seductive look and trailed a finger down the sleeve of his suit jacket. “Sadly, you’re the only man here I’m interested in.”

  Mom coughed. A piece of cookie flew across the table and landed on the floor at my feet.

  “Let’s go somewhere a bit more…private,” I suggested. “Surely, there must be such a room in this big old warehouse.”

  “Of course, there—” A shout from down the men’s hall diverted him from finishing his sentence. He chucked me under the chin. “We’ll finish this conversation when I return.” He hurried away.

  As Robert rushed toward our table, I grabbed my champagne and headed back to the women’s hallway. I felt a bit like an episode of Scooby Doo with characters running here and there.

  The moment I neared the corner past the restroom, I pretended to stumble, sloshing champagne over my hand. “Excuse me,” I slurred. “I’ve lost my way.” I fell into Mr. Clean. His strong arms held me upright. “Oh.” I trailed my dripping fingers down his cheek. “You’re so massive.”

  “Miss, you can’t be down here.”

  “I’m lost.”
I pouted, hoping I looked as alluring as I needed to be. “Can’t you help me?”

  More shouts emanated from the main room. Mr. Clean glanced over my shoulder, then propped me against the wall. “Stay here.” He held out his hand as if commanding a dog.

  “I’ll stay if you promise to come back.” I blew him a kiss. Then, the moment he disappeared around the corner, I kicked off my shoes and sprinted down the hall.

  The farther I got, the dirtier and dingier the walls and floor. I’d had no idea such a place existed outside Oak Meadows. Life continued to point out my naivety.

  I rounded a corner, only to jump back when I spotted two men beating the dickens out of a third. Each pound of fist against flesh made me cringe.

  The third man looked up. “That all you got?”

  I gasped and peered around the corner, recognizing the voice of my beloved. Oh, why had I left my purse under the dessert table? If I ever needed my gun, now was the time.

  Kicks joined the punches. I cried out, clamping my hand over my mouth as Matt’s gaze collided with mine. He shook his head and I pulled back, tears streaming down my face. When I looked again, they were gone.

  I dropped my glass, lifted my dress to my knees and ran. A large metal door hung open at the end of the corridor. Idling in front of the door was a white panel van with the words, Worth’s Automotive painted on the side.

  The two brutes lifted a limp Matt and tossed him in the back of the van. Without a glance in my direction, they slammed the doors closed, pitching me into darkness. I heard the roar of the van’s engine as it pulled away.

  I slid to the floor in a heap. Now, I’d not only lost my niece, but the man I loved. Where in the world did I begin to look for either one? I mentally took note of the name on the side of the van, linking the words with the short man removed from the party. I’d be looking him up at the first opportunity. Right now, I needed my purse and my cell phone so I could call Wayne.

  I pushed to my feet. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized the wall behind me was actually a door. A small slit in the door was at my eye level. I turned and stared through the opening. A form huddled against the wall. Long dark hair fell forward, obscuring the girl’s face. “Cherokee?”