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

by Cynthia Hickey

  “Some women can’t be controlled, Officer.” Lawrence put his arm around Shelby’s shoulders. “I like her spirited.”

  “Spirited and mean are two separate things. Come on, Rusty. It’s time for you to go back to the cottage.”

  “And don’t drink anything you don’t prepare for yourself,” I whispered. My gardener might be tough to keep an eye on, but I definitely didn’t want him dead.

  “Do I have to boil my water?” Rusty rubbed between his eyes.

  “What? No. Don’t drink anything unless Matt or I check it out first. And for heaven’s sake, don’t take a bath.”

  “Shower?”

  “Yes, please.” I cast an imploring look at Matt. “I think our evening is over. I don’t want him left alone tonight.”

  “All right.” He pulled me close for a kiss. “We’ll meet you by the pool in the morning. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” Darn that Shelby Richards. I stomped my foot and headed outside. Maybe some cool air would calm my temper.

  I wrapped my arms around me in an attempt to ward off a chill and headed for the pool. I could stick my feet in the hot tub and stay warm while I mulled over in my mind the best way to bring Shelby to her knees. With handcuffs on her wrists, preferably. Violence wasn’t my forte when riled, but I wanted to slap her at that moment.

  The sound of sobbing reached me before I stepped through the open pool gate. Dangerous. I hadn’t spotted any young children at the resort, but wasn’t a closed gate mandatory for public places? I pulled the gate closed.

  Cheri sat on a lounge chair, bent over, sobs shaking her body. When she spotted me, she darted out of sight.

  9

  It took two backpacks to carry enough food for a picnic the size of my group. One of the busboys helped me put one on my shoulders, then I hefted the other one in my arms and made my way to the cottage. All before six a.m. the next morning.

  This was insane. Who woke up this early on vacation?

  Luckily for me, Rusty and Wayne volunteered to wear the packs, despite Matt’s argument that he didn’t need two arms to wear something on his back. My poor baby. I patted his cheek on my way to the bedroom.

  Eyeing my purse, I decided against my gun. I’d seen Matt’s and Wayne’s in their shoulder holsters. Two guns were probably one too many on a simple hike.

  Mary Ann tied laces on a pair of hiking boots. “Sorry I haven’t been much help with this mystery. It’s just been so long since I’ve had any recreation time.”

  “I understand. Technically, with Amber dead, I’m no longer employed by her. I can let the whole thing drop and let the cops handle it from here.” I pulled a long sleeved T-shirt over the short sleeve one I wore. Layering was important, right?

  “Can you let it go?” She stood.

  “I can try. But, Matt is helping Rodriguez, and I’m helping Matt.” I grinned.

  “Make all the excuses you want, but someday, your guardian angel is going to throw his hands in the air and you’ll be on your own.” Her expression grew grave. “I enjoy the successes as much as you do. Really. But, you need to learn to relax.”

  “I didn’t ask for this.”

  “No, but you accepted the case. Have you even looked at the papers you took from Amber’s suitcase?”

  “Yes. It’s just a bunch of numbers. Matt is having someone at the precinct go over them.” I crossed my arms, hurt by her lack of support. “See? I can let the authorities handle things.”

  “I just don’t want you to collapse because you never take a break. Come on. Let’s go exhaust ourselves with something healthy.”

  We joined the group in the courtyard where Mom took control immediately. “No one ventures from the path. Remember the saying, ‘take only pictures, leave only footprints’. There is no need to be aggressively loud.” she shot a stern look at Rusty, who had his hand on his whistle. “We’ll make enough noise with a group this size to scare away anything. There are rock bridges and caves to see. Let’s enjoy the day.” She grabbed a walking stick propped against the cottage and set off at a brisk pace toward the trail.

  “I want a walking stick,” I said. “Where did you get it?”

  “I got you one from the gift shop.” Matt pulled one from behind a bush. “Somehow, I knew the green dragon of jealousy would rear his head.”

  “Thanks!” I gripped the polished oak stick. “I’m ready.”

  The day couldn’t be more gorgeous. Just enough of a chill to make the air seem fresher. A thin veil of fog hung over the mountains in the distance. Birds chirped from the trees. The sun dappled the path ahead of us. It was a perfect day.

  I slipped my free hand in Matt’s good one and followed the group down the trail.

  “What time are we going to eat?” Dakota opened a water bottle. “I’m starved.”

  A whistle split the air. “Hey, Bear!” Rusty yelled.

  I jumped and clapped a hand to my chest. “Do not do that again.”

  “We’re entering the forest,” he said, as if I were stupid.

  “Can we just enjoy nature?”

  “Not if you’re eaten.” He pointed at a small sign stuck in the dirt. “It says to call out for the bear.”

  Good point. “Then, stand in front so you don’t frighten me to death.” There goes any chance at all of seeing wildlife.

  “Is no one going to answer me about lunch?” Dakota held out his hands.

  “Here.” Mom tossed him a granola bar. “This hike will take several hours. At the halfway point, we’ll eat.”

  “Hours?” Angela glanced at the stylish gym shoes on her feet. “Will these hold up that long?”

  The morning grew warmer. I pulled off my long sleeved tee and tied the arms around my waist. I refused to let the others’ complaints ruin the day. The brochure clearly stated it was a day long hike through some of the Ozark’s most beautiful scenery. Then, we could do another massage tomorrow to work out the sore muscles.

  Rusty blew his whistle again. “Hey, Bear!”

  For crying out loud. “I’m going to ram that whistle down your throat.” I immediately felt bad when he gave me a wounded look. Lord, help us. “I’m sorry. I know you’re only trying to protect us.”

  “I heard back on the papers from Amber’s suitcase,” Matt said.

  “You’re just now telling me?”

  “I heard late last night. Do you want to know or not?”

  “Of course, I do.”

  “They are a bunch of fake companies and bank account numbers. The numbers are real. The companies are not. Whoever supposedly has these accounts is a very wealthy person by dishonest means.”

  “Do you think they belong to Boyd Industries?”

  “It crossed my mind.” He held his finger to his lips. “Don’t mention it to anyone. The only other person who knows is Wayne.”

  I nodded. If we found out who the accounts belonged to, we could very well have our killer. We needed to find out soon. Our rooms were rented for one more week. I didn’t want to fork over more funds to stay longer. Not when I had a perfectly good Victorian house, a dog, and two cats waiting for me.

  We eventually stopped at a flat ledge of rock that overlooked a tree-filled canyon. Reds, yellows, and oranges erupted in a blinding display of autumn. Mom planted her hands on her hips and declared we were having lunch because someone’s stomach was growling a bit loudly.

  We glanced around at each other. Then, I heard the growl. It was not a stomach. I gripped Matt’s good arm. “What was that?”

  “Get behind me.”

  Rusty blew long and hard on his whistle.

  Wayne ripped it from the string around the other man’s neck and tossed the whistle over the ledge.

  A bear poked its head through the thick brush and roared.

  Cherokee wrapped her arms around her brother’s neck.

  Angela screamed as Wayne thrust her behind him.

  “I’ll get some food for it out of the backpack,” Mom said, slowly moving behind Wayne.
She unzipped the pack and reached inside to pull out something bleeding through butcher paper. “Who would put raw meat in here?”

  “Someone who wanted one of us dead.” I grabbed the steak and tossed it at the bear. “Everyone back slowly down the path.”

  Matt and Wayne took the walking sticks and stayed between the bear and the rest of us.

  “Shoot it!” Tears ran down Cherokee’s face.

  “That will only make it angrier.”

  “It’s wounded,” Dakota said. “Isn’t that a knife sticking out of its shoulder?”

  I could be jumping to conclusions, but it sure looked like someone had gone to great personal danger to make sure we were stalked by an enraged bear. Angela screamed again and took off down the trail. The others followed, leaving Matt, Wayne, and myself facing an animal standing on its hind legs pawing at the air.

  “You’re going to have to shoot it,” Matt told Wayne. “With a handgun. Don’t miss and don’t stop until you’re out of bullets.”

  “A shame. Beautiful animal.” He pulled his gun from his shoulder holster and started firing as the bear charged.

  With another roar, it swiped at him, catching Wayne in the shoulder and spinning him. His foot slipped in loose leaves and he fell.

  Matt shrugged free of his arm sling and swung the walking stick like a baseball bat.

  The bear turned.

  “Hey!” I picked up a fist sized rock and bounced it off the bear’s head. “Don’t let me die, Wayne. Shoot it!” I took off running as fast as I could.

  Shots rang out behind me.

  “Stormi.”

  I turned at Matt’s call.

  The bear lay at Wayne’s feet. Blood soaked Wayne’s shirt and Matt’s face was etched in pain.

  The others trickled back and stared down at what had once been a magnificent black bear.

  “Who would do this?” Mom petted the animal as if it could feel her gentle touch. Maybe it could somehow.

  I glared at Angela. “You know better than to scream and run with a bear. Now, take care of your man while I tend to mine.”

  “I’m sorry.” She hung her head. “I don’t think well when I’m frightened.”

  Rusty kneeled beside the bear and yanked out the knife before anyone could stop him. “This came from the restaurant.”

  “Are you sure?” Matt froze with his arm halfway in the sling.

  Rusty nodded. “I watched man carve ham yesterday.”

  “How did someone get the knife in the bear without the bear killing them?” None of it made sense. I untied my shirt from around my waist and handed it to Angela to bind Wayne’s shoulder.

  “Someone with a good throwing arm might have succeeded.” Matt glanced down the trail. “Maybe we had company today and didn’t know it until it was too late.” He glanced up into the trees. “If someone sat in a tree and dropped a very sharp knife at the right moment, it could have penetrated the bear’s skin, maybe. I’m speculating here.”

  “Do you think they were hoping one of us would wander off?” I wrapped my arms around my waist at the sudden chill.

  “My guess is that someone wanted you. All they would have had to do was wait until you stepped off the trail to take care of business.”

  “Why me?” Why was it always me?

  Maryann sighed. “I told you. It’s because you don’t know how to say no to a murder investigation.”

  It was a very good thing I had limited my water on the hike. I glanced back at the poor animal. That could very well have been me lying there with a knife in my back.

  10

  Wayne held up like a trooper, but by the time we arrived back at the resort, he could barely stand from pain and loss of blood. The moment we were able to get cell phone reception, we’d called to have an ambulance waiting. Paramedics met us thirty minutes from the end of the hike.

  They bandaged Wayne’s shoulder, belted him to a stretcher, and bounced him the rest of the way into an ambulance.

  “I’m going with him.” Matt gave me a quick kiss. “I pulled some stitches that will need a doctor to take care of. I’ll call and let you know how he’s doing as soon as I can.”

  I nodded and swallowed against the tears. Only I could put my family in danger on a hike.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Mom said. She stepped to my right, and Maryann to my left. “You’re thinking this is somehow your fault. It isn’t. Not unless you stabbed that bear and put a raw steak in the backpack. Did you?”

  I shook my head, a half-sob, half-laugh escaping. “That takes a truly twisted mind.”

  “The same mind that kills with jellyfish and nicotine,” Maryann added. “I think I will help you with this case after all. It’s too much for you, even with my brother helping. You need twenty-four hour surveillance. Since I share a room with you, that leaves me to be your bodyguard.”

  “You’re getting plenty of experience.” I turned back to our cottage as the ambulance pulled away.

  “Miss Nelson,” Cheri called. “Let me know if there is anything I can do. I promise to get to the bottom of the steak in the backpack. You can count on that with all certainty.”

  I whirled. “Who told you there was a steak in the pack?”

  She took a step back. “I overheard one of the detectives talking.” She clapped a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. Was that a secret?”

  “You might not want it spread around that your kitchen staff is so careless.” I continued away from her. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled.

  I stopped and surveyed the crowd. One of them was a killer. It could be one of the shocked, and for once, silent bridesmaids. The bride or groom. Or someone I had yet to put a name to. Whether I’d met the killer or not, he, or she, was watching and gloating.

  I called out to Cheri before she disappeared out of sight. “I couldn’t help but see you were upset last night. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “No, thank you.” Her smile wavered. “I recently lost someone dear to me. I’ll be all right. It’s just that all this…death, brings the memories to mind.” She entered the main building, pulling the doors tight. Her gaze never left mine. I was the first to turn away.

  “It was quite an endeavor,” I said, entering the cottage and sliding the chain on the door behind me. “The killer couldn’t know for sure I would be the one harmed.”

  “Maybe the person didn’t care. It could be a warning that you’re getting too close.” Maryann sat on one end of the sofa, brought her knees up and hugged a throw pillow. “The thing that makes me extremely nervous is that we don’t know where the next attack is coming from.”

  Angela entered the room, dragging her suitcases behind her. “Forget that we paid for the next week. I want to go home.”

  “Sit down, dear, and be quiet.” Mom measured coffee grounds. “You don’t want to go anywhere with Wayne in the hospital now, do you?”

  She slumped in a chair. “No, but I’m worried for my kids.”

  “I’m an adult,” Cherokee said quietly. “I say we see this thing through. It’s personal now.”

  “Are you sure?” I studied her expressionless face. “We came so you could relax and let the ordeal stay behind you. If this is too much, we’ll go home. No questions asked, no arguments.”

  Every head turned to look at her. Even Rusty glanced up from the table where he ate cookies from one of the packs. A person could have heard a pin drop.

  A knock sounded on the door.

  I jumped.

  Angela screamed.

  Mom grabbed her purse. “Where’s my gun?”

  “Dakota, hand me my purse.” He handed me my Glock.

  “That’s what you really wanted, right?”

  I nodded and slowly made my way to the door. A peek between the curtains had me relaxing for a second, before I remembered they often sent police officers to someone’s house to inform them of a loved one’s death. I yanked the door open. “Yes?” I stared up at Officer Rodriguez.

  �
��May I come in?”

  “Do you bring bad news?”

  I couldn’t see his eyes behind mirrored sunglasses, but he cocked his head. “Excuse me?”

  “Yes, come in.” I stepped aside. This day was not getting better. “Have a seat.”

  “I’ll stand.” Although, he did remove his sunglasses.

  “I’ve already spoken to Detectives Steele and Jones. But, I’d like to hear what happened from the rest of you.

  “It charged out of nowhere!”

  “It tried to eat us, I swear.”

  “We ran as fast as we could.”

  “Mom screamed and made the bear mad.”

  My family and friends all spoke at once.

  Officer Rodrigues put two fingers in his mouth and whistled sharply. “One at a time. Miss Nelson, you first, since you were the only one not talking.”

  He might choose to stand, but I chose to sit at the table and twirl a glass of water in the condensation on the polished tabletop. “We were walking along, minding our own business and getting ready to stop for lunch. Mom thought someone’s stomach was growling—”

  “I did think it was kind of loud for that,” she said, wiping the table and sliding a coaster under my glass. “But I didn’t know what else it could be.”

  “I’ll get to you, ma’am. Miss Nelson?”

  “The growl came again, louder, and the bear stuck its head out of the bushes.”

  “Wayne threw away my whistle,” Rusty pouted.

  “Because you were upsetting the bear,” Maryann pointed out, scowling.

  I sighed. “My sister screamed, further enraging the bear. Matt and Wayne started shooting. The bear didn’t go down in time and swiped at Wayne. He continued shooting and the bear died. While it was lying on the ground, we saw a knife sticking out of its shoulder. Rusty recognized the knife as one used by the chef when the guy was carving ham. Oh, and someone put a raw steak in our backpack. I presume, to attract the bear while it was wounded. That’s about it.”

  He stared open-mouthed as the others started talking again all at once. He scratched his head, snapped his notepad closed, and marched toward the door. If I were talented as a lip-reader, I’d swear he said something about a nut house.